Lesley Carhart 
Oh good, its my favorite holiday which I can't even enjoy the tiniest bit
Who am I kidding, I can’t enjoy anything anymore…
Fuckin fascists….
I have Hashimoto's, and it has been a long time since I had a bad tachycardia episode. I am so extremely stressed right now over the US election that I got to spend a whole night this week with my damn legs up a wall in a hotel alone in order to not go to the ER and then show up for work on time. So that was cool.
This month has been worse than two decades of military service. I do crisis IR for a living. I knife fight and shoot competitively for fun. I do stress, for a living. That much in our country and global democracy is at stake, and I do not know how to get people outside Mastodon and the limited time I have to phone bank, to care.
This election is coming close to killing me.
I need y'all to understand - my family was Republican. My grandmother worked for a Republican congressman most of her career. I grew up a (dumbass) libertarian. I'm a vet and a gun owner. We are ALL voting blue. This shit is insane.
bk@hacks4pancakes
We can all agree that democracy is worth it …
We can all agree that democracy is worth it …
@knutson_brain the worst form of government, except for most of the others :)
@hacks4pancakes bingo!
Chris L@hacks4pancakes history in real time is excruciating.
@hacks4pancakes and whatever happens, remember the old adage, a cause worth dying for is a cause worth living for - take care of yourself for the marathon. A slight joke I saw here the other day - Americans during an election are like dogs during fireworks.
Martin Boller 
@hacks4pancakes hugs and love. Understanding the immense pressure that shit is.
Andy4Future@hacks4pancakes respect. Hope the best from good ol europe.
@andy4future me too. I’m fleeing the county if not, but it will hurt the whole planet.
Darwin WoodkaI'm staying and helping run the underground railroad for the trans kids if he wins
Frank Endrullat 🌻
Altytwo Altryness, BS 
@hacks4pancakes much the same, except that I’ve just dropped contact with family and don’t want to reengage because I really don’t think I could take finding out that they opted for the bad side of the coin flip.
@hacks4pancakes anyway, you’re definitely not alone.
Cali@hacks4pancakes I’m not even in the US and that encapsulates the mood at the moment. There’s a sense of “how did it all come down to this?”. So much hanging in the balance, and all across the globe.
@Cali I am brutally aware. From two major hideous wars, to climate change, to democracy versus fascism. It's all up to me and my American compatriots right now, and a lot of them are too busy watching Real Housewives, or worse.
Nick 'The Viking'💙 Deep breath Lesley 💙
@nlarson830 I wish I didn't care.
KuJoe 💞@hacks4pancakes I know this is just anecdotal and probably won’t calm any of your nerves, but I live in Florida and the number of Harris flags in my area outnumber the Trump flags significantly, and so many Trump flags were removed in the past year or so, some even replaced with Harris flags as soon as she announced her bid to run. It’s been enough of a change here in my small world to give me hope.
@KuJoe If we can save the country we can save Florida.
Tanya Karoli 4 a better world@hacks4pancakes I am so so sorry! Even following this from Europe makes me freak out so I can’t imagine the stress you are living under.
But I want you to know, we are SO many people who are grateful for what you do! Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏
Please take care and rest if at all possible. You have already done your part.
But I want you to know, we are SO many people who are grateful for what you do! Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏
Please take care and rest if at all possible. You have already done your part.
Michael Olsen@hacks4pancakes Nothing I can send digitally comes close to conveying what I wish I could to help ease the stress and pain. You're right, this is insanity (predictable, but still insane) that we are even in this situation as a nation. If you don't have enough IRL people to vent and commiserate with, hmu plz.
Also, the reminder for all of us, it's ok to not be ok, if you need time away from work etc, consider taking it, that may also be worse too right now. I dunno.
I guess In this moment I just want/wish I could help you to feel a little more ok, not like "big picture" ok; I don't think any of us could be there, but maybe in the here and now, feeling seen, heard, and cared by others for way.... You're loved Lesley❤️
Also, the reminder for all of us, it's ok to not be ok, if you need time away from work etc, consider taking it, that may also be worse too right now. I dunno.
I guess In this moment I just want/wish I could help you to feel a little more ok, not like "big picture" ok; I don't think any of us could be there, but maybe in the here and now, feeling seen, heard, and cared by others for way.... You're loved Lesley❤️
HTTP 1.1/418 Teapot@hacks4pancakes Yeah, this is not the good, fun kind of stress. I mean, "oh god everything is broken and on fire and full of bees" can often be my happy place. This fucking bullshit? This is not a happy place.
Also: In a circumstance like this, self-care is a radical act.
Also: In a circumstance like this, self-care is a radical act.
run_atalanta -> beige.party@rmd1023 @hacks4pancakes self-care is radical in the face of the women-hating masses. Those "us it time to go to the ER?" Nights are bad.
If you are able to volunteer to drive people to vote or work with the 866-OUR-VOTE organization, it might help your stress level to be doing something other than cold calling strangers.
I've literally driven folks with limited mobility 2 blocks to their polling location so they could vote. It feels rewarding and useful, and it really helps them.
💖