How to survive the next few days

plus, C-Rex instructions from Bea

Our garden a few days ago.

Okay Frog Troublers, we’re almost there and we thought it would be a great time to send out a few suggestions for staying sane and strong in the last days of the most endless-feeling campaign cycle many of us have ever experienced.

1. Go outside! You’ve probably noticed that it’s very beautiful right now—enjoy that! Take some deep breaths. If you have a garden, pull some weeds or gaze at your lettuce or pick your last, tiny tomatoes. Take a walk in the woods. Harriet says if you need to take calming breaths put one hand flat on the ground or a table and trace around your fingers using your opposite hand. Breathe in as you trace up each finger, out as you trace down.

2. If you can, get out there and knock doors, or sign up for poll greeting in your community! I canvassed yesterday and it was awesome—my friend Duncan and I were in Pittsboro, and we were thanked for our work several times by total strangers. I’m going with my friend Cat in Creedmoor today. It’s such a great experience to go with a friend or to make a new friend by signing up for a shift.

   I love to canvass or phone bank with Down Home NC, County to County, and Neighbors on Call, and I know Barb and Mamie are going to be out there poll greeting (which makes a big difference by helping folks with down-ballot races). Put your favorites in the comments!

3. Text your friends and family, especially the ones in swing states. Tell them when you voted or when you plan to vote, and ask them if they’ve gone yet. If they haven’t, please let them know that the lines can be long. Young people who have never voted need to know that they must be in line before the polls close—yesterday several college students were turned away at Richard’s poll watching location because they tried to get in line after polls closed. Once you’re in line they have to keep the polls open until you vote. Yesterday, in Elon, that was after 5:00PM. So be prepared!

4. Don’t look at the polls if you can manage it. Spend your time instead making sure every neighbor, friend, and relative votes to save Democracy, restore and protect women’s rights to bodily autonomy, and fight against climate change.

5. Do something with your hands that is not screen-based! Maybe that is cooking something delicious, with a lot of chopping and stirring. Here is a gift link to my favorite vegetarian meal I’ve made lately. Bea is knitting a cardigan, and has promised to teach me to knit a scarf. She also offers these instructions, as promised, for the Cuteasaurus Rex, or C-Rex:

Dinosaur Crochet by Bea

You’ll need:

-Rainbow plush yarn

-a 6.0 mm crochet hook

-safety eyes

-a ribbon

Pattern

Head:

1. Four single crochet magic ring

2. Four increases (end up with eight)

3. Single crochet until you think the head is big enough

4. Single crochet then decrease until head is done

5. Increase again (1 round)

6. Single crochet four rounds

7. Decrease to finish. Stuff with polyfill or cotton. End of body.

Legs (2):

1. Four single crochet magic ring

2. Single crochet (one round)

3. Round two, stuff, fasten off and sew to body.

Arms (2):

1. Three single crochet magic ring

2. Single crochet one round, stuff

3. Fasten off

4. Sew to body

Tail (1):

1. Six single crochet in magic ring.

2. Single crochet four rounds

3. Single crochet, decrease, single crochet. Repeat until tail is done.

4. Stuff and sew to body.

Spines (use a contrasting plush yarn)

1. Insert hook in top of head

2. Half double crochet, double crochet, half double crochet

3. Repeat to end of tail.

Add safety eyes, and tie a ribbon around her neck for extra cuteness.

Finally, plan some kind of self-care for after the polls have closed. The girls and I are going to see the Wolfpack Women in their opening basketball game of the season. Richard and our neighbor David plan to have a toast (last year, we did fireworks after the election was called).

How about allowing yourself to dream a little about what it will feel like when we finally know that all of our hard work has paid off? Will you travel to DC to see President Harris take her historic oath of office? Will you watch on television with a mug of hot chocolate and a cat curled in your lap?

P.S. Here are some Halloween photos:

Harriet as vampire cat:

Richard and Bea as Giles and Buffy:

Some favorite Bynum pumpkins:

Lots of love from the FTT.