MLE TIDBITS

How Annoying

mlerules — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 05:11:45 GMT

My DW posts are supposed to mirror here, but they haven't in ages. BLERGH.

waves halloo

mlerules — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 05:53:04 GMT

Hmm, there should be a few posts here from the past couple of years or so, but they've disappeared. Huh. Annoying, but not surprising. Don't have the brain-width right now to do anything 'bout this. Heh, likely don't have the know-how anyway, even if'n I weren't exhausted from another 12-hour Gone Coastal day.

Over 18 Years On LJ

mlerules — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 19:15:42 GMT

Hard to believe! Now mainly on FB, simply b'c that's where folks play nowadays. Would like to bail, but haven't done so yet. It does maintain connections.

Gravity Works; Quirky Helps

mlerules — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 03:33:12 GMT

Confirmed today that I remain susceptible to the laws of gravity. Ouch. Frozen peas and ibuprofen help. As does a hefty dose of Quirky in the form of "Simple Irresistible." Many thanks to B (cannot remember how to tag here) for the turn-on lo these several years ago. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1171516.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Walkies...and Lemonade Making

mlerules — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:07:32 GMT

Gonna do it. Feeling crappy too much/often, or at least am today, which might be enough motivation. Just saw FB memory of Huntington Garden's blooming desert garden which I usually visit in January. It has served as a good break from the cold, grey, damp PacNW, but I've missed out the past three (3) years. I also miss the people I usually reconnect with around this time of year. Saw a few sets of folks in September 2021, but don't know when I'll next return.

So, now I want to return to some of my fave local spots to regain the good feelings I get from Huntington Gardens and elsewhere. Am I escaping something? Perhaps. Does that matter? I don't think so. There's so much fear and dread and uncertainty about these days. If getting out and about lessens the impact of these feelings, huzzah! I'm in favor of going walkies, and getting exercise, exorcising some demons, blowing away cobwebs in the process. Along the way, I make more good memories, so getting back to those places reinforces the positive associations. Some spots serve as Emotional Kodak Moments. Feeling like creating more of these touchstones locally, since here's where I am for the foreseeable future, with minor jaunts to spots not too far away at times. Lemonade-making time. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1171453.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Making Progress Helps Mood...Who Knew?!

mlerules — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 22:55:45 GMT

Feeling far better right now, simply because I took some further steps in the on-going roof repair saga. I read through the two (2) recent letters from the insurance company, formulated my questions, and after trying to call my claims adjuster again to talk about things, finally just wrote and sent her an email with my questions. Ball's in their court now.

A chunk of my relief comes from the lessening of the looming not-making-any-progress feeling. Odd that I hadn't cottoned on to this as one of the biggest stressors when I posted earlier today 'bout feeling down, but instead figured it out when I decided to take action - and immediately began feeling better 'bout everything, even if'n I have yet to get outside for walkies today.

Reminds me of how I tend to feel funky right before having dental work done, and sometimes forget that impending DDS time makes me feel a bit/lot off. So, once again, knowing what's making feel funky does help, even if it gets lost for a time in *waves hands* All This That's Going On (And Not) These Days. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1171123.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Feeling in a Mood

mlerules — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 21:10:09 GMT

Whining below. Feel free to skip. Helped a bit to get it out, so I'll post it here for posterity.

Ugh. Dunno exactly what's up, or down, or has gone sideways. I have an inkling of what it might be, and what might make it better. Yet...yet I seem unable to motivate/inspire myself to Just Do It, to get outta the house, go walkies, or if'n I'm gonna stay put again/s'more, to put ink to paper and dash off letters and postcards and condolence cards and whatnot to keep in touch with people since social media just ain't cutting it for me these days.

Feeling down, sad, depressed perhaps. Usually, or at least often, I'll feel better once I can identify WHY I feel this way. Now though, it's *waves hands* nearly EVERYTHING. And it doesn't help that I KNOW what'll help (getting out and about, 'specially into Nature for walkies), yet... Then it spirals into a whole heaping stinking steaming pile of "what's wrong with you, you know what's needed, why don't you Just Do It?" Then when I don't, it spirals, until all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and sleep...and I've been here before, done that, and it's not so good, even if in the moment it works to...dunno, keep my mind off everything/nothing, like what a...something I am. (First type "horrid person," but realized that's just not so.) *sigh*

Just feeling a bit sorry for (as well as mad at and frustrated with) myself right now, when I'm fully aware of all I've got going for me so "shouldn't" feel this way. And mebbe I'm more feeling sad anyway, which is more socially acceptable.

