Today was a huge writing day for me at work. I put together a press release about the tragic shooting at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL. One of the people who died was a member of the organization where I work. It was a sad day for those who knew her or felt like we did when we learned more about her life. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard to compose four paragraphs.

Anyway, I’ve been sitting at my kitchen counter for the past hour writing a blog post that is not ready for prime time. Now, it is after 9 pm ET, and I have nothing to show for it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, here is a top ten list of random things on my mind. (Okay – it was going to be a top ten list, but I’m tired, so I cut it down to five. Sue me 😉 )

1. I need some artwork or something to hang in my home office. At the moment, I’m looking at a blank wall. I used to have a Monet print that I moved from my bedroom wall to the living room to my home office. There is no good place for it. And frankly, I don’t like it. I took it down for good, and now I need something else to put there. I’m considering a vision board of inspirational quotes and photos of places I want to travel to when I retire. But that sounds like a lot of work, so I’m open to other suggestions.
2. I have an old boss that haunts me in my dreams. He was awful to me when I worked for him, and while I haven’t thought about him in decades, he seems to have taken a starring role in my subconscious. And the dreams are so realistic that they are unsettling. I often wake up in a cold sweat and need a stiff drink.
   Ah, memories… How do I get him out of my head?
3. Our dog might need knee surgery. She has this cute little bunny hop she does when she sprints across the lawn. But, we’ve come to realize that she is trying to keep weight off the one hind leg that gives her trouble. The vet gave us a referral for an orthopedist – for dogs. I didn’t know that was a thing. I’d do anything for my pup, but I’m really hoping the insurance covers it.
4. I’m listening to Randy Rainbow’s memoir, “Playing With Myself,” on Audible, and it is such a fun summer read. If you don’t know who he is, check out his YouTube channel. He narrates the book, which is a real hoot! Highly recommend!
5.   I’m so grateful to everyone who read my post yesterday. Writing something on July 4th about not feeling patriotic felt risky to me. I almost didn’t hit publish. I wasn’t sure if people would unfriend me or be upset by what I had to say. Maybe some people were upset but didn’t comment  – which is fine with me. For those of you who read it and supported me, I appreciate it. It is nice to be in a safe space with all of you. Thank you.

Time to call it a day, friends. See you tomorrow with a much better blog post than this one. 🙂

XO,

Elisa

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Somewhere, I know there is a photo of me taken at a Bicentennial parade looking patriotic in an over-the-top sort of way. I’m wearing red, white, and blue clothing and waving an American flag. My tricycle is decked out in paper streamers, and a sign is taped to the back of my seat that reads  “Happy Birthday, America!” The only thing missing is a bald eagle flying above me in the sky.

I was about five years old, and the times were much simpler.

This year, I wasn’t in the mood for fireworks or singing about the land of the free. I did grill some burgers and dogs for dinner tonight, but that’s because we have to eat. And, I always appreciate a three-day weekend. But, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings this past month, I’m not feeling particularly festive. I’m not going to get into politics here. But, in general, my rights as a Jewish American woman have been infringed upon. This country is supposed to be built on freedom of religion, but the line between church and state – that I count on – has been blurred beyond recognition. And it’s not a good feeling, to say the least.

But, while I’m not feeling patriotic, I am grateful. Grateful to live in a country where there is still freedom of speech so that I can say these things on my blog or in person and not fear punishment. Backlash on social media, maybe…but not punishment.

Maybe there will be something to celebrate next year, but I just can’t get there today. Maybe next year, there will be liberty and justice for all.

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If you feel like you are being bombarded with advertisements from the moment you wake up until bedtime, you are absolutely right. Whether it is a fancy car commercial in the middle enjoying Stephen Colbert’s monologue on YouTube or a flyer on my windshield for a local arts festival, I cannot escape someone trying to sell me something.

Last week, I asked my husband to add Dove soap to our shopping list, not realizing our house was bugged – or more likely, Alexa was eavesdropping again. That bitch. For the rest of the day, my FB page and Yahoo inbox were inundated with soap and body wash ads.

Speaking of my inbox, here is what I found this morning:

• My alma mater is soliciting donations to the university by the end of the month so that I can receive my exclusive address labels. Tempting! (NOT!)
• A cluster of spam emails featuring Fourth of July sales on patio furniture, must-have BBQ tools, and swimming pool accessories. By the way, we don’t have a pool.
• Oh, look! Starbucks is giving away four chances to win four cars if I sign up for their rewards program today.
• PA Conference for Women informs me about their brand-new ticketing system (“Just like the one Hamilton uses”) for its upcoming conference.
• ServicePlus (who?) offers me a free quote for a home warranty.
• UberEats will help cure my lunchtime cravings with a $25 gift card when purchasing something at one of these fine stores.

As if that weren’t enough, an obnoxious and intrusive pop-up window appeared out of nowhere from Yahoo advertising the benefits of their “premium email service” Apparently, I can enjoy an ad-free experience. It sounded too good to be true. And guess what, it is.

I read the fine print. Paying for this premium service is like putting a useless wet bandaid on Big Brother’s big toe. Even if I decided to pay $60 a year for this service, it is only available for “eligible subscriptions.” Just like when I want to buy a tube of Smashbox Original Photo Finish Smooth and Blur primer with an Ulta coupon and am told at the register that all the brand items are excluded. So, a completely ad-free inbox is what it sounds like – another advertisement.

Big Brother will always find me. Lately, he has been living on my Facebook page disguised as 80s nostalgia clickbait articles (my Kryptonite).

One time, Big Brother followed me into the parking lot outside Nordstroms at the King of Prussia mall after I bought Jenna’s senior prom dress. I specifically remember paying cash and not providing my email at checkout, leaving no breadcrumbs behind. I was smart enough to know that any evidence of being there increased my chances of receiving department store advertisements. It didn’t work. BB scoped out the map coordinates on my cell phone and chased me to my car, armed with coupons via text message for my next visit.

Friends, there is no escape. And if I sound like a bitter, empty nester as I’m writing this, I apologize. As you read in yesterday’s blog post, I have a to-do list a mile long and no time for these distractions. The irony is that email marketing is a big part of my day job as a nonprofit communications professional. But, the emails I send are for interested parties. I don’t buy lists or sell my contact list to other organizations. I appreciate their willingness to give me their email address, and in return, I do my best to be respectful and not fill up their inbox with junk mail. I religiously check my unsubscribe rate and am happy to report that it is low – which means I guess I’m good at my job. 🙂

So, where does Big Brother visit you the most – in your inbox, on your windshield, or someplace else? Inquiring minds want to know.

XO,

Elisa

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