Amy N-K

A day in the Portland war zone… @Delaney and I bought hunted dolls to fight with, waited in the Voodoo Donuts ration line, and danced in a drum circle to boost morale. The Portland War Zone isn’t for ... TikTok video by RachelleCochran

You don’t know what they’re hiding in their drums! 🤣

www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8AyYP5L/

Yes. And don’t share your kids’ private life or diagnoses with people or make their challenges all about the impact your kid’s disability has had on *you* their entire lives. Your kids have enough to navigate without having to manage your feelings too. Even if your “kid” has been grown for years.

I hear you. I’ve been grateful for my shower seat; is that something you could set up for yourself? (Although honestly, joining the “I Do Not Care Club” and shaving it off is an attractive choice in its own way!) 😊❤️

Tus lecciones siempre son maravillosas.

isportlandburning.com

What a lovely honor. Congrats!

Yes. I’m constantly asked who I’m training him for. When I say he’s my service dog, I then have to decide how to handle whatever feelings the asker is having about their assumptions being challenged. Usually some mix of incredulous, entitled, ignorant, and/or embarrassed. It’s a demand of info/time.

I often get side eye from people who think I don’t look disabled enough, or assume my service dog is fake. I may look fine but have a heart rate or BP that’s about to lay me flat. (Please don’t pet the dog - he’s helping keep me upright.) Or I might be having a good heart day! It’s unpredictable.

Things that impact my disability any given day: environment/temperature, hydration, salt and calorie intake, standing time/exertion, anxiety level, sleep, how well my meds are working that day, social pressure to look normal (can do it but it’s hard), whether people are leaving my service dog alone.

Sprocket will come and nudge me when my heart rate or breathing elevate.
Our cat has asthma; I caught this after an attack. Sprocket checks on her, nudges, and then licks her. “You okay? I boop you so you are careful. Also licks.” 😊
Didn’t realize I had trained a service dog to help the cat… 🤣💕🐕‍🦺

It’s completely not okay and the goal is absolutely to wear the FHA and ADA laws down. You’re right to be dismayed! ❤️

A very cute black and white puppy sitting outside

It’s been a lot lately. Sleep is elusive. So I’m ending the night by posting a picture of Sprocket when he was just a baby service-dog-to-be, soon to be donated to his training program. Gonna wash my face and put on an audiobook and think of gardens, puppies, and the promise of better days to come.🐕‍🦺

Trump’s Slumlord Administration Is Gutting the Fair Housing Act There can’t be true desegregation without ending discrimination in housing—which is precisely why the administration is rolling back enforcement of the FHA.

More on this very intentional effort to gut the Fair Housing Act: www.thenation.com/article/poli...

The Fair Housing Act and non-discrimination law remains very much in force. But DJT’s administration just made it much easier for landlords to ignore that law and for people with disabilities and other marginalized identities to have to sue in order to obtain fair housing treatment. Cruel and petty.

The federal HUD office has quietly removed guidance for housing providers on how to adhere to the Fair Housing Act, which protects people with disabilities who have service dogs from discrimination as well as people with limited English or different national origin. www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles...

This seems to be removing guidance on how to follow the law. Which is awful and wrong, but the law still exists. I just find it incredibly petty and cruel towards people with disabilities to make it so much easier to discriminate and deny housing. We shouldn’t have to sue to get fair treatment.

Yep. Been boycotting Target since 2023 when they started pulling Pride merch in response to haters. The DEI rollbacks this year just added even more reasons to avoid them. I have no patience for corporations that do the right thing only when it’s easy.

Contact our Civil Rights Project Director, Juan Chavez, if you were assaulted by federal agents outside of the ICE Building in Portland this weekend.

Black and white dog and tabby cat with white markings napping on a blanket on the couch together.

Wish I could join the frenemy napping party this afternoon… 😴

Hello new followers - nice to have you here. Some things you can expect from me: posts relevant to Portland, as well as: expansive definitions of family, trans rights, disability rights, racial equity, environmental protections, and pictures of my service dog, of beautiful birds, and of my garden. 💐

In “war-ravaged” Portland: yesterday, ICE had snipers on the roof of their building shooting pepper balls at people who were (checks notes)… standing still with signs and chanting. The hostility is coming from ICE, not the other way around.

“I’m Mexican, I’ve tasted spicier”

protect him at all costs, Portland 🥹

We have Bird Alliance of Oregon here in Portland, which has the busiest wildlife hospital in the state… but now I wish it was also named Tiggywinkles.
So sweet. 😊💕🦔

I understand that the sudden movement can cause the heebie jeebies. I love them, though; I had jumping spiders as pets for a while (they lived a very long time for spiders - several years each), and they are also fascinating and gentle creatures (if you aren’t a bug, anyway). 😊

Thankfully, looks like the same judge has extended the restraining order to any/all states. Hopefully Trump will heed this judge’s ruling. He appointed her!

Well, given how often they’ve been circling, they seem to be desperately looking for that supposed war zone. 🙄

Black and white unvested poodle mix service dog with a friendly look on his face

Vested black and white poodle mix service dog standing on a porch doormat with a green door and a topiary behind him.

Professional helper boy Sprocket has been very helpful this weekend. 💕🐕‍🦺
Went to get my flu and COVID jabs and a nurse expressed surprise when he picked my bag up on cue, “I thought he was just a therapy dog!”, and he has been checking on me frequently with some dysautonomia episodes recently. 🫀🫁😓

Yes; we are just north of you (also across from ICE). I have seen and heard the helicopters at all hours over the past week; they’re definitely that much more disruptive at night.

I also get credit for showers as exercise at times! 😅🫠

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.