#survival guide

Some kind of draft

by Maria

Make a wish. Even if nothing comes of it— putting it out there still matters.

Play a holiday song. Even if it feels wrong at first. As they say, fake it until you make it— until something eases.

Remember the reason for the season. I’m a Christian, and when things feel off— I remind myself they’re still right in Christ.

A little bit of love goes a long way. Smile at someone passing by. Wish them a happy holiday. Joy travels. Sometimes it finds you on the way back. So— here’s me wishing you well, hoping I might feel swell too.

If you’re alone, that’s not nothing. Quiet holidays can be beautiful. A candle. A book. Hot cocoa. Enough.

Go for a walk. Notice the small miracles— the quiet ones. They don’t announce themselves. They just are, even when your hands are full.

More helpful tips.

OOO well! There’s definitely a few ways of “surviving” the Sinclairs, but here’s some of my ideas!

Look, the show practically gives a step by step guide. Look at the American election results, and the way Canadian politics are leaning. We're getting there.

So, heres what you're going to do:

Stash some cash: If you have extra funds, withdraw some. Stash it somewhere you would think to look that other people would not. Useful in all kinds of emergency situations.

Update your paperwork: My passport is expired, I should update that. In my case, I'm a dual citizen so I could get out of dodge fast if I needed to. Keep it somewhere safe with the cash. We're talking passports, birth certificates social security numbers, etc.

Keep physical copies: This is the digital age, but guard physical copies of what you do have closely. I have lots of cds and a cd player, pictures of me and my partner, books. Burning books is already a thing, I highly recommend purchasing books straight off of banned book lists.

Read up on your herbs: Its not witchy voodoo shit if it works. Theres simple stuff, mint tea for nausea, raspberry leaf for cramps, mugwort for you know what. Be careful, I am not saying this is safe, but it may be necessary. Also everybody likes a good cup of tea.

Bug out bag: For if you're really committed. This is a bag for survival situations, or if you have less than two minutes to leave your house. Read about it online. It should have everything you need (clothes, toiletries, food, medication) if you need to leave with what you can fit on your back.

Write: Keep written record about anything you don't want to forget. Journal entries, song lyrics, recipes, whatever. It does not matter, notebooks are something you can throw under one arm and go.

Powerful men are not your friends, religious leaders are not your friends, that acquaintance with questionable world views is not your friend. Create a close network of people you trust with your life. I'm not joking.

I am aware I sound cuckoo bananas to some of you and thats fine. I sound cuckoo bananas to myself. Women are losing agency, queer people are losing their lives, disabled people are being forced further and further under the poverty line. I check all three of the boxes above, this is reality.

survival guide ; a term for those whose maverine presentation is connected to , affected by , or just is the post apocalypse aesthetic .

[PT: Survival Guide; A term for those whose maverine presentation is connected to, affected by, or just is the post apocalypse aesthetic. /end PT]

(Did I used to call these tips? I can’t remember my own words. Help me out, would ya?)

This is for folks who are comfortable using the men’s restroom in public, yet experience unfortunate cyclic bleeding in unfortunate private places. I will not say the word. I will also refrain from using anatomical language. HOWEVER I do have to talk supplies, articles of clothing, and bathroom etiquette. We good?

Background: Most stalls in a male-gendered bathroom stalls do not have a little silver trash box hanging on the wall. Times are a changin’ (even if the government’s gone to shit), and more and more locations are upgrading their facilities to support the changing population need. ALSO tampons are really for clogging drains, just like “flushable” wipes, and, of course, pads.

Call this a procedural guide to discretely dispose of used items and packaging in a men’s restroom.

It takes a little forethought and packing (no, the other kind of packing. Like you put stuff in your backpack for school.) :)

You will need:

your pads/tampons of choice

A few small ziplock bags (the 1/2 sandwich size? The really little ones?)

A few alcohol or handwashing wipes

Optional: a pocket pack of tissues (usually the regular toilet paper works just fine)

Wear something with pockets. It is totally fine to pack different items in different pockets. If you’re at school or work, putting on a jacket before you use the bathroom gives extra pockets. You MUST put all your items in your pockets before hitting the bathroom. If you’re out and about, by all means, take your computer bag, waist pack, carry-on suitcase, etc.,or whatever you usually carry into the bathroom.

Procedure:

You’re in the bathroom stall. Do your business first and use toilet paper and toss it in the toilet, but wait to flush.

Clean your hands with a wipe.

Open your little bag, line it with a few layers of toilet paper or tissues.

Flush the toilet immediately before removing your protection. If you use something makes a sound when it peels off your underwear, the flush sound will cover the peeling.

Keep ahold of the bag, and remove your used protection, and drop it in the bag. If the TP in the bag saturates, add some more, but don’t sweat it.

Unwrap and apply fresh protection. If that makes a sound, just flush the toilet again.

Put the refuse/packaging in your zippy bag and zip it tightly. If you can’t hold onto it while you get dressed, put it between your shoes. Trust me, no one cares in the mens’.

Pretend to cough or sneeze. Pull out some more toilet paper and cough again or blown your nose. Wrap that TP around the outside of your bag.

Leave the stall. Throw away your “tissues” in the regular bin.

Wash your hands at the sink with soap and dry them. Look at your hands, not in the mirror. Toss your towel in the regular trash and be on your way.