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Archive for the ‘Musings and Epiphanies’ Category

Okay, first, it automatically capitalized Trump.

Second, this isn’t about politics. It’s about how easily I’ve been avoiding the vile, nasty behavior people have been exhibiting since the election.

On Facebook, I only check my notifications, wish folks happy birthday as needed, and then hop off again. 

Avoid Twitter completely, which I discovered is really freakin’ easy to do.

Technically I have an Instagram thing, but if you follow me, you know how well I took to that form of social waste my time media.

I read articles from BBC and Japan Times, use Messenger a lot, and find I have a lot more time on my hands. Yes, this blog is social media, but since comments are so freakin’ rare, it’s really more of a one-sided social media for me. As one of my friends from college would say, it’s between me and my voices.

It’s my journal nowadays, I suppose. Although I still journal on paper too. I post shit I don’t mind sharing with my five faithful readers.

Updates on some topics…

Wally is sadly still here. PB still hates him, and we all know I’m not fond of him. I did recently realize that although I love bread, the feeling is not mutual. Now, I won’t give that up, but I am going to curb it a bit. And I let myself have chocolate regularly again because when I stopped eating it, I gained ten pounds. Even my doctor was in favor of me taking that back. He realized I was more likely to keep exercising if I still eat chocolate.

Me & the fam have been playing games practically every night. Board games, card games, and sometimes just games on our devices, all in the same room. A little solitary, non-thinking time, but not alone. Together.

Banging my head against the wall at times about my teenage sons, but I know how blessed I am. I have two unique, bright, talented, funny, loving sons who are traveling their life paths to the march of their own drummers. And the time is passing very quickly, so I focus on them. And with how uncool I am now, I have more time for real conversation with Hubby or time to do hobbies that I forgot I enjoyed.

I like living mostly unplugged. It makes it easier to see the good that’s all around.

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While Carrie Fisher and I did not share the same diagnosis, we shared the same approach to mental health. While my reach is clearly not as far and wide (I don’t have access to the Millennium Falcon), I do my best to advocate and destigmatize mental illness to change the conversation to mental health. Ms. Fisher, much like Patty Duke, helped me to see my strength. I could do anything I wanted to with my life in spite of schizophrenia. It did not have to define me. Did it shape me in many ways? Of course. But it doesn’t define me.

Take a few moments to read this:

carrie fisher mental health quotes BuzzFeed
Think about how many people you know that live with some type of mental illness. Think about what would be missing in your life if treatments had not advanced, if those family members and friends were not strong enough to do life every day while managing mental illness. Be inspired and then help destigmatize mental illness. 

We need this to be a conversation about mental health, and not be fearful of illnesses that are still so misunderstood. Educate yourself. Read articles (no, just reading the title or headline doesn’t count, in this and all forms of becoming less ignorant). Talk to people about it. If you have questions, ask someone you know with mental illness to share about what a day is like for her.

Carrie Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, died today. A day after her fierce daughter. In memory of both of them, educate yourself about mental health. And watch Postcards from the Edge. Freakin’ hysterical.

Rest in peace, ladies. And Carrie, others will keep up the good fight. We’ll use the Force.

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It plagued me in math, but more so in life. What I am already tired of is people telling me that we need to stop dividing the country but BOTH sides keep pointing out the differences. Please focus on our shared human experiences or I’ll start ignoring your asses.

If you don’t like something, fine. Share your opinion. But remember it is your opinion, and we all know the saying about opinions and assholes. Also remember that your opinion will be the opposite of someone else’s opinion and there is no need to be rude. If you’re rude, ignorant, and condescending, there will not be the possibility of a conversation to reach a balanced understanding, because I will ignore you.

I foresee a lot of time ignoring people in my future. I have begun avoiding Facebook and other social media as much as possible. With this free time, I will do my part to help people and society. I will listen and converse with those who want to actually hold a conversation, not simply tell me I’m wrong and tell me we’re divided. Because I promise you, we’re a lot more together than you realize.

To start with we’re all human. And I hope we all know kindness. Love. Love one another. No matter all those things pointed out to divide us, just start with love and kindness.

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As we remember those souls lost on this day at Pearl Harbor, I wonder what the Greatest Generation would say about life in 2016.

My guess is they would say quit whining, work hard and work together, and take care of each other. I’m sure they sat around to shoot the breeze, but not like we do.

