Random recent thoughts

Is it only Tuesday?  Doesn't it feel like Thursday?  I don't know.  Perhaps it is the weather.  I feel lazy, uninspired, unmotivated.  I do not know where to start.  There is so much to be uninspired by.  The current state of the world.  And even there what are the top three things that are making you crazy?  I think there are possibly 30 things that are making me crazy.  I am finding it difficult to narrow it down.  My anger shifts day to day as I learn of new things.

For instance, the gutting of the voting rights truly pissed me off.  It incenses me that the supreme court lied again and did whatever they wanted.  In 2022 when they gutted Roe v Wade, I spit out my water and almost choked on it.  I couldn't believe that they would want to roll back women's rights.  And it didn't end there.  Of course, it didn't.  They continue to move the goal posts.  Same with the voter's rights.  They kicked over that domino and will continue to take away all rights of everyone that they feel do not deserve to be represented.

So there is that.  Then I started to see more information on the data centers that are popping up all over the states.  How are they even being approved?  The effect on the environment is devastating.  But politicians do not care.  They do not care if you have limited access to water.  If you lose your home to the data center.  It is appalling.  And they are rushing to put them all over.  Why?  What will they do for us?  Kill the environment, take water, eliminate jobs and screw people over.  What are we even doing?

The detention centers and forced labor of the inhibits also dire and ridiculous.  I read that in order to use the phone a person is required to work five days to make one phone call.  How is that even possible?  Not to mention the increase in racist attacks.  Just the blatant hatred that is exposed.  I suppose I have lived in a bubble that I created.  I was unaware or unwilling (if I am honest) to see how much people in my generation were hiding their racism.  I thought we had changed.  I grew up in the 80's and 90's.  My school was mostly white but there was a large vietnamese population, some mexican and black kids in my class.  Yes, they were the minority, but it didn't feel that forced hatred of someone that was different than me.  When I went to college, of course, I was exposed to more people that did not look like me.  Choosing to work in the service industry has always reflected an assortment of people, cultures and outlooks on life.  I am grateful for the melting pot.  I do not understand how people are still so hateful of other races.  I truly do not understand it, and it makes me furious that some people are spewing their hatred at other races to make themselves feel better?  We are all human beings first and foremost.  Instead of hating other races, we should be looking upward at the elite class that continues to pick our pockets and steal from us.  I do not want to work until I die.  I do not know anyone else that wants that either.  However, the pathway we are currently on, we are going to force 95% of the population to do that.  Living in a world where we are sicker, have less pathways out of poverty and less living the dream we were sold.  

Still I am hopeful as people wake up (finally).  The corruption is over the top!  Everyday some new story about our taxes being taken to fund a small group of people.  No oversight, accountability or proposed end in sight.  It is WILD!

It is my intention to speak to my tribe about the importance of voting and recognizing that we are human beings and in this together.  I want to live in a world where we can all thrive and enjoy the resources--clean water, food, travel, nature.  Am I naive to want this?

Recent thoughts

Happy Hump Day!  This year has flown by in some respects and in others it is stagnant.  We are inching closer to the midterms which is optimism overload (thankfully).  The nonstop daily barrage of bullshit is wearing me down.  It is exhausting and frustrating to see all of the headlines that are front and center and then be updated on things that are happening behind closed doors.  For instance, the recent Supreme Court ruling gutting the voting rights.  I had not been aware that that was even happening.  What do they say--focus on one thing so you are not overwhelmed.  I think that is why I was not paying attention to current cases in front of the court.

Check your voter registration.  If you are not registered, register to vote.  It is imperative to use your right to vote.  I am devastated by the court's decision to gut the voter rights.  I know that they will not stop by limiting the representation of people of color.  They want to return the voting rights where only white men are voting.  They do not value anyone but that component of society.  However, we are a multi-cultural society.  

We all deserve representation.  We are taxed and should have representation to reflect our individual rights.  Personally, as a woman, I should not have the government dictating what I can or cannot do with my body.  I shouldn't be told I have to have kids.  And there should be research into what menopause is.  There is so much unknown about that process.  Right now, almost every woman in my life, is struggling with changes in her body.  And it is all different.  I prefer to not take pills or medication to regulate myself.  I do take supplements--Magnesium, Vitamin C, Fish oil, black cohosh and Vitamin D.  I am still learning and trying to navigate this upcoming phase of my life.  The gluteal tendinopathy is a real thing.  It is forcing me to stretch out my hips, daily, or risk the dull achy pain that will not go away. 

