Anti-Social Media
Something good, every day.
Wrapping the Present
There’s something about the end of the year that gets me thinking about the past, planning for the future and trying to enjoy the present.
This year, I collected memories and photos from the past 12 months and made a Christmas letter, harkening back to the updates people used to send in their annual holiday greeting cards, updating friends and family with the big and small events of the year.
I used to love reading these, and I even created a few of my own back in the day. But those were different times.
The ubiquity of social media means that many families share their events as they are happening. As long as you are “friends” or subscribed to their updates, their news is fed to you in a steady stream.
I’ve had to opt out of this steady stream of information. It was too much for me to handle. But it doesn’t mean I don’t care about the people in my life who I don’t get to see or speak to regularly. And so, this year I made an attempt to reach out, say hello, let people know I’m thinking of them and share some of my news.
It was also a great exercise for me to go over the events of the past twelve months, review the photos I took (not nearly enough!), and think about what I wanted to share.
Which has led to me wanting to write more and make more things. Not just so that I can share them, but so I become more aware of my life, and of the ideas and events that are shaping me. And to increase my creative output on a regular basis.
What Would Happen?
What would happen if I got scared/bored and stopped showing up? Who would I disappoint?
Me. Just me.
OK. So here I am, disappointed. Now what?
Begin again.
Déjà vu? Yep. I’ve been here before. So many times. Oh how I love a blank slate.
So, I’m not giving myself that satisfaction. This time I simply write something. Get to work. Type.
And by the way, what happens if I don’t include a feature image? A fancy header? It’s fine. There’s no blog police. No one is going to hold me accountable except for myself. So, it’s time to start doing my job.
Rhubarb Simple Syrup
It’s rhubarb season!
I love rhubarb, and it’s basically a weed, which can make it pretty easy to get your hands on some.
I’ve got a friend with an oversized patch in the backyard that I’ve been told I’m welcome to raid at any time. I’ve got two batches already, and hope to get at least a couple more before the month is through.
Rhubarb also freezes really well. Just chop it, freeze in a single layer on a cookie sheet and then bag it. My favourite rhubarb recipe is actually my mom’s rhubarb pie, but I’ll leave the pies in her capable hands. This super versatile syrup/jam recipe is where most my rhubarb stash will be going this year.
All you do is simmer chopped rhubarb, water and sugar until it breaks down. Then strain and you’re left with a beautiful bright pink syrup and a lovely rough jam. Two products for the price of one, plus no waste!
The syrup has been wonderful in drinks, and I’ve used the jam on toast, to top granola/oatmeal and in coffee cake. Enjoy!
Rhubarb Simple Syrup + Jam
Super simple recipe to make the most of your rhubarb! Simmer rhubarb with water and sweetener, strain and enjoy!
- 4 cups rhubarb (fresh or frozen) (chopped)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
Add all ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil.
Simmer for 15-20 minutes until rhubarb has broken down.
Strain to collect syrup, pressing the rhubarb to extract as much liquid as possible.
Store the syrup in a bottle in the refrigerator.
Store the jam in a jar in the refrigerator.
How to Spend a Sunny Saturday in Sackville, NB
It’s not always sunny in Sackville, especially on a Saturday in early June. So when it is, get the heck out there and enjoy it!
8:30am Coffee.
We’re not barbarians.
9:00am Hit the local Yard Sales.
If you’re lucky, you have a local friend who is something of a garage sale speculator. He may have already done research on the sale locations and made a tentative map. All the fun and none of the planning! On the downside, said friend might wish you would drink your coffee faster so as to be at the sales when they open. But if they’re a good friend they will understand your Saturday morning sluggishness and forgive you for it. This week, anyway.
10:30am Sackville Farmers’ Market!
If you are lucky you will not be too late for a loaf of Esser’s amazing rye bread, but the chocolate croissants are probably gone by now. 🙁 You’ve got to hit the market early if you’re going to be particular. However, there’s always a lot of delicious food at this market. Bring your own containers! We also scored some local craft blueberry soda, spring greens and a bunch of kale. What’s a farmers’ market without kale?
11:00am More Yard Sales?
There might be nothing good left this late, but it’s still a lovely day for a drive!
12:00pm Break for Brunch
The Black Duck Cafe has great coffee and delicious eats, whether you want baked goods, breakfast or lunch. The emphasis is on local, fresh and healthy. Put your phone down and gaze out the windows at the garden in the “device-free zone” in the back.
1:00pm Walk the Waterfowl Park
My favourite place in town. Hold hands. Look and listen for the wide variety of different birds. Say hello to the other folks strolling the paths. Keep an eye out for stealth art, and watch for the gaggles of geese with their adorable goslings!
