/sounds of scrabbling claws.
Gah, backsliding! Backsliding is bad!
Financials:
Bad news: My ultimate financial master plan has back-slid, to where I think I will have the line of credit resolved by February. My life insurance has doubled in price... that's lovely, and I need to get an AMA membership to maintian my HOME insurance.
Good news: still solvent, and have purchased some Xmas/New Year's presents and I think I have enough groceries to get through the week! Including cat food.
Sleep:
Bad news: I have developed a very interesting sleep pattern, where I go to sleep at about 10 instantly, sleep for an hour, wake up, have a panic attack, toss and turn for an hour, then sleep in half an hour in the morning.
Good news: The cats have calmed down enough to climb up onthe bed with me, so that when I do wake up there's something to do.
Renovations:
Bad news: The attic may be un-heatable, due to the difficulty in getting a cold air return built up there. THe beam needs doing, the front deck is falling off and, oh, I don't know, I forgot to buy a thingy to hold down the peeling linoleum in the kitchen.
Good news: I did buy all the window casings for his room, however! Hurrah! Installation can begin forthwith with the stapling and the bradding and then the painting. Also, I think I can figur eout how to get a cold air return up there... I think.
The Boy:
Bad News: This one is tricky... and sensitive... and burning a red hot hole of anger in me. I do not see any commmitment to his well-being, his academic achievement, any extra-curricular involvement or any interactions outside a VERY small group of people.
Good News: He is maturing! We had to redo some homework this week (as it was appallingly badly done) and he took it very bravely... VERY well indeed, demonstrating work ethic, diligence and responsibility.
Energy Levels:
Bad News: I don't feel like I'm accomplishing anything, because....
Good News: ... having had it suggested that my habit of throwing myself into things like a sugar-filled ferret with an attention deficit disorder and a case of OCD may be hard on those around me, I am structuring my days a bit more so that projects have their own days/times that I will not allow to bleed into each other.
8.10.08
6.10.08
Island consternation.
I'm out in the shipping lanes, and well out of sight of land.
I have had a very strange encounter... and it's left me very puzzled.
Over the last week I have floated through a stunning archipelago of islands, each very lovely, but each as different as the last. Some seemed calm and peaceful, others warring and fractured.
One island in particular was very strange... I was drifting by, with no intention of going closer (particularly in light of my new medical troubles as identified here), when a small dugout canoe approached me, offering some sort of sticky fruit, possibly a papaya or paella or a pollo or something.
I hove to, and tethered their canoe onto the side of my raft and did enjoy a brief visit with the merchant.
Following that discussion, the merchant mentioned how pleased he would be if I came for supper with him. I tried to make an off-hand refusal, to casually imply that while I thought that to be a lovely invitation, undefined obstacles would prevent it. (I'm very reluctant to say to an islander "unfortunately, as I am very sick and likely to infect your population with hideous tropical fevers")
Thinking the matter concluded, I detached from the canoe and poled my way away. Not 15 minutes later, four canoes appeared, and beseeched me to return with them to the harbour.
I was hot, tired, sweaty and parched dry by the sun, and I thought there'd be little harm in a brief sojourn nearer to an island, so I accepted, thinking that to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a port would be lovely.
When I arrived in the port, hustle and bustle there was! Boats of every type and description scurrying to and fro, unloading and loading and music everywhere.
I saw, to be sure, the usual blights that you see in any community. This island has been very poor, and its people have sacrificed much to build what is there. I believe they also pay tribute to a mainland colonial power.
But what friendly people! Every boatman that passed, every dock-hand above my makeshift craft, waved hello to me. The people seemed as kind and as warm as any I have met in some time and genuinely and specifically glad to see me!
I began to picture that I was being invited to stay on the island, but though every indication was so (including being given a map, an understanding of residency requirements and an introduction to a merchant who was hiring labourers) no clear offer was made.
Maybe I was supposed to ask myself if residency was possible, but I forebore for two reasons:
1) My doctors would be most displeased (in fact, I believe they have dispatched a small barq of marine troops to ensure I do not land on any island)
2) As we toured the harbour, they were more than open to show me where mainlanders live, and to show me that there is no vacancy there, that housing is in very short supply.
As I write this down, though my pencil is getting short and I am running out of paper, I see the value of this journal as perhaps, after writing it, and imprisoning this experience on the page, I will be able to sleep again...
... for since that harbour tour I can scarce close my eyes before the sights and sounds of that harbour re-appear in as vivid detail as when first I saw and heard them.
I have had a very strange encounter... and it's left me very puzzled.
Over the last week I have floated through a stunning archipelago of islands, each very lovely, but each as different as the last. Some seemed calm and peaceful, others warring and fractured.
