"Don't be ashamed of your story. Use it to inspire and teach others." Anonymous
I honestly think this is the key to our existence. I'm not exaggerating. I believe we are on this earth to learn and grow and help others in the process. As we begin to deal with out issues, achieve success and suffer failure, we educate the people we come into contact with. Some people don't like the word "inspiration," but I think we all have the power to inspire each other. Certain individuals learn this valuable lesson earlier than others. But I think most of us get there eventually.
We can all learn from each other, if we listen and have an open mind.
Sharing our achievements and our disappointments with others can be tough. Many of us fear both success and failure, and it can be a challenge to trust others with such personal stories. But taking that leap of faith is important. Because while some people may not understand or be skeptical or not approve, many more will be impressed and possibly even inspired to follow in your path.
Everyone has the capacity to be an example, a trendsetter, someone to admire and hold in high regard.
Be brave.
Be bold.
Take a chance.
It could be you.
librarianintx
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Thursday, April 25, 2019
My New Favorite Quote
"I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves." Drew Barrymore
This is the perfect quote for me. First of all, it mentions butterflies. And secondly, it's about change, transformation, growth.
This
This
This
It's never too late to do something different.
You are never too old to learn a new skill,
To overcome fear
To do what you have always wanted to do with your life
To achieve something on your bucket list.
It is never too late to become who you were meant to be.
librarianintx
This is the perfect quote for me. First of all, it mentions butterflies. And secondly, it's about change, transformation, growth.
This
This
This
It's never too late to do something different.
You are never too old to learn a new skill,
To overcome fear
To do what you have always wanted to do with your life
To achieve something on your bucket list.
It is never too late to become who you were meant to be.
librarianintx
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
What a storm phobic person needs to know / remember
In my decades of living with a storm phobia, I have learned a few things. Remembering them can be an issue, especially when I'm in the throes of nervousness.
Here's a (not so brief) rundown.
I hope this will help others dealing with a storm phobia.
I know you're out there.
1) Weather people hype severe weather.
Some do this more than others. Unfortunately, it's their job. Kind of, anyway. They have to inform the public of the risks. But I think they also should tamp down the hysteria. If there is even a slight threat of tornadoes, they will sometimes mention that first. Often they shout tornadoes when that isn't the biggest threat of the day.
2) Predictions are just that - possibilities.
Weather is not an exact science. All the ingredients have to come together to produce severe weather. There needs to be lift, instability, a clash of warm and cool air. If one element is missing, the storms won't fire. Sometimes it looks like everything in place for a stormy day, but then it just doesn't happen. Also, occasionally late night or morning storms will "work over" the atmosphere, which creates stability so predicted storms don't materialize later. So take forecasts and possibilities for what they are - a chance that something will happen, and only that.
3) Destructive tornadoes are actually rare.
The reason deadly tornadoes get so much media coverage is that they don't happen very often, although it seems like they do. Most tornadoes are weak, short-lived, and do little damage. More people die or are injured by floods and lightening than by tornadoes. If you are in a sturdy building, you will likely be fine. Most damage caused by high winds, hail, or tornadoes involve windows breaking or roofs getting damaged. Sometimes trees fall on buildings.
4) Where you are can determine how safe you are in a storm.
The worst places to be in a bad storm are in a mobile home, in a car, under an overpass, near a tree, or holding an umbrella.You should also not be in the shower or on the telephone. If you are not in any of those places, you should be okay. The best places to be in a storm are in an interior hallway, bathroom, or closet of a sturdy structure, away from windows. Even if a destructive tornado hits your house, you can make it if you are in a safe place. An EF3 tornado went through a small Texas town a few weeks ago. A grandmother's house was destroyed, but she and her grandchildren survived because they were hunkered down in the hallway. When category 5 hurricane Michael hit last year, people in a hotel near the water lived to tell the tale because they took shelter in a first floor hallway. The choices you make can determine your fate in a storm. Of course that doesn't mean you're going to die if you are in a car or a mobile home. I'm simply saying those aren't the best places to ride out a big storm.
5) A watch means that bad weather MAY happen.
Severe weather is never guaranteed. And a watch usually covers a large area, including several counties. That doesn't mean the entire watch area will see big storms. Also, a watch usually lasts for four to eight hours. Sometimes it is stormy during the entire length of a watch, but usually not. Often storms will form and roll through sometime in that period.
6) When a warning is issued for your county, don't assume the worst.
A warning means that either a severe storm or tornado has been sighted, or it is radar-indicated. There is a big difference here. Radar indicated tornadoes sometimes never materialize. Sometimes it is a funnel cloud or rotation that never creates a tornado. Also, the storm may be in your county, but isn't heading your way. Bulletins when a warning is issued will outline what direction the storm is moving in, how quickly, and what type of weather is being indicated: large hail, strong winds, or possibly a tornado. Severe storms can fire up quickly and then weaken or even dissipate. Sometimes a warning is canceled when this happens.
7) It doesn't do any good to worry days in advance.
This is unfortunately a big one for me, because I have anticipatory anxiety. Weather people often hype possible bad weather days in advance. There is some reason for this: People make plans, and if the plans involve traveling or outdoor events, like a wedding or a birthday party or a golf tournament, it can be good to know that a storm may interrupt that event. But forecasts are sometimes altered day by day, even hour by hour. You can monitor the weather, but know that it can always change - sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.
Bottom line: You can't affect the weather. Wishing that a storm would dissipate, or never materialize in the first place, isn't possible. What you can do is learn to control your phobia. There is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of severe storms. Respecting bad weather and knowing what to do when you are in a storm will keep you safe. Educating yourself about weather phenomena can help you deal with your fear. But also, too much focus can fuel your phobia. Work on distracting yourself during bad weather. Clean the house. Read a book. Spend time with friends. Run the dishwasher, turn up the volume of the television, run a load of laundry to drown out the sounds of high winds or thunder. Do what you need to do to keep yourself both safe and calm.
librarianintx
Here's a (not so brief) rundown.
I hope this will help others dealing with a storm phobia.
I know you're out there.
1) Weather people hype severe weather.
Some do this more than others. Unfortunately, it's their job. Kind of, anyway. They have to inform the public of the risks. But I think they also should tamp down the hysteria. If there is even a slight threat of tornadoes, they will sometimes mention that first. Often they shout tornadoes when that isn't the biggest threat of the day.
2) Predictions are just that - possibilities.
Weather is not an exact science. All the ingredients have to come together to produce severe weather. There needs to be lift, instability, a clash of warm and cool air. If one element is missing, the storms won't fire. Sometimes it looks like everything in place for a stormy day, but then it just doesn't happen. Also, occasionally late night or morning storms will "work over" the atmosphere, which creates stability so predicted storms don't materialize later. So take forecasts and possibilities for what they are - a chance that something will happen, and only that.
3) Destructive tornadoes are actually rare.
