Ate too many Pringles and don't feel like dinner 😕

So Melania Trump is flogging a $600 necklace.

I guess the US economy can't be that bad if people are buying that shit so there goes that line of attack. Every sale undermines their own argument..

In case anyone's getting worried, no, I'm not about to top myself.

I mean, what if it was just viewed as normal? Like taking a later train instead of earlier one? Ordering a flat white instead of a a cappuccino or something?

I don't really see a rational downside. Main argument, I guess it's, "what a loss, who knows what that person could have gone on to achieve?" but it's not like anyone owes people their future theoretical achievements, is it?

Probably not a popular belief, but I really think suicide needs to be destigmatised. Strikes me that it can be an entirely rational response to a situation. Okay, so if you decide to voluntarily kick your own bucket, you're probably not going to regret it (on account of being dead), but other people in your life will be dealing with the emotional fallout, and that's compounded by feeling like they could and should've done something.

Feel like the entire world is fucked right now and I don't see how we're going to get back to a semblance of normality.

My head is saying "yeah yeah, stop being a drama queen, every generation has felt the same"

Every other part of me is like "stfu, head. You're an idiot and nobody likes you"

Current mood: wishing some people would just come out and say what they think, but also feeling hypocritical 'cos I'm definitely holding some stuff back' cos the time doesn't feel right 😛

Been looking at jobs and it's striking how there seems to a lot of demand for people with a youth/community work background, particularly in schools, but the pay doesn't seem to reflect that demand.

On top of that, I'm getting the distinct impression that job listings are written mostly by people who don't really value what we do. Major "we're doing you a favour" vibes from a lot of them.

Feeling pretty good today. Just been to the gym today, for the first time in about 40 years, so some of it's probably all the endorphins and stuff. Plus the self-satisfaction of getting through an hour's boxing exercises without projectile vomiting. But also, I think, there's some weight lifted (no gym pun intended) by deciding to stop bottling up some stuff and just being more open about it.

Plus I've reconnected with some old friends, so... a positive few days, all in all 🍺🙂👍

Not a fan of Harriet Harman, but she's got a point here:

"On Thursday, former deputy Labour leader Baroness Harman told BBC Newsnight that the prime minister having clothes and spectacles paid for "feels a bit like a misstep because most people have to buy their own clothes to go to work and the prime minister is not low paid"."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyvpv1lzq6o

So yeah. Offer's open. Send me a DM if you have a pro account. Say you'd like to talk if you haven't, and I'll DM you.

I know it might be an issue if you don't have a pro account and can't initiate a DM so I've opened my Twitter account's DMs so anyone can now send one. The account is @66ALW99. I'll keep it open as long as I don't get spam or abuse or whatever.

Honestly, if you want to talk, reach out.

What I'm finding is, I've learned patterns of thinking and ways of behaving and ways to respond to people that are based on that stuff. I'm starting to see how my relationships, of all sorts, are affected by it. Like 40+ years later.

I suspect I'm not the only one.

I'm not an expert in all this. But if anyone has gone through, or is going through, similar stuff and wants to chat, I'm open to it.

I'm just starting to see how important it is to be able to open up about it.

>

Thread.

Just a thing, on stuff I've had cause to think about lately. I'm thinking it's likely some of you out there may be going through something similar.

My dad was violent. I work with kids now, and the stuff that he did, I'd be reporting it nowadays, if I thought any of the kids I work with these days were going through anything similar.

Thing is, I didn't know it wasn't normal. I'm getting on for 50 years old, and I'm only just starting to deal with the aftereffects.
>

I am not getting on with online job applications right now. I have over 20 years experience in my field. I'm not writing a separate expression of interest letter or cover letter explaining why I'm suitable for the role, when it's all right there in the f*king CV you can easily read.

Wankers. You want someone to dance for you, get a mirror and boogie away 'til you're satisfied 🤬

Question for you #guitar minded folk.

I have an old electric guitar that I don't use. I'd like to convert it so it plays similar to a 3-string (DGD) cigar box guitar. BUT... I also want to double up the strings (similar to how a 12-string is tuned. So it'd be:

D
D-1
G
G-1
D-1
D-2

The bit I'm stuck on is, what string gauges would I need so the strings wouldn't be too loose/tight when tuned?
#guitar #guitarist #CoSoGuitar

Ordered gym gear, it just arrived today.

Now I'm all out of excuses 😕

"nobody waves, but almost everybody waves back.”
- Nicholas Epley

Just finished that last article. It's REALLY good. I mean, I might be particularly emotionally stunted or something (I'm British, so that's a possibility).

Link again: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/vulnerability-the-key-to-better-relationships

This is another on a similar subject (possibly the same one for some people - I'm still processing!)

A little more in-depth, or at least explores the subject more.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/vulnerability-the-key-to-better-relationships

Been thinking a lot about friendships lately. Coincidentally, or possibly algorithmically, I just saw this article pop up.

https://www.vogue.com/article/red-flag-no-childhood-friends

I wouldn't say it's hugely insightful, but it did strike a chord