Hello, dear readers! Can you believe it’s already July? Every year, I bounce along through May and June, thinking, isn’t the weather lovely here in Michigan?
The lightning bugs dance, fireworks light up the sky, and a tornado or two add a dramatic twist, knocking out the power and jolting me into the realization that the year is half over and my 2024 goals are gathering dust. Sadly, they will probably continue to gather dust for the remainder of 2024.
Today, in our short time together, I want to focus on something other than the dusty, moldy goals. I want to share a stretch goal I didn’t even know I needed. The revelation began in my closet, alone and naked, looking for the perfect outfit. “Who bought these clothes?” I wondered. It wasn’t a senior moment, if that is what you are thinking. It was more of a rhetorical curiosity. I know I bought them, but why? Suddenly, I hated all the shirts with fancy logos, shorts, dresses, jeans, and shoes. “Even this scarf is ugly,” I muttered, tossing it back into the drawer despite it being my favorite a day before.
“My God, I remember buying this dress in the early 1990s,” I think as I riffle through the hangers.
After trying three, four, or maybe five combinations, I finally settled on an outfit that could best be described as creative. Chuck lovingly refers to these as my “costume changes.” Time ran out, and we had to leave with me in my creative getup. Chuck gave it a thumbs up, probably because we were late. Throughout the evening, lovely people complimented my outfit, but deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. It didn’t feel like me.
Was it the color? Gold is not in my personal color palette—mustard, maybe, but not gold. The combination of a T-shirt and kilt over black running shorts is a bit weird for me to wear in public. Perhaps if I were running a trail race, but I’d hung up my trail shoes for a pair of Chaco sandals. I felt like I was wearing an Elvis impersonator outfit to my class reunion, and everyone was staring.
This was my unexpected stretch goal, the sassy kilt over black running shorts. It tested my tolerance for discomfort. Sitting with that discomfort all evening made me realize how much my tolerance for it has diminished since retiring. Now, if something makes me uncomfortable, I tend to avoid or procrastinate when dealing with it. “Fuck it” is my new motto.
I know it's odd that I had an aha moment linked to clothes. I'm not a clotheshorse and typically don’t stray outside of what I perceive as my style, so perhaps it does make sense. The discomfort I felt flitting around in my kilt mirrored the discomfort I now feel tackling IT challenges. The discomfort is new and unsettling. Sometimes, it's learning a new tool or troubleshooting an error. Recently, I struggled with Canva, a tool I’ve used many times to create and print large poster-size documents. This time, I couldn’t. The discomfort felt like an elephant sitting on my chest. “Have I lost my mind?” I wondered. I hadn't – but Adobe’s decision to put that feature behind a paywall made me feel a bit feeble and very angry.
It is worrisome to think my Gadget Girl Skills are getting rusty. My LinkedIn profile indicates I’m an early adopter of new technology; perhaps I need to remove it. Before retiring, I’d drive the IT Desk nuts with questions or download a program not yet approved, creating havoc on my desktop. I was the Queen Bee problem solver.
So here I am, embracing the stretch goal I didn’t anticipate. Reconnecting with discomfort has shown me its value—it’s a catalyst for growth and learning. Discomfort is not a barrier but a bridge to wisdom. My LinkedIn profile needs no edits, but I may delete the account. My Gadget Girl Skills are bright and shiny; they just need to be used in new and creative ways.
GIG Updates!
We’ve partnered with Manchester Underground to snag a booth in the Washtenaw Nonprofit section at the Ann Arbor Art Fair from July 18 to 20, 2024, to hand out GIG flyers! Stop by the nonprofit section on Liberty between Fifth St. and Division.
We’ve got a newsletter for GIG - The Art of Michigan Music up and running. (I’m still wondering why we didn’t think of it sooner.) Sign up to be the first to hear about tickets or special guest announcements. We’ll share artist spotlights and details about the music lineup for Friday and Saturday nights, the Saturday Sessions and Mixer, and the Sunday Music Market. It is a free Substack newsletter. However, if you want to support our mission of showcasing the artists that make Michigan music shine, feel free to upgrade your subscription to paid.
Fans with Bands
A new episode DROPPED! Chuck talked with Frank from Trash Fiasco. This punk band from Chicago is eclectic and energetic, with sludgy guitars, riveting rhythms, and vibrant vocals. He had a great time talking with Frank about the band and their new album, Exist as Instructed, which includes tunes with a Melvin-ish heaviness blended with rockabilly and psychedelic grooves. They talked about influences, motivations, and pizza toppings during their conversation.
Michigan BrewTrail
My article, which I submitted in April, was published in the Summer Edition of the Michigan BrewTrail. I jokingly referred to the publication as Brenda’s BrewTrail.
A few articles on tap for Michigan BrewTrail:
A Spot Light on Allegan’s Breweries
Michigan Cider - Pommelier's Study Group plus behind the scenes at GLINTCAP
A Profile on Wolverine Pickleball - Tap Offerings in the Kitchen!
Our collaborations with Barrel + Beam and Kognisjon
Sneak peek of our Kognisjon beer can label! Isn’t it fucking cool? You can be sure the story behind the name will be in the article!
I’m one of many writers at Michigan BrewTrail, but if Ed wants to rename it in my honor, I wouldn’t complain. I love seeing my work published in it, but what is more important is supporting the Michigan Craft Beer scene. If you want to read the entire Michigan hop article, you can find copies of BrewTrail magazine at most Michigan breweries and in the “Other News Section'' at Life In Michigan.
Oh, I almost forgot! We are going to the Great Lakes Beer Festival on August 17, 2024. We had a great time last year and wrote a fun recap for Hearst’s Midland Daily News. Let me know if you are going this year! I’d love to hang out.
The Rural Innovation Exchange
I know I’ve said it like three times, but I promise the Rural Innovation Exchange (RIX) will soon publish Chuck’s article featuring the Red Horse Center. Also, on RIX, I’ve got an article coming featuring Alexandria Palzewicz, who won the American Culinary Federation Chapter Chef of the Year and is the talent behind the Northwoods Test Kitchen. And I’m writing a sweet piece about the crew at the Peace Pie Company in Marquette for RIX.

Upcoming Events
Chuck always shares a comprehensive list of events you should check out. I’m taking a focused approach, and I’ve got just one: the 71st Manchester Chicken Broil on Saturday, July 20, 2024. If you can’t go and are curious how they make the delicious chicken and coleslaw, I found a Manchester Mirror article published during the pandemic. It includes the authorized secret slaw dressing. My mom always claimed it was Jean Alber’s recipe, which I have a copy of.
It is the same recipe in the article. The last line is most important and one of the few reasons she got out her blender. It is the secret to slaw: blending for 10 minutes or until the dressing turns a milky color.
Reading Nook
Back in June, or it might have been May, I posted on Facebook that I was searching for something new to read. My friends came through and suggested a slew of new books, one of which was “Drunk-ish” by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor.
“A hilariously candid and refreshingly honest account of her journey to breaking up with alcohol for good.” I’m familiar with Stephanie’s work; she is funny as fuck! I love a good memoir, so I queued it up on Audible. I loved every minute of it, especially her honesty about addiction. It gave a perspective that everyone should have regardless of their relationship with alcohol. It might help you say hey, I recognize myself, or I had no idea addiction works like that. Now I see how a relapse happens.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for joining us on our journey and reading the “Sunday Sip.” We appreciate you and look forward to sharing more adventures next week. Until then, safe travels, and remember to enjoy the ride.
Thanks for sharing 💙🦋🐐
Great as always! Cheers