Not Even Close to Caught Up.

[gwydion]

* "Chaos as Hong Kong 'state of the union' disrupted:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50065292

* "With Catalan Fury Inflamed Anew, What Comes Next for Spain?:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/world/europe/catalonia-independence-spain.html

* "Catalan leader urges immediate halt to violence:" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50077595

* "US nuclear bombs at Turkish airbase complicate rift over Syria invasion:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/14/us-bombs-at-turkish-airbase-complicate-rift-over-syria-invasion

* It’s not veto proof. "Trump Lashes Out on Syria as Republicans Rebuke Him in House Vote:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/world/middleeast/trump-erdogan-turkey-syria-kurds.html

* "Trump tries to distance himself from chaos in Syria as tensions with lawmakers in both parties escalate:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-tries-to-distance-us-from-chaos-in-syria-says-kurdish-allies-are-no-angels/2019/10/16/7b6c5ac8-f037-11e9-b2da-606ba1ef30e3_story.html

* "Trump capitulation on Syria shatters US credibility on alliances:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-capitulation-on-syria-shatters-us-credibility-on-alliances-71347269611

* "Trump 'doesn't know what he's doing or talking about': McGurk:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-doesn-t-know-what-he-s-doing-or-talking-about-mcgurk-71443013941

* "Rep. Smith on Trump’s meeting meltdown: ‘Very dismissive and very insulting’:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-smith-on-trump-s-meeting-meltdown-very-dismissive-and-very-insulting-71427141896

* "Never-Before-Seen Trump Tax Documents Show Major Inconsistencies:" https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-inc-podcast-never-before-seen-trump-tax-documents-show-major-inconsistencies

* "Macabre Video of Fake Trump Shooting Media and Critics Is Shown at His Resort:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/politics/trump-video.html

* "Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/mulvaney-emerges-as-a-key-facilitator-of-the-campaign-to-pressure-ukraine/2019/10/15/9d46b7ae-ef76-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html

* "Ex-Aide Saw Gordon Sondland as a Potential National Security Risk:" https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/us/politics/gordon-sondland-intelligence-risk.html

* "Former State adviser says Pompeo was silent on Yovanovitch ouster:" https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/16/politics/michael-mckinley-deposition-pompeo-marie-yovanovitch/index.html

* "House Democrats ask U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine to appear for questioning:" https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/house-democrats-summon-u-s-ambassador-ukraine-deposition-n1067536

* "Trump Ukraine scandal spawns counterintelligence investigation:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-ukraine-scandal-spawns-counterintelligence-investigation-71442501867

* "Susan Rice on Trump's phone call to Ukraine:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/susan-rice-on-trump-s-phone-call-to-ukraine-71338565885

* "Giuliani pressed Trump to eject Muslim cleric from U.S., a top priority of Turkish president, former officials say:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/giuliani-pressed-trump-to-eject-muslim-cleric-from-us-a-top-priority-of-turkish-president-former-officials-say/2019/10/15/bf43d1ec-ef68-11e9-b648-76bcf86eb67e_story.html

* "Federal investigation of Rudy Giuliani includes counterintelligence probe:" https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/16/politics/giuliani-counterintelligence-probe/index.html

* "Reports suggest greater reach by Turkey into Trump administration:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/reports-suggest-greater-reach-by-turkey-into-trump-administration-71441989818

* "Former Rep. Pete Sessions subpoenaed by grand jury investigating Giuliani and associates:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/former-rep-pete-sessions-subpoenaed-by-grand-jury-investigating-giuliani-and-associates/2019/10/15/c7fb9204-ef98-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

* "Fourth defendant in Giuliani associates’ case arrested at New York airport:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/fourth-defendant-in-giuliani-associates-case-arrested-at-new-york-airport/2019/10/16/2c3ea19e-f024-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html

* "Trump's widening circle in Ukraine scheme:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-s-widening-circle-in-ukraine-scheme-71339077895

* "Trump impeachment inquiry banks evidence as witnesses testify:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-impeachment-inquiry-banks-evidence-as-witnesses-testify-71344709985

* "Onus of investigations on Congress, SDNY as Barr defers to Trump:" http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/onus-of-investigations-on-congress-sdny-as-barr-defers-to-trump-71441989679

* "Rep. Castro: It's likely laws were broken in Ukraine scheme:" http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/rep-castro-it-s-likely-laws-were-broken-in-ukraine-scheme-71429701744

* "We Found a “Staggering” 281 Lobbyists Who’ve Worked in the Trump Administration:" https://www.propublica.org/article/we-found-a-staggering-281-lobbyists-whove-worked-in-the-trump-administration

* "Trump administration proposes expanding logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/trump-administration-proposes-expanding-logging-in-alaskas-tongass-national-forest/2019/10/15/92e47db8-ef77-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html

