TWTW - the one to reset

Wednesday night I came home from work, threw some clothes into a bag and hoped for the best and got to the shore around 9:30. I fell asleep on the couch and stayed there all night, barely moving when MFD arrived around midnight.


Thursday was a trip to Drip N' Scoop for coffee, reading, a family beach frolic, hot roast beef in the crockpot for lunch, and I ended the night at a Protect Mueller rally a few blocks from our house before I went to get sweets and ate a few different cakes for dinner. 

Friday was sunrise, most of the day reading on the couch or walking around with the dogs, a pedicure (OPI Cute Little Vixen), a trip to the library, and ordering in from Randazzo's. I think I was asleep before 9:30. I don't think we knew how truly exhausted we were for how long until we got an extended time to rest. MFD's movies were Once Upon a Time in America and The Last Jedi.

Saturday sunrise, pork roll bowls, painting my nails (Essie Merino Cool), fixing some things that got Bruced this summer, a very windy trip to the beach, and laying around. I made pork tenderloin in the crockpot and we had Dan come down to stay up in the house for a few days and a visit from Carly who was in town. MFD's movies of the day were Outlaw King, Legend, Night of the Comet, and The Tin Drum.

Sunday We were up to walk the dogs a little after 5 and I went back to bed so I almost missed the sunrise but Bruce got me up for his morning romp on the beach. There was a group of teenagers near his playground pipe and he was furious. MFD left for mummery and I did some purging, reorganizing, and cleaning in between dog walks and reading.

I packed up as the day went on and hit the road for home at 2. I haven't cried a lot the past few months, I've been too overwhelmed and tired to even muster up the energy. But I sure as shit felt like crying leaving the shore Sunday even though I can go back Friday.

At home I made chicken noodle soup, did four loads of laundry, watched The Post, and MFD did some of the zillions of leaves. 

Thank you to our veterans - on the day dedicated to them and every other day. In every kind of weather. Even rain.

Weekly food prep: breakfast is power breakfast muffins and bananas, lunch is PB & J, dinners are soup and probably Mexican stuffed shells from the freezer. 

Today MFD is five years sober. I cannot tell you how life changing that has been for both of us, but I might try Wednesday. 

Show Us Your Books is tomorrow! 

No More Tuesdays

This election is over. Mike Doyle's Wife is off duty.

MFD lost. Hope for the best but expect the worst so when I tell you we are okay I mean we truly are okay. I'm not saying that to make it appear that way. We were fully prepared to lose because that is the case with many first time candidates running against an incumbent.

I told you along the way when I was not okay so trust when I say today the overwhelming feeling is relief. I bounced across Market Street towards my office this morning on less than 8 hours of sleep in the past two days smiling at nothing. I feel free. Campaign pace is terrible on the body, mind, spirit, marriage, finances, and life.

Another overwhelming feeling is gratitude - for everyone who donated money, gave time, shared advice, donated something in kind, made phone calls, mailed postcards, knocked on doors, listened to me, listened to him, showed up at an event, shared his page or posts, read any on the campaign trail related posts, made food for campaign events, let our dogs out, bought us a meal, cooked us a meal, understood when we missed an event or were there but not present, helped me with things around the house/in life that I was managing solo for nine months, ran errands, or just fucking showed up for us in any way at any time. We got support from all over and have a few new friends for life. Thanks to everyone for accepting us as we are - real people. We're not trussed up and rolled out as perfect, polished, plastic people for consumption and we never will be because it's not who we are. Fuck that.

A blanket apology if I missed your birthday, didn't respond to a text or email, or have not been present at any point in the past few months. I've tried but not always succeeded in keeping my head out of my ass.

You run the first time so you can see how many different ways you're going to get fucked by the powers that be around you and how much money they are willing to spend to keep someone who wants to change the system out. Hint: one million different ways you'll be fucked, and money spent A LOT. I need like 400 days in a very scalding shower with lye soap to scrub the dirty backhanded bullshit politics off of me.

We're not going anywhere, of course. Do you know us?

