Popularity Has Never Been My Strong Point

On the plus side, I've also never cared if I was popular, because I dislike so many people who are/were.  Life as an equal opportunity hater evens out every once in a while, you know?

But something recently reminded me of this, and so for Three on Thursday, I decided I would share Three Things That Have Not Made Me Popular:

1.  I do not believe that "All Women Are [fill in the blank]."  Why do I not believe this?  Because all people are not all anything, except maybe our skeletons.  I'm all for uplifting and supporting women, but I refuse to think All Women Are Noble when I know they are not.  Just like - and I'm sorry if this shocks you - All Knitters Are Nice is not true.  I know plenty that are terrible people.  It happens.

2.  There are areas of the country that, on the whole, I do not like.  I am sure there are people there I would like, and that I could become friends with, but unless I have to go where they are, I'll never find out.  I know it's probably based on certain personal prejudices of mine, but nonetheless there you are.  And to be perfectly honest, there are a couple of places that if I found out I had to move there again, I would require constant and heavy sedation.  But you know what?  It would never occur to me to say it to anyone other than The Tim and the critters, because I know it's ridiculous.  And I know that I would somehow manage to survive if I had to live/live again in these places.  That is what complaining is for, right??

3.  A friend's mother posted this on social media the other day:

Before moving on with this one, let me say that I get it - people should not spend their lives living in fear.  And I know that so many of us are really sick of this whole pandemic thing.  

But ... NOPE.  NO NO NO NO.  Here is how I responded:

"I appreciate what you are trying to say here, but I think it's best to not get together with family you have not seen or been around this year.  I don't feel it's worth it to create the possibility that it will be everyone's last Christmas."  

Granted, I would normally keep this to myself, but I feel really strongly about this whole thing.  Covid cases are leaping exponentially, and at least here in Philadelphia (you know, voting cheater country), we have been told that a majority of cases have originated with family gatherings since people are tired of staying apart.  Would I LOVE the chance to see my family this holiday season, or anytime soon?  You bet. Will I?  NO.WAY.  

Anyway, let's just suffice it to say it didn't go over well.  And I have lost no sleep over that.  (Over other stuff, of course, but not this.)

******

Thanks, by the way for your comments over my illness/reaction to my shingles vaccine. I'm feeling much better, and it was of course way better than getting shingles again because they are awful.  But really, did that all even need to happen?  Of course not!

Have a good one today, however you can.  

And Now ... We Wait

Oh Pennsylvania, please do the right thing!

Arizona - YES! (Something I have never said before.)

But unlike what we have been told by a certain Liar-in-Chief, we still don't know who has won the election for President.  So don't lose hope.

So what did you do yesterday, besides voting if you already had not by mail? I had big plans.  Well, big plans for once I was home, since Tuesdays are one of the days I'm at work in our building.  I was going to spend the evening knitting, reading, occasionally watching the results as they came in on TV, and of course enjoying a libation (or drowning my sorrows if necessary).  

Instead, I spent most of the day in bed, or sitting in a chair, feeling like I was going to die.  My original plan had been to go last Friday to get the second part of my shingles vaccine.  It turned out that Friday got all turned around, so I didn't go until yesterday.  Which was stupid, I should have waited until Friday of this week.  Because I got the shot on Monday afternoon, came home and other than a sore armw was fine.  Suddenly (seriously, all of a sudden), I was feverish, had one of the worst headaches ever, and felt like I was freezing.  I barely slept, and then not well, and so yesterday was spent in a weird sick haze.  I couldn't have made it into work if we had been getting paid a million dollars to show up.  My headache kept me from being able to read or to knit - I just sat and existed.  FINALLY around 9 p.m. I started to rejoin the land of the living, and today I feel fine.  But really, UGH.  I've learned my lesson - do not go for a flu or shingles shot if you are supposed to be somewhere the next day.

