I'm a wreck...but determined!

[wildflower]

DUers,

I don't know how I'm going to get through 10 more days of this. The constant worrying, especially about all the predicted October surprises: Iran...Vreeland...devastating foreign policy revelations.

Then there's voter fraud, possible martial law, sign-stealing and general rising rancor, what happens if * wins, what happens if he doesn't.

I SO MUCH want to just bury my head somewhere and say "wake me when it's over."

But I can't. I'm determined to keep helping others get out information, boost morale, and get out the vote.

And if we don't win, I can't leave; I have to keep standing up for what I believe in.

Still and all, I'm a wreck and can't help wishing the next 10 days would just be overwith!

Committedly but frazzledly yours,

:hi:

wildflower

EDITED to change "marital law" above to "martial law"! LOL...see what is happening to me? :)

Then again, maybe what I wrote the first time around isn't so far off either.

EDITED again to change subject line. I want to encourage people here, not discourage. I just get overwhelmed sometimes!

[Cleita]

1. Hang in there.

I'm thinking Kerry will win and that will be the first step to setting things right, but do have a backup plan. By that I mean if the unthinkable happens, we have to have a plan to get Der Fuhrer out of our government and out of our lives.

[wildflower]

2. Thanks Cleita...

:hug:

Are you finding this whole thing as nerve-wracking as I am?

-wildflower

[Cleita]

3. No.

When you live as long as I have, the nerves have been wracked to non-existence. I am worried though. I am also a bit scared. I never have been, but now I am.

[wildflower]

4. I thought mine had been too, until now...

my nerves wracked to nonexistence in my life, that is. But boy, what a rollercoaster!

A rollercoaster is a good analogy, in a way. I never liked them, but many people like the excitement of the ride. I'm not sure if anyone here is enjoying the excitement of this ride. (?)

I mean, I'm VERY excited thinking about JK and his winning, but not about the ups and downs.

But I'm scared too.

Trying to stay positive, though...it's important.

Hope I'm making sense this evening :)

-wildflower

[Carla in Ca]

17. This thread will make you laugh, I hope.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1151901&mesg_id=1151901>

[wildflower]

24. LOL...thank you, Carla!

I remember another thread awhile back that gave me a good laugh too...I'll try to find and post in another thread...

Okay, just did. Here it is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2349535

[oscar111]

