Author: curiousreadings

Actual Conversation at Casa de Wellman- Covering it all

~ curiousreadings

We’ve had one of those annoying spring snowstorms sweep through of late, and the nights have been.. well, really chilly.

Last night, Rick was coming to bed, when he stopped to straighten the covers, coincidentally giving me a lot more coverage.

Rick, as he rearranges blankies- Geeze, you’ll get cold like that!

Me- Yeah, it’s been like that the last couple nights.

Rick- I know I didn’t have enough sheet on my side of the bed, but you had no covers at all!

Me- Why do you think I kept moving into the center of the bed? At least then I’d have enough covers!

Rick, raising an eyebrow at me and waiting.

Me- Oh and um, to cuddle with you, of course!

Rick- Uh huh. I see.

 

Open mouth, insert clammy cold feet.

Not So Random Rant- Rona Blues

~ curiousreadings

You know, I’m all about going your own way, having your own thoughts, walking your own path- and I’m aware that tend to have some pretty crazy ideas about how I want to live my life.

And I get really annoyed when someone tries to tell me I’m doing it wrong.

When it comes to not wanting to do the things just because it’s what you are told, I get it, I get it, I get it.

All that said, now is not the time to be playing ‘let’s fight the man’ and ‘fake news’ and ‘the govmint is treating us like sheep’. I know it can be hard to see in parts of the country that don’t have a whole lot of exposure to more populated areas, and the only impact you feel is the one to the economy. It’s hard to give a shit about people 3,000 miles away who are sick when you know of 300 people around you that are losing businesses, not able to make rent, and having to go to the food bank. To them, it is wrong for the government to control so much, and we are stupid to go along with it- because the more immediate danger and pain is the one right in front of them, not the horrors that they haven’t seen and can barely conceive of. They need to believe that there’s an end in sight, that the danger has been overstated, that we can return to business as usual very soon- even though that is absolutely not what the data and facts are telling us.

But let’s be real here for a second- when it comes to these folks writing their anti government/corona is a hoax rhetoric, exhorting you to think for yourself- the real message is ‘Think for yourself, as long as you think like me.’

And it’s dangerous. Because not all of this country is a small town with limited exposure to more populated areas. We might wish it was, but it’s not. Just like we could wish that the dangers of covid19 were overstated, but they are not. And after 6 weeks of isolation, if I had acted in fear when it came to that decision, sheer boredom would have worn out that fear by now.

So please… if you see one of these rants, check the facts and consider NOT passing it on. Snopes has been around for a very long time, debunking as fast as they can, as thoroughly as they can.

And you don’t have to agree with me… not at all. I just hope that you place value on human life and sacrifice to the point where you can’t conceive of risking lives because you’re tired of waiting this thing out. There is light at the end of that tunnel. And if you need help, reach out… there’s tons of helping hands, including my own.

I want to keep hanging out on this big blue marble, and I want you to be here, too.

 

Actual conversation at Casa de Wellman- What’s for dinner never to be asked again edition (includes helpful lifehack!)

~ curiousreadings

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So- I had me an idea on how to end the discussion forever and ever amen. I have a nice stainless steel fridge.. and I had a dry erase marker. So I put this list up on the fridge of things I could conceivably cook with the contents therein.

 

Rick, walking up and observing as I was not even halfway done with the list, points at tacos.

Me, smacks his hand- NO! I’m not done with the list yet! Wait until the whole list is up there, dammit!

Rick- Did you see if it washes off?

Me, momentarily stricken- Uh no. But it’s fine, this is just what you’re having for dinner forever, that’s all.

We both busted out laughing. I finished the list, then made sure it would wipe off and sighed with relief when it did.

Me- So there. We never have to have that conversation again, I’ll just update the list when shopping happens and WE’RE DONE. NO MORE. THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS!!!

I put the pen on the counter with a thud of finality and headed back down the hall to the office, visions of angry monkey pointing at the list whenever Rick inevitably stood in the kitchen to ask what’s for food dancing in my head. Angrily.

Rick, still staring at the list and pointing at tacos- Well, not quite.

Me- What do you mean?! The whole list, its RIGHT THERE.

Rick- Yeah, until you don’t feel like cooking.

Me- when I get better pens, we’ll talk about that! For now, that’s your list!!!

 

The better pens are on order from Amazon.

