Groupon needs to stop sending me emails. So does Vat19. And Etsy, and Zulily, and Romwe and eShakti, and STAAHHHHHHPPPP!

I have no self-control. I’m pathetic. OK, I keed. It’s not that bad (yet), but it sure is easy to click that “Buy” button more often than not. It’s all right; I can quit anytime I want.

Non sequitur…

I read an interesting article this morning on having a critical spirit. Good stuff, and it’s advice for all, because none are exempt from some of the characteristics that make up a negative outlook. And as the article states, the online environment has pretty much facilitated the spread of negativity. The piece is basically a primer on how to be nice.

It was an interesting companion to another article, posted on Facebook by a former student, now in her 20s. I *almost* posted a comment on the author’s site, but thought better of it, because, you know, my tone would have come across as a bit critical. Seriously though, this gal cornered the market on “Give me what I want for once, and don’t ask me questions or try to engage me in conversation about myself, and don’t even TRY to use your imagination and get a gift that is different or distinct, or something that you think I might really appreciate, because I won’t appreciate it if it’s not exactly what I want, so just shut up and give me what I want for godsake.”  Granted, that’s a generous paraphrase, but I calls ’em like I sees ’em. That’s how it came across in tone and intent. Spoiled bratism.

Here’s the old adage you won’t be surprised to read: It didn’t used to be that way. The other day, I saw this on my Twitter feed:

Of course it’s true, yes, and it was true back in 1975, when I was the age of the girl who retweeted this. Heck, it was true in 1965. But again — back in my day, and that “day” wasn’t that awfully long ago — I wouldn’t be caught dead saying something like Don’t you idiot adults get it? HERE is what teenagers want for Christmas! in the school newspaper, or in a public forum of any kind. Why? Because disrespect and arrogance disguised as “teenage honesty” didn’t fly. When my sons were in school, and we’d have a row of sorts during which they’d get a bit too close to insubordinate for my taste, I’d say something like, “You can tell me you’re mad at me or my decisions, but you better find another way of saying so.” Not that I was Supermom or anything, because I wasn’t, but I was — and still am — married to the belief that you can disagree with authority figures without slinging mud or being a tiresome, insolent d***he. That, to me, is how Miss “Literally, Darling” comes across in her article:  Help us get our acts together, but don’t make it seem like you’re giving us advice on what to do in order to get our acts together. Girl — get your act together.

I dunno…maybe it’s just me being an old-fashioned hag. Rat Fink, Rat Fink. What a donkey.

Band concert at the school today, yee haw! Looking forward to it, although I’d be fibbing if I said I wasn’t planning to check the Browns score every once’t in a while from my perch up in the light booth…

Happy Sumday!

Week of Insanity 2 — prepare to launch. Gigs on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Then it’s over for another Christmas. Huzzah!

Afterwards, I’m looking forward to baking with Mavis, spending some final fun nights with Kay before she moves, seeing my grandsons, celebrating with family on Christmas Eve, and doing the traditional Christmas Day getaway with the Thriller. I will love the quiet of coffee and reading in the morning, with nowhere to rush to and no schedule to keep. I will love making vroca cokolada and watching TV and reading in my jammies. Also, for the first time, our district has two full weeks off for Christmas break. Wow.

It’s an embarrassment of riches — yet I feel strangely unembarrassed. So let it be written.

Do you love, love, love my new Cheetahphone? It might make me actually want to talk on the phone more. Why a ridiculous purchase like this, you ask? 1) I hate holding a phone’s glass screen *on* my face; 2) it looked like a fun piece of funnery; 3) it was originally $30, marked down on Black Friday to $7 with free shipping…what wasn’t to love? And the best part: it works! You plug it into the headphone jack on the top of your phone, and it acts just like an old-school rotary/push-button receiver. The sound is perfect, and my arm didn’t get tired from holding it. I was also impressed with the weight of the receiver: very realistic with regard to having that old Western Electric feel. It even has a pick-up/hang-up button in the middle of the handset, so you can just squeeze the receiver to answer or end the call.

How fun! And I must say the cheetah pattern looks cute and sassy. The company also claims that the handset “reduces cell phone radiation by 99%.” As I don’t talk on the phone very often, that wasn’t a huge selling point, but it’s a nice feature.

The only drawback is that the cord is a bit on the short side, so I had to hold the Galaxy nearby the whole time. An audio cable extender should fix that right up.

Rat Fink, Rat Fink. You and your crazy toys…

And if that weren’t enough to satisfy your yearning for non sequiturs for the rest of your life: Remember apple Jell-O?, with its “imitation apple flavor” and “magnificent golden color?” I do. I’m trying to recall if Mother ever made it, or if I tasted it at someone else’s house. Ah, the 1960s…

Well, the presents are wrapped and under our little Whoville tree, and I’m ready to tackle what’s left of the pre-holiday mania. Then it’s on to the good stuff. I hope the Christmas crazy is winding down for you, too.

So call me on my Cheetahphone.

Kidding.

