How is everyone doing?

[RandySF]

It's been a stressful few weeks ro say the least, but all things pass in time. Are you taking care of yourselves and each other? Hang in there, ok?

[Mister Ed]

1. Feeling invigorated and full of fight.

I have friends who speak of being terribly depressed by all that's going on. These events have the opposite effect on me, though.

[Lunabell]

4. I feel you!

I'm ready for the fight too!! Very angry.

[uriel1972]

2. doing okay all things considered

hanging in for the long haul, gonna be a roller-coaster month coming up though.

[Lunabell]

3. It's been a shitty summer. Covid,

Lost 2 dogs in June when they broke out of my fenced in yard and ran off into the Apalachicola forest never to be seen again. Then in August, my 8 year old private duty patient unexpectedly passed away.from salmonella poisoning. Tragic.

Then of course there's all that's going on in this country. Tough summer.

I'm maintaining. Adopted 2 new dogs. My heart is healing from the losses.

My worries are now on the upcoming election, justice and supreme court appointment. Scary times we are in.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. I am doing quite fine.

It helps that I don't have TV news on all day. I generally try to watch Rachel Maddow, but I often don't make it to the end of her show because I already know what she's talking about.

I have some FB friends who spend a fuck of a lot of time focussing on their mental health issues, and I want to say, "Get a grip! Focus on something else!" but I don't, out of respect. But seriously, if you spend all of your time and energy on what's wrong, on your physical health issues, on your mental health issues, on why you don't have whatever, then of course you are unhappy and despondent. Dear lord, try to put some energy into what might possibly be positive in your life.

Okay, I understand that this might be a lot harder for some, but I will go back to: Focus on the positive NOT on the negative in your life. Stop wallowing in your misery. Really. Stop it. However hard it might be, figure out what is good and positive and pay attention to that. It really might help.

[renate]

33. I needed to read this--thank you!

I vacillate between fear and hope and it’s exhausting, not to mention unhelpful. It’s not just politics, it’s some worry about family members, but focusing so much on the negative isn’t good.

Thanks for the cattle prod I needed!

[Coventina]

6. Lousy. I'm battling insomnia. I should be sleeping right now.

I have to work in the morning....

But I'm so stressed out about the state of our nation....

[uriel1972]

12. this too shall pass...

hard to concentrate on that. As they say it's hard to remember you're trying to drain the swamp when you are up to your elbows in alligators.

However, this too shall pass. Unfortunately, getting rid of Trumplestiltskin and his cronies is only the beginning. There will be a lot of work building and repairing what has been degraded and destroyed.

Remember though, it will be worth tje effort.

[Coventina]

13. You are right, of course.

I don't mind doing the repair work, as long as he gets evicted.

[uriel1972]

15. truly...

but I have hope.

[secondwind]

7. We're doing well here in the Caribbean. My only worry is voting

in November. It’s a 4 hr drive to Santo Domingo, and the US Embassy is occupied by a Trumper named Roberta Bernstein, who is rarely there. She’s zipping all over the island, looking at LAND. Trump wants to buy land. There is also more COVID-19 in Santo Domingo. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bernstein has left the country lol.

I’ve called the Embassy a couple of times already, and there is a recording. I will call again today.

Roberta Bernstein is a Mar-a-Lago neighbor of Mango Mussolini, doesn’t even speak a lick of Spanish.

At 73 years of age, I ask myself if my vote would even matter. We moved here from San Fran in June. Any advice or suggestions will be appreciated.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

8. Hiding.

Been told by my doctor's that I am high risk. Things would be more manageable for me if everyone would wear a mask like they should.

[Mountain Mule]

9. Can't sleep for the second night in a row

It’s been very hard to deal with every thing that’s going on right now. Well, maybe I’ll finally sleep tomorrow night or the one after. Thanks for asking.

