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Zumbador

@Zumbador@mefi.social
hometown 4.5.18+hometown-1.2.1
  • Open on mefi.social

Masha du Toit, #writer of #ScienceFiction and #Fantasy, living in Cape Town, South Africa. #Autistic, Afrikaans, and #nonbinary 🙂

Post about #ThingsISaw, #SPCADiary for weekly walks with SPCA dogs, post book reviews, am fascinated by #etymology, love #cycling, foster pet rats #RatFosterDiary, fan of #criticalrole. #fedi22

1655 Followers
1240 Following
50 Posts
Joined February 10, 2023
Pronouns:
they (non binary)
Website (Masha's Books):
https://masha.co.za/
Blog:
https://mashadutoit.com/
Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 1w ago
This is quite a sensible and measured article about using using self talk to regulate difficult emotions. "In other words, the simple act of naming an emotion, rather than trying to think your way around it or push it away, appears to be associated with a calmer amygdala response." "... how people frame their internal dialogue, specifically, whether they use first-person language (“I feel anxious”) or shift to using their own name or “you” (“Kate, you’re feeling anxious right now”). This shift is known as distanced self-talk, " " distanced self-talk appears to support emotion regulation through a different pathway than effortful cognitive control, which may be part of why it can feel easier to access under stress than trying to consciously reason yourself out of a feeling." https://www.katebartlett.com.au/articles/self-talk-nervous-system #ActuallyAutistic #Anxiety
The Science of Self-Talk: Calming Your Nervous System | Kate Bartlett Psychology
Kate Bartlett Psychology

The Science of Self-Talk: Calming Your Nervous System | Kate Bartlett Psychology

The neuroscience of self-talk explained by an Australian psychologist: how the right words can calm your nervous system and ease anxiety.

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago

Aren't they *gorgeous*?
This is Stormy and Smokey's last night with me, their mom is coming home from holiday tomorrow. I've washed and folded all their hammocks and packed their bag.

I put my hand inside that hammock and both of them immediately started giving me a gentle manicure, holding my fingers firmly between their little paws and nibbling on my nails. Big, soft, warm, good natured potatoes.

#rats #RatFosterDiary

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
For people out there who are starting on the "am I autistic" journey, and are feeling the bite of imposter syndrome. Does it help to replace "autistic" with "a person who is allowed to say what their needs are, and claim those needs without having to apologize" ? You're allowed to do that even if you're not autistic. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter whether or not you're autistic. It does! You need accurate information about yourself. Don't stop that search. But you're allowed to claim your needs whether or not you are autistic. You get to decide what your needs are, and who you are. Even if you are not autistic. Even if it's "just" anxiety and depression, that doesn't make you broken or wrong, too sensitive, or too much. There is nothing shameful about being the way you are, whatever your neuro-status. You are allowed to take up space, and have inconvenient needs, and decide for yourself who you are. #ActuallyAutistic
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Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago

It's done.
All the family letters and photos have been sorted. I started on the 9th of May!

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago

Said goodbye to Smokey and Stormy this morning. Their mom came to fetch them. They silently (to my ears, anyway!) protested being in the carrier.
#rats

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago

Today at the SPCA I walked Roxy, Rex and Fran.

Fran is doing much better! She's much more confident. A volunteer was walking another dog, a small brown puppy called Scooby, and the two of them played through the fence. Just running up and down and doing play bows. I think that's got to be so good for them.

Scooby was fascinated by one of the cows in the field next to the dog run. The cow was interested in him as well. Scooby kept running at her, sometimes barking, and she'd respond by waving her horns at him and occasionally pretending to charge him.
He'd run away in alarm and then immediately go back to her again. I'm pretty sure she was just humouring him.

There are a lot of interestingly named dogs in the Adoption Block at the moment, including Potato Chips, Miss Puddle, Bumblebee and Best Ears Boy. Who does, indeed, have the best ears.

I didn't get a chance to walk any of them though. Maybe next week.

#dogs #SPCADiary

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago
Smokey and Stormy enjoying their supper. Their owner gave me some extra money to get them fresh food so they're eating extra well! They're such gorgeous boys. They're enormous too. Two big, chilled dudes, very affectionate.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago

New non-apology variant I noticed today:

"About that thing that happened the other day: It's a pity that we had such different perceptions of events. "

😬🫠🤪

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 3mo ago
Latest read: "Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata. I loved this book. It's translated from Japanese, quite a short book about a young woman who is completely fulfilled by her work in a convenience store. She seems very autistic! A lot of sensory detail and descriptions of masking as she figures out how to seem normal. It's tonally very odd, seeming very quiet and almost cozy, and then boom, there's be something really disturbing. It ends a bit abruptly but that seemed in character, as it were. #booktooter #amreading #ActuallyAutistic
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

One of the other foster-rat people just shared these photos of the baby rats they're looking after. They are TINY!!!!

