Shannon's Life in the Midwest

Thoughts, Observations, Impressions

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  • Product Review: Pillsbury Cookie Kit

    The Pillsbury Cookie Kit is a delightful product. I came across the cookie kit while wandering the aisles as Walmart looking for snacks. The image on the package instantly grabbed my attention. I have to admit I was a smidge disappointed that the cookies were not already assembled. I reacted to the picture and didn’t read it until I got home.

    The kit is sugar cookies, white frosting and sprinkles; very simple. There is no baking involved. You take the contents of the box and make a sandwich with its contents. I highly recommend the Pillsbury Cookie Kit. I don’t recall how much it costs. Whatever it is it’s worth it.

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  • Modern Dating Scam: Simp/Pick-Me

    The terms Simp and Pick Me are commonly used on social media. A simp is a man that is agreeable and eager to please women. A pick me is the same towards men. Both can be defensive of the opposite sex. Social media tells these people that they should be ashamed of wanting to be desirable and get along with the opposite sex. If you’re heterosexual and desire to be in a romantic relationship you should be a simp or a pick me. It’s a manipulative scam to think otherwise.

    No one wants to be in a relationship where they are at odds with their partner. Everyone wants someone that will be nice to them. Everyone wants someone that will cater to them. Those that spit simp/pick me at people as an insult try to convince others that their stupid social stances such as MGTOW and feminism will do anything but hinder them in a romantic relationships.

    Why go into a relationship with notions such as I will never dress for the male gaze or women wanted equality so I’m not going to treat my girlfriend like a lady ? Heterosexual people are attracted to characteristics of the opposite sex. Men like to feel respected. Men like women they find attractive. Men like sex. Women like to feel protected. Women like gifts. Women like to feel pretty. Women like security. Women like sex. There is nothing wrong with that.

    Just stay single or perhaps really consider if you’re even straight. Perhaps heterosexuality is not really for you. When I’ve had dates I certainly wanted to be appealing to men. When I’ve had boyfriends I’ve wanted to care for him. I expected the same in return. There’s no point in a romantic relationship if you’re not being validated. Of course your partner needs to appreciate and validate you as an individual but it’s very important to be appreciated as a man or a woman.

    Simps and pick mes actually like and respect the opposite sex and want to see them happy. There’s nothing wrong with that. What people actually mean by simp/pick me is a man or woman that is desperate and a yes man or woman. I agree that that is a problem. A strong focus on seeking validation through romantic relationships can also be problematic. Otherwise just stop being difficult and be nice and likeable to your date or find another date.

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  • Watch “He Knew the Way Home” on YouTube

  • Question of the Day 4.30.23

    What are your favorite emojis?

    🥴🤩🤪😋🤬

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  • Modern Dating Scam: Gratitude

    Gratitude and appreciation is yet another modern dating scam pulled on women. Gratitude and appreciation is being used as emotional blackmail against women. It’s as if men and women think women should be grateful for any kind gesture a man offers a woman.

    Kindness should be expected. Kindness from men should be the default. That’s particularly true if you’re spending time around men you know socially or romantically.

    This video trended on Twitter a few weeks ago. It’s part of the reason I decided to deactivate my account. The ignorance is astounding and frustrating.

    I suspect this is a made up skit that was produced and posted for engagement. That’s irrelevant because the commentary on this matter is the problem more than the video itself. In the video a woman is at a man’s house. She is upset because he has served her a steak dinner at his house but they made plans to go to the restaurant Capital Grille. This was their second date.

    Much of the commentary said the woman had a bad attitude. Commenters said the man made a kind and romantic gesture by cooking dinner (I suspect it’s carry out) and surprising her. Commenters insulted the way she styled herself. Some said she should be dumped right away because she was quarrelsome.

    The man lured the woman to his home under false pretenses. This is a great example of a “Bait and Swith” date. I wrote a dating scam post about “Bait and Switch” dates three and a half years ago.

    https://lifeinthemidwestblogger.wordpress.com/2019/10/14/the-modern-dating-scam-of-the-bait-and-switch-date/

    The man was inconsiderate at best and sneaky and under handed at worst. He communicated poorly either unintentionally or on purpose in order to create a confusing situation he could exploit. Either way he broke her trust.

