[84/365] represent

All week I've been feeling like a migraine was starting but it never appeared. It's a grim state to be stuck in.

I woke up about one in the morning in some of the worst pain I've ever had. As if the week's worth of migraine finally hit me at once. I wanted to get a washcloth and soak it in cold water, to put on my head, but I couldn't get out of bed. I did manage to take some ibuprofen though, because I keep some in my room, and I had a snack to go with it because I was already so nauseous I was worried about having it on an empty stomach.

I did fall back asleep eventually, and I felt fine when I woke up this morning so I went off to the queer photoshoot I'd volunteered to do. Local queer charity wanted pictures of crips, among others, who use their services for use as stock photos. It was the first time I'd been to their new building which was pretty nice.

I forgot the CO2 monitor so I left my mask on (except for sips of water and a quick snack). Including for the ptotos of course, which occasioned a little bit of discussion. They were clearly surprised by it rather than hostile to it, and worried that I might not be able to convey the emotions they wanted (happy, strong, thoughtful, etc.) but then seemed to think I did great at those. I think the mask is important representation too: you simply haven't depicted disabled people in the 2020s if everyone is unmasked. And of course everyone else was, staff and fellow volunteers alike.

By 1pm I was really hungry, and the event had free food but I can't eat it. They were careful to include vegan, gluten-free options and so on... but of course there was no mention of a room that's ventilated enough that I could take off my mask to eat.

At an event for disabled people, it's especially disappointing. Air quality is an access need! It feels exactly like my other access needs. Especially when it's the only way I can eat or drink. And, unlike other access needs, it is universal. Everyone benefits from it. It should be the easiest thing to accommodate.

diffrentcolours moderates a local group on social media and he mentioned tonight a lot of people are testing positive for covid again. I saw something online today too about how many unconnected people in one person's circles were coming down with it. I saw someone else online saying the same thing, with a screenshot of a Daily Mail headline: "Covid cases jump by 14% in a week." I even went and looked at that article: "Leading experts have called for the return of face masks to thwart the virus." "The North West recorded the highest Covid prevalence in England."

By the time I got home I was feeling the migraine symptoms again. I needed a rare for me nap, and I couldn't go to the queer roller disco this evening.