The Big Picture is Pride

Yesterday, social media was flooded with the announcement that the Supreme Court passed a ruling for marriage equality in all 50 US states.  To honor this momentous, historic occasion, I reposted this picture, originally posted by the "Human Rights Campaign" Facebook group:

My caption read: "How awesome is this?  At least some things are getting changed for the better."

Despite an overwhelming majority of my news feed being overrun with celebration regarding marriage equality and Pride Week, I quickly received comments on this post that I found disappointing (to say the least).  I expressed to my commenters how much I dislike arguing politics and my refusal to do so, but also my disappointment in their unsupportive comments.

Rather than dropping into an all-out, drag-out, heated Facebook fight, I was inspired to go even further with my pro-marriage-equality posts and support of Pride Week via Facebook.  My posts that followed were:

Pretty self-explanatory.  Really, if it is something that someone is seriously against, I don't think losing them as a Facebook friend is too much of a loss.

Loved this.  I changed my profile picture just to add a rainbow filter over top by going to facebook.com/celebratepride.  

I understand that some people are upset by the Supreme Court taking the decision away from the individual states.  "Big Government is bad!"  I agree with the general sentiment.  But look at the big picture: the fight for marriage equality in the US is over!  Everyone is free to marry, without antiquated restrictions of gender or sex.  This is an amazing moment in history that we are living!  I have been pro- marriage equality and gay rights since I was old enough to understand sex.  Now I get to see our nation growing and maturing before my very eyes.  That's one hell of a big picture.

Supporting a cause and staying true to my beliefs is far more important to me than arguing over them with people who are just as decided as I am.  I will openly tell you about where I stand on an issue any day of the week.  I will gladly give you my opinions on a matter that you'd like to be informed on.  I will hear your side and acknowledge your opinions, as well.  Just don't expect a hot debate or healthy argument.  It's just not how I roll.

Listography Nerd Gets Hungry

Today's post is a brainless one with no point.
Yup.

The other night I was super tired but couldn't sleep, so I started compiling a list of my favorite foods.  If there are two things that I have an unnatural amount of love for, they are lists and food.  All rolled into one..... it's a way to pass the time.

PRE-MADE SNACK STUFF
Italian Rose salsa
Southwestern Ranch Baked Lays (dicontinued)
Spicy Cayenne & Cheese Kettle Cooked Lays (discontinued)
Krunchers BBQ potato chips
Munchies jalapeno cheddar sandwich crackers (previously Doritos branded)
Snyder's mustard & onion pretzels
Cashwes
Pizza Rools, three meat flavor
Tickle Me Pickles spicy dill pickle spears

ACTUAL FOOD
Grits, overcooked, with salt only
Tutto Mare
Seafood gumbo
Seafood bisque
Corn chowder
Mashed potatoes with corn mixed in
Anchovy caesar dressing

PROTEIN
Crab legs
Spicy venison slim jims
Andouille sausage

FRUIT
Rambutan
Strawberries
Blackberries
Peaches
Zucchini

NON-FRUIT PRODUCE
Yellow and green onions
Sweet green peas
Corn
Red potatoes

SWEET STUFF
Chocolate covered strawberries
Terry's chocolate oranges
Life cinnamon cereal
Reese's Puffs cereal
Breyer's Birthday Blast ice cream
Ben & Jerry's cake batter ice cream
Starburst FlavoReds
Green apple licorice
Jelly Belly buttered popcorn jelly beans
SourPatch watermelon

ASIAN FOODS
Okonomi yaki
Shumai
Plain fried rice with extra onion
Hot & sour soup
Spicy Japanese mayo
Tao Kae Noi crispy seaweed
Gim rolls
Veggie mandu

DRINKS
Chocolate milk
Pepsi
Peach Vesss
Appletiser


I have a weird palate.  And a weird way of passing the time.  But since I'm a geek about both lists and food, I found this post suitable enough.

The General Public's Ice Cubes are Bogus

It has been a little over a month since my last post, I realize this.  I was working on a riveting homemade soup review when the universe threw me one of its biggest curve balls yet.  My mother-in-law passed very suddenly, and thus a whirlwind of things very un-soup related ensued.

As part of the memorial service, my husband and I received a potted phalaenopsis orchid.  That's what this post is about.  Don't scroll away just yet.  I'm not a gardening buff, either.

I have a habit of boasting my crafts and projects all over cyberspace, specifically through my "Creations" album on Facebook and my "Gillynze Says" board on Pinterest.  However, I've never been one to have a green thumb.  I was apprehensive about this orchid, as they are notoriously difficult to care for.  My mother loves orchids, and could not sustain hers despite her best efforts.  I settled the orchid in our kitchen and set about administering a regimen of 2 ice cubes a week like I had been told.

First I noticed two flower blooms had fallen.

Then three more.

Crap.

Time to do some homework.

I googled orchid care.  Of course there are thousands of species of orchids.  Of course.  I figured that mine would be a fairly common variety, and tried to find a similar picture.  Once I found what I thought I might be looking for, I read website after website and watched several YouTube videos.  Oh the things you can learn from the Internet.

• Ice Cubes Bad!: There are some orchids that can thrive via this method, but I didn't find a single legit website that used it.  The suggested method is to flood the orchid with tepid tap water for several minutes, and then to let it drain completely.  Watering is usually needed every 7-10 days.
• Wrong Pot: My orchid came in a basic white ceramic pot.  The ideal media is a clear, plastic pot with several draining ports.  Not being able to find this, I opted for a ceramic pot with a large draining hole in the bottom.  The draining is the important part; orchids are susceptible to root rot.
• Roots: They should be green in color and fleshy in texture.  They will grow stiffer and silver in color when they are thirsty.  Isn't that nifty?  They let you know when they need a drink!  But when they are crunchy and papery, that part of the root is dead.
• Leaves: You shouldn't leave standing water on the leaves, as this too will cause rot.  Like the roots, the color of the leaves will tell you whether they are getting enough sun.  Talkative little plant, this orchid!

I also read up on their need for fertilizer, how to cut orchid spikes and encourage regrowth, and the type of material they should be potted in.  So I went to the garden center, bought some supplies, and got to work.

Once I repotted the orchid, I could see the poor little roots.  They were rigid and silver.  Ice cubes were just not cutting it.  I flooded it, drained it, and set it in the window for a few hours.  When I came back, the roots were already green!!!  I pruned off some dead ends from the roots, and now she's sitting pretty!

I so wish I had a "before" picture.  You'd be stunned.  Guess you'll just have to trust me on this one, lol.

So what?

So I've never rehabbed a plant in my life.  With a little research, I fixed up my pretty little phalaenopsis orchid!  Good things happen when you put nerd powers to use.

Also, the idea that we shouldn't follow blindly to what everyone else says feels reinforced by this project.  It has generally been my experience that people are unreliable, especially when it is the "general public."  Coming from me, that is phrasing it kindly.  ;-)