I follow a page on Facebook for activities in my home county of Greene County in Pennsylvania, rural communities and small towns in the foothills of the Appalachians, making their livings from small farms, the dying coal industry, a gigantic federal prison, and the fracking industry (spit). What was posted today was coverage of a 4H group doing highway cleanup along one of the many two-lane roads that run between the towns and farms and villages. 38 bags of garbage, 4 syringes, and many auto parts.

4 syringes. From the weed-covered edges and gullies of a couple of miles of a small country highway. I knew that heroin was devastating rural areas, but I didn't know it was enough to generate at least four syringes thrown out of a car window. How much more must there be?

Looked young overall. I found myself wondering if they've recruited the Bernie Bro contingent.

Sounds plausible.

I follow a page on Facebook for activities in my home county of Greene County in Pennsylvania

I do the same with my home town. It's a combo of great Lake Huron photos and concerns about the economy.

I knew that heroin was devastating rural areas, but I didn't know it was enough to generate at least four syringes thrown out of a car window. How much more must there be?

Much more, unfortunately. And then there's the oxy end of things, in pill form. It's pretty awful.

Today I've mowed the yard, well, most of the yard. I do the backyard, garden area, front yard, the easement, and all the difficult to mow areas of the side yard. Then I leave the big, easy to mow, part of the side yard to a kid. Unfortunately, I pushed it a little too hard on one of the slopes and the yard tractor rolled on top of me. I managed to get it pushed back on its wheels and finish the job, but I'm a little sore. I've also done a load of laundry, done a load of dishes, gotten pet food, and gotten groceries. Now I need to return to the grocery store and get a forgotten item so I can cook dinner. Unfortunately, it's a dinner that generates a lot of dishes so I'll need to do another load of dishes yet today. I also need to do some work on my wife's website and make a brochure or two for her, but I don't know if that will happen tonight. I suspect I'll run out of time.

Congrats on the book and good luck with submission, Hippocampus! Hearing about writing goodness makes me wish I had some time to do some writing.

Yay, book! Go, hippocampus!

Yikes, Gud! I'm glad you weren't hurt worse.

Yikes, Gud! Be careful! I hope the soreness fades quickly.

I follow a page on Facebook for activities in my home county

Pre-Facebook I could just watch COPS to catch up on my neighborhood.

The local Socialists met at the library today! I walked by and the room was almost all men, which I found interesting. The (small) room was very full - I estimate about 35 people.

There were a ton of Socialists in the 4th of July parade. I'm not sure we've had Socialists before, which seems weird. We've always had the Green Party, but no actual banner-waving Socialists.

I follow a page called Memories & photos of Las Cruces. Gotta say, have some excellent photogs in my birthplace. Also, it is amusing to me when I call my parents and they tell me of rain they got (this is noteworthy in a drought stricken desert) and I'm like, I know, I saw amazing pictures!

Got my hair cut, took a disturbing nap, got a decent swim in.

Got box of bday presents and card from the parents. Though it drives mom nuts, not opening until tomorrow(she has no patience.) Gonna go swim at Druid in the morning, loll in the dive tank a bit, open the card, see if S&J are around to join me for tacos and go eat them at water's edge ( and go to bank and bloodbath&beyond.) Then I think I'll come home, pop open a bottle of vinho verde (maybe the rosé variety) and open my presents. And eat cherries.

I just opened kitchen window and French doors, while I let the ac whirr upstairs. Climate zones, or something. But I'm pleased to be able to air out a bit.

It's starting to look like overheating + bright sunlight = light sensitive migraine. Which I've never had problems with BEFORE; I've never liked them, but they didn't cause me problems like this. Thankfully, a combination of ice packs, Aleve, and Bendryl seems to have stopped it. And I'm going to ask my doctor and my psych if Lamictal can cause this sort of thing.

GUD! You are not lawn. Lawn mowers should not go on top of you!

Jilli, increased sensitivity to light is in the "call your doctor at once if you experience one of these" section of lamictal side effects.

But I've been taking it for 4 months? And been at my current dosage for a month? But I will call my doctor and psych. Tho' I think my psych is on vacation until next month.