Having been born and raised in conservative Florida, I absolutely had no illusions about moving to a red state.
It was also a rock-and-a-hard-place situation, in a way. I needed internet, and Kansas was the closest, and the most affordable.
I was, however, under the illusion that I could work for change here to help make things better. I’ve been in animal rescue work for years, and I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly.
But this place just broke my heart in a whole new way that I wasn’t expecting. I have to admit that I’m feeling quite defeated and very isolated, even for this introvert.
I have my work, though, and I’ve been focusing on lighter writing venues that take my mind off things here. Like the tarot card readings and horoscopes over at Horror Tree, and the ones I do for Haunt Jaunts.
(Here’s the latest batch, for April, at the Horror Tree: https://horrortree.com/april-2022-horoscopes-portents-omens-and-the-curse-of-the-trope/ and https://horrortree.com/april-202-tarot-cards-for-writing-inspiration/)
So, I try to make sure I do other fun things in addition to writing quirky guest blog posts.
About two or three years ago, I was in a discussion with someone, and I couldn’t wrap my head around the concept of Twitch and just watching people do things–like people playing video games and such.
And here I am, doing it. Guess you can teach an old gal like me a few tricks, and so I have been enjoying Luther Siler’s playthrough of different video games over on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQdhd8gNyeAswOS6Nb4Wo3A. They’re interesting and entertaining video playthroughs (yes, even the holy-cow-another-frickin-catacombs almost unbelievable extensiveness of the Elden Ring world), and they’ve been a great help back when I was just feeling very disheartened and discouraged.
What fun activities do you schedule for yourself when things get rough?
Aw fudge about your new home not working out the way you wanted. To answer your question, I schedule a good book while soaking in a hot bath. It’s indulgent and wonderful.:-)
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That sounds amazing! I haven’t done that in a while! Happy Weekending!
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Waving from one state over, Misery I mean Missouri
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When I’m feeling low I need to cut back on screen time. Read, walk, listen to music.
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Yeah, I’ve been working on that a bit, too. Most of my job is online though…ha! 🙂
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Lately my go-to for a little self care is comic books and graphic novels. I’m especially fond of indie titles that move beyond superhero stories into the kinds of fantasy and science fiction I like to read in prose form, but I love seeing the stories told through art as well as words.
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Nice! Do you have some specific recommendations (I know you’ve been reviewing some interesting picks over at your blog, but…just thought I’d ask here! 🙂 )
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I really like Big Dog Ink’s Legend of Oz: The Wicked West and their Ursa Minor series. I also love Madeleine Holly-Rosing’s Boston Metaphysical Society for some good supernatural steampunk action.
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Thanks for sharing your favourites!
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You’re welcome. I should have probably also mentioned that I recently wrote a comic as well, called “Guinevere and the Stranger.” People looking for a little indie comic fun might enjoy checking that out as well. Hopefully I learned some good lessons from the masters I mentioned before. 😀
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Yep, I think that’s a good addition! 🙂
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Sending lots of hugs! When things get rough, I also like to write–fun things–or scary things–or go for a run–or watch ridiculous television. 🙂
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Thanks! Incidentally, I’m watching Schitt’s Creek on DVD set someone loaned me. Ha!
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I am so sorry about the struggles in Kansas and hope you find a better place to go from there. I have a feeling even though you maybe haven’t made the difference you hoped, you still made a difference for some very lucky animals. And that’s a nice legacy to leave behind. I do a combo or what Priscilla and Carol said. Bath reading and a great walk away from the computer always helps set me to rights. And your horoscopes were once again so fun! I’m just always so blown away by your creativity!
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Thanks for the supportive thoughts! I’m hoping to find a better place to go from here, too!
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I’m sorry Kansas isn’t feeling like the home you’d hoped it would be. Come to Ontario:-) When my daughter was younger, she made a ton of money from uploading videos of herself and her friends doing playthroughs of Minecraft Hunger Games–it’s amazing how many people liked to watch those little characters with her commentary!
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I would love to go to Canada! I had an immigration packet but I was having trouble finding an immigration consultant to help me with the application back in New Mexico, and if you mess up and get your application rejected as a result, you can’t apply again for another five years (based on my understanding of the application practice). I definitely wasn’t going to run that risk. Course, it’s probably been five years since then anyway… *wry laugh*
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It’s a good time to do it, that’s for sure!
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Is it? I keep seeing all this stuff about how expensive housing’s gotten in Canada (an unleaded statement 🙂 )…
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Yes, but our dollar is worth less than yours, so not as bad as it might be!
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Ha, I just realized something: was that a reference to a good time to make videos? (Another reason not to blog while I’m still sleepy. Course I’m always sleepy.)
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No, a good time to come to Canada!
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Fair enough…but any day seems like a great time to go to Canada…especially back when the orange pumpkin was in power, here!
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When isn’t it a good time to come to Canada? *smiles*
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I am always looking at absolutely amazing homes on Old House Dreams (in Canada, on the coast).
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Oh, the coast is super-expensive, but not so bad here:-)
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There was one that had the most awesome wee kitchen…not sure which one it was on the site, but here’s another sample: https://www.oldhousedreams.com/2022/02/21/shelburne-nova-scotia-2/
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I know, that’s so weird, but cool, re: the money to be made from those videos. I highly doubt videos of me annoying my cats will be received the same way. Ha! (joke)
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I’m sorry to hear things are rough going in your new home. Adjustment is never easy, especially when things are so foreign.
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Yeah, if it was just general not-fitting-in, I’m used to that, but…time to move on! Thanks for the support!
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Sorry to hear Kansas isn’t all it was cracked up to be. I live in a similarly uninspiring location in UK, and my personal positivism is always enforced by people watching in the center of our little town, especially at market days or holidays. Otherwise, I guess I write more stuff, fueled by the characters I see. Everybody likes Canada, it seems, but I don’t think I would – too ‘Brit-ish’ for me.
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Minigolf!
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I haven’t played mini-golf in ages…but I love it! That’s a great activity pick!
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Just beware, there’s usually one person freaking out … The ying & yang
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Ha, really?
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Maybe it’s just our family? It’s a bit like Monopoly. It can bring out hidden sides of people 😉
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Oh, yeah, I get it now! I’m pretty laidback but when I play Monopoly, I get so cutthroat! Ha!
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