Jul16

Bonding over T-shirts

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Bonding over T-shirts
I had a fun little chat with a man wearing this shirt at Costco. I agree, but I like more than three people.

He appreciated the shirt I was wearing too.

Remember this old thing you didn’t all vote for but I overrode your votes and got it anyway because it was the one I truly wanted but needed your help to get myself to that conclusion???

I spotted another shirt I liked at my gym. Before class, I tiptoed my fingers across the hangers of the merchandise rack, pausing at one shirt I liked. It was even my size, but I moved on, not wanting to push it with Hubby and his wife’s expensive martial arts (and subsequent medical bill) habit. Though I went back and looked at it longingly once more, I would manage to live without the shirt.

In other news, I recently volunteered (well sort of, in exchange for private lessons) to spend two hours manning the Jiu-Jitsu booth during our town’s Strawberry Festival. The time flew by as I invited people to spin the wheel to receive one to four free weeks of lessons.

To look the part, I wore my gi and the above red T-shirt.

I figured my shirt wasn’t on brand enough, though, when Mrs. Instructor handed me a shirt more in line with the company logo. I slipped it on over mine, and when my shift ended, offered it back.

“Oh, no. You can keep that,” Mrs. Instructor said.

You’ve already guessed the ending. It was the shirt I had my eye on. There’s no way she could have known that.

Here it is, slipped over my red shirt, which matched well, now that I see them together. It says Gracie Original because the family that brought Jiu-Jitsu to America from Brazil is surnamed Gracie.

In our town, there are two JJ gyms, and the Strawberry Festival was central and very near them both. Sometimes, as I worked the booth, people would ask which JJ gym we were, so I would point and say, “We’re the Gracie one thatta way.”

So when a man asked, “Are you Gracie?” I assumed he meant the Gracie gym, so I responded in the affirmative.

“Nice to meet you then,” he said with a bob of his head as he walked away. I sort of spluttered after him, but he melted into the crowd and was gone. Oh well.

In other T-shirt news, my sister and her family were in town recently, and wouldn’t you know it? She brought me a shirt.

It’s not the kindest of shirts, but I appreciated her thinking of me.

Her son had a fun shirt too.

In case you can’t read that well, the Storm Trooper is writing, “Those were the droids we’re looking for,” over and over on the chalkboard. Clever, even if the tenses are all over the place.

We took my sister and brother-in-law to a trivia night. We didn’t even make the top three, but we had fun. Furthermore, the host wore this shirt.

“Peace, love, and the Oxford comma.” I agree, approve, and appreciate this shirt. (Who caught what I did there?)

We ate well while my sister and her family were in town. Thanks to my zucchini supplier, I got to make my “famous” zucchini boats.

And she made zucchini al forno, which involved mushrooms, cottage (or ricotta) cheese, pasta sauce, Parmesan cheese, and those crunchy fried onion things.

Really good stuff!

We also branched out and made s’mores with Reese’s peanut butter cups, like so…

In a word: yum.

Have any of you tried that?

Anyone else have a good zucchini recipe?

Which of those shirts is your favorite?

And finally, yes, yes, the trivia.

The 12-inch-long Giant Huntsman is a spider. (Blech! Blech! And more blech!)

New question:

Famous for its giant heads carved from stone, Easter Island belongs to this nation.

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90 responses »

  1. Those are cool t-shirts, but do you have to like three people all at the same time? There’s a lot of people I like, but normally I don’t want all of them in my house at one time. In ones and twos I’m find with them being around but having three or more over at the same seems a bit excessive.

    and I’ve lived my life in a way to never give a girl a reason to kick me in the face — just say’n

    and Chile, but I don’t think anyone has found the feet for the heads.

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  3. I like all the T-shirts, but the free black one gifted to you at the booth looks good on you. I normally don’t wear shirts with statements. I have a sweater that says “Be Happy.” My grandkids like it. I go to a regular gym, and am at 24 Hour Fitness now.

