December 2023

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Whew! Didn’t this year just fly by?!

For the last five years, we’ve had a snowstorm the first week of October, every single year. This year, it waited until almost the end of October before it started snowing. Yet, somehow, winter still snuck up on me. I have SO much left to do! We winterized the camper and removed all the freezable goods, but it didn’t get it cleaned and mouse-proofed until about two days ago!!!

We did get the fish removed from the pond before the first snow. We ended up giving many of them to Petco because most of the babies seem to have survived this year (or were replaced by new babies?). I think the count this year was 23 or 24 fish that we pulled out of the pond. We kept 8 (three of which are the OGs from when we started the new pond here at the new house). We are trying to keep life a little simpler these days, and maintaining 20+ fish indoors over winter is NOT simple! We did it last year, but I wasn’t going to do it again.

Our first snowfall has, surprisingly, melted away after a week or two, and we haven’t had any snow stick around since. Even though there is no snow now, I am sure we will have more snow before Christmas. We always do.

On the writing front . . .

I’ve been working on a short story for several months, and I had hoped to have it ready for submission by the end of the year, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. I’ve been working on it just a little here and there, but it’s grown to around 10K words (so far). The problem is, since this one has been very off-the-cuff and casual, I’m not sure how to end it. I have to get the ending figured out and written before I can start editing (10K is WAAAY too long for a short story from me)!

I have a couple of other short stories I’d like to start on, but I’m holding off on them until I can get this one finished. I think one of the areas where I run into problems is with abandoned stories: I start start a story, get a new idea and start that story, but then I never go back to finish the first story; and while I’m working on the second story, I get a new idea and start that a third story, but I never go back and finish the second story . . . 😁.

So this time, I’m going to try and give this one a little more time and not start anything else. Within reason, of course. There will come a point where, if I haven’t made any forward progress with this story, I WILL need to move on. Otherwise, I’ll just never write again while I wait for some amazing ending for this story to magically appear.

Also, I’m signed up to take part in the Stafford Challenge. More information can be found here: The Stafford Challenge, but the short version is that the challenge is to write a poem a day. While we all know I’m NEVER going to be able to write a poem a day, it’s a reminder to get creative (with words) every day. I’m not a poet, so for me, writing a poem is just a fun, no-pressure creative exercise. I will try to write a haiku, or a limerick, or just something short (again, not a poet). They will likely suck, but that’s okay, because it’s supposed to be just for fun!

As I write this, I’m studying for the final for my current university class. I tell you, I have NEVER been so happy to be almost done with a class! It has really made me re-think my minor; I’m not certain that I’m finding the subject matter as interesting as I anticipated, lol.

One of the more unpleasant assignments of this semester was a video assignment. We were assigned the task of creating a ten-minute video presentation on the general topic of AI. That, on it’s face, isn’t so bad. I enjoy the topic, and I picked to discuss AI in the writing and publishing industry. A ten minute presentation means around 2000 words. Still very much in my wheelhouse and enjoyable.

The problem arises with the purpose and format of the video. The video has to include the upper body of the speaker while giving the presentation. It can’t be all voice-over PowerPoint slides, because the point of the assignment is to evaluate our speaking style. According to the professor, this assignment is by the directive of the Dean of the College of Business. I don’t understand the rationale behind it. Why would there be an on-going public speaking directive in the college of business (public speaking 101 is already a general studies requirement for most majors, as far as I know)? I’m a communication major, and I have no continuing public speaking requirement beyond that 101 class! I just don’t get it, and I don’t like it. AND, it makes me wonder if ALL the classes that I take in the college of business will have this kind of video assignment! I certainly hope not, because I don’t feel like doing this for every single class!

Speaking of classes, I’ve registered for my class for next semester: web development. This falls under the information systems minor. I’m happy to say that course materials are already listed for the class (some professors wait until the very last minute), and they are actual textbooks! Surprising, since this is a tech course, but a good surprise. I am not a fan of the online platform stuff (like my current class). For the online platform stuff that seems to be growing in popularity, you “buy” a four-month subscription. The textbook is online (sacrilege; I like to keep my textbooks), and you often have tests, exams, and assignments all online, pre-made by the platform. Though it is definitely structured and well-ordered, I don’t care for it. I REALLY don’t care for how the exams work. You download a proctoring program that monitors you while you take the exam. Yuck.

