Hello out there

[cmk418]

Thought I'd dip my toe back into the updating waters- it seems like all the cool kids are doing it and sometimes it's nice to catch up on everything. I'd like to get to a point where I'm at least posting something that's not a fic on a weekly basis, so let's consider this post 1 of season 16, I guess.


What's been happening? Not a whole lot. Work's fine although I'm down to 2 repair guys now and one of them is makes the term "drama queen" sound like an understatement- every week it's something. Management is rarely in so I generally have the office to myself which is nice.

Church is back to meeting regularly and I may actually get to go to a choir practice next week- first since our Christmas concert- we were off in January to flatten the curve as Omicron was spiking here in Missouri and a hockey game and two weather-related cancellations killed the beginning of this month. But it sounds like we might get hit with bad weather again this week so I'm not sure it's going to happen.

Family is ok. Both parents are having some general movement issues, but other than that are fine. We had most everyone over for dinner tonight. My brother is out of town, but everyone else who is here made it. Mom did the cooking and I got to spend some time hanging out with my youngest nephew (we were watching him while the rest of his family went out). We were going to go to a bookstore in our neighborhood that specializes in graphic novels, but found out when we got there that they had closed for the day. He was a little disappointed, but just rolled with it. It was nice just to get out and enjoy the sunshine for a bit and then we came back here and played some games before Mom kicked us out of the dining room.

Writing has gone well so far. I'm managing to get words in every day and have done all the challenges at femslashficlets on DW since the beginning of the year and have been keeping up pretty well with my hardtime100 challenges (both in setting up and completing). I've gone back to journaling every morning too.

Healthwise, so far so good as far as I'm concerned. Got the big procedure coming up for passing the 50-year threshold (I'm a little past due on getting to it, but between changing jobs and then Covid, it just hadn't happened.) I went to an allergist over the fall and found out I was allergic to being outside except for this time of year (March-November are pretty well out due to pollen, ragweed, and mold.) He was able to get me on some meds to help me to control it, so we'll see how that goes.

I had intended to begin some of my painting projects this weekend, but I was zapped after my Saturday morning workout and spent three hours dozing on the couch to "Love It or List It".

I've seen a few of the Oscar nominated films and the one that I liked best was the one that the Academy snubbed. If you're a fan of musical theatre, I highly recommend "Tick, Tick, Boom". (I haven't seen "West Side Story" yet, but- spoiler alert- Spielberg didn't change the ending and I don't feel like ugly crying my way out of the theater.

That's it for now. I hope to be back next week to tell you all about my thrilling adventures at the DMV. Hope you all are well.

Comments

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Howdy!

LOL - one of the guys in the office here is a drama queen, too.

Oh nice, it'll be good to get back to practice, I'm sure.

Sounds like a great way to spend the evening, even if the store was closed!

Woohoo on the words!

Hahahahaha - I have a kid who's allergic to being outside, too. :D Hoping that the meds help.

Glad to hear you and your family are all doing well. Ugh, have fun at the DMV, not something I'm looking forward to doing anytime soon. It's bad enough that my notary expires at the end of the year and I'll have to go to the courthouse to renew that. *sigh*

[cmk418]

one of the guys in the office here is a drama queen, too Has he ever texted you that he can't come to work because he has cramps? I had to make my censor work overtime on that one.

It will, but the forecast is threatening snow again. We're scheduled to sing this coming Sunday. It's a call and response thing that we've done before, but it's better if we practice it. Actually it's 'Better' even if we don't practice it, since that's the song title.

My niece and nephews are my five favorite people in the world so it's always a delight to spend time with them.

The meds have helped pretty well so far. I'm doing a test run to see how I do without them, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet- it's this inhaler that has 30 doses, but as soon as I open it, I have 6 weeks to either use it or toss it. Yikes.

I'm just turning in my paperwork to get a new sticker for my license plate so it shouldn't be too bad, but I put it off so it's basically do it this Saturday. Do you have to turn in your book and get a new one when you renew your notary or is it a whole thing with testing? Going to the courthouse is no picnic.

How'd your Monday go?

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

No, but I did have to listen to him whine once when our boss told him he couldn't take two days off for a bike race. LOL

Oh no, that's no fun. Sounds cool - I love those call and response type songs. When my younger girl was in choir, they did a few like that.

Wonderful! EEEE - and they're not cheap, even with insurance, so I don't blame you.

That's not too bad, hopefully you're in and out. No, I have to fill out an application and send it to the secretary of state. Once they've approved it, they send it back and then I take it and my bond to the courthouse and get sworn in. They give me another piece of paper that I need to get my new stamp. It's... not fun.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Nice to see you post - of course before we became friends through 1MW, I didn't really know that much about you, so maybe we can catch up some!

There's drama queens at every work, it seems, although ours is more of a Look-At-Me type who just wants attention, be it bad or good.

