Rainy day

It rained last night and is still raining this morning. That’s a good thing, since I’m in Southern California and I don’t want another wildfire scare like I had before.

There is a tree next to my apartment building. I heard something crack early this morning, and when I left my apartment I realized a big branch had broken off the tree. As I was walking down the steps, I saw a man walking his dog. The tree branch was blocking the sidewalk,  and since it was right up against the garbage corral, he had no way to get around.

I had my leather gloves on, so I walked over to the broken end of the branch, grabbed it, and pulled. It took a few times, but I managed to drag it into the grass, getting the sidewalk clear. The man thanked me and walked on with his dog.

It felt nice to do something concretely good.

Oh this is going to take some getting used to….

I’m not entirely sure I like this form for adding posts.  Of course, there will always be a learning curve when moving from one blogging platform to another.  And it has been quite a while since I used anything other than Tumblr or a journal-based platform (LiveJournal, DreamWidth).

I suppose there’s nothing for it, at least until I clean up my non-library DreamWidth.  I hope that this will work… though there is no guarantee that WordPress will be the “next big thing” when it comes to fandom.

Oh, Lord. “Color Settings”?  Ugh. More bells and whistles than I need.

/grumbles indistinctly about ‘whippersnappers’ and ‘my porch’

😛

People who grew up emotionally neglected tend to carry some false beliefs about emotions in relationships. (By Jonice Webb)

psych-book-quotes-blog:

Here’s a good, but not exhaustive, sampling:

1. Sharing your feelings or troubles with others will make them feel burdened.

2. Sharing your feelings or troubles with others will chase them away.

3. If you let other people see how you feel, they will use it against you.

4. Sharing your feelings with others will make you look weak.

5. Letting others see your weaknesses puts you at a disadvantage.

6. It’s best not to fight if you want to have a good relationship.

7. Talking about a problem isn’t helpful. Only action solves a problem.

Fortunately, not one of these beliefs is true. In fact, they are each and every one dead wrong. (The only exception is if you share your feelings with another emotionally neglected person, who may not have any idea how to respond). When you grow up receiving consistent direct or indirect messages that you should keep your feelings to yourself, it is natural to assume that those feelings are burdensome and undesirable to others.

Wait, what is a vog mask? Please please tell me it’s a mask that filters out fragrances, and then inform this asthmatic, synthetic fragrance-allergic-child where to purchase one. Also, any suggestions on what do do about defoliants? I have the misfortune of living next to a cotton field, and thus spend a good couple months each year horribly ill.

out-there-on-the-maroon:

thebibliosphere:

manicpixiesdreamdragon:

thebibliosphere:

Fam I am about to change your life:

https://www.vogmask.com/

They also have some on amazon I think, but I always buy from their site because I like to make sure my money is going into their charitable works too.

From their website:

VOGMASK is used for protection from airborne particles such as PM 0.3,
PM 2.5, PM 10, dust, allergens, post combustion particles, germs,
shavings, biologics, odors, scents, mold, mold spores, particles in
wildfire smoke, volcanic particulate pollution, and other airborne
contaminants. The benefits of particulate respirators are confirmed by
leading health providers worldwide.  Highly efficient filtering masks
help protect the mask wearer from particles as small as .254 microns.  

I can’t get through allergy season (so, the whole year round apart from the dead of winter for me) without mine, and it also helps to filter our scents and other stuff. I’ll even wear mine if I have to walk down the laundry aisle at the grocery store cause the scent of all that stuff in one place makes me wheeze and feel like my throat is closing.

You can also choose if you want one or two filers. They are sadly, not replaceable, but they do last a good few years. I’ve had mine for coming on four years no and it’s only just not starting to need replaced. I can tell because the ragweed hit my lungs like a tongue of bricks this year. But I do know it’s still working cause on the days when I don’t wear it it’s substantially worse.

Anyway, hope this is helpful!

How easy are they to breath with on? These sound like they might be useful for me but I can’t even feel like I’m breathing proper with a scarf over my face.

I don’t find them all that hard to breathe with on, though there’s a definite adjustment period of getting used to it being on your face.

Cause it definitely feels like there is something over your face, but I have found that sizing up helps with that. Also the two filter ones don’t cling us much cause the one filter one you’re sucking all your air in from one side and that can sometimes feel a little close for comfort for me. So yea. Two filters are easier to breathe through, I feel.

And for everyone asking me about perfumes and strong scents:

I use mine to filter out perfumes all the time. It doesn’t get rid of it 100% for me, but it reduces it from “like being kicked in the chest repeatedly” to a mild trace scent.

I actually used it at a candle making workshop not long ago where we were using a LOT of peppermint oils (fml) in an enclosed space (fmlx2) and once I had it on I was fine, no migraines, no wheezing or residual ill feelingness afterwards.

So. Yea.

I rarely recommend products lightly, but I’ll stan behind vogmask. Wearing it can mean the difference between being able to go outside and be social some days, and pair boning with my air purifier because the air hurts to breathe.

Got one when the fires got real bad out here and the smoke in the air was horrific. Surprisingly comfortable, took some adjusting but not bad at all. Also comes in many fun colors. 

Oh my god, there’s a way to muffle scents???

peppapigvevo:

awful things: when terrible people who were horrible to you are still “nice” to other people, so they have a good reputation and you look like a bitter person when in reality, you are, but are also totally justified. 

See also: When your parents go out of their way to help other adults in the family, and supply material needs for you and your siblings, while at the same time being emotionally and physically abusive to you. So when you try to go to “a trusted adult”, said adult does not believe you (and tells your parents about what you said, leading to more horrible treatment).

FIC: Reprisal and Reprise [Steven Universe]

Title: Reprisal and Reprise
Author: D.L.SchizoAuthoress
Rating: PG
Spoilers: references “Monster Reunion” (Season 3, Episode 14)
Warnings: can’t think of any but let me know
Prompt/Fill: none
Word Count: 200
Summary: The last moments of Captain Nephrite as herself
Note: based on the theory that Centipeetle was originally a Nephrite, which is rooted in the fact that the ship she drew was similar to the dropships seen during the “Jungle Moon” (Season 5, Episode 12) flashback/dream sequence.

Reprisal and Reprise

The light is beautiful; the song is beautiful. Nephrite stops running. In her core, she knows – it’s too late. Those three points of light – white, yellow, blue – in the sky intensify. The song repeats, growing louder. Nephrite won’t get to her ship in time.

“Captain!”

“Lift off!” she yells into her communicator. The song is so loud.

“Not without you!” Number One argues.

“I won’t make it,” Nephrite says, “Just go!”

“I’ve got a lock on her,” the navigator reports.

“We’re coming to get you, Captain!”

“No, Number One! Leave now!” Nephrite screams over the piercingly loud music, “Lift off!”

****

The light is so strong, growing stronger, that it washes out all other color – Nephrite shuts her eye in pain, crying out. But she cannot shut her ears. The song doesn’t change. It’s so sweet and lovely. But it hurts!

It hurts, it hurts!

She stumbles forward, searching for her crew. If they can’t escape the Diamond Authority’s final attack on the Crystal Gems of this accursed, failed colony… at least they can be together.

‘Find the crew,’ Nephrite tells herself, forcing herself to step forward through agonizing light, through obliterating sound. ‘Find the crew, find the crew, find the–!’

*-*-*-*-*