The Inmates Run the Asylum

Here's the lazy, bullet-pointed catch up of my world.

-Still working three jobs. I've got about a month until school is out and then I'll lose the morning child-minding gig. I'll also be taking off June when it comes to teaching Spanish. So, I need to figure out something else to do to make some money this summer. Sugar daddy applications are available.

-Speaking of other things I do to make money, I published another novella on Smashwords. Night of the Nothing Man is all yours for the low, low price of $1.99 and is available for most devices including Nook, Kindle, and iPad.

-I was supposed to go to a Cubs game with Dad earlier this month, but it got weathered out (Chicago by the lake, 40 degrees, 20 MPH winds, and rain...I'll take the postponement). So we'll be going in June. At least we know we won't be freezing.

-Speaking of Dad, he had another check-up last week and I'm happy to say won't be needing treatments this round. He'll go back for another check in three months. We're all very happy about this.

-I've started to do my old yoga routine, which I had to stop doing in October of 2011 when I hurt my knee. A year and a half later I finally trust that my knee has healed enough to take my weight in warrior and chair pose. This is a huge boost for me. I've been pretty disappointed with my commitment to exercise because I didn't feel like I was accomplishing anything, but this is a huge gain. The old yoga routine, stretching, and weights in the morning along with belly dance in the afternoon is really making me feel less sloth-like. I'm also making an effort to do something physical every day. So even though I'm not doing a full on workout on the weekends, I still make sure I get in a little yoga or some squats or something. Again, all in the name of battling the slug feeling.

-I'm thinking about starting a tumblr related to my rerun junkie activities, except I'm not still not exactly sure how tumblr works. I keep thinking I'll figure it out and so far, I really haven't.

-I'd love to say that there's more that went on during the month, but there's not. I pretty much work, worry about money, and try to get my little talent together to establish some kind of career and that's it. I haven't been able to justify having much fun lately. When you have to save up to afford a hair cut (which you do instead of getting an eye exam to get new contacts), lunch out with a friend makes you feel guilty for days, no matter how much you needed the break.

-I house sat for Aunt Jo for a week. It was a nice little vacation except I had to spend it with dogs that don't obey well. They're good dogs for the most part, but I was spoiled by the ones I had that would, you know, come when they were called without having to scream the command fifteen times.

-While I was house sitting I got a call from a credit union I'd applied to. I went in for an interview last Tuesday. I think it went okay, I'm supposed to hear back on whether or not I get a second interview. Honestly, I wouldn't be heartbroken if I didn't. I know I need the money, but I get the feeling it's all women and I'd be the only single and/or childless one in the bunch. That could be a questionable environment for someone like me. We'll see what happens.

-Visited my grandma and Aunt T yesterday. Grandma is doing better since her brain surgery back in January. She lost a lot of weight while she was sick and she's starting to put a little of it back on. She went ahead with her glaucoma surgeries even though Mom wanted her to get it done by a different eye doctor (because it was the eye doctor that was responsible for her ending up in the hospital in January to begin with), but she didn't. She had her second eye surgery last Wednesday. So she's got balance problems, vertigo, and can't see out of one eye, but she won't sit still when there's company about. Also, they changed her medication so she can drink again. At least one normal has been restored.

-I missed my LJ anniversary back in May. Again. 11 years here. Huzzah.

The first few days of 2012 can be summed up thusly:

-I had to go to five different places to find the right sized boxes that I needed to mail some stuff I sold on eBay.

-I got one of the items packed up and ready to go, only to run out of packing tape for the second one, which now results in two trips to the post office.

-THEY HAVE TAKEN THE OLD HAWAII FIVE-0 FROM MY LIFE AND I AM NOT HANDLING DANNO WITHDRAWL WELL.

-I've taken up watching Murder, She Wrote (thank you, TV Land for bringing it back) and Bonanza (THERE IS NO DANNO NOW) and I admit to watching Little House on the Prairie.

-Matlock and Perry Mason never leave me!

-I'm doing more than watching TV, I swear. Like stressing about all of the events and deadlines I have this month, including Hammie's birthday, my birthday, Cubs Con (all in the same week!), and this crazy notion of rewriting/revising a novel by the end of the month.

-Also I've been rewriting/revising a novel.

-And I'm sore from the new workout routine.

-But my new protective case for my phone came today and it's super cute, so there is that.

If you just look at the list and don't actually read it, it looks like I've actually been a lot more productive than I really have. Pretty cool, huh?

I was going to post this yesterday, but I forgot, which is kind of fitting because I should have posted this in June, but I forgot.

It's been over a year since I quit smoking and I'm happy to report that I have yet to turn into one of those bitter ex-smokers. You know the ones. The ones that lecture their still-smoking friends about how it's terrible for their health and how they're all going to die and how soooo much better they feel now that they've quit. The ones that do that quaint little coughing and waving their hands in front of their faces if the smoke gets too close to them (or not) instead of politely pointing out that your smoke is in their breathing space. Yeah, I hate those people and I'm so glad I didn't become one.

That said, I still miss smoking. If it didn't cost anything and didn't kill me, I'd still be doing it. I still dream about it. But I won't start again because I don't want to have to quit again.

I'll just pine for it and drown my pain in my other vices.

( The Internet Saga )

( The Getting a Job Saga )

So that's my world in a nutshell right now. Frustrations and crankiness galore.

I hope you all are well. I miss you terribly. I look forward to the day when we can be together again. /pining