2:00pm Beer Garden at Bagtown
What’s better than local craft beer around a pallet table with friends? Check out Bagtown Brewing Company’s new beer garden, or take a break in the shady screened-in/out section. Grab a growler fill and enjoy more beer at home!
3:30pm Walk home and enjoy the rest of the day.
By the time we got home we had enough sun and opted for a board game. Everyone was too tired to think about cooking, so we ended up ordering pizza, but next time, I think a BBQ is in order!
Fuck SEO
I’m such a dummy sometimes. I find myself doing things I’m supposed to do, and then when I take a minute to examine my actions I realize that I am doing something I should with no real reason to do so.
When will I learn to stop trying to do things the right way? I’m not actually interested in being like everyone else, so why do I keep falling into these traps?
This blog doesn’t need to be optimized. I have no reason to care about SEO. I am just a person writing silly words on my personal blog, and I’m OK with that. I’m not hiding, but I’m also not trying to be discovered.
If anything I’m using this practice to become more myself. To get better at expressing my thoughts and ideas in my own way. Trying to squeeze my writing/thoughts into a certain format in order to be more searchable is completely beside the point! I find it difficult enough to write at all, so why would I try to put more challenges in my way?
The fact is, I’m not really making this for anyone else. I don’t have answers for people. I have ideas, but who doesn’t? I’m not here to say my thoughts are better, more valid or more interesting than anyone else’s. They’re barely interesting to me! I’m far more interested in what other people are thinking most of the time.
My writing here isn’t about being discovered. It’s about getting the thoughts out of my head and into words. That’s it. No lofty goals here. I’m just trying to express myself. If someone happens to read it and decides they have something to add or ask or answer, that’s awesome, but I don’t need or want to go looking for that. Comments are open and appreciated, but unnecessary.
I am interested in the craft of writing, but this blog as it currently exists is a practice. A challenge for me to spend some time each week to exorcise some of the stuff in my head and let it go. Out into the world. Unoptimized.
Thoughtful
I am full of thoughts. Some are nice, some are mean, many are silly. My thoughts make up a huge part of who I am. They determine how I interact with the world, even though the world never has access to them, except through my filters.
I have always prided myself in being thoughtful towards others. To consider what they might want or like or need and, when I am able, giving that to them.
I’m not very good at gift giving. I’m not even all that good at sharing, but I do like to make others comfortable.
Sometimes that means I put others’ needs before my own. And sometimes that makes me feel good. But there are also the times when I am so concerned with making other people feel better that I forget about what I want or need. And then I feel exhausted and sad.
So it makes sense to spend more time and energy alone and with people who like and want/need similar things to me. Because then it is more likely that I can care for them and myself at the same time or with less effort.
But this can be limiting. I also want to challenge myself. I do believe that it’s a good idea to spend time away from the people and things that are comforting and easy.
I guess, as with everything, there’s a balance and when it tips too far in one direction, all I can do is try to adjust without overcorrecting. It’s important to care. And I want to give. But I also want to make sure that I am OK.
Mother’s Day 2019
This year I got to spend Mother’s Day with one of my best friends. Um, no, I don’t mean my own mother. But don’t worry, I did spend Saturday with my mom and we had a lovely day-before-Mother’s-Day (my mom is awesome, for the record). But I wanted to visit my friend, who is celebrating her very first mother’s day as a mom.
The baby was born in late January and is almost four months old. In addition to spending time with my friend and her partner, I also wanted to meet their daughter! I mean, she’s a baby, so not all that interesting, especially to someone like me who doesn’t have much interest in babies, but still. It’s nice to see this new tiny human, and I’m looking forward to seeing her grow and change and develop into a person.
I’m not a mom. I have no desire to be a mom. And I know that I will never know or understand what it’s like to be a mom. And I am absolutely fine with that. There are other things I get to experience. Say, for example, hopping on a plane and travelling to Ottawa to hang out with my friend and share in the joy and exhaustion that is her new life.
This is a quick visit to our capital city and I don’t expect to experience all that much. I’m here to be a friend and hang out. Yesterday was a nice day and we walked around Byward Market & Downtown. The tulips started to open for Mother’s Day. It was shocking to see the state of the flooding from the Ottawa River. I don’t follow the news so hadn’t seen any footage.
It’s going to be a quiet trip with lots of baby naps, and I’ll try to stay out of the way and help out as much as I can. It’s obvious that my friends are a bit sleep deprived and baby-crazed, but it’s so nice to be able to be here and spend some time with them at this phase.
And then I get to go home to my love, our quiet adults only home and keep living our wonderful life.