Thank you Universe. Thank you God. Thank you Allah. Thank you Kuraokami, deity of rain (and snow, well). Thank you Thai Navy Seals. Thank you King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (Wow. Just try to pronounce that, I dare you). Thank you to the multitudes of divers and volunteers from all over the world who went to Thailand to help. Thank you to the boys and their coach for not giving up. Thank you to everyone involved.
How Rescuers Pulled Off the Impossible in a Treacherous Thai Cave
Fuck yes!!! I cried when reading this article, even hours after knowing everyone was safe.
From the NYT: “We are not sure if this is a miracle, or science, or what,” the Thai Navy SEALs posted on their Facebook page. “All the 13 Wild Boars are now out of the cave.”
I didn't think it would end like this. Not from the beginning when they were missing. Not from the middle when they were trapped. I don't think I'm much exaggerating when I say the entire world collectively held its breath after the first two children emerged, waiting for something to go wrong. But no. Everything went right!
And the moral of the story is this: Life is unpredictable. Enjoy it, and don't complain, people. In fact, don't complain about a goddamn thing. Whatever you are going through, someone else is worse off. Stop whining and have some fucking compassion.
(Okay, I'm not sure that moral exactly relates to this particular story but I'm not wrong. And so what if I need to take my own advice? I'm trying, people.)
And also, do not go in caves. Like, ever.
J. L. Dodd AKA Random Gurl AKA HM, QOB
P.S. I'm a bit ranty tonight. So what?
Source:
Paddock, Richard C. “How Rescuers Pulled Off the Impossible in a Treacherous Thai Cave.” New York Times, 10 July 2018, a.msn.com/r/2/AAzTwmN?m=en-us&referrerID=InAppShare.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Saturday, July 7, 2018
RANDOM AF! The Adventures of Random Gurl on Independence Day
The fourth of July is a big deal in a small town such as mine. Activities deeply rooted in tradition fill the day, and lost relatives from all over the state and the country come into town to experience the nostalgia and drink a crap-ton of beer.
This year I watched the coaster races with my children, took in the parade, and enjoyed the fireworks after dark. It was generally a good day.
In the case of the races, "watched" may not be entirely accurate. I watched and applauded the racers with my inlaws. My children hung out on the second floor of a hotel and may have occasionally looked out the window. One of them fell asleep and the rest lounged in big, overstuffed chairs with their phones. But still. I was proud of myself for getting them out of the house, up to Old Bisbee, parked at the old high school, up a huge hill, down 100 some stairs and across the street to my uncle's hotel before the eight-o-clock start time.
An out-of-town family had rented the entire hotel for their reunion, and when I came downstairs from the second floor, they thought it was odd that someone was there who they didn't know. I assured them I was just watching the races, that I was family to the owner, and they conceded I didn't look suspicious, and that they were only trying to make sure random people weren't walking through. Seriously? It's a hotel. In a historic town. On the fourth of July. Random people are going to come in. Just because you rented every room does not give you the right to police the property, accost and harass me, a person who has every right to be there.
So I was a little miffed.
I got over it. We got to chatting with one of the family members (they were all wearing yellow shirts that read, "Bisbee Wanna-Bees"), and she gave me the nickname "Random Girl."
I'm still a little miffed. Apparently. But I got to thinking I might like this nickname. I am pretty random at times, in my writing especially, but also in general. I certainly fixate on random things, like Cthulu, space cats, orange creme popsicles, synchronicity, bunnies, shopping lists in trash cans, Spirited Away, free Circus tickets, cannibals, impermanence, frozen baby mice, President Trump (okay, not random) and more recently (and also not random), Thai soccer teams trapped in flooded caves. HFS this needs to be resolved. I've been in a constant state of anxiety since they were lost, and every morning and every night I check the news to find out what is happening. I also prayed. More than once. And I don't pray, people. But please, please God or whoever or whatever, keep it from raining in Thailand for a few more days.
I'm out.
R. Gurl
This year I watched the coaster races with my children, took in the parade, and enjoyed the fireworks after dark. It was generally a good day.
In the case of the races, "watched" may not be entirely accurate. I watched and applauded the racers with my inlaws. My children hung out on the second floor of a hotel and may have occasionally looked out the window. One of them fell asleep and the rest lounged in big, overstuffed chairs with their phones. But still. I was proud of myself for getting them out of the house, up to Old Bisbee, parked at the old high school, up a huge hill, down 100 some stairs and across the street to my uncle's hotel before the eight-o-clock start time.