And I'm going to meet these little guys on Monday. I can't wait. They're not coming to me, I'll be visiting the person who's fostering them. I'll be dropping Peanut and Raisin off with her, and she'll take them to the courier, who'll ship them to their forever home in Johannesburg.

In other news, Raisin has just started running on the wheel in their cage. Hopefully Peanut will do it too. They're such high energy girls and I've been worrying that they'll get frustrated in their cage. They get free roam time outside their cage at least once a day, but that's not really enough.

#RatFosterDiary #rats

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Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
Oh wait there's this one too... #rats #RatFosterDiary
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

I've just heard that there's someone wanting to adopt Peanut and Raisin. She's in Johannesburg, so these two little hooligans will be travelling via courier.
I'm going to miss them. The last few days they've really started to trust me.

#RatFosterDiary #rats

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

Peanut and Raisin are telling ghost stories this evening.

#rats #RatFosterDiary

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago
Replying to
@FediTips@social.growyourown.services I got my congratulatory spam email from SocialDB this morning. They claim they have me listed in their site as a "Mastodon Influencer" 😵‍💫 #scam #spam #SocialDB
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

I think the writer of a short story I just read might not be familiar with analogue clocks. They refer to the clock's hands as "clock arrows".
Which kind of makes sense I suppose!

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Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

Today at the SPCA I walked Roxy-Lee, Matty and Trudy.

Sophie's been adopted!
Roxy-Lee seems sad and a bit stressed. She didn't want to play with me.

Trudy is a gangly puppy, about 6 months old. Wire-haired, white with brown splotches, medium small and fine boned. I realised quickly that she's an ideal candidate for agility training (constant focus on me, and very food driven).
So I tried to get her to run over the little A frame in the dog run.

At first she was scared. I put a treat on top of the A frame, out of her reach. She sat. She stared at the treat. She stared at me. It was like she took off a mask. Her "I'm a good girl, please love me" manner dropped away and you could almost hear the little gears turning in her head as she puzzled it out. I just waited, giving her space.

Then she carefully climbed up the A frame and got the treat. After that it was easy to get her to run up and over. She's been applied for, so I probably won't see her again.
#SPCADiary #dogs

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago
I've been having such an odd experience, I think it might be a migraine thing? I feel a physical sensation that's really familiar. But when I try to name it, I can't. Maybe it's dizziness? Maybe it's something I used to feel in my childhood before I attached words to sensations? It's like a mixture of being very sleepy and also spinning in a swing for too long. My brain goes "Ah yes, I'm feeling.... [gropes for term]"
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 1mo ago
Today at the SPCA I walked Roxy, Rainbow and Sheebie. Sheebie is new to the adoption block. She's a young German Shepherd, rather nervous and a bit mouthy. I think she's had some bad experiences, she's very wary. The grass was dry today so I sat on the ground in the dog run. Sheebie immediately came and excitedly licked my ear. Then, to my surprise, for she's an energetic dog, she lay down and put her head on my lap. After a few moments she gave a great big sigh, closed her eyes, and just lay there, completely relaxed. I think she's exhausted from all the noise of the kennel. I sat with her like that, stroking her, for a long time. Every now and then she looked up at me as if checking who I am. Roxy is still pulling hard on the leash, despite my attempts to train her. She's making excellent progress on the agility equipment though, she seems to enjoy that. We even started doing the see-saw, which most dogs find too off putting. She's a clever girl. #dogs #SPCADiary
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 2mo ago
All my books are on sale at Smashwords right now. Some of them are free! I write creepy-cozy, hopeful stories about people doing their best to look after one another, and care for this strange world we live in. Fantasy and science-fiction. Direct link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Masha+du+Toit#FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #AfricanSciFi #Bookstodon
smashwords.com
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Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
The route I have to walk the SPCA dogs goes past the animal hospital. There's a door where I'll often see them loading bags full of the bodies of animals onto a truck. The animals they've had to put down. Today both Trudy and Sasha put their hackles up as I walked them past that door. There was nothing going on that I could see, but they clearly sensed something that upset them. #SPCADiary
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
In his tribute to my father, Riaan Eksteen argued that my father's contribution to the talks at Dakar had a significant influence on subsequent events. He writes: At Dakar, André played a pivotal role — one that remains largely unacknowledged. He had been asked to prepare a background paper on “strategies for change,” addressing the most contentious issues of the time: the legitimacy of armed struggle, and the ANC’s claim to represent the totality of resistance. ... “In building national unity,” he argued, “we must create the social and political space to accommodate all forces.” In retrospect, this was more than an intervention in a debate. It was a conceptual bridge to the negotiated settlement that would follow. In my view, it remains one of the most important intellectual contributions to South Africa’s democratic transition. You can read the full article here: https://africaunscrambled.substack.com/p/loved-and-lost-an-afrikaner-giant #SouthAfrica #AndreDuToitTributes
LOVED AND LOST: An Afrikaner giant passes unseen in his own country
africaunscrambled.substack.com