The reason deadly tornadoes get so much media coverage is that they don't happen very often, although it seems like they do. Most tornadoes are weak, short-lived, and do little damage. More people die or are injured by floods and lightening than by tornadoes. If you are in a sturdy building, you will likely be fine. Most damage caused by high winds, hail, or tornadoes involve windows breaking or roofs getting damaged. Sometimes trees fall on buildings.
4) Where you are can determine how safe you are in a storm.
The worst places to be in a bad storm are in a mobile home, in a car, under an overpass, near a tree, or holding an umbrella.You should also not be in the shower or on the telephone. If you are not in any of those places, you should be okay. The best places to be in a storm are in an interior hallway, bathroom, or closet of a sturdy structure, away from windows. Even if a destructive tornado hits your house, you can make it if you are in a safe place. An EF3 tornado went through a small Texas town a few weeks ago. A grandmother's house was destroyed, but she and her grandchildren survived because they were hunkered down in the hallway. When category 5 hurricane Michael hit last year, people in a hotel near the water lived to tell the tale because they took shelter in a first floor hallway. The choices you make can determine your fate in a storm. Of course that doesn't mean you're going to die if you are in a car or a mobile home. I'm simply saying those aren't the best places to ride out a big storm.
5) A watch means that bad weather MAY happen.
Severe weather is never guaranteed. And a watch usually covers a large area, including several counties. That doesn't mean the entire watch area will see big storms. Also, a watch usually lasts for four to eight hours. Sometimes it is stormy during the entire length of a watch, but usually not. Often storms will form and roll through sometime in that period.
6) When a warning is issued for your county, don't assume the worst.
A warning means that either a severe storm or tornado has been sighted, or it is radar-indicated. There is a big difference here. Radar indicated tornadoes sometimes never materialize. Sometimes it is a funnel cloud or rotation that never creates a tornado. Also, the storm may be in your county, but isn't heading your way. Bulletins when a warning is issued will outline what direction the storm is moving in, how quickly, and what type of weather is being indicated: large hail, strong winds, or possibly a tornado. Severe storms can fire up quickly and then weaken or even dissipate. Sometimes a warning is canceled when this happens.
7) It doesn't do any good to worry days in advance.
This is unfortunately a big one for me, because I have anticipatory anxiety. Weather people often hype possible bad weather days in advance. There is some reason for this: People make plans, and if the plans involve traveling or outdoor events, like a wedding or a birthday party or a golf tournament, it can be good to know that a storm may interrupt that event. But forecasts are sometimes altered day by day, even hour by hour. You can monitor the weather, but know that it can always change - sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better.
Bottom line: You can't affect the weather. Wishing that a storm would dissipate, or never materialize in the first place, isn't possible. What you can do is learn to control your phobia. There is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of severe storms. Respecting bad weather and knowing what to do when you are in a storm will keep you safe. Educating yourself about weather phenomena can help you deal with your fear. But also, too much focus can fuel your phobia. Work on distracting yourself during bad weather. Clean the house. Read a book. Spend time with friends. Run the dishwasher, turn up the volume of the television, run a load of laundry to drown out the sounds of high winds or thunder. Do what you need to do to keep yourself both safe and calm.
librarianintx
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Stranger encounter
I saw a post on Facebook the other day about how we should be nice to homeless people who ask us for money. We should be polite and either give them money, or say, "I'm sorry, I can't give you any money, but I wish you well and hope you have a good day."
I honestly would like to do that. I don't want to be rude and dismissive to anyone. I care about homeless people. I hate that they don't have a place to live. And some people may say this is a cop-out. But I am a small female with a physical disability. I do not feel comfortable stopping and talking to strangers. I know that most homeless people are harmless. However, I also know some homeless people are mentally ill. Does that necessarily make them dangerous? Does a mental illness make someone inherently violent? No. I know that. But some could be. Some of them are also on drugs that can make them very strong and threatening, such as K2. That is why if I am by myself I do not talk to anyone on the street, and I don't give them money.
The other day I exited a Megabus and was walking to my Uber. Ride share vehicles are usually hanging out near the bus area, so I figured my vehicle would arrive quickly, and it did. I had looked carefully at the license plate, and knew that was my ride, so I started walking toward it. In the literal minute it took me to walk from the bus to the car, a guy followed me, saying, "ma'am, ma'am," over and over. There were other people getting off the bus, but for whatever reason he picked me to follow. I was walking briskly; I wanted him to know that I had a destination and was heading that way. I wasn't hanging out waiting for someone to pick me up. He never asked me for money, but I assume that was his intention.
I got into the vehicle without incident. But I was unnerved. I did not feel safe. And I was mad and upset. I shouldn't have to feel unsafe on a city street. I wish the bus company would do something about the people begging for money. This is not the first time this has happened, but I was with a friend when it happened before, so I was less nervous. I would like to see the bus company hire a security guard. But the guy followed me when I was on the sidewalk, so I'm sure the bus company would say they have no responsibility if something happens off of their property.
I would gladly do things to help the homeless population. I would donate clothing, personal hygiene products, etc. I would go in a group to hand out food and necessities. But if I am by myself, I am not going to engage in conversation or show anyone that I have cash. I am not going to make myself more vulnerable than I already am. Maybe that makes me a bad person, or not as good a person as I want to be. For me, it's about self-protection.
We should have respect and compassion for homeless people, and do what we can for them. At the same time, I think respect should go both ways. If the man had walked up to me and politely asked me for money, I may not have acted differently, but I believe I would have felt much less nervous. He made me uncomfortable by following me and trying to engage with me, even when I was clearly walking away from him. He was violating my personal space and my sense of safety. There have been instances when the people asking for money have become violent, grabbing purses and bags and shoving people to the ground. I simply cannot take that risk. I won't.
librarianintx
I honestly would like to do that. I don't want to be rude and dismissive to anyone. I care about homeless people. I hate that they don't have a place to live. And some people may say this is a cop-out. But I am a small female with a physical disability. I do not feel comfortable stopping and talking to strangers. I know that most homeless people are harmless. However, I also know some homeless people are mentally ill. Does that necessarily make them dangerous? Does a mental illness make someone inherently violent? No. I know that. But some could be. Some of them are also on drugs that can make them very strong and threatening, such as K2. That is why if I am by myself I do not talk to anyone on the street, and I don't give them money.
The other day I exited a Megabus and was walking to my Uber. Ride share vehicles are usually hanging out near the bus area, so I figured my vehicle would arrive quickly, and it did. I had looked carefully at the license plate, and knew that was my ride, so I started walking toward it. In the literal minute it took me to walk from the bus to the car, a guy followed me, saying, "ma'am, ma'am," over and over. There were other people getting off the bus, but for whatever reason he picked me to follow. I was walking briskly; I wanted him to know that I had a destination and was heading that way. I wasn't hanging out waiting for someone to pick me up. He never asked me for money, but I assume that was his intention.
