How's your stress level right now? Feel you've woken up in a nightmare?

I was feeling the weight of the world on me so I tuned out for a little while. Rode my bike instead of watching the news. Hung out in the Lounge here. Got caught up in romance. Kept it all on the periphery. But today, it's suddenly hitting me like a ton of bricks.

I'm astounded, outraged, saddened — a whole gamut of emotions taking me on a wild ride today. With each click of the mouse button, a new horror revealed and scandal uncovered.

What the hell has happened to us and how did we get here?!?! I'm not exactly young and naive. I don't remember it EVER being this bad.

I recall sensing something was going terribly wrong about this time four years ago when they were trashing Gore and propping up Bush. I knew no good could come of it, but in my wildest imagination, I had no idea it would be this bad.


So, how are you feeling right now? How are you dealing with it?

Things have been bad and even worse in the past. But we know more now.

It's ebb and flow, really. Simplify and streamline. That's my advice. It'll all be OK.

But what time periods are you referring to so that I might gain perspective?

Off-topic: Vendooza's still playing on June 13, right? Have any pertinent details on that?

Violent crime has been going down for 30 years, so that in present times, it's only 50% as common as it once was.....New cars only pollute 5% as much as cars did 30 or 40 years ago.

Segregation, Viet Nam, McCarthyism..........all worse than now.

Just bookmark www.vendooza.net for showtimes and updates. ;-)

Ever since the election of 2000 I feel like if maybe I rub my eyes hard enough I will wake up from this horrifying nightmare.

I have to take breaks from all of the news, too. I try to just forget it all every weekend, but it's ALWAYS on my mind. I am constantly thinking, "How in the world did we get here from where we were just 4 years ago?" It's a damn shame what Bush and his evil minions have done to our country and everyone else's country, too.

I realize this all began as a result of terrorism, though, and I wonder about those assholes, too. What right do they have taking human lives and saying that it's for "God", "Allah" or whatever their ideology is? It makes me sick, sick, sick!

But do you realize how many innocent men, women and children that we have killed in Afghanistan and Iraq? And I'm sure you realize that for many Christian fundamentalists, this is a crusade. In fact, they initially called it a crusade until it was pointed out to them that it wasn't exactly PC.

And we're better HOW? :shrug:

but on the bright side, it's made me enjoy the good times 10 times more than I would have otherwise

the real dread is going to spend 2 weeks in VA with my Bush-loving family and my Rumsfeld-infatuated boss :(

DUers are welcome to rescue me!!!

:hi:

;-)

Who knows? Maybe your dad's eyes have opened some with the prisoner abuse scandal and the continuing unrest. And perhaps you can gently prod them toward the light. They don't have to vote for Kerry but NOT voting for Bush would be a start.

And she still has the hots for Rummy? What did she think of the torture that he directed?

Why don't you set up a DU gathering for when you're there? I know that there are some out that way. Sounds like you're going to need it.

but she is currently on vacation in NY to be in the studio audience of some FOX News show :puke:

my dad is IN the Nat'l Guard, and he blames Clinton for the guard & reservists not having enough body and vehicle armour in Iraq in 2004... I don't know if mere reasoning can penetrate a shell of ignorance that thick :evilfrown:

and I doubt that the suffering of brown people will affect him very much, either :puke:

I'm trying to assemble some DUers together, and have been looking to see if there will be a protest on june 5 there... no word yet

come on out and join us! :D

What a nightmare this has been. People actually used to like us. Now they hate our guts. I'm embarassed to be an American these days. And I don't have a whole lot of hope for the future knowing how utterly stupid Americans are. These criminals are probably going to get re-elected.

(it's a holiday) and passed maybe 20 homo sapiens in 2 hours. Had a good time on a trail sniffing wildflowers, examining mushrooms that resembled skulls and spending "quality time" ALONE.

"Christihimmelfahrt" heiss das.

DU.

I think the general public is about where we we were a year ago with regards to the basic deceit and corruptness of this administration. The whole BFEE agenda and it's ugly history will become common accepted knowledge over the next 6 months....Bush will soon stop worrying about re-selection and start thinking about avoiding a criminal trial.

Really should get on that.

I thought that we would always gain more knowledge and understanding as the years went by and the people would always be progressive.

But now I understand that everything we have gained in my life time may be thrown out the window and we could go back the the way things were before FDR.

I am glad sometimes that I am older because if things keep going the way they are, I won't want to live in the world being created by the conservatives.

I see Bush and Pearl and Wolfowitz and Rummy and wonder how the people could be so stupid as to let these guys ruin the country and the world for their mad greed.

...All day long, I've been in funk. Can't even eat. I can smoke cigarettes, but that's about it.

Yeah, it's worse now than it was four years ago. But some small, tiny part of me is optimistic about the future. I just can't get in touch with that part.

I hope to soon. I wish that for you as well. Keep the faith...

because we now know what they are capable of — and it's quite frightening. It boggles the mind to think that they've done all this thinking they would have to face an election. Can you imagine what is possible in four more years?

As far as optimism, it comes and goes. Today is one of those days when it's gone. But, the sun will come up tomorrow.

:cry: Tug at my heartstrings, would ya?

:hug: Thought maybe you could use one of those.Now please, go eat something already! :hug:

But I hear you - and everyone else here- loud and clear. I'm just as often, as pained and upset, here on this side of the 'States. What terrible, sickening times these are. I wish I could say something more positive to balance that statement. Just hang around here, we take care of each other pretty well. :)

The last time I felt similar to how you described, was when the first few Abu Graib pictures were leaked. Also the Berg video.

