#ladya adults

[theoriginalladya]

Thank you to whoever bailed on their oil change this morning - instead of having to wait 3-5 hours to get worked into a busy schedule, my tire shop guys got me fixed in an hour or so! I really love the guys there who work on my car - big name chain place, but they take really good care of me when I come in. It's much appreciated! <3

[punwolf]

What a crazy week. I really want to get everything done before Night of the Nocturne on Flight Rising so I basically have about 24 hours from when I post this.

Everything has taken up more time than I thought it would - but that’s average for the holidays.

Finish Dad’s dragon (photos coming once I have time to breathe) - this took over a week longer than I thought. Good thing I gave myself some extra time when planning. I still need to pack it up for transport at Christmas.

Make out cards - only had 2 of them. My ex was also my best friend’s brother. She died of cancer and I got to know the rest of her family well before I ever met her brother. He wasn’t living there at the time. Their mom always sends out hand made scrapbook style cards for most holidays and my birthday. I sent her a personal Christmas card with a long note inside. I also sent one to a recovering soldier. Done.

Finish my snake’s cage. My adult ball python has been needing a smaller, easier to clean cage for a long time. I used to house 2 adults together (in ignorance.) I rarely even see him so he doesn’t need as much floor space as I have for him. Done.

Move and feed the snake.

Clean out rat cages. My eventual plan is actually to sell the snake. Long story but I didn’t actually want him. He eats only live (spare me the tips on how to get them to convert to frozen/freshly killed. He’s 11 years old and a ball python. I’ve been through so many finicky snake phases it would make your head spin.) I’d like to rehome him and no longer have to keep breeding pairs of rats. I really like ratties. They make good pets, too, and would just as soon get out of that part of snake ownership. I really want a couple of Crested Geckos someday.

Decorate the tree. Thank goodness it’s only 3 feet of warm festivities. I love it but I’m glad it’s not huge.

Make a casserole for Christmas dinner. Same thing each year. I have it down to a fine art.

Make dog food. I’ve got a dog with severe allergies and kidney issues. She’s also 14, so I cook for her. A lot of research and vet help went into this decision. At least I can take some of the rice from the slow cooker for my casserole because she eats the same food we do.

Replace a computer fan. Mine’s on it’s last legs and has been for weeks. I have the replacement.

Make a dream pie for Christmas day. This has to wait until about 24 hours before serving so it’s fresh.

Make rice crispies treats. Hot damn! I just found out they can be frozen!

Make candy. That was the easiest candy I’ve ever made. It involved dumping a ton of chocolate and peanuts and peanut butter chips into the slow cooker and stirring every 30 minutes. Unfortunately it also took more counter space than I have. We were held hostage until it set and I could pack it into the fridge. Done.

Make British cracker party favors. This sounded like so much fun and so easy. I’d do it myself so I didn’t have to pay expensive import shipping and pick the prizes inside. 8 HOURS LATER I rued that decision... but there’s 24 of them. They’re pretty. They’ll be fun. I’m going to take a savage glee in ripping them apart after being on my aching feet that long. Done.

Make homemade malted hot chocolate for the postal carrier and family. Sealed with a vacuum sealer in individual servings. This also took a couple hours longer than planned. Done.

Draw Blackwall for PixieDurango - started

Write birthday smut for LadyA - started ages ago and worked on. Probably won’t finish that until the first of the year. So much to do...

Pay bills - welcome to adulting, party of one, not doing it well but this is a must.

[theoriginalladya]

Test results are in .. it’s as I thought.

Just got the lab results:  I tested positive for the bug, kiddo didn’t.  That’s a relief.  Also found out today that boss jr. is in the hospital with it, and boss sr. has it and is also in hospital.  So, whoever we got it from, we were all exposed about the same time.  (they both have underlying health issues.  so far as I know, I don’t).  Things being what they are, I think it’s safe to say it’ll be a while until I’m back to 100%, but I’m not overly worried (though I am keeping an eye out for problems).  

That said, chances are I won’t be doing much writing for a couple of weeks, or updating current stories.  I was all set to try to write tonight after a pretty good day, but right before all this dropped into my lap tonight, I started feeling worse again, so there goes that idea.  I did manage to scribble some stuff about 4AM last night when I woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep, so we’ll see if that happens again.

In the meantime, I’m around, trying to amuse muself, looking for fun stuff.  Asks in my inbox may be manageable, but writing prompts may have to wait at least a week - energy levels right now are just not there.

