This is a legitimate question. What are you all doing to stay sane? I would love to have a room with just puppies and kittens running all over the place. We do that here at the university during finals week but this needs to be a reality. I think it would really help alleviate some stress. I’d volunteer at the shelter but I would want to take them all home. So, no.
I avoid the news and bury myself in Bible study. It helps, a lot. I still think puppies would help. The Otter Pup gives me a lot of side eye these days because of her general health maintenance, that falls on me to do. She is not a fan!
Right Now:
About to hang with the students at church.
The morning is looking pretty normal for me. Church and then a very brief visit with the in-laws. As brief as possible. They’ve hit the “not so nice, sometimes nasty” stage and still mostly refuse to do anything to improve their living situation. They refuse help in the house. Still aren’t eating great but a tad better. So there’s some improvement.
This Week:
Not too much happening. I have book club on Wednesday night. We are discussing Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips. It was quite good but brutal at times.
Unfortunately, my blood work showed some wonky stuff with my liver so I have to go in for more tests. I supposed the 23 meds that I was given last year after the tumor journey affected something. I would think it would be better now because I am not even on Advil. Not too worried since I hardly drink. One glass of wine at book club. That’s it!
Reading:
I finished Night Watch and my review will post this week. I also finished Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna. This was very good. I will write up my thoughts, hopefully this week as well.
So what am I reading now?
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (April club pick)
- Red Dog Farm by Nathanial Ian Miller
- Pinch Me by Barbara Boyle
Watching:
- Harlan Coben’s new Netflix show, Just One Look.
- The Bob Newhart show. I pulled out some DVD’s that were gifted to us.
Grateful for:
- Erasable pens. It’s dorky but I liked to take notes with my pen but I tend to correct a lot so erasable works great. Just don’t leave your notes out in the sun because all the ink will disappear! Ask me how I know. It eventually comes back, after…many…hours.
- Warm, cushy throw blankets. It has been so cold for us. A nice throw is lovely.
- That my hair is really growing like a Chia pet. I mean, it’s really taking off. A but out of control and requires weekly trims but I am so down for it.
That’s all I have. I hope everyone has a good week and tell me what you are doing to keep your mind off of this circus we are all forced to participate in.
Book Chatter 
Ti, hope the liver tests will turn out OK. Good luck with relations with the in-laws. It’s a tough situation that is hard to know what to do. Hope you enjoy your book club time. And mostly, I’ll keep all you mention in my prayers. For me, my prayer time has increased and it seems to be calming me. I’ve also been doing a devotional guide by Max Lucado, Calm Moments For Anxious Days. Take care and hope your week is a good one!
Prayer time. I could certainly improve in that area. I do the before bed thing but these past two weeks I have knocked out before finishing. Liver tests. I will go in sometime this week for follow-up labs. I hope it was just a one-off but I suspect it has to do with the weight I’ve gained. Whatever it is, I will deal with it.
I think what’s working for me is getting together with my girlfriends (once a week) to play Mah Jong. We talked about the state of affairs for maybe 30 minutes, but that’s it. My husband and I don’t discuss what’s going on in the country since we both agree and it only makes us upset. I don’t watch live news, but I do read the NYTimes and NPR daily email news. But I’ve cut way back on who I follow on IG/FB. It’s too easy to read a lot of political posts and feel terribly anxious. For immediate updates, I look at Alt National Park Service on Facebook, as well as Heather Cox Richardson. But you asked how I’m staying sane. Reading books. Walking outside in our forest and along the ocean bluff. Drafting blog posts about our trip to Canada in 2023 (yes, I’m so far behind!).
I hope all is ok with your liver tests. And hooray for your hair! It must feel good to have it growing again.
My hair! LOL. Today it was so think I could not wear a hat on my walk. It’s so curly now whereas before it was stick straight. I kind of love it.
Meeting up with friends is an excellent way to keep your mind off of the current events of our time. I have book club this Wednesday so I hope to do just that. Talk, enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles and enjoy the evening.
Ti, good question on sanity. Yes kittens & puppies would help. And I try to limit my news intake … as well as I try to read the news from the Canadian side so I’m on the side of the outrage. Canada seems to be united against the circus currently. But there are no good options. Hoping the courts will hold the line for democracy. Sigh. Also playing a hard game of tennis doubles helps to escape for two hours. I hope there will be strong resistance the crazier the admin gets.
I’m glad you’ll be reading The Frozen River and Red Dog Farm …. I hope to get to those too!
I feel like there is plenty of resistance but not from the right people in power.
I know you read my blog so you know I am like you trying to stay focused on Christ and on his mission for us here on earth –To love one another as He loves us, and to love my neighbors as myself. It is hard sometimes. I also am setting up coffee/lunch dates with old friends and new acquaintances. Yesterday my husband and I coffeed with a couple from church and spent 2 1/2 hours talking. Afterward the husband texted my husband and said it was the most connected he’s felt to church in all the time they’ve been going. What a blessing and it was so easy. Just coffee and talking. No agenda! Thanks for your comments on my blog. Blessings!
I love this. Funny you should mention coffee. I just had a coffee date with a former student from student ministry and we talked for 2 hours non stop and it felt great to reconnect. I have really bumped up my Bible study and pulled friends in with me to keep us all accountable. It helps immensely. I have faith that God has a plan. As always, it’s not in our timing.
I honestly think people are mostly craving human connections. We’ve taken away so many opportunities to connect or interact with people with our on-line shopping, movie-watching, etc. My teacher friends tell me that students don’t know how to make friends anymore and are isolated at school. Sad. No wonder we can make coffee dates and talk for hours without stop. Keep it up. I will, too.
I’m trying not to read or watch too much news…that makes me crazy! Instead I’m reading books, taking walks, getting involved with an online book club, trying new recipes, and talking to friends and family as often as possible.
I hope the liver issue works itself out… and that good news about your hair! Take care, Ti.
Thank you. I ought to sift through my cookbooks and find something to make. That always helps. I haven’t cooked anything in ages. Just the two of us now so it happens but not often.
Oh, I really liked The Frozen River so look forward to seeing what you think of it.
I’m not doing a great job at staying sane. I guess being super busy does help keep my mind off reality, but that’s no a good solution.
Yeah, being busy is a short term fix because then you burn out in other ways. I sure as heck wish some leadership would step up and DO something.
I meant to return to comment here earlier. I hope they can figure out, or already did, “the wonkiness”. As for myself, how I’m staying sane, I’m not going to lie. It’s not easy, especially when the opposition doesn’t seem to be unified or coherent. Like you, I avoid the news as much as possible… And recently, even though I don’t really care, I’ve been watching college basketball. It’s better thank doomscrolling, I guess. 🤷
Than. Oops.
Watching anything is better than doomscrolling these days.
I even signed up for free Major League Baseball games through T-Mobile. I want to escape…that much, I guess. 🙄