–I realized the Big Reason why I was so ill during Christmas and into New Year’s must be all of Anthony’s traveling. Solo parenting is rough, and extra rough when you have a barely-controlled chronic illness. If you add up all the time he’s been gone in the last three months it’s almost four weeks, total. I’ve been doing this on my own, essentially, for a month. I definitely would not have been able to do this before I started Humira, so that’s a blessing. As hard as it’s been–on both of us, because traveling for work isn’t at all easy for him, either–I don’t regret it, nor do I resent it. We are so grateful he has this job in a field he loves that has allowed us to stay in our area. Like good health days, I don’t take even a second of it for granted.
–Elias calls rain drops “rain pops,” and not just because the words sound similar. He will whisper “pop pop pop” as drops of rain quietly thump against our umbrellas, or lightly tap at our window. When I told Anthony he calls them “rain pops” he replied, “That sounds like an adorable thing you are going to encourage.” Why, yes indeed.
–Today the last day I have my oral Crohn’s medicine (I have to take two expensive meds to retain even a shaky quality of life), so I will probably start the new year with more rounds of steroids. I’m desperately trying to get all the paperwork with our new health insurance underway so I can start the process of Rx paperwork and pre-auths over again. It takes a lot of work to be sick. It takes a lot of work to take care of yourself just to reach a baseline level.
–I just realized that although I’ve always thought of myself as the opposite of high-maintenance, the paragraph above obviously proves otherwise.
–I’m going to participate in an anti-Trump march with my cane. Anthony said I should attach a sign to it. It will be more of a hobble than a march for me, and I’ll only be able to do a portion of length, but it feels good to get back to organizing.
–I wrote a poem about a glacier while I rocked the baby to sleep in the middle of the night. (We both had bad insomnia: he had a late and poorly-timed nap, I had anxiety about our political future).
–Either our scale died or I lost thirty pounds overnight.
–After Bush was re-elected, I slipped into a depression. After this election, I had a full-on emotional breakdown for a month. It hurts, its hard, but despite this we have work to do. And we have to work together with whoever shows up to pitch in. I don’t have to agree with someone on every issue as long as we can work together on specific issues that need protection. I think the opposition is counting on us being destroyed and distracted by infighting. We can be in different political parties and ideals and still cooperate on many issues. In fact, we have to. We have to.
–Next Halloween I’m wearing a fancy dress and five onions around my neck and say I’M THE LADY OF SHALLOTT! Then I expect to get stabbed.
–Sarah & Duck is very weird and very good. I have placed it firmly in the “Children’s shows I gladly let my children watch so I can watch it, too” category.
–We re-purchased Goat Simulator when we got our new Xbox so that Isi and I could play all the different versions as some new ones have come out. Our new favorite is Pay Day, which has missions, or “pranks” you can accomplish for money which can later be spent on masks for your character to wear. It’s perfect for Anthony, who has a hard time playing a game with literally no objective. Isobel and I aren’t experts at game play, but we are experts at making up our own mission objectives when none are provided.
- Anthony playing Goat Simulator: I need objectives.
- Me playing Goat Simulator: I’M GOING TO FIND A CAT AND MAKE IT MY BEST FRIEND AND NAME IT DEREK!
- Isobel playing Goat Simulator: I’M GOING TO TRY TO BLOW UP EVERY CAR!
–Anthony came home several hours early from his trip to Indiana. I knew he was coming home but let the kids think he wasn’t arriving until the evening, as usual. I dropped the kids off at my mom’s house, and after Anthony got home we drove over to get them together as a surprise. I didn’t even tell my parents, so that everyone would be genuinely surprised. I’ll never forget the look on Isobel’s face when she saw the two of us standing there. She paused an extra second, and I could practically see her brain trying to work out that it was, in fact, her Dad standing there before her. She launched herself into his arms and I heard her whisper, “holy shit!”
–While visiting my cousins, Sam put on all of his fancy clip-on ties at once and not only did he positively radiate confidence, but he got five job offers, too.
Snapshot 12.31.16. I own a log and buy groceries online. The excitement never ends!
Life List Update 2017. We need permission to let go of the past, and we need permission to wipe the slate clean and start again
This cat looks like it’s holding a tiny machine gun.
The dog filter on animals makes me happy.
Everyone still posting in-depth recaps of their 2016 and I’m just over here like…
I’m guessing y’all don’t have any bread.
Have you ever seen a headline and somehow knew it was describing your future?
Here is an actual demonstration of how I just bragged excitedly about my New Year’s Eve. Sounds great tbh
So I walk into the room to find my cat sitting on the bed watching tv by himself.
Just saw this ad on hemingwayslist.
I was going through my videos at work crying today. All is right for these ten seconds.
You can’t unsee Tedlexa, a TeddyRuxpin crossed with Alexa. Via Solar Power Spork
Those who don’t learn are doomed to repeat it.
This Sailor Scouts art is so dreamy.
Know your cephalopods! Adorable and informative!
We’re going where no other spacecraft has gone before! Learn about our two new asteroid science missions. I really hope we don’t blow ourselves up before then!!
Squirrel hides his nut in the fur of a Bernese Mountain dog.
Free Coloring Books from World-Class Libraries & Museums! Via Library as Incubator
Please turn on your phone in the museums. This is so great to see!
NASA’s favorite photos of the year will remind you there’s still good in the world.
The Rise of Healthy-ish. This is exactly how I strive to cook and eat, though I chuckled at the part about ‘a family-sized wheel of brie.’ Because, um. I’ve done that.
Thrifty Giving: Soup for You! Give the gift of soup.
DIY Flower Press. Dave’s Workshop smells like sawdust and Good ‘n Plenty.
