STOOP KID AFRAID TO LEAVE STOOP

#111: Somebody tell Harold!

I’m not the most social towards strangers. For me, airplane acquaintances, waiting room conversations, and bar counter small talk are not the norm. The closest I get on a day to day basis is a salutatory wave or good morning on a walk or from my balcony to the amblers below. Despite this, I almost am never greeted from a patio, balcony, or other street facing lounge area.

The large portion of homes in this neighborhood, and I’d argue in most suburban areas, have front lawns, patios, balconies, fire pits, chairs, etc. Places to spend time with your family and friends, or by yourself with a cup of coffee, wine, or harder beverage if that’s what you fancy. They are built for a reason, to be used. To use the space that you’ve purchased.

So you would think.

This isn’t a rant against having unused lawn chairs or benches out front. I do think it’s odd I never see anyone using them, but that’s a relatively small investment.

Where I find fault in the owners is when they build in specific areas for socializing in the front and leave them there abandoned, just for looks. Maybe it raises the price? But that means the buyers are adding a premium to the price they are willing to pay in order to acquire that area.

For the record, I think these areas look great and are generally good for using, especially in a safe neighborhood. I just don’t get why people aren’t ever there.

My parents have this same problem, but theirs is a courtyard, so it’s more like a garden then a hangout spot.

To me, the root of the problem is that California doesn’t have a patio/porch culture like the south say. We also, generally have backyards, which people prefer for privacy, security, other reasons.

I agree.

Sitting on your porch to see your neighbors suburban home isn’t much of a site. The decorated and plant-heavy backyard is much better.

But let’s admit that.

We have these lawns, and big open front yards that are sometimes aesthetically pleasing, but mostly a waste of space.

In places where land is limited, why aren’t people building housefronts closer to the street and expanding the backyard? No backyard? Why aren’t people in the front yard?

Where are all of you?

Don’t say it’s work. I walk a lot of weekends and evenings. No one is there. I’m here. So there must be others of you.

I don’t even really want to say hello or wave to you if I did happen to walk by. I just want to know you exist. That someone else sits on the porch and drinks a cup of coffee, and gets use out of their expensive brick patio, fireplace, and lawn furniture.

We’re building houses around an aesthetic living style that's “traditional”, not building them around use. If you can pull it off and make it a beautiful home because of it, great. But too many have built it because they’re supposed to, it’s in style, or their designer just put it in.

If you’re building a custom home, build it custom to your needs and life.

If you’re moving into a home that is situated around a different lifestyle, adapt it to you.

I’m probably a hypocrite? We won’t know until I have a house.

If you don’t know, this is the iconic Stoop Kid episode of Hey Arnold!

Another aside, there were only 5 seasons of Hey Arnold!. More and more I hear that these iconic shows of my childhood only lasted a season or two. Which makes sense why there were so many re-runs and also why we remember them so well…less episodes to remember. If I recall, however, as a kid, I was upset to see an episode I had already seen. I still am not a fan of rewatching — generally.

BBQ

Event? Or just saving money?

I’m having some friends over to grill. Instead of spending money on going out, we ate in — we ate out later anyways; night time tacos after the concert. (like this but a lot smaller)

I grilled again today.

It was an antisocial bbq in the backyard, unlike my social coffee out front.

Factotum on audio book, bison burgers one day and steak sandwich the next. Sunny.

Not even the lady “looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6’5, {and} blue eyes” could dream this big.

For those of you not up to speed on your random viral video of the month…

@girl_on_couchCan someone make this into an actual song plz just for funzies

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Speaking of dreams. I just woke up from a nap which was almost sleep. I’m typing this because I can’t allow myself be late to publish. I tried many times to convince myself that this would go out Tuesday morning instead since Monday is Memorial Day. Though I’m not going to fall for my mind’s tricks. Seriously a good excuse though, right? If I do ever make a calendar change, you’ll see in Notes. (I think this is my profile link rather than Weekly Appetizer’s page”. The subscribe and follow actions are different — the content streams are separate. If you like what I do and want to support, do both and share.

Last year, I put it out on Memorial Day Monday. Turns out this is the 1 year anniversary of Landfill, my mini-zine no one knows about. Maybe tomorrow I’ll write up a little post or just share the 11 that I have in my possession, and maybe the limited edition one-offs I’ve given as gifts. Warning ahead of time that they’re not strictly NSFW.

ugh i’m tired and off to bed. don’t tell me i never do anything for y’all…hopefully this heals me… “i’m heartsick, i’m hungry, thought I could survive on you” or the version i exclusively sing, “feel me, i’m heartsick, b minor, i’m hungry, a minor, g onnnn you”