Averygoodun's Personal File

- I accomplished the task I set for myself today (move and remove. Move a (small) cabinet so as to remove the half tiles underneath it). Unfortunately, I discovered that mastic supports life of the fungal variety. I vinegared the shit out of it, but it's discouraging to know that the battle of the mold is by no means won and will have more casualties than expected. (I knew that, but it still sucks to have it confirmed.) But still. I got those tiles up, and only shorted out the blow drier once. (It overheated, nothing dire.) I did not finish removing the mastic so as to prep the area for tiles, but that wasn't part of the task, so ner.

- Page and I finished Star Trek: Voyager, and a very satisfying ending it was.

- ( I more or less finished that painting. )

The colors aren't quite right in the photograph, nor does the lighting show off the texturing to best effect, but I think I like it anyway. Not sure I'll continue in that direction, but it was an interesting experiment.

- I was able to just chill for most of the day. I have set myself a task a day so that the depression doesn't eat me whole, but I mostly need to rest, I think. So achy and tired... So it's good that I'm able to do what my body requires. I'm lucky.

- I was able to help a friend in a professional capacity this morning. She said, "You've just given me a million dollars! No! Seriously! That's how excited I am about this!" And considering I was feeling pretty sluggish and brain fogged, that's pretty cool. I hadn't even had any tea yet... though I had consumed some magnesium and tylenol...

- Page is doing better, but not well enough yet to take him to his sax lesson tomorrow, which is all good where I'm concerned, given that his teacher is a 1/2 hour's drive away. I'm not up for that.


In other news, I'm trying to figure out a way to get a live furry pet into this house (after Purgatory has reached it's conclusion). We can't afford a dog, no matter how much Page and I want one. And we really, really do want one. But, well, realities being what they are, I've decided that we might get a rat (or two). Rats are the only rodent I have any interest in (besides rabbits, which I am even more allergic to than cats, if that can be believed) given their intelligence level. But, well, Purgatory MUST be finished before we introduce a slinker into the house. Not only will we need the room for its habitat (what a nice name for "cage"), but also because intelligent creatures tend to escape their confines, and I do not want to have to dig through the heap of our basement to find said creature's corpse.

I'd also like to get a betta for my desk, but I think a pothos for my bedroom is first on the expenditure list. One living addition at a time...

Speaking of living additions, I'm starting to think about what I'll be planting in spring. Lettuce for sure. Kale, probably (even if it's just to harvest what sprouts up on its own). Chard, probably. And maybe one of the beds will be devoted to the three sisters, even if I can't eat the corn or beans. It would be cool to try and grow a native species of maize in the traditional manner.

I'm also determined to finish the entryway to the garden this spring/summer. I want to have another garden party, and it would be nice to show that I haven't completely ignored my garden the last couple years (even though I pretty much have). Nice thing is I have a couple more pavers thanks to the basement quikcrete bucket leftovers. And I could probably use one or both of those buckets as lemonbalm and herb planters... Anyway, I need to get outside more often this year. My body has told me it's not negotiable. Even with mossies.

Anyway. That's the state of being here. Pretty good, all said, despite colds and looming flares and a demon in the basement. :-)

Hope all is well with you.

- New Year's intentions:

-- call my diet what it is - a lifestyle. 'Diet' implies impermanence, while 'lifestyle' is a far more accurate description of what needs to happen.
-- exercise at least half an hour a week. Build up my sodding muscles to the point where I can start exercising my heart.
-- attend those parent corner meetings at the school.
-- Cut down on ellipses.

( The rest of the bullet points )

That's about it. I hope this coming year brings all of you more pleasure than pain, or at least brings the changes that are necessary for you to become healthier, wealthier, and wiser. ;-)

Cheers!

Because doing math at this hour, while waiting for the benadryl to kick in, is foolish.

Besides, part of the reason I can't sleep is because my mind just won't shut down.

So...

( Smash )

( Possible confrontations wibbling )

( School. And weather. )

( Family health )

Aaaand I think the benadryl is starting to kick in. Itchiness in my throat is subsiding, and the drowsiness is setting in. Yay to both. Tomorrow morning is going to be a bother, but, ach well. I'll survive.

Damn it. Minor wibbles, go away! You can back back in when it is DAY!

Good night!

Well, a good ol' to do list will obviously help with that!

I hope.

( Read more... )

In other news, Geoff is a complete sweetie who let me sleep in even though he had to get up and out early early. He even made Page's lunch (which we forgot we needed to do last night). He has been earning major brownie points this weekend.

And I am feeling way, way better this morning. I realized partway through the day yesterday that some of the more disturbing bits of my discomfort were due to (mostly) accidental antidepressant withdrawal. So I took a dose and feel much, much better. Still tired, but not out of it in that very special way. Now I'm out of it in a much more normal way. ;-)

On the plus side to yesterday, because I wasn't going to even try to expend energy on thinking because it literally wasn't possible, I finally started watching "Downton Abbey". I'm enjoying it so far. Total soap, but a well written and characterized soap. (I'm only three episodes into the first season so no spoilers, please.)

But now I better go. Food to eat, chores to do, textbooks to burn homework to tackle.

Cheers!

