Katrina

Dissociative responses, up to & including dissociative identities, aren't nearly as "rare" (or dramatic, for that matter) as the culture assumes or insists.

"Integration" in trauma recovery is not about making "parts" disappear. It's about our parts developing the capacity & willingness to work w/ & support each other, so we're not violently & unpredictably slamming in & out of self-states like we often were pre-recovery.

Next challenge will be "reading books on paper instead of listening while keeping my hands busy with other stuff." My preferred mode is "listen to the book once through before the group study starts, then 2 or three more times, stepwise, for the weekly/etc sections for discussion."

In case you wondered why I'm so tired, beyond "had a rib out of place for a week and mostly kept my usual schedule through that" and "I was already tired in 2019."

I'm in a book study group for "The Salish People" (and becoming part of the tech support team), getting ready to start a group study of "Let This Radicalize You," and was recommended "Holding Change" for community leadership skills I want to develop. Also a "Mutual Aid 101" series.)

Books on a red background: Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Miriam Kaba, the workbook for Let This Radicalize You, Holding Change by adrienne maree brown, Salish Myths and Legends, and The Salish People and the Lewis and Clark Expedition by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Cultural Committee

Homework.

Putin’s Three Years of Humiliation The Russian president can’t win his war against Ukraine unless he persuades its allies to betray it.

The only war that Putin is winning is inside Trump’s head. Putin only wins the war on the ground by setting American policy, through Trump.
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...

As predicted, the new regime is expanding its use of concentration camps to house undesirables and Untermenschen, oops I mean "illegals", by which I actually mean "people fleeing for their lives."

Resistance journal

Resistance: listened to more of _Hood Feminism_ by Mikki Kendall

Self-care: heeded Fitbit's advice and skipped exercising

Joy: yeah, I got nothin'

Self-care: ab exercises to ease the mild lumbar strain from poor position while lifting the (now laden with groceries) cart on the way back across the street, and an elliptical workout

Joy: see screenshot

If you've ever tried to push a stroller or shopping cart through gravel, sand, or snow... They don't do that. So I was lifting the front wheels away from the ground while pulling the cart forward.

🧵

Resistance journal

Resistance: helped my (elderly, low-vision) neighbor cross the snowy road (including a deep berm of snow from the plow) to do her weekly grocery shopping. Her cart has pneumatic wheels in back but the front wheels are what you'd see on a grocery cart. 🧵

Please remember something: if you had said a year ago that Trump would do even a fraction of these things, you would have been mocked, belittled, accused of “Trump derangement syndrome,” and dismissed by certain people.

Identify those people and block and shun them.

Joy: TGIF. Also the video of Peabody the house horse, the version with "no, you can't have one, you have bills to pay" commentary.

I'm meeting her at 8a tomorrow to cross the street for a grocery trip, and just before 8 on Monday and Tuesday to help her to the bus stop again. We should probably exchange names.

Self-care: 60 minutes on elliptical.

I continued helping her walk around the block to get to the bus shelter and learned a few reasons (including severe visual impairment) why she needs help with getting through the snowy roads and sidewalks. I was 22 minutes late to work but I think I'll be forgiven and I stayed 22 minutes extra.

She said yes she did, she needed to get across the street but with all the snow (including plow berms and deep ruts in those) she was having trouble finding the lowest spot. I offered my arm and we (very slowly) crossed the street together.

Resistance journal

Resistance: as I walked to work this morning, I saw an elderly woman, using a cane, standing at the edge of the road I was about to cross. I said good morning and asked if she needed help. 🧵

The Vast Majority of Minors Getting Gender-Affirming Surgeries Are Cis Kids, Study Shows The study dispels a well-worn anti-trans talking point about how healthcare providers treat gender dysphoria in kids.

Cisgender boys getting chest reductions for example.

Joy: I'm in a family chat with my youngest son and his Dad of choice and their conversations today have been delightful. Two people under direct threat from government, being joyful with each other.

Self-care: I'm counting "clearing about six inches of new snow off my car" as strength work. I did 20 minutes on elliptical because I paid attention when my body didn't want to (and kept trying to cramp up). It's easier to know, now that my body actually enjoys the elliptical workouts.

Resistance journal

Resistance: made my first of what will be weekly Food Bank deliveries. (Without getting my car stuck in the snow.)

LinkedIn post: On January 24th I formally resigned from my position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I started at CDC in 2010, and I have spent 20 years in public service, including my 15 years in service at the federal level. Here is a little bit of what I wrote in my resignation, because I'm not sure that anyone is actually going to read it. "I feel honored to be among the public health professionals that have had the privilege to work at CDC. As I reflect on my own experiences and accomplishments during my time here, I am humbled by the magnitude and the importance of our work. To my colleagues: we have worked together through chaos and uncertainty, transition, reorganization, preparation, and response. You are the most selfless, dedicated, and passionate people I know. I have watched you work around the clock, take additional details, deployments, and responsibilities, try to balance work and family, forego self-care, and keep pushing and work together to protect the public’s health. I’ve seen your sacrifice. I want you to know that your support and guidance has been invaluable, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished together." While I was backing up files I found my oath that I signed in 2010. I believe in our work, and I am sad to be leaving federal service. But I have immense gratitude for all of the opportunities that I've had and the connections that I've made. I will continue to protect the public's health in a different capacity (stay tuned...) but for now, thank you for trusting me.

The policy lead for CDC's H5N1 response has abruptly resigned.

Sources tell me CDC's response to the bird flu pandemic has been severely hobbled by the chaos of the past two weeks.

Resistance journal

Resistance: signed up (and paid) for CSA shares

Self-care: 50 minutes on elliptical

Joy: hmm. I enjoyed the elliptical? And then there were tangerines.

Democrats should be staging rallies and townhalls in light red GOP districts with their best communicators with an emphasis on education.

Reach out to voters. Let them know what’s going on.

Americans don’t need Sen. Schumer chanting “we will win” in DC.

There are a whole lot of people and communities who have been living and organizing outside of the state for a very long time and it’s worth listening to them in this moment

It's not original to me, and please do! Taking the time to think about each of these daily is helping me stay out of "frozen" or doom spiral states.

Really comprehensive and brutal description of what’s going on at US science agencies by @dereklowe.bsky.social. Read to the end: because this doesn’t need to continue, the rest is not inevitable. We can fight back.

Condemn a US Takeover of Gaza ⭑ 5 Calls During a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump gleefully called for the US to “take over” the Gaza Strip and …

The midterm elections are in 636 days.

Democracy doesn’t run on vibes. Do something that matters.

☎️ Call your representative and condemn Trump’s plans for the U.S. to “take over” the Gaza Strip.

Hind Rajab: The Anne Frank of Gaza’s genocide (RNS) — One year later, her name must never be forgotten.

OPINION: Hind Rajab had no diary. Her testimony is in the broken phone call, in the wreckage of her car, in the cries of every Palestinian mother who has had to bury a child.