Darkness returns

Mid-November thoughts

November has not been off to the best start. It’s fitting that the time change happened on the first day of the month, plunging us into darkness earlier in the evening. Maybe I should have taken advantage of the extended daylight more often. It’s also much colder and wetter here in Halifax; we got our first snow on Wednesday, and while I recognize it’s just the natural order of things, there’s a part of me that resents the reminder that the days of icy sidewalks and heavy clothing are coming yet again. I wish humans hibernated during winter because I sure could use that.

The news is a constant reminder of how many loathsome scumbags there are with too much power. They believe that everything exists for them to use, abuse, and destroy; other human beings are mere playthings. The worst atrocities are allowed to be committed against individuals and nations all because it benefits someone. I wish I could be optimistic that the Epstein victims will receive justice, but it almost feels like the Trump regime and their collaborators are rubbing it in our face that they are doing everything in their power to normalize monstrosity. How much of the base has already been groomed to accept this?

I would love to see a mandatory de-shittification of the internet, but I know how unlikely that is to happen, especially as long as the tech bros are getting their favours from various governments. I only have BlueSky and Instagram on my phone; I still keep the other accounts open, but I rarely access them outside of work hours, and rarely feel like I get enough connection from these places to endure all the slop and advertising. The AI is making everything worse too.

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I’m still thinking a lot about Dilly; my therapy appointment was mostly talking about her and processing my feelings about her passing. When I go to my parents’ place to visit for Christmas is probably when I’m really going to feel her absence. It was already going to be more quiet than usual since Maggie died in September, but Dilly was a huge presence in our lives, even though most of the noise she made was purring and chirping.

I am so grateful that I have Autumn around. There’s something particularly rewarding about her wanting to cuddle as soon as I wake up and when I get home from the office. Maybe it’s because I had to earn her trust.

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Some good advice:

(I also support folks deciding to grow out after maintaining a shaved head for a while, just because change and challenge can be fun.)

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A favourite song:

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