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Inspire…October

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Third time’s the charm, right?

I’ve been writing this for about a week now, and social media made me scream.

Then screech.

Then scream again.

I tried to write about the inspiration that was my writing retreat at the end of last month.

I tried to write about our road trip to Ticonderoga to bring our friends to visit the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour.

I tried to write about the hostages being released this weekend (truly, thank G-d; I’m full of gratitude).

I tried to write about my surgical recovery (which is going well).

And all I got out was rants.

Rants about fascism.

Rants about antisemitism.

Rants about mental blocks.

Rants about why do we need to eat dinner EVERY NIGHT?!

Rants. And more rants.

I decided my October inspiration would be some of the photos I have on my phone. I hope they bring you some joy and some inspiration.

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Mental Health Monday – Do What You Can

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I try to post these Mental Health Mondays during the awareness months, like mental health awareness in May and suicide prevention awareness now in September, and throughout the year when I’m feeling that I need some reminders and tips to keep moving forward.

In this month of suicide prevention, I do post more about mental health than suicide prevention or ideation. That is mostly because despite the desperate need that brings some of us to the brink of suicide there is also the mental health aspect that affects us all in one way or another, at various times, whether we are officially diagnosed or in therapy for other reasons. We all have those  moments that life is just too much.

My suicide ideation came at a difficult time in my life, full of stress and downturns, and other despairs. Or did the stress, downturns, and despair come out because of the suicidal thoughts. Mental health is inextricably linked and often mental health and chemical imbalances result in physical health deteriorating.

I came through it.

You can also come through it.

Some days are better than others, but when the day begins again, each tomorrow is a new day, a new chance to start again, a new opportunity to be better and to make it better, whatever that ‘it’ is in your life.

I’d love to hear some of the ways that you make it through to the next day and begin again.

For some of my ways, look back at the mentalhealthmonday tag; search it in the search box on the left-hand sidebar or click on the tag below.

Let’s help each other. Getting through the tough times is the first step, and every step after that is a success.

Mental Health Monday – A Day Late or Just When It’s Needed?

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Last week, I mentioned in my list to put together your mental health toolbox. Each tool will be different for each person. We may use the same techniques sometimes, but we may not use them for the same reasons. One of the reasons I like to share how I cope is to show how much it changes from when the tool is needed.

First, here is the link to a previous post about Coping Skills and a Toolbox: Coping Skills Toolbox. I found this on Tumblr many years ago, and have found it to be a great resource on its own as well as foundational  for my own added tools.

Second, this is a graphic from my friend’s facebook:

(c)2025

There are so many ways we can rest, and so many different ways we need to rest that it’s important to have that reminder. I know I often think I’m tired, but my rest isn’t helpful. Perhaps, I’m focusing on the wrong rest.

Third, my old standby is watching Supernatural. Supernatural came into my life at a time of heavy crisis, and it is a comfort show for me. What is your one comfort that you can always return to?

Share any tools that work for you, so we can help each other through the big and little events that turn us upside down and around.

Election Connection – Opinion

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Should military honors be given to traitors?

What about settlement money? What if we call it reparations?

Ashlii Babbitt was a traitor. Full stop. No question. She was killed after she didn’t comply with officers’ instructions to stand down while breaking into the Capitol building. She was attempting to overthrow the government, and she (and her fellow traitors) nearly succeeded.

In the video of her death, she pauses at the broken window, then proceeds to go through. She briefly hesitated, and then followed through on her attempts at overthrow. She knew exactly what she was doing, and after the warnings, she knew the risks.

Was she an Air Force veteran? In her past, yes. But at the time of her death, she was an insurrectionist. She was trying to stop the legitimate certification of our elections. She was impeding the work of the government. Had she lived, she’d be in jail after her arrest and due process.

She absolutely does NOT deserve reburial with full military honors any more than Nathan Bedford Forrest, Robert E. Lee, or Benedict Arnold deserves it. Let her family bury her with respect; that’s their job.

A $5 million handout to her family for her death is outrageous! Where is the compensation for the families of the Capitol police who died that day?!

I could go on with a rant, but there isn’t anything else to say – traitors do not deserve compensation. It goes against everything this country used to stand for, and should stand for.

Friday Food – Anniversary Edition

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Our anniversary was played out over a few days of really good food! Here are a few of my favorites!