[theoriginalladya]

good thing I haven’t had to drive to work as much.  The money I’ve saved on gas through the lockdown has gone to replacing a busted rim and out of whack suspension from hitting a pothole hidden under fallen leaves.  

*sigh*

[theoriginalladya]

This is the first Monday in three weeks I’ve been healthy enough to be up and ‘at work’ (from home).  It’s such a strange feeling - in some ways, the Covid felt like it lasted an eternity.  In others, not that long at all.  

I will tell you this:  No one in their right mind wants to go through that.  EVER.  Wear your damned masks, folks, and wash your hands.  Social distance and just use the good sense God gave a goose because this bug is bad.  I got lucky.  VERY lucky.  I got even luckier because somehow, kiddo didn’t come down with it and he was quarantined at home with ME when I did.

Boss jr. only just got out of the hospital yesterday.  He spent TWO WEEKS there, and he’s still on oxygen and under medical care at home.  Oh, and he’s two years YOUNGER than I am.  Boss Sr. went home this weekend too.  Looks like we’ll all get through this, thank goodness.  But damn, it was close and scary.  And this is coming from a group of people who actively wore masks, social distanced and all of the things they told us to do.  Be vigilant.  Be smart.  Be safe.

[theoriginalladya]

Shit just got real ... or ‘real-er,’ maybe I should say?

Less than an hour ago, I got a text from boss jr. at work to tell me he’s been confirmed Covid positive.  

Well, shit.  He has no idea how he caught it - and I can believe that because this guy is as ‘neatfreak’ as you can get without being OCD.  Always wearing his mask, always cleaning his desk and equipment off, always keeping distance between himself and others, etc.  He has good reason - his youngest son is immuno-compromised, and of course he and his family don’t want him to get it.  His symptoms began three days ago ... three days ago was right around the time I was in the office for one of two days this week.  Granted, he’s in the far back and my desk is up front, but we had conversations, and were in the same areas as one another (with distance between us).  

Normally, I wouldn’t be too concerned.  I’ve been prepared for such an eventuality since this all began, after all.  However, he says his symptoms STARTED three days ago ...  he tested yesterday and was confirmed today.  That means he likely had it the FIRST day I was there this week.  Again, little contact (as I recall) other than how I described above.  But it is worrisome.  Why?  Well, because yesterday, I started coughing just a little.  Nothing major; figured it was allergies, like it has been all along, right?  But today, it’s still there, annoying as all get out, and ‘feels like a cold’ is coming on.  Tick the box.  Stuffy.  Another box ticked.  Stiff and sore (which I’m writing off to arthritis, but could be tied in) - semi-ticked that box.  So, yeah ... my head is going places that probably aren’t necessary, but it’s hard not to in a situation like this, right?

Kiddo was over at a friend’s house for his birthday.  I called him immediately and went to pick him up.  He’s been to two places yesterday and today, and seen a total of six people.  He’s warned them all to be on the watch for symptoms, just in case.  I just spoke to the Ex to alert him, and he’s prepared to assist how he can if we need it.  Thank god I picked up groceries today, instead of going in to shop!  Not only are we set for the week, but I didn’t come into close contact with anyone.  

So, now, it’s a matter of not freaking myself out before the morning when we can go get tested and (hopefully!) test negative.  Kiddo had one test a couple weeks ago before school started and came back clean, which is good.  Here’s hoping we both do the same tomorrow!

[theoriginalladya]

When suddenly the ideas start FLOWING ...

.... and work decides to show up.  *sigh*   And then YOU have to be the adult for the office.  

So ... ideas will have to wait.  Sadly.  Because new stuffs are percolatin’ LOUDLY and oh boy have I got IDEAS for Taka/Kaidan!

[theoriginalladya]

Trying a new thing tonight.  Kiddo’s been so good about taking care of me and he’s been living off of ramen most of the time (okay, so partly because he’s lazy and partly because I’m the one who usually cooks the ‘real’ meals), and plus I’m hoping I’m as hungry as my stomach is telling me - I decided to try DoorDash tonight to get us both something close to ‘real food’ instead of ramen/shells and cheese/canned soup.  The sushi place kiddo likes uses DoorDash, so I’ve ordered dinner from there.  I kept mine simple (which I usually do anyway) and got him the fancier ones he likes, so fingers crossed I did this right.  

When I first hinted that I might do that for dinner, he gave me the dirtiest look! lol  “Don’t you even joke about that!”  It took a couple of minutes to convince him I was serious - I mean, you don’t joke about sushi right? - but finally he realized I meant it, so yeah, we’re trying it.  Here’s hoping this was the right call to make!