Okay, now feeling a teensy bit better for barfing all this out. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1170864.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Thinkie Thoughts About Getting Healthier &c.

mlerules — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:47:20 GMT

I do admire those who can self-start, who manage to set themselves goals and accomplish them. I do far better when someone ELSE gives me a list of hoops to jump through, especially if it's for a particular goal and for a limited period of time (such as spending a few years getting a degree/certificate). Now that I think about it, that's probably why Weight Watchers worked so well for me, back preCovid.

With WW, I met my goals - daily, weekly, annually - and felt far better (physically and emotionally) as a result of lessening the stress on my ankle and hips, so sleeping better and better able to get out and about for walking/hiking, all from losing the 50 lbs I'd set out to lose by my birthday in 2019. Satisfying the daily and weekly goals in and of itself provided enough positive reinforcement and structure that it didn't feel daunting or troublesome to do to shift my eating habits into a more healthy pattern.

I know I stress-eat. I was fine giving into it when Covid lockdowns began (March 2020, nearly two (2) years ago). And it took quite a while (many months) for the weight - and related hip and ankle pain - to creep back. Now I've been paying more attention to what I've been cooking and eating and've managed to reach a plateau over 10 lbs below my highest weight. Unfortunately,

Now I want to set a goal of returning, by my bday in September 2022, to my September 2019 healthy state, when my ankle and hips weren't hurting lots and I could hike five (5) miles+ without any trouble. I had joined WW and the gym on 09 November 2018 when I'd reached a state of not being to go walkies a 1/4 mile without pain. By July 2019, I'd gotten healthy enough (reduced weight and accompanying joint pain) to start my Wildwood Trail 2019 goal. I managed to hike all 30+ miles of the Wildwood Trail in segments by the end of the year. Doing it again in 2020 and 2021 helped sustain my sanity. I plan to do it again in 2022, starting once weather allows (probably March). By September 2019, I'd lost 50 lbs and returned to a tad below 200 lbs, and felt really good. I just yesterday hiked over 3.5 miles, but that was three (3) separate treks, one of which was a simple mile around Vernonia Lake, paved and perfectly flat. Honestly, I need to get off the couch and go walkies DAILY, and I don't know why I don't Just Do It. Mebbe putting gold stars on the calendar when I walk would work. Dunno. I also want to keep in touch w/folks more by means of Not FB.

I tried getting back into WW several times about a year ago, but wasn't able to get past a few days/a couple weeks. I need to make this - eating better - sustainable. (Ditto walking more often.) I know "dieting doesn't work," and've read about Intuitive Eating. I also know I BINGE eat at times, and I'd like to STOP this behavior. WW worked to curtail such urges, for some reason. I guess the positive reinforcement of meeting daily/weekly goals, supplemented by weekly weight loss and eventual lessening of pain and increased ability to hike longer managed to overcome the immediacy of my BUT I WANT IT NOW feelings. As noted above, I CAN heed externally applied rules.

So, now I'm trying to work through/out how to make this so. I think the biggest problem lays/lies (gr) in eating while out and about. I've gotten in the habit of mid-late afternoon latte & baked good when out and about. Perhaps I can substitute tea and something else satisfying (crudites or apple might work, as crunching appeals). Heh, I briefly considered Rice Cakes, but no.

Honestly, I need to get off the couch and go walkies DAILY, and I don't know why I don't Just Do It. Mebbe putting gold stars on the calendar when I walk would work.

Will return to this eventually... This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1170666.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Fingers Xd re: Roof Stuff

mlerules — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 00:25:49 GMT

The insurance company appears to be on track to cover what's gone wrong and what'll it take to fix it. Not all done yet (by a ways), but I'm feeling a better 'bout it all now.