I got into the vehicle without incident. But I was unnerved. I did not feel safe. And I was mad and upset. I shouldn't have to feel unsafe on a city street. I wish the bus company would do something about the people begging for money. This is not the first time this has happened, but I was with a friend when it happened before, so I was less nervous. I would like to see the bus company hire a security guard. But the guy followed me when I was on the sidewalk, so I'm sure the bus company would say they have no responsibility if something happens off of their property.
I would gladly do things to help the homeless population. I would donate clothing, personal hygiene products, etc. I would go in a group to hand out food and necessities. But if I am by myself, I am not going to engage in conversation or show anyone that I have cash. I am not going to make myself more vulnerable than I already am. Maybe that makes me a bad person, or not as good a person as I want to be. For me, it's about self-protection.
We should have respect and compassion for homeless people, and do what we can for them. At the same time, I think respect should go both ways. If the man had walked up to me and politely asked me for money, I may not have acted differently, but I believe I would have felt much less nervous. He made me uncomfortable by following me and trying to engage with me, even when I was clearly walking away from him. He was violating my personal space and my sense of safety. There have been instances when the people asking for money have become violent, grabbing purses and bags and shoving people to the ground. I simply cannot take that risk. I won't.
librarianintx
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Going to a new doctor
Ladies, I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know...
Going to the gynecologist is not fun.
No woman enjoys that exam.
Going to any new doctor is nerve wracking for me, but going to a new gynecologist is especially anxiety inducing.
I have had a few bad experiences with gynecologists.
And unfortunately my mind - and body - remembers.
Would this doctor be understanding of my disability, of my anxiety?
Would she be patient, calm, helpful?
Would she refuse to assist me getting up from the exam table, like a previous doctor had done?
Would she grab my legs and pull me to the end of the table, either in a misguided effort to be helpful, or because the doctor was frustrated that I was taking too long to get into position?
I am incredibly relieved to report that this doctor was everything I needed her to be.
She was friendly, personable, and immediately put me at ease.
She reminded me that no one likes a gynecological exam.
Even though she was running late, she was patient and let me take my time getting into position.
She offered to help, but she didn't insist or take matters into her own hands.
She was gentle and told me what she was doing during every step of the process.
She was encouraging, asked me if I was okay, and told me I was doing great.
I didn't feel like she was treating me differently than any other patient.
It's hard to put into words how important her demeanor and actions were to me.
I'm hoping the success of this exam will help put to rest my demons of previous gynecology exams.
I want to remember this experience when I have my appointment next year.
That is my goal.
librarianintx
Going to the gynecologist is not fun.
No woman enjoys that exam.
Going to any new doctor is nerve wracking for me, but going to a new gynecologist is especially anxiety inducing.
I have had a few bad experiences with gynecologists.
And unfortunately my mind - and body - remembers.
Would this doctor be understanding of my disability, of my anxiety?
Would she be patient, calm, helpful?
Would she refuse to assist me getting up from the exam table, like a previous doctor had done?
Would she grab my legs and pull me to the end of the table, either in a misguided effort to be helpful, or because the doctor was frustrated that I was taking too long to get into position?
I am incredibly relieved to report that this doctor was everything I needed her to be.
She was friendly, personable, and immediately put me at ease.
She reminded me that no one likes a gynecological exam.
Even though she was running late, she was patient and let me take my time getting into position.
She offered to help, but she didn't insist or take matters into her own hands.
She was gentle and told me what she was doing during every step of the process.
She was encouraging, asked me if I was okay, and told me I was doing great.
I didn't feel like she was treating me differently than any other patient.
It's hard to put into words how important her demeanor and actions were to me.
I'm hoping the success of this exam will help put to rest my demons of previous gynecology exams.
I want to remember this experience when I have my appointment next year.
That is my goal.
librarianintx
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Weather
Anyone who knows me is well aware of three things about me: My favorite color is pink, I adore butterflies...and I have a severe weather phobia.
I've literally dealt with this my entire life. I was born in Orlando, Florida, home of nearly daily summer storms. My mom says I used to cower under my high chair as the lightning flashed and winds howled. And my fear has never waned since then. As a child I would run from window to window in whatever house or apartment we lived in, screaming in fright. In high school I was so scared when the sky turned black (or occasionally green) that I would get a pass to the nurse's office. I was absolutely unable to concentrate on anything except my extreme fear. When I was student teaching I tried my best to hide my feelings from my students. I attempted to control my shaking and racing heart the day we had to crawl under our desks during a possible tornado. I barely survived the two hurricanes I endured when I lived in Houston. Friends in college would let me hang out in their rooms, even during the night, when there was a storm. I didn't feel safe anywhere, even in a huge dorm that was built like a fortress.
It's a difficult situation because while I have this at times overwhelming fear, I also have a fascination with severe weather. When my area is not in the danger zone, I find myself watching the weather channel or checking my favorite weather web site, keeping tabs on the watches and warnings. I am interested, curious when the weather is affecting other parts of the state or the country. I am worried and sometimes terrified when it is threatening or hitting my area. I have anticipatory anxiety. Just the mere chance of a bad storm will keep me hyper vigilant, sometimes even days in advance, which is such waste of time, energy, and emotional stability. One day I worried for four days about an impending bad weather event. FOUR days. And what happened? Yeah, we had one bad storm. About thirty minutes of driving rain and high winds. But that was it. Thirty minutes, and it was done. I wasn't injured. There was no damage in my area. Thirty minutes. And I was a basket case for four days. It's not an easy thing to admit. But it's the truth.
I know I am not alone. Through googling, and scrolling through comments on the Facebook pages of my trusted weather personalities, I have discovered many people who think like me and act like me. People who worry days in advance, who hide in closets and bathtubs during storms, who spend hours wandering around Walmart or sitting in a restaurant because they can't be home alone during a storm. Absolutely being alone is the worst for a storm phobic person. I am WAY more in control of my fear when I'm with other people, especially in a place where I feel at least marginally safe, like a grocery store or mall or a hotel. Yes, I know there can be damage to large structures. But for me, the bigger the building, the better I feel...usually.
I have also learned to pinpoint my fear, and to downsize it to a certain extent. I am not usually scared during a garden-variety thunderstorm. I do not fear hail or heavy rain. My terrors are tornadoes, hurricanes, and damaging winds. I also hate how dark it gets during a bad storm. I am convinced that my weather phobia is tied in to my inner ear disorder. I can get dizzy when the lights go out without warning, or even when a restaurant dims the lights at dusk.
I have both success and setbacks in my quest to overcome my severe weather phobia. On Sunday I was in Houston, preparing to return to Austin. Austin had endured four rounds of bad weather on Saturday and Sunday morning, and now Houston was in the path of a line of storms. I was nervous about possibly being on the bus when it hit. I was also worried that the trip might get canceled.
