Hard Things

Life is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.

What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?

Climate Change

How to stop being surprised by extreme weather

A team of scientists have brought together methods to see beyond the limitations of conventional weather records, which typically only cover the past century.
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Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and cool, with howling wind.  :/

I fed the birds.  I put out a new peanut suet cake.  I've seen a large flock of house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

Forsythia is starting to bloom.

EDIT 3/19/25 -- I put out more birdseed.  I've seen a small flock of grackles and several sparrows.

I took the new rocks out of the car.  I've moved the two wormstones into the foyer for safekeeping, since I want to bless them before installing them near the barrel garden.  I put the big pink mica rock at the edge of the wagonwheel garden.  When I seat those two, I'll point them in opposite directions related to the road, so as to catch car headlights from both directions.  I put the hand-sized pink mica rock in the purple-and-white garden, although it's not seated yet either.  Progress!

More daffodils are blooming in more places, including some of the ice follies.  Squill is blooming in the purple-and-white garden.

EDIT 3/19/25 -- We hauled the 2 bags of compost to the old picnic table, so that's all the yardening stuff out of the car. \o/

I did a bit of work around the patio.

It's starting to thunder and spit rain, with stormy weather predicted for this afternoon, so I am done for the night.

EDIT 3/19/25 -- The storm ended and suddenly the sun came out.  That seemed like rainbow weather to me, so I dashed outside to look around.  It's very sparkly outside right now; every twig and blade of grass is jeweled with silver droplets of water.  The trees are still dripping, so alas, I didn't dare take the camera outside. :(  The driveway is a long ephemeral stream where sticks and other debris make tiny dams and even a few waterfalls rippling and glimmering in the sun.  It's fascinating to see, even at this small scale, how they interrupt and influence the flow so that it lasts longer.  Small birds are splashing all along the length.  If I stand still, they don't mind me.  They're really fun to watch.  Larger puddles have formed at the end of the driveway too.

I saw a skunk ambling through the savanna, not at all concerned by my presence.  He had very unusual markings for this area.  His face and shoulders had the usual white chevron but the rest of him was solid black except a white tip on his tail.  Very cute, and if I see this particular skunk again, he will be very easy to recognize.  :D

I walked out along the road, following the edge of the yard.  To the northeast, I spotted a rainbow!  \o/  I hurried back inside to invite my partner Doug out to look for it.  By the time we got back, it had faded, but a faint streak of it was still visible.  Rainbows are so magical.

I love watching how the world changes in response to the weather.

Trauma

Science Newsfrom research organizations

Study finds unique brain changes linked to witnessing trauma.
Researchers discovered distinct molecular differences in how the brain processes directly experienced versus witnessed trauma -- a finding that could lead to more targeted treatments for PTSD.

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Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos Part 3: Benefits of Fanifestos"

This is a new meta entry for marchmetamatterschallenge 2025. See my tracking post here. Also, the first writing prompt is to write a fanifesto.

Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 1: The Importance of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2a: What Is a Fanifesto? intro & canon guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2b: What Is a Fanifesto? cast list & character study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2c: What Is a Fanifesto? ship manifesto & milieu study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2d: What Is a Fanifesto? plot analysis & crossovers
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2e: What Is a Fanifesto? trope manifesto & format guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2f: What Is a Fanifesto? personal manifesto & others
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 3: Benefits of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 4: Drawbacks of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5a: Contents of a Fanifesto statement to tropes
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5b: fanon to other aspects
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 6: How to Write a Fanifesto
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7a: Where to Find Fanifestos location types & communities
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7b: fanifestos A-E
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7c: fanifestos F-I
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7d: fanifestos J-R
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7e: fanifestos S-Z
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 8: My Fanifestos

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Climate Anxiety

Climate change fuelling mental health crisis in areas most affected by climate crisis

Young people in southern Madagascar report extremely high levels of anxiety, depression, and sense of hopelessness.
Climate change is not just an environmental issue -- it's a mental health crisis impacting on adolescent wellbeing right now in areas most affected by climate change, according to new research.

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Poem: "What You Choose to Build With"

This poem is spillover from the September 3, 2024 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from see_also_friend. It also fills the "Addiction" square in my 9-1-24 card for the People with Disabilities Drabble Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the Rutledge thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "Not Until We Are Lost" and "Come to a New Point of View" so read those first, or this won't make much sense.

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Notes for "What You Choose to Build With"

Here are the notes for "What You Choose to Build With."

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Today's Smoothie

Today we made a smoothie with:

1/2 cup Cocojune passionfruit coconut nondairy yogurt
1/2 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt (dairy)
1 banana
1/2 cup Wawona Daybreak Blend frozen fruit (peaches, mango, strawberries, pineapple)
a few extra chunks of frozen passionfruit
1/2 cup ice

The result is pale peach and on the thin side.  It is tangier than our usual blends, but the coconut makes for a creamy, nutty, tropical undertone to the whole thing.  The passionfruit has a bright high note.  If you like tropical flavors and want a nondairy smoothie, I recommend Cocojune.  We should've bought two of them though -- each only has about half a cup of yogurt, so we had to fill in with what we already had.  It's quite tasty.  :D