I'm going to vote for no more surgery, Zen.

Glad the surgery went well, Zen. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

I peeked at CNN and saw this story GOP voter: What boy hasn't done this in high school?. Basically CNN is interviewing a group of GOP women and one of them says this.

How about me? I never did anything like that. Once I came across a girl who was drunk and naked outside of a party. We were alone and I gave her my coat, then I put her in my car with the heater on, found her clothes, and got her home. I knew other guys who wouldn't do that in high school. There seems to be a lot of boys-will-be-boys swirling around this and that's just such a terrible message for kids regardless of gender. I'm not saying anything y'all don't know. It's just frustrating. I did some shitty things as a teenager, but never something like that. I also feel a bit angry that people just assume all teenage boys are just sexual predators, almost like it's uncool if you weren't.

Made me cry, Gud. I know there have to be more like you. But you're right, the predator types have been normalized, even lionized, and it's not the way it should be.

Zen, I'm glad the surgery went well. All healing~ma to you.

(hands Shrift some chamomile tea) There, there. Put your feet up and have some good food and nice fic.

The real world is much too troublesome today.

I heart y'all.

Zzzzz

I had to double check which group I was on when I read "ISO: Large metal tub, big enough for a small woman to fit inside. Any leads hive mind?". Relieved to see it was a theatre resource group.

also feel a bit angry that people just assume all teenage boys are just sexual predators, almost like it's uncool if you weren't.

I know a lot of teenage boys, and raised a couple. It isn't normal at all. What I also don't get is anyone who hides or protects such behavior. I know that most of the young men I know would beat the shit out of someone if they saw them being abusive to women. I don't think I am delusional about this. Yes, there are indeed predators, including Trump, but that Is Not Normal.

Hey Zen! Congrats on the surgery. Wishes for quick recovery and good drugs.

Maria, how did it go yesterday?

Big winds today and deluge expected tonight. Enjoying the peace and solitude of Otter Lake. Also, I have a tiny mouse. Zoe very foolishly thinks she has a chance of catching it.

We are supposed to drive an hour this evening to go to a cousin's birthday dinner, but we are also under a flood watch. I'm a little twitchy.

I don't know what to say to you, Gud. Thank you, or I hear you, or I share your pain. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with people. Particularly with old white Republican men, though I know there are also women (probably white women) out there saying the same things. It's horrible. I'm so angry.

Sometimes I get to take a random walk for my job, including this morning (I had to take pictures of something to show someone), and I put on podcasts, and went and got a pretzel on my way back, and I highly recommend this kind of addition to one's day!

The sad thing is, like Gud, I knew a lot of good guys in high school. But I also knew a lot of guys who would do something like find a drunk girl passed out at a party and take turns humping her. Not every man is a predator, no, but there is nothing in place in our society that teaches them to be otherwise.

And the idea that my daughter is hearing things like "Boys will be boys" and "It was all just in fun" is heartbreaking and infuriating.