The Letter: Could Be Peaches, Could Be Lunchmeat
Issue 104
Greetings, loved ones and perfect strangers. Welcome.
Issue 104 marks two years of The Letter. We celebrated a bit in Issue 100, but 104 is the real two-year mark. Go, me! Go, you! Let’s do another two.
Say This
When something is rather uncertain, my friends and I say, “Could be peaches, could be lunchmeat.” Meaning, could be this, could be that—who knows?
We took inspiration from the 1989 classic Look Who’s Talking with John Travolta (a real art piece). In the scene, he holds up a dented can with a missing label and implies there’s a surprise inside.
“Could be peaches, could be lunchmeat.”
His actual words were, “Could be lunchmeat, could be peaches—who knows?” but we think our phrasing is catchier.
Use the phrase anytime—no credit necessary. I think you’ll find, it works in many situations. Just one example: Each week, this newsletter—could be peaches, could be lunchmeat. You never know what you’re going to get!
October Isn’t Just for Halloween
It’s ADHD awareness month (and boy am I aware).
I’m becoming quite the advocate and resource hub for the “disorder.” Not only do I have ADHD, but Owen does, as well. Let me tell you, navigating ADHD for your child when you also have ADHD is interesting. There’s no doubt I’ll offer support in this area as my knowledge grows.
Among many resources, CHADD is a good website to know about. Also, ADDitudemag.com. Ironically, both websites will give you ADHD if you don’t already have it. The deluge and clutter of information is very good, yet very overwhelming! Because I’m navigating them already, I can help you.
Recently, I hired an ADHD coach for myself (while researching coaches for Owen). When I showed her my note-taking system, she told me paper is high-tech for people with ADHD. I felt seen. And, we really like writing things down, especially using actual paper. Amen! If I can’t see it and touch it, it doesn’t exist. The thing we do when we get constantly distracted is called floating.
So, why is Issue 104 of The Letter so monumental? Because sticktoitivness is touch and go for people with ADHD—and two years is a lifetime.
Also, systems and routine are so important, yet we tend to avoid it all costs. Our best work gets done in the moment, which is why I write The Letter the day-of, and the mix of commitment and creative outlet is a very good mechanism for my brain (and likely yours).
A nudge to begin your next creative project.
Binding Agent
I never thought I’d buy a zero-waste binder (nor utter such words). Alas, middle age does funny things to you.
Here’s how the zero-waste binder happened to me:
While searching for a good-looking binder to hold some of my real-life papers, I stumbled upon Wisdom Supply, an online company headquartered in my town (by chance)—run by avid conservationists tackling a not-so-small niche—the wastefulness of school supplies—with very well-designed and made items for school and work.
Copious dollars later, with a $24 binder as my gateway, my cart was full of beautifully crafted supplies I didn’t know I needed.
I may have found them a tad late, as they’re just about to close up shop and reopen in 2025 with an even bigger mission.
I wrote a note to their founder. She responded in part by saying:
The biggest problem is that our e-commerce business led us far away from working on the problems we so enthusiastically set out to address, and that's the amount of permanent waste coming out of schools and the radically obscenely missed opportunity to set up systems within schools that affect a young person's ability to think rationally and intelligently about waste. — Heather, co-founder of Wisdom
I can confidently say I have NEVER thought about the wastefulness of school supplies—until now.
Once their inventory runs out, they’re done selling onesie-twosies to people like us. Until then, please take advantage of their incredibly high-quality items (read the reviews) and put some real products in your life.
Take that!
One Bad Apple
Have you ever needed technical support from an Apple expert?
He’s a delightful gent who helps with your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iCloud, Apple watch, AirPods, Apple TV—be it minor or catestrophic—and all the software surrounding them.
Like all good helpers, he’s part tech wizard, part therapist. He’ll listen to your challenges, quell your fears, and help you make better use of your technology—and he does it all, remotely!
You could be in Duluth, Minnesota and he could be in the hills of Scotland, and it would be like you’re sitting side by side. He helps individuals, businesses, home offices, schools, and your parents!
He’s your friend.
Get in touch (and tell him Simone sent ya).
Smarty Ants
I have a complicated relationship with ants. I can’t bear to kill them, but I hate them, so I usually kill them (but not without a healthy dose of inner torment).
If, like me, ants enjoy munching on your pet’s food, I have a solution for you that works—and doesn’t require ant murder.
Fill a larger bowl with an inch of water and place the food bowl inside. Instant moat—ants can’t cross the water. It’s that simple, folks.
PS: I still use ant traps elsewhere :(
Speaking of Spiders
I’m sorry (not sorry) to be a curmudgeon, but I’m real hater of senseless seasonal decorations. If you’re my opposite, take this request with a grain of salt:
Please don’t “decorate” your shrubs for Halloween with these wasteful and destructive spiderwebs. They’re made of dense cotton, PVC, and other artificial fibers, and they’re highly flammable.
Birds can get entangled in the fake webs, and so can small animals not strong enough to break free. For a couple of weeks, kids will ooh and ahh at your decor at the expense of the tangled birds and nothing-but-trash forever in landfills.
When I shared this with Emma (who is a real lover of senseless seasonal decorations) she was more distraut at the dying wildlife than her future without artificial spiderwebs. I told her, “You can’t unsee the truth, which is why so many people don’t look.”
If my request arrives too late—and your home is already covered in white, webby crap, no worries. There’s always next year. 🎃
PS: I’m NO saint. I have so far to go in my wastefulness. One step at a time.
Say Hello to Romeo
He commandeered a blanket given to me for my birthday by my friend Summer. 23andMe reported he has a new relative. ❤️
My mom uses the ant moat - OUTSIDE! Yup, it works there too!
Happy anniversary!
I can relate to your ant issue. This summer, I removed the traps because I felt guilty. Luckily, I later found out why they had been there in the first place.