1. Cranberry Cheddar Chicken with French Fries in Lake George.
2. Dragon ice cream (Mr. & Mrs.) at Baskin’ Robbins.
3. Raspberry Shortcake.
4. Hibachi Japanese.
5. Baskin’ Robbins (31st anniversary).
6. Dole Cherry at (famous) Martha’s Dandee in Lake George.
(c)2025

My kids went on vacation and…

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Does anyone remember those popular souvenir shop t-shirts? My parents went to Florida, South of the Border, Gettysburg, and all I got was this lousy* t-shirt? My husband said no one would remember them, but I remember them. I think we all got one at one point, but they are long in the bin of history.

As I’ve written last week, I had to have surgery on my achilles tendon, so our vacation was cancelled; however, we sent our kids for half of the vacation since there was a “comic” convention, Fan Expo Canada. The three of them had never gone away alone together, and they all came back in one piece, and hopefully with stronger relationships than when they left. I had concerns about crossing the border, but I grew up going to Canada all my life, and I feel that they are an extension of New York and vice versa.

I thought for this month’s inspiration, I would share a few collages of some of the things my kids brought back for me. Some were requested (the clothes and stationery items) and others were surprises, especially Niagara Falls. (*Nothing in here represents anything lousy!)

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Election Connection – Rant Incoming

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[Caption for above photo: Your Voice, Your Vote: Many forgot this. Yes, use your voice, but also use your vote. Look at the big picture, not just the soundbites. Pay attention. We’re running out of time to make this right. (c)2025]

Everyone online has all the answers, don’t they? Our current president certainly thinks he does. And the “journalists” flocking to twist and pretzel themselves into sycophants for him is truly astonishing, a little disheartening, and a lot disgusting that in my lifetime we’ve gone from Woodward & Bernstein, Ben Bradlee, Katherine Graham to Jake Tapper and Hamas terrorists. That’s not to say W&B were perfect; no one is, but the hit job Tapper did on President Biden while ignoring the dwindling mental capacity of the current occupant of the White House is not only repulsive, but journalistic malpractice. And don’t think I forgot about you Pod Bros, a big fuck you to you.

But…this isn’t about my grievances against the “fourth estate”. Republicans and far-left “progressives” are equally responsible for this shitshow. Ratings and money. That’s all that matters to these cult members.

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August Inspired

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(c)2025

As I was walking into my house a couple of days ago, my eye caught this feather sticking out of the grass. I can’t imagine what kind of bird it came from; I’ve never seen those colors around here before, but I really thought it was beautiful.

I stopped to take a picture.

I’ve always been told not to pick up feathers because they’re often dirty – the feathers are shed when the bird defecates, so I left it there, figuring that maybe another bird will collect it to feather their nest.

When I went out the next morning, it was still there.

I decided that I should take it after all. I picked it up with a napkin, and when I got to work washed it off, and let it dry on my desk.

I’m going to add it to my new journal as part of my new project of “gathering the fragments” that came up during my recent retreat.

It is my first fragment.

Be inspired.

Inspired, and More

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The last few weeks have been nothing short of active, and I hope I’ve gotten through it with less scathing than would be normal for this kind of busyness. This post will be part mental health check-in, part inspired, part goal-setting.

Mental Health Check-in for Week 3 of July

I went back to my original post to see what the goals were that I thought I needed to focus on, and this was less than helpful. Goals and goalposts are constantly being adjusted. Looking at the biggest priorities, it’s still been iffy. Although to be fair to myself, I’ve been busy and not wasting time and opportunities, so while it’s been slow-going, it has still been going.

This is very much a positive.

Where are we this week?

  1. I was working on my presentation until about 7pm the night before. I realized there comes a point when it just needs to be done. I laid everything out on index cards, and did my thing. It was fantastic. I think everyone liked it and learned something new about St. Kateri Tekakwitha. I was able to constructively see things that I would change. I did a little improvisation and even though I finished later than planned, I was able to end on a decent note, and skipped a few slides at the end, and no one was the wiser. All in all, a good experience. I’m willing to do another powerpoint, although I’m hoping someone else presents it.
  2. Work. July 8th, I began working full-time. I haven’t worked full-time (outside the house) since my now-twenty-eight year old was two. It is a big adjustment for everyone, but my family is being supportive and picking up some tasks, and my co-workers and colleagues are amazing.
  3. Cursillo needs attention.
  4. I mentioned that I was going to avoid snoozing my alarms. I’ve still snoozed, but not as much and it’s made me more aware of what I need to do in the mornings to get out the door more efficiently.
  5. I’m disappointed in how our government is being run. I’m disgusted and repulsed by the Republican party, their hypocrisy, and their hatred. I don’t know how we come back from this precipice or how we survive.

Mental health check-in = EH.

And now for some inspiration!

I’m looking forward to taking my presentation and using it to push my book in the right direction. Below the cut are some of my inspiring and inspired photos from St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s feast day weekend.

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