Reducing My Meat Intake…

…because after accidentally viewing a horrific add while scrolling social media, I am officially haunted.

I was scrolling Facebook when an add came up and it was disturbing. It detailed a situation of animal testing on dogs and I swear to god I am traumatized. I cannot get it out of my mind. I will spare you the details because you will not be okay if I do. It is one of the worst things I have seen. I know they are putting domestic animals in the prominent video to get to my heart – and it completely worked. After some research, I have decided the only thing I can do right now is to reduce my meat intake. I know that doesn’t effect animal medical testing, but it is something I can control and change now. Additionally, it’s just better for the planet as well. I started thinking to myself what is the difference between the dog and a cow or a chicken? I am not going full vegetarian, but I am reducing drastically and changing the way I purchase meat. I will save up and afford the responsibly sourced meat when I can. Meat where the animals aren’t tortured and live a shit life. Animals that got to live a pretty normal life and where that life was humanely ended. Fish is the easiest one to do responsibly. https://www.seafoodwatch.org/ is a great resource if you are looking for one. Other then that, I am trying to expand my plant based options and alternate protein sources. I was wondering if you all had any suggestions/recipes? I found myself feeling a little weak and light headed today. I expect a certain amount of that during the transition, but I know I need to feed myself more then a grilled cheese. So I welcome suggestions and recommendations!

Holy Freakin’ Body Aches…

…hurt.

Shot #2 updates – felt fine all day yesterday but had some body aches before bed. Woke up and assessed myself. Body aches but thought I could push through it for work. Got up and got coffee. The body aches were getting worse and every once in awhile a random ache transforms into a sharp, stabbing pain. I decide it’s time to call out for the day because I can’t go more then 10 minutes without having to breathe through the body aches. I feel it’s the best option Because I’d rather they call in someone who will be able to stay all day then trying to be super tough and having to bail half way through. I also don’t live close to work. Like an hour at best not close. I don’t want to not be able to get home and I feel like I couldn’t drive there and back safely. I still feel guilty though. Maybe they’ll hold the call out against me later. Which is silly, they gave us time to use for the second shot. I just can’t help but feel that way. My anxiety I guess. Now marty and I are watching say yes to the dress and breathing through the body aches. I took Tylenol because that is what you’re allowed to take. Tylenol sucks. I could take the bottle of Tylenol and not feel anything.

Second Vaccination Today…

…and I can’t help but be a tad nervous.

I am not afraid of needles and I do not think there is a tracking device in the vaccine (who comes up with this shit?). Also, we all already carry around at least one tracking device at all times, our phones. Shit, at this point put an iPad in me as long as I get movie theater popcorn with peanut M&m’s mixed in again. I miss the movies so much! I had a sore arm and slight fatigue with the first shot. So I don’t expect any crazy side effects. I am happy to weather the side effects to gain the benefits for me and those around me. If this is just a preview of COVID symptoms then COVID must have been real bad. I am sorry if you experienced COVID or had a loss due to COVID. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get vaccinated. I am grateful for my new place of employment that offered everything possible to encourage and allow the employees to be vaccinated. In 2 hours I will be fully vaccinated and in 2-3 weeks I will be reap the rewards. I will keep you all posted in how it goes. I am still hoping for super powers of some kind.

Does anyone else think it’s just so cool that Dolly Parton was a major funding source of the vaccine? She is freaking awesome. More about that in my next Role Models in the Public eye segment 😉

On Opposite Schedules Again…

…and it sucks.

My dude and I are back on opposite schedule with my return to work. I work every weekend – he’s off every weekend. I get up early and leave – he works late. I go to bed early, he goes to bed late. He told me the other day that he sees Marty (my dog) more then he sees me. And he’s not wrong. This is how our relationship is/was on the regular. BUT during covid we got a lot of time together and it made us better. I am worried we will drift apart. He forgot I would be in the bed this morning (it’s my day off). I totally get it. It just made me really sad. He is so sweet and lays down with me at night until I am sleepy. I know it is what it is and we both have to work. It just worries me, and I miss him. That sounds silly because I see him everyday, I just don’t get to spend the time with him without everything else going on anymore. Not sure if there is an answer or if it is just the way it will always be.

One Challenge At a Time…

…to put your damn mask on in day.

My Sundays have become a mix of both my jobs and a long ass day. I woke up at 3:45 am to be in Escondido at 5:45 am to race to my other job in Dana Point as quickly as possible to be done working around 3:30 pm. I decided instead of looking at the day as a whole I just had to take it one challenge at a time, starting with getting up lol. It’s a challenge at that time. I took on my day like this and it went well. Just complete the task in front of you rather then the whole day at once. At my second job and I noticed people really dropping the ball on wearing masks. I had to ask folks to put on their mask or remind them how to wear it properly. I started to feel like I was doing more of that then actually teaching. It was met with annoyance and arguments – ‘I am vaccinated’ well I am not and a lot of people still aren’t (I get my second shot on Thursday), ‘No one else was in here’ – um ok but see all the stuff you’re breathing on that a bunch of other people touch? yeah you gotta wear that mask, ‘but we are outside’ – well you are on a campus with other people so put the mask on. This lax type of attitude, using being vaccinated as an excuse to do anything without thought to others who are still vulnerable, and thinking this pandemic is over is what will set us back. Do you want to quarantine again? I don’t. Put the damn mask on! Also, if it isn’t covering your nose, it isn’t effective. Do you use condoms with holes in them too? Cause that doesn’t work either. Put the mask on and wear it right – you know what proper mask wearing is by now. We all do. Home stretch y’all – let’s do it!