I hope you get to go back to choir!

Glad to hear your family are doing well. My mum is 86 this year, so I am in the 'concern for your parents' school these days (my dad died young), and just hope she continues to cope well. My oldest grandparents only made it to 86 so it does worry me a little, especially now as I see her slowing down and not being as confident outside of home.

Sounds like you had a great time with your nephew!

Glad to hear writing is going well for you! I haven't written a word in fic for over two years and don't know if I'll get back to it any time soon, but I don't mind too much. I'm trying to do more graphics when I can, but even that has been non-existent so far this year! I'll get there though!

Can I ask what the big procedure is? Is is something to do with the DMV? I'm closer to 60 these days but we have different rules around things in NZ, so not sure if what you're referring to is something most Americans would understand and therefore don't need it explaining!

I feel you on the allergies front. I hope your meds are helping! I have some crap going on since I hit menopause that seems to cause an allergic reaction from mid-Jan to mid-March and then again from Sept to Nov over here (which is late summer to mid-autumn and early spring to early summer) that makes me wonder if it's similar. I have no idea what sets me off, but it's up and down, and seems a little less intense when it rains, so who knows? Maybe I should see if my doctor will refer me for allergy testing. I'd love to find something that would help more than cutting out caffeine and chewing gum when it gets really bad, as I am totally sick of feeling like crap and the over-the-counter meds just make me sleepy!

Ah, the movies... I do love a great film, but have only seen one so far in recent times (the James Bond one), other than on TV, as it seems so much bother in these Covid times. I used to love musicals when I was young, but haven't seen a lot in recent years. What is Tick, Tick, Boom about?

[cmk418]

It's nice to hear from you. I used to post like a crazy person- two or three times a day. Maybe it's because we're on Facebook and Twitter now that some of the run-of-the-mill updates go there.

He likes to send long rambling texts that have me wearing out my scrolling button or just ignoring them altogether. He's definitely an attention-getter.

Both my parents are in their 70s and I've lived in the same place with them since I moved back in 2008. Surprisingly that has worked out well for everyone. We've established a rule that only one person can be out of commission at any given time- right now is my dad's turn for therapy. Do you live close to your mum?

Graphics are so hard for me. I'm trying to get better at them, but I'm only really obligated to do one per year- a hockey-centric e-card for my sister in May. Everything else is a bonus. I'm sure you'll be able to do some graphics soon.

LOL. My colonoscopy will not be performed at the DMV- thank goodness. We're encouraged to get it done at 50 (which is when insurance allows it here) & I'm 52. I'm having it done on the Ides of March- I'm not sure if Julius Caesar would appreciate that or not.

The meds seem to be doing their job. I have not hit menopause yet (they tell me I'm at the average age for it, but I fear I'm helping with the curve). I've always gotten really bad sinus headaches at the end of my period so I think there's something that's related between them but my gynecologist couldn't tell me anything about that. Seeing an allergist might help you narrow down what's setting you off and give you something to control it.

Oh, I loved "No Time To Die" even though the ending took a lot out of me. "Tick, Tick, Boom" is about Jonathan Larson, who wrote the musical "Rent" and died right before it premiered on Broadway. But it's not really about that aspect of it. It's about him writing and workshopping a different musical and the act of creation and what an artist needs to do to get his/her voice out there. It's wonderful and should have been nominated for an Oscar, imo.

I hope you are feeling better this week.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's so nice seeing more people here in 'my' age group (I'll say the over-40's and then some to be polite! LOL). I think you're right, though I've gotten in the habit of looking at things more and posting less, apart from easy day-to-day pics in FB (even then, lately I have not felt like that), but I am trying to get back to LJ and do better with that, as I really miss the old chat days there, and it's nice not to have to censor myself so much (apart from the fact that I don't use real names), as FB has too many work mates and family that I could never say half of what I liked to be able to say about fandom and from inside my crazy head that LJ allows me to do!

Oh boy, definitely an attention-seeker. Enough to make you run a mile when you see him for real!

That's a great scheme you have with your parents! I love that you have that rule! And that you all get on. Yes, my mum is only a ten minute drive away, and thankfully my brother is even closer to her and spends a lot of time there as he is also in his 50's (in fact only 14 months younger than me!) and single, so it works for both of them. During Covid lockdowns, he lived at her place and they get on well. I go pick her up for a meal with my family (my Hubby, my son (LF in LJ), who's 19, and my younger daughter (N2D in LJ), who's 23 and lives about 15 mins away. Their older sister (N1D) lives in Christchurch in the South Island, and we're all in Auckland) once a week, and she relies on me for advice and help with Important Documents when she isn't sure what to do. We have another brother and sister too, but my older brother lives in the UK and my sister lives closer to Wellington in the North Isl. so they aren't as involved with Mum the way younger bro (YB) and I are. I get on pretty well with Mum - much better than mty older sis (OS) who has very little patience!

