a-problem-like-maria-blog

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

"call it a wrap album" #blogofshame #thehai

#blogofshame #thehai

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Do I run my giggles through a mandolin? #blogofshame #thehai

#blogofshame #thehai

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Best Birthday Moments #2: First time for Cog & APLM to be part of the same show lineup! It's the first time my brother @basscog & I have played original music on the same stage on the same night without being part of the same act—EVER. Also: new Cog songs! Also also: Cog's set effectively cured me of the birthday blues. Nothing like some good headbanging to clear the head, heart and soul! Haha.

#2

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Best Birthday Moment #1: My neighbor & old friend @ebedancel played right after I did earlier at @amplifyph's #AMPLIFIIED at @route196rocks, even though he had laryngitis & two other shows the same night. Was in tears from his first song (see video) right up to the ending notes of the last one (especially when he played my favorite Sugarfree song of all time—"Burnout"). Reminded me of the old KAFE and Freedom Bar days, but also reminded me of just how old I really am. Haven't felt this kind of happy/sad ambivalence in a long time. Thank you so much, Ebe. 🎶

#1 #amplifiied

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

"images of Chester Bennington" #thehai #blogofshame

#blogofshame #thehai

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Don't mind me, I'm just dancing to #ViktorDisque like no one's watching. ❤️💕🎶 #TheHai

#viktordisque #thehai

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Failed a map test and got a geography lesson from #TheHai. #finland #blogofshame

#finland #blogofshame #thehai

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

First of a few videos I took during #Mala5imbo. Here's @sixgantioqui and @taylormcferrin jamming on the main stage. #Malasimbo2015

#malasimbo2015 #mala5imbo

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

New Comic!

Warning: This comic references self harm.

Harm Reduction! Woo!

I’m into any kind of mental health tool that gives power back to a person. Mental illness can be very disempowering; it feels like you have no control over your thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, getting treatment for mental illness can also feel like you’re giving up control, as doctors and medications and diagnoses just sort of happen to you, and that’s if you’re able to access mental health services safety and successfully.

I love harm reduction models because they’re basically like ‘hey, that thing you’re doing that you want to do less of? You don’t have to stop right away. Let’s just try to give you a little more control about how that happens, ok? Let’s explore some options’.

Options are always good.

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

New comic!

This is a problem for me - it’s a busy time of year and I can very easily feel overwhelmed by my obligations and responsibilities, even ones that I’m looking forward to with people I love. 

I have to remember that it’s ok to need quiet time and it’s ok to feel overwhelmed. It’s been really useful to recognize this in myself and ask for space - before that I would start feeling crushed by the planning and stress and I’d lash out at partners and friends in the way shown in this comic. Now I recognize when I’m starting to feel squeezed and I know to say ‘I’m really not up for making these kinds of plans now, can we talk about this later?’

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

new comic!

You ever feel like you’re just dragging yourself around all day?

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Slow dancing by myself to that #ViktorDisque disco.

#viktordisque

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Team APLM! So DJ, such gadget. Very wow!

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#Guillotine.

#guillotine

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#Carcassonne with the Bridges, Castles & Bazaars expansion.

#carcassonne

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

#StonerFluxx Saturdays.

#stonerfluxx

[a-problem-like-maria-blog]

Today's traffic woes at 12x the actual speed! This was between Shaw and Wilson.