Thursday Thoughts - I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd, but when they said, "sit down," I stood up

1. When you're living through a really intense period, it's hard to step outside of it and see how much of yourself you're losing and what you're gaining because you're just trying to get through the gauntlet. When life is stressful for prolonged periods, I have a tendency to operate on autopilot through it and blank a lot out. This year has been a blur and I feel like I've lost time. I'm looking forward to spending time getting reacquainted with myself because I'm a lot different than I was in February. I thought a few weeks ago that I might not feel back to normal after Election Day because I had gotten comfortable being uncomfortable and would have to forge a new normal. I was right. Chelsea shared the image on the left the other night on Instagram and I loved it. Both images are from Morgan Harper Nichols. In those times when everything around us feels different and we have to poke ourselves to see what's changed and what's the same, it's nice to read words like this along the way.

2. In addition to enjoying being more anonymous and getting to know ourselves and each other again, we are trying to get our house in order, go through all the shit that has accumulated over the past year, and get back to a better financial place. It's a lot, and all that plus the time change has me wanting to do this most nights.

3. I still love you, but I'm not doing Christmas cards this year. The additional energy required to do the cards and full on decorating and things I typically do related to Christmas but do not actually enjoy is not energy I have to spare at this time. I'm also not going overboard with gifts because no one needs anything anyway. My holiday plan is to chill out, enjoy my people and my time, sing fucking kumbaya in a circle of peace, and feel zero pressure or guilt about anything.

4. Our new dog allegedly arrives Sunday and I have not heard when I can pick him up, etc. I am not well with it. It's Thursday! I need to make plans. I did already pack him stuff for next week. He will he introduced to our traveling lifestyle quickly.

5. There is still a firestorm coming out of D.C. daily (California criticism, missed Paris WWI 100 year anniversary, no wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Election Day, unconstitutional appointment of unqualified un-vetted temporary Attorney General, violation of the First Amendment kicking Acosta out, showing our ass to allies,  etc etc etc, please follow Amy Siskind's Authoritarian List) but there are some fucking awesome things coming out of DC right now too. Like watching these women go. I want them to keep being real people representing real people and forcing action from people who have been in office too long and talk a lot but don't do a damn thing.

6. Mae spends a lot of time paused on stairs because Bruce likes to wait for her at the top and she hates that.

7. Inhabiting the same space at the same waking hours as MFD again means Game of Thrones is constantly on. I don’t even watch the show yet have seen part of most episodes four times. Send help.

8. We’re headed to the shore tonight to work from there tomorrow and drop stuff off for next weekend since we’ll be going there from upstate on Friday. Packing a week in advance, may the odds be ever in my favor that I get it right.

9.  Reminder:

10. E-card of the week:

What appears after the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts is a song lyric to whatever I'm listening to when I start to write the post. This week is Growin' Up by Bruce Springsteen - I have listened to the Columbia Records audition at least 20 times this week.