Thank you Karl.

Steph, I've had to learn a lot of coping mechanisms and ways to work around things. Whenever it was I went and bought another set of noise protection ear muffs -- these [link] -- and before we were out of the store I had them on because I needed relief. They are bulky and I can't sleep on my side with them so I end up propping myself up like royalty.

Oh I got this eye mask from Amazon [link] and I really like it. Totally blocks out the light and the way the eye cup is it doesn't press against your eyes. However the claps to adjust the band sometimes snags on my hair.

Those are more at home ways to deal with either at home sounds or recover from other sounds.

I also really like the Paced Breathing app for anxiety control. You can set up different lengths to hold your breath, inhale, exhale etc and I find that it works really well to calm me down before something....going to the dentist, or the grocery store (when I was first in Brevard , NC and needed all the help).

I have a dentist playlist on Spotify that I haven't had to use in a while but it has a mix of music that is heavy on drums or bass or anything that would cancel out the sound of whatever.

For transitions-- some people use visual timers to help keep track of when things will change. I know a lot of people talk about setting alarms to help remember things, but I just use the timer on my phone. I don't do it as much right now but I would do things like... I have to leave the house in 2 hours so I'd set a timer for 45 mins to do whatever I'm doing ...then when it was over I'd set it for 15 mins.. (that would be kind of my transition time). Then set it for 30 mins to get ready , and then have the rest of the time to be ready to go and just do things that won't take up too much attention.

I didn't do it every day or exactly like that all the time but it feels different than -I need to be out the door at 3 pm so I'm going to set an alarm at 2 pm to get ready.

I just use the timer on my phone. I don't do it as much right now but I would do things like... I have to leave the house in 2 hours so I'd set a timer for 45 mins to do whatever I'm doing

I do that! Go me, with one management strategy! Mostly it's unexpected transitions that I have a very hard time with, and then Tim (or whoever) has to deal with me being surly, bug-eyed, and minimally communicative.

Sensory stuff is almost entirely tactile -- fabrics (which are a thing I can control when it's my own clothes and furniture), temperature, and how many people are in closecloseclose proximity to me (which is, I think, what governs my hug thing -- if there's only a handful of people, I'm fine hugging [unless someone creeps me out, but that's an entirely different thing], but if there are too many people, my reaction is "touch me and I will rip out your pancreas with my teeth, which will probably end our friendship").

I'm a little wonky with smells* and sound, but more often than not when I get hypersensitive to smells and sound it usually means a migraine is about to start.

*(Except I hate hate hate mint, and it is very unfortunate that the most common type of gum people chew is mint, and then they get all up in my space and I want to hurl myself out a window. But I get that that's a me thing, not a them thing. People like mint, so, whatever. But ick.)

I love how we all watch out for each other and help each other.

Socially distant hugs to any who want or need them. Why socially distant? Because I am sick. Probably Covid, though rapid was negative and I'm waiting on PCR. And where am I? Connecticut, after flying to Florida and then flying my dad up here. So I've now potentially exposed both elderly parents, my elderly aunt, ND, and anyone else I encountered the last couple days (though Dad and I did stay completely KN-95 masked on the plane and terminals). My dad is staying with my aunt; ND and I are staying with my mom. Also, we were supposed to drive my dad up to Vermont tomorrow to visit with a friend and see some places he hasn't seen in years, and we had to cancel all of that because even if my PCR comes back negative, I have a 101.2 fever and some other more minor symptoms, so I have something.

I'm isolating in one of Mom's guest rooms. No one else has symptoms, so I'm crossing every finger and toe that I didn't get anyone else sick. They are all over 50 and had their second boosters (my last booster was the end of September), and ND and my rapids came back negative, so at least not a heavy viral load? But fuck. This may set off a domino of me not being able to get Dad back to Florida and is having to come up with more cash for more housesitting/puppy care.

PCR will come in late tonight or early tomorrow. Wish me negative. Hoping this is just a cold or something.

Negative vibes, Pix.

Much negativity ~ma, Pix.

Oh Pix I hope that you feel better soon.

Steph my sense of smell ins't that great so the only smells that really bother me are salmon cooking or being cooked and a few others.

Mostly it's touch, taste and sound.

Ok so in more stress-- Mom's cat Lovey (well now our cat) has to go to the vet. He got a cut on the top of his head the other day, I think from the kitten rough housing. I saw it, cleaned it up. Dabbed a little vaseline to cover it up and protect it. And then promptly forgot to check on it again.. and..M found him and his face /head was swollen --he had an abscess or something. I won't give any details. So now we have to call the vet in the morning and see if they will see him and try to get him all taken care of. Mom said she'd cover any of his vet bills so now I have to call Mom and let her know what is going on ...I feel bad I didn't notice but no one else did either until tonight so.. it wasn't just me

Timelies all!

Today is Mr. S's birthday. He turns 7. He's had some red zone behavior today, but camp went fine as far as I know.(It was pajama day, which was a complete coincidence) Right now he and Gary are putting together a Lego Star Wars thing.

Happy birthday to Mr S! Glad it’s been a relatively good day for y’all

Argh. Had a migraine Saturday, Monday, and today. Didn’t take meds until v late today because I was hoping to avoid taking them for the third time in five days but eventually gave in. Felt fine by like 730pm. Figured maybe I could get a good nights sleep tonight since I have meetings from 7am until 630pm tomorrow (not straight through but like seven hours of meetings). Nope—just woke up at like 1230am and ended up puking. Not sure if it’s something I ate or the migraines revenge or what but I am not happy about this.