[theoriginalladya]

Off to a good start this morning!

Unexpected/Spontaneous prompt complete 

New FemShep born in my head ... *looks at list* ... #91?

Time to get the groceries ...

Then MORE WRITING!!!

And breakfast somewhere, too.  Need food ... fuel ... something ...

[theoriginalladya]

Think I might be finally starting to turn the corner ...

It’s been a very long, painful week with this Covid bug.  Still, I’m on the fortunate side, despite it all, because my two bosses are still both in the hospital.  My fingers are crossed for them, and I’ve been lying around in bed all week aching, but the worst of the aches seem to be over (fingers crossed!) so that all I have to worry about in that regard is my normal bad hip pain.  Occasional bouts of shortness of breath, but that may be more due to low energy levels because I haven’t eaten much over this past week.  Tried yesterday then started feeling nauseous, but the Ex brought over some saltines to help.  I also just placed a delivery order from Kroger to get some more plus a few other things, so hopefully by the time the weekend ends, I should be feeling more like normal.  Kiddo is still not showing symptoms, and huge fingers crossed he stays that way!  I don’t know what I would have done without him, to be honest.  Still, doctors said 10-14 days and I’m on day 9, so I’m going to keep at it this week and do my best to get over the last of it and keep kiddo healthy.  

[theoriginalladya]

YAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!   HE DID IT! HE DID IT! HE DID IT!!!!!!!

KIDDO PASSED FINITE MATH FINAL AND THE CLASS WITH A GRADE HIGH ENOUGH FOR HIS MAJOR!!!!!

(math and he do NOT get along!)

[theoriginalladya]

Twenty one years ago (give or take a five hours because I’ll hopefully be asleep then), I went through the most fucked-up experience of my life that somehow ended up with the most fabulous results.  And now ... he’s a bona fide, legal adult.

At 4:56 AM on 7/8/99, kiddo was born.  After a relatively normal pregnancy, the whole labor/delivery thing was shit (tldr: 30 hours labor before they decided on emergency c-section then a bunch of other crap that followed and wasn’t true and yadda yadda yadda - end result I’ll never go to that hospital again), but I ended up with the happiest, most beautiful blue-eyed baby boy I could have hoped for.  

It’s been an eventful 21 years, to say the least, and though we’ve been through some rough times over the past few years, we’ve come out stronger for it.  He and I certainly get along better than my parents and I ever did at that age, and for that I am thankful.  We have a lot more in common than my parents and I did, too, which I’m sure helps.  He’s smart, kind, and he helps me (and my bum hip) out without too much complaint.  (lawn mowing is the bane of anyone’s existence!)  

So, Happy 21st Birthday to the kiddo!  A mom couldn’t ask for a better son! :)  

Oh, and one last note:  He was agreeable when, over a year and a half ago, I made him promise to spend his birthday, his first legal day drinking, with me at home.  We’re going to share some sake, good sushi and watch Godzilla movies!  See you on the other side!

[theoriginalladya]

Update below the cut

Doing a little better today, though I somehow managed to trigger a migraine.  Not sure if it’s just because my entire body’s out of whack because of covid or if it’s something normal, but it still hurts just as bad.  Seems to be under control enough for the moment, though. 

The sushi last night - I was right, my eyes were bigger than my stomach (by about one piece that I still made room for) - but it really did seem to help get some ‘real food’ in me.  I wish I could afford to do it more often, but that was a special treat.  I’ll save it up for six weeks from now and we’ll do that for my birthday I think.  (I don’t know if it’s just a local chain or not, but if you guys have access to Sushi Boss - I highly recommend!!!!!)

[theoriginalladya]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes - I would tag you all back, but I just lost what little energy I had left moving from one room to the next in my house, so I think that’s my cue to call it a night early and head off to bed.  Your thoughts and good wishes are much appreciated!  

[theoriginalladya]

TFW a friend sends you a care package that you grudgingly agree to (because YARN) and you know what’s supposed to be in it but they then overwhelm you with all sorts of EXTRA GOODIES as well!!!!

@scarletthalloran - darling, thank you so very very VERY much!!!  I agreed to the yarn, but I won’t deny the men in kilts calendar for next year is just about as scrumtious looking as the fudge and the tea!!  And PENS!!!  The magnet now has a new home on my fridge - and I’m ALWAYS in need of them! lol

*HUGE TRANSATLANTIC HUGS*  <3 <3 <3

[theoriginalladya]

@swaps55​ -  sláinte!