CW: Discussions of the experiences of one person who has a uterus (aka, me) attempting to receive gynecological care. I never exactly intended to write an entire series on why I joke in my Glossary of Terms that “I know trauma-informed care quite well – in the sense that the ‘care’ I have seen has … Continue reading Trust in Mental Health Systems #8/ Messages in a Bottle #20: OB-G-WHY?!-N
Author: lavenderandlevity
Lavender writes under a pseudonym, but she wants people to know that it isn't out of shame. Experiencing trauma, learning disabilities, mental and/or chronic illnesses, are not shameful! She works in big data, but volunteering for social justice, mental health and invisible illness advocacy groups and peer supports are among her true passions. She also loves improv comedy, pretending she knows how to craft, reading, cooking, taking up new hobbies and then abandoning them three months later, traveling, staying up until the wee hours of the morning talking about life, the universe and politics, and practicing modified-for-hypermobile-joints yoga.
Brevity Is The Soul Of Apathetically #11: Work Burnout
Ugh. The never-ending lessons in how to create a 'trauma-informed' and 'anti-racist' workplace that somehow manage to involve folks having to relive their own personal trauma(s) continue. (Or, as my Partner succinctly sums them up each week: "the beatings will continue until morale improves!") I'm not even just talking about me feeling work burnout in … Continue reading Brevity Is The Soul Of Apathetically #11: Work Burnout
Messages in a Bottle #19: Trying to Conceive of Time
That same consulting firm that had us do Rivers of Life last month has been offering 'trainings' for my workplace since October. Back in October, they had us 'write a letter to a child under six in our lives' expressing what we wanted for their future. It had a handy Mad Libs style format where … Continue reading Messages in a Bottle #19: Trying to Conceive of Time
My ‘River of Life’ is the River Lethe
Hi all, Eek! I realized today that even though it feels like just "a couple of weeks ago" that I last wrote a blog post, it has actually been a full month! ADHD: it means all time is either "now" or "a couple of weeks ago." I think I alluded to the fact that my … Continue reading My ‘River of Life’ is the River Lethe
Brevity is the Soul of Apathetically #10: NSFW (Not Safe Family Weirding!)
It has become our tradition to make our completely oversized Thanksgiving turkey the day after Thanksgiving. The first two of the past three years, this was because we forgot to buy a disposable roasting pan, or we forgot to start defrosting the turkey. Now, though, we have simply accepted that we actually enjoy having a … Continue reading Brevity is the Soul of Apathetically #10: NSFW (Not Safe Family Weirding!)
Pot Meet Another Kettle
Last time I wrote, I promised an honest review of adult psychoactive recreational substances as a solution for election-night anxieties. My review sums up to: I'm not "recreationally" affected, but they do make for slightly less unsettled sleep. My longer report is as follows: "Being the irony magnet scientist that I am, I have had … Continue reading Pot Meet Another Kettle
Seeking Asylum in Faerun
11/7 Update: I formally welcome Pennsylvania back into New JersMaPennsRicutaware. Thank you. That is all! (For now!) My husband's first cousin - one of the ones we just don't speak to - got covid recently. He's younger than us, and he worked in a physically demanding job and was proud of the physical condition he … Continue reading Seeking Asylum in Faerun
The Third of November
Last year, I wrote a poem for our local U.S. election day. It is here. Local elections remain very important, so don't forget to vote for down-ballot races, as well, as you vote for U.S. President. But, for all in the U.S., please don't forget to #MakeAPlanToVote. Election day is November 3rd. Vote. Democracy is … Continue reading The Third of November
Where’s Whoopsie #26: If Everything isn’t On Fire, I Must Be Missing Something…
I haven't posted a Where's Whoopsie in awhile. Apparently without live improv to afford me extensive time on public transit and in coffee shops, I don't draw much. My Partner noticed this and suggested I should prioritize doing something "creative" to ward off seasonal - and election and "in the house too often without other … Continue reading Where’s Whoopsie #26: If Everything isn’t On Fire, I Must Be Missing Something…
Orange You Glad I Reminded You?
There's no knock-knock joke here. Orange is the most common awareness ribbon color for ADHD Awareness Month. ADHD Awareness Month being in October is about the only 'awareness' anything that I can ever remain even vaguely aware of. Because there are entirely too many awareness months - and colors, and ribbons! - and my brain … Continue reading Orange You Glad I Reminded You?