    Men and women thought that she should go along with the man’s change of plans because he offered her dinner. That’s not the point at all. If the woman agreed to spend the evening in this stranger’s home she is taking a big risk. If something unfortunate happened to her during the evening many would blame her for spending time in a stranger’s apartment. The romantic gesture would be irrelevant at that point.

    This is emotional blackmail. It seems that if a man make a kind and seemingly generous gesture a woman is obligated to accept and I suppose coo at his attention. Women are essentially supposed to allow themselves to be bought off at a low rate. If the woman questions the man’s intentions or rejects his offer because it made her feel uncomfortable she’s seen as unappreciative.

    Romantic gestures are great. That’s what courtships and dating periods are for. Men need to understand that women are the vulnerable party between them and they should be respectful of that. Kind and sweet gestures should be exchanged between sweethearts but trust and respect is only gained through integrity, good character and time. Good communication and being considerate of your partner is key. Romantic dinners and gifts are great but building the foundation of a relationship is not a mere exchange of gifts. It’s much more mysterious and exciting than that.

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  • Watch “April 28, 2023” on YouTube

    https://youtube.com/shorts/o6l-e9EN-Z4?feature=share

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  • Daily Question 4.27.23

    Daily writing prompt
    Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.
    View all responses

    I’ve traveled outside of the country alone twice to Japan and Israel.

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  • RIP Jerry!

    The King of Ratchet TV, Jerry Springer, passed away today at home in Chicago. He was seventy nine years old. Jerry was a pop culture phenomenon whose success likely ushered in the decline of American culture and morals. The American ratchet TV industry and social media likely wouldn’t be what it is today without Jerry. He certainly made his mark and leaves behind an impressive legacy. Jerry Springer was also the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. in the 1970s.

    If you’re a ratchet TV lover take the time to pump your fist and chant JER-RY JER-RY JER- RY today.

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  • Watch “I Was Destroying My Marriage, But Then I Heard God Say This 🥺…(Testimony)” on YouTube

  • I Deactivated My Twitter Account

    I decided to deactivate my Twitter account after having it for over ten years. I enjoyed Twitter because I am a people person and like to talk. Twitter is a great way to stay informed on current events, trends and opinions. There was a group of people on Twitter that I interacted with regularly. I regularly interacted with sports fans, particularly Chiefs fans, pop music, movie and reality TV fans, non MAGA Christians and anti Republican Democrats. I’ll miss them. They were fun.

    Social media can be enjoyable but you need to pick and choose your interactions carefully just like in the real world. The new Twitter algorithm changed and accounts show up on my TL that I don’t follow. I don’t see tweets from the accounts I decided to follow. I don’t know if Twitter is cramming nonsense down everyone’s throat but it is definitely trying to force me to interact with trashy content.

    Twitter has been trying to force me to content concerning rappers I’ve never heard of, men who hate women and MAGA. No thanks. I can’t block my way out of the situation because there is plenty of obnoxious content to replace the accounts I block. I tried to engage with the accounts I don’t agree with in an argumentative tone. It may have worked to an extent but again there is always more angering content to take its place.

    I just decided to activate my account. I’ve been questioning if my Twitter use was healthy anyway. Deactivated accounts can be reactivated withing thirty days. I haven’t decided if I will reactivate. I may start a new account one day. But I feel peace and less tension with Twitter out of my life for the moment. Deactivating Twitter was a good decision for me.

    I’m tempted to deactivate Instagram too. IG does the same thing. They don’t show you posts from people you chose to follow. They put things on your TL that you didn’t ask for. But IG is a bit different because there are hundreds of pictures of me on there. It’s like a little shrine to myself. I probably need to deactivate my IG account in order not to feed vanity. I feel like the reluctance to get rid of IG is a lesson in humility and idol worship. But the thought of it going away makes me very sad. That probably means I need to deactivate it. I’ll let you know how it all goes.

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