One island in particular was very strange... I was drifting by, with no intention of going closer (particularly in light of my new medical troubles as identified here), when a small dugout canoe approached me, offering some sort of sticky fruit, possibly a papaya or paella or a pollo or something.
I hove to, and tethered their canoe onto the side of my raft and did enjoy a brief visit with the merchant.
Following that discussion, the merchant mentioned how pleased he would be if I came for supper with him. I tried to make an off-hand refusal, to casually imply that while I thought that to be a lovely invitation, undefined obstacles would prevent it. (I'm very reluctant to say to an islander "unfortunately, as I am very sick and likely to infect your population with hideous tropical fevers")
Thinking the matter concluded, I detached from the canoe and poled my way away. Not 15 minutes later, four canoes appeared, and beseeched me to return with them to the harbour.
I was hot, tired, sweaty and parched dry by the sun, and I thought there'd be little harm in a brief sojourn nearer to an island, so I accepted, thinking that to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a port would be lovely.
When I arrived in the port, hustle and bustle there was! Boats of every type and description scurrying to and fro, unloading and loading and music everywhere.
I saw, to be sure, the usual blights that you see in any community. This island has been very poor, and its people have sacrificed much to build what is there. I believe they also pay tribute to a mainland colonial power.
But what friendly people! Every boatman that passed, every dock-hand above my makeshift craft, waved hello to me. The people seemed as kind and as warm as any I have met in some time and genuinely and specifically glad to see me!
I began to picture that I was being invited to stay on the island, but though every indication was so (including being given a map, an understanding of residency requirements and an introduction to a merchant who was hiring labourers) no clear offer was made.
Maybe I was supposed to ask myself if residency was possible, but I forebore for two reasons:
1) My doctors would be most displeased (in fact, I believe they have dispatched a small barq of marine troops to ensure I do not land on any island)
2) As we toured the harbour, they were more than open to show me where mainlanders live, and to show me that there is no vacancy there, that housing is in very short supply.
As I write this down, though my pencil is getting short and I am running out of paper, I see the value of this journal as perhaps, after writing it, and imprisoning this experience on the page, I will be able to sleep again...
... for since that harbour tour I can scarce close my eyes before the sights and sounds of that harbour re-appear in as vivid detail as when first I saw and heard them.
3.10.08
Weekend plans
Oh what a joyous time I have planned!
Tonight, first official meeting of the recently-separated male live role player's support group at 1715 at Brewsters, then house-cleaning, and chatting with the Boy on the phone!
Tomorrow, it's a 5 hour drive to Saskamatoon in the 'Sing-Along Car' with good people, then there's a Firefly-themed role-playing game, followed by coffee and/or beer, if I'm any judge.
Sunday, back to Edmonton, and try to have a little supper with the Boy before sending him back to his mom's for the evening.
I win!
Tonight, first official meeting of the recently-separated male live role player's support group at 1715 at Brewsters, then house-cleaning, and chatting with the Boy on the phone!
Tomorrow, it's a 5 hour drive to Saskamatoon in the 'Sing-Along Car' with good people, then there's a Firefly-themed role-playing game, followed by coffee and/or beer, if I'm any judge.
Sunday, back to Edmonton, and try to have a little supper with the Boy before sending him back to his mom's for the evening.
I win!
1.10.08
Raft hopping
I have had an interesting stand-off with the medical authorities.
They have detected some ireegularities that are making it unlikely that I can go ashore anywhere until they're dealt with, or in remission, or what-have-you.
It's interesting because this may be an illness I contracted without realizing it, without seeing it as illness. It's a little bit like suddenly successfully losing weight, then finding out it's because you have cancer.
In this case, (it's not cancer) but it's something whose symptoms I can control if I maintain the proper medication an exercise regime.
So over the last few days I've been doing sit-ups and pushups (you can 't do much more on a raft) and then trying to find ways to monitor the symptoms.
Most islands have harbour physicians who will check me out and give me a bit of a diagnosis. I did stop in briefly onto two islands over the last few days, and one doctor saw no synmptoms at that time, but the other doctor looked very concerned and tut-tutted his way away.
They have detected some ireegularities that are making it unlikely that I can go ashore anywhere until they're dealt with, or in remission, or what-have-you.
It's interesting because this may be an illness I contracted without realizing it, without seeing it as illness. It's a little bit like suddenly successfully losing weight, then finding out it's because you have cancer.
In this case, (it's not cancer) but it's something whose symptoms I can control if I maintain the proper medication an exercise regime.
So over the last few days I've been doing sit-ups and pushups (you can 't do much more on a raft) and then trying to find ways to monitor the symptoms.
