The Dreaded 'No' Finally Happened

A few years ago I started using Hitch to travel home to see my family. Hitch is like Uber, but its for out of town travel. Through an app, you schedule a ride and are matched with a driver. You can get a private ride that picks you up at your home, but that is very expensive. So I meet the driver at a public place, and there are usually two other passengers.

I have to travel with a heavy medical bag that is very difficult for me to manage by myself. I risk falling if I try to carry it, and I am already a fall risk. So when I travel I take paratransit or Uber to the meeting place. Then I ask the Hitch driver to put my bags in the car for me.

Yesterday, I texted the driver, and made my request.

Then I saw the dreaded word.

No.

Even though I knew it was a possibility, I was still flabbergasted to see it. I stared at the screen.

What he said and what I said is not the purpose of this post. 

This post is about "My problem and how I solved it"

My solution: I went into the Starbucks (public meeting place) and explained my situation to one of the employees. It was frustrating and embarrassing, but I got what I needed.

The Starbucks employee carried my bags to the car and put them in the trunk. And his kindness and willingness to help was rewarded. He got the tip that I usually give the driver.

I hope this doesn't happen again. But resiliency is about being faced with a difficult situation and finding a solution. Getting through it.

I got through it.

librarianintx 

Big Brother - My thoughts on the season

 I am one episode behind, but I got spoiled on who got evicted. 

I haven't seen the big 1000th episode yet. 

Boy, this season is bonkers. 

I'm loving it. 

Do I have a favorite? 

Not really. 

I like Dee and Devens, but I think they are playing a crazy game, continually burning their alliances. 

The closest person I have as a favorite is Taylor. 

She knows how to play the game, and I hope she can make it far, but at this point her alliance is very small. 

I also like Yash. 

One person that you might be surprised that I liked was Kamu. 

The main reason that I liked him was that he didn't take anything that happened personally. 

He was even tempered, and respectful. 

Even when Devens blindsided him, he shook his hand and said "it's just a game." 

He would have gotten revenge for sure if he had had the opportunity, but he never lost his temper or was difficult to be around. 

He even was able to poke fun at himself, admitting that he lost two physical challenges to women in their 50's. 

Haley needs to learn from Kamu. 

librarianintx

Big Brother Episode 7/30/26: SPOILERS!

 The agent of chaos has been evicted - by unanimous vote

Oh Jason. I hoped you would make it far in the game. 

You played a terrible game. 

But you are a good person. 

Big Brother is not easy. 

I wish you had been able to separate your emotions and your insecurities from your game play. 

I was impressed that Rome was able to handle his eviction with grace and not take anything that happened personally. 

For me, watching Jason's time in the Big Brother house was by turns awkward, funny, frustrating and painful. 

I am very glad that Julie told you were in the Top 3 of voting every week for America's Vote. 

I'm also glad she made the point that you are an icon too. 

Learn and grow from this experience, remember the good times, hold on the friendships you made, and start working on your next adventure.  

All my best to you.

librarianintx

Big Brother episode 7/15/26 - SPOILERS!

Jason, Jason, Jason...

I'm so disappointed.

You were one of my favorites. 

Listen, I am not an Angela fan. 

But she didn't deserve what you did to her. 

No one does. 

It was hurtful and unnecessary. 

Play the game, but don't play with people's emotions like that. 

Angela has cried a lot in the Big Brother house, but this time I understand her pain. 

You took advantage of her as an LGBTQ ally / family member, which is straight up horrible.  

Too bad for you that you bragged to the wrong person. 

You're safe this week. 

But your days in the house could be numbered. 

Never forget, Karma can be a bitch. 

librarianintx 

Big Brother 2026 - Premiere - SPOILERS!

 What a wild ride the first night of Big Brother was!

Yay for Rick Devens from Survivor crossing over to BB. 

I think he'll be a fun addition. 

Boo for Angela being added to the cast. 

I'll remove my booing if she decides not to be bully like she was the first time she played the game. 

And THANK GOODNESS Rachel is NOT a houseguest this season!!

Her brief appearance was more than enough for me. 

So, who is the third "celebrity"? 

Everyone is saying it's Dee from Survivor. 

I guess we'll find out tomorrow night. 

My early favorites from this season: 

Jason - yes, I know him as Selena from "RuPaul's Drag Race." 

Yay, the first drag queen on BB! 

I hope the houseguests are nice to him.

LaTrice - I gotta root for the oldest houseguest. 

She's close to my age, but she looks a lot younger!

I like her personality so far. 

I also have to root for the two Texas guys - Chuck and Barrett.

We'll see if I still feel this way a few weeks into the season. 

librarianintx

Fourth of July

Happy semiquincentennial!

If you are old enough, where were you on July 4, 1776?

I was in Estes Park, Colorado, on a driving trip throughout the state with my mom, dad, and sister. We also went to Denver, Colorado Springs, and Carson City, among other places. We visited the Mint, had dinner at the Broadmoor Hotel, and panned for gold.

I was eight years old.

We lived in San Antonio at the time.

The next summer we took another driving trip, this time to California. We visited Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and San Francisco among other places. We went to Disneyworld, saw the California redwoods, explored Fisherman's Warf, and saw the Pacific Ocean.

These trips were important and long-lasting family memories.

My dad passed away in December of 1977.

He was 41 years old.

Live life.

Make memories.

Love others.

librarianintx 

Antidepressant Part 2

This isn't a further political rant. 

I want to talk about something that I didn't expect my antidepressant to help with. 

It wasn't on my radar at all. (unintended pun) 

Antidepressants help with depression and anxiety. 

I didn't know they can also help with phobias. 

I have had a severe weather phobia for as long as I can remember. 

I know I have blogged about it previously. 

Was it a coincidence that my phobia improved when I started taking the antidepressant? 

I don't think so. 

My weather phobia made my life very difficult at times. 

Living in Texas, severe weather can happen year around. 

I would obsessively check weather forecasts, worry for days, and go to great lengths to make sure I wasn't alone during a storm. 

It was exhausting, frustrating, and negatively affected my physical and emotional health. 

I am not cured of my weather phobia, but it is SO MUCH better. 

I don't check forecasts like I used to, and I understand that forecasts can change, so there is no reason to worry days in advance. 

I rarely have the physical symptoms like a racing heart, restlessness, and feelings of fight or flight. 

I have finally learned to feel safe. The wind can howl and the rain can beat on the windows, but I know I am protected, even if I am alone. 

Weather doesn't rule my life anymore, and I am grateful every day for the calmness I can experience, even in the height of a storm. 

librarianintx