* "Dem Debate's Big LGBTQ Question: Ellen DeGeneres and George W. Bush:" https://www.advocate.com/election/2019/10/15/dem-debates-big-lgbtq-question-ellen-degeneres-and-george-w-bush

* "Trump vetoes measure to end his emergency declaration on border wall:" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-congress-emergency-idUSKBN1WV06P

* ""We don't feel safe": Fort Worth residents outraged over police shooting of black woman in home:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atatiana-jefferson-shooting-we-dont-feel-safe-fort-worth-leaders-hear-outrage-over-police-killing-of-black-woman/

* "U.N. Calls on Governments to Fight Anti-LGBTQ Bullying for Spirit Day:" https://www.advocate.com/youth/2019/10/16/un-calls-governments-fight-anti-lgbtq-bullying-spirit-day

* "Homophobia is increasing among young people in the UK – and online hate is to blame:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/16/homophobia-galop-young-people-uk-online-hate-crime-transphobia-violence-lgbt/

* "Man pummelled his neighbour while calling him a ‘f*****g queer’ in horrific homophobic attack:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/15/wales-homophobic-attack-flintshire-north-east/

* "Matt Shepard's Parents Snub AG Barr: We Won't 'Kowtow to Hypocrisy':" https://www.advocate.com/politics/2019/10/16/matt-shepards-parents-snub-ag-barr-we-wont-kowtow-hypocrisy

* "Brianna Hill Is the 20th Confirmed Trans Homicide This Year:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2019/10/16/trans-woman-brianna-hill-murdered-least-20th-year

* "A waitress has been fired for refusing to serve a transphobic couple:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/10/16/waitress-fired-transphobic-customers-facebook-fat-joes-bar-grill-wisconsin/

* "Mormon Church Says It's Against Banning Conversion Therapy in Utah:" https://www.advocate.com/religion/2019/10/16/mormon-church-says-its-against-banning-conversion-therapy-utah

* "Trans Man Attacked at Philly 7-Eleven After Coming Out Day Celebration:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/2019/10/15/trans-man-attacked-philly-7-eleven-after-coming-out-day-celebration

* Today I finally went and activated my swim scholarship. Those following the saga may remember i got second degree burns all over my stomach right after I got the scholarship and then had three months of a lung and sinus infection that ate my summer, plus the arm thing I've been battling since... I'm going to guess July, but it might have been June. I left the house something like 20 minutes later than I'd hoped, which would have been fine if it weren't for traffic/activation procedure/me bringing the library bag instead of the swim bag in from the car and having to go back/a small drama with the lockers/etc.. Did I mention my watch is missing? I searched for it last night and before I left. My suspicion is Tavy ran off wih it as he was showing an intense interest lately.

Still, I was only 15 minutes late and today's goal was really to just go do it. Like, drag myself out of the house in swim clothes too early in the morning, drive over there, get the scholarship sorted and see if my body can still do regular water aerobics. My lungs being my lungs and this being regular water aerobics and not the arthritis aerobics, 45 minutes was reasonable.

I slid in at the edge and got going. I could really see the deterioration in the loss of grace and hip joint pain, but I was fine and used the hardest hand weights when it was arm time. It had been so long I literally didn't recognize any of the pool personnel I encountered. It was a shame, as the man leading the aerobics was nice, but no where even close to as good as either of the women who used to run it. The music was mostly upbeat hits of the '60's and'70's, but I clocked one late '50's and one early '80's. I can live with it. This was more repetitive than under the previous aerobics teachers and a bunch of my favorite bits were missing. It hurt, but I think I can handle it.

Water aerobics, whether regular, deep water, or arthritis tends to skew old and/or people with disabilities, as you basically have to be home during the day to be doing this and have enough money for pool fees. My memory is deep water has more non-retiree women and arthritis is not surprisingly where the people with a lot more things wrong with them tend to be, but none of this stuff is restricted. I used to float between the three depending on what my body and sleep cycle happened to be dong that week. My memory is, people tended to form friendships there. The men tend to cluster towards the deeper water, where I prefer to be if I turn up at a reasonable time, since less gravity and more water resistance are better for my collection of things wrong with my body. This time I was over near the inevitable group of less vigorous woman who need longer rests and chat with each other while they do less vigorous versions of the exercises. (Not a criticism. Coming out and doing gentler exercise is better than not coming out at all and they aren't bothering anybody. If they have the hearing to chat in that sound environment more power to them. Like I said, people float between the types of water aerobics and if the 1st session better suits someone's schedule no reason they shouldn't take advantage of it.) I kept my eye on the healthier ladies in front who clearly knew the fuck they were doing especially as the instructor was not good at demonstrating things and I only half remembered some of the stuff.

