Tag / Random Thoughts

by Lexine

Wednesday Random Thoughts

So….WordPress starting doing this for those who want to write using Classic Editor…

…and I’m not a fan of it! I have to use a pop-up window to write my nonsense here now?! Booooo! Bring back the full-page Classic Editor!

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For those on Bluesky: has anyone noticed an uptick in angry/ignorant accounts lately? Especially when it comes to politics? This past weekend alone, in regards to the second murder by ICE (let’s call it for what it is–a murder) in Minneapolis, there was so much ignorance coming from so many accounts (many of whom claim to be “anti-Trump”, and some coming from countries that have their own issues), I swear, the amount of accounts I blocked may have surpassed the amount of followers I currently have. It was *that* bad. There was even one account stirring up antisemitic bullshit on the victim (read it if you dare); that’s the kind of stupid shit you’d expect to see on Elon’s Nazi Bird app. But, nope, that’s Bluesky today, and it blows chunks. Did I mention that if you call out the Dem-bashers or the “watermelon crowd” (as I like to call them, IYKYK) on their bullshit, your account could get tagged labels and placed on block lists that could suppress your engagement/visibility? I’ve seen two accounts of this vein get unfairly suspended. Christ almighty. The site wasn’t this bad a year ago. 

Safe to say, I plan on not posting there as much from here on out. (My work-in-progress just yelled out “yaaay!”) It helps that I can’t be on the internet when I’m at my day job and that I’ve hit a busy period with work and non-work stuff. It also helps that I don’t see social media as a big necessity in my life. If you can believe this, I’ve only been doing SM for the past three-and-a-quarter years, and I’ve witnessed the births and enshittifications of Twitter, TikTok, IG, and Snapchat throughout my adulthood. (I signed up for Twitter in the summer of 2022, and IG shortly after, and I initially used both platforms to promote my book.) With the site seeing an uptick in ignorance, antisemitism, and Dem-bashing for clicks, could I be witnessing the enshittification of Bluesky in real time?

Also, if they block you, block ’em back. ‘Nuff said!

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Saw this recently…

Source

I’m sad to see this. Just eight years ago, the brand was valued at a billion dollars, and given the quality of her products then, I saw why. PMG has some top-quality stuff. Motherships 1 and 5 (which I own) are my desert island palettes, their lip glosses are divine, and their OpuLust lip glosses and LustTrance lipsticks remain two of my most-missed discontinued products. I first saw the brand at the Third Street Promenade Sephora in Santa Monica nine years ago, and I balked at the $125 (?) price tag of her eyeshadow palette (in this case, Mothership 1). Then I tried it on for myself, and…I kinda got why it was pricey. (I still don’t believe eyeshadow palettes, no matter how high-quality they are, should not cost that much. I think $80 would’ve been a more reasonable selling price for her Motherships.) 

By the way, how is PMG filing for bankruptcy, but not that flopping brand from that plastic lesser (I’m not saying her name here) that’s sold at Ulta, Macy’s and Nordstrom? Or is her family suppressing those stories from the public? No one I know doesn’t wear or buy shit from that brand that’s collecting dust in stores these days. 

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I attended some MLK Day events in SF last week: 

A speech at Yerba Buena Gardens. I’m unclear over who the speaker in the center is, as I just arrived in the area when this was happening (Nancy Pelosi, maybe?)
Rally signs
KCSM Jazz 91’s MLK event, “Music and The Movement”, featuring some of the radio station’s personalities
An MLK Jr. quote sign outside Oracle Park

I originally went there to see the KCSM event. They first showed a documentary on the radio station’s 60th anniversary, and while it was pretty interesting, I felt like it went on longer than it should. I can always watch the doc at home; it’s not often do I get to see a live, informative discussion on jazz music and how its messaging & history ties to the principles that MLK Jr. stood for. 

Tiffany Austin, who performed after the discussion, is a very good singer, by the way! 

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I need to go watch Netflix soon. Not only for Heated Rivalry, but now for this: 

The trailer for "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model," a docuseries about the controversial reality competition series, is out:

— Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) 2026-01-26T21:34:22.994Z

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The Macarena. Independence Day. The 72-10 Chicago Bulls team. Mariah’s “One Sweet Day”. They all turn 30 this year! And I was there to witness it all when it originally happened! *pops a Werthers* 

Nowadays, doing the Macarena would trigger those ICE fuckers. 