Randomly over the course of two weeks, I encountered two people over 30 years old, who have never voted.  I was shocked!  The first one I thought I was being punked.  Truly.  I couldn't believe that this man would not vote.  He said it wouldn't matter as it didn't affect his lifestyle.  He was happy attending raves.  I understand that I do.  But things are progressing and it will affect everyone.  It already is.  The cost of fuel, groceries, travel, health insurance, car insurance, home insurance, rent.  When does it stop?  What is the end game?  

I alter between survival and elevating my life.  It is an odd balance.  I see the survival mode in some of my decisions and beliefs.  I am planning a yoga retreat, and I hesitate to book the accommodations.  I know that I can put it together and host another successful retreat.  I believe that.  Yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I want to stay in the comfort of survival.  I don't want to see myself as capable.  It is the unknown and risky.  Everything is unknown and risky right now.  I know there are resources.  I believe in abundance.  I want to break up with the news but I cannot look away.  

What is the solution?  

Saturdays are the best

Some days, I know I could be more productive.  That I should be more productive.  I should do my administrative work instead of putting it off until the absolute last minute.  I start off with the best intentions and then derail it.  For instance, this morning, I taught yoga, took a walk and researched potential recipes for my upcoming happy hour.  Yoga was fantastic. I returned home and considered the remainder of my day.  Walking more seemed imperative.  I managed that after lunch and felt good about that decision.

I prepped a grocery list and headed to Postino.  A glass of wine before shopping on a Saturday at Trader Joe's is necessary.  I tend to want to dart in and out of the store.  I avoid using shopping carts and instead rely on the basket to do my shopping.  I feel that I am able to navigate the store easier without the bulkiness of the cart.  I really despise shopping carts.  I will make multiple trips to the market to avoid using a cart.  I hate wasting food.  I prefer shopping more times to avoid that factor.

I had a book to read and settled in at Postino.  Midway through my visit, a lady sat down next to me.  She seemed a little gruff and so I continued to read my book and glance around the surroundings.  I enjoy reading the vibes and watching people interact.

One of the server assistants broke glassware, loudly, twice.  Noticeably loud.  Stopped conversation.  I paid my tab and the lady asked me what I was reading and if I liked it.  We started chatting books--Wally Lamb.  I love Wally Lamb.  I have read multiple books by him.  He is a master of character development in my opinion.  Then moved into other territory.  Occupation, travel, family...I learned more about her situation than anticipated.  A reminder that as difficult as my family situation can be, I am mostly normal compared to other people.  From that encounter, I feel like people like to confide in me.  I do not know my exact purpose in life but after the last few days, I think part of my purpose is to listen and allow people to chat.  To discard the loneliness.  The gruffness dissolved and she seemed approachable unlike she had when she sat down.  

A guy I know from former days strolled through before heading to his current bar gig.  He gave me a hug and reminded me of when he works at this particular bar.  I walked to Trader Joe's and regretted it immediately.  Too many people with carts, lol.  I picked up a few items knowing that I would return at another time.  I do not have the patience to withstand the amount of people wandering around.  I really despise carts and how much room they take up.  

Returning home and intending to return to the task list.  I will do better.  I must do better.  I reflect on the day and am hopeful for more community and interaction.  The divineness of the chaos of today is not all encompassing.  There is hope and time.  Next time you are in a situation you are unfamiliar with, embrace it.  See where the conversation leads.  Allow it to move organically.

Finding balance

Every day is more chaos.  Challenging.  I recognize that it designed this way to inhibit resistance.  Distraction after distraction after distraction.  For instance, the recent video reminding us of the Epstein files.  Is it a distraction from the war?  

I thought there was a ceasefire, but it seemed to have been violated within hours of it being stated.  I do not understand how the continual bombing of Lebanon is supported.  Or Gaza for that matter.  Why are civilians being targeted?  Universities, hospitals, structures?  It is insanity.

It takes a lot out of me in spite of the knowledge.  Trying to sift through the b.s. and move forward.  Some days are easier than others.  I have been relishing the lego videos that are surfacing on social media.  They make me chuckle and sigh.  Specifically, the one regarding our secretary.  They do not hold back.  Call out some of my favorite words.  CS--IYKYK.... Seriously, I do love that word.  And it sums up his behavior handily.  Many of my friends are unaware of the videos which makes me think I am in a silo.  I see so much and am familiar with many moving parts.  If only I could walk away and place my head in the sand.  I cannot.  I will not.

