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Yeah my eye appt was cancelled but I didn't get the memo, since i'd opted out of their AI software after confirming my appt. B has appt Thursday, so I was able to get in at noon on that day. If things aren't too crazy in town, maybe we'll eat lunch somewhere. Traffic was INSANE yesterday - based on my years of living there; years ago. It was only the first, so I figured it was just early Christmas shopping or people buying what they needed to bake... until B mentioned the milk & bread panic run before the "storm".

We were forecast to be right on the edge of it. Which we are. Yeah, there's a little ice on the deck - but we have been getting mostly rain, which we desperately needed! The pond level is still down 6-8 ft.

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About that cheese and cracker situation... this year, we're hearing a LOT of stories from people going through pretty hard times. Sometimes emotionally; sometimes financially. It's hitting home more: one of our forum members, older gent - got divorced last year. So he moved to Montana. Then his job evaporated... and he couldn't find another. So he's going nomad. That forum usually has a gift exchange every Christmas and this year we all donated to his cause instead - to get him south of the winter weather. Another member, offered the gift of a good sized travel trailer - that member is going through persistently awful medical stuff. But we had to get the other member from Montana to a straight shot further south. It is now possible, as soon as there's a break in the weather. He said our willingness to help - even with just moral support - is what is keeping him going.

Hol's BF is in some kind of crisis or breakdown. She is TRYING to be supportive of him, but she can't be around him when he's in that state - which has been constant since he got back from being around family - a couple weeks ago. So it's been phone harassment instead. We were having a hang-out afternoon with one of her friends and when BF called (again - sigh) she put him on speaker. He descibes himself (when he's more coherent) as depressed - but this is not any kind of depression I'm aware of. He kinda reminds me of the other friend, that she took to the mental ward at the hospital, because he was suicidal. That guy had me on pins & needles. BF's talk is cognitively incoherent. Makes zippo sense, since he goes from topic 1 to 35, as if they're connected.... back to trying to identify root causes (a techie term, which I've connected with him sometimes using)... and he's clearly in agony.

She will not invite him here until he gets some longer term help for himself, which isn't her. She won't go there - coz he threw her out on Halloween night at 3 am. Both he and her are convinced they're neurodivergent (the fashion of the day; self-diagnosed) because they have some characteristics of high-functioning autism. SIGH. No one listens to mom's common sense or experience. Which doesn't bother me, but I would like to help.

Maybe he's dealing with unresolved trauma, poorly. Maybe there's more to it. She gets upset if I do research into symptoms, and try to diagnose tendencies. But whatever is eating his cracker - he isn't functioning and THAT'S a problem. When he is functioning, he's talented, skilled, and a pleasant human being to be around. So next stop, I'll be looking at symptoms of some existential mental illnesses.

I'd like to hit whomever came up with this "neurodivergent" idea, with a rock. It's convincing young people who are "different" that there's something wrong with them and actually exaggerating those differences beyond practicality. Yes, WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT, FFS. SIGH. Measuring sticks, continuum, degrees.... are simply discarded & dismissed; it's either you are or you aren't. Total B&W thinking.

I hope TikTok goes bankrupt.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by Hopalong on December 01, 2025, 12:57:23 PM »
Amber, I'm DEEPLY impressed by two things especially:

1) Darning.
2) People's cheese sliding way off their crackers.
Thank you for that laugh out loud!

We have mild cold and bright sunshine here today. But I bet Canadian snowflakes are beautiful and taste like maple syrup.

Hope you're staying cozy, worrying less about the left eye as it slooooooowly gets in gear.

Pup and I are mostly lolling around chewing on each other; all is well. He's a maniac.

Well. Except for a calendar conflict I didn't anticipate, so I have to choose between letting down a big UU church's Poetry Vespers program in Detroit (via Zoom, elaborate production with music intervals etc--we're supposed to rehearse tonight) and my Covenant Group, for which I'd committed to leading an extended discussion on death, since the first session went so well). Problem is, both events are on the 4th.

And I hadn't paused to ponder that a recurring meeting through May needed to be added to my 2026 calendar NOW, so I don't screw things up like I just did! I've written the Group's members to ask for grace to skip/postpone, and likewise the Detroit people to bear with me while I wait for their response.

I really need an executive secretary for my executive function but they ran off together and are getting drunk on margharitas somewhere.

Keep Calm and Carry On, note to self....if I can remember to put it on my calendar.


hugs
Hops
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by sKePTiKal on December 01, 2025, 08:38:39 AM »
Lighter, did it take awhile for your vision at any particular distance to sharpen up? I'm blurry at mid-far distance and beyond. And my close vision is good enough for most things I do, without readers. I'll ask doc which sacrifice I chose (do I remember correctly?) at followup today. I'll probably need a driving Rx. Unless this improves.

On another note, I'm noticing people's cheese sliding way off their cracker. Probably pre-existing tendencies becoming increasingly unfiltered by the anxiety that seems to be taking over some people. I suppose the holiday has something to add to that, too. Altho, it seems strange that what's supposed to be an easy happy time, is turned so upside down/inside out in reality.

Are all your renovations on hiatus now? Regrouping and resting, before the next phase?

Hops, how are you handling all this cold? Brrrrrrr! We're supposed to get sleet & freezing rain tonight, at a minimum. I'm not sure they're taking the temp differential in various places into their forecasts - just the average temp. And I still have to get out & gather greens for my yule festive decorations.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by lighter on November 29, 2025, 03:04:17 PM »
Amber, I say go wherever you want, for Christmas, and leave the baking for when your eyes completely heal.

