Kevin's Watch

Speaking of Jenn, she's been logged in recently, but hasn't said anything.

lorin wrote:

Linna Heartlistener wrote: ...for my answer to "how do you feel today?"... emotional! mostly "good emotional;" sorta a "wow!" week or so.

que pasa???

muchas cosas, amiga!

Well, here's one big thing:
I was recently encouraged to do "real accountability"...
...like involving admitting to real weaknesses.. (and present ones; not just "I had this problem in the past, and now I've got it fixed and that's so neat." Which is what I usually aim for.)

So I tried it.
And I got several real rebukes that I've been waiting YEARS for.
(okay; one actually came before I started 'seeking accountability.')
And they were GOOD.

One of them played out like this:
Basically, I have a friend who was struggling badly a year or two ago... she almost failed in a way that had 3 or 4 of us close friends of hers despairing...
...but things have changed, and now she was encouraging me-- in roughly the same area that she just struggled with...
Not only that, but she amazed me; she was absolutely tenacious in that conversation - and full of wisdom and practicality.

Plus I went back to my everyday life and responded to the ideas she'd brought up... and it's "really worked"; it has been wonderful.

I forgot to mention that I had a lucky find this weekend...

About 6 months ago, I broke my chillum. I'd had it for probably 15 years, and hadn't used it for at least 5, but as soon as I broke it, nothing would suffice save that I replaced it immediately.

I scoured the shops for a new one, but to no avail. Finally, I gave up. Only to find one on saturday. Not quite as good as my old one, which was a traditional thick clay, (this one is glazed and a bit thinner than I would like), but close enough.

--A

Avatar wrote:I forgot to mention that I had a lucky find this weekend...

About 6 months ago, I broke my chillum. I'd had it for probably 15 years, and hadn't used it for at least 5, but as soon as I broke it, nothing would suffice save that I replaced it immediately.

I scoured the shops for a new one, but to no avail. Finally, I gave up. Only to find one on saturday. Not quite as good as my old one, which was a traditional thick clay, (this one is glazed and a bit thinner than I would like), but close enough.

--A

So I looked up chillum. At first I thought it was some kind of musical instrument then I see it is a kind of bong. They are really art pieces.

It's good to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Congrats on the find.

Got my new teeth today! Very comfortable, expecially the bottom ones. No more sore gum! They feel a bit strange at the moment and my "s"s are a bit different, but I shall get used to them.

I also googled Chillum - there are some really beautiful glass ones!

I didn't know what a chillum was, either. Thanks for saving me the trouble of googling it, lorin.

So yeah. Hi, everybody. :waves: I just released another novel -- Undertow makes #9 -- and I need to start writing the next one here directly. I've started another stupid freaking diet because the doctor keeps yelling at me about my weight. I still hate my job, I still have an unemployed kid living with me, and I still want to move to Colorado. In other words, not much is new.

Ali - grats on the new novel being released!

Iolanthe wrote:I also googled Chillum - there are some really beautiful glass ones!

Pfffft. Glass ones.

This is pretty much what my old one looked like:



The new one is of lighter construction, and is an eggshell colour with a pattern inscribed on it.

--A

aliantha wrote:I didn't know what a chillum was, either. Thanks for saving me the trouble of googling it, lorin.

So yeah. Hi, everybody. :waves: I just released another novel -- <i>Undertow</i> makes #9 -- and I need to start writing the next one here directly. I've started another stupid freaking diet because the doctor keeps yelling at me about my weight. I still hate my job, I still have an unemployed kid living with me, and I still want to move to Colorado. In other words, not much is new.

Congrats on the latest book, Ali. 9 books since we've known each other. Pretty spectacular.

I feel blue today. Had a productive day yesterday but yucky productive. Taxes, bills, medical yada yada yada. I had a really bad year financially and its not getting any better. My income reduced 75% and I had 12,000 in out of pocket medical bills and 9000 in blood sucking lawyers. Then I had a major tax event and owe the IRS a boat load of money. More like a tanker full. Blech. blah. blue.

what a year.

ali wrote:I've started another stupid freaking diet because the doctor keeps yelling at me about my weight. I still hate my job, I still have an unemployed kid living with me, and I still want to move to Colorado.

(that's for the groaning and discouragement.)

Now, for the positive part about books... I second lorin with my own comment of "that's kinda impressive!"

