Any good news? Anything to celebrate?

[johnpalmer]

I was about to post another not-very-happymaking post and decide I'd rather hear if there's some good stuff going on in other people's lives.

Things aren't great in my life - I'm having a multi-day mood crash, and I *think* I'm doing all the right stuff to avoid it, but it's happening anyway. Okay, the thing is, if I write about it, that helps me wallow. I'm not sure about this, but it seems to me that *talking* out pain usually helps, but *writing* it isn't as helpful for me. It might be a more general thing too... I don't mean one shouldn't write about pain, I just mean, I think there needs to be care about not digging in deeper. Any mood seems to be vulnerable to being dug into.

So: What's going on good in your life? Besides ladysprite doing some amazing stuff in silks!. I mean, you can mention it and all, but I've already seen it :-).

Comments

[dubhain]

Well, lesee....

My horizons are pretty small, these days, as I'm not getting out much while recovering. But:

I am recovering, and apparently doing pretty well at it, too. We're getting ready to cut the morphine in half, again. in a week or so, so that's a good thing. Otherhow, I have a seemingly endless supply of Diet Vernor's, which tastes of home, and helps keep my stomach settled, given the meds, and I've a purring MoxieCat languidly bathing next to me on a pillow.

Sorry t' hear about the multi-day mood crash. Judith (whom you haven't met,) once told me I do black depression better than anyone she's ever met (no, this isn't a competition, I'm just saying,) and the only unsolicited advice I could possibly offer is that, for me, the only thing which works is to be mindful that it's finite, and keep slogging on through the swamp until it lifts. Sitting down in the mud and crying (which I'm not suggesting you're doing, here,) tends to look attractive, but eventually one's left with the realization that one's cried-out, has a wet, muddy ass, and still has the rest of the swamp to slog through.

Well, that's my philosophy, anyhow. I've also had success with noticing I'm falling into one of them and adjusting my trajectory through them, so that I hammer through it hard and fast. Definitely not for everyone, though.

In any case, I'll cease with the well-meant advice you didn't ask for in the first place. I'm sorry to hear you're down. May your days be brighter, soon.

You're good people. Remember that, eh? Be well.

[edschweppe]

One year post-surgery!

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

I am done with all the beginning-of-semester workshop stuff (collecting them from people, cross-checking to make sure people and rooms aren't double-booked, putting them on the calendar, putting them into the database).

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Wow - that sounds like a good bit of work and a lot of futzy details! I'm sure that's a relief to be done with!

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

Okay, the thing is, if I write about it, that helps me wallow. I'm not sure about this, but it seems to me that *talking* out pain usually helps, but *writing* it isn't as helpful for me.

Huh. Most of my talking actually *is* online, wibbling on the very private IRC group, or to a few others in FB chat. On the other paw, there are only two or three people I actually talk to very much, people I'm willing to call. (Aside: I've *always* been phone-phobic, except in work situations; I've even worked temp jobs as a receptionist, and had no problems. My brain wiring is just plain *weird*.)

I don't post much of anything any more, even on FB, because there's really nothing new except higher pain levels, fewer spoons, yadda yadda, and I've still got that early conditioning that says one is not supposed to complain about, or even *mention* it, when things aren't going perfectly.

====

So: good things? (I can't get lj-cut to work, nor is the link to my project page on Ravelry. The links to Herrschners, of course, work. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh.

I didn't mean to write an entire novella. *wry*"

--> I've gotten a few cherry tomatoes from the plant in the top of that very broken strawberry pot. Sweet 100s. omnomnomnom.

--> I... have been doing a *lot* of crocheting - four afghans completed since early February, a fifth 90% done, a sixth about 3/4 done... and started another a couple of days ago, to try out a different pattern.##

--> The Hannah-cat's diabetes seems to be much more under control. (Ye ghods, needles for the cat twice a day? She sometimes complains a bit when the needle goes in, but she'll snuggle and purr afterwards, so I *know* she's feeling better.)

--> I've got an appointment on the 27th at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts for their jury of artists to look at a selection of my beadstuff and decide whether or not they'll accept it on consignment at the gallery. I need to swap out some base metal clasps for sterling or silver-plate. Will be gnawing on my fingernails. I don't expect to actually get in - they're very high end - but just sticking my neck out a bit to try is A. Big. Deal.