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  5. All of the T-shirts are cool, especially the one that states you, as a Jiu Jitsu girl, are cooler than a normal girl. You look good in the ones you’re wearing, Betsy. I’m such a plain guy that I’d never bother having a t-shirt with a message, but my older daughter is always buying me t-shirts with a message. Her favorite is Boo Coo Dinky Dau, based on “You beucoup din cai dau” what I heard often in Vietnam.

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  6. If it’s the sister I met, that tshirt seems on brand for her! I mean that in a good way; I love it! I’m cracking up at the Gracie confusion with that man. Oh well! I love zucchini boats and have tried a few varieties, like Mexican, pesto, Mediterranean, and chicken bacon ranch. Hey! I like Oxford commas, too!

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  8. t-shirt karma came your way. so fun! love them all, and you blew me away with the Reeses cup s’mores. easter island, belongs to a South American country, but not sure which?

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  9. Fun tshirts are the best and such great conversation starters!

    You should just stick with the name Gracie. Helps with promotion! It’s lovely that you volunteered at the festival. It really helps to connect with communities!

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    • Indeed on the conversation starters. It was fun that we were both wearing red Jiu-Jitsu t-shirts. I was wearing mine at a restaurant and the server told me he loved it and that his roommate had one that said, “Jiu-Jitsu: The art of folding clothes with people still in them.”

      I think I could pass as a Gracie. 😛 Working that festival was really fun, and it was cool to see people I signed up show up for a class.

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  10. You know which shirt is my favorite. I don’t even have to answer, reply, or respond!

    My second favorite is the Jiu-Jitsu shirt your sister got for you. Who doesn’t appreciate a badass sentiment that rhymes?

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  16. I saw what you did with the Oxford Comma and would have been disappointed, upset, and sad if you hadn’t. I think my favorite was the one your sister gave you but it was hard to decide. This post was full of shirts.

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  22. Betsy, a fun post and I love jazzy T-shirts! Your two are a great combo, Gracie … sorry, Betsy! 😀 As for first one, the proofreader in me wondered shouldn’t there be a hyphen in Jiu Jitsu, like yours? Then saw the Oxford comma one – that’s brilliant! (&I saw what you did!) What a lovely time with your sister and her family and the food looks delicious. I cook a couple of versions of stuffed courgettes, these look great and much prefer your name for them, zucchini boats! 😀 Hugs,Annika xx

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  23. Ooh! I know that one because my mom and sister went there: Chile!! (To be clear, they went to both Chile AND Easter Island. Was I invited? No, I was not. But my mom took each of us on our own trip. That’s why.)
    I have not had a s’more with a PB cup, but now I will! The husband’s family (including 2 kids) will be here soon. I have a feeling that’ll be a crowd-pleaser.
    Well, the Oxford comma one is certainly my fave, but I love the rhyming one, too.

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    • Then where did your mom take you? Also, wow. Great mom! My special trip with one of my daughters would probably be to Target.

      Let me know how the s’mores are received. I hope you have a great time with the family.

      Another vote for the Oxford Comma!!! Bookstooge, are you still keeping track?! 😉 😛 🙂

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      • She and I went on a Viking River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland. Yes, good mom.

        I have a suggestion for making that mother-daughter trip to Target a tad more special: there are Targets in Australia!

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      • Lol! Targets in Australia! Love it. You crack me up, TTA.

        The Viking River Cruise sounds awesome. Another blogger just went on one. I expressed interest, and he suggested I wait a couple of decades if I want to fit in. I’m guessing you brought the average age down by quite a bit?

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      • Oh, for sure. I was pretty much the youngest one on the ship, though there were a few other adult children traveling with a parent. I’ve heard some of the Viking Cruises in Asia attract a younger demographic, but I can’t confirm that. It was a great thing to do with an ageing parent, but not something the Husband and I would do until we’re walking around with canes and removing dentures at night. 🙂

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