Today I'm just tired and feeling silly, so that's a good day, I suppose.

If biking & your romance give you an oasis of joy once in a while, don't feel guilty about it. You deserve a safe port during the storm whenever you can get it. The harsh reality will always be there waiting. Lurking... It's those moments of perfect synchronicity that make life worth living, though. Live for those, and it'll be easier dealing with the shit when it rears it's shitty head.

;)

with the new horrors everyday. I just can't believe how bad this is and that the press is so awful.

I try to cope by avoiding lots of the stories when I feel this way. I also try to focus on my family and friendsand try to stay in good health. Doing what I can to get Kerry and other Dems elected.

keek!

:loveya:

Sometimes, I sit back (like now) and really think about the direction our country has gone politically, it scares the crap out of me. It's like there's no checks and balances anymore (within the branches of government or the media) which is a dangerous thing.

In my personal life, I just try not to think about it all too intensely now. Otherwise, I couldn't function day to day. Things are not where I want them to be at all and I'm rather dissatisfied with some of my choices in life. All I can do is make better ones and work toward a better future. I try to make the best of it all in the face of little support and people who don't understand.

edit: bad grammar

...the job feeling pissed off and exhausted. I usually take an hour-long nap and wake up feeling much, much better!

I want John Kerry to win in November, and I think he will. But I feel bad that the victory will come on the backs of all the horrible, tragic things that are happening right now. Just hang in there, proles, and remember, we love you. Me included. :loveya:

...especially my 15th birthday, when the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed. Even then, I could see disaster coming. Same feeling now.

for most of you. I was just a kid during Vietnam so I don't remember that much. However, I believe the tide may be turning. FOUR repubs where I work this week have come in and said that they aren't voting for * and basically have said the same thing you're saying: "WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!?" We, on this board, knew it would be bad...but never in my wildest dreams this bad. The moderate repubs I know at work are pretty disgusted and have sworn this idiot off completely. One of them was saying, "yea, right, lets call that sarin (? if that's what it's called - anyhow, the chemical they found yesterday)the WMD'S - unbelieveable that we went to war for nothing and our kids are dying. We need to just get out, give Sadam a shave and a bath, put him back, say we're sorry, and VOTE BUSH OUT - HE'S A NUTCASE!" This came from a republican!

Then something more horrific comes along and kick me in the ass. But I do know what you mean. Personally and globally, it's already felt like the worst year I've even had. And I'm only five and a half months into it. I'm dreading what's coming in the next half. :scared:

Every two hours I wake up screaming.

:silly:

I've been only lurking! How ya doing friend?

doesn't make a difference. The images of abuse — and their apologists — and the continual lying is just getting to me.

Now that I have your attention: Bad news. My trip to Orlando has been cancelled because of some budget issues. And I thought I was finally going to get to meet you IRL. :-(

is in Chicago this year. We will definitely hook up!

Let me know. If you give me enough notice, I would be happy to pull together a Chicago welcoming committee. :toast:

I think it is the sight of those prison photographs. The banality of the evil they show really got to me. Also the wedding massacre and the attempt of the military to just flat out lie their way out of responsibility for the deaths of so many women and children.

I went on a wonderful vacation last summer to Sweden and Finland. I'm glad I went then and not this summer. I don't know if we'd be too welcome after the last year.

I've tried staying away from the news, and I'm drinking a couple of glasses of wine nightly. That seems to help.

I have too much work to do and there is so much sadness and violence in the news. It is hard to take. I keep thinking, when will people learn? But then I try to remember that there are so many good people in the world who do not perpetrate evil and violence, so that helps a little.

Here is what my so is listening to now:

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Think I can make it now, the pain is gone
Gonna be a bright, bright sunshiney day.

( a bit of soul and then some reggae for the woes of the world)

If it wasn't for this place and bicycles, I'd probably been beaten to death or shot in a fight with a "Cargo-Cult" white-trash ReTHUGlican by now.

I gotta say Chalabi gave me a laugh today. I have to doubt his guilt in Syria, because don't Crooks recognize each other by their tactics? He should've been able to see the BFEE for what they are...

On a personal level it can't be any worse. I don't think. I guess it can always get worse. I feel that my moods affect my whole family and I'm tired of feeling insecure about my life. Everyday is a new wave of emotions. I want my life to be sane and to be able to express my love for my family with out the internal storm of emotions that are flowing through me. My problem is the waves of emotions are internal and occasionally a wave slaps out to the shore of my external life. I know that with time will come more resolve. It is the task of working on it day to day that can be the biggest stressor. As they say one day at a time, I used to think it was a funny saying, but now I don't see anything amusing about it. Well thats the end of this rant. :hurts: :nopity:

I feel we have become as benignly indifferent and scared as the majority of the non Nazi German population was in the 30's...just disgusted.

It does wonders. Plus I have probably dropped 10-15 pounds this week.

I have two 13-hour workdays that make it impossible to do it every day. If not for that and my SO, I would be shriveled up in a fetal ball crying somewhere in a corner.

How did you lose so much weight so fast? Were you trying to do that?

Step Two: Start eating (and drinking) even CLOSE to correctly

Step Three: Get a** out of chair lace up the running shoes ( I just went and bought two new pair for $120) and do some freakin' pushups and situps for a change.

Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine.
I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about,
I feel good, in a special way.
I'm in love and it's a sunny day.

Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine.
We take a walk, the sun is shining down,
Burns my feet as they touch the ground.

Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine.
And then we lie, beneath a shady tree,
I love her and she's loving me.
She feels good, she knows she's looking fine.
I'm so proud to know that she is mine.

Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine.
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine,
Good day sunshine.