January 2022 Update: Low on Spoons
Feb. 1st, 2022 07:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kylaraingressWell, January was a bit of a blur. I am blaming 2021 holdover ;-). It was a rough month (rougher for others than me, but am trying to remember that that doesn't mean it wasn't rough for me). More under the cut.
Not much new on the work front. Kate's work has been having issues due to COVID that I can't write about due to privacy concerns. Let's just say we're both very concerned about her health. I didn't have a whole lot on my work, although I had to help my boss run IT for an online class for four days, so that week was pretty much lost on anything else.
For projects, we got a new showerhead, new organizers for our spices (and medications), and new phones (the Galaxy Fold). I also bought used audio monitors from an audio contact, and Kate got a new chest for her dice, so we of course had to get dice bags for her to organize them. We also got new shoes (boots for her) and an earring tree. I've been doing more research on countertop dishwashers, and we'll probably be looking at using our tax refund to buy one. I have to get a new tire (maybe more) for my truck, as it went flat. And speaking of: Kate had the Kia get a tune up when she got the oil changed.
On the social media front, I finally signed up for NextDoor – mainly to see what all the fuss was about, but also to keep updated on what's going on in the neighborhood. I also did another Fanfic Hotline TikTok, and started a new series I'm calling "Fangirling 101". I want to do more, but my spoon levels were EXTREMELY slow during the month.
In the health department, I worked out a whole 1 time during the month! But I weighed myself after and had actually lost some weight since the last time I had worked out, so ... yay? (And to clarify: I am trying to work on my fat-phobia, but I also know I could work out more.) I also had a mental health appointment scheduled, but they never sent me the telehealth information. I'm following up.
For Kate, she had another eye appointment and is looking good. I mentioned in my last update that Kate was having some bureaucracy stuff with her meds: that finally got resolved.
And then the main reason I had so little spoons this month. I have this colleague that was kind of a friend of mine in the early 2000s. I always considered her a 'younger more successful me', because she got involved in covering theatre when I was doing KC Stage, and she went to the same undergraduate school as me, but she was much more successful in finding writing-related jobs. While I hesitate to call her a friend because we barely interacted, we did interact on social media. She posted in early January that her husband died unexpectedly while sleeping. (Later we found out it was a heart attack.) Since I saw myself in her, this hit me much harder than I expected, especially as I am constantly in fear of the day Kate passes away. We both know it's more likely she'll go first: she's the one with the ongoing health issues, and working a job that's much more dangerous. And I just ... can't.
Additionally, a college theatre friend of mine passed away just last week. Mario Munoz was the epitome of 'sweet guy'. I've often joked about how I'm one of the rare women that 'turn gay men on': he was one of the reasons why. He and I safely flirted outrageously with each other (knowing I was never going to cheat on Kate) throughout college, and when he came out as gay, he actually told me I was one of the few exceptions. He attended our wedding, and caught the garter. He was one of the many people I was planning on catching up with when I finally had the ability to go back to Kansas City for a visit, and I am pissed. It was a liver issue, but it's a good bet he would've been fine had it not been for COVID overflowing hospitals and breaking the supply chain.
Additionally, the 21st was the 5th anniversary of my mom dying. My relationship with her was complicated to say the least, and she had been sick a long time so it wasn't a surprise when she passed, but I still find myself grieving from time to time.
So, most of January was just me clocking in to work, clocking out, watching TV or playing on my phone, and not much else.
Media I've Been Consuming:
Which of course means the media I've been consuming has been broad and many.
In television, I finished season 4 of Babylon 5 (probably my favorite) and started season 5 (probably my least favorite). We also started the new David Tennant-centered Around the World in 80 Days. We also caught the latest Doctor Who, and I finally am feeling like I'm loving this Doctor (just in time for her to leave, of course). I liked her well enough, but felt it was ... missing something. I also finally started The Librarians (and while I'm liking it, I'm having a hard time not doing the 'it's Warehouse 13 if they had the cast from Angel' thing).
We also finally caught up on Cobra Kai. This soap opera show deserves a post of its own, and is on my list of things I want to write about for my blog when I have the spoons. Speaking of TV shows I want to write more about, I saw that Galavant was on Hulu again, so did a re-watch (I BELIEVE IN TAD COOPER!) when things were really bad mentally speaking, and that helped a lot. We also started the new Fraggle Rock: we're only two episodes in, but I'm liking it so far. And of course my #MartinMadness means I found a way to catch Martin Freeman's The Responder, which was very good.
In terms of movies, there were a few new ones. My wife's Ryan Reynolds obsession means we caught The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard as well as R.I.P.D. We also finally watched Marvel's The Eternals (which I liked well enough) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (it wasn't bad). We did a re-watch of Bringing Up Baby, which I hadn't seen in years, and Kate had a hankering to re-watch Rising Sun.
And finally, in terms of 'not quite TV, not quite movies', we caught The Doubleclicks in an online concert, which was fun. We also watched PBS's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (with Alan Cumming: that man is so sexy). And I've been trying to catch up on my YouTube channels as well.
Summary
January was not a good month overall. And I try to remember both that others have it worse and that just because others have it worse doesn't mean I can't feel like I had a bad month. It's hard to keep my spirits up, and some days I just focus on getting through that day. Not much else I can do at this point.
