From the Mind of AlphaBetsy

      Hello. My name is Betsy. The country, my friends, my family and parts of my life are a bit volatile, and I have decided to blog.      Last  week my country voted for one of the most controversial presidents ever presented. I am sad, I am scared for my friends who are minorities, LGBTQIA, non-christian and women, and I am angry. I am also resolved to stop being a bystander, and to get out there to start being the change I want to see in the world. I don't have a clear plan yet, but it is coming. I can feel it bubbling up.      The Friday after the momentous vote, I was privileged to be involved in my company's Veteran's Day flag raising. I was part of a team that assisted a local Junior ROTC group handle the ginormous flag that our company flies daily. I also got to speak to two lovely Honor Flight veterans and their wives while we were waiting for the gentlemen who would be sitting with them through the ceremony. I got a couple...

Foto Friday - My week in Pictures.   I am starting something new. I am going to post a picture (or two) for every day of the week on Friday under the heading of Foto Friday. These will be pictures of every sort that will help me tell you what my days were like this week.   Saturday   The Ohio Theatre in Columbus Ohio. Saw the Nutcracker by Balletmet.   Sunday    Christmas with Seth's Family.   Monday   The cutest lipgloss in the world!   Tuesday   Nails are back to black and rounded now for bowling.   Wednesday     Got my bowling ball drilled and then bowled a 145. Back to the league on the 10th.   Thursday   All the jello shots at my friend Paul's house for New Years! Friday   On my way to the Bailey Family Christmas. One of my prizes from our ugly ornament exchange. Have a great week!!!        ...

There are days, weeks, months where nothing seems to go as planned. Those times when even simple things seem complex and impossible. At those times in my life I become silent in social media and on my blog because I feel like all I will do is complain, but I think in reality I am selling myself short. Maybe by sharing my crazy and how I am making it through I can help someone else make it through. Or not, but at least I will feel like I am getting everything out. I suffer from anxiety disorder and I am prone to panic attacks. I am completely un-medicated. This is more or less a personal choice. I hated the medications the doctor put me on. One made me feel off, and the warnings associated with it were harrowing. The other did help with the anxiety attacks, because it knocked me out cold within 5 minutes of taking it; technically it was incredibly effective if insanely impractical for regular use. I also have problems with picking, which is absolutely a form of self-mutilation. ...