Birthday Eve

This week I got a little calcium score for my heart (very good, no issues), discussed cholesterol with my doctor, had a laser treatment for face redness, and walked and stretched a lot as a perimenopausal woman turning 48 tomorrow does. 

I am a month-long birthday celebrator, and that holds true as I age. As it turns out, it's harder to feel consistently celebratory as my country is dismantled from within by people who have no idea what connects to what and make cruelty the point, being cheered on by people who also have no idea what connects to what and seem okay with cruelty until it reaches their doorstep. The horrors persist, but so do we, and finding joy is a must or what is the point. Truly. 

If you'd like to celebrate with me in spirit, you're invited! Here are some things I'll be doing this weekend. 

1. Stand for something. Today! This morning. Now, actually. Government officials work for US, not the other way around. Call your democratic Senators and tell them to vote NO on the stopgap funding bill/continuing resolution AND NO on cloture -  this is the only chance to put a CHECK on Elon Musk from continuing his "work" gutting and privatizing agencies and programs Social Security before it's too late, and that should be enough for all of us. My calls say, "I'm a constituent calling from (zip). I am telling the Senator to vote NO on the Republican Continuing Resolution and NO on cloture. I would typically never advocate for a government shutdown but while it will hurt people, passing this CR will do much more damage to those same people long term and our country. I need the Senator to hold the line for a government funding deal that includes ironclad protections to keep trump and musk from hijacking federal spending - this is your only chance to rein in DOGE before it does any more irreparable harm and we continue our descent into fascism." If you don't want to say all those things just say "I'm a constiutent from (zip) asking the Senator to hold the line and vote NO on the Continuing Resolution and NO on cloture." The Capitol Switchboard is (202) 224-3121. Follow the prompts.I am not typically an advocate for calling people who are not your elected officials, but you can certainly call a party "leader" especially if they are in the midst of a spectacular leadership FAIL like Chuck Schumer is.

And above all else, if democrats follow that old ass cowardly Schumer and let this pass without changes, do not give a fucking dime to ANY Senate Democrat. Not one fucking dime to ANY of them. 

2. Hit the library. I'll be among the senior citizens throwing elbows hellbent on getting their books first at the library book sale today - it's quite a scene - and also picking up a book on hold. Go give your library some love this weekend! Check out books, enjoy the quiet, see what they have to offer besides books. Take the kids! Get the kids library cards if they don't have them. Get yourself a card if you don't have one. It's freeeeee. Free is for me.

3. Go for a walk. Put a coat on and join me. Look at the sky! A great regulator for your nervous system. Heart healthy! Fresh air. Fun for the whole family! Outside is the best side. Outside is freeeee

4. Mail a petty postcard. Dropping a postcard in the mail on the Ides of March tomorrow to participate in the Ides of trump postcard avalanche event? As an Ides of March baby? Hell yes. This taps into my love of postcards and small acts. Some messaging ideas and printable postcards through that link, but I'm just using postcards I have and sharing some non-threatening facts with the fascist posterboy occupying the White House. By that I mean trump...I know that could be taken as either trump or musk. Actually I'll send our unelected president musk a postcard as well, to the same address: 

White House Occupant donald j. trump

The White House 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20500

My from address will be the Supreme Court as shown on the link: 

Supreme Court Bldg.

One First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20543

5. Bake a cake and eat as much as you want. I will be baking a seventies-style strawberry cake fit for a 1977 baby with strawberry buttercream icing (or whipped cream icing, I haven't decided yet). I will be eating as much as I want. I advise you to do the same. MFD is making steaks, and we're also having crab and shrimp stuffed ravioli from Aldi and asparagus if you need a dinner idea. 

6. Drop some food off to a local food pantry. They need donations now more than ever. Which is truly a source of shame for this country as a nazi fuckup and his orange sidekick sell said nazi's cars on the front lawn of the White House like an infomercial from hell.

7. Paint your nails. One color, or two. I am a standard two colors at once lady.

8. Tell a fascist to fuck off. It's the only way to greet them. Speaking of, this is my new garden flag:

9. Look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Those laugh lines and forehead wrinkles are proof of life, not something to fret over. 

10. Get eight hours of sleep. Revolutionary in these times, am I right?

TGIF.

SMD

On my 40th: My Top 10 Rules for Living

Today I turn 40. I am a rule maker and follower, a mantra lover, a quote sharer. Today I forced myself to whittle it down to share only my top 10 rules for living.

1. Never work on your birthday, even if it falls in the middle of the week. I don't care what's going on, take the day off and spend it doing exactly what you want. It doesn't have to be glamorous or exciting, just what you want to do. That can be nothing at all. But for me, doing exactly what I want to do always includes not working for someone.

2. Cultivate your mental toughness. Bad things will happen to you and around you. You can't fall apart at the drop of a hat.

3. Do not rely on others to make you happy or center you. Know how to get to those places yourself.

4. Work first, play later. You'll be more free in play because there's nothing left to get done. Along those lines, know the difference between "must do" and "bonus do."

5. Protect and nurture your circle. Not everyone is going to want, accept, or know how to receive your energy. We are not designed for everyone to like us. Don't get butt hurt over it and don't obsess about it. The people who don't get you don't matter. Make your emotional investment in the people who do get you. Those are your people. They are your family, regardless of blood relation.

6. Maintain an attitude of gratitude. Even when things are bad, there's always a silver lining. Find it even when you have to look hard.

7. Spend a little time outside every day. Get out of your own head.

8. Stand up for what you believe in even if people tell you to sit down or if it means you're standing alone. Live in accordance with your values, serve your conscience, make sure your integrity cannot be bought, and fuck what everyone else thinks.

9. Practice self-care, and not just when someone reminds you to. Putting everyone else before yourself is not noble or admirable. It's foolish. You're worth the time and effort. If you don't do it, you run out of gas and aren't any good to yourself or anyone else.

10. Go into situations with no expectations. If it's awesome, it'll be a bonus. If it sucks, you were prepared for that. Hope for the best, expect the worst. And whenever there's a worst, let that shit go.

My original 40th birthday plans included bumming around at the shore and being carefree and not wearing a huge down jacket. March storm Stelllllaaaaaa had other plans, so I'll roll with it. I can spend MFD's 40th birthday doing what I planned to do for mine. I can stretch this birthday celebration to September, right?

What else? Oh yes, beware the Ides of March, of course. Always.