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Another throwback: Google Photos showed me that seven years (and two days) ago, I was at the NHL All-Star Game and events! 

At SAP Center in San Jose, CA, for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game! Taken 1/26/2019.
The ginormous Shark head seen in Sharks home games
Sharks collectible swag (all featuring former Sharks player Brent Burns)
My seats for the game
Close-up of the players. The Metropolitan Team (white jerseys) beat the Central team (black jerseys).
Old me with the Stanley Cup!

It was my first time seeing the Stanley Cup in person! And to see my guys Crosby, Letang, and Lundqvist on the ice at the same time? 😍 They all played for the Metropolitan team, which won the All-Star game. 

Ya know, every time I see these throwback pics of me from the 2010s, two things come to mind. One: I sorta-kinda miss my natural black hair (it’s been dyed red for the past six years). And two: I really don’t miss how big I was then. 

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the first 3 words you see will define your 2026 😭MoneyNew car Pussy

— Uncle pablo from Miami (@pablostjohn.bsky.social) 2025-11-24T20:47:50.488Z

I got “money”, “ass”, and “travels”. So far, this is eerily accurate. Right now, I’m making good money working my ass off from my work travels.  (I’ll eventually post about my day job here; I’m approaching 15 years into my profession this summer.)

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I can’t bring myself to eat let alone buy Dubai chocolate. It’s not sugar-free, for one. And after reading a wild article on (I kid you not) “Dubai port-a-potties” a few years ago, I refuse to touch that sh-,er, stuff!

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Some of my most memorable life events took place in a year that ended in a 6. I plan on doing some throwback posts throughout this year on what was up with me in the years 1996, 2006, and 2016. (Not 1986, though–I was only 1 going on 2 then.) I got some stories to tell! And may 2026 give me something fun and memorable. 

by Lexine

Tuesday Random Thoughts

I had to move this little rant from my previous entry as I feel like it distracts from the poem, but I still stand by this:

I’m pretty disappointed over the absence of posts condemning the attacks from some so-called “pro-Democracy”/”anti-Trump” accounts on Bluesky. Not even a repost from those accounts that condemned the attacks! I work Sundays and had a long, busy AF day at work, yet I managed to repost some things (I legit didn’t have the words at the time), throw up this entry, and also check in on a very good friend of mine who happens to be Jewish. Those same accounts were more eager to repost about the hero of the shooting and the awful deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife. Reiner is a legendary director no question, and his death was horrific…but–and you’ll hate me for reminding you this awful truth–he also called for Biden to step down last year. (And Biden still gave him grace.) Those accounts can keep blabbering about how shitty Trump is (what’s new) and demand to “release the Epstein files now!”, but them staying silent on the latest antisemitic incident in Australia says a LOT. You cannot be “for peace” or “kindness” in your bios and straight-up ignore the senseless murders of a community that continues to go through more hell thanks to your blatant/low-key antisemitism.

***Not from the rant, but it’s a sad coincidence that the Democratic party’s two biggest voting blocs (black people and Jewish people) have also been two of the most-targeted communities this year, whether it’s in the job market, vile malpractice in healthcare, or from more violent attacks. Going into 2026 and the midterms, I’m making sure the candidate I vote for fully supports (among other things) the black and Jewish (and the LGBTQ+) communities.

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My latest Bluesky gripe: those same “pro-Democracy”/”anti-Trump” accounts bashing “feckless” Democrats on the regular while praising “progressives” like that oyster boy with the Nazi tattoo in Maine and the new NYC mayor who surrounds himself with abusers and antisemites. I used to follow some of those accounts, but no longer! And I can’t help but notice all those accounts barking “do something!” to the likes of Jeffries and Schumer are qwhite something. 😒 Pro-tip: the real pro-Dem/anti-Trump accounts on Bluesky are those run by those who are the base of the Democratic party aka black and Jewish voices. They may not have a six-figure follower count or a podcast, but they’re all legit.

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If I could give pop culture a New Year’s resolution for 2026, it’s to stop making Sydney Sweeney happen. She’s unapologetically MAGA and I hear she’s wooden in her acting. I am not surprised another mid AF blonde girl has gotten more shine than deserved, but couldn’t Hollywood hype up a boring blonde who’s not MAGA?

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It’s now less than 10 days till Christmas?!