An out-of-town family had rented the entire hotel for their reunion, and when I came downstairs from the second floor, they thought it was odd that someone was there who they didn't know. I assured them I was just watching the races, that I was family to the owner, and they conceded I didn't look suspicious, and that they were only trying to make sure random people weren't walking through. Seriously? It's a hotel. In a historic town. On the fourth of July. Random people are going to come in. Just because you rented every room does not give you the right to police the property, accost and harass me, a person who has every right to be there.
So I was a little miffed.
I got over it. We got to chatting with one of the family members (they were all wearing yellow shirts that read, "Bisbee Wanna-Bees"), and she gave me the nickname "Random Girl."
I'm still a little miffed. Apparently. But I got to thinking I might like this nickname. I am pretty random at times, in my writing especially, but also in general. I certainly fixate on random things, like Cthulu, space cats, orange creme popsicles, synchronicity, bunnies, shopping lists in trash cans, Spirited Away, free Circus tickets, cannibals, impermanence, frozen baby mice, President Trump (okay, not random) and more recently (and also not random), Thai soccer teams trapped in flooded caves. HFS this needs to be resolved. I've been in a constant state of anxiety since they were lost, and every morning and every night I check the news to find out what is happening. I also prayed. More than once. And I don't pray, people. But please, please God or whoever or whatever, keep it from raining in Thailand for a few more days.
I'm out.
R. Gurl
Sunday, July 1, 2018
RANDOM AF! It doesn't take much to make me happy
This weekend is a prime example.
Saturday, the six of us spent most of the day together, more or less. I was content to clean and do laundry and become completely entrenched in The Staircase, a true-crime series about a man falsely convicted of his wife's murder. It was fascinating. Besides the emotional rollercoaster of the documentary, I was quite satisfied with the day. I was productive, but not too productive (that happens when I drink too much coffee). I was surrounded by my family, and even though the kids mostly ignored me (my daughter did once ask me where her phone charger was), at least we were all under the same roof. The boys played PubG. The girls played Overwatch. The dog and the husband were close by my side. It was a good day.
And today, Tyler Joseph's so-called "suicide day," I enjoyed some time outside. I wrote. I watched more TV. You may say, "That sounds boring as fuck." And I will say, "Exactly. And stop cussing. Shame on you."
I know there is a whole world outside that I have never seen. Sometimes I lament the fact that I may never get to see Machu Picchu, or visit the Isle of Sky, or go all those awesome places that appear on my laptop's screensaver. But most times, this is enough for me. My beautiful family. My home, haphazard and full of dog hair (Where does it all come from? My dog should have been bald 100x over!). My backyard, with its sad little flowers and random volunteer dill plants. My job, with co-workers I adore. My city, quirky and full of characters. My life, mundane as it is. I am so very fortunate to have this much.
I know change is coming. Change is inevitable. But my 40-year-old self has learned to appreciate what I can today. I will appreciate this very moment, and this one, and the happiness I find in each. I will deal with change as it comes.
J. L. Dodd
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”
― John Burroughs, Leaf and Tendril
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/simple-life
Saturday, the six of us spent most of the day together, more or less. I was content to clean and do laundry and become completely entrenched in The Staircase, a true-crime series about a man falsely convicted of his wife's murder. It was fascinating. Besides the emotional rollercoaster of the documentary, I was quite satisfied with the day. I was productive, but not too productive (that happens when I drink too much coffee). I was surrounded by my family, and even though the kids mostly ignored me (my daughter did once ask me where her phone charger was), at least we were all under the same roof. The boys played PubG. The girls played Overwatch. The dog and the husband were close by my side. It was a good day.
And today, Tyler Joseph's so-called "suicide day," I enjoyed some time outside. I wrote. I watched more TV. You may say, "That sounds boring as fuck." And I will say, "Exactly. And stop cussing. Shame on you."
I know there is a whole world outside that I have never seen. Sometimes I lament the fact that I may never get to see Machu Picchu, or visit the Isle of Sky, or go all those awesome places that appear on my laptop's screensaver. But most times, this is enough for me. My beautiful family. My home, haphazard and full of dog hair (Where does it all come from? My dog should have been bald 100x over!). My backyard, with its sad little flowers and random volunteer dill plants. My job, with co-workers I adore. My city, quirky and full of characters. My life, mundane as it is. I am so very fortunate to have this much.
I know change is coming. Change is inevitable. But my 40-year-old self has learned to appreciate what I can today. I will appreciate this very moment, and this one, and the happiness I find in each. I will deal with change as it comes.
J. L. Dodd
“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.”
― John Burroughs, Leaf and Tendril
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/simple-life
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