Striking that balance is imperative.

Planning yoga is helping.  I feel more productive and capable.  I ran into a friend that is going through a divorce.  It has been a while in the making but it is happening.  Typically, this friend does not confide about his personal life.  In a way, I feel that he feels uplifted being able to discuss it.  He can sort through his relationship and what he would like to move forward.  Listening to him made me reflect on my relationship with Tom.  I could be more vested in his interests.  I, tend to get caught up in the politics, my stressors and work.  I cannot help myself (or so I convince myself).  However, listening to my friend was a gentle reminder that I should listen to Tom's needs.  I should show Tom that I love him not just say it.  Actions matter.

I utilized the library through Kanopy (streaming service) and placed a bunch of books on hold.  Some fiction.  Others non-fiction.  I picked up a mix and started a fiction one that was recommended.  Immediately, I knew it was not speaking to me.  I read a review and it was confirmed that it might not be approachable.  But the content of the location did happen in real life.  Girls were placed in correctional institutions and the conditions were terrible.  I read on to see that.  Unstable conditions, abuse, lack of cleanliness, poor nutrition, medicating people.  I do not agree with any of this to house people.  Girls were placed within these facilities with no structure, opportunity to rehabilitate or leave.  They were punished for being undesirable or unwanted.  

I do not love the book after 150 pages.  I will return it to the library with some knowledge of how women were treated and continue to be.  There is a better reflection of this specific situation with The Woman they could not Silence.  That book is incredible.  I should remember to place a book on hold for the author's other book--Radium Girls.  Rambling slightly.  It has been a day.  I need to decompress so I can shut off my mind.  Find balance and navigate the chaos.

Salud to Thursday~

Lentil soup

In an attempt to cook more at home, I have made lentil soup twice in the last week.  The first time I followed the recipe that I found.  It is based on a Greek grandmother's recipe (or so they say).  I found it on social media.  I am all for it and believe it is based on a grandmother's recipe.  The result was good, but I wanted a few tweaks.  More garlic, add some Greek oregano and maybe more onion.  I tested out my theory yesterday and I am pleased with the new results.  Still, I think I could improve it.  It is savory, wholesome and delicious.  And I enjoy taking the time to make it.

Isn't that what it is all about?  Enjoying what you are doing and not make it feel like a chore or job.  I believe I would have been more invested in preparing food had I felt more confident in my skills at an earlier age.  Instead, I relied on the restaurants that I worked in to feed more.  Or make it more convenient, lol.  I enjoy grocery shopping but tend to shop frequently and not doing the weekly trip.  I break it up into smaller runs.  This makes more sense to me.  Eliminates food waste which I despise.

For example, I bought eggs.  You know, the more expensive ones.  Organic, farm raised good life of the chicken.  My refrigerator opted to freeze 7 of the 18.  I was devastated.  I was not that surprised.  My refrigerator tends to do that. I have tried to manually alter the temperature to no avail.  Finally, I grabbed a screwdriver to adjust the settings.  Eureka!  It happened.  I could avoid freezing the interior of my fridge.

Super irritated.  Scrambling to avoid more waste, I boiled them and hoped for the best.  I had bought avocados on sale (I am a sucker for avocados).  I do not want to waste those, so I created an egg salad with the avocados, eggs, dill and mayonnaise I had curated a few weeks ago.  It is time to use food in house and minimize waste.  I am too reliant on what is convenient, unfortunately.

Six of the eggs remain in the carton.   4 of them are broken.  Two remain, intact.  But they do not want to budge out of the container.  It is frustrating.  I want to avoid the waste.  

My mind wanders.  Overwhelmed.  Overstimulated.  Distracted.  I say that knowing that I can still perform required tasks.  I might be exhausted but if I show up for a job, I do it.  Physically, I show up.  I perform and make the best of the situation.  Small reflection.

Focus on the good and what you can control.  Silence the distractions that do not do anything to elevate you as a person.  Make lentil soup.

Happy Hump Day!

Happy Hump Day!  What have you accomplished today?  This week?  This month?  

Are you creating new habits?  They say that small habits lead to life changes.  Or maybe you have heard that if you spend time with five idiots, you are the sixth.  I should not be negative.  If you spend time with five entrepreneurs, you are the sixth.  Truly, it is who we choose to spend time with that helps decide how successful we are in accomplishing tasks.  Energy takers and energy givers.

