LOOKED UP: can violin rosin go bad

 Turns out rosin is good for 6 months to 2 years. Mine was purchased in... 2009. I think I need new rosin

Growing up in America vs Growing Old in America

I grew up in America full of promise and hope and progress. America was the best. We’d made mistakes but we were fixing them and improving.

But really it was a lie. I mean we DID make progress and life was good. But most americans -- me included -- did not see the price. We were spoiled. Our fantastic economy and materialistic culture was and still is built on exploitation and abuse of people in other places out of sight. Our military overstepped its role and hurt people in their own lands. We were conveniently kept oblivious of this -- most of the time.

The other thing that was a lie? That peace & prosperity was the norm. Chaos, war, oppression are the norm around the world and throughout history. I grew up in a brief period of the 20th century where the USA was mostly at peace and mostly prosperous. And willing to ignore most of the bad stuff.

Now, Americans are being broken out of their bubble of comfort and excess and privilege and taking things for granted. Me included.

Life is hard. A functioning society is hard work. Assholes are power hungry. The privileged abuse those who aren’t privileged. None of this is new... except to those of us who've been oblivious the past 50ish yaers.

Reality: Coping with the hard stuff, enjoying the life we are given, making moral responsible choices as best we can, enjoying our people and our moment, being grateful for when things go right, being resolved and tenacious and also wise about when things go wrong.

my plan: Find and enjoy small joys. Love my people. Keep hope alive. Do no harm.

LOOKED UP make a gallery

Let's make an art gallery!

Small Joys -- Learning and Loving

 Day 22

Random number is: 210

Sign up for an online workshop

At first I was thinking I would do something artsy. That was probably the original intent when I added this to my Small Joys list. But when I went searching, i came across a storytelling course. And you know, I always wanted to be better at telling stories when among friends. This course emphasizes how it can help you in professional settings, so I guess there is that too.

Signing up on Udemy wasn't working on my phone, and then I got distracted by the election -- SIGH --but now I am all signed up for The Complete Storytelling Course for Speaking & Presenting.

Day 23

Random number is: 28

Think of a good thing about 5 people you know -- if you can, tell them

Hmmm. 

My son Peter: He is loving, thoughtful, and he knows himself better than most 22 year olds.

Mary McD: so kind and uplifting and welcoming; she made me feel brave on my first-ever panel at a conference. I still can't believe I participated.

Mike F: One of my longest friends, he is creative and smart and funny

Barbara: hardest worker I know and most generous friend ever

Mattea: brave and enthusiastic. i was so touched when she said she thought of me as an "auntie." As I have no siblings, I have no nieces of my own so I am ecstatic that this fantastic creature can be that for me.

Well here we are — post election

We said all along, we’d make decisions after the election. Here we are. Time to decide vacations, retirement, friends, investments.

I'm too heartbroken to go to DC at Thanksgiving. Our summer trip will now be planning where we will move to: Canada or blue state.

I am 57 1/2. I’ve been open and honest and optimistic and a believer in the goodness of people all my life. I can talk to anyone and make fast friends. But not anymore. My spirit is broken. I don’t trust anyone new and hell, I’m a bit suspicious of some friends. I’m gonna suspect everyone is stupid.

I have locked up all of my social media. Deleted the apps for most. I don’t want to rehash. I don’t want to provide support. I am shrinking my world on purpose. I have been too expansive and too trusting. I’m taking care of me and mine.

I want to live in a no-news bubble that clearly others do. I do not need to be informed or react to the garbage happening in this country. I will not take enough pleasure watching these MAGA voters suffer to be worth my own suffering.

Small Joys -- learn my phone

 Day 21

Number randomizer says: 125

Learn something new on phone

I just watched this video and learned about reducing battery usage with less notifications. I had turned off many notifcations ages ago, but lots of new apps means a bunch of then were sending me notifications or could. Bunch of those got turned off.

Also I cut down on background app refresh,. Nearly all were on; hardly any of my apps need to be refreshing all the time. Pffft! Just turned a bunch of those off.

I already had voice trigger for Siri turned off (another battery saver!). And I just learned to change my Siri voice to an Irish voice. I am excited!

And it is a relearn, but I just changed lock screen to a cute photo of Skitty and my wallpaper to a photo of Capri Italy. I learned to add the weather and Things 3 widgets to lock screen. Let's see if I remember to use them. it is nice to see a short view of my To Do list easily!

OK, I learned a few things on my phone. Good Small Joy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3RyKjnqz_E

Small Joys — a small repair to a bear

Turns out I never journaled this:

Day 19 (11/2/24)

number randomizer: 343

Repair bear pillow

I have been meaning to do this tiny task for years. Silly how we don’t get around to things. This adorable pillow had been a gift from my mother-in-law on long-ago Christmas, if I recall correctly. Developed a little tear on the seam over time. Put it in bedroom to keep it safer than couch. Then years passed, and I added this task to my Small Joy list.

And I’m glad I did. I love this pillow. And I take joy that it’s repaired and back on the couch for the holidays. Took a moment to pull off all that pilling as well. Mr Bear is all proud again.