bhatt-girls-mission

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Now what?

Day Off.

And when I say DAY OFF, I am not referring to the kind that translates into “doing-everything-I-couldn’t-do-through-the-week”.  I mean a true, honest to goodness, DAY OFF.

You wake up, the last remnants of the dream world slowing melting into the far recesses of your mind, your bare feet pattering towards the kitchen to make coffee. The streets are quiet, and for once, your mind is silent too.  The only sound is the low hum of a refrigerator that has seen better days.

Here comes the routine.  Open cupboard.  Find favourite mug. Power up your coffee maker. Open fridge. Give a cursory look about the shelves. Contemplate your bad food choices. Find the milk. Pour into mug.  Careful now!  Not too much.  Make the coffee.  The sound of the machine, dispensing what you refer to as the Nectar Of The Gods, pierces through the last remnants of brain fog.  Grab a jacket.  Head out to the balcony. Sip coffee slowly. Watch as the streets slowly come alive.  Routine…

But…

Is it possible to feel so connected, and yet so far removed, all at once?

I’ve been feeling that lately.  The feeling that is usually described as ‘being all alone in a room full of people’. I’m normally so damn busy with work that I never get a moment to just sit… in my feelings… and just, well, FEEL.  A blessing and a curse, I suppose.  So today, as I sit with my coffee, I finally acknowledge some thoughts that I have tried to bury. Feelings that I have hidden, in amongst happy social media posts - and pretty photos.  

I miss my friend.

Richard.

When he died, his soul disappeared - stealing a part of mine with it.

At first, I thought this hollow feeling, this emptiness, was just shock.  One moment he was here and the next? Gone. As the days became weeks, I attributed the hollow feeling to grief.  I was grieving the loss of him - the loss of our friendship.  I assumed that with time, the piece of me that was hollow, would fill back up again.  I would be fine.  Now the weeks have become months… and nothing has changed.

Time.

“It will take time, Karen”.  “It gets better with time”.  “Give yourself time”

Sigh.

Will TIME give me back my friend? Will TIME call me up and argue about the finer points of current politics?  Will TIME send me ridiculous text messages in the middle of the night?  No?  

Well then.  TIME is not the answer.

So what IS the answer?

If only I knew.  

I have tried to fill that hollow space of mine with work, travel, chores, responsibilities and obligations.  Must keep moving… must keep moving.  

No time to think.  No time to feel.  Just do.  

Just do.

#grief #time

[bhatt-girls-mission]

What it feels to be human...

I must confess. I generally don’t like strangers or small talk. Travelling as much as I do for my job, I inevitably find myself in lines, bathrooms, restaurants and planes with complete strangers while I silently repeat a mantra of “don’t notice me don’t talk to me… don’t notice me don’t talk to me.. don’t notice me don’t talk to me”. I’m not sure if that is my introverted side coming out, or the fact that I am antisocial. Whatever the case, it is what it is, and I have never wanted to colour outside of those lines. Last night, as I retuned home to Vancouver BC from Calgary AB, I had an interaction with someone that has left me so rattled I am still struggling with it today. When the plane landed and stopped at the gate, the familiar sound of a thousand clicks of seat belts being released and general chatter zipped through the stale cabin air. People stood up and shuffled to get their bags from the overhead compartments and stood anxiously in the aisle so they could be be the first ones off the plane. Suddenly, over the speakers came the flight attendants voice. She explained that there was an emergency situation for one of the passengers at the back of the plane and they needed to disembark first. She asked for our co-operation to clear the aisle so that they could assist her. Anxious looks passed between all of us as we grew silent and complied. As the flight attendant and the passenger in question started to make their way to the front of the plane, the silence felt almost heavy. (there is no other way to describe it). The passenger, a woman in her 60’s, looked as if she hadn’t slept for days. She remained silent as she walked. Her eyes wide, she looked lost, as the flight attendant walked in front of her asking people to clear the aisle. And then, the thing that I pray never happens between me and strangers… happened. This woman… noticed me. She stopped and looked me right in the eye…. She reached out and touched my arm. And sadly said… “My grandson is dying”. I was stunned. Why she choose me to say this to I will never know. But it broke me and I did something that I would never have guessed in a million years: I reached out, rubbed her arm, and quietly said “I am so sorry”. We held each others gaze for a brief few seconds, and then she continued off the plane. I felt like all the air had escaped my lungs. I have spent my entire life avoiding interaction with strangers. Yet, in that one small moment - I connected with her. She needed someone to hear her. And she choose the one person who avoids this at all costs. And in that one moment, my old mantra didn’t matter. Because human nature kicked in and I just … reached out and touched her. When push comes to shove, and a dire situation is presented to us, it does not matter our skin colour, our upbringing, our religion, our identity, what’s in our bank accounts or who we choose to love. We are all human. We all experience birth and death with the same emotions. She noticed me. She spoke to me. We silently connected. And for the first time in a long time… I felt human.

#human #human experience #introvert #sad #connection

[bhatt-girls-mission]

How-to Make Homemade Nut Butters…RECIPE

[bhatt-girls-mission]

VEGAN KFC ???

I was never much of a fast food junkie.

But when I did indulge, there were a few places that I loved.  One of them was KFC.  Ah yes, the home of Colonel Sanders and the secret 12 herbs/spices recipe!  Back in the day (and by that I mean the 70′s), KFC chicken was simply THE. BEST.  Full stop.  The chicken was never super greasy, the breading was perfectly crispy, and the fries kicked ass.

So.  It was with a great deal of interest that I started scouring the internet to find a vegan version of this junkie treat.  HUZZAH!  I found one!  (Actually, to be honest, I found over 20).  I decided to experiment and combine a few recipes and see if I could replicate the ORIGINAL taste of KFC that I remember.

Here’s what you need:

For the “chicken” meat: (AKA: SEITAN)

1 cup vital wheat gluten - (in Canada this is known as “GLUTEN FLOUR”)

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tsp onion powder

½ tsp Himalayan salt - (regular table salt works too!)