Most islands have harbour physicians who will check me out and give me a bit of a diagnosis. I did stop in briefly onto two islands over the last few days, and one doctor saw no synmptoms at that time, but the other doctor looked very concerned and tut-tutted his way away.
29.9.08
I love liquidity
Moving on from the controversial topic of the Stealthy Dog's animosity for Christmas...
I paid the bills today. and for the first time in a long time it was not a stretch.
2 reasons:
Firstly I have more money. We got 8% this year and we get 7% next year.
Secondly I have less debt. I have paid off the credit card.
As soon as I get rent and this week's mortgage I will make the first large, permanent pay down on the line of credit. God willin' and the crick don't rise, I'll have that thing paid off by Xmas.
I paid the bills today. and for the first time in a long time it was not a stretch.
2 reasons:
Firstly I have more money. We got 8% this year and we get 7% next year.
Secondly I have less debt. I have paid off the credit card.
As soon as I get rent and this week's mortgage I will make the first large, permanent pay down on the line of credit. God willin' and the crick don't rise, I'll have that thing paid off by Xmas.
26.9.08
I hate Christmas.
I mean, I really hate it. Not the actual event of the birth of Christ, but the holiday itself.
I, for years, have been surrounded by friends who are cynically disposed towards religion if not condescenignly cruel about it, but who expect gifts to be exchanged and convivial dinners to be hosted. Not so cynical now, are you, you hypocrites?
More aggravating, is that I am now surrounded by the children of such people, who demand gifts, and for whom the holiday has no other reason for being. This is particularly disheartening as they're not deciding to be ignorant; they are, if you will, innocently ignorant. Further, because their parents, for 48 weeks of the year, think churches are pedophilic institutions dedicated to graft, any attempt by me to evangelize the True Meaning of Christmas(tm) would be suspicious.
This means that I spend about all my Christmas (with the exception of the bits where I sing) with large crowds of people who don't see the event the same way I do, and who are not open to my distress or discomfort about it.
But, ever Stealthy, I have hatched an insidious plot.
Plot part 1: I like to give prezzies... so I will. Christian recipients get Christmas presents on or around the 25th of December (thanks, I think, to Constantine) and non-Christians will get New Year's presents.
Plot part 2: I will be very careful about who I spend Christmas Day with. If it's a giant stress mess and not a celebration, I'm not doing it! This is a religious day first, not a holiday day first. Also, my cats are good company on such days.
Plot part 3: December 6th is the Feast of St. Nicholas of Myra, and seems like a good day to do random gifting. That seems to be more Christmasy than satisfying the consumerist ravings of small children.
Plot part 4: I'm getting gifts I want to get for people. If they don't like 'em, tough bananas. Oh yeah, and I already have your gift, so don't even ask!
25.9.08
A nice day
Up this morning, off to work, with a very productive day with lots getting done!
Deposited an unexpected cheque allowing me to buy groceries, woo!
Out of work early because I had run out of work to do, scooped up the boy, and off to music lessons.
His homework is done early, we found 12 different kinds of leaves for his arts'n'crafts
Got into music lessons after snacks, read the paper.
Scooped him up from music lessons, down to the Art Gallery (free on Thursdays!) then onto the bus.
Met a friend, had a lovely three-way conversation all the way to the mall, got some groceries, and home on foot.
Collect the dog, make the supper, play 45 minutes of creative non-video gaming, upstairs for an episode of Farscape.
Leave him with Johnny and the Dead, eight blocks with the dog, back in time to remind him to phone his mom good night, he's read 14 pages in as many minutes, chase his toothbrush around his mouth and tuck him in.
Get the dishes and the laundry done, change my sheets, bed-down the dog, pet the cats, fold the laundry.
Blog, go to sleep.
Deposited an unexpected cheque allowing me to buy groceries, woo!
Out of work early because I had run out of work to do, scooped up the boy, and off to music lessons.
His homework is done early, we found 12 different kinds of leaves for his arts'n'crafts
Got into music lessons after snacks, read the paper.
Scooped him up from music lessons, down to the Art Gallery (free on Thursdays!) then onto the bus.
Met a friend, had a lovely three-way conversation all the way to the mall, got some groceries, and home on foot.
Collect the dog, make the supper, play 45 minutes of creative non-video gaming, upstairs for an episode of Farscape.
Leave him with Johnny and the Dead, eight blocks with the dog, back in time to remind him to phone his mom good night, he's read 14 pages in as many minutes, chase his toothbrush around his mouth and tuck him in.
Get the dishes and the laundry done, change my sheets, bed-down the dog, pet the cats, fold the laundry.
Blog, go to sleep.
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