The public transportation system I use just started offering bus passes through their app. Until now it was mainly just for tracking buses, or looking at routes and maps. Now it can sell and generate bus passes as well. I learned this only because I’m subscribed to the transit company’s YouTube channel, and I watch pretty much every video! The new pass section was a recent app update and I am really glad to use it. Most worthwhile cities have had something like this in effect for years already.
It was a busy day for me, when I was first trying to use a pass on the app. I probably took about 8 different legs of travel along all my many errands. Unfortunately many of the local bus drivers were surprised I was using the app, it seemed like they hadn’t been informed that new QR code system had gone live. It was only given a moment of attention but was awkward each time. One driver tried to discourage and stop me from putting my phone up to the fare box. He claimed that the passes weren’t rolling out until next month, and I tried not to sound too bitchy, explaining that I’d already been using it all day (and i continued to scan my phone and have the fare accepted)! About half the drivers commented, it was really weird. One driver asked to get a look at the app I had open and he explained, they hadn’t received any training or notices about it.
I’ve used bus passes through the app a few more times since then, and it seems things are going better. Only on that first day did I get any comments and reaction. It’s a relief to see the novelty worn off.
The clocks mostly changed themselves over the weekend, but I had to manually set an old one too. The temperature dropped during that ”daylight savings time” scam, so it snowed a few inches overnight. The effect is disorienting, it’s giving the vibes of December, and I’m glad I didn’t have to go anywhere right away.
My mental health is not great so I haven’t wanted to post much. I had been in treatment for anxiety (amongst other issues) for over two years this time, until November. There were changes to insurance regulations (they had been “relaxed” for the pandemic, which is why I was able to go in the first place and remain in treatment consistently) that upon revocation made me ineligible to continue working with the mental health facility. The counselor I talked to tried to help me skirt around the changes for as long as possibe and let me know what was happening so I am thankful I wasn’t blindsided by being dropped. She helped me alot! But all the same I am left stranded without professional help anymore.
The medications I was prescribed I only ever took sparingly, so for the time being, I still have some amount of pills left that might help, and I keep a supply of CBD on hand too. I’ve been suggested a few ideas for how to get back into treatment there, or other places I could go, but I haven’t made any moves toward anything yet. It’s a dehumanizing process to go through another new mental health intake. It reminds me of my family (highly offensive) every time, who put me into this nightmarish world in the first place. Several of my my past attempts to walk-in somewhere or refer myself for treatment went badly, like I have been rejected and denied because I’m not suicidal enough nor interested in blindly taking tons of medications. Other times, I’ve tried to get help and been locked up (inpatient treatment) pretty much incarcerated, it’s so scary not knowing which way any interaction may lead.
The bad weather and the disrupted routine of clocks, my lack of a mental health care is negatively impacting my mood a lot. I don’t want to be too pessimistic today but it does seem like everything is very bad. Everything on the news is bad. An insightful comment on my last deranged blog post suggested that people aren’t meant to know all the updates about different far-away events and every battle. The wars have gone on longer than I’ve been alive, with no improvement. So thanks for that good reminder for me, to ignore the media when it’s upsetting.
The deodorant I use increased in price again, it’s up to $6, I’m not sure at what point I would consider trying another cheaper brand or discontinue using that kind of product completely and I hate that I was even thinking about it. I heard gas prices are going up for drivers, though, which does please me. I can’t be mad about every instance of corporate price gouging!
Sometimes I think my arm hurts, but I’m not completely certain. I occasionally feel a twinge of tiredness or something vaguely sore, and I’m reminded of my old tendonitis ordeal. I’ve heard of “hypochrondria”, it’s related to anxiety, and I really hope that I don’t have it! My arm injury was real, back in 2022, so I’m not deluded in being careful and gentle with my weak left arm. I’m just paying attention to what’s going on there and see if it changes at all. Trying not to obsess!
I really want to end on a positive note. Not everything is bad (it just seems that way). One great thing going on in my life is- I’ve been seeking out different kinds of exotic oranges again. I keep an eye out everywhere I go and I’m taking notes so I can write about them sometime. Last week I ate one called Sumo Orange. I watched a cute video from a Hollywood award ceremony, Ryan Gosling was singing his song from the Barbie movie and he kissed at least two different guys during the performance, it was impressive to see. My daughter is fine as far as I can tell, she’s been busy, in training at her new job. I jokingly call it Vampire Academy because she’s going to work at a hospital, and some of the training I’ve heard about is learning to avoid blood pathogens. I’ve also been watching the show on Hulu “Shogun” that gives me something to look forward to.
I’ll post again soon, and thanks to anyone who read this
Welcome to the Judithverse 
Leave a comment