Mom and I made it to breakfast with only a little rain on the way. We eat at different places, but that morning we chose the Denny's that's close to the bus stop. I checked the weather a few times while we waited for our food. A severe thunderstorm warning was posted for our county.
We were sitting in a booth that was not by a window. That was helpful. I could still see if I wanted to, but I was not close to the action outside. It got dark, then the wind and rain started. I can't say I was happy, but I didn't have the intense fear, the racing heart, the dread that I often feel. I was actually mildly okay. I was able to eat, which was a huge accomplishment. I was even able to laugh when I jumped at the crashes of thunder. Denny's is not a big building, but I felt surprisingly safe for a change. It felt so wonderful to deal so well with a big storm.
It all worked out. By the time the bus arrived the sky was beginning to clear. I would have a trip where I didn't have to worry about storms. It was a great feeling, but unfortunately one time of success has not cured me. But I will keep trying, keep working toward a more healthy relationship with bad weather.
librarianintx
I've literally dealt with this my entire life. I was born in Orlando, Florida, home of nearly daily summer storms. My mom says I used to cower under my high chair as the lightning flashed and winds howled. And my fear has never waned since then. As a child I would run from window to window in whatever house or apartment we lived in, screaming in fright. In high school I was so scared when the sky turned black (or occasionally green) that I would get a pass to the nurse's office. I was absolutely unable to concentrate on anything except my extreme fear. When I was student teaching I tried my best to hide my feelings from my students. I attempted to control my shaking and racing heart the day we had to crawl under our desks during a possible tornado. I barely survived the two hurricanes I endured when I lived in Houston. Friends in college would let me hang out in their rooms, even during the night, when there was a storm. I didn't feel safe anywhere, even in a huge dorm that was built like a fortress.
It's a difficult situation because while I have this at times overwhelming fear, I also have a fascination with severe weather. When my area is not in the danger zone, I find myself watching the weather channel or checking my favorite weather web site, keeping tabs on the watches and warnings. I am interested, curious when the weather is affecting other parts of the state or the country. I am worried and sometimes terrified when it is threatening or hitting my area. I have anticipatory anxiety. Just the mere chance of a bad storm will keep me hyper vigilant, sometimes even days in advance, which is such waste of time, energy, and emotional stability. One day I worried for four days about an impending bad weather event. FOUR days. And what happened? Yeah, we had one bad storm. About thirty minutes of driving rain and high winds. But that was it. Thirty minutes, and it was done. I wasn't injured. There was no damage in my area. Thirty minutes. And I was a basket case for four days. It's not an easy thing to admit. But it's the truth.
I know I am not alone. Through googling, and scrolling through comments on the Facebook pages of my trusted weather personalities, I have discovered many people who think like me and act like me. People who worry days in advance, who hide in closets and bathtubs during storms, who spend hours wandering around Walmart or sitting in a restaurant because they can't be home alone during a storm. Absolutely being alone is the worst for a storm phobic person. I am WAY more in control of my fear when I'm with other people, especially in a place where I feel at least marginally safe, like a grocery store or mall or a hotel. Yes, I know there can be damage to large structures. But for me, the bigger the building, the better I feel...usually.
I have also learned to pinpoint my fear, and to downsize it to a certain extent. I am not usually scared during a garden-variety thunderstorm. I do not fear hail or heavy rain. My terrors are tornadoes, hurricanes, and damaging winds. I also hate how dark it gets during a bad storm. I am convinced that my weather phobia is tied in to my inner ear disorder. I can get dizzy when the lights go out without warning, or even when a restaurant dims the lights at dusk.
I have both success and setbacks in my quest to overcome my severe weather phobia. On Sunday I was in Houston, preparing to return to Austin. Austin had endured four rounds of bad weather on Saturday and Sunday morning, and now Houston was in the path of a line of storms. I was nervous about possibly being on the bus when it hit. I was also worried that the trip might get canceled.
Mom and I made it to breakfast with only a little rain on the way. We eat at different places, but that morning we chose the Denny's that's close to the bus stop. I checked the weather a few times while we waited for our food. A severe thunderstorm warning was posted for our county.
We were sitting in a booth that was not by a window. That was helpful. I could still see if I wanted to, but I was not close to the action outside. It got dark, then the wind and rain started. I can't say I was happy, but I didn't have the intense fear, the racing heart, the dread that I often feel. I was actually mildly okay. I was able to eat, which was a huge accomplishment. I was even able to laugh when I jumped at the crashes of thunder. Denny's is not a big building, but I felt surprisingly safe for a change. It felt so wonderful to deal so well with a big storm.
It all worked out. By the time the bus arrived the sky was beginning to clear. I would have a trip where I didn't have to worry about storms. It was a great feeling, but unfortunately one time of success has not cured me. But I will keep trying, keep working toward a more healthy relationship with bad weather.
librarianintx
Saturday, April 06, 2019
"Be on Time Chronicles" 4/5/19
Over the years I have become much less anxious about riding Metro Access. I am prepared every day that my wait times and rides will likely be long, and sometimes I might ride with annoying passengers, or even drivers. Thanks to the invention of ride shares, I know that if something happens with my para-transit ride, I can get a fast. affordable ride to where I need to go. I'd rather not pay for a ride share when I have already paid for a Metro Access pass that allows me monthly unlimited rides. But in an emergency, such as getting no-showed when I have a doctor's appointment or need to get to work, a ride share will get the job done.
But the one time I do get a little nervous is when I am taking the Megabus to Houston. If Metro Access doesn't show, then I have a short window of time to get to the Megabus station. The good news now is that the Megabus stop is only two blocks from my work, and I usually leave from the library on a Friday afternoon to take the Megabus.
So yesterday I was doing just that. I had a ticket for the 2:40 bus to Houston. I asked for a 2:15 appointment time to arrive at the station, to give myself a buffer. Making a 2:30 reservation for a 2:40 departure time makes me too nervous. When I made the ride on Thursday, I was given a pick-up window of 1:32 to 2:02. Since the bus station is only two blocks from the library, I felt that was a reasonable time period.
Well, you can surmise what happened. My window ended, and my ride had not arrived. I called. I was put on hold more than once. My driver could not be located. Minutes ticked by. It was now 2:15. I'm a slow walker, but I can get to the bus stop in probably less than ten minutes. The key is that I need help to get there. I could walk it myself if I didn't have luggage with me.
Thank goodness my co-worker saved the day. She had seen me waiting while she was out for a walk on break, and told me to text her if my ride didn't arrive. She has helped me walk down there previously. We didn't plan to walk yesterday because rain was possibly threatening, and because my co-worker is recovering from an upper respiratory infection, and I didn't want to ask her to exert herself.
But I was desperate by this point. Ride shares are usually fast, but I was concerned they wouldn't be fast enough in this situation. Megabus isn't always on time, but they are usually more on time than Greyhound. And if you are not there for check-in, they can sell your seat to someone else. Megabus is a popular bus service, and there are usually stand-by passengers for the trips to Houston.
