I was so depressed yesterday, I just sat around the house and watched GABS. Today I got in a run, and went to the march, and saw so many awesome signs and so many fabulous people. It was a whiter crowd than I wanted to see -- not a lot of African-Americans -- but still fairly diverse.

I saw quite a number of Star Wars signs, but only a couple of Harry Potter signs, which was a surprise; I had expected Dumbledore's Army to be a bigger deal. Still, it was great. Then I went out to a late brunch, ate too much, had a long nap, and now I'm making a cassoulet to put in the freezer for the week.

And yeah, I'm more optimistic, but still afraid. There's not much we can do in the short term to stop the shit that's already going on, given the gerrymandered congressional districts and the GOP hold on the House & Senate.

Pictures! [link] [link]

I don't know what it means for tomorrow, or next week, but today is the first time I have felt hope in months.

Same for me. Seeing the news, seeing the posts from everyone, and seeing the comments along the lines of "We need to follow this with more hard work" -- all of that was great.

IO(petty)N: it always amuses me when someone tries to start a political flamefest on things I post on FB, because I know a HELL of a lot of people who will politely throw down and work on educating the clueless troll.

Let me know how much the yarn will run and how much time you'll have to spend on it and I'll send you monies, msbelle. And grateful thanks too, of course!

My therapist asked me a couple of weeks ago what my goals were- being the new year and all - and I could barely answer.

So when I see him Tuesday I have goals for him- work on handling my anxiety so I can participate more. Start by working on being able to show up to a meeting or something even if it's just for a few minutes.

So far, just about every march has had close to double the expected number of people. In NYC the streets were packed from about 42nd/2nd all the way to Trump Tower. (There was an official route which the police had marked off with barriers, but it was so overcrowded people just started marching wherever there was room. Too bad for anyone trying to get through midtown in a car today!)

I've got some leftover acrylic yarn from making my own hats, Beverly, if msbelle doesn't have any. Happy to crochet up another while the pattern is still in my head! Profile address good.

(over 1000 people at the march in Richland, WA, in the super conservative eastern side of the state. Uplifiting!!)

Una - That would be great. I checked and I have no acrylic pink.

What a good day! I got my dance on (and we got paid, so, hey, professional belly dancer, y'all! We donated our fee to the museum, but still, they gave it to us first), then grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch, a quick walk with mom & dad to see the Trolls Under the Mare Island Bridge (Gorgeous! [link] and then to the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve Candlelight March/Hike. Once we got to the top, a woman who just happened to be hiking the same trail asked me if we were a church group, and when I explained she was so pleased to have accidentally ended up there, which was pretty great.

Huge turnout in San Francisco late in the afternoon, in the rain. And everybody was so cheerful and smiling and feeling salty and sassy. But lots of eye contact and big grins.

So glad we marched. Really reaffirmed our "San Francisco Values" and just so heartened by the all the pictures of the crowds. Not just in America but all around the world.

Hec, when I saw SF on MSNBC, I kept telling myself that you and JZ must be there. Thank you!

I'm so proud of Boston. We had 1.25K marchers, that doesn't seem like much until you realize that's 20% of the population, and for area residents, just imagine four Red Sox games letting out of Fenway Park at the same time.

My anxiety makes it impossible for me to do things like this, but while I'm ashamed of myself, I'm so proud of the women of this nation for rising up. Trying to figure out what I can, with my limitations.