Sounds like one dream that you've worked towards for years and years is panning out for ya, ali...

lorin wrote:I feel blue today. Had a productive day yesterday but yucky productive. Taxes, bills, medical yada yada yada. I had a really bad year financially and its not getting any better. My income reduced 75% and I had 12,000 in out of pocket medical bills and 9000 in blood sucking lawyers. Then I had a major tax event and owe the IRS a boat load of money. More like a tanker full. Blech. blah. blue.

...and can I follow that with this? :

That just sounds really, really tough.
And given what you were working on... yeah, the productive day sounds like it would be emotionally exhausting.

lorin wrote:what a year.

Linna Heartlistener wrote:

lorin wrote:I feel blue today. Had a productive day yesterday but yucky productive. Taxes, bills, medical yada yada yada. I had a really bad year financially and its not getting any better. My income reduced 75% and I had 12,000 in out of pocket medical bills and 9000 in blood sucking lawyers. Then I had a major tax event and owe the IRS a boat load of money. More like a tanker full. Blech. blah. blue.

...and can I follow that with this? :

That just sounds really, really tough.
And given what you were working on... yeah, the productive day sounds like it would be emotionally exhausting.

lorin wrote:what a year.

Thanks, Linna. I am trying to take the perspective that changing a life style can be a good thing though I haven't quite gotten there.

I just don't know how people survive devastating events when they don't have the fortune/smarts I had to have squirreled away a few extra dollars. My rent alone is 140% of my income. And I have very inexpensive rent for NY.

lorin wrote:Thanks, Linna. I am trying to take the perspective that changing a life style can be a good thing though I haven't quite gotten there.

Well, I think that's one of the most worthwhile battles a person can pick...
...it just happens it's also probably one of the toughest.

lorin wrote:I just don't know how people survive devastating events when they don't have the fortune/smarts I had to have squirreled away a few extra dollars...

That's a point... was this something you've always done to some extent, or something more recent for ya?

Thanks for the hugs, Linna.

Don't even talk to me about taxes. I'm in denial...

Nine books would be more impressive if I were making any money with 'em. Still, I plan to keep plugging away at it. Maybe someday I'll write the "breakout" novel and the cash will start rolling in...

Linna Heartlistener wrote:

lorin wrote:I just don't know how people survive devastating events when they don't have the fortune/smarts I had to have squirreled away a few extra dollars...

That's a point... was this something you've always done to some extent, or something more recent for ya?

You know, that is interesting to me. I didn't save a penny most of my life. I think it is the 'illness' many government workers with pensions suffer from. But about 7 years ago when I turned 50 I opened whats called a deferred comp plan. I resolved that I would increase my contribution by 1% every quarter. By the time I left my job I was putting nearly 50% of my check into the account. Those funds saved me. BUT I had to take an early withdrawal and had to pay a tax penalty. Oh well, the powers give with one hand and take with the other.

Nice to catch up with everyone. I also have a taxacious hassle coming up with the Nigerian government suddenly figuring out that the school I work for would be a good place to mine for inadvertent tax evaders... I really did ask a lot of people what to do about paying Nigerian income tax, heard as many different answers, finally followed our former mission director's advice to do nothing... which turned out not to be good advice after all. It will probably cost me every penny I will make for teaching this semester. I was really bummed about it a few months ago but now I just feel like, c'est la vie. Money never had a way of sticking around no matter how frugal or wise I tried to be with it. So it goes.

I had a week off from school, which I needed badly. I suppose any teacher will tell you they have about a week each school year where they KNOW they are the worst teacher ever; this was my week. Fresh start Monday!!

sorry to hear Deer.

after serving four months at my current unit I applied for the job I had back at my old unit for ten years.

I don't see me getting off of first shift at this unit anytime soon. no idea what shift is available at my old unit though.

I just believe I would be happier by transferring. (again)

Good luck, Sarge.

And Ali, nine books published is an impressive achievement in and of itself. At least, I am impressed.

My friend Suellen passed away last night. It was such a long struggle for her. She had been fighting cancer for more than 10 years.

Seeing her slowly dying all these years was pivotal in my decision to leave my job. She was my doppelganger in so many ways. Her life was all about the job. No family to speak of, no life to speak of. She died alone at 58.

Sad stuff.

Sorry, Lorin.

Sorus wrote:Sorry, Lorin.

Thanks. I am sorry for her but relieved also.