Horses are good company -- The Witcher

Having some pretty bad facial pain the last couple of days, which makes it hard to hold a thought in my head for longer than 30 seconds.

But I have an idea for a wiscon panel (possibly 2) and would be interested in any feedback / suggestions--
something about how to interact with the police / ICE agents, etc
and also, alternatives to calling the police when something is going on

Today I really enjoyed going to LGBT books to prisoners!

When I was a kid I had a long bus ride. A consequence of living in the country-- the school bus wound around the roads picking up the rural kids. I complained once to my mom that the trip was boring. She told me that if I looked carefully, I'd notice something new every day.

I live a quiet and careful life (to quote Anna Altman in Every Body Goes Haywire, and sometimes it's a boring and lonely life. But I notice something different every day. The change of the seasons and flowers blooming. New dogs at the park.

I had lunch today with jesse_the_k and we watched some animated short films. She wrote about it here.

( my thoughts on one of the films )

A friend asked me about dealing with chronic illness and fatigue, which I manage largely though scaling way way back on my commitments and resting a lot. I have some other practical tips though, which I thought I'd share. Some of these things I learned from jesse_the_k and other people in my life. Not all of these will be possible or relevant for everyone.

1. For light sensitivity, wear a hat with a brim. (I go almost nowhere without one.) I also sometimes wear sunglasses indoors and I use lamps rather than overhead lights in my apartment.
2. Carry chewing gum. Not great if you have TMJ, but if you have migraines/headaches, chewing gum can loosen up your stiff jaw muscles.
3. Carry food and water. When I was working I often carried granola bars, cheese sticks, apples, and chips. I also would try to have some change for the vending machine.
4. If you have trouble remembering to eat (or take meds, etc), set a timer on your phone to remind you.
5. Leave work, literally, and take breaks. Go for a walk, find a quiet room away from your desk. Find a sofa and take an actual nap (again, use the timer on your phone).
6. Stock up on ice packs and hot packs. Invest in a good electric heating pad.
7. Ask for, and accept help. (this is one of the hardest ones on here.)
8. Get grocery delivery if you can.
9. Wear comfortable shoes, and rotate them. Wear comfortable clothes in general.
10. Give yourself permission to rest. (this is also hard).