All's well that ends well. My co-worker saw my text, hurried right down, and we walked to the station. We arrived in time for me to get checked in and use the restroom before I boarded the bus. I think I did pretty well with staying calm in such a stressful situation. Unfortunately getting stuck on hold with Metro Access had run my phone battery down. I didn't think to grab my charger; it was in my suitcase. So I had a long, boring ride to Houston since I couldn't watch any shows or read or listen to music. I didn't want to run the risk of my phone dying. The ride was longer than usual because there was a bad accident on highway 290, about 45 minutes from my stop in Houston.
Still, I was just grateful to be on the bus. Dealing with a boring ride was worth it.
I did feel bad that I had to hang up on the Metro Access dispatcher. I hope that they didn't spend too long trying to find me. I didn't really have a choice. She had left me on hold and I had to go. I guess I could have stayed on hold and walked at the same time, but I chose not to do that. That would not have been easy from a physical standpoint. And it would have meant I was having to ignore my co-worker who was helping me. So I hung up and did what I had to do. I will be calling on Monday to complain about what happened, and make sure they didn't give me a no-show for this trip. What transpired was absolutely not my fault.
librarianintx
But the one time I do get a little nervous is when I am taking the Megabus to Houston. If Metro Access doesn't show, then I have a short window of time to get to the Megabus station. The good news now is that the Megabus stop is only two blocks from my work, and I usually leave from the library on a Friday afternoon to take the Megabus.
So yesterday I was doing just that. I had a ticket for the 2:40 bus to Houston. I asked for a 2:15 appointment time to arrive at the station, to give myself a buffer. Making a 2:30 reservation for a 2:40 departure time makes me too nervous. When I made the ride on Thursday, I was given a pick-up window of 1:32 to 2:02. Since the bus station is only two blocks from the library, I felt that was a reasonable time period.
Well, you can surmise what happened. My window ended, and my ride had not arrived. I called. I was put on hold more than once. My driver could not be located. Minutes ticked by. It was now 2:15. I'm a slow walker, but I can get to the bus stop in probably less than ten minutes. The key is that I need help to get there. I could walk it myself if I didn't have luggage with me.
Thank goodness my co-worker saved the day. She had seen me waiting while she was out for a walk on break, and told me to text her if my ride didn't arrive. She has helped me walk down there previously. We didn't plan to walk yesterday because rain was possibly threatening, and because my co-worker is recovering from an upper respiratory infection, and I didn't want to ask her to exert herself.
But I was desperate by this point. Ride shares are usually fast, but I was concerned they wouldn't be fast enough in this situation. Megabus isn't always on time, but they are usually more on time than Greyhound. And if you are not there for check-in, they can sell your seat to someone else. Megabus is a popular bus service, and there are usually stand-by passengers for the trips to Houston.
All's well that ends well. My co-worker saw my text, hurried right down, and we walked to the station. We arrived in time for me to get checked in and use the restroom before I boarded the bus. I think I did pretty well with staying calm in such a stressful situation. Unfortunately getting stuck on hold with Metro Access had run my phone battery down. I didn't think to grab my charger; it was in my suitcase. So I had a long, boring ride to Houston since I couldn't watch any shows or read or listen to music. I didn't want to run the risk of my phone dying. The ride was longer than usual because there was a bad accident on highway 290, about 45 minutes from my stop in Houston.
Still, I was just grateful to be on the bus. Dealing with a boring ride was worth it.
I did feel bad that I had to hang up on the Metro Access dispatcher. I hope that they didn't spend too long trying to find me. I didn't really have a choice. She had left me on hold and I had to go. I guess I could have stayed on hold and walked at the same time, but I chose not to do that. That would not have been easy from a physical standpoint. And it would have meant I was having to ignore my co-worker who was helping me. So I hung up and did what I had to do. I will be calling on Monday to complain about what happened, and make sure they didn't give me a no-show for this trip. What transpired was absolutely not my fault.
librarianintx
Friday, April 05, 2019
Physical Therapy
I started physical therapy in January, and I haven't missed a week, even when I was injured or not feeling well. Most days I drag myself in after work and a long Metro Access ride. The sessions aren't easy. I do leg lifts wearing four pound weights, heel raises, getting up and down from a chair, balance exercises, stationary bike, and table exercises: clams, bridges, and leg raises with one pound weights. The leg raises on the table and the bike are the toughest parts of therapy for me. My legs are yelling at me and feel like jelly when I'm done. I leave feeling worn out, hungry, and thirsty, but also pleased at what I've been able to accomplish so far. It all feels good, even though it's tough.
My goals with physical therapy are muscle strength maintenance, balance improvement, and weight bearing exercises to hopefully keep from my osteoporosis from getting worse. I plan to continue the therapy indefinitely. Perhaps at some point I will drop down to maybe once every two weeks. But I'm definitely in it for the long haul. It's a long day when I go to therapy, but I'm pleased with the results so far.
I'm surprisingly compliant with doing the exercises at home, but I need to be more consistent. It's difficult to have the time and energy to do all the exercises every day. I'm supposed to do them twice a day, but it's tough. I have very little time in the morning, and very little energy remaining by the end of the day. So I need to work on consistency. I also need to do more walking, and maybe get back into swimming this summer.
I also need to work on the critical voice in my head - the one that keeps telling me I can't do it, it's too hard, I'm not going to get through it and will have to give up - not completely, just that particular day. When I'm doing my five minutes on the bike, I don't focus on the time, because if I look at the clock I keep trying to convince myself that it's too hard and I'm going to have to stop before the five minutes is up. I try to concentrate on positivity - telling myself that I can do it. I did it last week and I'll do it again this week. When I'm doing the balance exercises - standing in different positions on a big piece of foam, I work on meditation skills - willing myself to hold steady while not holding on to the bar. Again, I try not to look at the timer. I try to breathe and stay centered.
Yesterday at PT my therapist had me start on the table exercises as usual. But it was a busy time with several other patients in the work out area, and I had to lie on a table that was more in the middle of the room. I have a very hard time with middle of a room because of my inner ear disorder. I didn't want to lay down, get vertigo, and then not be able to get up by myself and start to panic. My therapist was working with two other people while I was there, so she couldn't stay with me. I tried to lay down and start my exercises, but I just couldn't do it. It was causing me too much anxiety.
My therapist saw me just sitting on the table, and asked me what was wrong, so I told her. She was great about it. She didn't force me to do it or make me feel like I was weird. She just said, "Let's do your other exercises and then maybe you can do the table work at the end of the session." And that's what happened. By the time I was ready for the laying down exercises, a table was available that was near a wall. I was able to lay down comfortably and complete my exercises. I didn't fail at my workout; I completed everything on the list for that day, and I didn't have to do anything that made me anxious or uncomfortable.
