It's BACON FRIDAY, ya'll!

OMG, it's Bacon Friday!
I have what some unenlightened people might call an "unhealthy obsession" for bacon. Obviously those people are dumb and don't know about the deliciousness of this delectable meat candy, but hey - their problem, not mine.
So -- Bacon.
Yes, I know that fried pig is not exactly good for you. It may have been known to cause a death or two from clogging someone's arteries, or some such nonsense. And, it's possible that it may make you gain a little weight, due to the high fat content. (yummmmmm, high fat content......)
It is for these reasons that I limit myself to only indulging in this succulent nectar of the gods on Fridays. It's like a little mini celebration, all for me. Like, a congratulations-for-making-it-through-the-whole-week-without-stabbing-myself-in-the-eye kind of celebration. Or a your-kid-has-gone-to-school-all-week-without-having-to-wear-dirty-socks kind of celebration. Whatevs.
I've had kind of a rough week, and the whole not-stabbing-myself-in-the-eye thing has been quite an accomplishment this week.
So to all you bacon lovers, I say BACON ON.
And to all you nay-sayers, I leave you with this:

Do nice guys always have to finish last?

Is the old adage, 'Nice guys finish last' really true? Unfortunately, I've seen too many instances to prove the theory, so I'm going to say Yes....with exclusions.
I think that nice people are the coolest. I am a positive person by nature, even when sometimes it's hard to force myself to be positive. Does it really hurt to be happy? Why do people want to be grumpy? You can usually tell the difference between optimistic people and pessimistic people. Or as my husband calls them, 'realists'. (Guess you can tell which bucket he falls into, hmm?)
As an optimistic person, sometimes I feel like I have to explain my happy attitude, or at times be embarassed of it. But why is that? Do people think that nice people aren't REAL people? Like they are artificial or fake? Are we all supposed to be curmudgeonly? (It's really a word...'An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions'. You're welcome.)
In the past few days, I have three nice friends who have experienced a form of curmudgeonliness (ok, not sure if THAT is a word, but bear with me and stop nitpicking). One posted a story on Facebook that dealt with the 'Nice Guy' syndrome, and felt like she had to explain why she herself was a positive person. Apparently some people thought it was fake, that noone could actually be that nice. But she tried to stress, 'Look people, it's REAL.' Why do we have to do that? Like nice is a bad thing?
Another friend is always being overlooked....whether it's in his job, or with the people he hangs around, he seems to be invisible. I've experienced this myself, and it's pretty damn humbling to meet someone, and then a week later they have forgotten that they ever met you. Ouch. In his case, his 'friend' forgot that he had ever been to his house. But he had been. Three times. 
And yet another friend suffers from the Extremely Nice Guy (gal) Syndrome. She puts everyone else first, and contents herself with the leftovers. She doesn't have a thought for herself, and unfortunately there are people out there who take advantage of that. Recently this kind, gentle lady suffered from the thoughtlessness of another, and that's perhaps what hurts most of all...to give yourself so fully, and to have it be insignificant to someone else.
What is wrong with being nice???
Nothing - that's what. But the nice, happy, optimistic people don't go trumpeting ourselves, which is perhaps why we are the most misunderstood. Because it's not in our nature to put our good deeds on blast. We hear about thoughtless, heartless, hurtful deeds all the time -- media sensationalizes it -- and so we think that's all there is.
But it's NOT.
Let's celebrate the nice people, shall we? Secretly, quietly....we make the world go 'round.

Calgon, take me away....

Escapism: The tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it?
Escapism is a beautiful thing. I don't think there is anyone out there who would say they have a perfect life. (And if there is, I'd like to slap you. I kid!....kind of) Even those who are blessed in one area of their lives, find themselves beleaguered in another. And that's just the way of it - I don't think you can truly appreciate the good things without having an understanding of the bad.
Life has to be fully embraced to be appreciated. I'm talkin' wide-arms-twirling-in-a-meadow-of-yellow-freakin'-flowers embrace.

And, you have to grab escapism wherever you can. For me, it's with the written word. My husband gets so irritated with me sometimes because he still hasn't figured out (after 11 years? Who's really the one with the problem, hmm?) that when I am engrossed in a book, I am brain-dead to the outside world. Slack-jawed. Drooling? Possibly. He could tell me he was running away with Selma Hayek and he would be lucky to get a head nod. Because I am enjoying my book, dammit. As a full-time working mother to a rambunctious 3 year old, I don't really get a lot of time to myself. So in the quiet hour or so between his bedtime and mine, I curl up on the couch and read, hot tea in hand. This weekend I delved into the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. (LOVE!!!) That's my escapism, folks. A little quiet time, a hot beverage, and a kickass book.
But shouldn't they ALL be kickass books? If a writer truly has the passion they should have, then every book you read will grab you and ignite a fire that can’t be quenched until you turn the last page. But, sadly, that is not the case. We've all read books that were so-so, that you may even have been able to (gasp!) set down and not finish reading. But where's the escapism in that? We see enough hum drum in our day-to-day lives...shouldn't we strive for the best when it comes to our precious few minutes of free time?
I support indie/self-published authors.

They are some of the most passionate, most dedicated artists to the written word. But they also need more help, because they don't have publishing houses and agents panting after their every word.

They need YOU. They need you to support, to read, and to review their works. They need your honesty, they need your devotion, and they need your attention. I make it a point to post my book reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N and Smashwords, whether they're good or bad, because I know it is the best way to support my favorite kind of author. And who's not full of opinions? These folks are trying to support your escapism addiction, one by one. God love 'em. 

Stay weird, my friends

People make me anxious. You never quite know what they're up to, and sometimes they just flat-out let you down. As social media and texting have become more prevalent, I find myself trying to avoid people altogether....and I don't think I'm the only one. Much like our good friend Gossamer, who we met during the age when they actually showed Bugs Bunny cartoons on Saturday mornings, I get a little freaked out when I see large groups of PEEEOPLE!!!!
I always seem to feel like I don't fit in with the group, and I tend to gravitate towards the perimeter so that I can slowly, slyly make my way to the exit. However, recently I stumbled upon a startling conclusion: I am not weird. Well, maybe I am - but my feelings of being uncomfortable in group settings is not weird. In fact, I think most people feel the same way. Even the ones who seemingly look oh-so-casual and 'with it' -- yes, them too. Sure, there are a few prom queens in our midst, God love 'em, but I think for the most part, the ones who seem to be the most 'with it' are just the ones who are able to fake it the best. That old saying 'Fake it 'til you make it' seems pretty appropriate right about now.
So, my dear awkward, socially-inept, weird friends:
Embrace your inner Gossamer. There's nothing wrong with it!
BUT -
Know that deep down, through all the layers of your weirdness, there is still someone pretty original and unique. You just have to give them permission to come out and play sometime.
Until next time......just stay weird :)

Welcome to the jungle!

This, my friends, is my inaugural post. That's right, I've joined the 2000's. Sure, we're halfway through 2013. Don't judge me.
I'd much rather stay in the shadows and support those around me...it's scary out here!
So while I'll keep this short and sweet, I wanted to give fair warning to the monkeys in my head that this shy little editor person is making her stage debut. Sure, I may dry-heave and hyperventilate (but just a little), so you'll just have to bear with me.
Team Red Pen, party of 1.