 

Actual Conversation at Casa de Wellman- Where’s my dinner, woman? edition

~ curiousreadings

There’s a certain ritual that ensues here at the casa… and it happens, well, not every night, but pretty damn close.

Tonight, the bloody man threw me a curveball I didn’t appreciate.

 

Rick- So, what are we doing about the food situation?

Me, sighing- What, already?

Rick- It’s five o’clock, we last ate at 11am.

Me- so what do you want? (Just knowing that the next question will be ‘what are my options?’

Rick, distracted by text message from Home Despot, we talk about order pickup for a few minutes before circling back.

Rick- you know what I’m going to ask.

Me- ANYTHING YOU WANT TO PUT IN YOUR FUCKING MOUTH HOLE, SIR!

Rick, blinking mildly- I was going to ask if you wanted to cook or order something.

Me- That’s not fair! That’s cheating! You switched it up on me! That’s not okay!

Cue the inevitable hysterical laughter before we order a pizza.

We really need the lockdown to be over. We entertain ourselves waaaaaay too well.

 

Actual conversation at Casa de Wellman- when our tech is smarter than us edition

~ curiousreadings

Thanks to covid or the rona or the effects of Sweet Potato Hitler’s stupidity, however you like to phrase it, we’ve been puttering around on our little projects over the past few weeks. Lucky me, I’m high risk, so I’ve been in my home or, on two memorable occasions in Rick’s truck for a month now.

When we bought this place, I was charmed by the idea that I, Ari Wellman, had a courtyard. It sounded so classy and I wondered whatever we should do with the space to really make it special.

Well, for about 8 years, absofreakinlutely nothing. There are planter cutouts in the middle, and occasionally I’d try playing something in them to see if it took. Roses didn’t, mint and morning glories did.

The problem with sitting there in the summertime was that there was no shade.. and all fully enclosed concrete walled space in summer in New Mexico without shade.. bah HA to using that brick oven to sit in and sip wine after April 1. So it kind of became a dumping ground for anything that probably should have gone to the trash or the garage but just wasn’t.

A couple of years ago, I decided this wasn’t going to get it. I bought a pair of pergolas, one to go on each side of the walkway, some basic furniture, and decreed that we would by god USE the courtyard. I even got a gate for the front so our pups could come hang out with us.

The next year, I added a container garden and a fire pit. And don’t get me wrong, it’s nice… but there was still just something missing.

I know some of you are going, omfg Ari, could you get to the funny little chat with Rick and stahhhp.

No, I can’t. This is my courtyard and I love it.

So I sat and thought for awhile- part of the problem was that there was too much blank, tan canvas at eye level.. needed to break that up. Not enough greenery, needed to get more container stuff, but in a way it was at eye level instead of ground level.

And I wanted to do something whimsical with light.

OK, cue tapestry hangings to break up all the tan on the walls, a new planter with a trellis for the english ivy to climb, a repurposed plant stand to sit in the corner, and a few small pieces of dragon statuary, cause fuck, this is MY courtyard, right?

I figured all of this would create more of a lush Aladdin’s cave garden feel to it, so why not have some magical floating lights? I tried hanging some battery powered Mason jar lights and really liked the effect- but I’m lazy so I wanted something more automated and energy efficient.

Cue me buying up a bunch of fairy light solar inserts for Mason jars with little metal hangers. And me turning each one on only to find they only lit up for a split second, if at all.

Me- WTF is this? I wasted my money, none of these are staying lit.

Rick- the wires seem pretty flimsy and thin.. could it be a break?

Me- don’t think I won’t get a voltmeter and check.

Rick, possibly not wanting me into his tool set, but still snickering- maybe they just need to charge up.

 

OK, fiiiine. I spread all the little lids out on the table in the sun to soak up all that power up juice and went back to them yesterday evening.

 

Me- they still aren’t freaking lighting. Grab me a regular triple A, would you?

Rick- they definitely got enough sun!

Me- and it won’t even light up with the triple A! OMG, I’ve wasted money and a bunch of time on these bitchly things. /puts down jar on the table with a sigh, goes back to other errands, like using a shop vac to clean the stone.

 

After dark-

Rick- Uh.. they are all lit up now

Me- WHAT?!

We both stood in the doorway and stared as every jar we’d put together was twinkling at us merrily.

 

Rick- Oh my god… they are smart enough to only light up when it’s dark.

