A lot of random stuff on a Tuesday...
Sometimes I feel conflicted about who I am and what I stand for. On one hand, I go out and feed raw peanuts to the squirrels outside my window, who even have their own little nut house now to keep them in. On the other, I heard our power outage was due to a crow hitting a transformer, and instantly fell into dark humor, doing my best comical impersonation of a crow hitting a transformer and exploding. Sure, the medics thought it was funny. We’re all a little tweaked here. But I did have a moment right after of “what the heck is WRONG with me” when I did it. I guess hearing 25+ years worth of 911 dispatch calls will do that to a person.
Then there’s that need to help others. I always waffle between helping people through charity and other random acts because it makes me feel good, and wondering if I’m doing too much or taking it to a dysfunctional level, like I NEED to be helping people, all the time, to define my self-worth somehow. It’s a slippery slope with me. I know I overspend when I feel bad about myself, so I have to make sure I’m putting in some self-care while I’m caring for others, or I just lose myself in trying to do everything until I’m too drained to function.
One of my older cousins died of cancer this last week - she was in her late 60’s, on my dad’s side of the family, and like most of dad’s family, we didn’t keep in touch that much due to some complicated family dynamics. My dad knew her well, though, so I’m trying to be extra supportive of him in his grief, especially with the memory of the loss going in and out of his mind (what a terrible state to be in when you’re trying to process something difficult like that). I do remember she was kind, loved nature, and quiet most of the time. I wish I remembered more, for his sake, but it is what it is.
I’m working on a Solstice party gift project, for my friends annual gathering. This year, I’m going with the Icelandic tradition of giving books, but with a twist. Each book is wrapped, with a little brown tag telling a brief hint at what the book’s about, plus I’ve added a beaded ribbon bookmark on the outside with each one. Each one is a book I’ve enjoyed over the last few years, so I hope they can love them as I have and pass them on to someone else. Some of the books I’m giving include:
Anyway, I’d better get wrapping. Good night, everyone!
Then there’s that need to help others. I always waffle between helping people through charity and other random acts because it makes me feel good, and wondering if I’m doing too much or taking it to a dysfunctional level, like I NEED to be helping people, all the time, to define my self-worth somehow. It’s a slippery slope with me. I know I overspend when I feel bad about myself, so I have to make sure I’m putting in some self-care while I’m caring for others, or I just lose myself in trying to do everything until I’m too drained to function.
One of my older cousins died of cancer this last week - she was in her late 60’s, on my dad’s side of the family, and like most of dad’s family, we didn’t keep in touch that much due to some complicated family dynamics. My dad knew her well, though, so I’m trying to be extra supportive of him in his grief, especially with the memory of the loss going in and out of his mind (what a terrible state to be in when you’re trying to process something difficult like that). I do remember she was kind, loved nature, and quiet most of the time. I wish I remembered more, for his sake, but it is what it is.
I’m working on a Solstice party gift project, for my friends annual gathering. This year, I’m going with the Icelandic tradition of giving books, but with a twist. Each book is wrapped, with a little brown tag telling a brief hint at what the book’s about, plus I’ve added a beaded ribbon bookmark on the outside with each one. Each one is a book I’ve enjoyed over the last few years, so I hope they can love them as I have and pass them on to someone else. Some of the books I’m giving include:
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - V.E. Schwab
- Nation - Terry Pratchett
- The Fault in our Stars - John Green
- The Secret Lives of Puppets - TJ Klune
- Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree
- Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn (the first in the series)
- Nettle & Bone - T Kingfisher
- The Starless Sea - Erin Morgenstern
- Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) - Marissa Meyer
- You Suck: A Love Story - Christopher Moore
- Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - Susana Clarke
- The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
- Shakespeare’s Landlord (Lily Bard mysteries) - Charlaine Harris
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs
- Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon
Anyway, I’d better get wrapping. Good night, everyone!