(Or we're not made of plastic.) One of the things I worry about in that far distant future of publication, should I ever be happy enough with my own work to through it into the self pubbed wilds is covers. I haven't found any stock models (hush, of course I'm looking early, that's what I … Continue reading Cover Art and a Reminder That Skin Has Texture
Kristen Lamb and How I Decide What to Post
So, if you aren't already familiar with her, Kristen Lamb is a social media and platform/brand expert. Her book, 'Rise of the Machines' has been a huge help with my decision of how to blog, and I will admit I've taken her blogging class. Her biggest point is that people want to connect to you as … Continue reading Kristen Lamb and How I Decide What to Post
Photo Bomb!
Now I can't find it posted yet, so you're going to have to take this on hearsay, but I photobombed a video for our local tech school (in which buildings I work) today. I was buying caffeine (for the fifth time, did I mention I didn't sleep well?) and inadvertently walked out behind the cafeteria … Continue reading Photo Bomb!
Reverse Harem: A Surprising (and Engrossing!) Genre I Wasn’t Aware Of
I read. I read a lot, although I tend to stick to Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. I love magic and supernatural things! Paranormal Romance is okay but a little too heavy on the romance, which does make sense as it IS romance, but it isn't my preferred genre. I also read Young Adult (YA) in … Continue reading Reverse Harem: A Surprising (and Engrossing!) Genre I Wasn’t Aware Of
The Biggest Difference Between Mania and Depression Is How Clean My House Is
It's no secret that depression often includes a lack of energy and general apathy. My house often reflects this. My husband cleans, but when I'm depressed I can barely dress, cook for myself, and attend work, much less do dishes and laundry. So, while the house isn't impossible, there's only so much my husband can … Continue reading The Biggest Difference Between Mania and Depression Is How Clean My House Is
EDS and the Stomach That Wouldn’t
(Spoiler: I talk about pooping.) I've been sick since the Friday before last, starting out mildly enough with a stomach ache and culminating this Friday with vomiting, whenever I eat, heartburn, and terrible gut pains. No body aches. No fever. I was baffled until I talked to my mother, and she reminded me that I … Continue reading EDS and the Stomach That Wouldn’t
It’s My Birthday! And my mom’s! And my father-in-law’s! And my boss’s!
Did you know that I'm my mother's birthday present? I was born six weeks early, just two days after her birthday! So, we've shared our birthdays my entire life, even often having shared cakes. Now, to add to the coincidence, my birthday is the same as my husband's grandfather's, and my mom's birthday is the … Continue reading It’s My Birthday! And my mom’s! And my father-in-law’s! And my boss’s!
Bonfire Disagreements
(Friends don't let friends drink and blog.) So, I made the mistake of asking my in-laws over for a bonfire. And by bonfire, I was thinking of a small fire in the fire pit, which we have done before with no difficulties or drama. (I might note that I am typing this QUITE drunkenly, and … Continue reading Bonfire Disagreements
Good News at the Doctor’s!
I had an appointment with my primary care physician today, something I've been putting off for several months. Not because i didn't want to go, but because the timing was never quite right with work and my other appointments going on. Usually these appointments are a time for me to complain about this or … Continue reading Good News at the Doctor’s!
More on Tornadoes
I swear, not even two days after I scheduled my last tornado post, we had YET ANOTHER tornado warning. This time, the weather was bad enough that I preemptively got under the table in the basement with the dog, (although my husband refused), and all the while it was going on we could hear wind … Continue reading More on Tornadoes
The Quest for Sudafed
(and the adventures and angst involved therein) I have allergies. This is a pretty well known fact among friends and family, most notably because I'm deathly allergic to mushrooms, and break-out-in-hives-and-swelling allergic to wheat. Mushrooms, contact causes a rash. Wheat only bothers me if I eat or inhale it. Like when it's harvested and kicks … Continue reading The Quest for Sudafed
My Project Position Was Extended!
WOOT! Got good news this week that my project position has been extended for two years! So, I get to stay at my job, which is AWESOME by the way, and I'm super excited. I work for the state, so this was Very Much In Question. I've been fretting endlessly about it and worrying about … Continue reading My Project Position Was Extended!