[LuvNewcastle]

10. I'm still in the hospital preparing for

another surgery. I had an amputation a few months ago and went home to heal. The wound became infected, so I came back to the hospital to have the wound cleaned and to recover under supervision. The wound has become infected again, so I'm going to have another procedure done next week. I've been having a battle with my sugar levels and my wound care nurse hasn't been careful enough with keeping the wound clean, which is why my healing has been delayed. This time around I should be able to get it done. I hate the hospital, so this hasn't been easy, but I can't take care of myself at home right now. My goal is to be healed up and in therapy by Election Day.

[LiberalLoner]

16. I'm so sorry. That sounds so hard.

I am so sorry you are going through this. 😢. I hope things heal up and you will be okay soon.

[LuvNewcastle]

22. Thank you very much.

I'll make it. The way I have to look at it is, a lot of people have it harder than I do. What about people who don't have any insurance and couldn't even have the surgery, much less stay in the hospital and recover for such a long time? I just have to look forward to the day I get out.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. I am glad you have that positive outlook

given all you are going through. Am sending those healing vibes your way for that upcoming procedure and hoping it will be a success so you can help get Biden/Harris elected!

[LuvNewcastle]

26. Thanks for the vibes!

I'm going to do my best to get out of here by then, but I'm going to call this morning and see about voting absentee. I could get someone to go down to the courthouse and get me a ballot. Not voting is not an option.

[malaise]

11. Very well thank you

Eat well, exercise and take some time off from the stress inducing realities.
ByeDon!

[lostnfound]

14. Wonderful and lousy

Every morning I wake up worried if I need a checkup / doctor..Don’t sleep well, various symptoms that could be serious (cancer) but more likely just anxiety.

I count my dozens of blessings every day. I miss a couple of close family I haven’t seen in many months — one too young to be on his own and the other too old to not visit for almost a year. I’m worried if Obamacare will get killed, since I’ll lose my insurance soon. I’m terrified that we won’t get rid of him.

I count my dozens of blessings every day.

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. Well...

Let me summerize. My life is pathetic, painful, and rudderless. My only wish is that I can leave in painless peace. However, I hope I stick around long enough to see that walking Halloween costume removed from office as well as his cadre of evil spirits.

[Meowmee]

18. I am exhausted somehow I have kept my sanity through

All I have been through starting with covid pneumonia in April. I pretty much feel like staying in bed all day most of the time. I still do not feel well since covid pneumonia but I am so lucky I survived it. It has caused terrible back pain, pt helped and it is much better but it is not gone by any means. Then I sprained my ankle badly, and injured my knee again as well, I am doing pt for the knee now. I just had an mri it is bad, several things are going on. I also had a wasp bite on the other ankle with a bad reaction and then poison ivy.

I am teaching online only with no live video classes, it is so much work. I spent 12 days doing nothing but preparation which wiped me out. When I teach in person I don’t bring it home with me, I limit what I do at home. When you’re teaching online at home there’s no escaping it.

In addition, my father’s health is worse and he needs a lot more help. I have a good brace on my knee which is helping my pain but all of this is too overwhelming. I am on a very nocturnal schedule now which I need to set back to something better. The anxiety of everything else going on is getting to all of us. Somehow I have kept my sanity through all of this and I have managed to do what I need to mostly but it has not been easy at all. I would like to escape to somewhere where there is no covid or at least where it is under good control.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. OMG

all I can do is send some healing thoughts and a

The number of people pooh-poohing this virus is breathtaking and your experience is why it CANNOT be dismissed as "just a cold or flu".

[Meowmee]

23. aww thanks

It is terrible, just avoid it at all costs. I am still scared I am going to get it again. I have had the flu and had a higher fever with it but this was a million x worse and I was not considered severe etc. I wear kn95 and goggles etc. My hematologist said because you had it and know what it is like.

[hamsterjill]

21. I stay scared to death.

I’m already doing the obvious - limiting exposure, etc. But I think right now, any engaged, reasonably intelligent person can see what Trump is trying to pull off, and the unknown result creates the fear. I don’t want to live under a dictator and I feel like we have inched closer to that on a daily basis for the last four years. The fact that he has gotten away with it all adds to that fear.

