A Rose From the Shtetl

I Have a Raging Case of Neuropathy Turns out neuropathy and summer heat are a terrible combination.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/08/02/i-have-a-raging-case-of-neuropathy/

Hello, Froggo Frogs: adorably terrifying!... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/31/hello-froggo/

Never Ask Me How I Am if You’re in a Hurry "How Are You" Is a Trap: A Chronic Illness Field Guide to Better Greetings... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/25/never-ask-me-how-i-am-if-youre-in-a-hurry/

My Fucking Feet Are Killing Me I don't think I'll be walking over hot coals anytime soon.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/22/my-fucking-feet-are-killing-me/

ACT NOW, YOUR EYES ARE ALREADY CLOSING Daytime fatigue can strike without warning, and the extreme form can be debilitating.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/22/act-now-your-eyes-are-already-closing/

The Things I Do for My Brain I'm in a big doodle era atm.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/15/the-things-i-do-for-my-brain/

Fragrance Free Welcome Doormat — Allergy Friendly Coir Entry Mat Warm, honest, and quietly firm — this coir doormat greets guests while setting a clear boundary. Natural coconut fiber brings a rustic texture underfoot, and the cheerful script reads: “Welcome — for health reasons, this home is fragrance free....

A Nation Betrays Its Cats The Fourth of July is a chaotic symphony of noise and smoke. Change my mind.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/04/a-nation-betrays-its-cats/

The Stinky Truth Behind Unscented Products "Unscented" and "fragrance-free" don't mean the same thing — and if you have migraines, MCAS, or asthma, that difference can ruin your day.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/07/01/the-stinky-truth-behind-unscented-products/

Stop Outsourcing Your AI Paranoia When the bots take over your feed, don't come crying to me.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/28/stop-outsourcing-your-ai-paranoia/

It’s All Good: I Feel A Lot Worse Than I Look "I'm fine" means something different when you live with chronic pain.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/27/its-all-good-i-feel-a-lot-worse-than-i-look/

You Work, They Break: Family Separation Across Generations My grandfather's brother went to South America and was never heard from again. My grandmother fled Lithuania hungry and alone. A family history about the lasting cost of geopolitics, and why we still haven't learned.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/26/you-work-they-break-family-separation-across-generations/

Zero Prep Slow Cooker Garlic Herb Chicken Breasts Easy dump-and-go chicken dinner in the slow cooker, my go-to cooking method for hot summer days.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/25/zero-prep-slow-cooker-garlic-herb-chicken-breasts/

The Misleading Myth of the Pain Scale Any time I'm asked to rate my pain from 1 to 10, I feel like I'm at a salary negotiation without knowing anything about the job.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/23/the-misleading-myth-of-the-pain-scale/

What up, Surlyverse? After weeks in the recliner, pants-free and mostly horizontal, I tried to make some art. The operative word is "tried."... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/19/what-up-surlyverse/

Is Your Doorbell Watching You? Your fridge probably isn't spying on you, but your car definitely is.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/18/is-your-doorbell-watching-you/

My Body Is Nothing If Not Confusing Middle of the night insomnia, legs that won't stop moving, and unanswered questions about restless leg syndrome.... https://surlycakes.com/2026/06/17/my-body-is-nothing-if-not-confusing/