Finally got another estimate from someone who actually got onto the roof to see what's what and what's needed. Hoping it'll work out for a sunny (or at least dry) day before long to get it fixed. At least I feel better 'bout the emergency fix as he reported that it looked well done with good quality materials. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1170367.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

RANT

mlerules — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 22:51:24 GMT

So, if I call and tell you that I have a specific problem that needs addressing, please listen to me. Don't show up after I've said I need a roof repaired because of a leak expecting to sell me on having my roof completely redone. It's a waste of your time/energy and mine to have you come out if you're too busy to do anything other than full re-roofs these days. Just tell me and I'll move onto the next roofing company on the list, rather than figuring I'm all set since I've got a few estimates lined up, only to discover I've got NONE lined up as folks're too busy to do repair work and'd rather do full re-roofs only. Guess I'm living and learning. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1169935.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Cautiously Optimistic

mlerules — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 17:31:39 GMT

The wind tunnel left yesterday after moisture levels fell to baseline "dry." What a freakin' load off not having that roar in the background, not to mention no longer needing to tiptoe my way cautiously around the house, avoiding snaked extension cords for the various water remediation devices (fans, dehumidifier, heater, &c.)

More importantly, despite yesterday's (and today's) driving rain, the emergency roof repair seems to be holding. At least there's nothing I can see leaking, and the wall's still open so it'd likely be more obvious than before.

Still need roofing estimates, and hopefully soon, roof repair (non-emergency). Then I'll schedule the rebuild to put back the wood & plaster &c. that got torn and ripped off to allow access to dampness in order to dry it all. One roofing guy should be here this afternoon, and another on Friday. May try to line up another company as well, just in case. For now though, the stress level has fallen a bit, which I appreciate. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1169687.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Happy New Year

mlerules — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:45:26 GMT

Wishing y'all a happier, healthier 2022! After getting out and about yesterday for the first time in ages, I felt (pleasantly) exhausted. Crawled into bed before 8:30pm last night after barely staying awake for whatever show/movie was playing on TV and realizing it was too much effort.

The wind tunnel continues. Hopefully it'll end tomorrow afternoon, when the moisture levels in the walls and ceiling and behind the now-torn-out portions of plaster and lathe have fallen to normal. (Fingers xd.) Still awaiting visits from roofing companies (Monday & Friday) for bids for a more permanent fix to the problem.

Will wait on the rebuild (fix of water remediation fix) until after the roofing gets done, since another big storm might let more rain in and require additional water remediation. Will continue stressing until the roofing's all done. Meanwhile, we must continue to live with no access to the dining room table since the contents of the built-in now reside on it. We shifted that table nearly into the living room to allow room for the ladder, 3 strong fans, industrial dehumidifier, and big heating unit forcing air behind the now-torn-out baseboard that take up much of the dining room floor space.

But once the water remediation equipment leaves, we can at least return the microwave to its usual spot in the kitchen. The big heater-blower requires heavy duty extension cords plugged into 3 different circuits, and the other devices need outlets as well, so currently cords run through the hall to the bathroom, into the kitchen, over behind boxes of booze along the far dining room wall (since we had to fully empty then move the bar itself), and snaking behind the TV into a living room outlet.

This dehumidifier's powerful enough that I've had to water the big plant after 2 days instead of after 2 weeks. The plant's now located behind the TV as well; thankfully past me insisted its pot be put on casters.

I plan to spend the day at home in PJ's. Mebbe I'll see just how strong my stereo really is. Cannot remember how many amps the receiver has/goes to - or whether that's even the right term, perhaps wattage is more appropriate - but I do believe it's a lot, and the speakers're rated higher. (Thankfully the ex-hubby was a bit of an audiophile, and this amp dates to the early 1990s when he chose it.) Sometimes blasting loud music just makes everything better. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1169613.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

I'm A Mess

mlerules — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 08:10:32 GMT

Yeah, yeah, I'll get through this. But right now, I'm a mess. It's LOUD here. It's unclear what exactly will happen, or when, or how, or whether it'll all work out (not to mention how much insurance will actually cover). Feeling like watching "Shakespeare In Love" for that one oft-repeated line. Instead, tonight was comfort movies (John Wick & A Knight's Tale) with closed captions. Usually the volume's set somewhere in the 20s-30s. Tonight, it went to 100. There is no louder. Still needed subtitles. Luckily the music's known and loved and dialogue's really secondary (given how many times I've watched the latter and how little there is in the former).