½ tsp poultry seasoning

¾ cup vegetable broth

2 tbsp tahini - (you can use plain hummus if you can’t find tahini)

3-4 cups of vegetable broth (enough to cover), for cooking

Oil for frying (I used Canola, but you can use peanut, etc)

For the coating:  ( taken from the official KFC recipe! )

2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 tablespoon salt

½ tablespoon dried thyme leaves

½ tablespoon dried basil leaves

1/3 tablespoon dried oregano leaves

1 tablespoon celery salt

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon dried mustard

4 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons garlic salt

1 tablespoon ground ginger

3 tablespoons ground white pepper

For the “Egg” wash (used to coat seitan)

5 eggs worth of egg replacer

¼ cup pickle juice - (that’s right, PICKLE JUICE)

Ready to have your mind blown?  LET’S GO!

In a mixing bowl, mix together gluten flour, salt, nutritional yeast, onion powder and poultry seasoning.

In another bowl, combine ¾ cup broth and tahini and whisk until smooth.

Mix the dry ingredients with the wet and stir until well combined.

Knead the dough until it is elastic but not dry. Sprinkle some additional gluten flour if you find you have made your dough too sticky.

Divide the dough into small little chunks. Keep in mind they will grow to about twice their size, so make then smaller then you would normally. Place in a casserole dish or deep pot, covering them completely with vegetable broth. Cook in broth for 1 hour at 350 degrees (med heat). If the pot needs a top up of veggie broth, do it. Allow to cool.

While your seitan is bubbling away in the broth, let’s assemble the other bits!

For the “EGG” wash:

Mix together pickle juice and egg replacer - set aside.

For the coating:

Mix all the herbs and spices together in a large bowl.  Whisk to combine everything evenly

NOW THE FINAL STEPS!

After cooling, toss the seitan “chicken” cutlet into the dry mixture and coat completely, then toss it into the wet, again coating evenly on all sides. Toss into the flour mixture again and coat generously. Repeat with the remaining cutlets and set aside.

Place cutlets into the hot oil using a pair of tongs. Flip occasionally to ensure even cooking. Allow to cook for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the outside is crisp and golden brown. Allow to drain on a paper towel. Repeat with the remaining cutlets

This is what it looks like on the inside when done….. Pretty freaking realistic!

And now, the finished product!!  TA DAAAAAH!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Did this taste like a complete dupe for the original?  YES!

Would I eat it all the time?  No.  But as an occasional treat? YES. There is no shame in my game on this one. :)  This is the kind of thing that I could take to a friend’s house for a pot luck and not feel like I have to convince my friends to eat it.

I need to give a HUGE shout out to The EDGYVEG for this one.  She has really lit a spark under me as I seek out healthy alternatives. (I used parts of her recipe for a Chick-Fil-A sandwich in this KFC adventure). If you get a chance, look her up on YouTube.  :)

Until Next Time –

KK

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Vegan Tourtiere!

The seasons have shifted.

Daylight Savings Time has ended….plunging us into the long, dark teatime of our souls.

So what’s a person to do ?

EAT COMFORT FOOD!

BUT WAIT!!  Before you buy a million boxes of Kraft Dinner…

How about a little “meat” pie? (Incase you didn’t realize, the quotation marks denote that the pie is VEGAN).

I found this little recipe on Pinterest, and it intrigued me.  I am Canadian and I LOVE a good Tourtière.  

But.  I need it to be healthy.  Vegan even.

This looked like it ticked off all the boxes.  Let’s take a look at the recipe, and then I’ll tell you my modifications :)

For the tourtiere

300 grams (10.5 oz) white button mushroom caps

1 jar (400 grams / 14 oz) chickpeas

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 leek, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 potato, peeled and grated

1 cup vegetable stock

2 tablespoons soy sauce

½ teaspoon allspice

½ teaspoon thyme

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Salt and pepper, to taste

As for the crust?  There are a million vegan crust recipes out there — choose your favourite :)  (Mine is made with oil instead of butter)

Ok.  So here is what I did that was different:

* I am not one on a lot of muss and fuss when it comes to cooking.  So I decided to use 2  Pkg’s of Yves Garden Veggie Crumble instead of the whole “mushroom / chickpea” mash.  Easier and less hassle!

* I shredded my potato and then drained off the excess starch liquid.  (No one likes a runny “meat” pie )

* The spices were a good start.. but it needed a little more “oomph!” Enter some fresh minced garlic!  I teaspoon and a bit.  Also, lots of fresh, cracked black pepper and a bit of kosher salt.  Made a world of difference. Final spice?  1/2 teaspoon of SAGE.  

Here’s how to put it all together!

In a large pan over medium-high heat add the oil, veggie chuck mixture, celery, leek and carrots… and fry, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender. Add the potatoes, vegetable stock, soy sauce and spices and cook until thickened – about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F)

 Remove the pie crusts from the freezer. Roll out one crust to the size of your pie plate between two pieces of plastic wrap to prevent sticking. Remove the top piece of plastic wrap and flip the crust into your pie plate. Remove the plastic wrap. Roll out your second crust, also between two pieces of plastic wrap, to the size of the top of your pie. Fill your pie with the spiced filling. Flip the top of your pie crust onto the top of your filled pie and remove the plastic wrap. Seal the edges and cut vents in the top of the pie. Bake for 45 – 60 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing. Can be served hot or cold with gravy, chutney, ketchup or sweet chili sauce.

TA DAAAAAAAAAH!

So on a scale of 1 - 10 where did this land?

12.  

For realz.  So damn good I didn’t even need a gravy, or sauce, or chutney, or the last rites performed over it because it sucked so bad…..

SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

I will probably eat this for the next few days…. while sitting in my unicorn onesie pyjama’s …. in front of a toasty fire… while waiting for the sun to return.

(We all choose to mourn the death of summer in our own ways.)

Until Next time….

KK

PS: mucho thanks for the original recipe … http://www.cilantroandcitronella.com/vegan-tourtiere/

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Tired.

Well fuck.

I think I may actually be out of steam.

I am tired.

I am tired of negative type bullshit that I am forced to see, hear, read etc on a daily basis.

I am tried of the US election.

I am tired of conspiracy theories.

I am tired of young couples/ women / men feeling like they HAVE TO have dream weddings, showers, parties, etc.

I am tired of pre-engagement photos, engagement photos, wedding photos, announcement photos, maternity photos, baby photos, smash cake photos, STAAAAAAAAAAAAHP!  

I am tired of entire industries built on the notion that everyone MUST look perfect all the time. *see above*

I am tired of body shaming.

I am tired of slut shaming.

I am tired of worrying about my teen daughter out in the wide world.

I am tired of worrying about money so that I can keep my daughter in a school that has an incredible educational program.