Or not.

Whatever you want to do.....embrace it. 
Mine it for all its joy. 

Remember to dance.

Sometimes I forget to dance.
:: nodding::.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Farm Journal - 2025
« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 28, 2025, 12:41:14 PM »
Well the stew was YUMMY! It's freezing cold here (thanks Canada) and big ole fat snowflakes are flying around. S'posed to get maybe 3 inches on Tuesday. I am going to wait till it warms up to collect the greens for Yule decorations.

Thinking about baking for neighbor cookie boxes again this year. Kids kinda nixed my biscotti; they said most people just aren't 'dunkers' and you can't eat it unless it's dunked. I like the hazelnut, almond taste though... so might look around for a cookie instead. Lebkuchen are definitely on the list; maybe a double batch because they last a good while. Don't know yet how much I want to be trapped in the kitchen, though.

Eyes.... are good some days and not so good, others. The left eye is two weeks behind the right one. And I surmise that there is some time & practice involved in "training" my brain to clarify what the eyes are relaying. The close up vision is better than I expected! I darned a black pair of leggings with a single strand black embroidery floss (yep; I know all the needle threading tricks) and Holly said it looked good enough that she didn't even notice. So maybe it's just a matter of being patient. I ran out of antibiotic for the left eye and had trouble getting ahold of doc's office - office got flooded; a big mess I was told - so it took me a bit to get the refill. I'm catching up now. But I think it's the anti-imflammatory drops that are the most important... and I have plenty of those. Follow up appt is Monday, so maybe there will be glasses involved still.

B and I are good. We still have one project on the books - the mudroom - but there is no rush. His part will be done after he cuts/caps a drain pipe through the floor. Then Hol & I will tackle the beadboard. So, I might revisit the idea of going somewhere for Christmas. Just haven't decided yet WHERE. And so that would kill my baking plan... hmmm. Pondering.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey
« Last post by sKePTiKal on November 28, 2025, 12:19:47 PM »
Sometimes, a haircut, a splurge on some new clothes - at least new to you - can be real self-care.
That's my story & I'm stickin' to it!
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey
« Last post by Hopalong on November 28, 2025, 07:51:31 AM »
I hope mother's email was an apology for what she'd put you through. Maybe there's hope?

But I know hope is the small thing with feathers that raptors go after, sometimes.

I felt like a fox in a holding trap when I was in my most dead-end jobs; I understand.

I like hearing of you having a long weekend and treating yourself to some hair care. Bravo.

And meanwhile, peace to you, dear. From wherever it may come.

hugs
Hops
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Play Hookey
« Last post by Meh on November 27, 2025, 02:30:40 PM »
Mother emailed me yesterday. First time she has contacted since she tried to pretend I was insane and called all the what is it called... public mental health check or whatever. I haven't even opened the email only read the first line.

I have sick time built up at work I am thinking of calling in sick Monday again. Have strategically looked over our assigned tasks for the week. I think calling in sick on Monday would make my coworkers the most miserable because they would get the full load of the work I usually do. They will not be over staffed that day to start with. My boss oddly likes to overstaff the office sometimes. There is one day next week where she has this young guy coworker scheduled the full day to do barely anything. He spends his days on the company chat application bullshitting with coworkers, doodling, and trying to leave his desk every five minutes.

I think I might get myself a nice haircut this weekend and buy some hair goop. I got good feecdback from a customer on Friday and deliberately told my boss about it... my coworkers were simultaneously screeching and fighting over a "favorite" pen. All my boss said was "it's nice when WE get compliments" ....
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: I met DD24's bf's parents
« Last post by Hopalong on November 25, 2025, 04:22:30 PM »
You're very welcome, Lighter.
I confess that sometimes I skip past extremely detailed renovation or cooking stuff, but I just tell myself, this is Lighter's diary...no comment needed!

One (June 5th) thing did jumped up for me: "easy to worry....when solutions and action are required."

My instant response internally was, "required of WHOM?"

They will fly when they get to use their own wings/minds/intelligence to fly around options, rest in their own independent nests while they think over solutions, and decide while soaring OR CRASHING what actions they are going to take.

I think that will make the empty nest a lot more peaceful, and their new independent nests feel more free and joyful. They will crash. That's how we learn.

hugs
Hops
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: I met DD24's bf's parents
« Last post by lighter on November 24, 2025, 07:23:25 PM »
Stew sounds comforting, and delicious, Amber.

DD25 chipper and upbeat today.... she'll be spending 2 nights and 3 days, with BF's family, over Thanksgiving.  They still have Grandparents.....I don't mind celebrating early. 

DD24, and I, will be hanging out together on the 27th.....likely delivering a meal, to a neighborhood message board family, or two.  Publix is matching donations to Manna right now, so that's a no brainer.  Will have beautiful leftovers.  My stock is beautiful.

I'll sweat onions, celery and shallots in butter, for the stuffing, tonight.  Brine the chicken overnight.  Dinner will be in the evening....when bf gets off work.  I'm feeling like decorating a bit .... I'm in the holiday spirit....happy to be in the cool evening air, finishing up shopping....feeling very present.  Less bothered by the hiccups....the COWs.

Lighter

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