There are barely 3 months left of 2020 and the world is still upside-down. We knew it would be because of the virus – but it seems every month there is new stuff added into the mix. Between the pandemic and the heatwaves and the fires and the storms and the American… uh… everything, it feels like the whole world is getting out of hand. Even more so than it already did at the start of the year.
I’m still weirdly unaffected by the pandemic – at least compared to most people. The virus actually seems to be more or less under control where I live and not many have it. It will probably pick up again at some point, but for now and for me personally, it’s going well.
Right now I’m more worried about the other things happening.
Living where I do makes watching the news a bit weird because most of the big events (even Swedish events, even COVID these days) happen so far away it’s often difficult to relate. With one major exception: climate change.
The Arctic is heating up faster than the rest of the planet and I’m close enough to experience some of it myself. And it’s not just hotter than normal. This summer we broke the heat AND the cold record for July. 😵 There’s rain when it should be snowing but also snow when it should be raining. Birds migrating at the wrong times. The usual flowers and insects die while species that shouldn’t even be able to survive here are thriving.
Like, we have ticks now. The blood-sucking parasites couldn’t live this far north before, but guess what? Now they can!
Nature is such a huge part of my life, it’s where I find peace and healing, but it is also where I see these changes. It freaks me out.
At the beginning of the year, I said that I wasn’t feeling very hopeful about the future, and it’s not any better now. I almost hesitate to read the news or check social media because I know it will only be more horrors…
Sorry for being a downer, I’ll try to post some nicer things soon. 🙂 Like the very pretty (local) places I visited this summer, or more art, or more weird stuff I find in the woods.
And it’s not all bad, some things are actually going well:
Some nice things
- Nobody I know has been affected by the virus. Fingers crossed it stays that way. 🤞
- I’m actually starting a new job soon! Got an offer from a company I’ve previously worked for here in town and will start there at the end of the month. 🙌
- Local news: Swedish oil company Preem ended up cancelling their plans to expand their refinery. They say it’s for economic reasons, but I want to believe the huge backlash and activism against them is what really made them back off. 💪
- My parents have a new puppy and it’s adorable! A little Australian Terrier named Molly. 💕
- If nothing unforeseen happens, we will soon start looking to buy a house of our own. I’m dreaming of a country cottage close by the woods. 🏡
How are you doing?
Oh, and if you’re American: for the love of all the gods PLEASE vote and vote for Biden. I’m begging you.
He may not be perfect and your voting system may be weird at best, but if the Insane Orange gets another 4 years it can only mean further destruction and mayhem. Not just for you but for all of us. The USA is so big and influential it affects the whole world, so please don’t fuck us over.
This is definitely a terrible year under so many aspects. We only had 1 single afternoon of snow this past winter, which is totally unusual where I live at the foot of the Alps. There are so many negative things going on that’s hard to find some positive things to blog about but I look forward to your future updates. :)
I had so many plans for this year, I wanted to travel because it’s been literally years since my last vacation, I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday in a special way at the end of this month, I wanted to find a nice job, etc. but the pandemic had other plans. I live in one of the most hit regions of my country and I’m afraid it’s going to be a weird Christmas. But my family and I are doing well for now so that’s all that counts.
Can’t wait for the LOTRO Harvest Festival at the end of the month :) are you still playing it?
It really is. 😞 I’m sorry you (both you personally and your region) have been hit so badly. I hope things get better soon. It’s no fun having to cancel all your plans and push everything to the future like that… Guess your birthday WILL be special just, not the preferred kind of special. But happy birthday in advance! Welcome to this side of 30 😄
YAAS, of course I am! And Harvest Festival is my favourite LOTRO festival, I even have a reminder in my calendar for it 🎃
I can’t believe how upside-down the world is. It started off bad right from the startwith the fires, the plane crash in Iran that had many people from my province on it, a mass-murder in my province and then covid. I think all over the world there has been so much turmoil and uncertainty! I am glad to hear that the pandemic is not affecting you as badly there. We also have low cases in Nova Scotia but they are soon going to start rising again I think. We are experiancing the same type of thing here with global warming and the Arctic heating up. Our shoreline is eroding away at alarming pace. We have ticks in areas we never got them before as well and we have had a record hot dry summer as well. It’s scary. I hope the world can get this under control before it’s too late. Time’s ticking away. I am with you on the vote for Biden. Being in the country next to the orange baffoon and having US family members makes me sick and concerned for the whole world not just them.
Yikes, sounds like you know what I’m talking about. It’s frightening to see all this happen before your eyes while most of those with the power to help does… nothing really. 😖
I’m glad I don’t have to live next door to the US, I can imagine it’s unnerving. Too bad their madness reaches all over the world.
I hope you and yours stay safe during these times 🤗