Sorry for the downer note, but maybe next month will be better.
Not much new on the work front. Kate's work has been having issues due to COVID that I can't write about due to privacy concerns. Let's just say we're both very concerned about her health. I didn't have a whole lot on my work, although I had to help my boss run IT for an online class for four days, so that week was pretty much lost on anything else.
For projects, we got a new showerhead, new organizers for our spices (and medications), and new phones (the Galaxy Fold). I also bought used audio monitors from an audio contact, and Kate got a new chest for her dice, so we of course had to get dice bags for her to organize them. We also got new shoes (boots for her) and an earring tree. I've been doing more research on countertop dishwashers, and we'll probably be looking at using our tax refund to buy one. I have to get a new tire (maybe more) for my truck, as it went flat. And speaking of: Kate had the Kia get a tune up when she got the oil changed.
On the social media front, I finally signed up for NextDoor – mainly to see what all the fuss was about, but also to keep updated on what's going on in the neighborhood. I also did another Fanfic Hotline TikTok, and started a new series I'm calling "Fangirling 101". I want to do more, but my spoon levels were EXTREMELY slow during the month.
In the health department, I worked out a whole 1 time during the month! But I weighed myself after and had actually lost some weight since the last time I had worked out, so ... yay? (And to clarify: I am trying to work on my fat-phobia, but I also know I could work out more.) I also had a mental health appointment scheduled, but they never sent me the telehealth information. I'm following up.
For Kate, she had another eye appointment and is looking good. I mentioned in my last update that Kate was having some bureaucracy stuff with her meds: that finally got resolved.
And then the main reason I had so little spoons this month. I have this colleague that was kind of a friend of mine in the early 2000s. I always considered her a 'younger more successful me', because she got involved in covering theatre when I was doing KC Stage, and she went to the same undergraduate school as me, but she was much more successful in finding writing-related jobs. While I hesitate to call her a friend because we barely interacted, we did interact on social media. She posted in early January that her husband died unexpectedly while sleeping. (Later we found out it was a heart attack.) Since I saw myself in her, this hit me much harder than I expected, especially as I am constantly in fear of the day Kate passes away. We both know it's more likely she'll go first: she's the one with the ongoing health issues, and working a job that's much more dangerous. And I just ... can't.
Additionally, a college theatre friend of mine passed away just last week. Mario Munoz was the epitome of 'sweet guy'. I've often joked about how I'm one of the rare women that 'turn gay men on': he was one of the reasons why. He and I safely flirted outrageously with each other (knowing I was never going to cheat on Kate) throughout college, and when he came out as gay, he actually told me I was one of the few exceptions. He attended our wedding, and caught the garter. He was one of the many people I was planning on catching up with when I finally had the ability to go back to Kansas City for a visit, and I am pissed. It was a liver issue, but it's a good bet he would've been fine had it not been for COVID overflowing hospitals and breaking the supply chain.
Additionally, the 21st was the 5th anniversary of my mom dying. My relationship with her was complicated to say the least, and she had been sick a long time so it wasn't a surprise when she passed, but I still find myself grieving from time to time.
So, most of January was just me clocking in to work, clocking out, watching TV or playing on my phone, and not much else.
Media I've Been Consuming:
Which of course means the media I've been consuming has been broad and many.
In television, I finished season 4 of Babylon 5 (probably my favorite) and started season 5 (probably my least favorite). We also started the new David Tennant-centered Around the World in 80 Days. We also caught the latest Doctor Who, and I finally am feeling like I'm loving this Doctor (just in time for her to leave, of course). I liked her well enough, but felt it was ... missing something. I also finally started The Librarians (and while I'm liking it, I'm having a hard time not doing the 'it's Warehouse 13 if they had the cast from Angel' thing).
We also finally caught up on Cobra Kai. This soap opera show deserves a post of its own, and is on my list of things I want to write about for my blog when I have the spoons. Speaking of TV shows I want to write more about, I saw that Galavant was on Hulu again, so did a re-watch (I BELIEVE IN TAD COOPER!) when things were really bad mentally speaking, and that helped a lot. We also started the new Fraggle Rock: we're only two episodes in, but I'm liking it so far. And of course my #MartinMadness means I found a way to catch Martin Freeman's The Responder, which was very good.
In terms of movies, there were a few new ones. My wife's Ryan Reynolds obsession means we caught The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard as well as R.I.P.D. We also finally watched Marvel's The Eternals (which I liked well enough) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (it wasn't bad). We did a re-watch of Bringing Up Baby, which I hadn't seen in years, and Kate had a hankering to re-watch Rising Sun.
And finally, in terms of 'not quite TV, not quite movies', we caught The Doubleclicks in an online concert, which was fun. We also watched PBS's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (with Alan Cumming: that man is so sexy). And I've been trying to catch up on my YouTube channels as well.
Summary
January was not a good month overall. And I try to remember both that others have it worse and that just because others have it worse doesn't mean I can't feel like I had a bad month. It's hard to keep my spirits up, and some days I just focus on getting through that day. Not much else I can do at this point.
Sorry for the downer note, but maybe next month will be better.
