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So... it's 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday and I'm up and awake. Curses to my damnable internal body clock. Of course, the fact that my schedule now calls for medication at 6 a.m. may have something to do with it. After doing a lot of research on the web I discovered that the medical community (sans my own physician, apparently), recommends taking your second dose of furosemide no later than 4 p.m. to avoid problems with nighttime urination (I know, I know, TMI). So I altered my schedule a bit, and since I switched to an earlier second dose, I *am* actually sleeping much better. Of course, this may also be due to the fact that I am increasingly physically active as each day goes forward.
It's been a very strange year. On October 16th, it will be time for my annual review at work (and subsequent raise! Yay me!). I know that it won't be as substantial as last year... couldn't possibly be with all the cutbacks we've been having (they actually adjusted the merit matrix *down* an entire percentage point overall). And, within the 3 week period thereafter, comes the anniversary of me going into the emergency room and finally being diagnosed with that horrible infection, and subsequent lifetime medications being prescribed (see furosemide above), my onset of Type II diabetes and the subsequent loss of 65 lbs. in the last year. I bought my truck on Nov. 7 last year, so it's about to have a birthday as well (only 10,750 miles on it right now too).
An incrediblely amazing experience, the last year. Also on Monday, Michael and I will have been living together for six months. Plus, I moved out of the apartment where I had lived for the last five years (and, in some ways, was the closest thing to a "home" I ever had in my adult gypsy life) in order to move into the house that I hope to buy in four more years.
Of course, the fourth quarter of the year is when I start to take stock of that which has occurred, and my plans for the coming year. I really need to get back on my eating plan. I kinda stalled out in mid-March and haven't gone anywhere with it since. At least I didn't gain any weight back (which tells me that I can "ease up" a bit when I reach my goal), but I haven't really lost any more since then either. Parts of me believe that I never really lost any "fat" to begin with though, mostly water weight. However, I do know that since I've been doing a lot more physical work around the house lately, it still "looks" like I'm losing weight, even though the scale hasn't gone anywhere (inches are fleeing). So I'm not disappointed, I just want to get back on track. I need to.
When it comes to the Cam, I'm torn between my desire to become more regionally/nationally active, and the opportunity costs thereof. On one hand, the Cam is a great, inexpensive hobby that can eat up a large amount of your free time (especially when you are the database slave) if you work/serve your local chapter. On the other hand, if you enjoy travelling to regional events (which absolutely rock), the expense can be staggering (but that's mostly due to my stubborn refusal to do anything less than "first class" when it comes to travel. I'm a confirmed gypsy who loves wandering and I have my quirks when it comes to conventions, etc. i.e., no sharing rooms). My problem at this moment is that I am trying to save up absolutely as much as possible to put into the down payment on this house in July of 2006. That's now less than 4 years away and I'm still not out from under as much debt as I should be. I tend to look at every expenditure these days with a "is it worth a lower down payment" frame of reference.
As long as I'm talking about the Cam, I have to point out that there is no ICC for me this year. I really had planned on going, however, we discovered that Michael couldn't take time off from his job in order to go as he was still in his first 90 days of employment (which end, ironically, the Monday after ICC). I couldn't justify the expense for me to go alone, and really can't picture doing that kind of thing without him, these days. The next big regional event will be 12th Night. I'm kinda torn about that one as well. For one thing, I'm jonesing to see a lot of my friends, but then there is that whole money thing again. If we go, we'll drive, however. I can't justify the expense of flying a little over 500 miles.
Regarding SCARE, ECLIPSE, NEGLECt, SERE, ICC 2003, I'd really like to see the dates for those next year (especially SCARE), so that I can start planning my vacation/travel calendar. Then I look at that list again and realize that it represents about $5000 towards downpayment for a house when everything is said and done (like I said, when I travel, I tend to do things in a big way - plus the fact that I tend to spend a great deal at the charity auctions). As much as I love the Org, there comes a time when one should put aside those pleasures that are temporary in order to build something more permanent.
One of the reasons that I want to buy this house so badly is that once we're the only occupants (and all the cats, etc., are gone), is that it will make the perfect venue for Cam events. Atlanta is horrible for finding cheap sites to hold games, so the fact that the house is large enough to provide us with a place to play, and is centrally located is something that makes me excited and determined to make this work.
Michael's first Changeling game as CST is today. I have a character (I've never played Changeling before). I just don't feel ready to play yet though. I'm not familiar with the rules set, and even though I've developed a character, I don't have all the props that I want, nor I have settled on the proper costume as yet. (One of the things that I believe helps in characterization is a set "costume" for a character, so that each time you are seen, you are recognizable as that character). I have pieces of said costume, just not the whole. I just don't want him to be disappointed that I'm not ready to play.
