"Be on Time Chronicles"

Oh, it was an interesting ride home from work today.

There were two ladies on the bus when I boarded.

One lives in a house in a neighborhood near my apartment complex.

I don't know the other lady.

But she did not stop talking for the entire ride.

We dropped off the other lady.

And then we bypassed my street and headed to the freeway.

I was annoyed, but I still had more than hour before my next ride to the grocery store. So I didn't say anything. 

It turns out the lady was going to Walmart. And she was so late that the window for her return ride was about to open. 

She called Dispatch and demanded that she be taken home on the bus she was on. 

We were pulling into the Walmart parking lot, and she said she would not get off the bus. "Tell him he has to take me home," she said to Dispatch.

I absolutely understand her frustration. But if it had been me, I think I would have let them drop me off and asked the other driver if they could take me home, rather than screw up the current driver's route.

Luckily I got to go home first.

But I felt so bad for that driver.

I hate it when passengers call and complain when they are on the bus.

It creates such stress for the driver, and the other passengers. 

librarianintx 

Benefits of Being Outside

I watched a webinar today about the physical and psychological benefits of being outside.

Spending time in nature can decrease anxiety and depression, boost mood, and lower blood pressure. Many people enjoy recreational activities like walking, hiking, playing sports, and gardening. 

I enjoy being outside, but I also have struggles.

I sunburn easily, I hate wind, and I am sensitive to both heat and cold. 

A perfect day for me to be outside would be 75-80 degrees, overcast, with no wind.

Ideal doesn't happen very often.

I also have to factor in air quality and the presence of mosquitos.

My apartment has a patio. I enjoy sitting outside and reading. I also take walks around the complex when the temperature allows.

I have been to outdoor events like Renaissance Festivals and day trips to look at wildflowers, or lunch at a food truck park. I've been really lucky lately with the weather. But even if it's windy or hot I'll still go when I can. I don't want to miss those times with friends. 

librarianintx 

Young Royals Book Series

I have now read all six books in the Young Royals series by YA historical fiction writer Carolyn Meyer.

She wrote books about Katherine of Aaragon, Princess Mary, Princess Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn, Catherine de Medici, and Marie Antoinette. 

All written from their point of view.

I enjoyed them all, and wish she had written more.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I'm going to choose the one about Marie Antoinette. 

It was the longest book in the series, but I could not put it down.

It's my favorite thing to say about a book. :)

librarianintx 

The Importance of Wearing Sunglasses

I wear sunglasses occasionally, but not as much as I should, because I didn't have prescription sunglasses. Not having prescription sunglasses meant that I couldn't read, journal, or do anything on my phone while I was out and about on a sunny day. That frustrated me, but I still put off buying prescription sunglasses. 

Until now. 

A week ago, I picked up my first pair of prescription sunglasses. 

I am SO happy to have them!

I have been learning about all the ways that sunglasses can protect your eyes. 

Here's a list:

Protect your eyes from UV rays and glare

Sunglasses can reduce wrinkles

They can protect the skin around your eyes from skin cancer and your eyelids from cancer.

They can also reduce your chances of developing eye diseases such as cataracts and Macular Degeneration.

Sunglasses can keep your eyes safe from debris and elements like blowing sand.

They can even help you avoid headaches and migraines. 

I wish I would have done it years ago, but I'm very glad I finally have prescription sunglasses, and that I am wearing them. 

I have chronic dry eye, and an eyelid condition called blepharitis, so I am also now using eyedrops and doing eyelid scrubs daily (mostly).

It feels good to know I am finally taking steps to manage my eye health. 

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Organization Spotlight: Pflag

Started in 1973 by the mother of a gay son, Pflag now has chapters nationwide, an annual conference, and a wealth of information on their web site - for parents, families, friends, and allies, as well as for members of the queer community.

Check out to https://pflag.org to get educated, to find support, and to get involved.

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Show Recommendation: Pose

Speaking of Billy Porter, if you haven't watched Pose yet - what are you waiting for?

Pose was a show about the ballroom scene in 1980's New York City. It featured the largest cast of transgender and gay actors.

Billy Porter won an Emmy for Lead Actor for Pose.

MJ Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for her role in Pose, and was the first transgender actress to be nominated for a Lead Actress Emmy.

Pose ran for three seasons and is available on Hulu.

It is outstanding. 

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Book Recommendation: Unprotected by Billy Porter

There are so many memoirs I want to read.

I'm a biography / autobiography girl.

Unprotected is really good.

Billy Porter survived a rough childhood and was tested many times on his road to stardom.

Talent and determination saw him through.

librarianintx 

Saying Goodbye to a Doctor

 Yesterday I had my final appointment with my long-time pulmonologist - Dr. Shapiro. 

He has been a fixture in the NMD community for I don't know how long. 

He has been my doctor for about 20 years. 

Dr. Shapiro has literally changed my life. 

In my first meeting with him, just by looking at me, he diagnosed me with two health conditions and immediately started prescribing treatments and referring me to other doctors for confirmation of his diagnoses. 

I have seen him every three to four months since. 

He is one of those rare doctors that takes a lot of time with you, asks a lot of questions, and follows up. 

He makes sure that I get regular bloodwork and other tests to keep an eye on my health. 

He's also very personable, and we enjoy bantering with each other. 

Because he takes so long with every patient, I usually have to wait awhile to see him. 

Two funny stories, given that fact. 

Usually I meet with him in the late afternoon, after work. 

Knowing that I would have to wait, I packed a book, a journal, I don't remember what else I had with me. 

