The Snarky Empath

05/07/2025

https://youtu.be/AReS1anLLJQ

Another Empath's Journal series vlog about my various gripes about things, and a very special loving happy birthday wish to my mom, one of the best of the be...

03/07/2025

https://youtu.be/AHZ-IlWGqZU

These times have been downright dark and tough around here. I've tried maintaining a positive, fun, and light hearted disposition, and to make this feel fun ...

29/06/2025

Hey, my new Instagram handle!

29/06/2025

New short episode for your viewing or listening pleasure!

29/06/2025

https://youtu.be/jh7I8Vuz_is

I very rarely throw a pity party, but with all the craziness in the world and dealing with cancer raveging my poor mom, I just had to get some things off my ...

28/06/2025

This is not going how I was hoping. She's always tired, dehydrated, cranky, and always coming down on me. She sings praises of what a lifesaver her sister is right now, while I, who had to become the bad guy, is trying to get her to eat and drink enough water to survive. I'm apparently the house villain now, because I'm literally trying to keep her alive. I'm glad my aunt is here for her, she can help with personal woman things. But I'm trying to make sure she's operating at her best, and she's just not eating and drinking enough. Today is a gorgeous beautiful day, and there's a lingering black cloud hanging over, and I know she can't help it, but she's not even turning on the TV anymore, and she's regressed to the point of hating me for "nagging" her about her water intake. We're going to try to get her into hydration twice a week instead of just once come Monday, because she always perks up after hydration, only to slump right back down by Friday. I didn't picture this being fun p***e, but I was sorta hoping she'd be willing to try a little coffee, watch a movie together, and connect and find warmth and peace on some level. It just ain't happening. I think she's aware of my assistance, and knows why I'm trying so hard to get her to drink, but she's annoyed by it. So what do you do?! Continue being the bad guy or let her waste away?! I'm just trying to enjoy the day, while mom is literally dying in the next room, and I'm the as***le for caring the most, what a pure delight! I'm not sure how to connect with her anymore, she's sickly, irritable, and demanding! But I'll do my best. Hopefully hydration twice per week will help, assuming it goes through. Gotta get her doctor's approval first, as if that lady has done anything to help! 😆 Just venting! It's hard, you guys. But I'll do my best, whether I'm the hero or the villain in this story.

27/06/2025

I'm trying to keep mom from dehydrating, because she slowly loses energy and some cognitive reasoning skills in about a week's time if her body slowly becomes too dehydrated. So I downloaded a neat little app that reminds her every 15 minutes to drink water. We do this from noon to about 5 pm every day. The dehydration is due to the inherent problems with having an ileostomy, she doesn't absorb liquids super well. She went to bed at 4:30, complaining that she's hurting all over. The reality is starting to sink in for all of us, but I'm trying harder than ever to keep my head on straight and to try to continue being cheerful. Things are bad enough without making things feel worse. I'm just now starting to process and accept the inevitability. I'm sometimes stricken with empathy overload, as she's always been such a kind, decent, and good person, and doesn't deserve any of this. Especially when you look out there and see all these terrible hateful people playing "good Christian." If these so called "good people" are actually good Christians, then my mom is a Saint! Anyway, I'd say the vibes around here feel kinda malaise, but I'm trying so very hard to keep things feeling normal and positive, even though underneath it all, it's all kinda weird. We all need things to feel relaxed and normal, especially my mom right now. Anyway, I had a good run. Gonna make breakfast burritos for dinner, and I'll check on my mom several times per night. It's surreal, but we're hanging in there. Trying to stick to uplifting movies right now. At the end of the day, life's never shown me an abundance of fairness or godliness, but I do believe we have to be the change, the good, the hopeful, and the light in the world! Please subscribe to The Snarky Empath YouTube channel, heartfelt video coming soon.

26/06/2025

War has always been a manipulative and nefarious distraction tool for presidents...

26/06/2025

Watching all of the Superman movies, including the Donner cut here, in celebration of the new Superman movie by James Gunn coming out July 11! This Donner cut is the superior film from the original Lester cut, which I also enjoy, because I grew up on it. But this one has the better tone and vibe, and is a little less silly. There's a big sorted story as to why Donner was replaced by Richard Lester. You know, Hollywood BS. Anyway, just put mom to bed, I'm getting her to drink significantly more water, so I hope that helps. Plus, they increased her pain meds by a lot. At this point, comfort is the priority. Anyway, I've been pretty busy, just trying to balance everything, and I'm trying to come to terms with this. Anyway, I hope you guys and gals are hanging in there.

Bry

25/06/2025

Sometimes, sanity is simplicity, just you, your treadmill, and something pure from the past, that elicits a feeling that things are going to be ok. All I can do right now is keep mom comfortable, help her quality of life, and be ready. As far as the country is concerned, to be on the right side of the issues, the right side of decency and normalcy, the right side of history, and wait it out, until we can vote again, hopefully for inspirational charismatic words that harken to a restoration of the norms we once took for granted. To live your life with grace, humility, and small wins every day. There's always going to be complicated and confusing times, and therefore, friends, family, and neighbors that you like and respect who are at odds with your own values, because they get their news, culture, heritage, and priorities somewhere else. In these chaotic times, we hate the game not the player, and love people, for they know not what they do. People get caught up in some pretty dumb s**t that they're not privy to understanding the nuance and harm like you do, so let it slide, and take care of yourself and your people, making the best and most productive and heartfelt of each day. I'm learning to not accumulate more problems than I need to carry, and only enough friends for the moment, who meet the threshold of usefulness and respect towards you and your life force. Everything else, drop it off and be unburdened by that which is too heavy to carry. For sometimes we can change hearts and minds, other times we need not be worried about such things. At the end of the day, you have a life to live, so make it a good one, and don't sweat the small stuff. The big stuff, draw a line in the proverbial sand and see who's really on your side. Just drop all pretense and be good, and let the chips fall where they may...

24/06/2025

Rebecca and I cooked a chicken casserole, it's light and delicious on this warm summer evening. Mom's hanging in there, low energy, but her spirits seem ok. I've been struggling the past couple of days with the dark reality of it all, but I'm keeping my chin up and trying to keep her distracted and positively invested in things. She's not eating very much, she sleeps a lot, and she appears like a stiff breeze could blow her over, but I'm just trying to keep her in the game, and keep her mind active. Anyway, Rebecca and I are trying to cook more often on her day off, and this came out super good! It's really quite good, and it doesn't lean too much on any one ingredient, being flavorful and balanced. Just a simple dish, but done right. We even grilled the chicken! Anyway, it's super hard around here, but we're doing our best. Hope you're all having a wonderful day.

Bry

21/06/2025

Getting ready to lift again. With all the of life these days, this dude needs some beach vibes and to get into shape. Just retooled the gym area... again! My cardio is on point, but my general fitness could use a perk up! Get busy living or get busy dying and all that. My mom and I had a sit down here at the house with palliative care, and they're looking into assisting her in many ways, so we'll see how that goes. It's a real drag nowadays, and Trump's dumb ass ain't helping none. Ignore, wail on pecks, run, repeat! 😆 😎 Hope you're all doing well.