Last year, I got really behind in wrapping gifts, and it was a back-breaking session of  ||:measure, cut and tape:|| a couple nights before the family arrived. I said, “Next year, I’m getting a jump on things; I will wrap presents early.”

And here I sit.

Not that I mind, mind. One of the reasons I do all my Christmas shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving is so December won’t turn into a ridiculous exercise in insanity for the sake of buying things. I’m glad, after school is out, to have a few days to rest and enjoy life as it leads up to Christmas Eve, when we have our family gathering. That, and I need to use my downtime over Christmas break to get Dinner Theatre stuff ready.

I’ve also had a couple of disappointments in the gift department — something I’ve not had before. One fun clothing gift has gone back already (it wouldn’t have fit the recipient very well, even though the size was correct), and I bought myself some $70 boots for $20 at Payless.com, and they’re too wide in the leg for my taste. So, back they go. Bummer. No worries, though. I have plenty of time, and I am still convinced that shopping online is way better than schlepping it out in the freezing cold rain and snow. I mean, I can hit 10 stores online in one hour, with access to every available color (not to mention all brought to my door, free of charge). Try doing that while fighting traffic and parking and slow lines and annoying people and picked-over stuff. What’s not to like?

How do you do your shopping? Are you the last-minute, 11:59 on Christmas Eve type? Do you spread out your shopping over time, or do you like to get it done all at once? While I know the gift-giving isn’t the most important part of Christmas, it is definitely everywhere you look. You can’t sling a cat without hitting a Christmas sale or department store commercial on TV and radio.

But you know…I don’t mind it that much. Giving gifts may not be the most important part of Christmas, but it is one of the most enjoyable, and I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t get a huge kick out of seeing the faces of friends and family when they open a gift specially chosen for them. It’s all part of the love, and that’s really what Christmas was and is about, isn’t it? Whether you believe it’s love within the human spirit, or love in the form of a child sent by God to be the savior of the world — it’s still love. And I’m fine with that.

Is it Finkday yet? Look at me, just off a 6-day break and already complaining…

Beginning to what? Look a lot like Christmas? Yep.

I don’t know why, but I’m more excited about the holidays this time than in past years. It’s not that I’m more flush with Christmas coin, or that my two upcoming concerts have me stressed any less; rather, I think it’s a case of looking forward to that “down” time more. You know how teachers never work and have all those vacations? Yeah, that.

I made a comment to a couple people last week that after each show closes, I find it takes me a little bit longer to bounce back — like that’s a major character flaw or physical limitation. It’s really not. I have come to terms with the fact that while I’m slowing down a bit, I don’t have to let it occupy my every thought. I ain’t 35 anymore — so what? And you know what else? I used to feel guilty for having down time. It was like I was wasting valuable minutes doing nothing, when I could be getting stuff done. J’ever feel like that?

Well, those days are numbered for me. Over the last couple of months, I’ve actually enjoyed lying on the couch reading, or watching TV. I’m learning to take pleasure in time off — something I’ve rarely done when we’re not on an Odyssey or having grandchildren over.

So, as it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, I’m beginning to look forward much more to some leisure time: shopping, going out to eat, visiting with family and friends, reading, watching sports, and generally just being a bum when I want to. I mean, haven’t we earned it after all these years? I think so.

But first — concert stuff, other school issues, and the Hamsgiving menu. That’s me, TCB.

It’s almost Friday, luvs. Friday and payday: a match made in ze heavens.

Bonjour!

…than never, but I was busy thinking about stuff.

Fiends! Welcome to The Flip Side. What’s new with you?

In the six weeks since I last checked into my Finkweb dashboard (man, I had a lot of updates to run once I got here), much has happened, outside and inside my world. One good part was that my show opened and closed, and everything went pretty well. Another was the completion of the gray hair, don’t care odyssey. All the blond has reverted to its natural silver, and I must say I like it. As I told friends recently, with the blond hair went the BS. It’s been a jailbreak of sorts; I resolved to be more natural on the inside, much like my new outer appearance. It’s working. Whether it be my views on Common Core and high-stakes testing, or my slightly left-leaning opinions, or my white-hot hatred for mean people, I’m finally comfortable and in a completely good place, and if folks disagree, it’s OK.

In the more lucid seconds between the hours of insanity over the past month and a half, much has been revealed to me with regard to people’s personal thresholds, including my own. I find I’m less patient with — and more vocal about — ignorance, duplicity, intolerance, injustice and unkindness, personally, politically and socially. It’s not that I’m on a mission to provide all and sundry with my closest-held cultural views (indeed, this is not the forum for many of those issues), but rather, I’m less likely to be silent about my disagreement now. That’s the jailbreak aspect. I’m free. Well, freer.

Still, I’d like to think I’m the nice girl Mother raised. I’m not out to offend or shock (some folks really get off on that). I’m simply more likely to not stand by in silence while my sensibilities are being trampled.

With my dendrochronology running at 55 rings and counting, I’d say better late than never.

Hope you’re well and enjoying this lovely Sunday. Go Browns.