5. Best flyer ever, try it and relax. 30 zingers collected from all over

{Got this email forward twice. I think it's good.. I added one of my points to it}
--------------------------
  1. Hit bush's strengths:
-war leader
-racism {not mentioned in polls, but his biggest strength}
---WAR LEADER
- On 9/11, Bush was told "we are under attack."   He just sat in fear for 7 minutes. { While second-graders read My Pet Goat out loud.}.
- Bush can't even protect us from the flu - how's he going to stop terrorists? { fails as a manager}.
- {Bush attacks Kerry->}Deserter attacks wounded vet.
- Kerry bled, Bush fled
- Bush will draft
---RACISM - {racists fear competition for jobs from ethnics, so more jobs = less racism. So say this ->}
- "Bush lost a million jobs: Clinton added 22 million".
==============
2. Next, our strong points -
- economy
- healthcare
ECONOMY
- Wages lower than when Reaganomics began {adjusted for inflation}
- Wages fell $1,500 under Bush
- Bush lost a million jobs: Clinton added 22 million.
- Bush gives tax breaks for outsourcing {jobs to India}
- YOUR job can be sent to India.
- Job shortage is 13 million
- Education won't help, because not enough jobs exist.
- Bush cut cops, firefighters, vets - to give the rich $ 300 Billion.
- Bush cut cops, so high crime
- Bush cancelled overtime
- Kerry will lower middle class tax, raise tax on the over-$200,000 crowd. Shifts it off us.
==============
Hit " 9/11 to blame for the economy"
- Most jobs lost BEFORE   9/11.
- Stocks recovered from 9/11, then taxcuts-for-the-rich crippled the economy.
- Bush threw the economy in a hole, and we haven't climbed out YET ! Clinton, it grew from day 1. ================
Hit "Reaganomics taxcuts will spark the economy" {The Reaganomics lie is their greatest strength. "WORK HARD" to end it.}. - Wages lower than when Reaganomics began. {1980}
- Wages fell $ 1,500 under Bush.
- Bush lost a million jobs
- Reaganomics cripples the economy
- Housewives must now work, because of Reaganomics. { 1980 ended most housewives}
- Bush cut cops, firefighters, vets - to give $300 Billion to the rich.
- Reaganomics cut asylums in half, now crime is everywhere.
- 1/3 bridges need repair, potholes are everywhere.
==============
WHY REAGANOMICS FAILED:
- GDP rise never trickles down to you - why would the rich ever want to give you free money? They spend $2 million on birthday parties. {Kozlowski}.
==================
Our way to spark the economy is to spark the PRODUCERS - the middle class:
- by cheaper doctors, cheaper college, end ripoffs by ending deregulation, by adding more jobs, by shifting taxes to the over-$200,000 crowd.
- sparking the middle class by making it healthy, educated, free of ripoffs, always employed, and shifting taxes off of it.
- 1952 was the year with a tax structure the most free of Reaganomics. It was a time of prosperity.
==============
HEALTHCARE - 20 nations outlive us: all have nationalized healthcare: all cheaper.
- The US has rationing. Ration cards are green. Green dollar bills.
- World Health Organization rated our health system quality at # 37.
- Our population's health is # 72. {yes, seventy second !} THE WORLD
HEALTH REPORT - 2000.
-We pay more/person than anyone on earth.
- Bush ignored August warnings on flushots, but England acted - got 7 sources.
- Bush wants to destroy Medicare and social security.
=======
GOOD WEBSITES:
http://www.democrats.org
http://www.airamericaradio.com
http://www.democraticunderground.com great forums
=======
Copy freely, no copywrite. "California" Mary arrdvark sorority 82 chi'go
 M  #0    Wages up $7,000 under Clinton- down $1,500 Bush oscar111  Oct-23-04 05:44 PM  #1       Summary of ZINGERS for debaters, phone bankers oscar111  Oct-23-04 06:01 PM  #2          "stocks lost a thousand, wages down fifteen hundred, a million jobs lost" oscar111  Oct-23-04 08:00 PM  #3 

[Lorien]

10. You forgot the environment

over 70% of Americans say they are cornerned about the environment. Sometimes it's the only way to turn a repuke against *. The Sierra club has a great side by side flyer on */ Kerry policies.

[wildflower]

25. This is some good information...thank you!

[m berst]

6. it is a natural and sane response

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being frightened.

We live in such a self-centered feel-good culture that it seems out of step to show or express any genuine emotions that are considering "bad" or "wrong" to feel. Often when people express fear about the current situation they are given little "suck it up" condescending lectures, or pummeled with rah rah "look on the bright side" happy face cheerleading, as though there were something wrong with being afraid or angry or sad and expressing these emotions. I will get over my fear when the danger passes, thank you.

Fear, anger, sadness and depression are the sane and appropriate response to very insane and dangerous situations. If no one ever felt bad, or didn't express it, how would we know when things have gone wrong? Ask our lawyer or accountant?

Managing fear means accepting it in ourselves and in others and talking about it, and facing the danger honestly. The fear isn't the problem, after all, the danger is.

I wouldn't want to live in a world where everyone sucked it up or looked on the bright side. That would truly be Hell.

[Kanary]

7. Wonderful post, again, m berst!

I've given up trying to get people to understand that all emotions are NORMAL, and HUMAN. There's such a need for control in this society.

I'm glad to see this post from you....... makes *me* feel much more at ease. :hi:

Hope you saw the response I wrote to your other post....

Hang in there wildflower, and just be very, very good to yourself!

:pals:

Kanary

[m berst]

11. hi

Hi Kanary - yes I am here but struggling to learn the DU ropes. Threads disappear so quickly and thousands of new ones are started and I don't know how to get notified if someone replies to a thread (is there a way?)

[Kanary]

13. Yes, check on replies to your posts by clicking on "my posts" at top

At least, I'm assuming that function is working for you. At the top of the page of a forum, you should see that "button".

