After a few decades of nail salon visits for acrylics, then gel, then dip ... my fingernails are ruined. They are stubby, refuse to grow, and easily split apart. All that scraping, stripping, gel lights, and buffing with that twirly file gadget the salons use - not good. So I have decided to take a break from the "pick-a-colla" routine to nourish my nails back to health.

I googled how to repair fingernails and it said to start with treating the cuticles - the root, the base of our nails. So I am using cuticle balm, nail hardener, cuticle oil, and refraining from nail polish. (I do use stick-on nail polish - whoa - what a great invention!)

Anyhow, enough about my mundane stubby fingernails, since you know that whatever banal information I begin with while writing SNIPPETS, is never about the snippet's final message.

Something that is ruining or hurting us (could be a relationship ... a job/career which no longer serves us ... excessive food and alcohol) entitles us to take a break from it - or give it up altogether. (I know someone who committed to lay off drinking alcohol for one year because its effects were hurting himself and his family and friends. I hope he decides to stay sober even after the year is up!)

As much as I miss having pretty polished, manicured perfect salon-made fingernails, I want to give them this chance to repair themselves. Same with an achy left knee - I am taking a little rest from playing pickleball so as to heal it. Do I like not playing pickleball? Wah! Do I like not having pretty fingernails? No. However, both are necessary - for now.

"My word for 2023 is simplicity and the 'one-word' concept fits right in. My heartfelt thank you for all it takes to bring SNIPPETS to your followers. It is just the medicine I need."

"Happy New Year Suz and thank you for continuing to brighten the end of my weeks with SNIPPETS."

"I always enjoy your weekly SNIPPETS and am especially touched by the need in Africa for the baby items. I would like to contribute to Beau's Bundles."

"Thanks so much for the last SNIPPETS. Beau’s Bundles promo was excellent. I’m sure Katie Benden is so excited. And thanks for the continued shout out for Scott’s Legacy."

"I love the program Beau's Bundles which Scott's Legacy is hosting for their friend's stillborn. My daughter, Macy, put together 'Nash’s Presence' in memory of her baby boy Leo Nash who passed away in 2021 - he lived two hours. Her sister, Lindsay, designed a dragonfly logo and they put it on the bags and note cards, along with a Scripture phrase and the book, I’ll Love You Forever. She created donation opportunities on amazon and facebook. It was amazing. We put together 20 bags and took them to our county's Pregnancy Crisis Center on Baby Nash’s first birthday and plan to continue this each year on his November 30 birthday."

Judgmental Judy is back and she has three letters for you - T.M.I. (too much information). She does not need to know or hear certain things about you or your body. Sometimes people in her court divulge information WAY too fast and easily ... with often gross and explicit personal details. Even in the first two minutes of conversation! Serious medical issues, diseases, affairs, abuse, bodily fluids. Ack!

People! Here is A List of Things Judgmental Judy does not want to hear about: your diarrhea and how many times you had to change your pants that day ... the rash on your butt ... your infected ingrown toenail ... the crazy physical reasons your body needs to pop 28 pills daily ... that you found your husband's toenail clippings in the kitchen ... or that you vomited clear phlegm repeatedly overnight. All that physical imagery makes her barf, too! (Wait, is that T.M.I.?? She is literally gagging now.)

Judgmental Judy bangs her gavel on T.M.I. Over-sharing. Over-stepping. Over-talking. Over-informing. Talk to the hand! Let's set some personal boundaries here - draw the line between public and private - and stop grossing out each other!

DAUGHTER:

ITALIAN FATHER: