Great Book!

My person highly recommends this book. She read it as an audiobook, but it's available in print and as an e-book. It's not new; it's been out for a few years. It's a novel but based on real life events - historical fiction, she called it.

"Don't spoil the plot," she admonished me.

"I won't," I replied indignantly. 

There are books you can read about the real events that inspired the novel.

Little Bow

It Finally Came!

My person is SO excited!!

Her London to Vegas Def Leppard DVD / CD box set just arrived - a few days early after being delayed due to COVID-19.

She is thrilled.

I reminded her that she still needs to exercise, but she's ignoring me.

I can understand - These guys are rockin'!

Little Bow

Survivor: Winners at War finale: My Thoughts

Okay, so I'm only two and a half weeks late in commenting about the Survivor finale. That's not too bad, right?

I really enjoyed the season. There were so many good players, obviously, because they were all previous winners of the show.

Tony was not my favorite player, but he is definitely a worthy winner. I am very happy for him and his family. I think he is a very entertaining player to watch. I enjoyed his mad searches for hidden immunity idols, and his spying on his fellow contestants.

I thought Natalie had an amazing journey this season, and I was happy to see her make her way back into the game. I would not have been unhappy to see her win, but I agree with many fans that her decision not to make fire against Tony likely cost her $2,000,000.

So who did I want to win? I had several people that I was rooting for, including Jeremy, Nick, Ethan, Yul, and Denise. It's hard for me to narrow it down from those five, but if I had to choose one, I think I would say Jeremy. But I really love them all. Actually, there is only one person that I didn't like this season. I understand why Sandra was chosen to be on this season. She is a two-time winner. But her attitude drives me crazy. And it was disheartening to see her quit when she was voted out, although it did not surprise me. She considers herself the Queen of the show, but Denise earned the title of Queen Slayer with one of the greatest blindsides the series has ever seen.

Of course one of my favorite parts of the season was seeing the families reunited, especially the players on the Edge of Extinction getting to spend time with their families. That was one of the best segments ever in the history of the show.

Thanks for a great season, Survivor, and congratulations to all the contestants who appeared on the show.

"Little Bow Chronicles" - Friday afternoon work - 5/29

Little Bow says, "I spent the afternoon with my person while she worked. She spoke to a client, updated a fact sheet, and found some online resources that made her very happy. 

Here's one of them:

One Day University

https://www.onedayu.com/

Learning is fun!

Having access to so many enrichment opportunities remotely is fantastic!

That's what she said to me, anyway.

This one isn't free, but it's reasonably priced.

Now her work day is done, and it's the weekend!"

"Little Bow Chronicles" - Intro - 5/29/20

Probably a short-lived series, because there may be a limitation of places in the apartment that I can photograph her, since we're both at home, living under the threat.

But here goes.

This is Little Bow.

I call her my emotional support animal.

Today she came out of my room and hung out with me while I worked.

Little Bow is looking for "CTRL" in her life. 😀

But she's still happy.

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - life in a bubble - 5/14/20

If you are around my age, you might remember David Vetter. Likely you don't remember him by name; you knew him as "the boy in the plastic bubble." Not the cheesy 1976 movie with John Travolta. David Vetter was the real boy in the plastic bubble. You can read more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vetter

Basically, David was born with an inherited condition that made him extremely vulnerable to germs. His older brother died of the condition. So when David was born, doctors decided that the best chance he had at life was to live in a bubble, without any human touch.

He lived in a hospital for the first few years of his life. Everything he came into contact with - clothes, diapers, toys, food, had to be sanitized first. Medical personnel and his family touched him wearing big, thick gloves that were attached to the bubble. As he grew older, a series of bubbles were constructed so he could move around. He did everything in these bubbles: slept, ate, played. Eventually he attended school remotely. NASA designed a space suit that allowed him to go outside and explore. But the suit was uncomfortable, and there were so many protocols to follow that he only wore it a few times.

When he was 12, David agreed to an experimental bone marrow treatment. He did not want to live in a bubble forever. Unfortunately he became ill a few months after the transplant, and was removed from his series of bubbles. He died a few weeks later. Much was learned from his life, and death. Children with his condition can now live normal lives.

