3/7/2022
#adultingislonely
As the pandemic shifts to endemic, I find myself in a melancholy state. The opportunity to get out and about and socialize with people again is almost terrifying. To leave my sanctuary, my pod, I find myself wanting to retreat even further. I'm struggling. The last two years have shifted my mood, personal trajectory and goals. Working from home, while convenient (and I'm especially grateful now with Missouri and Kansas at one of the highest inflation rates in the country therefore I do not have to as many burn fossil fuels) the lack of daily in person interaction has been enlightening and possibly empowering. Enlightening because I've discovered small things that truly do spark joy, and empowering because I've been forced to be selective about who I interact with.
As I work toward my ultimate goal of finding and relocating to the ultimate nature sanctuary, my efforts in personal art will be focused on inviting the outside in. Land, water, birds, gardens, scapes, sky.
9/13/2021
RANT #1
19 months of silence does a lot to ya.
It's been a shit storm kind of 19 months... for the entire world. The global Pandemic, COVID-19 has been a challenge to say the least. An illness that has not only taken the lives of nearly 5 million people world-wide (at the time of this rant) but divided my home, and home country. An illness that became politicized. It has created a cultural war in which no one is winning, except the pharmaceutical and medical testing industry. This illness has made people a little nuts, a whole lot less tolerant, and a whole lot less likable.
With thoughtfulness, I am okay with being less likable (and potentially unemployable) after this rant. Read on and may peace be with you ALL, always. ❤️
Am I the only left-leaning, vaccinated person struggling with the recent directive our POTUS has mandated? I believe this is federal government overreach.
As a fully vaccinated individual who leans left, this vaccination mandate removes an individual's right to have full control over their own body... their own medical and health decisions... much like the way women do not have full control over their bodies... their reproductive rights. I'm not quite sure I can see any difference. No one has the right to regulate health choices. Biden is pulling a Greg Abbott and I don't like it. (Texas, you are on my shit list.) This is a CHOICE issue, and I think the repercussions will be felt for years. People, I am drawing a parallel here, so follow along.
The people who have CHOSEN to not get vaccinated aren't doing it out of spite or politics. Belly up with your argument. How many of those steadfast anti-vaxers have you ACTUALLY had a conversations with? I mean totally shut your pie hole and listened... They are opting out of vaccination -- I have listened and heard -- because they don't trust the medicine, the quickly developed vaccine, the medical community or the government, and can you really blame them? In your heart of hearts... I can't.
This was some quick shit. I get it...
Trust science, trust the CDC. Ummm. .. Okay. It's not like they haven't changed their tune multiple times over the last 19 months. Right? Gimme a break already.
I know people want to blame the right, but even the GOP has changed their tune and skeptics still remain. (Read the Atlantic Article.)
Keep reading.
There have been quite a few comparisons to the polio Vaccine rollout. Yes, the polio vaccine rolled out and everyone lined up. That was more than 65 years ago. Hello 1955. The people trusted our government far more than they do now. FDR (who was polio stricken) spearheaded the effort for years... YEARS. People also trusted medicine -- NPR got it right, the years-long effort and American public buy-in was crucial to the response. PLUS, there was a well orchestrated and effective marketing campaign that made you feel good about "falling in line" and doing your part, even AFTER there was a glitch with one of the manufacturers -- that, however, was before big pharma. It's different now.
Big tech, big pharma has NOT made all of us sheep, thank the Lord. It has made us question, skeptics if you will. Be grateful for those who challenge us, do not deny their opportunity to be heard. Their opportunity is ours too. For all of my friends who have challenged the system in the past, open your eyes to those challenging now,
Back then, Americans all chipped in (literally) to fund the vaccine effort. They personally invested in the technology and science. Today our government has foot the bill, which is great for lots of people, but by doing so has also increased the national debt and made big pharma a whole lot richer. PLUS, the marketing campaign totally sucked. Just sayin... probably because celebrities are total tools these days and there isn't a universal love for anyone except maybe Betty White, Prince (RIP,) Dolly Parton, Samuel L. Jackson and Sam Elliott. (I'm sure there are more, they just don't get the play and clearly I'm listing from my own stash of beloved peeps. ) But really, WTF people? Who was in charge of this campaign. Y'all should not have a J.O.B.