I am tired of friends that only talk to me when they want something.

I am tired of being known as “funny” and not anything else.

I am tired of small talk.

I am tired of line ups.

I am tired of feeling ripped off all the time.

I am tired of the over commercialization of every freaking holiday under the sun.

I am tired of people being offended.  By everything.  Especially Christmas and decorations.

I am tired of the assumption that if you don’t follow “MY god” you are in the wrong.

I am tired of racism.

I am tired of money being spent on wars and not poverty.

I am tired of the notion that you MUST spend spend spend money on large houses, boats, cars and adult toys in order to feel fulfilled.

I am tired of animal abuse stories.

I am tired of stupid people on social media.

I am tired of #hashtags.

I am tired of people expecting things for free.

I am tired of the sense of entitlement that most people have nowadays.

I am tired of long hours at work - and short weekends,

I am tired of not being appreciated.

I am tired of thinking that food is the enemy.

I am tired of thinking about cancer.

I am tired of living alone.

I am tired of being responsible.

I

am

tired….

so very tired….

of being tired.

#tired #exhausted #done #life #adulting #rant #rough #stop

[bhatt-girls-mission]

The Tragically Hip

Dear Non-Canadian Friends -

So.  

I know that you were intrigued about our nationwide outpouring of affection for the band The Tragically Hip.  I know that you read a few articles, looked up some videos on YouTube and then streamed some of the final concert. I know you did this and were perplexed.

The lead singer did not do any of his legendary stage moves.

The stage was not decked out in backdrops and special effects.

The band members were not wearing “typical rock band” gear.

The music was good, but sometimes the vocals were flat and out of tune.

Lemme explain.

First of all, if you only focused on last nights final performance, you are not seeing the big picture.  There is so, so much more to this band.  Please have a listen to the album ROAD APPLES.  Take a moment and discover the albums FULLY COMPLETELY…. UP TO HERE … and DAY FOR NIGHT.  

Do you see it now?  Do you hear it now?

Pure rock and roll.

Pure Canadiana.

Last night was a moment in time that united the WHOLE DAMN COUNTRY.

We watched in awe as Gord Downie pushed though pain, exhaustion, sadness and disease to give us one final moment with the band that has been as much a part of the Canadian Experience as hockey and poutine.  

Everyone knows someone who has struggled with cancer.

The multifaceted disease wreaks havoc with your body. Then there are the treatments: Chemotherapy.  Radiation … both of which leave the recipient violently ill, balding, fatigued beyond reason.  

Gord Downie experienced all of that PLUS surgery.

Well.  Can you just imagine how damn HARD it was for Gord to not only sing for one concert .. but a whole damn CROSS COUNTRY TOUR???

So yes.  You’re right. 

Gord didn’t leap about the stage like he used to.

There was just a simple stage set up.

The other band mates were dressed up in clothes that looked more business than rock and roll.

And yes, Gord’s singing was sometimes out of key.

But for Canadians, last night was not about perfection.  It was not about a perfectly sung lyric.  It was about showing love to the band that has been our Canadian soundtrack for over 30 years.

Do not judge this band on last night’s final performance. You would be doing a disservice to all the incredible brilliance that this band has brought forth for so many years.

Last night was more an emotional goodbye than a perfectly sculpted concert.

It was one man’s mission to, (as Bruce Cockburn once sang), “Kick at the darkness ‘till it bleeds daylight”.

Dig deep into their discography.

Listen to the intelligent lyrics.

Feel your heart quicken during the opening guitar riffs for New Orleans Is Sinking.

Discover what it means to be truly Tragically Hip.

#the tragically hip #final concert #Canadian #Soundtrack #Cancer #Love #sing #band #rock

[bhatt-girls-mission]

An Open Letter To My Neighbour....

Dear Neighbour...

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt "CONGRATULATIONS!" on securing yet another Monday off.  Wow, two long weekends in a row ?  You, my friend, are living the dream!

I would also like to congratulate you for not lazing around all day in bed on your day off,  but rather,  setting up in the backyard with some power tools and beer right at 8am.  The devil makes work for idle hands I guess, emirite? hahaha.

But I really need for you to put down your Dremel sander and listen to me for a minute.

Far be it from me to hate on your choice of music. I mean, who DIDN'T have a thing for LOVERBOY and those tight red leather pants? I guess I just don't want to "CUM ON FEEL DA NOIZE"  while trying to eat breakfast. Furthermore, I don't want to "ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRICANE", or for that matter, do I feel a need to "POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME" or anything else in my kitchen. Do you KNOW the amount of ants that brings in !?!  Sheesh!

I have heard that it's every man's right to listen to classic rock while chugging beer and scratching his balls, but can you stake your claim to masculinity at a lower volume?

And stop drinking O.V. cheap ass beer.

And adjusting (what I can only assume is your "package") in front of the neighborhood children.

Ok. That's it.

Have a fabulous day off and I'll see you at the street BBQ.

Thank you!

Your Neighbour...

[bhatt-girls-mission]

5 years ago (almost to the DAY)

The Case For Dancing In Supermarkets.... 

(A favourite Bowie memory written in 2011)

Have you noticed?

There has been a palatable shift in the cosmos lately.  A shift that’s caused people who were formerly happy, jolly and full of holiday cheer to transform into grumpy, tired, drawn out shells.  I first began to sense the shift as I observed other drivers on the way to work.  Sullen expressions.  Deadened eyes.  Quite simply? No joy.  Now I understand, work is not something I usually bounce out of bed for either.  However, I also don’t go to work feeling like I am attending a funeral!  What gives?

The “shift” then started to permeate other parts of my day.  Annoyed people waiting in lines at the bank.  Pissed off patrons at the local Tim Hortons—because their order was wrong.  Frustrated people flipping the ‘bird’ at the snowplow driver who just unceremoniously dumped 4 feet of slush at the base of their driveway.  (ok, I admit, that was me.)

Something has happened to cause this dramatic personality morphing.  And now, after days of contemplation, I have the answer to all of it. In one word?   JANUARY.

January sucks.  It’s cold.  It’s dark.  Most of us spend the month in some bizarre self-flagulation  ritual in order to keep to our NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS.  Chances are, you are still hung over from that bangin’ New Year’s bash you attended and that probably isn’t helping your mood either!  And sadly, this bad mood month formerly known as JANUARY, spreads its ill will to everyone it meets.