Those who live in this house seem to be on the mend, thankfully. Page still has a nasty cough, Geoff is still tired, and my fingers and back still hurt, but otherwise, we're all doing much better than expected.

We're all well enough that I got us out of the house for another test drive. Last week we drove a 2010 Corolla around for a bit. It was okay, though I certainly wouldn't get that specific car as it had a loud driver's side window. Given my experience with our Camry's driver's side window, I know issues when I hear them. I also am not enthusiastic about the idea of getting another automatic when there are manuals of the same model on the market. And I know there are 2010 manual transmission Corollas out there. I've looked.

Today we test drove a 2008 Prius. ( Read more... )
The plus side to this search is finding out how luxe we've been living with our poor junker of a Camry. It really is a junker, but it's a very comfortable junker. Much like our '94 Cutlass Supreme was before we traded that in for the Camry in 2004...

In completely unrelated news, I'm rather (belatedly) upset with ITV for canceling "Kingdom". The show veered much more toward the silly side for the second and third seasons, but it was still lovely. that they ended it on such a cliffhanger is rather unconscionable. *tuts* Ah well.

Unfortunately, that end also puts Geoff and me at loose ends again for the time being. We don't watch all that much TV, but we do like to sit down together to watch an episode of something most nights. But we're running out of available-for-free shows that we're both interested in. And I don't want to pay netflix because their streaming selection is... unfair.

Anyway. Enough of my trivial first-world problems. I need to start considering bed now. I don't know if I'm going to go to church tomorrow (most likely not, seeing as I had practically no alone-time this week AND I was ill), but I should at least be open to the possibility by getting enough rest. Beyond the fact that rest will help with what actually ails me. ;-)

Hope ya'll have a lovely Sunday. *smooches*

And you too, Ms. Espenson.

Rumpelstiltskin is eating into my brain.

Frankenstorm is coming!

I shall not mock the Fates and tell the truth about how utterly and completely worried I am. Suffice to say, we have not been part of the rush on the stores, or even (due to long lines and impatience) gas stations.

I suspect "Sandy" (Frankenstorm's official name) will be very much like Irene was last year, which was more bluster than muster up here. Unfortunately (although I can understand the reasoning), the school district has decreed tomorrow to be null and void. So yay. Page gets an extra long weekend. I don't get any.

( School blather )

( A nice dream, for a change! )


In less inspiring news, Geoff and I may have reverted back to the plan of replacing the car sooner rather than later. There really is something wrong with the front suspension. And the transmission is getting clunkier and more reluctant, too. Those two things, added to the list of things that we know are wrong, might actually negate the financial favor of keeping it. But, I don't know. It's still rather up in the air.

But, to end on a good note, I'm rewatching "Slings and Arrows" and reminding myself about what a wonderful show it is. Seriously, if you haven't seen it, do!

Also, because political season is (fiiiiiiinally!) coming to an end, I thought I ought to report that Joss Whedon has put in his figurative oar and endorsed Romney:

( Muddled dream )

Today is my last day of this semester. ( School babble )

On Sunday, Geoff and I watched "A Scandal in Belgravia." I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it far less after I read "A Scandal in Bohemia," and realized how much they'd assassinated Irene's character. ( Spoilerish question/observation (cut for the one person out there who hasn't seen it?) )

So I'm wondering whether to read Baskerville before Sunday or leave it for next week... I did enjoy the show quite a bit before I read its basis. *weighs pros and cons*

Ah well. Nice to have such first world problems weighing heavily on my mind. ;-D

PS: Rest in peace, dear Mr. Sendak. And thank you for the stories.

So, I don't suppose it's possible to have the delegates divided so evenly that no one gets the nomination? That would be so cool. And it would also showcase how undemocratic our country really is when it comes down to it, as the party leaders would then decide who gets the nomination, delegates or no.

In the meantime, I am quietly, and very warily, rooting for Santorum simply because I think he's unelectable against Obama. Though I'm not really sure of that, so I'm mostly keeping my trap shut. I really would love a three-way between Santorum, Romney and Gingrich, though. Ron Paul can go fuck himself, if only because that would be a fair representation of what Libertarians are all about.

( Random good things, basically. )

May your day be bonny and blithe.

I hate it when good shows make dumb mistakes just for the sake of draaahma (and sweeps).

( Spoilers for Castle )

In other news, three boxes that held Magic cards have been thrown out due to mold, and a fair chunk of the cards in them (all commons and uncommons, fortunately). And being downstairs with the cupboard doors open and the cards being aired has definitely made me wheezy and sicker.

As soon as Geoff is finished getting them out and sorting through them, he has the task of tilexing the shit out of the cubby behind the cupboard. And hopefully that will take care of both Babe's and my coughs.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, as I'll need to clean the kitchen and start cooking again (as well as pay the bills, do the filing and prepare the paperwork for taxes). Geoff will be getting a flourless carrot cake belatedly. Too many cards and too little energy today to get it done, which sucks for Geoff. He's seems rather satisfied, however, because he's been able to sort through his Magic cards and watch Daria all day long. So that's a good thing, I s'pose.

But now I really do need to go. I think I need a hit off the inhaler, or some anti-inflammatories or something. (ETA: Yep. It's a bad sign when taking half a hit of albuterol actually makes you drowsy/relax. I feel much better now.)

Damn mold.