Trying to look for certain threads is :crazy: making...... :)

Just glad to see you're still here. :hi:

Kanary

[m berst]

18. no "my posts" that I see ....

but I like the concept! :)

If I understand, there is a probation period for new members, yes?

[Kanary]

19. Yes, and I'm guessing you're at the end of it... ^_^

The "my posts" can't be seen when you're looking at a thread, but when you are looking at the topics list in a forum.... say, like GD.

I'm thinking it's there for you.

Kanary, who wishes she could find that other thread where m berst first started posting.....
edited to say, the "my posts" "button" is to the left of the "post" button. See if it's there yet.

:hi:

[m berst]

20. yes!

OK thanks I found the "my posts" icon, and.... it works!

[Kanary]

21. Hurrah! ^_^ Fine invention, yes? Those posts only stay there for 24

hours, though.

:shrug:

Kanary
another edit to say.... I'm guessing you can now do PMs, also. In a post, on the top line, there are various icons. One looks lie a piece of paper, and if you pass the mouse over it, it will say something like "write message", or something like that.

You've come of age. :)

[m berst]

23. not quite

Can't do pm's yet - "you don't have enough posts" (although this one will help :) )

[wildflower]

26. Thank you Kanary...

I appreciate it.

And to both you and m berst, that is good advice. I try to be positive as much as I can, but sometimes things just overwhelm me. I'm trying to learn to embrace it all.

:hug:

-wildflower

[Kanary]

35. The beauty of it is, you don't have to try to be anything except yourself.

And, the beauty of that is, being you is more than enough!! :)

THere are no extra points for pasting on a smile over sadness, concern or anxiety. It really is true that the only way out is through. Sometimes that's a bummer, but that's how it is. Just like pain lets you know to remove your hand from the hot stove, emotions give us important cues we do well to honor!

As I said in another post, just be very good to yourself, and take care of those needs for enjoyment of life, and a peaceful environment.

:pals:

Kanary

[NightTrain]

8. Just think of how Kerry and Edwards must feel by now.

I'll bet they're both fucking exhausted from all the touring and stumping, and would love nothing more than to sleep for a week. But they're not giving up and neither will we! Right, DU?

[wildflower]

31. No kidding, I don't know how they do it!

As to the rest of your post, absolutely. Let's keep on keepin' on...

-wildflower

[Lorien]

9. If you haven't already

just volunteer at your local Kerry/ Dem HQ. They'll keep you so busy that you won't have the time or energy to worry!

[m berst]

12. this is ok, but...

I would like to offer you a different point of view, Jen6.

If I were a Bush supporter, I would just love it if all the liberals spent all of their time phone banking and canvassing and making everything as partisan as possible, and ignoring their feelings, ignoring each other, and ignoring the bigger issues that are involved in this crisis. Karl Rove knows how to beat a standard normal partisan political campaign. He can't beat the people listening to their hearts and reaching out to each other.

Phone banking - the equivalent of telemarketing

Canvassing - the equivalent of going door-to-door for the 7th Day Adventists

DU - the equivalent of Sam Adams' intercolonial committees of correspondence

on edit - typo

[wildflower]

27. I'm disabled/chronically ill, but I agree about trying to be

as active as we can in the ways that we can. Here's a post I wrote about things the disabled can do:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1089390

Let me know if you can't view it (it's archived).

-wildflower

[m berst]

43. trying to be active...

Thanks Wildflower for the link. Great post there. The quality of the contributions we each make is measured by what is in our hearts, not by what is on our resumes. Our compassion and our courage are what counts, not gold stars pasted on our foreheads by the critics.

[Doofer]

14. "I'm a wreck...but determined!"

Lots of red wine will do the trick .

[wildflower]

32. LOL...so are you saying that

this is done before or after becoming a determined wreck? :P

-wildflower

[TrustingDog]

15. a flower for you.

[TrustingDog]

16. and another flower for you.

[wildflower]

28. What beautiful flowers...

I was really moved when I saw them...thank you so much, TrustingDog.

:hug:

-wildflower

[TrustingDog]

30. most welcome, sweetie.

[donheld]

22. Well at least i'm not the only one

I've been filled with anxiety, some depression, rage etc. I only get by with help of friends. Including people of DU.

