I'm just dreading the holidays, where everyone will be a little drunk and far less polite about keeping their politics to themselves.

Wednesday was not great, yesterday was better and today - I have no motivation. just sad ans mad

I'm just dreading the holidays, where everyone will be a little drunk and far less polite about keeping their politics to themselves.

Because my brother and SiL are coming home for Thanksgiving, my very Republican aunt and uncle are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and I'm expecting it to get shitty. So I'm trying to plan ways to try to divert the conversation and I'm trying to steel myself to leave and go home if it doesn't stop. Yay family.

That sucks, Maria (the customers part--your dad is awesome).

Today was my work-from-home day, and I got a fair bit of copyright research done, which was my biggest task. And I learned a bit more about a new-to-me learning management system, which was also on my list. Otherwise, I've been listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen. I don't know why it took his passing to remind me how much I love his stuff.

So far I've been able to eel out of conversations that start to get uncomfortable. Whether they note my leaving after I'm gone, I don't care. So far nobody's confronted me, and that's fine. A simple, "I don't feel well," is all I plan to say if challenged or taunted. I won't engage. I won't. I won't. I can't affect these people, I barely have touchpoints in common. It's a futile exercize and the only one affected will be me.

I'll save my ferocity for places and ways that will make a difference. Mocked behind my back I can do, but I won't argue with black holes of hate.

Maria, I love your dad now and wish I could be his customer.

Maria, your dad is awesome.

I'm so sorry, Maria, but I kind of love your dad right now.

What sj said. {{{Maria}}}

It's true, Maria. It's wonderful to know people like your dad are real.

Joining in on the love fest for Maria's dad!

I alternate between rage, relative calm, and a fucking avalanche of anxiety. My super liberal parents and brother will be here for Thanksgiving, so that will be fine, but then we'll go to Oklahoma for Christmas, which... I'm not sure what to expect, really. Usually M's family doesn't talk politics much, but he has one aunt who is already being super obnoxious on FB, and I'm thinking of ways to shut conversations down just in case.

I have also committed myself to saying something if I hear any racist comments, not just over the holidays, but from now on. They're pretty rare in my circles, but even so, I can think of a couple of instances when I should have called that shit out, and didn't. And that makes me burn with shame. No more.