I need to strike a balance with some people.   And minimize my social media scrolling.  It's all war.  Ice.  Politics.  Random bull shit.  Dystopian futures.  I keep seeing things about the energy crisis and shut down and where it can lead.  I am trying to remain calm, but it is not easy.  The energy crisis where there will be energy rations and another shut down.  It is too much.  There will be no benefit to another shutdown.  People barely survived that last one which was not too long ago.  

Bad husbands or boyfriends seem to be on my feed on threads.  Some of the stories are comical.  Others remind me how grateful I am for Tom.  He is calm, patient and supportive.  I get frustrated when he doesn't take care of himself.  His hip, for example, took forever to address.  Before we began dating, he had hip pain.  Refused to go to a chiropractor or doctor to have it assessed.  In his mind, it would go away.

Til it didn't.  Which was a domino effect of health issues that he could have avoided had he went to the doctor when the symptoms presented.  Now, he has some Achilles tendon irritation.  I told him to buy some kinesiology tape and stabilize his ankle.  He said he has but I do not know if I believe him.  He tends to avoid health concerns which is so weird to me.  Currently, I have a shoulder tweak from a soft tissue injury.  I have been rolling it out with my lacrosse ball.  It is improving.  It feels a little out of place and I have popped it doing yoga.  I suppose there is that, too.

Mid-week, check in, for me.  My taxes are completed.  I taught a yoga happy hour last night.  Tested out new recipes and realized that recipes are good but adding your own flair makes sense (unless you are baking.  I would not recommend adding or subtracting from the measurements.  Baking is more precise).  I prefer a more flavorful fava bean dip.  The recipe I followed was too bland.  I added garlic powder, smoked paprika and capers as a topper.  Next time, I will adjust the yellow split peas and garlic ratio.  I think that will be more successful.  

Daily morning meditation number two.  Five minutes is doable.  I will increase my times eventually.  I hope this will benefit my overall day and sleeping habits.  It has been rough recently to sleep through the night.  I foresee more nidra in my daily life.  I need relief, rest and relaxation.  Enjoy the remainder of your week.

Tuesday thoughts

I woke up and did a five-minute meditation.  Repeated a mantra that made sense to me.  I think I will attempt to do this moving forward.  Perhaps build up to 20 or 30 minutes at some point.  Baby steps build a habit.  Habits lead to success.  

In the same fashion, 2026 I have been oil pulling, tongue scraping and then brushing teeth.  Listening to podcasts and stretching.  Increasing the time, I am capable of holding a yogi squat.  Juicing, hot lemon water and then starting my day.

It is time to be thankful and minimize the chaos.  That is my realization that I am too wrapped up in this.  Too far into my own echo chamber.  I spoke to my older sister yesterday and could tell that she couldn't wait to get off of the phone once I brought up the SAVE act. We were reflecting on our past weeks, and she was doing the being the older sister bit (truly, she is the best.  Always takes care of me).  After we exhausted the Greek trip, I brought up recent events.  Including the SAVE Act, War in Iran, genocide.  She concluded with--I need to go since I am walking into work or something to that effect.  Reminded me of how I conclude conversations with my parents at times, lol.  

I get it.  I do.  I know that I am overwhelmed by the crazy.  The fact that ICE is at the airports.  For what purpose?  They are unable to screen travelers.  They are being paid to intimidate people.  Meanwhile, TSA agents are working without pay.  Make it Make Sense.  We have unmasked agents (finally) but they are armed and known for their tactics.  How are they speeding up security?  We are pawns in this latest tactic of the regime.  They want to pass the SAVE act which will disenfranchise female voters.  It is a poll tax on voters.  It isn't about voter I.D.  We already provide either a driver's license or military ID to be able to vote.  Those are no longer enough.  It is a restrictive act that.  Why?  Because the majority of people do not agree with Project 2025, the Republican agenda or their proposed policies.  Not when you actually look into what they want to achieve.  The BBB which taxes everyone but the ultra-elites and corporations is not popular.  When you break down how people are taxed to death, they aren't happy.  In addition, fuel prices are increasing.  Groceries are increasing.  Housing.  Health insurance.  On and on and on.  

We are being taxed for policies that do nothing for us.  And everything around us is increasing.  At what point do people push back?  I do not know why people pay taxes.  Our roads are not improving.  Travel is becoming difficult.  Why do they think existence is enough?

Rambling but trying to process.  Heading to a happy hour which will be beneficial and wonderful.  Have a good day!