However, all is not happy in upcoming class land, lol. The course materials for my class lists two textbooks and the instructions to, “Pick 1.” WHAT? Cue high anxiety. You know what this means, right? I’ll be buying both textbooks, just to cover all my bases and to quell my anxiety. Wonderful. Oh, well. I did say I like to keep my textbooks, right? Well, now I’ll have two 😉.

Also, I did some checking on the computer science major to see if it’s an option. It looks like I’ve completed the math requirements (yay). I do still have to complete the electrical engineering requirement. However, they now offer it online. BUT, it has a lab component that has to be taken concurrently. That’s not a big deal for the employee benefit; we are allowed three classes a year, and I’ve stopped taking summer classes, so I haven’t been using that third freebie. But two classes at once? That’s pretty intimidating. It’s not like I’m not swamped enough already. I’m keeping the option open. We will see how this class goes, and I might go for it. I will probably wait until next Spring, though. Camping season continues during fall semester, so I don’t think I want to be camping AND taking two classes.

I also checked my requirements: I have four classes left for my communication major and four (three after spring semester) for my information systems minor, if that’s the path I choose. For the info systems, the four consists of two required classes related to databases and two electives (one of which is my web development class). For the communication major, I have two electives, the capstone class, and the “experience” component. The English dept capstone was good, but I don’t know what the communication department capstone looks like. Also, I am REALLY hung up on that experience thing. I just don’t know if I’m going to be able to figure that one out.

This month’s playlist. Links to the ten songs I’ve been listening to on repeat:

This month, I have a rant: people parking on the blue hash marks beside handicap parking spots.

In this picture, the parking spots and access areas are pretty clear. However, in the area where I live, very few lots include the “no parking” text. Most just have the blue striping. This is a problem. Apparently, a lot of people, even those with handicap permits, don’t realize what the blue striping is for. It’s to leave room for access: removing wheelchairs or mobility devices from vehicles, moving wheelchairs and mobility devices through the parking lot, etc.

Yet, every time I enter a parking lot, there’s usually a car parked ON the blue striping. And no, I don’t mean there’s a car parked in the parking spot and slightly over the striping, I mean parked ON the striping. In the photo above, there would be three cars parked in that area, not two.

Hubby has a broken foot on one leg and a failing ankle replacement on the other, so any time he’s in the car, we use a handicap permit. Though he doesn’t have a wheelchair, he has had to use a scooter and crutches in the past. Even when he’s not using a mobility device, he needs the extra room of the hash marks so he can open the door wide and focus on getting himself out (he has to turn his whole body and swing both legs out in order to get out) rather than worrying about holding the door.

Recently, I almost got into an accident because of the striping. I was parked in front of a convenience store that had a single handicap spot. My spot was like the left-side spot in the picture above, with the striping on the passenger side of the car. Remember, in my case, there was no right-hand handicap spot. As I started backing out of my spot, a car came flying in and almost clipped me. Why? Because he or she was aiming for/focused on getting parked on the striping (and must have been in a hurry, because they were going way too fast for a busy parking lot, but that’s a whole ‘nother issue). Then the person paused and acted like *I* was the problem for backing out and preventing them from getting into their (nonexistant) parking spot!

So please, don’t park on the stripes. That’s not what they are for! End rant, lol.

Since it is the end of the year, it’s time to revisit the goals, check on progress, and make adjustments for next year.

Physical: My strength-training program has been hit and miss, for sure, but I’m doing really good on the walking part of things. I do a minimum of two miles per day at least three times a week. Next year’s goal will be to maintain the “two miles at least three times a week” walking program, but also to get more consistent with the strength-training side of things.

Emotional: I’ve done pretty well with this one over the past year, too. One thing that’s really helped make life smoother is the “managing expectations” philosophy. It’s where I communicate what I need, what I’m going to do, and what I’m capable of giving to others in all aspects of my life, including at work. I’m going to keep working at that.