Hive Magnum's currently running three LOUD industrial fans and a huge dehumidifier in the dining room. Chipped out and torn off and peeled back plaster and ripped out baseboard and lathe allow better air flow. Next up: the addition of heat, when technical difficulties get resolved. Two more roofing companies will come by next week, hopefully give estimates and ultimately (dawg willing) someone will fix the roof leak (which led to dining room ceiling leak) which may require removing a chunk o' chimney, all so the currently progressing water remediation will last. Meanwhile, I'm a mess.

Now, I must sleep, perchance to dream, but hopefully not. Alarm's going off in a bit over eight (8) hours, and another day'll begin. I'll get through this, but right now, I'm a mess. G'night. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1169354.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

'Rents Visiting (4/11) (and 2pm)

mlerules — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 04:40:36 GMT

Mellow-ish day. Slept in so caught up on sleep some. Did some biz stuff re: on-going roof issues (talked w/insurance adjuster, reviewed estimate for roofer folks that did emergency fix yesterday, made small list of other roofers to contact tomorrow to see if I can get other estimates quickly). Caught up more w/Mom. Did a quickie grocery run. Visited Dear Friends' KittenHeads for love fest and food & water top-offs. Planned out next few days. 'Rents got us all take-out dinner; nice not having to cook dinner. The next-door neighbors are having a live-music fest on their front porch, as they do every month or so. Quite fun!

Meanwhile, seems like every day has something going on at 2pm: cuz over for tea and cookies (and dinner), bday Zoom calls, conference calls, appointments for getting things & stuff done, blahblahblah

Getting sleepy now... This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1168894.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

'Rents Visiting (2 & 3/11)

mlerules — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 23:17:11 GMT

Had a really nice visit from a cousin & her hubby yesterday. They came over at 2pm for tea & cookies, with the thought that the visit would be between meals. Well, that's all very well and good, but we ended up chatting away for far longer than expected. Not really surprising, as we've not gotten together in a couple of years.

Around 6pm I put out brie & crackers & crudités & cashews & salmon pate (thank goodness I made a batch yesterday to have on hand just in case), and began making the simple dinner I'd already planned. I sauteed onions & garlic in XV olive oil, added in sliced zuke & crookneck & diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning (ground black pepper, oregano, thyme, basil), all while heating up sliced Italian chicken sausage in another pan, and boiling water for pasta. (Also dealt with some plant-based pasta for my step-Dad who's keeping Keto.) Twas easy, tasty, and of sufficient quantity to feed us all. (Another Xmas miracle! ;-) Cookies served as dessert. They left at 10pm.

It'd rained all evening.

That's when I noticed an odd spot on the dining room ceiling, which eventually began slowly dripping in a couple spots. Dealing with leak kept me up until past 2am. (Got to enjoy a bonus SNOWfall though, so it wasn't all bad!) Felt exhausted, but couldn't fall sleep easily and only slept intermittently. Got up and checked it a few times to make sure it hadn't gotten any/much worse. Up from 6-7:30am worrying (and checking towels & buckets and researching plumbers in case 'twas such an issue instead of roof leak). Dozed until 9am when my alarm went off to get ready for the emergency roofer visit (ETA 10am-Noon, luckily they arrived not long after 10am). That went well, and it's no longer dripping. YayPhew!