One weird way I stay sane during the holidays: not listening to almost all Christmas songs! Having worked in retail a long time ago, an Xmas song during the holidays can be triggering. I feel for those who work in retail and have been subjected to non-stop Xmas-themed aural assaults since November (on top of dealing with rude/foolish customers and demanding bosses/supervisors and working long hours).

I say “almost all” as there are some Xmas songs I truly enjoy, but I’ll post them in another entry.

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Yes, I’ve been doing Duolingo for a year now, please clap. No, I doubt I’ll make it two years. My subscription ends in a few weeks, and with the app’s admitted use of AI and inconsistencies with translations, I’m most likely going to delete that damn owl off my phone. I originally used it to brush up on my Spanish that I thought I’d be using for a job opportunity I was interested a year ago, but those plans fell apart. Yet I still kept using the app–the game-ification of it can be addicting. While sé cómo hablar algo de español, it’s not something I need to use in my day job right now, and it’s also been cutting into my book-writing time.

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Speaking of my work, my eBook is still on sale at Smashwords! Now until Jan. 1st!

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Controversial opinion, but Sephora >>> Ulta because Ulta carries some brands associated with toxic, shitty celebs. I went to an Ulta yesterday and the very first things I saw were displays of perfumes featuring a plastic grifter and that groomer Drake. I ended up going to a Sephora (who have their own controversies, I know) for eye bleach. I saw on the Ulta app that I’m $80-something away from being a Platinum member, but after being reminded of the trash-ass celeb brands they sell, I’d rather keep my money.

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Of course I did not win Powerball’s billion-dollar jackpot yesterday. If I did, I wouldn’t be writing this entry, but in my 20th straight hour of doing this around my apartment:

I did win $4–got the Powerball number right. #blessed

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I got 17–I saw #2, #6, and #13 in my household and elsewhere as a wee one, but I never used them. I think us elder millennials were the very last group to have at least seen all these things and use most of them. *pops a Werthers* My childhood bestie had a waterbed and sleepovers were fun…until we jumped on her bed, of course.

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The last installment of my Toronto trip will be up…when I get to it and I’m aiming for it to be soon, I swear. In the meantime, here are some pics of my recent visit to the Bancroft Gardens’ “Garden of D’Lights” holiday event:

Lit-up trees and plants at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
Plants basking in the holiday lighting at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
Lights and more seen at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA

Rocks in holiday lights at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
A garden pathway
Holiday palm tree

Going to Garden of D’Lights has been a holiday tradition of mine since 2022, and there’s always something new with every visit. For instance, this is the first time I’ve seen this there:

A poisonous grape plant at the Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, CA
close-up of the poisonous plant’s warning sign

TIL there’s a grape plant in existence that bites you back!

by Lexine

Rainy Day Random Thoughts

This should’ve been mentioned a week ago, but last week marks my three-year anniversary since I’ve gone cuckoo for keto. These days, I’m more low-carb than keto; I can eat a bit of bread or Godiva chocolate if I want to, but it’s not that often. Remembering how I used to look like before I ditched the carbs and sugar is my main motivation for staying low-carb. And, yep, that’s (headless) me in those pics! No airbrushing here, and no Ozempic or lipo involved. Left is me before I started doing keto, and the right pic is me just a week ago. 

By the way, as it is with all diet plans, YMMV. Going low-carb worked for me, and it may work for you or not. And making it work for you is one thing, but keeping at it is another ballgame. I’ve managed to maintain this whole time because 1) I don’t want to look like how I did in that left pic ever again, and 2) having been away from the stuff that made me gain weight for so long, I no longer miss them, and thus I don’t need them. A friend treated me to lunch at a Japanese restaurant weeks ago, and I did have some sushi (ack, rice!), but I didn’t eat all of the rolls in one sitting, nor did it make me crave sushi afterwards.  

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It’s been pouring in the Bay Area. I used to not like the rain when I was younger, but now, I think I only dislike it is when I have to drive in it 😆. Given that our state is prone to fires and knowing Temu Hitler and his henchmen would rather watch us burn down instead of grow a soul and help, I’ve since appreciated the rainy days. What faucet again??

Also, are umbrellas not cool anymore? How are some of you going by in the rain without a damn umbrella? On top of it being flu season right now! 😒

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I’d boo it too. 