I'm feeling very good about physical therapy, and that gets me through it every week.
librarianintx
My goals with physical therapy are muscle strength maintenance, balance improvement, and weight bearing exercises to hopefully keep from my osteoporosis from getting worse. I plan to continue the therapy indefinitely. Perhaps at some point I will drop down to maybe once every two weeks. But I'm definitely in it for the long haul. It's a long day when I go to therapy, but I'm pleased with the results so far.
I'm surprisingly compliant with doing the exercises at home, but I need to be more consistent. It's difficult to have the time and energy to do all the exercises every day. I'm supposed to do them twice a day, but it's tough. I have very little time in the morning, and very little energy remaining by the end of the day. So I need to work on consistency. I also need to do more walking, and maybe get back into swimming this summer.
I also need to work on the critical voice in my head - the one that keeps telling me I can't do it, it's too hard, I'm not going to get through it and will have to give up - not completely, just that particular day. When I'm doing my five minutes on the bike, I don't focus on the time, because if I look at the clock I keep trying to convince myself that it's too hard and I'm going to have to stop before the five minutes is up. I try to concentrate on positivity - telling myself that I can do it. I did it last week and I'll do it again this week. When I'm doing the balance exercises - standing in different positions on a big piece of foam, I work on meditation skills - willing myself to hold steady while not holding on to the bar. Again, I try not to look at the timer. I try to breathe and stay centered.
Yesterday at PT my therapist had me start on the table exercises as usual. But it was a busy time with several other patients in the work out area, and I had to lie on a table that was more in the middle of the room. I have a very hard time with middle of a room because of my inner ear disorder. I didn't want to lay down, get vertigo, and then not be able to get up by myself and start to panic. My therapist was working with two other people while I was there, so she couldn't stay with me. I tried to lay down and start my exercises, but I just couldn't do it. It was causing me too much anxiety.
My therapist saw me just sitting on the table, and asked me what was wrong, so I told her. She was great about it. She didn't force me to do it or make me feel like I was weird. She just said, "Let's do your other exercises and then maybe you can do the table work at the end of the session." And that's what happened. By the time I was ready for the laying down exercises, a table was available that was near a wall. I was able to lay down comfortably and complete my exercises. I didn't fail at my workout; I completed everything on the list for that day, and I didn't have to do anything that made me anxious or uncomfortable.
I'm feeling very good about physical therapy, and that gets me through it every week.
librarianintx
Thursday, April 04, 2019
"Be on Time Chronicles" 4/4/19
Every week night I get my clothes ready for the next work day.
Clothes, food, purse, phone case
Often I get everything ready more than one day in advance.
For example, on Sunday night I might get stuff ready for Monday, Tuesday, and sometimes even Wednesday, depending on my schedule.
Being organized is a key to whatever sanity I have.
I'm a matchy matchy girl. I like my clothes, shoes, purse, and phone case to match.
I have a lot of clothes that I like to mix and match.
And I often pair up clothes so I don't have to change my purse and phone case every day.
For example, one day I'll wear a brown shirt and brown sweater with blue pants. The next day I'll wear a blue shirt and blue sweater with brown pants. Then I can either carry a brown purse or a blue purse. A brown phone case or a blue phone case.
Last night I readied a pair of jeans, light brown shirt and brown sweater, with brown socks, shoes, purse, and phone case.
Ready to go
But at 6:36 this morning, I decide the weather is going to be too warm for that brown sweater.
That's a winter sweater.
It's going to be 85 today.
My blue jacket is a better idea.
It's more light weight
Why didn't I figure this out last night?!?!
So at 6:36 am I'm changing to blue socks and blue shoes.
Okay, done
All good
I place my food in my lunch bag.
Put on my work badge and zip up my blue jacket.
I'm ready.
Then I look at my brown phone case.
Ugh.
Yes, it goes with my shirt.
Kind of
But the blue case would look better.
I hurry to my room, grab the blue phone case.
Switch out the phone, credit cards, Metro Access pass and ID, a few dollars.
Very good
Completed, and my ride hasn't arrived yet.
Oh wait
I have a blue case with a brown screen background.
That won't do.
Unlock the phone, open the Zedge app,
You don't have time to peruse, just choose a blue background!
Okay, I found one.
Set background.
Yes, I really am this anal.
Then I look at my brown purse, packed and ready to go.
Should I change to the blue purse?
Do I have time?
What if I'm in the middle of switching and my ride arrives?
I decide the brown purse will look fine with the brown shirt and blue jacket.
Somehow I figure all this out remarkably calmly.
When my ride arrives around 6:55, I'm happy with my ensemble.
I grab my things and head for the door.
These last-minute changes are not something I want to do daily, but at least it worked out for today.
librarianintx
Clothes, food, purse, phone case
Often I get everything ready more than one day in advance.
For example, on Sunday night I might get stuff ready for Monday, Tuesday, and sometimes even Wednesday, depending on my schedule.
Being organized is a key to whatever sanity I have.
I'm a matchy matchy girl. I like my clothes, shoes, purse, and phone case to match.
I have a lot of clothes that I like to mix and match.
And I often pair up clothes so I don't have to change my purse and phone case every day.
For example, one day I'll wear a brown shirt and brown sweater with blue pants. The next day I'll wear a blue shirt and blue sweater with brown pants. Then I can either carry a brown purse or a blue purse. A brown phone case or a blue phone case.
Last night I readied a pair of jeans, light brown shirt and brown sweater, with brown socks, shoes, purse, and phone case.
Ready to go
But at 6:36 this morning, I decide the weather is going to be too warm for that brown sweater.
That's a winter sweater.
It's going to be 85 today.
My blue jacket is a better idea.
It's more light weight
Why didn't I figure this out last night?!?!
So at 6:36 am I'm changing to blue socks and blue shoes.
Okay, done
All good
I place my food in my lunch bag.
Put on my work badge and zip up my blue jacket.
I'm ready.
Then I look at my brown phone case.
Ugh.
Yes, it goes with my shirt.
Kind of
But the blue case would look better.
I hurry to my room, grab the blue phone case.
Switch out the phone, credit cards, Metro Access pass and ID, a few dollars.
Very good
Completed, and my ride hasn't arrived yet.
Oh wait
I have a blue case with a brown screen background.
That won't do.
Unlock the phone, open the Zedge app,
You don't have time to peruse, just choose a blue background!
Okay, I found one.
Set background.
Yes, I really am this anal.
Then I look at my brown purse, packed and ready to go.
Should I change to the blue purse?
Do I have time?
What if I'm in the middle of switching and my ride arrives?
I decide the brown purse will look fine with the brown shirt and blue jacket.
Somehow I figure all this out remarkably calmly.
When my ride arrives around 6:55, I'm happy with my ensemble.
I grab my things and head for the door.