LOVED AND LOST: An Afrikaner giant passes unseen in his own country

By Riaan de Villiers

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Open post
Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
You never liked ostentatious and lengthy goodbyes, so my eulogy is short. I will hold you in my memory as the gentle guide who never allowed me to be less than my best. You did more than teach; you allowed me to find my voice and to not run away from the ideas that sometimes threatened to overwhelm me. You never tried to impose an ideology on me; but you did steer me away from some of my impulsive reactions and decisions. You kept me steady and you were always there to listen. You always knew what to say and never flattered me with empty praise. I will miss your wisdom, and I will miss your brilliance. Goodbye, dearest André.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
(A thread of tributes for my father, this one is from a previous student) Dear André, Of all the gifts that you have given me, the one that I will treasure the most is Keith Jarrett. In your perceptive way, you had discerned that what my writing needed was a soundtrack and you told me your story of how you had found Jarrett. I have been listening ever since. To me, the sound of Keith Jarrett’s solo piano recitals, is now the sound of your voice. It is the sound of all the conversations we have had and the ones that will stay with me. You made me treasure the solitude of listening to calm the chaos of my thoughts. You taught me that it was okay to retreat into music whenever I needed to steady myself. Without your reassurance I do not think I would ever have found the same peace and the same confidence in listening to jazz music. (continued) #SouthAfrica #AndreDuToitTributes
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
His intervention in our case had been very scholarly. Even when he was clearly being intimidated, in my view, by the Court, he defended his viewpoint with dignity and conviction about its correctness. He earned our respect.  I also had the pleasure of meeting him recently at a UWC event in Cape Town, and we were on the same panel that was continuing to critique the TRC, and once again, I could not but admire his scholarliness in his contribution to the debate at that event. #SouthAfrica #AndreDuToitTributes
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
(Tributes for my father from an anti apartheid activist. My father gave evidence in support of him and his brother during their trial by the Apartheid government) I have heard the sad news of the death of Andre. I am confident that you know that my brother and I were beneficiaries of Andre’s testimony at our trial. Andre’s testimony that was so outstanding that it influenced my brother’s choice of a career to follow when we were permitted to study whilst serving our term in jail.  Up to the point that Andre came to testify in our trial, we all took it for granted that if we were allowed to study whilst serving time in jail,  my brother would pursue a career in Accounting, in which he excelled in both Matric and in his first year at the UFH,  before he was sent down after a student strike at the UFH in 1973. (continued) #SouthAfrica #AndreDuToitTributes
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@afewbugs my parents' dog, Basjan, once found about six hot cross buns among the autumn leaves in a gutter once. He never forget that corner, always hopeful.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago

I don't know if any one else will find this as funny as I do. This is the colour dialogue of a kaleidoskope drawing app. It reminds me of the "web safe" palette so many years ago, and its many shades of virulent green.

(the app is called "Doodle Kaleidoskope" and it's a lot of fun, if very buggy. It's my favourite way of calming myself at the moment. So sooooooooothing)

#ActuallyAutistic

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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@astro_jcm@mastodon.online these both look magical!
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@deborahh @Cassandra ✨🦋❤️
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@mynoise@mastodon.social This is lovely! Have bookmarked. I especially like the "rain" and stream depth sliders.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@quidcumque 💯
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 4mo ago
Replying to
@clarissawam@mefi.social Cinnamon Bun!
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 4mo ago
Replying to
@redfern@wandering.shop yes that tracks.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 4mo ago
Replying to
@dirtyoldtown@mefi.social Andor was good though! But not because it was Star wars. Just good.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 4mo ago
Replying to
@alberto_cottica@mastodon.green a friend of mine is walking it right now. His name is Guilaume. But unfortunately I have no way of contacting him!
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@akirebubar@toot.cat yay! I agree.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@clarissawam@mefi.social I'm not entirely sure myself! I think it's a tiny crate with water etc.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@clarissawam 😊
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@Rhube@wandering.shop I love these books
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@OtterForce thank you. That means a lot ❤️🦋
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@anathema ❤️🦋
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@jodystillwrites Thank you ❤️
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@doggle That's why I'm careful to say that this doesn't mean "it doesn't matter whether you're autistic or not". It's still really useful to know that. But I wonder whether it's possible to accept oneself as not broken for things other than autism. I think it's a pity if it's only autistic people can have that relief.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@clarissawam OK this is an awesome idea.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@Soldusty I love that! "Helooooo.....loooo....loooooo"
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 6mo ago
Replying to
@noodle yes I like these!
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 5mo ago
Replying to
@eirias Thank you. Still seems unreal to me.
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Zumbador @Zumbador@mefi.social
· 4mo ago
Replying to
@JeremyMallin@autistics.life @dirtyoldtown@mefi.social this is true
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