🚨 CANADIAN HOCKEY FANS BOO DURING U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM AT OTTAWA SENATORS GAME

— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2025-02-02T02:08:55.120Z

Wondering if the boos will ever be done in the States. (Side note: I won’t be calling it “US” or “USA” for a long while as I feel like we’re no longer “united” here.) I’m not holding my breath for it to happen at the Super Bowl, but maybe it could happen at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, which takes place in SF. And as for some ‘Muricans returning the favor and booing the Canadian anthem, it’s nothing compared to what they cheer for (like Nazi garbage). 

And speaking of hockey, add these spineless cats to the growing trash heap. 

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2024 Grammys >>>>>> 2025 Grammys, yep I said it. Biased me liked last year’s guest lineup. Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman performed, a Celine Dion appearance, Mariah presenting, Miley and Kylie winning Grammys, no fire disasters, and this forever diva-glam moment from Xtina: 

I was hoping I entered my 40s in the same confident fashion. I think I achieved 1/25th of it. 

Speaking of the Grammys, has it been 25 years since J-Lo wore that dress and Xtina won Best New Artist and got all the Britney fans mad? What a time. 

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A little advice, and go ahead and call me a hater of your fave, but if you’re all for supporting trans rights, don’t ever be caught in 4K saying “both sides are the same” not too long ago. That uneducated mentality is why trans rights (and much more) are being gutted now, and you’ll never ever get a “yaass queen” from me. Only one side has been in favor of supporting trans rights, and I still find it baffling that some Americans allowed an overseas incident, amplified by misinformation packaged as “news” on social media, to make them believe “both sides are the same” and that it became their deal breaker in last year’s election. It’s like 2016 all over again, but far fucking worse! 

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It’s still a bummer to see some of my favorite celebs/people/accounts still use the other social media sites and not even join Bluesky (are they that ignorant over the fascists that own those sites?), but it’s another reason why I prefer to be a fan instead of a stan when it comes to public figures. 

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I know, I’ve been very political lately. Anyone who follows me here or on Bluesky knows what sides I’ve taken, and I make no apologies over it. I’ve read remarks that artists should “keep their politics to themselves”, and I’m probably making it tough for those who try to separate the art from the artist. But I’m still going to stand for what I believe in, and I’ll still be grateful for those who will still support my work along the way. I just refuse to be blind to the unconstitutional bullshit happening right now that could affect me and those who didn’t vote for the convicted felon. I still love my trashy soap opera glamour and I still escape to it, but supporting (or in this case, restoring) democracy matters to me, too. 

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Finally, I got something special coming a week from now! (No, it’s not a a full-face pic of me; y’all aren’t ready for that.) Stay tuned…

by Lexine

Thursday Random Thoughts

Like many real ones with social media these days, I have joined the land of blue skies. I haven’t abandoned the right-wing cesspool known as Twitter just yet, although I may consider it if I get more followers on Bluesky than Twitter.  The Bluesky app also needs some work, but I must say: it’s soooooo refreshing to see a social media site not bogged down by its MAGA manchild owner, vile right-wing trash, algorithms that are obviously drunk, and dumb bots. Here’s hoping the site stays the course and doesn’t devolve like Twitter.

I’m also on Threads and still have my IG. I got a TikTok but I haven’t touched it for a year now. (I’m just not a TikTok girl.) In the hierarchy of SM posting, Bluesky now gets first dibs on my short-form nonsense, then Threads, and, if I feel like it, Twitter.

My Vegas birthday trip pics will be coming shortly. I’ve posted some on my socials a few weeks ago, but I got a lot more pics and a whole lot to say about them!

I travel for my day job a few times a week, and some of the things I’ve been seeing on the digital billboards when I take 880 North back home…😒”Be Kind”? “Choose Love”?? What in the sappy Etsy boymom hell is that? Many people in this country certainly weren’t kind at all at the polls two weeks ago!

By the way, IT’S STILL THE MOOD

Meanwhile, that parallel universe is looking more lovely by the day. We’re all looking forward to what the Kamala administration will bring to this country after her landslide election win two weeks ago, the House and Senate going blue, Trump and Elon finally going to jail, the racists/misogynists/Nazis all staying pissed on their Truth Social accounts, and next summer bringing us the release of Xtina’s newest album and the Batgirl movie. *sighs*

I think I found THE cold-weather fragrance…

…and THE scent for femme fatales, divas, and the bad girls your mother warned you about. In other words, MY kinds of scent! It’s a few steps above Black Orchid, which I also own, and that’s all I can say because I’m not well-versed in describing fragrances and its notes (and that’s something coming from a novelist-by-night).

