News & Views: instant frostbite edition

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

1. It's cold! It's 9 degrees F (-12 Celsius). I paid bills yesterday and my electricity bill is so high! I turned down the thermostat but of course now I am freezing. Apartments are drafty and you can't do anything about it. We got 4 inches of snow on Sunday and another half an inch yesterday. Yesterday was a holiday (MLK Jr Day) but school was cancelled today because the temperatures dropped so, that everything was very icy, and even though they cleared everything yesterday, it re-froze last night. I threw the boys outside for 30 minutes today before lunch and they told me not to go out because most of the world is very icy and they know I am afraid of ice. To be fair, I tend to slip a lot when I have to walk on it (more than normal people--maybe it's the way I walk?) and I have had a couple bad falls where I cracked my head. I am debating whether to even do my shopping run tomorrow because I'm just too scared.

2. I can't imagine that I am going to feel anything but anxious for the next 4 years.

3. I forced Minor to go down the hill with me to the liquor store on Saturday and bought 2 mini-bottles of 100 proof vodka and mixed one of my essential oils (sweet orange) into a 1-ounce spray bottle. The boys say it smells like orange juice, but it makes me happy. That was project #1. Project #2 was changing ink in the new printer. It was the first time I'd done it. It was easy but the illustrations were not exactly helpful. Project #3, this week's project, is hemming two pairs of pants. I have never hemmed pants before, and I don't own a sewing machine, so we'll see.

4. I have a sore in my left arm pit which, of course, I think is a fatal ticking-time-bomb tumor.

5. I hate being scared of life. Puzzle therapy is helping. So is listening to Classic Ghost Stories podcast. I love the guy who does it. His name is Tony Walker and he reads a story, then talks about the author and the story and then sometimes he just natters on about his life and I find him very funny. He's the only creator I am tempted to support financially (like Patreon or similar) because I just like him so much.

https://www.youtube.com/@ClassicGhost

6. The price of groceries is going up significantly and I feel like I should be more of a frugal mindset. Youtube algorithm has started throwing me videos like 'Feed your Family on X $ a week/month' but they do not have Picky Minisculus.

7. Putting the phone in the kitchen before bed is now The Habit. New habit to try: not eating in front of any screen (including phone). Hmmm. A tougher nut to crack for me, except at dinner.

I am doing exercise, I am meditating, I am doing yoga, I am doing housework and collaging and ficcing and reading but...sigh. It is difficult to get calm or remain calm. Everything is probably not going to be okay, in fact.

Comments

[kitarella_imagines]

Sending you loads of hugs, wish I could do more 💖💗

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you!

[debriswoman]

Hugs sent…all the hugs in fact.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you! My children actually went to school today (2 hour delayed but still!) so I am just giving myself a pass today to soak up the silence. I am making progress on my Scotland puzzle and have cracked open the next Rebus book in the series. Comfort reading and no expectations.

[potentiality_26]

I can't imagine that I am going to feel anything but anxious for the next 4 years.

Right there with you. I've been journaling and trying to feel my feelings without getting overwhelmed by them and whatnot, but... this is really the worst. *hugs*

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yeah, I mean, even if you aren't paying attention to the petty things (which are not petty, really, they are a sign of underlying hate/mental illness/ignorance, there are very real things going on, for example, the US pulling out of the WHO (World Health Organization) affects funding for my spouse's job. And I worry that individuals (with weapons and hate/mental illness/ignorance issues will be more emboldened to just commit more violent acts.

And I am (like you) trying to focus on self-care (in its various forms) but it all feels like band-aids on a gunshot wound.

[greetingsfrommaars]

it's a scary time. I feel like every now and then I look up and think, "oh yeah, I should be very afraid". I will check out that ghost stories podcast though

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yeah, I mean it's not paranoia if they are out to get you, right? :)

I mean, there's just too much, cost of things, the cold & ice, weird aches and pains, natural disasters and human political disasters waiting to happen and people's violent reaction to things. It's just overwhelming to me at the moment and I'm not able to find the calm I need to get through it.

[dr_zook]

*sending you hugs if you want* It's so very difficult to not freak out nowadays, and you're doing great so far, I'm sure!

I totally understand you about the fear of breaking several things due to ice. I hate walking on ice, and buying these strap-on spikes (and carrying them around me during dubious times) has worked wonders!

A note on hemming trousers: don't underestimate ironing the hemline decently before! I used to skimp that part, and had to learn it the hard way. ;)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

It's unfortunate that I have more (not fewer) things to worry about now than Tuesday when I wrote that post :(

Yeah, I don't know why other people seem to be able to stay upright and me not so much. I shall have to see about strap on spikes!!

Oh, that's the step I am on. Thanks for the tip.