It's hard to trust the medical community when the cost of healthcare is outrageous, eats upwards of 25% of our income and bleeds us dry just to pick up a prescription. And believe me, I'm NOT blaming the doctors. I blame the insurance companies, big pharma and malpractice lawsuits for driving up the cost of healthcare. Those fuck nuts are the problem. But it's our government that allows this shit to happen (and we elect and re-elect them.) Make no mistake. Every loophole has a price, whether it's taxes, medicine, forestry or whatever, it has a price, think about that.
BTW, all medicine has side effects, some of them not known until YEARS after FDA approval. We have seen too much back peddling on medicine. It's hard to trust when you see how much big pharma and medical testing is profiting from this catastrophe (read some stuff from Forbes). It certainly doesn't rest well with me that anyone is directly profiting from this hot mess we are in. Word to the wise.
I'm one of those odd-ball left leaners that has friends who are not vaccinated, friends who are, friends who are pro POTUS45 and friends who aren't. Most of my nearest and dearest friends DO NOT UNDERSTAND why I choose to associate with people who do not share my agenda. Well, lemme say this, they do share my agenda. My agenda is people, my agenda is freedom and my agenda is CHOICE. I do intentionally choose to surround myself with people who are not like me. I actually LOVE people who are different from me, so F'ing much. You can learn A LOT by stepping out of your bubble. Y'all are missing out!
I just wish people would listen to one another and stop the blame game. It really chaps my hide. I think 45 was a fuck nut, but I'll be damned if I blame him for this BS. Distrust of the system, medical community and our government started long before 45 came in the picture, and long before HRC deleted all those MF emails. Helloooo MF Vietnam, Watergate, the Kennedy's (that's right, the Kennedy's), not to mention the all of the other asshats we -- WE -- elect into office. WE also let them keep on keeping them in.
-- Side note --
Let's talk about the distrust this Afghanistan withdraw is creating. MF, you have got to be kidding me. 20 MF years of pain, loss of life, limb and everything else... mental health issues, all the shit. Our troops got screwed. Biden will be 100% blamed. He made mistakes, but he was following through on previous POTUS directives, so let's be wise here.
You be a lucky bastard if you know one BTW, be nice to that cowboy or cowgirl when you see them. Such a bunch of fuck nuts we are. Fucking shit storm, entitled, bunch of fuck nuts we all are.
-- End side note --
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No, the "rona," "vid" or whatever you want to call it, is NOT the flu.
It's much more LETHAL.
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I get it, but who's to say the vaccine isn't lethal? I mean really... we won't know for years, and I'd like people to admit skepticism. We are all taking a risk getting this shot or ANY shot we choose to get. MOST vaccinations or medicines are taken BY CHOICE. Some people prefer to take their chances with the rona. Some people think this is a Darwinian moment. But those thought processes don't matter to the vaccinated masses... the vax masses want everyone to "fall in line." I've never been very good at "falling in line." It kind of surprises me so many of my friends are. I guess all those "fuck the authority" mantras are just lost here. I mean really people, it appears we want to fuck the system and be supportive of it simultaneously. Doesn't seem like it's very punk rock. Yep I said it. Social discontent, yep. But I say "hello," appreciation of mass dissent. Not because I agree, but because this is what WE NEED. We need people who challenge the system. Y'all if we don't have challenge, we got nothing, we got "Pleasantville" before the color was introduced. Fuuuuuccccckkkk.
Back to the loophole if you are still with me. Biden's mandate isn't a loophole, but it is akin to one. Dictating our choice, our bodies, is an unforgivable act. Do not lose sight of women's reproductive rights and the potential consequences that may arise from any mandate set forward. I plead with all people who care about medical freedom, and other freedoms, to draw those same parallels. Please present your challenge and let's start a conversation, not a fight. I'm willing to 100% shut my pie hole.
Dictating medicine is a bad idea. I was given a choice, I CHOSE...
I realize the difficulty we face with this health care crisis. It is not lost on me. But Biden's mandate is larger than our current crisis. He is setting precedent. It's not right, not good and will derail our efforts to change the trajectory of reproductive rights. NO ONE should be able to dictate our bodies. CHOICE.
Don't take away the right to choose. I don't care if it's the COVID vaccine, a reproductive decision or the F'ing flu shot. CHOICE. Nuff said.
For those who read and bypass, Bless Your Heart
The mass has ended. Go in peace.
If I ever had a takeaway from my cafeteria catholic upbringing, it was that.
Listen. Digest. Be mindful.
and a couple of cuss words thrown in for good measure all the better.