Someone send me back to Vegas for the next seven months with a $15,000/month stipend to cover lodging, food, gas, bills, my rent back home, and miscellaneous. I only say this because the Penguins aka my hockey team won all their games while I was in Vegas. Superstitions and all that.

I’m really gonna miss Rafa. It was only a matter of time before he hung up his racket for good. The first time I saw him play was Wimbledon 2008; I tuned in after getting curious over the whole Nadal-Federer rivalry going on then. That Men’s Finals match, honey…talk about an intro! I enjoyed watching him play ever since, and he was the total package: talented, class act, and, yup, a hottie. 😘Him and Federer defined one hell of an era in Men’s Tennis that I doubt can be topped any time soon. Happy trails, Rafa! 🫶

I know Dolce & Gabbana are sketch (as people; their clothes are fine), but their Fall 2024 ads with Miley are STUN.

The pearl-clutchers need to take all their outrage they’re wasting over how suggestive Sabrina Carpenter is in her shows and instead apply it to why Fist Brown (thanks, Dlisted) still has a career. Go after the abusers in the industry, why don’t you. Or is that too difficult for them?

Ending this post with a song that will go multi-platinum in the households of young women fighting against the emboldened, yucky incels. Listen to the lyrics and you’ll know!

by Lexine

Rainy Saturday Random Thoughts

Well, it was rainy earlier. Now it’s just so cold for a middle-of-spring day.

My home internet has been down for over a day and it won’t be fixed till Monday. (Yes, I paid my internet bill, so it’s a tech issue.) I’ve been getting by with my phone and 5G this whole time. But I’m a creature of habit (and a total old) who prefers to write my long-form content on the laptop instead of on my phone, and watch NBA & NHL Playoff games on my TV instead of on my phone. I’m making like a cell phone addict at the moment 😆

I’m very close to finishing up Part Two of my work-in-progress. Part Three is where the bulk of the drama and romance will take place, and I’m looking forward to writing it all!

Less than six months from now I leave my 30s for good. 😱  I’m closer to menopause than I am to 21. I…I…I’m not gonna let that sink in for now and just be glad that I wasn’t using retinol at 21.
I’m still wondering where to go for the milestone birthday…

This is supposed to be low-carb Mexican lasagna, which I got from here. I just read that it was originally made in a 6 x 9 dish (which was never mentioned in the recipe notes), so now I know why my, uh, lasagna look more like a Mexican pizza since I made mines in a 9 x 9 dish 😅.
At least my stomach is ready for Cinco De Mayo!

I gotta say it…
Foolish is protest-voting driven out of current emotion for one, single, decades-long issue, without considering the consequences of your no-vote that affects many other issues in this country. Especially this year! (I may rant on this in another entry, if I get time. Long story short: my views on *that* issue is very this.)

Thank goddess I’m not a Maple Leafs fan.

Finally, a new definition of cold-blodded from Kendrick:

by Lexine

Leap Day Random Thoughts

…that’s too hot and long for Twitter!

Part One of my work-in-progress is complete! I plan on having four parts to my story, with the third part bringing in most of the action and drama. Don’t worry, there will be a nice ending between my protagonists…and that’s all I’ll say about it for now. I’m the type who stays mum about her projects until it’s 100% complete and ready to be marketed. And this time, I know its genre! 😜

Over a month ago, I had a wooden bookshelf that collapsed all of a sudden. *sad face* Won’t say what brand it was, but I’d figure for something worth “$250”, it would hold up for a long while. I actually bought it for cheap from a Craigslist seller years ago, and now I know why the seller offered it for cheap. *sighs* After seeking out similar replacements this past month, I settled for something different: a steel shelf! The one I got is said to hold up to 350 lbs per shelf, so hopefully it holds up over time. I just assembled it (on my own–you can assemble this solo, despite what other reviews say), and reshelving all the displaced books will be my other rainy-day project this weekend.

My new favorite low-carb recipe: Crustless Pizza! Domino’s who?

Something I want to make in the next month: Chocolate Covered Cherry Fat Bombs. I plan on making them as gifts for two friends celebrating their birthdays in March. And for myself, of course.

I find this very disappointing. Voter apathy will be the death of democracy for us all. Not sorry for the bold all-caps, but GET OUT AND VOTE, PEOPLE!! Have some not learned from 2016?

I find this very rad, though. (Yes, I still use 1980s-era lingo.)