Me- so the few that lit for a second-

Rick- your hand must have been over the sensor, so it thought it was dark.

Me- well. shit. We have 8 more jars to do, then.

Rick- it’s a bitch when the tech is smarter than we are.

And, being us, we got to the point of laughing at ourselves over it.

 

This morning, I caught Rick sitting down to the computer with the manual to the new washer in it.

 

Me- what are you up to?

Rick- figuring out how to use the new washer- did you know it weighs each load to insure the appropriate wash time?

Me- oh hell.. you’re never going to know when the washer is done! Wait, isn’t that the one that has bluetooth?

Rick, nodding- yeah, it’ll tell me when it’s done, I think. I haven’t gotten to that part yet. It’s usually the dryer I time by anyway.

Me- soooo.. I need to get you a smarter dryer…

Rick, muttering something about stupid smart tech.

 

So yeah, don’t worry about us, we’re doing okay and finding out just how smart we’re not… cause sometimes we’re the better idiot that this stuff was built to outwit.

Actual conversation at Casa de Wellman- the rum is muthableepin gone, yall edition

~ curiousreadings ~ 3 Comments

Not only IS the rum gone, but it’s actually been gone for awhile. The only beer in the fridge is Bud Light (/herk), the liquor in the cabinets is either the really high end stuff we keep on hand for select guests or those spur of the moment purchases that weren’t that great an idea after all. Generic limoncello is just not okay.

Even the last jar of ‘shine is down to the dregs. It’s scary times, yall.

So while I was sitting on the couch, mulling this predicament, it occurred to me to wonder if Total Wine did curbside pickup.

And it turns out they do! they do do curbside pickup!

Feverishly, I begin inputting my order on my phone- I had to hit a five o clock deadline to get it tomorrow, and who knows? Maybe if I really hurried I could lie in the sweet arms of Bacchus tonight?!

Me- I GOT WINE! AND RUM! AND MARGARITAS!

Rick- I still haven’t agreed to do this pick up for you, you know.

Me, eyeing Rick with laser focused attention and cold calculation- You know what they say, dear. Happy wife, happy life.

Rick- /sigh

 

And ladies and gents… not even an hour later, that sweetest of sounds came to my ears.

 

Rick- I got a text, your order is ready for pickup.

Me, batting lashes- I love you…

Rick- /sigh I’m going, I’m going.

 

He’s a smart, smart man that Rick of mine.

The Journals of Nessa- so what’s this all about?

~ curiousreadings

As of now (if all the automated glory of the internets works the way it’s supposed to), The Journals of Nessa series is available, as a whole, for half off. That’s $5 for three books.

These are the books that I came back from over ten years of not writing at all to create Nessa- and it had that feeling like she’d really been with me all along. I’d gone through a lot of personal upheaval and knew intimately how hard it is to find who you are while trying to navigate the world.

So, all of that became Nessa- sometimes funny and wry, sometimes afraid, all explored through journal entries that let me get to know her and myself a little bit better. I won’t lie, I both laughed and cried as a wrote them, and I hope my readers do the same.

It’s not a perfect story, but I feel like it’s a good story, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a warm little glow every time I see more folks have decided to take a chance on it.. on me, and on Nessa.

If by any luck you happen to be reading this, I hope you might take a chance on us yourself.

And if that doesn’t sound like your thing, or $5 is a little dear right now, I’m also offering The Way of the Fae for free this weekend. This is my first post-Nessa work; I decided to have some fun by telling some lesser known fairy tales from a different viewpoint- What if the elves from the Elves and the Shoemaker were wiseguys? What if Falada the Horse from the Goose Girl was a fae trapped in a horse’s body?

What does the story look like from Baba Yaga’s perspective?

Again, had fun writing it, and think there’s some laughs for the reader, too.

Thanks for giving me this little chunk of your time… I hope you’ll consider coming a little further.

So, did you like the ebook promotions so far? How about a few more?

~ curiousreadings

Here’s what I’m doing this weekend-

The Way of the Fae- A History in Tales by [Wellman, Ari]

The Way of the Fae will be available Friday through Sunday night for free! Ever wondered what the stories would sound like if the fairies told them?

And if you’ve enjoyed The Witch’s Daughter- well, now I’m offering the whole series for half off ($5) from Saturday til Monday!

From the Journals of Nessa Ysbelle– all three books in one volume.

