November 22, 2024 ~ Friday morning (chilly, sun is rising, another day in paradise and political hell)
I woke up today thinking, as I have done so since the election, of all things politics. Not exactly the nicest or best way to start the day. With what is our political climate of late, it is best to say … it’s not good. The Orange Asshole is at it (in force) already and we are now in the phase of this post-election period where our anticipatory anxiety is ramping up and taking over because we (kind of) knew what was coming down the pike … but it’s all looking much worse than we envisioned. And it’ll get worse and worse as we go along. We are still two months out from the inauguration … then what? We were told what he’d do – why weren’t people listening?
Apparently not. So, we will suffer the consequences of those voting actions. We reap what we sow. We pay the price of our (or others’) actions. And right now and going forward – we will continue to do so. Thanks a lot people! The voices of the American people have been heard – and now we have to contend with what damage has been (and will be) done. Yeah – thanks a lot. It’s not good. NONE of it is good.
And, I’m sorry about the pay-cut, Rachel – I haven’t been watching TV (well, Hallmark movies but not the news)! I told myself for my mental well-being I had to cut back on my daily (and weekly) dose of media input/what is going on now. As a friend said, “I’ve seen better cabinet choices at IKEA!” Haven’t we all?! Sigh. Jeff Sessions is looking pretty good right now. I have been sighing a LOT but my blood pressure and anxiety levels are lower because I am being an ostrich. An informed head-in-the-sand ostrich – but an ostrich nonetheless. I am not dwelling on things I have no control over. It’s not healthy – not for me, at least.
I voted. I took my public and civic duty, right, and responsibility to heart. But, the outcome was far from what I wanted. l can make jokes about what is going on – a cushion against the unparalleled idiocy and domination that is marching across this country. The racism, misogyny, intolerance, white supremacy, the oligarchial dawning … it’s just too much.
So, I am thinking about pillows.
Yeah – you heard me right! I have promised myself I will not stress over that which I have no control. And that is a LOT. (Thanks, again, people!) So, I’m focusing on that which I can control … and right now that is my bed pillow situation. I want to be Goldilocks. In a world where nothing feels right – when I sink down onto my bed at night, I want my pillows to be perfect. Not too hard/firm … not too flat/squishy. In other words, JUST RIGHT. I’m calling it the Goldilocks Ideal.
I have pillows on my bed. I have pillows under my bed. I have pillows in storage. None are what I want. I used to have more beds, which meant – more pillows. Somehow, for some reason, when the beds went away – the pillows did not! I had an Air BnB for a few years and a guest room … more pillows! The old pillows would be stuffed into dog bed covers for my doggy daycare biz – so, I had a lot of pillow-stuffed dog beds around! I still do. The dogs don’t mind if the pillows aren’t new or ultra fluffy, but I do!
In any case – I have pillows … just not ones I LIKE! My bed looks like it should be in a display in the linen department at Macy’s! The pillows look plump and fluffed but aren’t quite … right. They don’t have that it factor. I hold onto the extras (under my bed and in storage) for when I have overnight guests. Has that happened? A few times but not enough to warrant my pillow accumulation! So why do I have still have those pillows under my bed? In case of a pillow shortage? Like the TP insanity during Covid? Hey everyone I know and love – if you run out of pillows – come on by. I’ve got you covered – I’ve got extras! Egad. I don’t know what sickness this is but it’s got a hold on me! LOL.
So, with that (and fully, embarrassingly aware that this is a first world problem), I’m on the quest again. I feel, at times, that I’m a pillow snob. Ha! But, seriously, I want a good night’s sleep (especially when it means I need rest to face what is coming the next day) and for me that means a good pillow where I can rest my weary (politically inclined/upset) head. I just want a standard-size (not king), good for side sleeping, supportive but not neck crunching or realigning, soft but not one that’ll flatten out during sleep, squishy and moldable enough, and also down-alternative so I don’t wake up with a puffed face from feather allergies! Is that too much to ask? Home Goods, Target, Costco, and Walmart all bombed out. So – I’m back to the drawing board.
In the meantime – I’m keeping my eyes on the dog beds! The dogs sure are sleeping well … and maybe, just maybe, those pillows are just right.