Bad moods are contagious.

Sigh.

Not a fabulous outlook for 2011, is it?  But do not despair dear readers!!  For I bring you good tidings of great joy!!  Oh wait… sorry… that sentence was stolen from Christmas.  What I meant to say was HOLY SHIT I know how to fix this crap!  If bad moods are contagious—then conversely, GOOD moods are too!

Through extensive research (READ: complete fluke), I discovered the key to happiness… and it can be found in the aisles of your local supermarket.  No, not spray cheese… although, I DO consider that to be one of the wonders of the modern day world…. But I digress.

The key to happiness came about during the mundane task of grocery shopping with my daughter.  There we were.. pushing our cart around the store.  Barely speaking.  Just grabbing groceries and plunking them into the cart.  Both of us were tired, cold, and just wanted to get home.  As we walked , I noticed that other shoppers must have been feeling the same, for I did not notice even ONE smile.  And then it happened.  A song came over the p.a system.. and I found my face contorting into an unfamiliar position.. a SMILE!  *GASP!*  The song  was LET’S DANCE by David Bowie… And for whatever reason, a smile crept across my face as I remembered being 14 years old.. listening to that song on my small portable radio.  Soon that smile grew to be a full on grin.. which in turn, sent a signal to my brain.. which then sent a signal to my feet… and I began to DANCE.  Letting go of the cart I began to shuffle my feet..”Let’s dance! Put on your red shoes aaaaaand  dance the blues…” My daughter stopped dead in her tracks and stared.. mortified.. as I began to sing into a cucumber that I used as a microphone.  “Let’s dance! To the song they’re plaaaayin on the raaaaaaadio!”  I grabbed my daughter and swung her around.  “Let’s sway.. while colour lights up your face!” Now I found myself doing my best Bowie impersonation, legs and arms all akimbo as I forced my daughter to keep up with me. “Let’s sway.. Sway through the crowd.. to an empty space!”.  The looks on our fellow shoppers would’ve stopped most people dead in their tracks—but not me!  I was no longer a  40 year old grocery getter… I was a 14 year old girl rocking it out to the Thin White Duke!  All of a sudden, my daughter decided to really join in.. and she began to dance too!  Cart forgotten, we began to dance in ernest, and besides that one unfortunate moment where I sorta spun her into a display of Kraft Dinner.. we were in HEAVEN!

A most curious thing happened at this point.  When the song finally ended, I caught a glance of some of the people in the aisle with us… they were SMILING!  One lady even put down a can of Beefaroni to applaud our efforts!  Bowing slightly, my daughter and I beat a hasty retreat out of the aisle and attempted to finish our shopping.  And in every aisle we walked, there was a person.. SMILING at us.. and we smiled back!  INCREDIBLE!!  By the time we made it to the cash desk, there were random people singing to themselves as they shopped… and more than a handful of people were grinning silently to themselves.

Good moods ARE contagious!!

So I want to end this note with a challenge:  Take a few moments out of your incredibly cold, dull January day and inspire JOY.  Be HAPPINESS.  Live LOUDLY.  I don’t care if it’s in your office, or a gas station, or hell.. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say yes, even Walmart!  DO SOMETHING that makes you smile… and perhaps?  Your smile will spread to the next person.. and we’ll all make it to the end of this month with a smile on our lips and laughter in our souls.

Karen

xo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyVjdQXNs9s

#david bowie #lets dance #ginger on a mission #Memories #thin white duke #daughter #dancing

[bhatt-girls-mission]

New year... New you??

Ah, a new year is upon us! Time to make resolutions that we won’t keep, wish people we don’t care about “blessings for the new year” and start a diet which we will give up on within a week.

As for me?  I’m starting off this new year with a purge…. a purge of all the thoughts I have had about Facebook for the past year.  I need to get this off my chest so I can start the new year with a clean slate.. and hopefully less BS on my social media feeds.

Grab a coffee.. get comfy… and let’s get to it!

I don’t know when the shift happened but … Facebook has turned into a veritable cesspool of crapola. It’s gotten to the point that I am reminded on a daily - nay, HOURLY basis that there is nothing original in the world anymore.  Oh, you need examples?  Let me reach into my Bag Of BS and pull out a few!

*  The person who ONLY posts forwards and stupid pictures that state “How many likes for this amputee veteran who has one eye, can’t see the colour orange, lives in a tent, can only eat jellybeans, hand raised a penguin and is allergic to cheese? LIKE if you love Jesus, SHARE if you love guns”.  STAAAAAAAHP IT!  LIKING a status, or SHARING a status does not indicate what kind of person I am.  However, if crap like this is the only thing YOU are forwarding?  It DOES indicate what kind of a person you are.  Someone who wants to make me miserable when you subject me to this shit in my newsfeed.

* CHANCE TO WIN… *insert gift card, trip, money, free guinea-pig HERE*.  People.  I have tried (repeatedly!) to help out my poor misguided friends and family about the scam that is the SHARE TO WIN post.  For the sake of humanity, I will explain it ONE. MORE. TIME.  Those supposed share to win posts?  SCAM.  The more it circulates, the higher the page views, the more money - that’s right, I said MONEY - the owner of the page can SELL THE PAGE FOR TO ADVERTISERS!  How do you get a lot of traffic on your page?  ADVERTISE A FICTIONAL CONTEST AND HAVE PEOPLE SHARE THE SHIT OUT OF IT LIKE IT WAS THEIR JOB!  Sidenote:  Have you ever shared a post from WALT DISNEY WORLD. that promised you a 7 day vacation?  Notice anything weird in the title?  Look close… do you see that period that seems odd after the name WALT DISNEY WORLD. ? Or DISNEY. CRUISE LINES?  That’s how you know it’s not real.  The people starting the scam are getting around a copyright technicality by inserting unnecessary punctuation.  So no. There will be no all expense cruise granted to you, or Home Depot gift card, or even millions of dollars courtesy of Bill Gates, Mark Zukerberg or Elmo.

* Passive aggressive nonsense.  Relationship based or otherwise.  Someone at work stole your lunch and now you are forcing me to look at a million and one quotes on karma?  STOP.  Your girlfriend/boyfriend did you wrong and now you find solace posting multiple quotes from Marilyn Monroe? (spoiler alert: She never said ANY of that stuff btw).. STOP.  Imagine for a moment that you are out in the real world.  Would you go up to a friend in the street and hand them a print out of a landscape photograph that has cursive writing on it that states “I WILL SURVIVE THIS INJUSTICE!” with the quote attributed to the Dalai Lama? No?  Then don’t do it on social media either.  