It’s not much, but I hope these stories help folks be somewhere else, even if it’s just for a little while.

When there’s no easy answers…

~ curiousreadings

We. HATE. Complexity.

It’s true… ninety nine times out of a hundred, if you’ve got an easy fix that will patch over a problem versus the more convoluted, difficult fix that you may not fully understand that will take care a problem more permanently, you’re probably going to advocate for the easy fix you understand.

It’s human nature.

The problem is, when it comes to people, we want to think that we have the fix that everyone can use! One size fits all, easy to apply, just do this, send this letter on to five other people, blah blah freakin blah.

Everyone walks their own path, everyone’s got their own problems, and those problems can have some way different solutions. One of those bigger problems we have as a society is our complete inability to let people walk their own damn path- and advocating for or against things that have absolutely no impact in their own small world.

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So take the above here- some of these things don’t impact you if you choose not to have them. Some of them do. Cigarettes and guns do have an impact on others, due to the folks that have them being irresponsible- it goes back to the argument of your rights end where they negatively impact someone else’s.

But on gay marriage, abortions, sex, drugs, porn, alcohol, etc… as a society we can’t seem to keep those opinions about those things to ourselves because of whatever reason. I mostly blame overreaching faith- and if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I am absolutely not a fan. My faith is a private, personal thing, and I don’t advocate based on it. You could almost say I’m selfish with it; the insights my faith has provided to me were hard won, and they are mine and mine alone.

The root of the truth is that I truly believe you cannot be given faith; it’s something that you search for and come to terms with. For me to try to tell you about my path is rude; it cheapens your own. I guide no one, and really would prefer that no one try to guide me.

But I’m getting away from my point.

Life isn’t easy. Problems aren’t easy. While it’s commendable to want to help others, most of the time all we can do is listen and let them unburden themselves as caring friends. Sometimes, there’s going to be a suggestion we can offer or a sense of commiseration, but sometimes all you can do is be there and try to walk in their shoes for just a little while, and keep that walk in your mind.

Can you believe I walked all the way through that to tell you that the sometimes all we can offer is empathy and letting folks know they are seen and heard and we’re trying to understand them?

Yeah, me neither. So many words.

A few thoughts on current events- What America is, and can be

~ curiousreadings

I’m going to spare you the lead up, cause at this point, no matter where you are in the world, things are more than a bit on the grim side.

So where I’m going to start is with this sentence- America will be open for business by Easter.

I’m not going to lie, I had to think for quite a while as to why I found this so painfully offensive. Yes, the lack of separation between church and state definitely played a part. But it wasn’t until I got up from the floor where I was playing with my pup that I got it.

You see, Bree will hang on the Mr. Bear with fierce tenacity, and for her, he’s the only thing in the world that matters.

We’ve got people who think that only providing for themselves matters. Or being able to tout a strong, robust economy.

We’ve got people who think anything in this country is available for sale, be it toilet paper or a coronavirus test or the office of the President. They think the most important things are things that really just don’t matter.

Hear that the right way, yes, our people being able to work and take care of their families, that’s extremely important. But also remember the post from a few weeks ago, talking about how taking care of each other could lead to something so much more for all of us? Well, keep thinking down that path with me just a minute.

We’re not a business that can succeed or fail. We’re America- the idea that we can take the best parts of ideas and cultures and create something new, a spirit of innovation while being free to go our own way to find peace and enlightenment within ourselves. That’s who we’ve come from, and who we can continue to be.

We’re not closed for business. We’re preserving that spirit and that people, and it will take as long as it takes.

Not everyone is feeling that way… it’s freakin scary out there, and people are reacting to it. Just looking around myself, people are more prone to argue and find fault, and drive wedges in where we have differences. Now think about that freedom I was just talking about- we have to let each other be free to find our own answers, and not try to make our answers fit everyone else’s problems.

That includes mine, by the way. I’m challenging myself to walk away from the arguments that are so easy to have- on one condition.

Misinformation cannot be permitted to stand. Ignorance and standing on opinions instead of facts- the time to stomach this is over. Antivaxxers, flat earthers, conspriacy theorists.. I won’t go out looking for them, but where they come into my space, they will be shut down.

Because to be free and find your own path is beautiful. To follow a path of sheer stupidity and let it breed hate- that’s what is currently making this situation a thousand times worse than it needs to be.

Rough balance, but you know? I think it can be struck.