Book of D: ELIMINATE TOBACCO USE SUMMIT 2022 Wednesday, April 20 – Thursday, April 21

  

Book of D: Purple Rain at Midland Mazda

I'm at the Mazda place. Chewy II 🚙 is getting an oil change and tire 🔘 rotation. The renovations at Mazda of Midland are wonderful. They're playing "Purple Rain." ☂️Thanks also, Mazda of Midland, for the wonderful, informative video. All car dealerships should offer this video service.

TruVideo - Repair Orders

Book of D: Emotional Disconnect

Pondering over the many counseling sessions with my clients, I wonder why so many people are experiencing so much emotional disconnect. I wondered if it had something to do with early childhood from where so many mental health issues stem. In all honesty, I am thinking that covid did some really disturbing things to people and their abilities to form social connections. As humans, we have the innate need for other people. We have a need for socialization and fellowship. Humans need human touch and interaction. When connectedness is lacking, despair will often set in making people feel devalued, and in turn, they can devalue others. Moreover, being connected helps ward off despondency. There is empirical evidence which posits that connectedness improves our wellbeing and good mental health. Furthermore, scientific evidence proves that connectedness can lower the rates of anxiety and depression while increasing self-esteem, empathy, trust, and supportive relationships. So, what does all this mean? That mental health counseling is at an even greater need than in decades before and that normalizing counseling is vital.

Book of D: Lubbock Trip

 We went to Lubbock to just get away for the weekend. Just knowing we are out of Midland makes us feel free. LOL. Even if we are going to a more conservative town (Lubbock) than Midland. We left Saturday afternoon after my site evaluation with my college professor and site supervisor. My spouse drove her suv since mine needs an oil change. My niece (a.k.a. daughter) Alex was in Lubbock with her friend Posie. They had plans to see Erra, The Devil Wears Prada, Beartooth, and Silverstein at the Lonestar Amphitheater on Saturday night. Alex drove back to Midland with us on Sunday evening to keep Posie from having to drive to Midland and back to the Lubbock area. Alex and Posie spent Sunday going to church (yes, 20 year-olds opt for church, especially on Palm Sunday😉), shopping, going to eat, and having coffee at Dutch Bros Coffee. Posie drove Alex to Rosa's where my spouse's family, my spouse, and I were having dinner. We spent over an hour deciding where to eat, so when hunger started making me act like a mean ole bear (kidding); actually, we had all arrived at the point where our sugar levels were low, making us somewhat loopy and not fun to hang with. Bad! My aunt mentioned Rosa's, so we all agreed to go there and to get there fast. Heh, heh. Anyway, the food and service is quick and good at Rosa's; it reminds me of Taco Cabana. Posie left to go home (15 mins from Lubbock), and we all went back to our aunt and uncle's house. We packed up and left. I let Alex ride shotgun while I basked in the lap of luxury in my Honey's almost brand new SUV. The leather passenger bucketseats are so comfy; I would have napped had our convo with Alex not kept us all enthralled. It was such a nice weekend. I am so grateful. 

Book of D: Associate Justice-designate of the Supreme Court of the United States ⚖️ Ketanji Brown Jackson ⚖️

This is a grand day of historical, epic proportions. There is not much I have to say about Jackson's confirmation hearings because if you were paying attention, the republicans made a mockery of the proceedings. Jackson's curriculum vitae (CV) speaks for itself and stands to justify why she is the best choice to replace former associate justice of the Supreme Court Stephen Gerald Breyer. I am in complete awe of Jackson. She is intelligent, fair, compassionate; moreover, she loves the Rule of Law. Jackson's ethics will ensure that she adheres to what rule of law means; somewhere, I strongly believe that Justice Robert H. Jackson is exceptionally thrilled with today's vote and POTUS Biden's nom. That's all I have to and want to say for now. Congratulations to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court ⚖️ Jackson,

Excerpt (CNN):

• Jackson was confirmed by a vote of 53 yeas and 47 nays. Three GOP senators crossed party lines and voted for her: Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
• Jackson will be the first ever Black woman to sit on the bench. Biden had said during his 2020 presidential campaign that he was committed to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court if elected.
• Ahead of the final vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the moment a "joyous, momentous, groundbreaking day." Schumer went on to say, "In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, never, never has a Black woman held the title of Justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first, and I believe the first of more to come."
• The Senate chamber was packed for the Senate vote, with most senators seated at their desks. The vote initially proceeded quickly as a result, but was later held open for some time when it became clear that GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only senator who had not voted. The chamber waited for him to arrive and vote before it was gaveled closed.
• Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to serve as vice president, presided over the chamber during the historic vote in her capacity as president of the Senate.
• Democratic senators erupted in applause after Jackson's confirmation was announced. Romney also joined in on the applause.