I mention David Vetter because I cannot imagine living without human touch for twelve years. I have now lived without human touch for a little more than two months, and it is so difficult. I am physically distancing from the two people I come into contact with: my roommate and my caregiver. I am doing this as an added precaution, because I am high risk for the virus. The last time I remember touching anyone was March 10 - my birthday. And I don't know when it will be safe for me to stop the physical distancing. 

Most of us need physical touch in some form - a hug, a pat on the back or arm, hand holding, etc. Physical touch keeps us grounded, connected, it positively impacts our mental and emotional well-being. I think not only of David Vetter, but also people in psychiatric hospitals or solitary confinement in prisons. They are severely isolated as well, sometimes for years or even decades. I cannot imagine what that feels like. I don't want to experience it any longer than I have to. And that's part of the problem. I don't know how long I need to.

I am a person who likes touch.
I like to hug.
I like to be close to people.
Not uncomfortably close.
I don't invade personal space.

I like to hang out with people. I'm in an introvert; I need my alone time. But I enjoy spending time with others. My activities with friends and family are invaluable to me: eating out, going to book clubs, movies, concerts, etc. I miss all of that tremendously. Video chat is great, but it doesn't replace in person contact.

I am so grateful that I get to spend some time with my roommate: watching tv shows, movies, and talking, but even he and I are usually at least half a room apart.
No sitting on the couch together.
No hugs in times of celebration or sorrow or anxiety.
No silly times in our small kitchen together.

Together, but separate.   

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - daily grades - 5/14/20

As I'm climbing into bed at night, I've started reviewing the day and assigning it a grade. I go over what was bad about the day, and then I outline what was good about the day. And then I think about how to make the next day better.

Here is the review from yesterday:

Grade: B-

The bad:
My presentation was marred by technical issues.
I was really tired.
My legs were hurting. I was in pain.
We didn't get some of the groceries we ordered.
I had to do my exercises late.

But here was the good:
I survived the presentation, and I was glad for the opportunity.
I was in pain, but I still took a walk, and I exceeded my step goal.
We got most of the groceries we ordered.
I did my exercises, and took all my medicine.
My roommate and I watched the season finale of Survivor, and we were satisfied with the outcome.
I read thirty pages of a new book. 

And my goals for today:
Drink more water
Do my exercises earlier
Eat more fruit
Find time to read

I start with the bad, and finish with the good, because that is important. We focus on the negative. We have a negativity bias. And focusing on the bad is terrible for us. It weakens our immune system. It affects our mental and emotional health. It can make us feel worse about ourselves and our existence. We need to focus more on the good. So I start with the negative and finish with the positive. And I try to have more good than bad points, even on a day that doesn't get a good grade. I think of the bad events, but then when I list the good events of the day, I'm turning some of the negative aspects into positive ones, such as "My presentation didn't go as planned, but I still did it."

Find a way to see the negative in a more positive light.
Doing this will reduce stress and anxiety -
And will build resilience. 

librarianintx

"Living Under the Threat" - Good Saturday - 5/3/20

Yesterday was quite a good day.

I did ALL my exercises AND pedaled for ten minutes BEFORE noon!

I made a cheese omelette for breakfast, and ate fresh blueberries with lunch.

I finished reading one book and started another.

I spent some time on the patio.

I started watching "The Roosevelts" on PBS.

I finished organizing a stack of grocery receipts.

So I was productive, focused, and I did not procrastinate. 

I made good use of my time.

I had a "me" day, and it was enjoyable.

Except when I thought about the fact that I'm having this nice day at home because I don't feel it's safe for me to go anywhere.

Except when I went on Facebook and saw people getting together with friends, going out to eat, having parties.

Except when the reality hit me that life will go back to at least some sense of normalcy for some people, but not for me.

Except when I thought about the unknowns of how long I will have to stay home and how will I know when it's safe for me to be out in public again.

Except when I think about the fact that rejoining society for me will mean taking public transportation, which will put me more at risk.

So it was a great day, except when all of these "excepts" pushed their way into my consciousness.

Each time, I tried to take a breath, push them away, and focus on something else.

The "unknowns" will become "knowns" in time.

I have to be patient.

And continue to find my happiness, my fulfillment at home.

#mindfulness

librarianintx