Coco at The Shiny Butter Blog

17 JULY 2024 Wedges are for Salads, Not People. Because our shared humanity is at stake. Not bad looking for a salad. Well hi there, shiny Reader, What a helluva an American summer we're having, no? It's hot as Hell's front porch right now, sure, but what's really got our attention is this dagblasted election. I pulled up an email I sent back when the current candidate appropriately named Trump was indicted in the Big Apple last spring. I felt like it was a good email then about watching out...

31 December 2024 Let's light this place up Something for the eve of 2025 One swan a-swimming on this seventh day of Christmas. Happy almost new year, Reader! Sure, there's more than one way to nail down when, exactly, the new year begins, what with the lunar new year vs. the Gregorian calendar vs. various other options to identify when the beginning begins. But because the regular old, common people's calendar right now say JANUARY 1 tomorrow, beaucoups of us don't need any more reason than...

17 December 2024 Just a Pinch Plus, an answer to "Are we there yet?" Easy, gentle vibes to you, Reader, When my kids were young and we'd be driving somewhere... and they'd inevitably ask Are we there yet? I came up with an answer that worked pretty well. One day in the car I held up my hand and spread my thumb and index finger wide apart and said, "This is how far we're going." Then I pinched my thumb and index finger much closer together and said, "This is how far we've driven so far." From...

8 November 2024 Here's what I choose What I'm changing and what I'm not changing. A gentle hello to you, Reader, What a week. My inbox is full. Full of reaction, reflection, and analysis about Tuesday's US election. Reactions are easy to come by, which is understandable, as this is where we often begin. Reacting, responding, reflecting When I wrote What to Do When Someone Throws You a Flaming Beach Ball I was talking about adjusting our tendency to react rather than respond to things. We have...

29 october 2024 Thirty-Seven Days Later! Thoughts and stories From H-O-M-E. A welcome-home toast (with n/a wine 😉 )! Left to right, that's me, "GrandDavy," my sister, and my longhaired son in the back. Hello there, Reader, After sixteen nights in the hospital followed by nineteen nights in a very-nice rehab center (praise be for that rehab center), my sister and I, along with my son, brought 87-year-old "GrandDavy" back home following his stroke six weeks earlier. We spent every night with...

22 october 2024 Google Thinks I'm Swedish. On being a good listener. Me asking Google What are you talking about? 😂 Shiny note to shiny you: Did you know you can be a supporter of The Shiny Butter Blog for just $5/month? You'll receive a second hot, fresh email each week (on Fridays). Click HERE to become a Friday Club member. Your support means a lot and makes a big difference. Hello, magnificent Reader, I think Google has me confused with someone else. I recently clicked on the link to an...

14 october 2024 If We Don't Turn Up the Energy, Who Will? On using our powers for good. The lotus—read on for why I'm sharing this picture... Dear shiny reader, You're invited to become a financial supporter of The Shiny Butter Blog right here for $5 per month. It may seem small, but it makes a difference. THANK YOU. Shiny greetings, Reader, While I've been round-the-clock busy following my stepdad's stroke three weeks ago (and am storing up plenty to talk about pertaining to the US medical...

11 october 2024 Questions: A Baker's Dozen ...to help us embody the things we want to see in the world I'll take a baker's dozen of these! Thank you, Friday Club hero! Thank you for being a supporter. You're the bomdiggity. Hello, magnificent, Reader, The energy and general atmosphere feels really uneven, chaotic, and even frightening these days. It's times like these when we just hold on and try to keep our wits about us. But rather than exist in survival mode—that is: fear, anxiety, and...

8 october 2024 Be the Light When it's So Easy to See Darkness Five (Short) things that are on my mind Let the light in Hello, your magnificence, You're invited to become a financial supporter of The Shiny Butter Blog right here. THANK YOU. (Friday Club members, thank you for already being a supporter. I'm so glad to have your confidence.) Gorgeous greetings to you, Reader, Things feel frantic and weird right now. Here are a few things on my mind. 1 The internet where I am at the moment is...