I can exactly pinpoint the moment they realized a new, younger man (not really, but that was the assumpion given the gendered nature of swim wear etc.) had joined the group. (My hairline is rising. As it's about where my dad's was junior high school which I call winning. I look younger than I am, I think in part because while the colour has been leeching slowly out of the natural blond and copper highlights, the bulk of the brown is still a warm brown. To my eyes it looks flatter and less vibrant, but it's clearly not dyed and very brown. The odd grey or white hair isn't noticeable unless you look close under good lighting. That and the fact that my Gothiness means there is very little in the way of sun damage and wrinkling tends to peel time off my exterior even though I am a ruin in most other ways.) It was when they were passing out the hand weight floaty things. The really tall woman who reminded me a bit of carol from Walking Dead handed me my set and we had a little conversation. The other up front vigorous ladies al started casting glances. During stretch time at the end I did that thing I can still do despite all the hip damage and it was like blood in the water at our end of the shark pool. People had questions. There was subtle flirting. I am for real ant used to that sort of attention from women, as I'm pretty obviously not for them in most social contexts, and yelling over the music while exercising eats a lot of the nuance, but there they were teasing me about being a pole dancer and asking me about clips of me on youtube. It was sweet and I know they'll lose interest once they realize just how queer I am.

We'll see if my body is together enough for Friday. I suspect not as I'll need extra recovery and I have my Birthday party in the evening, and a bunch of things to do in the afternoon, so I don't want to push myself too hard.

Speaking of birthdays, couple of Gothmas boxes came for me. I'm glad I checked as I was personally taking up all the buildings lock boxes. <.< >.> Alas, bureaucracy came for me that requires a Doctor's appointment as I need to prove I am in fact not miraculously cured of my genetic degenerative diseases. Sigh.

I did the swim laundry and all but two of my phone calls before I went off for forage and errands. I am exhausted and pretty low on spoons, so odds are I will not manage Wednesday's news or catch up Tuesday. Apologies.

It is beautiful witchy weather, wild wind off the bay clearing away the fug. I've had to go out and fix the exterior decorations three times today. Piles of leaves move and swirl, all the trees are swaying and whispering. It waited to rain until I was safe inside. Perfect autumn.

Addendum: Squirrel got me really good scotch in honor of my Half Century. I was so tempted to drink it, but I'm exhausted and I know I won't enjoy it properly. We are thinking of picking one of his nights off and drinking it while watching a horror move together. I'm ridiculously exited. I don't drink often and I only ever had scotch this good once, in honor of a different friend's half century back when I was still well enough to go to Cons. That was one glass. Jesus fuck, I have a bottle!

* Gothmas prezzies and bonus Livia.: https://gwydionmisha.tumblr.com/post/188396640972/gothmas-prezzies-and-bonus-livia

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

* "How you can help Hurricane Dorian disaster relief:" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/08/hurricane-dorian-disaster-relief-how-you-can-help

* A small, cheap thing to help climate change if you have little money to spare: https://onetreeplanted.org/products/amazon-rainforest-peru

* How to donate to Rainbow Road: https://www.rainbowrailroad.com/donate

* Here are a bunch of state level links to help people in immigrant detention: https://taibhsearachd.tumblr.com/post/186058182962/woundability-this-4th-of-july-celebrate-the

* Angry about the concentration camps on our Southern Border? Here is a list of useful things you can do: https://medium.com/@togetherandfree/feel-helpless-amidst-the-horrific-immigration-news-youre-not-how-you-can-make-difference-today-108dc42de88e

* "More Organizations to Support Helping Kids in Concentration Camps:" https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/201920.html

Here is a massive list of things you can do to help refugees inside and outside of the Camps: https://s-leary.tumblr.com/post/185783586806/so-youve-probably-seen-the-post-going-around

* A list of organizations to help you run for office: http://lovingmyselfishard.tumblr.com/post/167330144634/psst-hey

* Have something you want to tell your Congress Critters? If you can not protest in person, here are some other options:

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative of your choice.

This App phones your rep for you: http://takeastance.us/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resistbot.io/

* This is a cool person and the clothes are being made from an ethical source. Looking for cool inclusive Pride themed merch? www.nerdykeppie.com

* HorrorMux is open for apping the next story, which is a 1994 Lost Boys type thing. Available Archetypes are here. I'm Martyr/Angel if you want to find me.: http://horrormu.com/index.php/Available

* Help pay for cat food, litter, meds, medical copays: Paypal Lethran@gmail.com or paypal.me/Gwydion

* If you are interested in helping, right now the Cat thing we need most is:
https://www.chewy.com/wellness-core-signature-selects/dp/147047

Or possibly this: https://www.chewy.com/instinct-by-natures-variety-limited/dp/44654

* Birthday/Solstice master list: https://gwydion.dreamwidth.org/2108835.html