--> Have had good news from some people elsenet that I can't share, but it felt as though a small weight I'd been carrying, without even realizing it, suddenly vanished. I seem to be good at worrying about people I care about, even if they're only peripheral to my world, y'know?



##(If the ravelry link requires a sign-in, I'll put a couple/few of the pics up on Picasa or Flickr or something like that.)

The deal for some of them is "you buy the yarn, here are the links to the evil supplier that is Herrschners, each stripe takes about 4 ounces and I usually make 14 stripes, other dimension is about 6' (hey, I'm tall, I want something that tucks in under my shoulders and toes! :) solid colors; and multicolored yarns

I prefer to have at least four colors, which I'll use randomly, unless someone wants something *not* random. I can happily do solid colors - I've made myself two stoles/shawls/raps.

Not that I'm hinting or anything, but if some yarn made it over here, there'd be an afghan making its way back to you in about two months

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Well, when I was mentioning writing versus talking, it wasn't the medium, it was the method.

Like: if we *always* comment on each other's LJ, then a post is me talking to you. But if you may or may not respond, then writing about my pains is just reminding myself of them - you see?

So, I don't mean to suggest that "talking" online is less useful, or that using one's fingers instead of one's mouth changes things. I was thinking more about the difference between discussing and essaying.

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

Ah. That makes sense. Posting vs. conversation. Kind of like posting on Usenet on LJ vs. IRC or email.

(Dear ghods, I've been online for >20 years now; 22 if I count the BBS. That's... a third of my life.)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

LJ-cut only works in posts (to your own LJ), not in comments (to anyone else's); the purpose of the cut tag is mainly to keep your long, eloquent posts from taking up too much space on your friends' "friends" page. (Furthermore, you can't do a voice reply, not even to a voice post.)

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, home grown tomatoes are a true blessing of the earth.

I'm glad to hear about Hannah, both the better health and the lack of needle trauma.

And I'm really glad to hear you're willing to take a chance with your beadwork. You're right, just trying *is* a big deal.

(I couldn't find the ravelry links - did they get dropped?)

And I might take you up on that afghan offer - it'd be lovely to have something like that.

[pernishus.livejournal.com]

A graphic artist in Minsk, of all places, has been inspired to create some lovely, witty illustrations of EB's poems, and has very generously offered to have them sold at the EB Festival in Great Village on Saturday, with *all* of the proceeds to go to the ELizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia. I have encountered such generosity on *numerous* occasions in the little world of EB admirers -- this is only the latest example. Here is a link to the illustrations --

https://www.pinterest.com/mask1905/elizabeth-bishop-poems-illustrated/

I hope things will be looking up for you soon, John.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Oh, those are some wonderful illustrations - and lead to a couple of nice poems (I only clicked on two so far...). Thank you both for the news and another chance to sample Ms. Bishop's work.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Leslie and I went to my granddaughter Rhiannon's summer camp talent show last night, and got to see her play the title role in a skit based on Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys. The kid is 12 (13 next month) and looks more like 16. Definitely Amanda's daughter.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful (except I'm boggling about the 12 years thing - not sure if it's more or less so than you, but I remember Rhiannon's birth announcement, and it seems like, oh, 6, 7, maybe 8 years ago...).

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Here's the LJ post announcing her birth: http://wcg.livejournal.com/2002/09/04/

Yeah, she'll be 13 next month.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

For a long time, I've habitually worn an ear cuff with a lightning-bolt dangle. Almost a year ago, I somehow managed to lose the cuff, but not the dangle (which ought to be physically impossible). I tried to get a replacement, but it turns out that ear cuffs are hard to get... and then other concerns took precedence. But last Tuesday I happened to be in a nearby mall, and I stopped in to a little New Age shoppe that often has interesting stuff. I asked them if they had any ear cuffs. "We did, but they sold out. Try Lulu's, the 'jewelry and accessories' place two doors down. They have a really extensive variety of stuff, and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for." Well, lo and behold, Lulu's did have exactly the kind of ear cuff I wanted. I bought it, and replaced the original dangle with my lightning bolt, and now I'm wearing it. I can't believe how good it feels to have my lightning back!

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's so cool! I love it when magic is made so mundanely.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Truly supernatural magick is the most impressive, but mundane magick is the strongest...