Now feeling exhausted, so'm thankful the 'rents have gone off to visit some other relatives this afternoon. Have pulled chicken veg barley soup out of the freezer which'll serve as dinner along with a baguette I got from good local French bakery. Napping's in my future... This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1168403.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Water Water Water

mlerules — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 15:13:51 GMT

Roof leak or plumbing leak? Dining room ceiling. Not horrid (minor dripping with bucket & towels underneath), but certainly not good. Emergency roof folks'll be here in a few hours. Have emergency plumbers ready to call if that's NOT it. We shall see... Why yes, it is a SUNDAY. *rolls eyes*

EDIT: Roof leak. Emergency repairs completed. Full fix quote to come in day or two. All in all, probably better than it being a plumbing issue. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1168380.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Feeling Good

mlerules — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:54:44 GMT

So, it's just about the 33rd anniversary of my wedding. We're no longer together, but still friends. In fact, when I reminded him the date and pointed out how pleased I am we're still friends, he agreed and said "You're still one of my most valued friends." This makes me feel happy, and pleased, and as if I've done something right in how I've lived my life. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1168092.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

'Rents Visiting (1/11)

mlerules — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 07:40:06 GMT

Day 1 of 11: Mom & hubby J's flight got delayed once somebody realized that all the luggage'd ended up on a flight to San Diego instead of to PDX so everything needed to get moved onto to the correct plane. Thank goodness, as this provided an additional morning hour to put Hive Magnum to rights. In that time, I managed to level up to Tidy House status. YayPhew! On top of everything, I made a fine dinner (tritip roast & asparagus & potatoes), appreciated by all. I'm so lucky to like and enjoy my fambily. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1167755.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Officiating

mlerules — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 06:57:52 GMT

Tomorrow morning I have the honor of officiating the wedding of a couple of good friends. They said all they wanted to say when they committed to each other several years back, on the beach in Big Sur, shortly before the most amazing sunset I've ever seen. So I'll keep tomorrow's ceremony short, simple, and sweet. They'll reaffirm what they said back then, and we'll cover the basic legal necessities (essentially the "Do You Take" and the "I Do Now Pronounce" clauses). Boom! This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1167383.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

POLYAM

mlerules — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 01:58:56 GMT

Fascinating: https://aidamanduley.com/stop-saying-poly-when-you-mean-polyamorous/ This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1167258.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Thanksgiving Travel

mlerules — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 00:01:02 GMT

Note to self: you ain't as young as you once were, and you cannot carry on like you once could without adverse side effects. I'm not talking about going out carousing either. Simple things like getting up early and driving for hours now exhaust me like they never did before.

Woke up before 6am day before yesterday and got on the road at 7:15am, only 15 minutes past when I'd hoped. Even splitting up the driving, I felt pretty tired when we landed in Willows, CA at 5:30pm. Got up early again yesterday to make it to the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge by dawn. 'Twas fine, and pretty, with loud honks and distant swirls of Snow Geese, but not the spectacular sights I've experienced at times previously. Managed to fit in a bonus Colusa Wildlife Refuge visit as well. Same situation, with additional amusement of trying to figure out what kind of white birds those were just a bit far away to tell easily by the naked eye, only to discover - when I remembered the binoculars in the glove box - they were decoys set up over towards the hunting side of the area. Hee!

Anyway, made it to the 'rents' casa before rush hour traffic got too nasty. Had a fine visit and dinner, then went to bed at a reasonable hour. Today's mellow and mostly quiet. Feeling worn out, although will try to rally for dinner w/friends this evening.

I guess being 15 years older does make a difference. No more solo Toad Rips from Santa Monica to Yelm, WA - with overnight in Redding, CA - every couple of months for me. Back then they barely fazed me. *sigh* This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1166896.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Wood Ducks

mlerules — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 09:36:50 GMT

Sleepy, yet cannot sleep. Will try again in a bit. For now though, I'll note that the sun came out today and I returned to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden for walkies. Along with many kinds of waterfowl on and around the water, I saw a bunch of wood ducks - nine (9) at one point - feeding up in a Chinese Hackberry tree. Perhaps this is why they're called wood ducks, because they hang out in the woods? I didn't get any photos of the massed wood ducks, but got a few Tree Duck pics. Loved seeing flowering foliage as well. Pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146112@N06/albums/72157720163872318 This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1166700.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Day 2 Sans FB/IG

mlerules — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 23:33:34 GMT

Without spending time frittering - I say frittering! - my time away on FB/WWF today, I've gotten more stuff done. Since I still want to maintain connections w/folks, I've made my postcards more readily available. Rather than battle nicely out-of-control plants upstairs in the guest suite, I've shifted my boxes of postcards downstairs. Along with taking care of various Must Do's, I've written a moderately-sized pile of postcards, cleared off the top of a bookcase for something-or-other, added to the stack of books for my Little Free Library, worked s'more on a Xmas compilation for the BF, and texted w/friends. Feels good getting this stuff done. I don't miss FB. Much. Yet. ;-P

