by Beth Woolsey -

24 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

a) Back pain is NO JOKE, Diary. I’ve spent the last 48ish hours rapidly breathing short, unsatisfying breaths, pausing to mentally brace myself before I stand up or sit down, and icing, medicating, yoga-cat-posing, and generally fussing. Bright side = caught up on a lot of Riverdale. Down side = overall malaise.

b) The overall malaise may not be from back pain. Or may not be only from back pain. It may also be slightly, marginally, minimally, somewhat a side effect of the Third Quarter Phenomenon (TQP). My friend, Doreen, who was once, is now, and forevermore shall be smarter than I am, is also a psychologist, and wrote last week about TQP in Psychology Today: ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

22 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Today I turned “I Threw My Back Out” years old. I feel like that’s a legit rite of passage. Like getting my period. Or passing the test for a driver’s license. Or finding my first grey hair. I have plenty of friends who’ve already passed the Licking Flames of Back Pain Fire threshold. I’m a late bloomer, I guess. No surprise, though, that I’ve taken longer than the others to mature. I mean, I still feel like I’m sneaking something when I watch shows with “for mature audiences only” warning, like I’m getting away with doing something underhanded and deliciously nefarious. ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

21 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

I’d prefer to avoid writing to you today because I’m in a state of transition and trying to figure out next steps and it’s easier to Avoid Everything right now by watching YouTube videos and season 4 of Riverdale with Abby than it is to Engage My Brain, Figure Out What I’m Thinking, and Make a Plan. 

There. I wrote that sentence, got up from my desk, made a cup of tea, ate a cookie, wandered around the backyard picking up dog poop, snuggled the puppy, texted my neighbor about the merits of walking vs. not walking, chatted with Chandler about tuna salad recipes, and now I’m back at my desk.  ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

19 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

Today was our annual meeting in cooperation with Ian, his social worker, and his care provider to write and edit his Individual Support Plan (ISP) and update the detailed report of his needs, interests, and preferences, as well as what services he requires as an adult who experiences intellectual and developmental disability. It comprises an enormous battery of information, including his areas of strength and vulnerability in medical, financial, behavioral, social, emotional, and vocational arenas. Everything from yes, he balances well and can walk up and down stairs unassisted to no, he still doesn’t like pasta. Also, he wants to own a macaw someday. But, really, who doesn’t? ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

18 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

I couldn’t write to you over the weekend. Too crazy with Normal Life — almost at a schedule and pace like the Before Times. 

Picked up the Cutest Puppy Friday.

Did not sleep much Friday night (see also: Cutest Puppy and synonyms Peeing Puppy, Barking Puppy, Bitey Puppy, I’ll Eat Your Hair Puppy, and I’m Only Happy on Your Face Puppy… aka, BABY CREATURE).  ...  read more

by Beth Woolsey -

15 May 2020 — The COVID Diaries: Staying Sane in a Time That’s Not

Dear Diary,

No time to write today. TOO BUSY SNUGGLING NEW GRAND-PUPPY. 

OMG, Diary.

Also, GAH.

Also-also, ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ x Infinity.

Also-also-also, I’m picking up these two at the airport tomorrow morning.

Also-also-also-also, it’s a good thing they’ll be home to snuggle their new fluff ball because I’m going to be competing in The Great Pandemic Bake-Off and it would be awkward, while all the other competitors open the secret recipe and bake their hearts out, to be the contestant who quits before it starts because she won’t put the fur baby down. I can see all the video feeds — bakers measuring and mixing and pouring and kneading, flour clouds in the air, wiping brows with the backs of their hands, furiously working for perfection — and then a video feed of me in the hammock chair burying my face in puppy hair and reading a trashy novel. It would make a riveting show, to be sure, but it wouldn’t be exactly keeping with the spirit of the bake-off. ...  read more