Graphics are difficult, I agree! I play, but I wouldn't say I'm an expert! N1D is a web designer and has a keen eye for things, so I'm pretty sure she would think my attempts leave much to be desired, but it's fun and they seem to please most people I've made things for, so it can't be too bad! I like ipiccy for free online graphic work, though I usually stick to the effects they supply rather than trying to make anything of my own!

LOL! I can understand why you wouldn't want your colonoscopy done at the DMV! I wasn't sure what it was, and when you and Amy talked about the DMV, I assumed maybe it was an eye test or re-sitting your test! Oh yuck, they are horrible, but the actual procedure is not as bad as the prep! I had one done a few years ago as both my mum and my older bro (OB) have had bowel cancer. OB 's has progressed and he is probably never going to recover fully, but seems to be holding on for now, but my mother had it in her 5o's and fully recovered. So the rest of us were suggested to have it too, and I had one done about your age too; all clear , thankfully! I still have to have bowel screening every couple of years through the hospitals here (all NZers are entitled to use the hospitals; there is some waiting involved but no cost; very different from the US, more like the UK's NHS) but it's just a swab test and much less invasive! I hope the Ides don't prove as fateful for you as they did for Caesar!

That's great that the meds are helping! My menopause went on for several years from 50ish onwards - all my doc could tell me was the 'average is 50' so I was getting so over it by 52 as I never knew when I'd have a period any more and the hot sweats were crazy! I still get some hot sweats, but not as bad, thankfully. It's all the other crap they don't tell you about that annoys me though!!! Like the allergies I never had when I was younger! I might look into the allergist thing!

Yeah, 'No Time to Die' was great, but phew, what a ride and ending. Oh right, 'Tick Tick, Boom' does sound good - I shall have to look out for it!

[cmk418]

the actual procedure is not as bad as the prep - that seems to be the general consensus. My dad likes to regale us all with stories about the prep around the Sunday dinner table. Honestly, I think it'll be nice to get all the (literal) crap out for once, but ask me again on the 16th of March. Limiting the diet prior will be the biggest problem for me because I have a strong dislike for soup so I'll have to see what else, if anything is allowed. I've never had Gatorade, so I'll have to pick up a bottle of that and get used to the taste because that's all we're allowed to mix the stuff with.

That's good that you live close to your Mum. I'd lived in LA for a while and I can't imagine being that far from the rest of my family during Covid. It was hard enough not seeing them for a year when they were in the same city. The government really handled things badly here from the outset- it's getting better on a national level, but not so much local. It seemed like NZ definitely has its act together with regards to Covid- has that changed any or is it still pretty solid?

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Good luck with it all, anyway! I'm sure you'll do fine, but it isn't exactly fun. LOL to your dad!

Yeah, my brother has been in the UK since 1988 and I haven't seen him since 2004, and it feels really hard, esp. as he's been dealing with cancer for the last five years or so, and we had planned to go see him in 2020, but Covid put paid to that!

NZ has handled things pretty well, imo, but now we are stepping into Omicron territory and it's spreading like crazy (esp. since people are a bit over it, and the unvaxed are making a lot of noise), although seems to be more mild, our govt. are slowly relaxing rules around it. I suppose they have to, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable about that as you really don't know how bad it will be if you and yours catch it. I'm esp. worried about my mum, who I definitely don't want to get it. My hubby's had two scares with being a close contact through work in the last three weeks, and it's just horrible. Thankfully, so far, he seems free of it.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Well, I for one will be happy to hear all the Thrilling Adventures of CMK every week. Fingers crossed that you get out to the choir as hoped, as long as your numbers continue to go down there. It's not so great here numbers wise -- our hospitals are still cancelling not-immediately-needed surgeries and such -- yet the province is opening back up fully soon. I just don't get it.

Sounds like you had a lovely family day. We all need that once in a while.

My niece is allergic to grass! When she was little she never wanted to go outside and my sister used to make her. "Go out and get some fresh air! Go and play! You can't sit on the couch watching TV or reading all day!" Boy, does she feel guilty now. LOL

[cmk418]

I don't know what the numbers are here right now. I feel like they may have either stopped reporting them (which would be on point for Missouri) or they've actually started to go down and are no longer news (until the next variant comes along). It seems like things are more cautious in Canada, almost to the other extreme. It would be nice to find a happy medium between the two.

Your poor niece! I used to have hay fever as a kid, but nothing like I have now. The allergy report for me listed grasses, trees, and weeds, plus mold which can be huge around these parts. I've always been more of an indoor person, but I do like to go outside on occasion. That was one of the benefits of wearing a mask with Covid was that my chances of breathing in too much mold or pollen was lessened as a result.

I'll do my weigh in next week, but February has not been exactly kind to me on the food stage. It'll be interesting to check out though. You're doing magnificently with that.