Fruit of today's postcard labors including learning lots more about Hummel figurines than I'd known before. Didja know that Hummel herself was a nun?! For some reason, I'd always assumed it was a guy. Dunno why. Anyway, I procured a small cache of Hummel postcards at an antique/vintage store a few months back because I found them incredibly...odd/disturbing - and wanted to share them with friends of mine I feel could properly appreciate 'em. Anyway, check this out if interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummel_figurines

New goal for my next cross-country Toad Rip: visit the Museum of Hummels. Truly horrorshow, TMM (To My Mind - my version of IMHO b'c the H never felt right)! https://rosemont.com/museum-of-hummels/ This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1166412.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Day 1 Sans FB

mlerules — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 01:04:00 GMT

It's not that I miss it in particular, but it's fascinating how thoughtless clicking on the FB phone icon has become. Several times today I've realized I've done it, only to close the app immediately. It's easy enough to avoid on the laptop. I've closed the FB and WWF tabs, so they're not there to tempt me - or to click on automatically. Sure, I COULD do something about the buttons on my phone, but I have a hard enough time getting the buttons to go where I want on my home screen that I'm loathe to move 'em and risk upsetting the entire applecart.

If'n I end up bailing on FB/IG altogether, then I'll bunch them somewhere off my home page (or at least stick 'em in a folder so it'll take two keystrokes to get at 'em instead of just one). I've emailed some today, and sent a Thank You card, and toyed w/the idea of sending postcards without actually getting off my duff and doing so. (Rolls eyes and wonders what's up w/THAT.)

Since it's a typical Fall PacNW day of wet and grey and cool, I've interspersed taking care of things and stuff with spells of sipping hot tea and reading a good book*. Not sure what I'm missing on-line, but at least - and thankfully - it's not niggling at me.

* The Hidden Palace - A Novel of the Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1166246.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)

Boycotting FaceBook (Including InstaGram)

mlerules — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:19:56 GMT

So, I've decided to join the user boycott of FB/IG for the next few days. https://thefacebooklogout.com/ Regardless of what it'll do against FB, if anything, I feel it's not a bad idea for ME anyway.

Yeah, I've gotten so used to spending time on FB that when it went off-air for a few hours recently, I felt at a loss. Now it's my choice to avoid it for a while. I know it'd become a compulsion. Heck, last night I stuck a small post-it on my phone reading "NO FB/IG" to stop myself from pushing the easily accessible buttons which I do so naturally that I've already hit FB once on my phone this AM and had to swipe it closed before it actually launched. *rolls eyes*

It helps that I also use Discord, and a bit of WhatsApp, and have an on-going small group text of folks who I also check in with nearly daily via InstaGram. This way I don't feel as disconnected electronically as I would otherwise. I do feel bad for those I know who're stuck inside (elderly and/or disabled) who rely on FB for a lot of their social connectivity. Those few folks I'll make a point of checking in with other ways. Hopefully all this'll help me cut the cord. FB is evil. I know this. It's also compelling.

Part of what I want to do here on LJ now and for the next few days is figure out what value I derive from FB, and see if I cannot make it so elsewhere. I certainly survived - and thrived socially - without it for most of my life. In fact, as usual with tech stuff, I was a late adapter and only joined FB in late 2007. It then took another big chunk o' time before I used it daily. Hmm, I used to be an inveterate postcard writer. My output's lessened greatly over the past year. Time to ramp that back up, methinks! We shall also see whether I accomplish other items on my mental To Do list since I won't be spending time each day on FB/IG and related activities, such as WWF (Words With Friends, a FB app for the laptop). Wish me luck! This entry was originally posted at https://mlerules.dreamwidth.org/1165877.html. You can comment here (or there using OpenID.)