A Few Random Thoughts

For those unaware, I’m a school administrator by trade and today officially marks the first day of school for our 2023-2024 year. That means that the last two weeks have been a bit wild and all the writing I was hoping to accomplish during that time got wiped out with work, more work, and equal parts decision fatigue and brain fog mixed in for good measure. I’ll have a write up next week about The Big Lebowski, which continues a theme of revisiting 90s films from my childhood, but for now you’ll receive in this newsletter (if you choose to continue) some random thoughts / concerns / celebrations that have been percolating in my mind as of late. Enjoy…

• An increasing amount of people in my neighborhood are growing wildflowers that are taking up much of their lawns which are now creeping chaotically over the sidewalks. Are we sure this trend isn’t simply a chance to be lazy? Some folks will argue that it’s more beautiful, thoughtful and intentional about the environment, etc. All I know is that I’m ready to take a machete with me during future dog walks.

• As I’ve been writing more consistently and publicly, I’ve noticed this awkward interaction start to happen when I see people in public. No matter if it is a friend, family member, or acquaintance, every once in a while a person will ask how I am doing, mention that they see my writing, and then follow up with some variation of “But I didn’t read the last thing you wrote.” I never know what to say and I never know why it is said! While I do receive some analytics from my website, I can’t tell which individuals are reading my stuff or not, so there’s no need for a confession. If you are reading, I’m grateful and appreciate it, and if you are not then you don’t need to mention that you aren’t reading. We can talk about other things, please!

• The temperatures on our planet continue to escalate and the only solace I can find is in the slushie. There’s science behind this too, folks. I generally hate summers in Oklahoma due to the excessive heat but it does give me an excuse to venture out for some of my favorite drinks and here are a few recommendations: the Rooster Booster Freezoni at QuikTrip, the Coca-Cola slushie from Kum & Go, the Red Bull Slush and the Cherry Limeade Slush from Sonic. The heat may kill me someday, but at least it will go down a little bit cooler with a slushie in my hot, dead hand.

• Another trend that I’ve noticed, at least in Tulsa, is the growing number of men I am seeing riding on scooters. I have to tell you, I am absolutely an advocate for this movement. I don’t know what is going on, but on the road and in my neighborhood, I bet you that I have seen at least 15 guys (this past week alone) sitting on scooters of all sizes just living their best lives. I have also never seen any of these people disgruntled, I bet it is impossible to have road rage when you’re sitting with that much joy in your heart. This, in fact, may be the cure all for toxic masculinity…

• Finally, we bought a new recliner this past month and I just need to tell you all that is the wisest purchase I have made in the last few years. There’s nothing sexy about it. All it has is the old school manual handle, it reclines, and it rocks back and forth. That is all it is capable of doing, but it does it oh so well. I can feed my son easily in the chair, I can turn it toward my television and kick back, I can read in it, and I have napped in it. Sometimes life can be so simple, y’all.

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  That’s all for today, come back next week and we’ll be exploring a Coen Brothers classic with a dude who abides.