I am tired of talking. I am tired of worrying about what someone else might think if it will make accomplishing simple tasks take forever. I don’t want to spend anymore time wondering if this or that will please everyone because it won’t.

I can simply be nice, do my best, take care of my family, contribute to my community, and love others. And leave behind spending time around memes, social media, and gossip.

But I will binge watch shit on Netflix when I need a break. 

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So Rex doesn’t like having his nails trimmed. When I try to do it, I can get one. Then the next day, Hubby holds him again and I get another. This process takes about two weeks. Stress for him and I get so nervous that I’ll hurt him. But his nails really needed a trim so off to PetSmart for a Pawdicure. But no bandana because of his neck issues.
Rex is so good in the car. He looks out the windows (closed because of the wind phobia) and seems so happy. We get to the parking lot and I open the door, grab the leash, and he doesn’t move. I coax him out. We start to walk toward the store. At each car he stops, tail tucked between the legs, and then bursts by the car. Full stop at the next car, repeat all the way to the end. He stops on the little island, does some business on the little shrub, and then sits down. 

I applaud his bravery thus far and try to cross the road to the sidewalk in front of the stores. We get four or five feet, with cars waiting, and he sits again. I sort of half carry him back to the little island (it was closer). We pause for a few minutes, I pet his belly, tell him how sweet his is, and we try again. 

Two or three minutes later, we’re on the sidewalk. About 30 feet to the doors of PetSmart. Wind is blowing the leaves around, keeping the fear fresh for every step. An employee happens to come out, sees the scaredy dog, and starts encouraging Rex. Between the two of us, we make it to the door. He has a little accident, but the sidewalk can handle a little tinkle.

Next we face the automatic doors. Then we work our way to the grooming area and there seems to be a LONG line. Happily it’s a bunch of dogs at an adoption event. No line at the grooming area! First-timer mom didn’t know she needed the rabies certificate, but the nice lady called the vet. 

It takes a few minutes to coax Rex to the table, and then his spa day begins. They suggest I wait outside, I readily agree.

I won’t take you step by step through the Pawdicure. Suffice it say five groomers earned their pay today. And they didn’t charge for the full Pawdicure since they could only complete two of the eight or nine features. But his nails are trimmed and pads shaved. The groomers were amazing and were so sweet, patient, and gentle with my sweet Rex.

He’s resting now. We’ll go again in January during the secret quiet time the groomers told me about. Rex is the best dog.

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It’s the end of the world as we know it. If I am asked what political party I align with, I will answer that I am an American. I have a little bit of democrat, republican, green, libertarian, socialist, and probably a wee bit of monarchy in my political ideology. I look at issues, take rhetoric from all sides with a grain of salt, and look to BBC and Japan Times for news to keep my perspective. I’m not perfect. No one is. Neither is our country. I do hope we remember that we’re still all in this together and in four years, someone else will drive people to Canada.

Some perspective on this year’s election results (links to the searches I used are included for those who enjoy fact checking).

2016

(CNN)It seems it’s not only celebs who are making plans to flee a Donald Trump presidency.

As Trump surged ahead in Tuesday night’s election, Canada’s immigration website crashed, posting a “500 – Internal server error” message.

Perspectives from the past:

Searched: Move to Canada because of Bush’s win

  1. How to Move to Canada If Trump Wins, By a Person Who …

    gawker.com/how-to-move-to-canada-if-trump-wins-by-a-person-who-mo…

    … I moved to Canada. Now, … I routinely threatened my parents that I’d move to Canada if George W. Bush was … By a Person Who Moved to Canada When Bush Won

  2. Americans Moving to Canada Spiked After Bush Won … – TIME

    time.com/4245100/move-to-canada-americans-trump-bush

    Number of Americans Moving to Canada Spiked After Bush Won … Many are nowthreatening to … The last time Canada saw an influx of Americans was in 2004 …

  3. Get informed! Explore the election

    News about Moving To Canada Now That Bush Won

    bing.com/news
    Planning to flee to Canada? Try accessing the immigration website first

    Planning to flee to Canada? Try accessing the immigration website first

    CNN · 4 hours ago

    “The Canadanow: DOW futures are down 750. The dollar is plummeting. And Canada‘s immigration website just crashed,” Nick …

    Moving To Canada Today? 5 Things To Know

    Moving To Canada Today? 5 Things To Know

    Patch · 11 hours ago

    So you’ve been saying for months that if Donald Trump won the presidency, you just couldn’t stand … Google searches for “How to …