Is it Frivolous…

…if it makes you feel good?

I really like having my SNS nail dip manicure and regular polish pedicure. It makes me feel pretty, confident, and just plain better. It is definitely an expense ($75 per month). And I am pretty poor – but I work pretty hard. Since it makes me feel so good, is it wrong to spend that amount of money on it? It’s a hard week because I just got my hair done too (first time in 10 months) and I just feel like I have spent a lot on myself and my outward appearance. But these are all things I am judged on in my career. I need to present a put together self and confident self and these things do that for me. I feel amazing after and somehow still guilty about potentially not being able to pay bills months down the road if I get a month with less hours. I suppose I shouldn’t worry about problems that haven’t happened yet and just enjoy doing something for me. Do you all have a thing like this? You love it and it’s good for you, but you also can’t super afford it so then you feel guilty. Let me know below.

Why Earth Day…

…kind of aggravates me.

Earth Day is a wonderful concept; everyone takes a day to appreciate this planet and do a little to pitch in. But this is our home and we treat it like a wasteland – so one day of appreciation isn’t going to cut it. I even found myself thinking today ‘I am an environmental educator – I do my part, at least more then others- so I am good.” I am most definitely not good. I need to be a better environmentalist and do more. I don’t mean to disparage the good intentions of the day either – we just need to have those intentions more then one day per year. Even well meaning folks who show up for beach cleanups show up with a bunch of one use plastic bottles. I am like GUYYYYYYS really? Then I go home and drink a Gatorade out of a single use plastic bottle. So, I need to be better for our planet and we can all be better for our planet every day. Make a small change – everyday. All this small changes/drops in the bucket can add up. But we all need to commit to it. Let’s try and take care of our collective home. Earth my be the only truly universal thing we all have in common. If we are going to come together, saving the planet seems like a good place to start. Believe the science y’all. Trust the science. We need to do something now – everyday. Maybe coming together for this common goal could even move the world to work together in other ways too. We should try.

Social media is also not helping. I see these companies posting about earth day and all the great things they are doing. I am sure they are trying a little bit, but you need to show me what your huge company is doing on more then just Earth Day. What are you doing on the regular, even if it cuts into profits. Show me that, and I will be impressed, like and share whatcha got. Posting about it today feels less motivated from good and more motivated to show how great these companies are and how much we should be like them. MMMMM doesn’t ring true to me today.

Sorry for the negativity. Kudos to everyone doing something awesome for the planet today. It’s awesome. Just carry it all year 🙂 I will try to be better too.

Justification…

…and why I don’t think we need it.

I have a really bad habit of justifying my habits – particularly healthy ones like watching a show that is silly but I like it, relaxing instead of being productive, or eating something yummy. I think and say things like “i can relax but because I accomplished xyz’ or ‘I am going to eat this cookie because I worked out.’ Yanno what? I don’t need to do that for myself or anyone else. I can relax simply because I want to. I can eat that cookie because it’s good and I enjoy it. I am making choices for me and that is OK. If it’s taking care of yourself – just do it. Don’t do it because blah blah blah – do it because you like it or need it. Moderation is good still, but no need to justify your choices. Do you. I plan to from now on. I know it will take some practice, but I no longer need to talk myself into things like rest. Maybe I am just getting old lol but grind time will be grind time and rest time will be rest time. It feels better to be productive when you are in the mood anyway.

Whose with me? What self care thing will you do without justifying it to yourself or anyone else today?

I Talk A Lot…

…probably more then I should lol

I am a talker – always have been. I have never met a stranger. Most of the time I love that about myself. Sometimes it’s not my best trait. I always wonder if I tell people too much and make them feel uncomfortable.

On top of talking too much, I am shittastic liar – especially at work. I take responsibility for things I do wrong. I make them a big deal in my head and I have to get them out of my head so I admit all the things. For example, I lost my lunchbox in the lockers today because I forgot which one I put it in. So I tried my combo on all them and it didn’t work. When my boss asked how my day went I spilled the whole story. She thought it was pretty funny, said it’s fine she will find it at the end of the day and save it for me. It’s just my most recent example of me talking too much.

In fact, I based my career out of talking too much hahahaha It’s why I am in interpretation (education not languages). I love to talk and teach people things and make connections to awesome subjects. So I can’t be too mad at the habit. In fact, I don’t think I mind it all. Hopefully you all don’t either.

Do You Wish…

…when 11:11 roles around?

I do. It’s nice to put some positive energy out there for myself. I don’t do a ton for myself, but my wishes always seem to be for me. My 11:11 wishes have gotten a lot simpler lately. They used to be greedy and extend into multiple wishes. Today, I just wished to have a good day tomorrow. My wants in this moment are that simple. I want to have a good day tomorrow, where I feel secure and like I am making solid choices. Seeing as it’s almost tomorrow, I wanted to share this thought with you all. I think I will continue to keep my wishes simple. Happiness is found in simple moments and actions. Then I can build those simple happy moments together until I have a string to pull into a positive place when I need it. Here to tomorrow and moments of peace.

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