Well, I've rambled on long enough, but I suppose that's what happens when you don't post regularly. However, since I'm getting up so early these days, I'm going to try to get back into the habit of posting. Take care all.
Ciao for now.
It's been a very strange year. On October 16th, it will be time for my annual review at work (and subsequent raise! Yay me!). I know that it won't be as substantial as last year... couldn't possibly be with all the cutbacks we've been having (they actually adjusted the merit matrix *down* an entire percentage point overall). And, within the 3 week period thereafter, comes the anniversary of me going into the emergency room and finally being diagnosed with that horrible infection, and subsequent lifetime medications being prescribed (see furosemide above), my onset of Type II diabetes and the subsequent loss of 65 lbs. in the last year. I bought my truck on Nov. 7 last year, so it's about to have a birthday as well (only 10,750 miles on it right now too).
An incrediblely amazing experience, the last year. Also on Monday, Michael and I will have been living together for six months. Plus, I moved out of the apartment where I had lived for the last five years (and, in some ways, was the closest thing to a "home" I ever had in my adult gypsy life) in order to move into the house that I hope to buy in four more years.
Of course, the fourth quarter of the year is when I start to take stock of that which has occurred, and my plans for the coming year. I really need to get back on my eating plan. I kinda stalled out in mid-March and haven't gone anywhere with it since. At least I didn't gain any weight back (which tells me that I can "ease up" a bit when I reach my goal), but I haven't really lost any more since then either. Parts of me believe that I never really lost any "fat" to begin with though, mostly water weight. However, I do know that since I've been doing a lot more physical work around the house lately, it still "looks" like I'm losing weight, even though the scale hasn't gone anywhere (inches are fleeing). So I'm not disappointed, I just want to get back on track. I need to.
When it comes to the Cam, I'm torn between my desire to become more regionally/nationally active, and the opportunity costs thereof. On one hand, the Cam is a great, inexpensive hobby that can eat up a large amount of your free time (especially when you are the database slave) if you work/serve your local chapter. On the other hand, if you enjoy travelling to regional events (which absolutely rock), the expense can be staggering (but that's mostly due to my stubborn refusal to do anything less than "first class" when it comes to travel. I'm a confirmed gypsy who loves wandering and I have my quirks when it comes to conventions, etc. i.e., no sharing rooms). My problem at this moment is that I am trying to save up absolutely as much as possible to put into the down payment on this house in July of 2006. That's now less than 4 years away and I'm still not out from under as much debt as I should be. I tend to look at every expenditure these days with a "is it worth a lower down payment" frame of reference.
As long as I'm talking about the Cam, I have to point out that there is no ICC for me this year. I really had planned on going, however, we discovered that Michael couldn't take time off from his job in order to go as he was still in his first 90 days of employment (which end, ironically, the Monday after ICC). I couldn't justify the expense for me to go alone, and really can't picture doing that kind of thing without him, these days. The next big regional event will be 12th Night. I'm kinda torn about that one as well. For one thing, I'm jonesing to see a lot of my friends, but then there is that whole money thing again. If we go, we'll drive, however. I can't justify the expense of flying a little over 500 miles.
Regarding SCARE, ECLIPSE, NEGLECt, SERE, ICC 2003, I'd really like to see the dates for those next year (especially SCARE), so that I can start planning my vacation/travel calendar. Then I look at that list again and realize that it represents about $5000 towards downpayment for a house when everything is said and done (like I said, when I travel, I tend to do things in a big way - plus the fact that I tend to spend a great deal at the charity auctions). As much as I love the Org, there comes a time when one should put aside those pleasures that are temporary in order to build something more permanent.
One of the reasons that I want to buy this house so badly is that once we're the only occupants (and all the cats, etc., are gone), is that it will make the perfect venue for Cam events. Atlanta is horrible for finding cheap sites to hold games, so the fact that the house is large enough to provide us with a place to play, and is centrally located is something that makes me excited and determined to make this work.
Michael's first Changeling game as CST is today. I have a character (I've never played Changeling before). I just don't feel ready to play yet though. I'm not familiar with the rules set, and even though I've developed a character, I don't have all the props that I want, nor I have settled on the proper costume as yet. (One of the things that I believe helps in characterization is a set "costume" for a character, so that each time you are seen, you are recognizable as that character). I have pieces of said costume, just not the whole. I just don't want him to be disappointed that I'm not ready to play.
Well, I've rambled on long enough, but I suppose that's what happens when you don't post regularly. However, since I'm getting up so early these days, I'm going to try to get back into the habit of posting. Take care all.
Ciao for now.