    Are Celebrities Really Moving To Canada? 9 Stars Who Vowed To Leave Respond To Donald Trump’s Win

    Are Celebrities Really Moving To Canada? 9 Stars Who Vowed To Leave Respond To Donald Trump’s Win

    International Business Times · 4 hours ago

    More than a dozen celebrities vowed to leave the country if Donald Trump became president and now it’s time to see if they will … but they did …

  4. Americans threaten to move to Canada. Do Canadians Ever …

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/06/28/americans_threaten_to_move

    Jun 28, 2012 · Do Canadians Ever Threaten To Move to … The day after George W. Bush won reelection the CBC reported … “Threatening to Move to Canada” is …

  5. ‘I’m Moving To Canada,’ And Other Recent Overreactions To …

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/im-movingto-canada-and-other-recent…

    ‘I’m Moving To Canada,’ And Other Recent Overreactions To Political Events. … Canada. Anyone with friends … pledged to leave the country if George W. Bush

  6. Here’s why you won’t really move to Canada if Trump wins …

    https://http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/03/02/you…

    Yes Not now. It looks like you’ve … Here’s why you won’t really move to Canada if Trump wins … skyrocketed from an average of 20,000 per day to 115,000 the …

  7. So you want to move to Canada, eh? | PolitiFact

    http://www.politifact.com/…/article/2016/apr/28/so-you-want-movecanada-eh

    … actress Lena Dunham says she’ll move to Canada. … but if Bush won, they would move to Canada. … “You’re Not Moving to Canada: …

  8. When did most Americans search for ‘move to Canada‘? – BBC …

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35706377

    … Americans were reacting to the outcome of voting by searching on Google for how to move to Canada. … Trump won their … the peak of George W Bush, …

  9. BTW, you can’t just move to Canada if your candidate loses …

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/btw-movecanada-candidate-loses…

    … I’m moving to Canada! … According to Google Trends, the search term “How to move to Canada” is quite active right now. Graham: … Jeb Bush). So Americans …

  10. Why you won‘t really move to Canada if Donald Trump wins

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-donald-trump…

    Mar 03, 2016 · Video embedded · … you’re going to move Canada, … Why you won‘t really move to Canada if Donald Trump … candidate either won or lost. In the event of a Bush

  11. Star Trek : snopes.com

    http://www.snopes.com › Fact Check › Inboxer Rebellion

    Did some celebrities promise to leave the USA if George W. Bush won the … people who say ‘Now we’re going to … Bush gets elected President, I will move back to …

    Search moving to canada now that obama won

     

  12. Republicans threaten move to Canada after Obama win – …

    http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2012/11/republicans-threaten…

    … <h1>Republicans threaten move to Canada after Obama win</h1 … threatened to leave the U.S if Obama won. http://pic.twitter.com … for now ‘Prancercise …

  13. Sorry U.S., the joke’s on you: Obama won‘t be moving to …

    http://www.torontosun.com/2016/08/12/sorry-us-the-jokes-on-you-obamawont…

    … U.S. President Barack Obama isn’t going to move to Canada if Donald … Obama won‘t be moving to Canada if … “Obama Just Said He’s Moving If Trump …

  14. 37 People Who Say They’re Moving To Australia If Obama

    https://http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/37-people-who-say-theyre-moving

    At least they didn’t fall for the Canada trap this time. … 37 People Who Say They’re Moving To Australia If Obama … The NCAA Wants Cities To Prove They Won’t …

  15. ‘I’m Moving To Canada,’ And Other Recent Overreactions To …

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/im-movingto-canada-and-other-recent…

    ‘I’m Moving To Canada,’ And Other Recent Overreactions To Political Events. … Canada. Anyone with friends … shores if Barack Obama won the Democratic party …

     Market will fall after Obama

    Market will fall after Bush

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So I read an article today about the earth’s CO2 levels. Apparently they usually drop below 400ppm by this time of the year. But this year, nope. So I talked with Older Son about it on the way to karate. We talked about how the earth has always gone through cycles when the atmospheric levels fluctuate, and rather dramatically. He rattled off different eras, Mesozoic, Devonian, stuff I can’t remember but my thirteen year old knows inside and out. 

We talked about the different ways humans have impacted the levels, sort of forcing a weird form of evolution. We talked about pollution, ways to control it. And we talked about proactive steps we can take, like planting species of flora that produce high levels of oxygen, like algae. 