* “This parakeet was loading the dishwasher BUT THEN THIS HAPPENED!”.  Any post that says “I COULDN’T BELIEVE..” or “I WAS SHOCKED”… or “WAIT TILL YOU SEE..” is not worth the time.  It is click bait.  (See my chance to win commentary).  If you REALLY feel a need to share the unbelievable video with FB land?  Search for it on YouTube… then copy/paste the YouTube link instead of the link from the “HAPPY TOES FAMILY FRIENDLY FARM” page you first saw the video on.

* The quizzes.  OH THE QUIZZES!  “What fruit are you based on your horoscope?”  “Can you see in the dark?” “Are you a genius?”  … um… I want to start a quiz called “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”.  Do I need to know if you were a watermelon in a former life? No.  And neither do you..

* (sing this next line to the tune of If You Are Happy And You Know It)..

IF….. YOU’RE……. VEGAN AND YOU KNOW IT SHUT YOUR TRAP! *clap clap*

Now before all you veggie loving citizens get your carrots in a bunch (see what I did there? haha).. This is not an attack on the vegan lifestyle. (As some of you know, I am actually vegan). This is, however,  an attack on those of you that INSIST on posting ONLY videos/photographs of animals being mutilated etc as a wake up call to meat eaters.  

I had a boss once who used to say “People only respond to one of two things:  A stick with a carrot dangling on the end of it.. or the stick itself”.   If you want to inform the world about choosing vegetables over meat, the way to do it is NOT to hit people repeatedly with the stick.  How about educational posts that show the benefits of a plant based diet?  Or recipes that are meatless?  THAT will get more people to come over to your cause.  If I want to witness blood, guts and gore as I am drinking my coffee in the morning?  I’ll look out my window and watch my drunken neighbours duke it out over the last beer in their 2-4.

* MINIONS.  or anything KARDASHIAN.  I refuse to devote another nano-second to the horror that is minions, or the family of Kardashian’s, or even minions made to look like Kardashian’s. Next!

* Politics.  Oh god.  I can’t even.  Political debates should be held around the Thanksgiving / Christmas / Easter dinner table with your drunk uncle.  Not on social media.  I don’t care about Trudeau’s nanny.. or the fact that you hate Drumpf’s hair.  Seriously.  There are more important things to discuss.  At this point, the only politics I am interested in are “The Politics of Dancing” by RE-FLEX.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ww5y_re-flex-the-politics-of-dancing_music

The gist of all of this is simply the following:  STOP POSTING CRAP.  Start posting real life pictures of you and your kids, or something cool and amazing you witnessed or made.  Throw some poetry in the mix.  Take a cool photo of something other than your dinner.  Share your real joy or pain.  Stop depending on others to explain your life or feelings for you!  If we are friends, I want to connect with YOU… not some stupid shit that has been passed around the internet for the last 4 years.

I think I am going to stop here.  I can assure you, there are at least a dozen more examples of Facebook fuckery I could write about , but I would rather take that time to go through my Facebook account and start deleting / hiding all statuses from the biggest offenders.

May 2016 be a year of new beginnings and better social commentary for everyone.

We return now to your regularly scheduled programming.

#gingeronamission #ginger on a mission #facebook #social media #pet peeve #comedy #new years resolution #clean

[bhatt-girls-mission]

In Search of the EPIC NYE Party

Well, the holiday’s are now almost over.  Whether you celebrated Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanza, the last big hurrah is coming up on the 31st.

NEW YEARS EVE.

My day has become inundated with text messages, phone calls and conversations all asking the same thing: “So, any plans for New Years?  Big parties?”.

There was a time when I LIVED for the party.  LIVED for crazy New Years stories.  One year, I think it was 1989 (??) my best friend Stace and I decided that the place to be at midnight was a club called RPM in Toronto.  We bought tickets, new clothes, did our hair, drank some questionable alcoholic concoctions (courtesy of her brother) and headed out into the cold night.

Did the night live up to the hype?

No.

In the end it was just me and my friend, stumbling around Union Station, shoes off, missing the last train and wondering how awful we were going to feel the next day.

So what IS the big deal with having crazy expectations about New Years Eve anyway?

Why do we spend year after year on a quest for the ULTIMATE party or get-together?

Inevitably, we all end up disappointed the next day….

What the hell is the point??

I used to think that the purpose of New Years Eve was to get as wrecked as possible and sleep through Jan 1st  in an attempt to delay my New Years resolutions for at least one more day.

Nowadays, I feel like New Years Eve is about trying to hang onto traditions and the feeling that we are young. Pssst! SPOILER ALERT: WE AREN’T YOUNG ANYMORE.  The thought of drinking until I am pukking up a colour I don’t even recognize as being part of the spectrum, does not delight me.  It terrifies me.

Call me an old fuddy-duddy but… I would rather have a quiet evening in with the people I love instead of on the rip looking for an epic bash that I am sure exists on New Years Eve.  

So here is my first New Years Resolution for the new year:

I will now let go of the notion that there is an incredible party for New Years out there somewhere and I need to find it.

Instead? This NYE MY epic party will find me with my guy… curled up in front of a roaring fire after consuming a delicious dinner.. drinking a glass of red wine.. and counting my blessings.

I can think of no better way to ring in a new year.

Happy New Year everyone… may this upcoming year be the year you find out what YOUR epic party really looks like.

#ginger #ginger on a mission #NYE #new years eve #party #2016

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Bill Nye looks like he’s about to drop the hottest album of 2015.

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Friends...

I have a confession to make.

I am a shitty friend.

Yup.  I said it.  I am a total crappy friend.  Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I treat my friends badly.  No.  It’s more akin to the type of bad that is not calling when I should .. not going out for coffee dates… not responding to e-mails.

sigh.

I’m not sure when I started to change from the social butterfly - anything for a party- kinda gal.  I suspect it was when I hit my 30’s, focused on my career and had a child.  Life took over and before I knew it, I just kinda.. drifted away.  I became consumed with my own day to day routine and my “old” life just faded into the background.

There were many times that I thought “you should call so and so”, or “I think a coffee date with insert-name-here would be nice”… ah, but as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

So indulge me gentle readers, as I try to tell you about how incredibly awesome some of my friends are and how much their friendship means to me (even though I don’t show it sometimes).  