And the visual art has helped, too. It’s really very meditative for me and keeps me emotionally balanced. I’ve got my Udemy and Domestika subscriptions, and I’m going to keep doing art for my mental and emotional health.

Social: Hubby and I are doing a pretty good job of spending mindful time together. We will definitely have to keep working at it, though, because it becomes more difficult in the winter months (we’ve been going to a lot of shows and concerts, but I don’t like to travel out-of-town in winter). We plan to keep this goal as it seems to work well.

On the friend front, this is definitely an area where I have to be very intentional and work at it. It’s very easy to fall in a rut and neglect the friends you value, especially when you don’t work together anymore! So, I plan on being very proactive and staying in touch with valued friends.

Spiritual: Eh. This one I haven’t done too great on. It’s definitely important, so I’m still not satisfied with my level of meeting this goal. Again, winter is going to be hard. But, I did find a link that includes some pagan winter crafts. So, maybe I will set myself a goal of trying at least two of those winter crafts. I’ll also keep the old metric of at least celebrating the four major celebrations (equinoxes and solstices).

Intellectual: I’m continuing on with my college classes and classes through Udemy and Skill Success. Frankly, of all my goals, this is the easiest to keep! 😂 This goal will continue as usual.

Financial: I’ve watched the show Sister Wives for years, and this year, they made me stop and think. For those unfamiliar with the show, it follows the lives of the polygamist Cody Brown family. The family consisted of Cody and his three, then four, wives. However, the polygamy has fallen apart the last few years. The problem is the fourth wife, lol. Cody married his three wives in a sort of planning way . . . the fourth wife, Robyn, turned out to be his soulmate, which made it clear to him that the commitments to his other wives were obligations . . . and he discovered he liked true love more. So now the family is falling apart.

What is interesting is how this experience varies for the wives. I don’t mean emotionally; they are all pretty disappointed and hurt. I’m talking financially, especially for moving on with their new lives. Some wives are sitting pretty, while others are majorly screwed over. One wife has TWO businesses and multiple real estate holdings. One wife has no home, only an RV.

That got me to thinking about my own future. While there’s no looming divorce in my future, lol, the sad fact is, wives often outlive their husbands. So I’ve been making some small changes to ensure that my own financial future is protected. So I’ve added that as an ongoing goal: as morbid and unpleasant as it is, I have to be mindful of all potential future financial situations, and plan for it.

Environmental: Though I’ve made several small adjustments to the house (like re-doing the bedroom), the change with the biggest impact was turning the downstairs family room into an art studio. It actually changed the whole “vibe” of the lower level. Before, it was a sort of unused, dusty space. Now it seems brighter and more lively, even though light levels, paint, etc. weren’t changed. The only difference is that the space is now lived in and now has lots of art on the walls.

I really don’t have any ideas for improving the home front for this goal, so I will focus on the other part of it (which, because i am Pagan, I often categorize it under spiritual rather than environmental): enjoying outdoors/nature more. Come to think of it, this also fits under emotional well-being, as well. And it can count for physical, as it often involves walks in nature. So, if i just get outdoors more, I can check several categories off my list, lol.

I think at one point, I set a goal of something like, “get outdoors at least 10 minutes a day, even in winter.” And I know that I tried doing “a photo a day” in order to force myself to get outside and take a picture either day. Neither one lasted long!

But I will keep general goal going forward: spend more time outside/try to get outside for at least a few minutes, every day.

Occupational: My day job is going great. Though I miss my miss, I do enjoy the work I’m going now, and I enjoy the work-life balance that hybrid work gives me. I just hope hybrid work will continue even after the new vice-president takes over. There’s always a bit of anxiety when there’s someone new in charge, but how much things will change remains to be seen.

The part of my occupational life that needs the most work is, of course, the writing part. I’ve made progress, but there is still a long way to go. I’m going to set a small, manageable goal: next year, I want to have two brand new short stories ready to submit. That’s one more than this year…I think. Though I haven’t checked my notes, I’m pretty sure I’ve only submitted one brand new short story this year. I’ve started six or seven, and even finished a first draft of one or two, but I have only gotten one story through the whole process right down to submitting it. Next year, I want to double that, lol.

That’s it for this month. Until next month, Stay Spooky!