We're still out here, speaking truth to power; encouraging involvement in democracy; saying fuck fascism; calling for criminal justice reform; calling for the 1% to pay their fair share and stop breaking the backs of the middle class and working poor; smashing the patriarchy; working to root out racism in ourselves and our communities and all of our systems; standing with our LGBTQ+ people; appreciating our religious diversity; rejecting hatred and fear of anyone that is "other"; rejecting the demonization of brown immigrants; crushing right to work; demanding healthcare for all including vastly expanded mental health care, immediate and compassionate addressing of the opioid epidemic, fair funding for public schools, a living wage, policies that are pro-working family, common sense gun laws, equality and equity for women, environmental protection and a focus on alternative energy; and a host of other shit that is good for ALL of us but that my brain is too mashed potato-ish to articulate today.

If you're going to put everything on the line knowing you will likely lose, "everything" better damn sure be worth it. It is. All of those things above and more are worth it to both of us.

We are the same people we were on Election Day and the days before that, standing for what we think is right. I need you to keep standing too. There were tremendous wins and tremendous losses yesterday, but if you believe in the things I believe in, we do not stop working because we didn't win it all. We keep going. We keep doing the work. The culture of hate and fear and violence didn't happen overnight and shifting it won't either. We do not have the luxury of fading away into ourselves again. Get over it and get to work.

Don't worry, in the coming weeks I will have ways for you to help change how politics does not work for most of us right now, and how you can help organizations who are trying to change that and how you can best help candidates entering the fray for the first time.

But first for me, four days at the shore starting tomorrow. I want to tune it out and restore some balance. My other plans include drinking the appropriate amount of water, actually sleeping, eating vegetables, quieting my mind, having time off, etc. And then maybe this six months, in silence?

Just kidding, I have to be around next weekend because we adopted another dog and he arrives Sunday 11/18 from Georgia. He was originally supposed to come up 10/21.

Yes, I did that in the most intense months of the campaign and yes, it's fucking crazy. Be honest, you kind of like it.

TWTW - the one before Election Day

Friday was working from home, so before I started I was able to change the sheets and put laundry away and at lunch I got to the post office, library for drop off, and Sam's. I had a hair appointment at night with the fabulous Kristi and she changed up the color and chopped it off. I went to Target in the rain on the way home because I had a freaking lamp that needed to be returned in my front seat. I painted my nails and have no brain power to retain the names (also in an ideal world I'd take the pic after I cleaned them up around the edges but IDGAF right now), did some volunteer work for the campaign, and started a new book.

Saturday MFD didn't tell me I was in charge of snacks for the office so I was back at Sam's by 8 am, then to the office, back home, then out all afternoon with Morgan and Debbie door knocking. I missed my brother and Aubrey and the kids but did get to see Gail and Shawn after our shifts. I only saw my mom briefly as she was dropping off food her and Kate made for the day. Debbie, Morgan, and I went to Panera around 6, back to clean up the office from the day, then Debbie and I watched Heathers and The Breakfast Club.

Sunday I hit the grocery store and Philly Pretzel Factory before heading to the office. I got to see Mark and Sarah before heading out which was great. Debbie, Melissa, Morgan, and I crunched around through the leaves with a fucked up map, knocking on doors. It was nice to be with a fierce lady crew and the foliage was gorgeous.

Also fangirled like mad when Sally Kohn and Dissent Pins shared my posts in their stories on IG.

Weekly food prep: maybe next week? 

I'm off tomorrow to work the polls or whatever I will be doing from 7 am - 8 pm. I'll probably be scarce around here this week but am usually never scarce on Instagram LOL. 

What's your voting plan? When will you go, how do you get to your polling place, and are you taking anyone with you? 

How to Freelance While Traveling the World

TGIF friends! Traveling the world while still making money...something I would definitely do if I didn't have these dogs. But not something I exactly have tips on, so someone who does is Steve Conway, a content marketing professional and inbound marketing expert. Previously, Steve worked as a marketing manager for a tech software start-up. He is passionate about discovering new software that will that will advance his already well-honed digital marketing techniques. 

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For many people, traveling the world is nothing more than a pipe dream, as the logistics just don’t seem realistic. But then there are those who have figured out a way to have it all if you will; a chance to travel the world while working so that they can afford to continue their adventures. Freelancing can make it possible for people to work anywhere and anytime, changing the way people think about their “office space”. If this sounds like the kind of career that would suit you, then you’re probably curious about how to make it happen.

