Holy 🐄

I just wrote this blurb as a way of introducing myself to a new Facebook group. Which group matters not. 

But Holy Cow, it all sounds so preposterous when put together.

I mean, would you not think it would be impossible for any one individual to be so fucked up? 

So I laughed. Because it is ludicrous. And now I’m sharing it here so you can laugh with me too.

1. I have no filters. No, seriously. I have lost friendships over this. So please let me know if/when I cross the line. Any line. I have a hard time understanding and recognising lines.

 

2. Just a little bit of a background.
Things/illnesses I deal with: 
Chronic pain since age 11. Current diagnosis, fibro. 
Mental illness. PTSD and all that follows. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, emotional lability, etc.
Progressive neurological deterioration of unknown origin. MS ruled out. No working diagnosis at the moment.
ADHD & Giftedness. Never been diagnosed with Autism, but my educated guess given my medical background is that I am in the spectrum even if highly functional.
POTS. Hypothyroidism. Dysfunctional contraregulatory hormone response. Basically, my whole hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis is broken.
Dysgraphia made worse by a TIA four years ago. Especially aggravating when taking math tests. UGH
Woman of Colour (black and native) who is light enough to almost pass as white. You’d think that would not represent a problem. But it is aggravating that [racist] people treat me nice while they are the way they are to my brothers and sisters. I carry much anger inside. Sometimes I think I’m going to spontaneously combust, so fierce it roars.
3. I have never learned how to be succinct. Don’t know how to be concise.
4. Apparently I don’t know how to count either.

There you have it.

Isn’t it hilarious in its preposterousness? 

PS: posting from phone so formating will be wonky. Sorry you have to deal with it

Oh, hello there

I’m alive. I’m well. Like, really well.

I was not for the longest time. But I am now.

I have a lot to say but every time I try, it all comes like water from a dam when the dam wall collapse at once.

So for the time being, I’ll leave you with something I made for Bell’s Lets Talk Day two days ago:

Salud!

Will We Have Peace At last?

On the eve of the most important day in Colombian history, very few people outside the country are talking about the plebiscite that will happen on Sunday, October 2, 2016.

In terms of the consequences to the country and its citizens, to me it is as momentous as the Brexit referendum or the US presidential election. It seems like someone agrees with me on that one too.

One day a few months ago, my son called. There was much joy in his voice. He told me the government of Colombia and the FARC had finally reached an agreement! The long process of the peace talks was bearing fruits, finally. There was much hope.

On September 27, 2016 the agreement was officially signed with a pen made from a bullet. It’s the end of a 52 year old armed conflict… If Colombians manage to put aside their pain, their frustrations, their desire for revenge and manage to raise from so much suffering as a nation willing build the peaceful country we all dream of.

But things are never easy. And there are many who are not happy with peace. Those who profit from war. Those who benefit from discord and fear. The ruling class. The ones born with a silver spoon in their mouth, lead by former president Alvaro Uribe. It is not in his best interest that peace exists in Colombia. He, who should be facing an International Tribunal for crimes against humanity, dares to say that Colombia has not known war.

3:00 AM Musings on Giftedness

I rarely speak about my giftedness.

Mostly because very early on, I learned that being smart makes you widely unliked. But also because talking about how smart you are is considered unbecoming. It either shows a lack modesty or a desire to brag. Actually, they are both sides of the same coin. So both.

I always knew I was smart. Smarter than everybody I knew.

What I didn’t know, was how smart I really was.

For several reasons.

One, at the time I was going through elementary, middle and high school in that little Colombian town of mine, measuring IQs wasn’t a thing. I am sure the thought never occurred to any of my teachers.

Freaking out? Moi?

Got this in the mail today: You will not receive ODSP income support and other benefits now that your file is on hold. Let me repeat that: You. will. not. receive. ODSP. income. support. […] …

Please hop over to A Canvas of the Minds to learn more about my latest “adventure”: The trouble With High Functioning Anything

Never a dull moment.

An Open Letter To Ms. Leslie Jones

Dear Ms Jones,

You don’t know me. I’m just one of the countless nameless geeks and nerds of the world. I am also a woman. I am not white and I have no money.

That renders me pretty much voiceless in a world where only white males are heard; are listened to.

However I would like to write something, in the odd chance it ends up reaching you.

I was a teenager when the first Ghostbusters came out. I -like a million others- loved it. It became somewhat of a cult for me.

Happy Summer Solstice

2016 is a leap year.

That means the June Solstice comes a day early this year.

Now -in case you forget- I was born on the June Solstice, which occurred on June 21 on the year I was born.

However, since today is the June Solstice, and since I was born both on the June Solstice and on June 21, I declare I shall have a two-day birthday celebration this year!

Because fun!.

Sooooooooooooooo,

from the Summer Solstice Girl, for those of you in the Northern hemisphere

And for those of you in the Southern hemisphere, Happy Winter Solstice. Please know I am very jealous of you and I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could.

And Happy Birthday to me! :)

 

 

May is Mental Health Month

And as luck would have it, my mental health took a disastrous hit this month so I am late in writing about it. Better late than never, I suppose. Besides, it is still the last of May as I type, so …

Source: May is Mental Health Month

That Illustration Thing

A few weeks back, I wrote a post titled Moi, a graphic designer?.

I was not trying to be cute. Okay, fine, I was trying to be cute, but I was half joking. The thought of me being a graphic designer made me laugh. Graphic designers go to school for four years to learn how to be graphic designers, right?

So, lol, no. I couldn’t possibly be one myself.

But thing is, I am getting kinda good at it. I am even getting commissions from family and close friends. Furthermore, I’m getting all sorts of great feedback from real graphic designers. You know, the pros?

I’m in shock!

In shock, I say!

My momma didn’t tell me

Having one of those Why The Fuck Did I Get Out Of Bed In The First Place? days.

I detest that blasted “fuck my life” expression as I am well aware that my life, when you think about it, is pretty good. I am not homeless. I am not starving. I am a citizen of – and live in- a safe and beautiful country. I know I am loved by family and friends.

That, by any account, is a blesses life in all the true sense of the word, religion notwithstanding.

But right now I am mighty tempted to scream fuck my life at the top of my lungs.

But most of all, and really, this is what it all comes down to, FUCK MENTAL ILLNESS.

You know what I mean?