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Adrea Craft's avatar

Even though I did not get rid of my Meta accounts (yet) I have opted to go dark for the week, as next Monday is my Solar Return, and I want as little added stress as possible, living in Dumpland Forgottonia Illinois...

I grew up here, and returned here at the end of 2020, to assist my older sister with our (soon to be) 83 yo folks, as my mother descends into Alzheimer's at a pace that breaks my heart...I tell myself that it's a blessing as she taught us to be strong independent women, not realizing that most of it was trauma induced, but at least she won't be a witness to the crumbling rights of women in the coming days...I have only a handful of relatives who are not cult4547s, and no in-person friends who live close to lean on here, so our 'liberal' FB group allows me an outlet for my frustrations that I will sorely miss.

I look forward to your posts, as I feel an odd kinship to you as a self imposed black sheep... I love being witness to your finding your path through the world in a way I hope to live and be...you feel like the big sis I wish my big sis was.

Thank you.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Sorry about your mom and about your isolation. I’m glad you have that FB group. I really was sad to leave IG. I asked myself what the sadness was about. The thing is, I have made some very real connections on social media (and, long ago, bulletin boards).. People I care about and keep track of. Like true connection not just looking for a bunch of likes from strangers. So I am going to miss those connections. I have a visual artist friend and we were talking about it—to leave or not—and I said I think it would be way harder for a visual artist to up and leave. IG is the perfect platform for visuals, designed for it even. Anyway, everything just feels so confusing right now. Here’s to black sheep kinship! I’ll be your virtual big sis. ❤️

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Robin Beers's avatar

First time reader here and I really loved this newsletter. You are cool af!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thanks for popping by!

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Bonnie Durrance's avatar

I like the new format. Mini-Texas Zen lessons!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thanks!

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Francesca SingHer's avatar

ILYSFM. Perfect post for such a shitty, shoddy, not in any way inspiring day. I’m off Meta for now too. Thanks for leading the way.

Please keep me laughing through the darkness. Every shit I take, indeed.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

I should really keep a running list of the shit my internal jukebox comes up with. I am determined to keep laughing. And seeing beauty. My defiance.

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Lissa Johnston's avatar

Interesting post and a couple of comments.

1. Cute goat and great backstory!

2. Your story about your MAGA friend makes me wonder if we can all expect something similar; if they now feel emboldened. I'll be on the alert.

3. Yes re the Libby app someone mentioned. Pro tip: anyone in the state can get a Houston library card to expand what is available in Libby. Also Judy at the Smithville Library told us about the other borrowing app called Boundless.

4. Speaking of, the Smithville Library book club read Trust some time ago. I found the four story format interesting. But I don't think it hit anyone's Favorite list. My favorite from the library book club list last year: Erasure by Percival Everett.

5. On the topic of switching away from Audible, I also switched away from Goodreads recently and am now using StoryGraph to track my reading habits. So far, so good.

6. This is our first house to have a tankless and we also had to have it worked on a couple of times recently. So thankful you have a handy neighbor!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Please tell Judy and Jim I say hi!

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Emily Erington's avatar

Thay!!! Yes. Yes. Yes.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

❤️

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Subversive Cross Stitch's avatar

Get those dogs some Benebones. You won’t believe how great they are, it’s a miracle I keep telling friends about and they haven’t failed us yet!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

On it!

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Erin McArthur's avatar

I will repost memories of a different inauguration and hopefully finish a piece inspired by the diary of anne frank and post it as well. Not doing too great on the giving grace to those who brought us to the broken bridge.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

❤️ Love you.

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Shen's avatar

Staying in and quietly Shenning it all. ❤️😉 Love this format.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

❤️

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Margie L. Koger's avatar

P.S. Libby app rocks!

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Paula Taylor's avatar

I’m wearing black today, with my pink Kamala shirt underneath. Little acts of defiance…

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Adrea Craft's avatar

Same. Wearing my BLM Angela Davis tshirt...one of my fave fellow Aquarians...

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Margie L. Koger's avatar

I help a retired military couple with cleaning. They are the staunchest of Republicans. I love them both. I can't explain our fondness for each other but I do know it transcends politics.

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