At least today I can function, so I shall continue with my plans that were for yesterday, omitting of course going in to work (even if I wanted to, I can't go into the building if it's not my day to be there).  I finished the first of the socks I was knitting, and will at least get the other one started.  And I want to cast on for a sweater, so maybe that will happen today as well.  I have about 50 pages left in a current book I'm reading, which is an enjoyable cozy mystery (the only thing I can handle right now).  

Keep the faith.  We can still hope.

Election Day 2020

 

All Souls Day

In the Roman Catholic Church, today is All Souls Day, meaning the day that you remember and pray for loved ones who have passed on.  The day was always bittersweet for me, after the fun of Halloween, and the additional fun in our house of November 1 (which is All Saints Day), which is my sister Nancy's birthday.  I used to feel melancholy, if not sad, because I knew so many people were especially missing someone on November 2.  Of course, as I got a little bit older, I had my own someones to miss.

But this year it seems like it's hitting me even more.  And I realize it's because there are so many souls missing that shouldn't be this time around.  So many family members and beloved friends gone too soon and unnecessarily because of Covid-19.  Even if you are not a praying type, please keep a special thought for them especially today.  I really can't begin to fathom how hard it must be.

On a lighter note, our weekend was quiet but nice.  We got to see some kiddos in their Halloween finery.  Since it was just a neighborhood block kind of thing, we only saw about ten kids, but they all looked adorable - and fierce for those who would shudder at the thought of being adorable!  One little girl was dressed as a veterinarian, and she wanted to be friends with Hamlet, so he was thrilled.  Even better, she was carrying dog treats (as all good veterinarians do, you know).  Even Halloween seemed bittersweet though, since I fear the pandemic may mean the end of trick-or-treating altogether.  At least in our area, there seem to be fewer kids each year.  Which is just too bad.  I mean I know people have their reasons for not wanting their kids to go out, but I always enjoyed seeing the costumes.  

We did have one special Halloween visitor though - a lion pirate!  He looked like he'd had a wee bit too much grog though, as his hat was somewhat askew.

You may recall that Dug the Doodle Dog used to let us dress him up all the time.  Hamlet is not as likely to do so.  However, we have discovered that if we tell Hammy that he is a good boy and make a fuss, he'll keep it on long enough for a photo or two, so here you go.  😊

The cats found the entire enterprise appalling.

Yesterday was a quiet day - I switched over my closet, which never takes that long because frankly, I don't have that much to switch.  Then I put away some things in the kitchen and cleaned up some in there.  The Tim fixed pizza for dinner, which was truly delicious.  I managed to get three new squares on my Cozy Squares of Memory blanket, and I'm gonna have to start knitting other stuff quickly if I want to have more leftovers for it - right know I have about 6 left waiting to be added!

Today I'm headed to CVS to get the second part of my shingles vaccine, and then I need to pay some bills, since Friday was payday.  It always feels good to get the bills paid, but it's stressful having to move things around and recalculating so they can all get something paid on them.  I try to do it early in the day so I'm feeling better by lunchtime ...

I hope all of you had a good weekend.  This will likely be a difficult and/or stressful week even if nothing else is going on in life.  But I keep telling myself that I've known that all along, so not to let myself get overwhelmed by everything if at all possible.  I really hope all of you can do the same.  Take care, and do the best you can.

A Poem for a November Sunday

Today is November 1, which means it's the start of NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) for 2020.  For the last couple of years, I've given it a try, and been successful posting something every day.  So I figured I'd try again this year.  I'm not promising anything, but I do like trying this - it's a good challenge to myself.  But just so you know, it may well mean that you'll get what you get, if you know what I mean!

Today I'm sharing a poem that a friend posted the other day on Facebook that I just really really like.  I hope you'll enjoy it as well.

Good Bones, by Maggie Smith

Life is short, though I keep this from my children.

Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine

in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,

a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways

I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least

fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative

estimate, though I keep this from my children.

For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.

For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,

sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world

is at least half terrible, and for every kind

stranger, there is one who would break you,

though I keep this from my children. I am trying

to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,

walking you through a real shithole, chirps on

about good bones: This place could be beautiful,

right? You could make this place beautiful.