A Treasure Trove of Old Photos – My Husband’s Trip to Germany
(That my husband just revealed he had!) So, there is almost nothing better that I love than seeing cute pictures of my husband from before I met him. I didn't meet him until he was 23, so all I can see of him as a kid are photos and the rare family film. He had … Continue reading A Treasure Trove of Old Photos – My Husband’s Trip to Germany
Let’s Talk About Tornadoes and This Sudden Abundance of Them
(And my irrational or possibly rational fear of them.) I grew up in Texas from 2nd - 6th grade, before I moved to Wisconsin. Texas is a wonderful place. It has amazing food. Amazing people. Amazing weather. It's part of Tornado Alley. And thus, there are Tornadoes. (Is this right? Spell check insists that it … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Tornadoes and This Sudden Abundance of Them
I Accidentally Fermented My Honey
Oops? A friend gifted us with a jar of raw honey for my husband to try. He has Celiac's and possibly a corn allergy, and he had been having problems eating honey. I suspected it might be because the cheap honey had been cut with corn syrup (source), and I happened to complain of this … Continue reading I Accidentally Fermented My Honey
Awkward Interactions on the Internet
So, I have anxiety. I take a medication for it, and my husband is aware and often helps reassure me when my brain gets stuck in a loop. It's free floating, so it attaches to whatever I focus on, whether or not there is actually a problem. It's terrible in person as I know I'm … Continue reading Awkward Interactions on the Internet
Baby Raccoons and Rabies Shots
A few weeks ago, we drove our in laws' cabin for dinner, and when we parked, I heard an awful wailing. We looked around a little bit but couldn't find anything. Later, my father-in-law started the grill and heard the same thing, and he was a little more thorough because he found a baby raccoon … Continue reading Baby Raccoons and Rabies Shots
The Baby Bunny Saga Sadly Continues
(But, there's still some cute to be had!) Our baby bunnies have finally left their nest, and I've reclaimed my beans. I've been seeing them dart into our bushes when I come out in the morning or arrive home in the afternoon. And I have been faithfully spraying with my disgusting hot pepper spray. It's … Continue reading The Baby Bunny Saga Sadly Continues
Status of My Garden!
My garden has gone from empty black bags of dirt to a flourishing area where most of what I'm growing isn't even weeds! I'm amazed by how well it's doing this year. So, some photos! First of all, my lettuces are doing amazing considering some bunnies nibbled them down to numbs. The peas are doing … Continue reading Status of My Garden!
First Harvest of the Summer
My peas have pods! My onions are tall! And so I spent a pleasant afternoon picking peas and onions and watering. Now, I don't have photos of the green onions - I was too busy chopping them up and freezing them. But here are the peas! Aren't they adorable? There aren't many, and there are … Continue reading First Harvest of the Summer
In Which I Am Apparently Growing Baby Bunnies
I've been trying to get the rabbits to stop eating in my garden, and I thought I had gained ground until I saw that my beans were dying. And a closer inspection showed this: My, my, what a wee little tunnel. And what's this fuzz? Oh. Baby bunnies. Well, I tucked them back in and … Continue reading In Which I Am Apparently Growing Baby Bunnies
Keto: Tortilla
I'm on a Ketogenic Diet, and it's going wonderfully. I'm a lot more energetic, and I'm down 20 lbs with no effort at all other than cooking which I do anyway with our food allergies/intolerances. Best of all, I'm never hungry! It's ridiculous. I set a timer to remember to eat. The biggest thing I've … Continue reading Keto: Tortilla
The Vacation That Wasn’t
(Or how my car ruined six months of planning.) So, I'm very lucky in that I get two weeks of paid vacation at my job. This is the first time I've ever had paid vacation, and when we scheduled our vacation at the beginning of the year, I lept at the chance to visit my … Continue reading The Vacation That Wasn’t
Fighting Fairly When Bipolar
I'm Bipolar. This is a fact of my existence, and it's something that severely messes with my perception of events. This especially becomes a problem when I have an argument with my husband. We rarely argue except for when I'm headsick... at which point my worldview becomes distorted. I don't remember facts clearly so much … Continue reading Fighting Fairly When Bipolar
In Which Our Dog Was Not A Problem
(Or: How My Dog Behaved Himself For a Change) So, we have a malamute mix, and his name is Tundra. He's a Very Pretty Boy, and he knows it and just basks in all the attention it gets him. He thinks people exist to pet him, fawn on him, and give him treats. True story. … Continue reading In Which Our Dog Was Not A Problem
How I Got the Boy… and Kept Him
So, in my family, it's traditional for the girl to propose. And, seriously, we don't give guys enough credit for how NERVE-WRACKING the whole experience is! But, I get ahead of myself. I met my husband on OKCupid. Not even on purpose. I saw his account, thought he was too young but brave for trying, … Continue reading How I Got the Boy… and Kept Him
Those Splints Cost HOW MUCH?