Book of D: Serenity in Our Home Office

 Ever since we renovated our home office, I can't get enough of working in the space. We haven't quite finished it yet, but it is about 97% completed. I am waiting on getting a copy of my spouse's master's degree; she has the original in her work office. I can't wait until I get my master's degree to proudly display it at my work office, too, with a copy at home. Anyway, the space at home is cozy, and it allows for us to work, read, whatever, in peace and serenity (I know, both are kind of the same). And, yes, we are keeping our Christmas lights up until I can replace them with LED strip lighting. 😏😃😠

Book of D: The Cacophony and Malady of JC (a.k.a. Jesus Christ)

I met with a client today, yep, I see clients on Sunday, and we talked about the problems of the world. Mostly, those issues created by the so-called Christians who want non-Christians, atheists, and agnostics to subscribe to their b/s. My client made a good point about how JC was probably a really cool guy, a hipster who liked talking to different people. I told the client I agreed; moreover, I said that I would bet to say that JC was gay or bisexual. Afterall, he loved to hang out and converse with men – 12 to be exact. LOL 😆. We both laughed and wondered what others would think if they could hear us proudly boasting our LGBTQ cause via JC, Superstar. It felt wonderful to vent knowing our emotions were sans any angst. We agreed that the bible is not a good method of argument if not everyone at the debate possesses a belief in it; it merely becomes a book – like Grimms' Fairy Tales, Moby Dick, or The Hunger Games. I ended our Sunday session by saying that all the rantings of modern-day arguments over religion would most likely just bother JC and piss him off. He would probably be disoriented by the cacophony and bUll$h!t of the maddening malady that afflicts humankind.

Book of D: That F♤ⓒking Slap

Y 'all, it would be remiss of me not to mention the incident that took place last Sunday at the Academy Awards show.

I can honestly say that I was shook over the slap-heard-round-the-world. My spouse and I were watching the show intently, hoping our favorite movies and actors would win their respective categories. I had just finished doing my homework (transcribing a counseling session with a client), and my spouse had just finished reading (not sure what she read, but she's usually found reading something on the weekends - unless she's filing reports for her DPS job). We both did a double take immediately after Smith slapped Rock, asking each other, "what just happened?" ... "was that real?' Then the video cut off followed by blank air space and white noise. I did what millions of people did that moment trying to figure out what had happened: I turned to Twitter. Regardless of the joke by Rock, Smith had absolutely no excuse for slapping Rock. As a survivor of domestic abuse by my pathetic first spouse (ex-husband now, thankfully), a couple of other relationships gone rogue, and now being in a healthy relationship and a facilitator at my University for Bystander Intervention, I cannot and will not condone what Smith or any bully does in the supposed name of love or protection of a loved one. One thing I have personally learned in my lifetime is that love is never violent.

   

Book of D: The Death of Ivan Ilyich (Leo Tolstoy): What If My Whole Life Has Been Wrong

What If My Whole Life Has Been Wrong! Imagine spewing those very words from your mouth. To even imagine thinking that there might be some truth in it. Oh, the horror of it all. Right? Well, maybe not. We all have choices. In the novel by Leo Tolstoy (whose novels I have come to truly enjoy late in life), the death of Ivan has made things complicated for many of the characters. For the protagonist, he has come to realize that life is empty and vain. Death is indeed inevitable while career, social status, and wealth are temporary and bereft of a real legacy. The novel does not elucidate the meaning of life, but it does somewhat unmask the human desire to seek a sense of greater significance out of existence ala existentialism. I know many people whose sense of being is earmarked by material and monetary successes, but I have also known those who learned that success is usually attached to a sense of loving and connectedness. As for me, I am fortunate that I learned early enough that my life is my own, and what I make of it is inherently up to me. There is no predetermined dogma. I have to figure out what I want my life to be - not what I was put on this earth to be. And, at the end of the day, I decided my life is not wrong. I decided to be happy basking in the love and joy of familial relationships and community; providing a hand up for others. Material wealth is not for me. I choose organic happiness.