Embracing the Chaos

      8 Comments on Embracing the Chaos

The past month has been rough.

The financial stresses of COVID-related work changes – a necessary break from one contract and a sudden inexplicable (but welcome) demand from another – have compounded with the emotional complications of visiting family and the grief/relief of saying goodbye to our last-living (now deceased) and probably last-ever pet.

Since July 20th, I have:

  • given myself time off from a contract that was killing me, only to go to work full-boar on my house after
  • the Bad Kitty was put to sleep, because
  • pet damage — and it was BAD at the end; COVID restrictions kept my cat from getting the veterinary care he needed — meant there was nothing I could do but
  • rip out 400 sq ft of carpeting (that’s a workout, letmetellya!) before
  • boarding a plane (yes, I flew) (domestically) to
  • visit my family, during which time I
  • spent some time puking my guts out, but
  • hung out with my nieces (and my aunt, and my sister and my mom) for about a week, and upon return from said domestic-travel adventure
  • pulled 400 pounds worth of furniture out of various rooms in my house and
  • emptied closets, in preparation for
  • installing new carpeting,
  • refinishing hardwood floors,
  • and other assorted remodeling tasks that I am attempting to finish within the next year because
  • I AM READY TO MOVE AWAY

Oh, and I started working right away as soon as I returned from my family visit as well, which means I’ve been doing all of this chaos-inducing crap in between appointments and during my tiredest/crankiest hours.

: exhale :

But I’m good.

As Frozone would say: I’m good.

Continue reading

Reminiscences: Musings in Memoir — Closing Prompt (OPEN)

CLOSING PROMPT — OPEN

THANK YOU to all who have participated in the Reminiscences summer writing project!

Rather than provide a ‘last’ prompt and close the Reminiscences project down, I’ve decided that the final prompt will be open.

Open-ended, and just plain open — for as long as anyone wants to post. 🙂

Continue reading

Puking Out the Poison

      9 Comments on Puking Out the Poison

NOTE: As should be evident from the title, this post briefly contains puke. (And other unpleasant bodily functions.) Fair warning should you choose to read on.

Continue reading

Reminiscences: Musings in Memoir — Prompt #9

PROMPT #9 — OUT

Staying in is the new going out.

Some Random Person on the Internet

.

Out: There are a lot of ways the word ‘out’ is used, often in conjunction with a verb (running out, going out -or- outrunning, outgoing — which do not mean the same thing at all) or a prepositional phrase (out to dinner, out for lunch, out of pickles). You can go on walkabout or be outlandish, outsource your work or do a vigorous workout.

The most basic use/understanding of the word ‘out’ is as a truncated version of outside. A common-parlance use of the word ‘out’ refers to being “out of the closet.” In leaving-a-loathed-workplace speak, “I’m OUT!” is a end-of-day exclamation meaning it’s time for you to GO. While “You’re OUT!” is more often shout-spoken on a ball field when someone doesn’t quite slide home safe.

Continue reading