After our visit, he picked up my bag to help me with it. 

"Girl, what do you have in this thing? This is too heavy for you." he said.

"If you wouldn't make me wait so long, I wouldn't have to bring so much shit," I retorted. 

He grinned and said "Touche."

Another time I was reading when he finally came in the exam room. 

I looked at him over the edge of the book and said, "I'm at a good part in my book. You're gonna have to wait."

That is the relationship we had. 

I'm not sure I'll have that with another doctor. 

It's sad and I will miss him, but I am also happy for him. 

He has worked hard, and now it's time for him to enjoy his retirement. 

I have a friend whose long-time doctor died. So obviously I am grateful that Dr. Shapiro is retiring. There is even a chance that he will work part time as a consultant. But he doesn't know yet. So I treated yesterday's appointment as our last visit. I wrote him a card, and we hugged. I told him how much I appreciated everything he has done for me. 

I have met the doctor who will be taking over for him, and she seems nice and is definitely capable. 

There is a saying that goes something like, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." 

That is what I am trying to do here. 

Thank you, Dr. Shapiro. 

I have the life that I have in large part because of you. 

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Show: Overcompensating

 Overcompensating is a show currently streaming on Amazon Prime. 

The main character, Benny, is a closeted guy in his first year of college. 

Benny goes to great lengths to conceal his sexual orientation. 

Confession: I haven't finished the season. I have two more episodes. 

But I wanted to blog about it, especially after the blog post about Sally Ride. 

Isn't it so sad that in 2025 we have to have a show about a young person in the closet? 

Benny goes through so much torment, as he navigates attempting to join a fraternity, crushing on a classmate, dealing with his older sister and her boyfriend being at the same school, and developing a close friendship with a gal pal that he tries to date. He also struggles with family expectations and his identity as a high school jock. 

I'm not sure that I can recommend Overcompensating. 

Part of the problem is that I'm a middle-aged woman watching a raunchy show about a group of young people that don't know how to communicate with each other. 

I don't dislike it. 

But definitely the target audience is younger. 

It has a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, so people like it. 

Maybe the appeal is that it is often over the top. 

Also, the nostalgia factor - many of us remember how hard we used to try to fit in, before we realized how important it is to be ourselves. 

There's nudity, a lot of sexual situations, and a lot of foul language in Overcompensating - but there's also real emotion and heart too. 

It's an ensemble cast, and all of them are struggling and finding their way, not just Benny.

Maybe I like it better than I thought I did. 

librarianintx 

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Documentary Recommendation: Sally

 Sally is a documentary currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+ about the first American woman astronaut in space: Sally Ride. 

There are spoilers in this blog post, so stop reading if you want to watch the documentary and not be spoiled. 

Sally was not only the first American woman in space, she was also gay. 

But she hid that part of her life from everyone except her very closest friends.

She gave her life partner of 27 years, Tam, permission to tell the world after she died. 

Sally died at the age of 61 of pancreatic cancer. 

She and Tam had known each other since they were kids. 

They were together for 27 years. 

So why did Sally choose to stay in the closet? 

A number of reasons. 

She grew up in a family that did not express their emotions. 

She worked in a male-dominated field.

She was friends with Billy Jean King and witnessed what she endured when she was outed. She was taken to court, lost many of her endorsements, and was dragged through the mud in the media. 

Sally became a celebrity when she was selected to be the first American woman astronaut. 

She became a hero to many, especially girls. 

She and Tam started a program to get more girls involved in STEM. 

She was scared that if she and Tam were outed, then the program would be discontinued. 

With celebrity status comes intense media scrutiny. 

She was trying so hard to fit into the male-dominated world of NASA, and then she had to field ridiculous misogynistic questions. 

When reporters referred to her as miss, she would rely, "You can call me Sally, or you can call me Doctor. Do not call me Miss."

It is very sad that Sally felt she could not live her live out in the open. 

Given her situation, it makes sense. But it doesn't make it any less sad, for her and for Tam. 

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month Documentary Recommendation: Will & Harper

When comedian Will Ferrell learns that his friend of more than thirty years has transitioned, they embark on a cross country road trip. It is an opportunity for them to reconnect as friends, and for Will, and the audience, to learn about Harper's transition. There are a lot of laughs, some tears, and unfortunately some nerve-wracking and hurttful moments,  most notably in my great state of Texas.

In sharing her story with such candor and bravery, Harper teaches Will and us the importance of living life fully and authentically. 

The documentary is also a testament to the power and sustainability of friendship.

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Hotlines for the LGBTQ+ Community

 THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL POST.

It is simply stating facts. 

In July, the Trump administration will eliminate funding for the section of the 988 Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline that serves LGBTQ+ youth. 

LGBTQ+ will still be able to call 988 and receive help. But there will no longer be a section specifically for them with specially trained staff to meet their needs. 

Here is a list of other hotlines that are available for anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+:

https://pflag.org/resource/support-hotlines 

It is important for people to know these resources exist.

That there is help available. 

Please share.

librarianintx

LGBTQ+ Pride Month: "It Gets Better" organization

 https://itgetsbetter.org/about/

It Gets Better is a non-profit organization that seeks to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. This is accomplished by sharing stories, educating, and connecting globally. 

By uplifting, empowering, and connecting LGBTQ youth, the goal is to create thriving LGBTQ adults, who can then help the next generation to thrive. 

"It Gets Better" is an important concept for all LGBTQ youth. 

And everyone can get involved in helping these young people feel safe to be themselves.

librarianintx