• First World Problems

    Not Waving, But Drowning

    Hello to the 5 of you still reading. As you noticed I took a leave of absence, and have not been here with snark, strong opinions, or rants in over a year. Truth be told, I almost made that leave of absence permanent. This blog is for me more than for anyone else, and the part of me that enjoys writing had stopped working. Let me continue to be truthful. The part of me that enjoys anything had stopped working.  Let me start at the beginning. I have been very open about the fact that a struggle with my mental health. Even so, except with a chosen few I am…

  • Guest Posts

    Extra! Extra! It’s A Guest Post!

    Today, my wonderful people we have a guest post ( because you couldn’t tell from the title.) One of my oldest friends asked if I would post this blog that he wrote in tribute of his beautiful wife in honor of their 20 year (!) anniversary. Of course I said yes. First because I admire his wife greatly, and also because I know that Matt would break me out of jail in a foreign country, even after all these years. So to Matt, happy anniversary, and thank you for contributing, now take it away. What Is Love (Baby Don’t Hurt Me) Love, one of America’s least favorite four-letter words, is…

  • First World Problems

    Pretty Pony

    welcome, come in. It’s been a while since we last spoke. Despite my best efforts, my brain decided to betray me again, and kicked me into a rut deep enough to hang posters. If you know me in my true form you may not have noticed, but fake it til you make it, am I right? Forty has not been kind to me so far. I kicked it off by falling off my porch and breaking my foot. Followed by the return of my chronic back pain, which  pain management could not treat, or even find a reason for, so as always I was labeled a mystery and written off…

  • On Politics And Other Table Talk

    Culture Wars? More Like A Slap Fight

    Hello again my dear friends. Have a seat and pour yourself a cup of whatever you fancy. These are interesting times we are currently living in, and when I say interesting, I mean utterly ridiculous. There are serious issues in the world gracious readers. However with the dominance of social media the main issues seem to be the “cancellation” of a cartoon character who hasn’t had a new cartoon made in decades, and a few books that were removed from circulation because, and here’s a shock, our society has come to a point where we realize people might not appreciate being depicted as racist caricatures. Oh the horror.  Apparently we…

  • First World Problems,  On Politics And Other Table Talk

    Not With A Bang, But A Whimper

    Election day is here. I don’t feel ashamed to admit I’ve felt a sense of impending doom all day. The last four years have been a special kind of hell, watching as a fool and petty tyrant tries to build an empire, supported by stooges who will praise anything he does as long as he pushes their agenda and lines their pockets. The amusing part of the entire ordeal has been watching as people for whom he has no respect sing his praises as he robs them blind.  It’s difficult not to be cynical when so many people have shown their true colors throughout the 4 years Trump has been…

  • First World Problems

    The Stars Are Ageless, Aren’t They?

    Welcome back, step into into my parlor. Have a seat. I’ve been so busy writing for other people, that I haven’t had time to write for myself ( I know! People pay me for this, I’m shocked too.) So much has happened since the last time we’ve spoken. For one thing I’ve turned 40. Which is. Well. Considering what a devil’s carnival this year has already been I shouldn’t be surprised it’s been like this. Yes, yes, “age is just a number, you’re only as old as you feel, blah, blah, blah, ad nauseum.” Until this point I’ve been extremely cavalier about turning 40. I don’t know if it’s the…

  • First World Problems

    Screaming Into the Wind

    Welcome back, have a seat. I’d like to start today’s blog with a little anecdote. Before I start, some background on the area I live in. This subdivision is a hodge-podge of houses built between 1904 and around 1965 or so. It used to be a part of East St. Louis. If you are unfamiliar with the tragic past of East St. Louis, I highly recommend you go down that rabbit hole. One subdivision over is the first planned subdivision in my city (yes this makes me easy to find, if you are that invested, please seek help). There is a very interesting blog, written by one of the Durbins…

  • On The Topic Of Child Rearing

    Rapunzel, Genetics, and The Topic Of Beauty

    Welcome back to my parlor, make yourself comfortable. One thing I have not mentioned in my other ramblings, is the fact that I have children. I haven’t spoken about them because, as amusing as I find some of the bizarre things they do, I’m sure they won’t appreciate having that available on the internet, even with my current readership of two people. They’ll be posting things on the internet that they’ll regret soon enough, and they deserve to find out about that on their own. However I have been going through something that some people may relate to in some fashion. If you follow me on instagram (branchofgreenfigs, one of…

  • First World Problems

    Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

    Welcome back! Step into my parlor. I know I’ve been away for quite some time. First life got a wee bit crazy, then the world got incredibly crazy, and here we are. I’ve been at a bit of a loss about what to write about. There are plenty of people expressing their feelings about current events, and it eventually all starts to blend together, and sound the same.  After being in lockdown for a few months, even laughing at the conspiracy theories surrounding the current pandemic starts to feel hollow. I’m certain most people are starting to feel emotional burnout. All this being said, I do feel like a few…

  • First World Problems

    Two Out Of Three Will Get You Kicked Out In A Snow Storm.

    Welcome back! Step into my parlor.  I am a huge music fan. However there is no song which fills me with such inexplicable rage as Meatloaf’s “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.” I’m not certain if we’re supposed to feel sorry for the narrator of this song, as he speaks about his partner being cold to him, and all the tears he’s shedding, because he clearly states in the song that he will never love her, but hey he wants and needs her, eh. I assure you young man, that your snivelling is nothing compared to the tears and the pain she’s experienced because of you.  There is nothing so…