[wildflower]

29. You're definitely not the only one!

I hope the wonderful people on this thread are helping you as much as they are me.

What would we do without DU?

-wildflower

[donheld]

42. The people of DU are great

Thankfully i have many friends locally who are just as desparate for this as i am.

[Kanary]

33. Please take good care of yourself, wildflower

:hi:

Your health is fragile, and you're not in a position to push yourself as much as other people do.

Trusting Dog sent you a pretty reminder to take time to stop and smell the flowers. :) Please also do whatever other things you can to bring you some enjoyment, and some peace of mind. We need you for the long haul, and burning out on us is verboten. :)

None of this is going to magically stop on Nov 3. I'm not the only one who suspects it won't be solved or final on that day, so the anxiety will continue. Then, when we finally know the results there may or may not be a fight at that point.

When all of that is resolved, there will still be much work to do as the next term begins.

So, this is a very good time to learn to pace yourself, and do what it takes to keep yourself on an even keel.

You put together a marvelous list of what disabled and ill people can do to help the cause. I'm betting you can put together a *terrific* list of what we all can do to take breaks and restore our mental health in the face of all of this. I'm looking forward to seeing that terrific list. :hi:

Just remember that we're going to need you from now on...... how can we help?

Please take care.... :pals:

Kanary

[wildflower]

36. That is an excellent suggestion, Kanary! That is, putting together a list

...a list of things we can do to take breaks and restore ourselves.

I think it's something we should all do! Maybe we could start a thread about it. I'll have to give it some thought beyond what I usually recommend, which is meditation.

Thanks for giving us this great idea!

And thank you for all your kind words.

:hug:

-wildflower

EDITED to say: I think a list like this could really help everyone to keep going, especially for the long haul after Nov. 2.

I remember on the list I made about things disabled/ill people can do to help, that one item was posting uplifting things to keep morale up. A list (or thread) like you suggest is a perfect example and would be extremely helpful.

[Kanary]

37. It's a good project for you, to keep you focused on the fun and goodthings

:)

I'm an extrovert, so what really helps me to regain equilibrium is to be around kind and giving people. That's not something that usually one can just go out and find. However, it's a reminder for those who have people like that in their life to be grateful for it, and to give back to those people.

I'll start your list...... Nature is often a soothing and uplifting experience. I love to go hiking in the woods. The last time I got chased by a cranky bull moose. That I don't recommend. :)

Non-competitive sports can help to diffuse anger and anxiety. I was thinking this morning that I bet Kerry will be doing some windsurfing and such after Nov 2!!

Have fun with the list-making, and smell those roses!

:hug:

Kanary

[wildflower]

39. Thanks for the link you shared below (downthread)!...It is wonderful.

I wish I could go hiking or do sports...I agree, nature is very soothing. For me, meditation and inspiring books to read or listen to are probably the best recommendations I can think of. For example, The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh. Maybe others could share some books like this.

I'll put your link in again here (to the thread started by clover):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2532893#2532939

-wildflower

[stepnw1f]

34. A Kiss and a Hug from a Boston Snug Bug!!!

Thank you.:hug:

[wildflower]

40. Thank you stepnw1f...how are things going in Boston?

and a :hug: back to you.

-wildflower

[stepnw1f]

41. Boston is Good

It looks split in Western Mass. But Boston is Kerry. I see a landslide here. Southern Maine will go overwhelmingly to Kerry, yet Northern Maine will be close. I was up there a couple weeks ago and did some visibility with my brother in Bangor. Looks good up there too. I think the majority of newly registered voters is going to Kerry. So on Nov. 2nd expect a tsunami.

[Kanary]

38. Did you see this list, wildflower?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2532893

Read # 18 a few times. :)

Kanary

[m berst]

44. wildflowers

Showy Lady's Slipper

Antrim County, Michigan

[wildflower]

46. I love those colors.

Thank you. Are you from MI?

-wildflower

[Digit]

45. I know what you mean, but you are very important in this

You, and so many others are out there everyday, motivating people to get out there and make a difference.
The end will come, and we will be victorious.

[wildflower]

47. Thank you so much, and I hope you are right!

:hi:

-wildflower