The Neighborhood Horses Eat Carrots and Watermelon

One of my favorite things to do is visit a few horses that live down the street. The family is great to let us (me, and various family members) come by during the week to offer carrots and watermelon rinds, dessert for these big animals. They’re in a pasture where there used to be just one horse (who’s since moved up to some kind of performance level– I miss you Silly!). And actually, even before Silly, there was this beauty.

The three horses there now have such personalities. One is the boss and likes to lick my hands even after the treats are gone. The other is a real good hugger. The third one, an older horse, we get to see him sometimes but he’s mostly doing whatever he can to avoid the other two bigger horses.

Spending time with them just confirms how much I love horses. Not that I’ll ever get one… because maybe they’re like boats– it’s better to have a friend who has a boat than to own one yourself.

Here’s a video from one of our visits. Comment below with your horse experience, any fun stories, or with a reason or two why I should think about getting one.

-Out of the Wilderness

Does it stink having a birthday around Christmas?

This is a question I get all the time. Even as a 45-year-old adult, people ask if having a birthday in December is kinda rough? I understand the reason they ask, thinking that Christmas– and Thanksgiving and New Year’s– overshadows my own celebration.

But I actually love that I was born in December. The whole month is already so full of cheer and festive spirits so adding the excitement of a birthday makes it more fun for everyone me. Even as a child, I looked forward to December all year long and my parents were very thoughtful to celebrate my birthday usually 2 or 3 weeks before Christmas (even though my birthday is actually after Christmas). I feel that it’s kind of special, too, that I was born the day after we celebrate Jesus’s birthday. I mean, who better to follow on the heels of than the Savior of the world, right?

Mostly I’m just full of happiness about being born in such a great part of the year. But there is one drawback. It’s all of you summer babies that really have it all. Anyone born in the middle of the year gets presents every six months. How unfair is that!? 🤪 Maybe that’s why at some point in recent history, people started making their friends and family celebrate their half-birthdays… because if there’s one thing we’re lacking is narcissism (and sarcasm). As an introvert, I actually like my birthday being overshadowed a bit. Every once in a blue Christmas moon I’ll thrive with attention but those occasions are few and far between… just like parties that celebrate me… because… remember my birthday being in December? I’m also the “baby” of the family so I have a lot of confusing paradoxical qualities.

There’s another benefit of being born in late December. Each calendar year, new year’s resolutions are also goals for whatever age I’m turning. So instead of saying, “In 2025, I want to be a better swimmer…” I’d phrase it like this: “When I’m 46, I want to be a better swimmer.”

Anyway, what are you getting me for my birthday!? Oh, you already got me something for Christmas… ok.

-Out of the Wilderness

Men Like Naked Women

A common presumption in society and the media is that men respond more strongly to visual sexual stimuli than do women. -National Library of Medicine (more here)

It might surprise you that this post was prompted by watching a country music video. The song is called “Nothin’ To Wear” by Chris Lane and it’s about a man telling a woman she’s really attractive when she can’t find anything to wear. The play on words is the only redeeming quality of this song but still, the idea that a country song can revolve around a woman taking her clothes off is such an uncreative, immature, and boring take. OK, men like naked women. And? The song attempts to be playfully romantic but as a coworker used to say about predictable ideas, it’s low-hanging fruit.

The music video is perplexing, too. I found myself staring mostly at the wall behind Chris because of the poor lighting on the subject– you know, the singer! His entire performance is in a shadow and I don’t think it was on purpose. Would it kill anyone to put a light up for him, sheesh!

The song (and the video, too) is a fail all around. Plus, who’s the target audience for this song? Just like Samsonite making luggage for all traveling customers (Meet the Parents, anyone??), I think this video might appeal to men because it feeds the male’s sex drive. But is there any woman who thinks this is fun to listen to? It’s a song that appeals to our lower selves, nothing that elevates our thoughts, aspires us (as men, at least) to be anything better than sex-driven animals.

Gosh, country music frustrates me sometimes! I’m thankful there are more thoughtful, creative songs out there. Artists that care about musicianship, lyrics, and upholding some sort of country music legacy. The name at the top of my mind in that regard is Benjamin Tod, who is a throwback to the best of country music.

-Out of the Wilderness

The Saweetie Christmas Song is Stuck in My Head!

I was fully prepared to not like this song at all. I mean, when has there ever been a successful rap/hip hop Christmas. Never. And don’t you dare bring up *NSYNC! I guess it’s possible, maybe, to suggest a song like Justin Bieber’s version of “Drummer Boy” featuring one of the best rappers of all time– Busta Rhymes. But remember that one’s not an original. Can you name any others that have become an ornament on the Christmas tree of popular holiday songs?

Saweetie has entered the chat. Honestly, I have no idea who she is but this Christmas song has kinda been stuck in my head for days and days.

By reading a lot of the YouTube comments, she clearly has loyal fans… and new fans, too. There are a few things I love about “I Want You This Christmas.” It’s a little bit old-fashioned and that’s a little bit refreshing, right? Her line– Back rubs and five star cookin’, you deserve that king type treatment, feel good just to be your woman — it’s not really in line with feminism 2024. No modern, capable woman wants to “be your woman” like it’s a possessive thing, like the man owns the woman. “This isn’t the Handmaid’s Tale,” they’d proclaim. Well, it’s silly to even suggest any worthy man would think that way, anyway.

The other infectious part of the song: That chipmunk chorus. I don’t know who decided to do it but I LOVE IT. It’s enough to break away from normalcy, helps the song stand out, it’s memorable, and who the heck knew Alvin could sing like that? Or maybe it was Simon or Theodore. Who knows.

But the vibe is a good one. Just a woman making her man feel appreciated and now I ask the liberal feminists, is there really anything wrong with that?

-Out of the Wilderness