What advice would you give to your teenage self?

None. She wouldn’t have listened anyway. Because:a) teenagers always know bestand have all the answersb) words can change lives, but would it have made a difference?and would I have wanted it to?c) the older we get, the more regrets we harbor, so it’s best to let those ships sail out to sead) nowadays, I remind…

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💻 What’s your work style? ✒️

I used to work for a management company as an administrative assistant. There were a bunch of us, underlings, who were assigned to different managers (who were in charge of fancy condos and gated communities). I started off as a temp downstairs, but as often was the case, after head honchos figured out I could…

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Discover Prompts, Day 24 + 25: Elixir & Magic

Beauty hacks come in all shapes and sizes, but budget beauty hacks that reuse materials you already have in the house are the best. I mean, don’t you just hate waste? For example, I’ve always felt a sense of loss after I’ve clipped my nails, especially my toenails because they’re so big! But did you…

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Discover Prompts, Day 23: Note

Friendly Notices! from Your Homeowners Association Date: November 2, 2018 Re: Courtesy Notice – Halloween decorations Dear Eleanor Gardens Homeowner: As you are aware, the Board of Directors wants to ensure that our community is an extraordinary place to live, and in order for this to continue enforcement of the Rules and Regulations is necessary…

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Discover Prompts, Day 21 + 22: Instrument & Tempo

Instrument: Electric kettle, French press, coffee Tempo: Slowly wake up, make coffee (drink it black, strong, with feeling). Instrument: Journal and Paper Mate Ink Joy gel 0.7 Tempo: With starts and stops, with pleasure and panache, scribble down yesterday’s events, thoughts, lofty dreams, goals, and to-do lists. Instrument: All-in-one Acer desktop computer + working internet…

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Discover Prompts, Day 17: Distance

Social distancing isn’t just the hottest catchphrase, it’s also a new way of life after COVID-19. • My kid can’t beat up your kid anymore. In fact, with these masks on I can’t tell which one is my kid. • Siblings no longer need to draw an invisible line in the backseat of cars, a…

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Discover Prompt, Day 12: Light

“Is anybody awake? I’ve got to go to the porta potty.” Kari confessed. We were seniors in college, doing archaeological fieldwork at the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Southwest Colorado. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding.” Sara rolled over. “What time is it?” Kari and Sara were my best friends and our tent…

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Discover Prompt, Day 10 + 11: Orchestrate & Bite

It was the morning after Superbowl Sunday. The guys were about to get to their job sites, but they were lingering outside by their trucks with hot cups of coffee, talking about yesterday’s game in pairs or small groups. Usually their trucks would be idling, usually they would be scrambling for their hard hats, tool…

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✈️ Skip the vacation (or the ugly side of traveling)

Hey, people who travel with their bed pillow. You look insane. – Jim Gaffigan Is everyone on holiday but me? Even though my vacation is later this month, I’m still burning with jealousy at everyone else’s Instagram feed. I’m convinced everyone’s loaded with unlimited cash – and having a great time. *sobs into monogram handkerchief*

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What NOT to do on Valentine’s Day

Today is not a good day to confess your love for someone. Actually, no day is really a good day for this kind of thing. I remember when I lived with 3 other very strange people in Eugene Oregon. (I’m deeply scarred from that experience, particularly from catching my landlady pleasuring herself – why did…

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Office work was my Halloween

When I lived in Chico California, back in 2007, I was working at a job that I – well – hated. I liked the people I worked with. I just felt trapped, bored, frustrated and useless. So I opened a Word doc and this is what I typed:

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🇹🇭 7 Strange Thai Beauty Products and Treatments

Thais are obsessed with appearances both physically and socially. As a result, there are some pretty weird beauty products out there. Not all directly from Thailand, but nevertheless, Thailand has adopted them like a plastic surgeon’s knife. But it wasn’t until I was recording Thai Girl Talk’s podcast about the death of Athitiay “Kratae” Eiamyai…

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