Without further ado - here is my love letter… to friends.

My ex husband came into my life with hurricane speed, bringing with him not only an airport’s worth of baggage, but also some incredible friends (who soon became MY friends).  The marriage may have dissolved, but the friends remain.  There are 3 in particular - my 3 amigos - Monica, Adam, Susan … who always had my back.  Always had a kind word to say.  Always made me feel welcome.  I only get to see them about twice a year, but in those brief visits?   I feel loved.

Then there are my private school alumni.  I have borne witness to some crazy shit from the 80’s, and I could not be prouder that I marched through puberty with these gals.  What humbles me is that these girls are still around.  Su, Steph, Katie, Sam B,  and the miriad of Branksome Boarders that became my sisters.  

Su - thank you for being a quiet force in my life.  Thank you for coming with me to Depeche Mode.  Thank you for just being glorious YOU!  

Steph - words fail me.  Your outgoing, HONEST personality makes me want to be a better woman.  Thank you for listening to me when I poured out my heart to you and not judging.  Thank you for being such a huge supporter of my daughter.  Thank you for everything!

Katie - You were one of the first people I met when I started high school.  We bonded over our love for Duran Duran and have remained friends since.  Thank you for some of my most treasured memories. (Remember the Porche ride to the cottage? LOL).  Thank you for being the FIRST person to purchase my daughter’s artwork.  Thank you for making me laugh.  Thank you for the concerts in the past, and the ones yet to come.

Sam B - You inspire me.  Your gentle heart and kind words always bring me to tears.  Thank you for caring.  Thank you for consistently reaching out - even when I remain silent.  Your love for life, your husband and Levi make me incredibly grateful for your friendship.  Thank you. xo

After Branksome came ODCVI. (or, as we called it, Orillia District’s Collection Of Vicious Idiots)

Some of my best friends came from that era.  Cory.  Michelle.  Richard.  Alec.  Phil.  Kim.  Leslie.  Sheri.  Joey.  Brian.  Britt.

Thank you for dancing at Club 404.  Thank you for the parties that were legendary. Thank you for STILL being a force in my life.  Most of all? Thank you for reminding me that being in a small town is sometimes the best thing in the world. :)  

Next up? My Clarkson SS friends and The Monk Players.

What can I say? If I had to sum it up in one word.. that word would be LAUGHTER.

Sooooooo much laughter.

Thank you for being my own tribe of weird.  Thank you for taking a chance on a ginger headed girl who just “showed up” in Gr 13. (Yes kids, back then there was a grade 13).  Thank you for your love of Monty Python and inappropriate jokes.  You are my heart.

Which leads me to the COLLEGE YEARS.

Radio.  Not for the squeamish.  And neither were my friends. I wish I could thank each of you personally, but then we would be here for hours.  Just know this:  we may have lived off coffee and cigarettes.. slugged it out in the production studio at the most ridiculous hours of the night .. fought over shifts and voice overs… and had some SPECTACULAR arguments.. but I wouldn’t change a damn thing.  When we recently got together for a reunion I looked around the table and felt TRUELY grateful that we are still connected today. Thank you.

ONWARDS!

Who’s next? Ah yes, my retail friends.  From Starbucks, to Athlete’s World, to Disney.  ALL of you deserve my thanks and gratitude.  You made coming into work a sheer joy.  The fact that I am still connected to you now is a joy too. Sure, we only seem to connect through the modern miracle that is social media, but still.  I love reading your updates.  I laugh at your crazy antics and funny posts.  I smile when I see what your life is like now.  You were an amazing part of my journey and I am so glad that I got to share it with you all.

Finally….

Some friends who need a special section.

Sarah C - omg.  Where do I even start??  You have been my lifeline when I was drowning.  You are always willing to go the extra mile.  Your endless joy and deep caring bring me to my knees sometimes.   You are what true friends are made of.  The only thing that makes me happier than our friendship is knowing that our daughter’s are carrying on our legacy. :)  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.  

Last but not least.. STACEY.

We started out hating each other, but now I cannot imagine my life without you. 30 years is a hell of a long time to be in someone’s life.  I am so proud of our friendship that spans the miles.  I could write a damn novel on all our exploits!  (and I think you would be the only one who would buy a copy!)  You truly are the YIN to my YANG.  Your quiet confidence and steadfast loyalty have been  my happy place for years.  I KNOW that we will spend the rest of our lives being friends.  Best friends.

Thank You Stace for putting up with my craziness over the decades.  You are a testament to patience! I love you with all my heart.  You will forever be “my person”.

So.  With all that said.  If you have had the opportunity to cross paths with me throughout my lifetime, know that even though I may not say it all the time?  You mean something to me.  Your footprints are all over my memories and heart.  I will try to be a better friend and let you know how much you mean to me.

Thank you for being part of the great mystery of my journey and life.

Now!  Is there someone YOU should be thanking?  Take a moment and write or call them today!  We spend so much time wrapped in our own private little bubbles… break out and share some appreciation for all that they mean to you.

Until next time…

km

xoxo

#friend #friendship #journey #grateful #memories #loveletter #thankyou #thankful

[bhatt-girls-mission]

Let’s Talk About Skin...cancer

It started out small.

Minuscule , really.

A small little bump on the side of my nose … near my eye.

A pimple? Perhaps.  

Whatever it was, I was sure it would disappear as quickly as it came.

But it didn’t.

A year passed and the little bump became a bit larger.  I asked my doctor during a routine visit if it was “normal”.  He looked and said it appeared to be an innocuous mole — nothing to worry about.  If I wanted to, I could have it burned off.  So that’s what we did.

Another year passed and now the bump had returned.  This time though, it wasn’t so small.

It took on a clear, almost waxy appearance.  But since it didn’t hurt, (and I could cover it up with makeup), I took no real notice.  Just chalked it up to getting older.

By the third year, I was starting to feel a few little twinges of pain.  Nothing terrible, just pinpricks.  I would scratch the surface of the waxy bump and it would subside.

Year four and NOW I was starting to worry.  Quite a few people had noticed this large bump, and my closest friend Stace grew alarmed when she saw it while on vacation in the Dominican.

“Jesus Karen!  What the hell?  You need to get that looked at!”

“I know, I know.  It’s just a mole Stace.  It’s fine.  Honest.  It’s not skin cancer for chrissake!”