These last-minute changes are not something I want to do daily, but at least it worked out for today.
librarianintx
Wednesday, April 03, 2019
Two great quotes
And this one (I couldn't copy and paste the image):
"The size of fear that stops you is going to determine the size of life you have."
Both quotes are so so true, especially for me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm tired even when I'm busy and enjoying my life, but it's a different kind of tired. It's a productive tired, a fulfilling tired, a tired that comes with being involved in meaningful activities that give you purpose in life. It's a different kind of tired than just going through the motions of an ordinary day and not doing what you enjoy and what is important to you. When I was too sick to do anything more than dragging myself to work and dragging myself home, the exhaustion was so acute and so depressive. I felt like I had no life. Even though I like my job, I was so tired and ill that my job didn't have as much meaning as it does now. I was just going through the motions.
I want to be doing even more now that I'm feeling better, but I constantly seek to have balance in my life. Keep busy, but not too busy. Have a social life, but make sure I still have the energy for my #1 priority: work. Engage in cultural, political, education activities when I can. Get enough rest, eat well, try to exercise. Keeping my anxiety in check as much as possible affords me added energy to do more with my life.
My goal in life is to crawl into bed every night feeling like I made good use of my existence. I was productive, I did good work, I fed my soul. I accomplished.
I know that fear holds me back in many ways, and my life is smaller because of those fears. I work on my fears and anxieties every day. Sometimes it's one step forward and one step back. But I keep trying. My physical and emotional issues related to public speaking are an area I very much want to work on and improve. My desires to be an advocate and leader in the disability community are thwarted by my fear and avoidance of public speaking.
Life is a process.
Every day.
librarianintx
Tuesday, April 02, 2019
"Be on Time Chronicles" 4/2/19
Last year I went to the Texas Teen Book Festival for the first time.
I really enjoyed it.
It is much smaller than the Texas Book Festival, which is a massive endeavor covering blocks of territory inside and around the State Capitol building.
The Teen Book Festival was held at St Edward's University last year. St Ed's is located in south Austin, and is within the Metro Access para-transit service area.
All of the sessions were in one building on the campus.
There were a few vendor booths nearby outside, while the rest of the booths, and the bookstore area, were in the gym not far from the building that held the sessions.
It turned out to be a warm day, and I did get tired from walking, and from standing for a long time so I could meet two of the authors and get my books signed.
But it was way easier for me than the big Texas Book Festival.
Last night I saw on Facebook that the date for the Texas Teen Book Festival was posted.
It will be on October 12th.
Cool, I thought. I'm gonna go again. It's totally do-able for me.
Then I looked closely.
The festival will not be at St. Edward's this year.
It will be at Southwestern University.
That's in Georgetown.
Metro Access doesn't go to Georgetown.
There is an interurban bus from Austin to Georgetown, but it doesn't run on weekends.
Even if it did, there's only one stop, and it isn't at Southwestern University.
So I'm screwed.
No Texas Teen Book Festival for me, unless I find someone to go with.
Or I could take a ride share.
But that would be expensive.
Sigh.
Okay not just a sigh.
This sucks big time.
Why did they have to change the venue?
And why did they have to change it to a place in another city?
Our society is just not built for people who can't drive, or who don't have a car.
People with disabilities who have vehicles and the ability to drive have so many more opportunities than people with disabilities who rely on public transportation, especially para-transit.
I see postings on Facebook from people with disabilities that can drive, and all the group and individual endeavors that they experience.
Meals at restaurants
Shopping
Movies
Concerts
Social, cultural, political, educational events
Excursions to nearby cities
Sometimes I can do one of these things in a day. Usually it takes hours to do one event. One movie. One concert. One cultural event. I can rarely do more than one thing, unless there is a restaurant near or inside the building I'm going to. And trips out of town are impossible unless I'm traveling on Megabus or Greyhound to a city where I have family or friends that I can stay with. No drives to take pictures in the wildflowers for me. No day trips to a nearby city to sight see. It's just not possible. Not unless someone drives me.
And if I go with someone, then I'm on their schedule and they have the power. Their car. Their timeline. Often their decision on where we go and how long we stay and what all we do. Which means I have to make sure I can keep up, that I have the time and energy and concentration to do everything on their agenda.
My inability to drive and lack of a vehicle are so limiting and frustrating.
Maybe there will be self-driving in my lifetime, but the cost will likely be prohibitive.
I do the best I can with the options I have.
I try to live a productive, satisfying, fulfilling life.
I do what I can to make things happen for myself.
librarianintx
I really enjoyed it.
It is much smaller than the Texas Book Festival, which is a massive endeavor covering blocks of territory inside and around the State Capitol building.
The Teen Book Festival was held at St Edward's University last year. St Ed's is located in south Austin, and is within the Metro Access para-transit service area.
All of the sessions were in one building on the campus.
There were a few vendor booths nearby outside, while the rest of the booths, and the bookstore area, were in the gym not far from the building that held the sessions.
It turned out to be a warm day, and I did get tired from walking, and from standing for a long time so I could meet two of the authors and get my books signed.
But it was way easier for me than the big Texas Book Festival.
Last night I saw on Facebook that the date for the Texas Teen Book Festival was posted.
It will be on October 12th.
Cool, I thought. I'm gonna go again. It's totally do-able for me.
Then I looked closely.
The festival will not be at St. Edward's this year.
It will be at Southwestern University.
That's in Georgetown.
Metro Access doesn't go to Georgetown.
There is an interurban bus from Austin to Georgetown, but it doesn't run on weekends.
Even if it did, there's only one stop, and it isn't at Southwestern University.
So I'm screwed.
No Texas Teen Book Festival for me, unless I find someone to go with.
Or I could take a ride share.
But that would be expensive.
Sigh.
Okay not just a sigh.
This sucks big time.
Why did they have to change the venue?
And why did they have to change it to a place in another city?
Our society is just not built for people who can't drive, or who don't have a car.
People with disabilities who have vehicles and the ability to drive have so many more opportunities than people with disabilities who rely on public transportation, especially para-transit.
I see postings on Facebook from people with disabilities that can drive, and all the group and individual endeavors that they experience.
Meals at restaurants
Shopping
Movies
Concerts
Social, cultural, political, educational events
Excursions to nearby cities
Sometimes I can do one of these things in a day. Usually it takes hours to do one event. One movie. One concert. One cultural event. I can rarely do more than one thing, unless there is a restaurant near or inside the building I'm going to. And trips out of town are impossible unless I'm traveling on Megabus or Greyhound to a city where I have family or friends that I can stay with. No drives to take pictures in the wildflowers for me. No day trips to a nearby city to sight see. It's just not possible. Not unless someone drives me.
And if I go with someone, then I'm on their schedule and they have the power. Their car. Their timeline. Often their decision on where we go and how long we stay and what all we do. Which means I have to make sure I can keep up, that I have the time and energy and concentration to do everything on their agenda.
