Before you dig in…great news! My second book, Sparent, is now available for digital pre-order for Kindle users. The official publication date is February 15th, at which point hard copies will also be available. I appreciate your support and look forward to reading your reviews! Click here to pre-order.
Oh, hello, and welcome to February!
Yes, February.
We are only at February.
For many, including me, January of 2025 included an extra 437 days and each of those days brought something special. Special? Sure, let’s say that.
While my request to the universe was a calm entry into the new year, the universe did not honor my wishes. Here in southern Virginia, we kicked off the year with two snowstorms. If you’re reading this from above the Mason-Dixon line you may have just shrugged. For those reading below, you feel my pain.
We do not do snow in southern Virginia.
Well, we do snow, we just don’t have the means to get rid of it. Typically, that’s fine, as a snowstorm equals a single day of picturesque landscapes and cozy blankets and tiny snowmen and mugs of hot chocolate with marshmallows. That day is then followed with a quick warm up and all evidence of a blast from Old Man Winter disappears within hours.
We get to enjoy all things snow, like creating sleds from whatever is flat and found inside the garage while anticipating a return to real life before our homebound families begin to drive us bananas.
Oh, the dream.
Our first snowstorm of 2025 came on the heels of winter break. Parents across the state panicked as they realized that they would not be sending their kids back to school on January 6th. In the Richmond area, that first snowstorm also knocked the region’s water treatment plant offline causing a trickle-down effect to the surrounding counties.
Did I say trickle-down? Just kidding. Nothing was trickling.
What started with a quietly suggested boil-water advisory quickly moved into faucets running dry in every town east of the I-95 corridor. Schools remained closed, snow remained on the ground, showers were canceled indefinitely, and panic ensued as we waited for a light to appear at the end of 2025’s first dark tunnel.
Instead, that light was blocked by a second snowstorm.
For those who weren’t convinced that 2025 meant business, our state then played host to a couple of earthquakes. What the actual eff????
In our home, using water sparingly was already a habit as our septic pump checked out of this life at 10:30 pm the night before we were to head further south for the Christmas holiday. For those who enjoy urban amenities, the death of a septic pump is most often discovered by smell. That smell is carried into the house via a backup of poop water into (in our case) the basement. Our next discovery was that getting a new septic pump was a weeks-long process. Therefore, for Christmas this year we gifted ourselves with regular visits from the honey wagon for most of January.
Happy Poo Year to me!
Pro-tip: If you are living under the doctrine of “If it’s yellow, let it mellow,” it is critical that you also live by the doctrine of “Close the effing toilet lid!!!” I can’t tell you the number of times I was greeted by a dog who’d just had a taste of something extra special in her favorite watering hole.
In January, we kicked off Season 3 of Whine & Wine with a Say This, Not That episode.
I think we all have phrases that cause us to instantly cringe when we see or hear them, yes?
“Thoughts and Prayers” is one of my least favorites because, my goodness…can’t we give just a little more than a three-word coupon that says, “There, I did my part.” I’m not even sure that the majority of people who throw out those “Thoughts and Prayers” are actually doing any thinking or praying.
What was on our list of phrases that we’d like to leave in 2024?
- Everything Happens for a Reason: Does it though?
- Those Feelings are Valid: Feelings are feelings, yes. Are they always valid? No.
- I’ll Pray for You: Gee, thanks. If things don’t improve, do I get a refund?
- New Year, New Me!: Let’s just stop putting that kind of pressure on the new year. You be you–the same you as last year.
- This is Going to be My Year: Again, is it? Can we all agree that lowering our aim is perfectly fine?
- Thoughts and Prayers: See above.
- You Knew What You Signed Up For: False. No one ever knows what they are signing up for and saying that just shuts down the conversation.
Did we leave you high and dry? Of course not. We also provided a few phrases we’d like to see added to our 2025 conversations.
- I’m Proud of You: Look, I’m an adult and I still love to hear those words. We all do. Let’s use them.
- Are You Okay?: Rather than diving into solutions, why not start with that simple question? Perhaps solutions aren’t even necessary. Perhaps compassion will be just what someone needs.
- How Can I Help?: This is a great question but also may be hard for someone to answer when they are struggling. It may be a question to ask yourself–what would I like someone to do to help me? That help may be an anonymous grocery delivery, an offer to pick up the kids from school, grabbing, doing, and returning the laundry, or maybe just a taco.
- Do You Need a Taco?: Always appropriate to ask. It doesn’t have to be a taco, of course. Just a favorite thing that brings a smile to someone who needs one.
- I Like Your Shoes: We often spend a ton of time
people-watchingpeople-critiquing. Instead, why not lift them up with a smile, by holding the door, letting them through the intersection first, or simply offering a compliment? You don’t even have to really like their shoes–but telling them you do will bring them joy. - No Need to Apologize: Women are programmed to apologize for everything. Can we stop that? Look, life is life–I live it, too. No need to apologize.