derien | Freedom of speech...

...means even complete idiots get to have their say. Normally this does not prevent those of us who are not idiots from making fun of them.

Normally.

Normally I get along very well with most of my co-workers. Love them like family.

Normally.

I had a delightfully pleasant passenger today who was a selectee. She had three cute little bottles of champagne which she was going to share with her sister and aunt, 'to celebrate,' but added, "Well, my sister and I have nothing to celebrate, but my Aunt is happy with the election results."

I responded by telling her about

exquiscadavre's idea that the Friday after National Presidential Elections should be Buy Someone Who Backed A Losing Presidential Candidate a Drink Day. And then I said to her, which maybe I shouldn't have, that the thing I really hate about this particular election is that the results are causing such divisivness among my co-workers, who are usually such a close-knit team. I thought she would understand that, though, because she's having the same problem in her own family, and trying to overcome it.

Later on in the day I got to talk privately with Ghostman (Casper), and he got me feeling a bit better. This election result doesn't make sense to either of us, and not being able to even express our opinions or frustration without getting razzed upon - hard, and with legitimate fear of worse than just razzing - because we're The Losers is incredibly stressful.

Please, just don't even say that I'm being a whiney loser. It's not about losing or winning. It's about feeling incredibly let down by people I expected better of. It's about fear, and the frustration of not even being allowed to talk about why I'm afraid. Not even here.

I'm having bouts of sudden depression and completely unpredicable outbursts of anger.

I'm wondering if this is maybe somewhat similar to what an abused spouse feels.

My head hurts. I want a drink. I'm apparently not getting any NaNo written tonight, either.

edited to add: oh yeah, this is encouraging...