“Promise me that when you get home you have that checked out by your doctor.  Karen…PROMISE!”

“Fine.  I promise.  I’ll let you know what happens.”

And that, dear readers, was the promise I kept.  The promise that may have saved my life.

Upon my return from vacation, I made an appointment to see my doctor.  He took one look and got very concerned.  “I am sending you to see a specialist.  I think you may have skin cancer.”

Outwardly, I said “Ok. Sounds good”… but inside I was upset.

How could this happen???  I’ve been uber vigilant about wearing sunscreen since I was FIVE!  I was wearing long sleeve shirts and big hats at the beach while everyone else ran around with baby oil on, roasting in the sun!!  I have endured years of ridicule for being the “whitest girl alive” and being called “CASPER”.  Tanning beds?  Bitch, please!  I never tan.  I’ve done everything right and now I am being told I might have skin cancer????

So I went to the specialist, who took one look and declared yes, it is skin cancer.  But as far as the cancers go, I was lucky.  I had what is known as a BCC: Basal Cell Carcinoma.  Relatively small, usually non evasive if caught in time, easy to deal with.  Problem was, I had waited almost too long .. and it had grown deep.

Surgery.

So today, on a rainy morning, I found myself lying on a bed… face being prepped for needles of anaesthetic , eyes taped shut and nervous as all hell.

I won’t bore you with all the details of the actual cutting/coring out of my BCC. Just know that there was pain (LOTS of it!), cauterization of arteries that had been “feeding” the growth, and stitches.  

“Karen?  We’re done now.  We took out a little more than just the basal cell. We want to make sure we got it all.  It was pretty deep, but I think we did it. We’re sending off the specimen to pathology to make sure the cancer was taken care of.  We’ll let you know what we find out, ok?”

I glanced over at the “specimen” and was horrified to see just how bloody HUGE it was!

I had no idea!  To me, it was just a bump! But underneath? In the areas I never saw?  It had been steadily, silently, growing.

So now I am home.  Face slowly coming out of it’s frozen state and starting to hurt.

Bandages that make me look like I had a really bad zit and now I am trying to cover it all up.

I am relieved that this part is finally over, but now I know that my life cannot go on the same way as before.  I need a dermatologist to inspect me top to bottom every 6 months (apparently this stuff comes back!!).  I cannot ever leave the house without sunscreen all over my face - no matter the season.  If possible, I need to avoid direct sun.

sigh.

So what is the point of this missive?

Folks, it doesn’t matter HOW vigilant you are — skin cancer exists and it CAN happen to you.

Consider my story as a cautionary tale.

* Get ALL moles checked out.  ALWAYS.

* The atmosphere has changed and there is no such thing as a “safe” tan.

* Sunscreen is your friend!  (Well, that, and spray on tans!)

I almost waited too long.  If I had let another year slip by, there was the chance that the cancer would have spread throughout my bones.  Taking my face, and eventually my life with it.

So, now I play the waiting game.  Wait to see if the doctor got all the cancerous cells out.

In the meantime?  I’m off to the drugstore to stock up on sunscreen.

Until next time —

KB

#skin cancer #caution #sunscreen #face #moles #surgery #life #advice #scary

[bhatt-girls-mission]

WEDDING SEASON

Greetings and salutations my friends! Unless you've been living under a rock, you will have known that the official start to summer occurred on June 21st. What many of you may NOT realize is that the weekend that follows the beginning of summer....launches the official start of WEDDING SEASON.

An ass chapping dedicated to weddings? Don't mind if I do!

THE ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT.

So. The question was 'popped' and the answer "YES!!!" was given in a shriek that made eardrums bleed in a 5 mile radius. Now is the time to announce your  impending doom, errrrr....umm, I mean HAPPY NUPTIALS to the rest of the world. Enter the ENGAGEMENT PHOTO + ANNOUNCEMENT.. The pic/text is supposed to express your joy as a couple, the love in your eyes and the date of the wedding. That said, please stick to classic photography with nice clothes and scenery. Don't be an asshat and submit that picture of you and your now fiancee taken at the last New Years gathering... Where it shows your girl puking into a glittery top hat while you flashed the camera "THE SHOCKER". Side note: Almost as important as the photo is the text of the announcement. Look at both your names. Now figure out what sounds better. Trust me on this. I present to you EXHIBIT A

CHOOSING YOUR COLOURS FOR THE WEDDING

Gentlemen, this is the one area you will have NO SAY in. Why? Because the second you slipped on that sparkly diamond ring, your betrothed transformed into a walking Wikipedia entry on weddings. She will have chosen the colour scheme YEARS AGO , probably when she was 14 and acne covered. She will know EXACTLY what the bridesmaids will look like in said colour, and has probably entertained the idea of having a pony dyed that colour to be the ring bearer. But here's the thing: our taste as a 14 year old member of TEEN GIRL SQUAD is markedly different than that of a mature adult. One would think that with the passage of time would come the wisdom to know that hot-freaking pink is NOT considered elegant. WRONG! She is a woman on a mission and goshdarnit! She is going to have it look like unicorns just shat rainbows all over the place. Best advice I can give you? Grab some vodka, hunker down, and pray for dawn. For reals.

THEME WEDDINGS

Traditional weddings too stuffy for you? Do you feel a need to show your friends and family that you are a quirky, fun loving couple with a penchant for the obscure? Then step right up and plan your THEME!! If we are to believe Pat Benetar when she sings 'Love is a battlefield', then theme weddings are the bloody minefield on the way to the battlefield. People, people, people. Just like there is no such thing as The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny and Santa.. There is no such thing as a kick-ass theme wedding. It just doesn't exist. Words associated with theme weddings : Weird. Bizarre. Ackward. Words not associated with theme weddings: Fanfreakingtastic! Orgasmic! BestDayEVER!. Ah, I can hear your whining now "But it's OUR day! We want a wedding that represents US!. 4 words: Grow the hell up.. This is not your wedding... It's your mom's. Your mom's sole reason for bringing you into the world was not to have you make her macaroni necklaces or clay ashtrays. It was so that she could plan a wedding.... A different wedding than her own....A do-over, if you will. And if you think for one goddamn minute that she wants to dress as a Klingon in your STAR TREK salute to the holy sacrament of marriage? Bend down, put your head between your legs, and kiss your ass goodbye.

