I can't believe you've been in Denver for 7 years.

Me neither. 7 years, 2 months, and 4 days to be exact. This is also when I have to pinch myself over having one kid completely out of college, one in college, and I own a house. When did all that happen?

IT has pretty much given up on my computer and is now seeing about transferring my hard drive from this machine into another machine. Crazy!

Meanwhile I am hella frustrated--I've been super overworked the past few months, to the point where even though I'm working way over 100%, I still can't get everything done.

This is me, too, meara. I'm sorry you're going through it, too. ::fist bump::

What everyone else said. About everything. I'm out of spoons.

Took Lucky to the vet yesterday. They did a full CBC. It's either hyperthyroidism or kidney disease. The vet is supposed to call me back today. She's 15, she's older, but she's also one of the last links I have to Rob. I'm not sure I'm ready for this.

And the local BLM groups are becoming more vocal in my area. One of my good friends is the director of communications for a community action group. She just texted me that they've blocked a few white allies because they "don't understand the narrow prescribed role for whites in this movement... we don't need anyone but strong black people." I'm trying really hard to understand how this is going to make anything better. I cannot fathom what their lives are as POC, and I can only try to support them in whatever way they need support, but I'm struggling with this. I understand they're angry, but how is alienating people who want to help helpful?

To people who color in those neat grown-up coloring books--do you use Crayons or pencils? If you use pencils, what are good pencils?

Oh, BLM is Black Lives Matter, not Bureau of Land Management. Land management gets a bit more traction in Utah, unfortunately, than black lives, which is why my mind went there first.

Me too - I always have to stop and check WHICH BLM is the subject.

do you use Crayons or pencils?

I use pencils - I have a Crayola pencil set that has something like 24 colors? I like it. I'd love a fancier set, but they work fine.

I'm taking next week off and I think I should dedicate one day to just coloring.

I've tried pencils, but they never seem to get the depth of color I want. In the past I've done better with watercolors.

I'm trying really hard to not be tone deaf, and I feel like I'm failing.

Oh, BLM is Black Lives Matter, not Bureau of Land Management.

I'm working on something for the Bureau of Land Management right now, and I have to be super careful when I'm multi-tasking.

What kind of watercolords, Toddson? I got some fancy pencils, but am not in love with them. I also recently got an app on my ipad where I can take a picture of the coloring book page, and then paint on top of that, which is kinda neat.

Fist bump to you, amyth. Just talked to my boss, and she hears my frustrations (and is also disappointed) and said they're trying to at least get a contractor to help, if not someone already with the company, but I know that'll take a few weeks to get going even once they actually GET someone, so...ugh.

Maria, I can think of lots of ways "allies" can be unhelpful, though the way she put it is kinda awful sounding. Certainly when "allies" end up making it all about themselves, that could make you go "not helpful, please remember you need to be a SMALL role, and not talking over folks or taking over or focusing on your own stuff", but...:(