(And you LOST ONE?!?) I had myself a mini-crisis yesterday. You see, I wear Silver Ring Splints daily. They look like this: And this: And I'm losing weight. And losing weight makes my fingers smaller. At some point yesterday, I lost THE MOST IMPORTANT splint, the pointer finger tip in my writing triad. You know, … Continue reading Those Splints Cost HOW MUCH?
Oh, Do Eat My Plants, Dearest Bunnies…
(MWAHAHA! Or, my ongoing battle with rabbits.) Rabbits LOVE my lettuce. And my Swiss Chard. And my baby apricot trees. (Not pictured here.) Half of the lettuce is gone, all the chard is gone, and half the apricot trees are missing leaves. (Which is a story for another time. The conversation went like this: 'Hey, … Continue reading Oh, Do Eat My Plants, Dearest Bunnies…
Put in ALL the Raised Beds!
Huzzah! After much time and labor (and a neighbor kid who dropped by hoping for a quick buck - which it wasn't, to his dismay), we have all of the raised beds I intend to put in this year! I'm trying out garden bags to spread out the cost. You put them in the first … Continue reading Put in ALL the Raised Beds!
Is it True? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?
(And did they really want to hear about the frog that you washed with your laundry as a kid?) For years, I've struggled with inadvertently hurting, offending, or annoying people with off-hand comments and derailments of the conversation, especially when I'm hypomanic or manic. But, really, it's a problem all the time. At best, it … Continue reading Is it True? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?
5 Reasons I’m Compliant with My Meds
(And 3 Helpful Tips for You to Do the Same!) I know it's not always easy to be compliant with your med regime. You forget a dose or take it later than you intended. One med always makes you dizzy, so you can't take it right now because you need to drive somewhere. This med's … Continue reading 5 Reasons I’m Compliant with My Meds
We Chose Not to Have Kids…
(...and This Was the Right Choice for Us) I can't have kids. Well, 'shouldn't' is more accurate. I don't want to give anyone my Bipolar, depression, or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and then watch them suffer knowing I chose for them to suffer. It sounds a little strange, but how could I live with the guilt of … Continue reading We Chose Not to Have Kids…
Day 115: They Still Haven’t Realized I’m a Maple Tree
So, we've cleared a lot of brush. A LOT. And my husband took a closer look at our lilac bush for a change. Kind of a blurry picture here, but you probably know what a lilac bush looks like: All looks good. Lots of this going on: Flowers have died for the season, but hey … Continue reading Day 115: They Still Haven’t Realized I’m a Maple Tree
Raze It to the Ground and Start Anew
So, this is our back garden. I'd estimate 25x35 feet and a real mess. The previous owner let it grow wild for three years, and we've spent the last four years desperately trying to catch up with it again. It's been a losing battle. So I gave up this year and inquired around to get … Continue reading Raze It to the Ground and Start Anew
How I Was a Bully & Didn’t Know It
We all like to think the best of ourselves and imagine how we would totally stand up to a bully bullying someone we know or, even better, someone we don't know. That's an ugly little lie for most of us, isn't it? We don't like to think that we were bullies. Us. I mean, I … Continue reading How I Was a Bully & Didn’t Know It
Taking Responsibility for My Actions Despite Mental Illness
So I'm going to put out an unpopular opinion here. One of the biggest parts of maintaining relationships throughout my mood swings is taking responsibility for all the stupid things I do and say when manic and occasionally when depressed. Because, let's face it. I may not have been thinking clearly, and I may have … Continue reading Taking Responsibility for My Actions Despite Mental Illness
Not Pregnant, Just Fat
Today a woman asked me when I was expecting, and I was all 'Nope, sorry, just fat!', and she was super embarrassed, and now I feel bad for her. I mean, I wasn't hurt or even really offended, but she was so upset! So now I'm thinking I'm kind of a jerk because I was … Continue reading Not Pregnant, Just Fat