My inability to drive and lack of a vehicle are so limiting and frustrating.
Maybe there will be self-driving in my lifetime, but the cost will likely be prohibitive.
I do the best I can with the options I have.
I try to live a productive, satisfying, fulfilling life.
I do what I can to make things happen for myself.
librarianintx
"Be on Time Chronicles" 4/1/19
Note to self:
Don't try a new hair conditioner on a Monday morning
Further note:
Don't try a new hair conditioner on a COLD Monday morning, where you'll need extra time to get your jacket on.
Still further note:
Don't try a new hair conditioner on April Fool's Day
And one more note:
Remember that your jacket has a zipper that often doesn't want to cooperate. Especially on a morning where you've tried a new hair conditioner AND your driver is exactly on time.
But all's well that ends well.
My driver waited for me.
And my zipper actually cooperated.
librarianintx
Don't try a new hair conditioner on a Monday morning
Further note:
Don't try a new hair conditioner on a COLD Monday morning, where you'll need extra time to get your jacket on.
Still further note:
Don't try a new hair conditioner on April Fool's Day
And one more note:
Remember that your jacket has a zipper that often doesn't want to cooperate. Especially on a morning where you've tried a new hair conditioner AND your driver is exactly on time.
But all's well that ends well.
My driver waited for me.
And my zipper actually cooperated.
librarianintx
Monday, April 01, 2019
March 2019 Month in Review
First of all - Yikes! I only blogged TWICE in March? Unacceptable! I need to blog more often!
Now that I've chastised myself, let's move on to the month is review. March was a VERY good month, for several reasons.
First of all, it is my birthday month. And I had a lovely birthday weekend filled with family, friends, food, and pampering. On Friday, March 8th, my sister made my favorite dinner: filet of chicken, with cupcakes from Ooh La La for dessert. Most of my immediate family was there. On Saturday, I had lunch with my mom and friends at a great Italian restaurant.. We sat on the patio and it was very nice, although a little windy. After lunch I was treated to a much-needed manicure and pedicure. On Sunday morning, my actual birthday, I had brunch at a Tex-Mex restaurant with mom and two of my cousins. So I was definitely well-fed the weekend of my birthday - in body and in soul.
On Wednesday, March 20th, I traveled to McAllen, Texas, for the 3rd annual Transportation Works Conference, part of the five year grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities through the Texas State Independent Living Council to study transportation options for Texans with Disabilities (SILC). I was extremely fortunate to get a ride from SILC employees so I didn't have to deal with Greyhound. The ride was long, but also fun, and we saw gorgeous wildflowers along the way - fields of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, buttercups, daises, etc.
The conference was great - interesting sessions, some dynamic speakers, and I had some opportunities to network. I also attended the SILC Town Hall on Friday morning.
The conference was held at the McAllen Convention Center, which is attached to the McAllen Embassy Suites hotel. My suite was amazing! And the staff at the hotel was incredibly helpful and friendly.
I had free time on Friday afternoon, so I went on a little adventure. I took an Uber to the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. March is not a time for butterflies in south Texas, but I still enjoyed walking the trail. I logged 6600+ steps that day - a record for me! I saw birds, a few butterflies, and some roadrunner type birds. I spent Friday evening in the hotel lounge with a few people from the conference, enjoying free happy hour and live music.
Then on Tuesday, March 26th, I had dinner with a friend at the Austin Public Library's Cookbook Cafe, and then attended a special True Crime Book Club where we got to hear author Skip Hollingsworth discuss his book The Midnight Assassin, about a serial killer that roamed the streets of Austin during the late 1850's. We also got to meet him and take a selfie when he signed copies of the book after the discussion.
The Midnight Assassin is the only book I read in March, but I'm working my way through two others. I watched one Netflix movie, "Inside Out," with Edie Falco, and one documentary: "Out of Many, One."
So it was a fun March that included a trip to a part of Texas I haven't been to in decades. Springtime can be difficult for me because of my inner ear disorder. It tends to flare up during the spring and can wreak havoc on my physical and emotional well-being. So far I've been virtually symptom free. This has allowed me to have a remarkably calm, happy, organized, busy, and productive March, which I am so very grateful for.
librarianintx
Now that I've chastised myself, let's move on to the month is review. March was a VERY good month, for several reasons.
First of all, it is my birthday month. And I had a lovely birthday weekend filled with family, friends, food, and pampering. On Friday, March 8th, my sister made my favorite dinner: filet of chicken, with cupcakes from Ooh La La for dessert. Most of my immediate family was there. On Saturday, I had lunch with my mom and friends at a great Italian restaurant.. We sat on the patio and it was very nice, although a little windy. After lunch I was treated to a much-needed manicure and pedicure. On Sunday morning, my actual birthday, I had brunch at a Tex-Mex restaurant with mom and two of my cousins. So I was definitely well-fed the weekend of my birthday - in body and in soul.
On Wednesday, March 20th, I traveled to McAllen, Texas, for the 3rd annual Transportation Works Conference, part of the five year grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities through the Texas State Independent Living Council to study transportation options for Texans with Disabilities (SILC). I was extremely fortunate to get a ride from SILC employees so I didn't have to deal with Greyhound. The ride was long, but also fun, and we saw gorgeous wildflowers along the way - fields of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, buttercups, daises, etc.
The conference was great - interesting sessions, some dynamic speakers, and I had some opportunities to network. I also attended the SILC Town Hall on Friday morning.
The conference was held at the McAllen Convention Center, which is attached to the McAllen Embassy Suites hotel. My suite was amazing! And the staff at the hotel was incredibly helpful and friendly.
I had free time on Friday afternoon, so I went on a little adventure. I took an Uber to the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. March is not a time for butterflies in south Texas, but I still enjoyed walking the trail. I logged 6600+ steps that day - a record for me! I saw birds, a few butterflies, and some roadrunner type birds. I spent Friday evening in the hotel lounge with a few people from the conference, enjoying free happy hour and live music.
Then on Tuesday, March 26th, I had dinner with a friend at the Austin Public Library's Cookbook Cafe, and then attended a special True Crime Book Club where we got to hear author Skip Hollingsworth discuss his book The Midnight Assassin, about a serial killer that roamed the streets of Austin during the late 1850's. We also got to meet him and take a selfie when he signed copies of the book after the discussion.
The Midnight Assassin is the only book I read in March, but I'm working my way through two others. I watched one Netflix movie, "Inside Out," with Edie Falco, and one documentary: "Out of Many, One."
So it was a fun March that included a trip to a part of Texas I haven't been to in decades. Springtime can be difficult for me because of my inner ear disorder. It tends to flare up during the spring and can wreak havoc on my physical and emotional well-being. So far I've been virtually symptom free. This has allowed me to have a remarkably calm, happy, organized, busy, and productive March, which I am so very grateful for.
librarianintx
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