This is a motivator for me and we all need to use it to that end. I’ll vote as soon as early voting begins in Texas, but I honestly think we are headed for a civil war once the result is declared, and we are going to have to take to the streets. We cannot count on the Republicans doing the right thing when Trump loses. They haven’t yet!

This has all taken a mental and physical toll. On everyone. I’m trying to hold on until it’s over and then will try to recover.

[Meowmee]

24. "This has all taken a mental and physical toll."

So true, I am starting to feel the terrible stress more now, it is almost like being shellshocked after nearly 4 years of being held hostage by the lunatic, his enablers and now by the covid mess too.

[hamsterjill]

32. Absolutely!!!!

It’s very definitely a time factor. It’s gone in so long it’s even worn down the strong people!

Gotta get rid of the turd!

[mnhtnbb]

27. An older friend of mine is dealing with the physical and mental decline of her husband into dementia

and she says everyone she talks to is burned out from both politics and COVID-19.

I am right there with her. This last week--losing Ginsburg--and seeing the hypocritical Republicans jump right in to replace her has brought me to a new low, too. The Republicans behavior is not a surprise, though, because we know they all lack integrity. If they had an ounce of concern for the country and their duty, the Senate would have convicted Trump after he was impeached.

On top of that, I had planned to early vote in person here in NC at my downtown location just a five minute walk from my apartment. I have early voted there in every election--including the primary last March--since I moved here. This week I discovered they have eliminated that location from the list of 20 early voting sites for the county of 775,000 registered voters. That means I will have to drive to a location, find parking, and then hope to not have to stand in line. As a person at high risk for COVID, I'm not willing to stand in line. There was never a line at my downtown location, even during the 2018 General Election.

So, two days ago I requested an absentee ballot. When it comes, I have to hunt up someone to witness it because I live alone and then decide whether to mail it or wait and drive it to an early voting location. NC does track ballots, so I will know if it is accepted prior to early voting which starts Oct 15th--if I mail it--or take the chance it will be processed for acceptance during the early voting period. NC does give absentee voters the opportunity to cure any mistake that would cause the ballot to be rejected, but it has to be processed with adequate time for that!

I have never voted absentee in my life and I'm pushing 70. I want to get this right. It shouldn't be this damn difficult to be able to vote and know your vote will be counted.

[Kaleva]

28. Doing fine. Not going to let things outside my control bother me

[Initech]

29. Pandemic life sucks more than I ever thought would be possible.

I hate it more than anything else right now. But I know that it will pass.

[DFW]

30. Hanging in there, keeping a lid on the stress (kinda, sorta)

Work is insane, the usual getting up at 4:30 AM to be in (whichever country it is today) on time that morning, and there are birthdays, weddings, daughters, granddaughters, etc. to be squeezed in. Plus new Covid-19 outbreaks in France, Spain, and even right here in parts of Germany to pay attention to (Gütersloh, which is not too close, and Gelsenkirchen, which is too close for comfort).

Oh, yeah, and I've been asked to be involved from afar in helping produce some new online satirical show making fun of Trump and his Trumpanzees. Umm, lemme think about that. I need at least 6 seconds. OK, I'm in.

But other than that, hey, I'm 3500 miles from North America, and keeping my head above water. My wife and I are determined to make sure that we get at least one day a month to ourselves. No luck so far this month, but September isn't over yet!

[MissMillie]

31. How kind of you to ask!

In a perfect world, everyone would be checking in on everyone else. Every day, and not just during tough times.

Most days I do pretty well.

I miss my mom. But I think she wouldn't want her passing to eat away at me, so I just talk to her a couple of times a day. Usually when I'm cooking.

45 certainly isn't making things easy. Mom would be pretty upset about his behavior. Mom was an extraordinarily nice person and had no patience for people who weren't--at the very least--civil.

She'd vote to get him out of there for sure. But she'd also pray for him, and for all of us that have to put up with him.