The News-- Because I'm Too Far Behind On This Blog

I’m so far behind in my own journal here, it’s hard to imagine catching up!

In better news, my new approach to work on my book is succeeding, and I’m actually making some real progress at long last! I’m just sorting and doing my first editing sweep this pass, and then I’ll work on the specific childhood abduction book once I know the sum total of the material I have for it. I really worked to get hypnosis to pad that puppy out, too! But until I can see it all there, I don’t know if I have enough for three books on abductions, or just two. I guess I’ll find out. Then I’ll stop panicking over the details so early in the writing.

Robin may or may not be here this week to join us for a couple of months. We spoke on a conference call with her, Cat, and myself on Sunday to finalize plans, and she hasn’t been on her phone for a full day, so maybe she’s en route. Again, I’ll know soon enough.

My sister had a second mammogram, and it was confirmed she had multiple, small “lumps” that they need to do a biopsy for. They weren’t there two years ago when Erica had her last mammogram check-up, so whatever is there is small, and it’s early, so I’m not too worried. I would just like to be able to be with her for any serious surgeries, or even the biopsy, but I don’t know if I can line things up to be down south in time.

Amara has finally beaten the respiratory illness that kicked her butt for well over a month. She keeps over-working herself and that just bites her in the ass. Anyway, she’s ready to start participating in Sabbats again and will join us for Ostara in a week and a half. I’m hoping to get some things nailed down with her regarding my visiting Portland and dealing with a couple of issues with my sister, both financial and medical.

My cousin Lisa had her lumpectomy, and it’s cancer, but it’s “Stage 0″ because it’s so early. It doesn’t appear anything further is needed– but who can say? Treating breast cancer is a money spinner, so it’s easily possible she’ll be roped into destroying her immune system with radiation and/or chemotherapy, even when it’s not warranted. Not my circus, not my monkey.

Mike got his latest book’s audio version done with a voice actor, and the funding campaign to pay for it went through okay, so it’s full steam ahead! The only small problem is that Mike didn’t account for 10% of the money to go to Kickstarter’s part of the cut, so he was actually a little bit behind in the funding. (Rookie mistake!) However, he’s figured out how to make up the difference (hello, credit cards!) and so that’s that.

Reese & Sleep were three months behind on their rent, but they got their Oregon kicker check (all unspent state taxes must be refunded in that state by law) and they got signed up to a rental relief program that will pay two months rent. This means they can catch up all their back rent and still be okay. I called to tell them they could bunk with us if they got evicted, but they had a plan in place already so we didn’t need to catch them. Which is great! I’m glad something got figured out. Reese is able to work again, and Sleep’s hoping the warmer weather means he’ll have more work coming in for his home inspection career.

Cat’s doing fine. Better than anyone, honestly. She hasn’t seen a doctor in person in far too fucking long, but other than that, she’s fine. We’re figuring out how to get her to lower the electric bill, and that’s started to work, and if Robin makes it here, she’ll have better padding on her finances and so won’t be bitching to me as much about everything.

She worked from home today like every Wednesday, which makes Wednesday my least favorite day of the week. She interrupted me twice already when I was trying to get some things taken care of (like filling forms to renew my food stamps for the year) and then she talks about how she’s bothering me, so then I feel guilty for wishing she wasn’t there and I end up soothing her when she’s the problem!  ~ rolling eyes ~

Right now, she won’t leave me alone about whether Robin is coming today or not. Robin hasn’t looked at her phone for messages in 24 hours straight, so I suspect that means she’s been en route to her daughter’s, and then maybe she’s on her way here today. But I don’t know. Both Cat and my sister Erica, being autistic, tend to ask and re-ask about plans and when something’s gonna happen (like a visit) but since I’m not in charge of another person’s behavior, I can’t give adequate reassurances. They’re like the kids in the car asking “Are we there yet?” who never grew out of that type of habit. So I’m being driven crazy by the asking. I finally told Erica to stop asking when I’ll be there, I’ll tell her when I can make it. I had to tell Cat that I can’t make Robin check her messages and message me back. I want to scream, “BACK OFF!” but I know that won’t help. So I’m stating it plainly, “I can’t answer that question. Stop asking it. I will tell you when I have news. I’m not going to forget.” ~ head desk ~

Some days I can deal with my anxiety, other days… not so much!

Maintaining sanity in the face of exhaustion is tough, but I’m working on it.