Paige Graffunder
Bio
Paige is a published author and a cannabis industry professional in Seattle. She is also a contributor to several local publications around the city, focused on interpersonal interactions, poetry, and social commentary.
Stories (99/0)
65 Days Of Holding Your Breath
The country has largely accepted a Biden victory for the U.S. election but that doesn't mean much. If the current administration doesn't transition power on accepted timelines things are bound to get much worse. I saw something from a friend that said something to the effect of, "If you have ever broken up with a narcissist, you know what's coming." I felt my shoulders physically slump when I read that, because I have done that, and I do know what is coming.
By Paige Graffunder3 years ago in The Swamp
Too Close For Comfort
The night before the election I was not optimistic. I remain in the same cloud of pessimism. After four years of watching that walking talking pile of rotting buboes, incite violence, get endorsed by every white supremacist group in the country, Strip away rights from queer communities, force sterilization on women whose children he ripped away, all while they are sitting assholes to elbows in a cage, and cause the deaths of over 230,000 Americans by downplaying a Virus with a global infection of over 45 million people.
By Paige Graffunder3 years ago in The Swamp
This Ain't An Election
I am not sure I have ever been more anxious than I am right now. It's November 2nd, tomorrow is the US election. Tomorrow begins the decision if America is deserving of its life, or if it gets dragged out back to be shot as a mercy. This is our Old Yeller moment, and I suspect that when the results are read, I will react the same way as I did upon my first reading of that book. Long bouts of inconsolable shrieking crying.
By Paige Graffunder3 years ago in The Swamp
Cut the Bull
Do you know what I hate more than almost anything else? Fake positivity posting on Linkedin about your job. When I got laid off from my last role, I was really upset. However, the work culture at that company was one of really intense gratitude and positivity, and I made a post about how grateful I was for the opportunity. I feel kind of gross about it now because what essentially happened was the company laid off 85% of its staff during a global pandemic. That is not empathetic human behavior, that is capitalist knee-jerking. I realize now in hindsight, and with a lot of time between now and then, that really what I did was respond to gaslighting.
By Paige Graffunder4 years ago in Journal
J.K. Rowling is a Dirty Rotten TERF
First, let's get a few things out of the way. Feminism benefits everyone. If you think feminism's only goal is to serve cisgender women, then you're doing it wrong. The goals of feminism help everyone. If true equality and equity were achieved all the harmful structures set in place by the patriarchy would be dismantled. That means men could express their feelings, and wouldn't have to resort to violence as the only way to express themselves. It also means that the control construct could be dismantled, and the idea that the best way to gain power is to rip it from someone else. Ultimately this is a really good thing, but some people have a hard time with the idea that they are still privileged in comparison to someone else.
By Paige Graffunder4 years ago in Viva
My Holiday Movies Vol. 1
I have a list of movies to watch every year with every holiday, getting as deep as having a few movies for Labor Day. Since the list of horrible unprecedented things happening in 2020 is growing longer, I thought I would start a year-long series of movies for every holiday. I am really leaning into celebrating the little things this year, as everything around us is horrible.
By Paige Graffunder4 years ago in Geeks
Returning To Work
I got laid off from the best job I had had to date in May of this year. To say it was a crushing blow is an understatement. I had never had a job like that, where everyone in the office got along for the most part and helped each other. The team I worked on became close like family, and we all still keep in touch even though most of us also got laid off. I never thought that I would find another job where I would make connections like that. And while I actively looked for jobs for the duration of my unemployment the future of almost every company that I applied for was unsteady. As a result of that, I was being asked to do a monumental amount of work for minimum wage. They wanted 10 years of experience for minimum wage. They wanted the earth and the moon and probably Mars too, for minimum wage. I turned down more jobs in those few months than I ever have in my whole life.
By Paige Graffunder4 years ago in Journal
Recovery In Perpetuity
I got a lot of good things going for me right now. A new car, new job, stable home. I am not worried about food or money or shelter or where my next paycheck is coming from. I am not running from anything, not hiding from anything. I have good friends who adore me and a supportive partner who is kind to me in all the right ways. I have made massive changes to my diet and begun keeping myself on a rather tight schedule that includes shopping days and meal prep days and becoming the primary chef of the household, therefore getting us all healthier.
By Paige Graffunder4 years ago in Psyche