Here we’ll take a look at some top tips that will make it possible for you to freelance effectively, all while traveling around the world.

Let Go of Your Apartment or Home

The first step is to either sell your current home or allow your lease/rental agreement to run out on the apartment/condo you are currently living in. Carrying a mortgage or lease while you’re traveling the world doesn’t make financial sense. You can find a place to live or purchase once you are done traveling and ready to settle down. While traveling, it’s best to have as little expenses as possible.

It’s a good idea to also sell anything that you don’t want to hang on to in the long-run and get rid of your car if you have one. For those items you can’t part with, you can rent a storage unit to keep them in.

Start Freelancing Before You Start Traveling

It’s also a good idea to launch your freelance career before you actually start traveling. This gives you a chance to build up your list of clients and start to create a name for yourself, which will help ensure you have a reliable income coming in.

If you’re trying to figure out the best kind of freelancing jobs that allow you to travel, consider such positions as blogging, editing, advertising, acting as an IT consultant, translations, online teaching, and web design.

Set Yourself Up with a Portable Office

In order to work, you will need to have a portable office no matter where you happen to be staying. What this means is that you will need to find hotels that offer reliable, fast, and secure Wi-Fi. You will also need to have a laptop with enough storage, speed, and power. Secure Data Recovery has an excellent blog about how you can help extend the life of your hard drive, which in turn will keep your "office" running smoothly and efficiently while you travel.

Make Sure You Create a Work Schedule

As you travel around and explore all different towns, cities, and countries, it can obviously be pretty distracting, but you need to be sure you keep a steady work schedule. This means setting aside work hours that allow you to get things done. Maybe that means you wake up really early and get everything done and out of the way before lunch, or perhaps you prefer to work in the evening hours.

Traveling the World While Working is Possible

The great news is that you can in fact travel the world while working, it’s just a matter of planning your time properly and staying dedicated.

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Have you ever thought about doing it? Do you do it? 

Thursday Thoughts - here I am walking the block

Getting through a busy time by letting things go: I'm late changing the sheets, my dining room table don't even talk about with me, things are everywhere, my hydrangea hasn't been cut down, I'm missing replying to texts and emails, I'm late organizing Friendsgiving, I'm forgetting birthdays, nutrition is iffy. Things will go back to normal soon and until then I can't stress out about little things.

Counting the days until this election is over. 

Heading to the shore for a few days after the election and I can't fucking wait. 

Needing people to knock doors this weekend and to volunteer on Election Day, specifically at the polls. We need at least 25 people. Can you take a shift before or after work or during the day if you're off? Let me know or sign up for Election Day here. You're sick of me asking, I'm sick of asking. It's almost over. Please help if you can. I know it's not comfortable for a lot of people but we don't really have the luxury of acting from a place of comfort right now. And door knocking - most people aren't home, we're hitting dem doors, and just working through lists quickly. It's not scary, I promise. Election Day, same thing - you're basically just standing around all day., saying hello, smiling, hand out a piece of paper. I'm not sure if people think it's confrontational out there because of what we see on TV, but it's really not. We're all neighbors.

Hoping everyone knows that the root causes of the division and hatred and violence in our world right now is white supremacy and patriarchy and their close friends classism/oligarchy/greed/corruption fighting like hell to hold on and that no matter what happens in the midterm elections, win or lose you keep pushing to confront and smash those things to hell. You or your candidates win, you keep doing it. You or your candidates lose, you keep doing it. This isn't like oh they'll lie down quickly. These fucking things have been destroying the world and countries and societies and cultures for decades. They're not going easily, evil never does. Keep fighting. Take breaks when you need to but don't just give it up.

Listening to Making Pies by Patty Griffin. That's the end lyric up after the hyphen.

Appreciating the fall things.

Doing the Halloween Things. I had all three dogs out front at various points, which I never do.

Wishing my Dad a happy birthday tomorrow. I'd love to be back in Connemara right now.

Reading:  The Late Bloomers Club by Louise Miller, I just started it this morning. Last night I finished Creep by Jennifer Hillier.

Reminding the world: 

E-carding: 

What's new with you?

Linking up with Kristen