So, hey, I was freaking out at 5AM this morning bc an important freelance gig is changing. I have a few follow ups on that.

1) You folks have been incredibly kind & supportive even tho I'm still pretty new here. I appreciate that so much. Definitely helps when you're feeling alone at 5AM. I am really grateful for it ❀️

2) Things do look a bit less impossible by day thankfully. I have a few leads to follow and ideas to work with. It's hard but I just need to problem-solve. I can do that. (cont)

3) Found out that the gig is scaling back but not completely vanishing. So, not great by any stretch, but less bad than I thought. Still need alternatives but at least it's 50% less scary.

4) I will probably panic again at some point, maybe at 5AM. But I am definitely working on trying to trust that things will work out somehow.

5) Big thanks to @kims - give her a follow, she's amazing.

6) In the midst of the terrors I feel like nothing will work but I'll get there. Ive got to, right?

Anyway, I'll be back to posting photos but I really do appreciate the community here. I'm just really humbled by the fact that so many people do seem to care, share their own experiences, and help offer hope. I never feel like I know what to say or how to say it but when you're a bit of a loner stuff like that goes a long way towards making you feel like you're not invisible when things go sideways. Thank you. That -does- help.
@AbandonedAmerica Ugh! 5am panics are the worse. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, and hope something even more interesting drops right in your lap very soon.
@progressiveartist thanks so much. I hope so too. I'll figure something out (?) ❀️

@AbandonedAmerica This is one of those times I wish I could quote boost, but you can boost this, as can others who follow you:

Folks with some discretionary income, please go shopping here to help out:

https://www.dismantlingthedream.com/

Boost, not just favourite! Please.

The Abandoned America Store

Signed books, prints, calendars, postcards, mugs - get all your Abandoned America stuff here!

dismantlingthedream
@progressiveartist thank you, that is very kind of you πŸ™

@AbandonedAmerica You're welcome. Hope it helps.

I noticed your book Age of Consequences (both English and French versions) is also available at bookshop.org, but not listed as a source on your website.

A lot of people choose them as they support indie book shops with every purchase.

@progressiveartist yeah I am cutting back on directing to Amazon, I hate them too, but to totally root them out it would require recoding 1000s of pages. I just direct people to my own shop mostly now.

@AbandonedAmerica I hate them, too. Have been boycotting them since I read this 10 years ago:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/02/mac-mcclelland-free-online-shipping-warehouses-labor/

But I do understand that authors are almost chained to them by necessity. Really hate it for all of you.

I was a warehouse wage slave

My brief, backbreaking, rage-inducing, low-paying, dildo-packing time inside the online-shipping machine.

Mother Jones
@progressiveartist yeah I remember this one really turned me off too.
@progressiveartist @AbandonedAmerica Recording history before it disappears, one photo after another, one story and memory after another...it's fascinating and sad and evocative all at the same time.