Well, I touched a nerve. Older Son went on a five minute rant about the importance of algae and how stupid we are to kill it. He talked about how we should give up some of the prime beach and ocean spots for recreational purposes and have algae farms.

Really though, are the environmental scientists screaming about the end of the world at the hands of billions of humans talking with paleontologists, paleobotanists, to better understand the changes in the atmosphere since forever ago? We could proactively raise oxygen levels to counteract our CO2 contributions. 

Like snake plants, sometimes called mother-in-law tongue, produces high levels of oxygen, even at night. If you put half a dozen or so in each room of your home, you’ll have a natural air filter and better air quality.

We talked about the next great extinction and how it will probably be us. Long time from now, but still. And as I watched my favorite Paleontologist walk into karate, I wondered who the future paleontologists would be. Who would dig us up? What would they think?

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​The cousin of my BFF/MOH wrote the following. It is what I think, feel, etc. And he wrote it beautifully. Thanks, Jim K., for letting me use your words when mine couldn’t get their act together.

“Ah, politics. Our emotions are shaped by the media we choose to consume with little pause for critical thinking. I find myself at a frenzy worrying what a Donald Trump presidency would do to America’s place in the world order and the unraveling of stability. Is this worry justified or is it an overreaction due to one-sided media in my feed? Similarly, the fevered cries to lock up Hillary Clinton look insensible to me. I can’t tell if they are deserved or just fanaticism because I can’t say I am honestly open. But neither are you, really.

Roger Ailes hurt the world with the advent in America of a televised one-sided propaganda outlet disguised as a news agency. But wasn’t the explosion of one-sided media inevitable once we all weren’t watching the same 3 prime time news programs? Jon Stewart and the Daily Show, Huffington Post, Vox, etc… these aren’t any less one-sided than Fox, Drudge and company. 

Swallow the red pill or the blue pill all day every day and pretty soon half of the people in America look idiotic, ignorant, or worse for not coming to the same obvious conclusions you are high on. 

If we wish to survive as a free and healthy society, we need to find ways to cure ourselves of one-sidedness in belief. Our Congress is broken because votes now are almost entirely along partisan lines. The unity needed to address our very real and pressing problems is scarce. There are political sides on all of mass shootings, terrorism, radicalism, police killings and retaliations, massive school debt, Middle East war and diplomacy, wall street corruption, underemployment, stagnant wages, climate change, and nuclear proliferation. We blame our politicians for being ill with our same delusions.  

I want out of this madness. I want a world where we acknowledge truth, and we look at problems from the perspective of finding solutions. I want a world where we reject irrational fear, lies, egotism, intimidation, bigotry, racism, sexism, and corruption. I want a world where we grant respect to people who think/feel differently. 

There is too much we can be doing to help one another instead. The cure for me is to focus on that and I suggest you do, too.”

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Perimenopausal constipation.

peri 1

 

All the crap we women go through in our lifetime. Bleeding every 28 days, with cramps and cravings leading up to it. Bloating at various times of the month. Some, like me, carry little aliens in us for nine months, skin stretching, hemorrhoids, cravings, heartburn, feet swelling, and in my case, puking the whole time. Then pushing the alien out of you courtesy of the mother of all menstrual cramps. Some, like me, may have then had an ovary removed because of a tumor. I have friends who had even more substantial surgeries and more complicated womanly paths to walk than me. Then hot flashes, weight gain, low libido, thinning hair, insomnia. All of that I could deal with.

Loved having my boys. Would do it again, even with the puking (because I am quite skilled at puking in a bucket in all situations, could list it as a “special skill” on my resume). I never had tough periods, didn’t mind the chocolate cravings (who would?).

Even the wonderful world of perimenopause has been manageable so far.

Until those two little words. Perimenopausal constipation. And this is why I am crabby.

wp-1462262031325.jpg

 

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It has been exactly a year since Bear died. This is a different kind of new year. I have to move myself out of mourning. Each day I will have a Bear moment, doing something that makes someone feel special & happy for the time spent together.

I have to say goodbye to Wally. No more comfort eating.

Tonight as I write this there is a thunder storm. But we all know that’s Bear bowling in heaven. Of course he’s scaring the crap out of Rex, so I hope he’s on the tenth frame soon.😜

I love you and miss you, Bear. Thank you for decades of love & laughter. And for the traditions & memories.

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