Finished listening to Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice. Sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow. Enjoyed both. I like to imagine the road they walked and to what island they arrived. It almost sounds like Mackinac Island and surrounding islands??

Disappointing morning. There is a tree along my walk that has a fairy door, but the door is decorated with Asian fabrics and flowers. People leave trinkets and pictures. There is a treasure box. I took a picture last fall. Well, today the decorations were gone. I found a piece on the trail right before I got there. I am soooo disappointed because I think this was done out of hatred. It was well maintained, so it wasn't torn down because it was an eyesore. I'm just so sad.

What I forgot yesterday. My ears!! They have been so itchy the last couple of days, like way deep inside itchy where they can't be scratched itchy! It is likely allergy related, because this happens in the summer usually, so I'm thinking it is either chickpeas or the peanuts that I have been eating, since both were introduced this week. I didn't have peanuts last night, only chickpeas. And my ears aren't itchy this morning. So....

Honey went to a community ed class on enrolling in Medicare last night. Tuesday night he complained about going because he wanted to work late Wed. Then why didn't you work late on Tuesday if you knew you'd have the class? Reactive not proactive. Sometimes he is just the biggest child about things and his complaining about things he has control over is one of those times. Fortunately the class was very helpful and he is more confident going into the Medicare sign-up process. He got information specific to his situation which was great.

The problem with going to bed early when tired is waking up earlier. There's no catching up on sleep for me. Either I sleep well or I don't. My body tells me 'Hey, you've been in the bed for 7 hours and now you have to get up.' That’s the limit my brain has put on me. So I've been awake since 4:30 because I made the mistake of going to bed at 9:30.

Yesterday morning at work was a nightmare. I did what I said I was going to do and asked the admin to set up my new requests and I put my phone presence on do not disturb. Three hours later I wasn't even done with one of the projects, my anxiety about completing them on time was through the roof, I thought I was having a heart attack and finally at noon I told them there was no way they'd be done on time. At the pace it was going, it would take me working on them nonstop for 3 or more days. So we jumped on zoom and I explained why the way they wanted it wasn't working. So they contacted IT and it sounds like IT will be able to program the changes instead of me doing it manually. Fingers crossed. I compiled the info IT needed and sent it over at the end of the day so they'd have it first thing this morning since they start earlier than I. Otherwise we start over. I was able to get the non-complicated ones done though. Just writing about it makes me anxious and my heart racing all over again.

I'm starting to not like my job. It's been 8 years, the longest I've held any paying job. I'm just hanging in there until I qualify for Medicare. I'm only working for the health insurance. But some days I feel the work is going to kill me before I can retire. Sigh.

Sent my state legislators my legislative wishlist yesterday and heard back from one right away, who especially liked my license plate idea:

1. Identifying license plates for ICE. There is zero reason their plates should look the same as ordinary Minnesotans.
2. No bailout money to farmers. They voted us into this mess, they need to live with the consequences of their actions. We're all suffering because of their vote, they don't deserve to be the only ones getting a handout. [Plus, what i didn't write, they are one of the largest segments receiving govt aide and it is never enough and they whine about it CONSTANTLY and yet complain about food stamps for the poorest of the poor.]
3. Mandatory training and licensing before purchasing a weapon. Every time. Even for those who already own one. It is so ridiculous that we have to study and pass an exam to drive a car but can walk into Walmart and buy a gun with no prerequisites.
4. Ban on assault weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction.

I hope today goes better...