jus raze i just wanted to say you're killing_it with everything you've been writing these last few days and nights, poetry and prose alike. it's a great surprise to wake up, reload the recent page, and find a beautiful poem just sitting there on today's side, waiting to be read. (i'm also always fascinated by the names people choose to give themselves here. i'd love to know what inspired your blathernym, even if it was something completely random like an especially tasty bowl of soup, or catching "juice" on tv late at night — something i did once, many moons ago.) 250107 ... Jus Being here has inspired me to write again, which is such a nice feeling :) thank you. I've been loving going through everyone else's work as well. As per my name, I have a Doctor Who quote tattooed on my chest. It says, "No time, no space, just me" but when I wear clothes it usually says, "no, no, jus" lol and one of my gamer tags is Juiceee but a lot of people mistake it for "juicey", which it is definitely not, so now I use Jus! Also, no no juice is what Troy calls wine in Community and that just makes me happy. 250107 ... epitome of incomprehensibility That's a great story! And here I thought it was juice in French or short for a longer name like Justine. I also wanted to express some poetry appreciation, particularly for the concrete poem "moonbelly" and the storytelling in "nakba." You weave a lot of meaning into a few words. 250108 ... Jus Appreciate the kind feedback EOI 🥰 250108 ... raze trauma_dumping_on_a_thursday is a shattering, deeply moving piece of writing. reading that made me tear up hard. what a gift it is to read your words here. 250116 ... Soma is it like "au jus" or like abbreviated "just"? 250116 ... Jus Thanks Raze! It's the hard shit that makes us who we are or something like that. Who knows. Lol And Soma, I explain above about Jus but will just say it's pronounced "juice" :) it was a good guess though! Au jus is delish. 250117 ... raze "arya" is such a beautiful, heartbreaking tribute to a departed friend. i know the word "pet" doesn't begin to honour what these animals mean to us and the mark they make on our lives. they're family. i'm so sorry for your loss. 250505 ... ovenbird I'd like to second what raze said, and also, as I had not bumped into your writing here before now, I was delighted to come across moonbelly which is such a powerful piece of writing! 250505 ... Jus Thank you both 💓 250505 ... ovenbird What you wrote on "cucumbers" was so powerful and, oh boy, do I ever relate! I have two kids. They're 9 and 13 now but being a mom continues to be one of the hardest things I've ever done. And when they were toddlers I had SO MANY escape fantasies. I often imagined disappearing to a cabin in a northern forest with no Wi-Fi or phone service. I still imagine that sometimes. And then I feel so guilty because we're told that having children should be the most magical and fulfilling thing in the world. I've come to the conclusion that having children is definitely meaningful but it isn't always joyful. It's hard and painful and transformative work. I could go on and on about this, but I just wanted to say that you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed and dreaming of a life where you get to be fully yourself without all the demands of small lives who depend on you for everything. I have certainly spent a lot of time missing who I used to be. 250809 ... Jus Thanks for sharing, Ovenbird. It helps to know it’s not a solitary experience. 💜 250811 ... raze what you wrote on "anecdote" last_night is ... "holy_shit" are the only words that come to mind. that ran right through me. i'm glad you're still here. 250929 ... ovenbird I was also astounded by "anecdote." You wrote that in a powerfully immersive way. Vivid doesn't even start to cover it. 250929 ... raze (if you ever want some company on a walk in the woods, i'm down like a clown with an upside_down frown. i think we could all use more of those.) 251009 ... ovenbird I am also the resigned owner of a generalized anxiety disorder. Forest walks for all! (And I'm glad you're finding some things that help.) 251009 ... nr hello, fellow generalized anxiety disorder friend. i'm glad the cbd is helping. i've been smoking it these days to help reduce shingles pain, but the worried-brain edge it takes off is a very welcome side effect. 251009 ... Jus I'm sorry I didn't see these comments the other day! Thank-you so much guys. And Raze, yes please. There is nothing better than a jaunt through the woods. Especially now that we have some crispy sweater weather. :) 251009 ... Jus I want to say that we should start a cool anxiety club (CAC?) but I'm mostly sorry you all deal with this too. Again, I find that having you all to relate to helps immensely. I appreciate you. Also, I didn't know you could smoke CBD! I take gummies because they taste amazing. 251009 ... e_o_i I love how lady_lumps weaves the serious and funny together. It has such strong imagery and structure (and yay for nostalgic song titles). ...Also, you're making me miss the gummies I left at home (not with CBD, but sugar - speaking of relating to songs, change "Love Is My Drug" to "Sucrose Is My Drug" and that's pretty much gospel truth). The dog_sitting_days of fall mean I'm staying at someone else's place and I mostly brought sensible food. But yes, I appreciate your words! and I wish a swift vanquishing of the worry goblins and all the best with the classy-ness!! 251010 ... ovenbird Every time you write something I feel it so deeply. I went through a lot of similar things when I became a mom. I didn't recognize myself, or my partner, or my life for a good long while. I see myself in so much of what you beautifully articulate. 251021 what's it to you? who go blather from