THE WEDDING CAKE

Many young couples have made the mistake of thinking that THIS is where they can let their creativity run amok. They would be wrong. Having a cake in the shape of your pet ferret Mr. Bojangles is appropriate for a 5 year olds birthday.. NOT your wedding. As a wedding guest, I care not that Mr B ( as you affectionately call him) once bit your man on his dangly bits as you made sweet, sweet love... and it was at THAT moment that you knew your husband was the man for you ( since he didn't kill the ferret OR you for laughing). All I care about is the cake. "Is it chocolate? Does it have real buttercream icing? Can I jam an extra piece of it in my purse to take home with me?". If I get a piece of your ferret cake's rear end, all I will be thinking is "This tastes like ass".

So for those of you contemplating something other than a traditional wedding cake? Don't.

RECAP (or Weddings For Dummies)

*The engagement announcement should be a picture of you and your fiancee looking like a modern day reproduction of the iconic painting AMERICAN GOTHIC. Also, if you have a name like WOODCOCK, omit your name from the announcement. Settle for a headline that says "Lordy Lordy! look who's getting married At 40!".

*Colours that look like they belong on a rodeo clown are NEVER in fashion. Except if you live in Calgary.... During the Stampede.... And you enjoy chuck wagon racing. ( shudder!)

*Theme wedding. Not for all the booze in the world.

*Cake. A sweet substance meant to jack guests blood sugar levels so that they can dance the Macarena. Cake is NOT an artistic expression. Then again, neither is the Macarena.

Still with me? Good. Because I would hate for y'all to miss the presentation of an ASS CHAPPERY AWARD to weddings and all the whimsical fuckery that goes with them.

Poorly thought out weddings?  I SALUTE YOU!!

Would love to stay and kibitz about the finer points of a garter belt, but I have to go dig out my standard wedding attire that I will parade through the next 8 weekends of hell.

Mazel Tov!

#wedding #wedding tips #wedding season #funny #sarcastic #gingergirl #ginger on a mission

[bhatt-girls-mission]

The case for television...

While scanning through my Facebook timeline this morning, I noticed a post from a friend of mine regarding television.

In the post, he explained how he has not watched television in quite a few years, but found himself turning one on while at a hotel.  He watched a program - then turned it off - vowing never to watch tv again.  To quote: “…And now I never need to watch one second of television again.  I do not see anything even remotely redeeming about being entertained by story after story of suffering and sadism. And, morality aside, I am quite certain these shows cannot possibly make anyone happier or more productive in their life.”

His statement gave me pause for thought.

You see, I too, gave up television more than 8 years ago.  However, I never saw tv in the same negative light as my friend.  I made the decision to rid myself of the “Gawk Box” based on the fact that I didn’t want my then very young daughter to be bombarded with advertising.  That, and well let’s be honest, the amount of money spent on cable per month is RIDICULOUS!  Everything that I was interested in could be found on the internet.  No commercials.  No BS.

But…I digress.  Back to pausing for thought….

So.  There I was, lying in bed, trying to digest just WHY humans like television?  If it really IS full of misery and fear.. why?  Why would we willing be exposed to that?  I thought about this as I stood in the shower.. as I brushed my teeth… and as I got dressed for the day.  After much pondering, I think I know why television is such a force.

It all comes down to one word: STORYTELLING.

Before the invention of television, there was radio.  Families would gather round the radio and listen to stories being acted out using only voice and sound effects.  Prior to radio, was printed media. Books, newspapers.  Before that? Actual storytellers.  People that would travel the land, telling stories - some true, some not - as a means to inform and entertain.

Storytelling has been around since the dawn of time.  The only thing that has changed is the medium in which it is delivered.

Storytellers have always been a mirror of the times in which they existed.  Not all the stories they told were inspirational, or happy, or even life affirming. Some were quite dark.  (Need an example?  Look at any of the original GRIMM FAIRY TALES.)

If television is indeed full of misery, is it just a mirror to what our society is right now?  Is this our “story” we are telling future generations?

Hmmm…..

Anyway, back to my friend and his take on television…

While I can certainly understand why he thinks television is a cesspool, I think that it comes down to a glass half empty - half full kind of thing.  It’s all how you look at it:

Some programs are meant to make us laugh. - (Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

Some programs are meant to inform us - (MYTHBUSTERS)

Some even make us cry - (Damn you Sarah McLachlan and your commercial!)

Not everything is terrible, dark or twisted.

We have the power of choice.  We have the ability to choose what “story” we want to hear.

We are participating in the grand tradition of STORYTELLING.

If the STORY we see on television is a reflection of society? Perhaps we need to look at the programs more as inspiration to go out and spread some positivity.. change the story.

We are all STORYTELLERS.

What will YOUR story be today?

#gingeronamission #gingergirl #television #iwantmyMTV #choice #storytelling #tradition

[bhatt-girls-mission]

The problem with “PERKY

We all have them.

That one friend in the group that can be counted on for a laugh.  A smile.  A warm gesture.

The one friend who is never having “a bad day”.

The one friend, that when you are contemplating drinking yourself into oblivion over an asshole ex, steps up and makes you see the humour in it all.

The one friend who everyone depends on to make a situation better ..

The one friend who is described as FUN.. HILARIOUS…..

“PERKY”.

Sounds great, right?

Umm… not so fast.

What happens when that one friend is having an ‘off’ day?  Who cheers THEM up?

sigh.

It’s been a rough 4 weeks here at the O.K Corral.  

Lots of personal crap going down.  I have had to deal with the following:

* Death (family friend)

* Job Loss (not mine - someone close to me)

* Heart Attack (my dad)

* Office Stress where I work

* Financial Stress

* Health (mine)

Blah.

         Blah.

                   Blah.

There have been days when all I wanted to do was curl up in my duvet and stay in bed all day.

There have been days when I did NOT want to be PERKY.

But.

It’s kinda my thing, ya know?

If I show up at work etc and I am not myself?  Where I am noticeably quiet or “down”?

It freaks people out.

Then I feel bad. — which is, to say, I feel worse than I did in the first place.

So.

I just flip the switch.  

My Switch.  

The switch that makes me smile and laugh and act goofy.. when in all reality I am probably silently plotting someone's untimely demise.

I guess what I am asking for at the moment is for everyone to cut me some slack.

I’ll get back to my PERKY self soon.

Promise.

xoxo

#perky #gingergirl #gingeronamission #crap #life #laughter #tired