Two days late this time...sheesh. If you’re new to my Substack, the back story on Friday Bitch & Brag is here. Let’s circle up, kids!
Bitch: I am still dealing with side effects from my new medication, which is frustrating because I will go a couple days with no issues, then there will be a day of nausea, sleepiness, fatigue, and sometimes headaches.
Brag: The honeysuckle in my neighborhood is in full blossom and going for a walk is a fragrant delight. I catch a whiff of that sweet floral scent and I turn into a bloodhound trying to find the source. I haven’t yet picked any blooms for the purpose of reliving my childhood passion of biting off the end of a bloom, pulling out the stamen and licking off any “honey”…but it’s going to happen soon.
Bitch: My very fluffy grey and white cat, Ippie, has a bunch of mats in her fur and it is hell trying to get them out. These mats start because she is such a bitch about being brushed…and yet if she let me brush her without howling like she’s being mauled to death, she wouldn’t have the mats that require way more maintenance to remove.
Brag: Last week at Trader Joe’s, I asked the cashier about any noodles they sell that are made from konjac or other ingredients. She gave me a complimentary box of their Hearts of Palm Pasta to try. I made the pasta with olive oil, garlic, tomato and shrimp, adding some grated Parmesan at the end, and it was tasty…but the flavor of the hearts of palm was a bit overwhelming as compared to other options I’ve tried. I still appreciate the cashier’s generosity.
Bitch: To show I’m not playing favorites with my cats, I will bitch about my orange and white cat, Rooney, and his tendency to stick his head in my water tumbler every chance he gets to drink some water. The cat’s water fountain will be clean and full of fresh water, and he’ll drink from the fountain - but he still wants my water. I’ll put lemon in my water, which is supposed to deter cats, but he isn’t thwarted: he’ll still put his big mug in the top, take a quick lick of water, then retreat. This morning we spent about 30 minutes playing keep-a-way with my water tumbler: any time I put it down, his eyes got big and he approached, even trying to nudge my hand away from the opening. Seems I’m going to need an adult sippy cup.
Brag: I finally read Jodi Angel’s novel Biggest Little Girl over the course of three days and I am blown away, yet again, by her writing. Intense, gripping story with vivid imagery and lines that I will remember for years to come. Get your copy here.