Brief roundup.
Good stuff:
- Family visit and roadtrip to Virginia was surprisingly low-drama and high-enjoyment. We somehow managed to avoid any contact with my sister's mother. Whitewater rafting ROCKS. Civil war history is very interesting. VA and West VA are gorgeous, lush country. I feel like I understand and appreciate the South more now.
- Evidence that my sister is moving toward a healthy independence from her vicious, crazy mother.
- Squid's birthday party was a blast. Plenty of spankings and other ridiculousness. He's delighted with his gifts of a ukulele and a vintage art deco coffee urn.
- Trousers has actually let me plan a birthday party for him! He only let me give him gifts for birthday and Xmas for the first time last year. It's Friday. It'll be very small and no birthday song or candles allowed, but it's good that he's agreed to be feted.
- I have a registration date for classes at City College.
- Squidz and I have tickets to go to Thailand in October. Not sure if I already posted about that.
Bad stuff:
- There was still some drama and dysfunction on the trip. My dad's current wife, while his sanest ever, is still cripplingly insecure and oversensitive and took several casual comments of mine as vicious criticism. At least she's quiet about it - I found out later from Dad. She's an indirect communicator, so I can't talk things over with her, but maybe my dad can facilitate better mutual understanding. I can't be bothered to feel too bad about it, since I'm as friendly and gentle as I can be already and because she won't talk about it. Also, hideous fast food garbage on the trip. I avoided as much as I could, but seeing my obese, very unhealthy stepmother and her obese 10-year-old son with his disturbingly large, ripe nipples pack away countless Big Macs and quarter pounders and drink constant soda pop is upsetting. They don't eat any different at home, either. Food was a topic to be avoided. However, both McDonald's and Burger King have pretty good fresh fruit snacks now.
- Bronchitis AGAIN. Third time this year, I think, plus a couple sinus infections. I've been on antibiotics for part of every month in 2009. Just when I think I'm getting well enough to get back to regular exercise and jujitsu, another respiratory infection. Joy. I've been convinced to try the neti pot. Promise to try it this week. Also digestive system is out of whack, probably due to eating garbage on the trip Back East. I don't feel good about my body right now.
- Am anxious about getting the algebra class I need when I register on July 17. If I can't get in, will try to find an online version someplace. I really need to get moving on the new career thing.
- Frustrated with my sister. We had a great visit with her, but she's back to ignoring my friendly FB postings/texts as well as the ones trying to plan her next visit. I really need her to take a step toward me. I want to spend quality time with her, and I'd like to do nice things for her, but I'm tired of extracting visit dates out of her at the last minute like pulling teeth. She needs to be more forthcoming. I would like her to search for her own flights, too.
I'm happy to pay for the flight and for everything when she's out here, but she's an adult now. I enjoy her trips, but she's not doing me a favor by visiting.
- Miss Tasty has been struggling with the Squid's casual dalliance with another chick. I know how she feels, and I'm relieved I'm able to see it for the not-a-big-deal it is. I realized I would be sad if Miss Tasty and the Squid broke up. I really like her, and she's a good thing in our lives. I hope it all works out in a friendly and healthy and positive way.
- Squid is going through a mid-life crisis, doing a lot of questioning, suffering a lot of anxiety as he faces mortality and What It All Means. I suppose it could go in the Good Stuff section too, since it'll result in growth, but for now I just worry about him and hope he's able to get to a more comfortable place soon. I see it for the solo journey it is, but I'm here if he needs me.
- Family visit and roadtrip to Virginia was surprisingly low-drama and high-enjoyment. We somehow managed to avoid any contact with my sister's mother. Whitewater rafting ROCKS. Civil war history is very interesting. VA and West VA are gorgeous, lush country. I feel like I understand and appreciate the South more now.
- Evidence that my sister is moving toward a healthy independence from her vicious, crazy mother.
- Squid's birthday party was a blast. Plenty of spankings and other ridiculousness. He's delighted with his gifts of a ukulele and a vintage art deco coffee urn.
- Trousers has actually let me plan a birthday party for him! He only let me give him gifts for birthday and Xmas for the first time last year. It's Friday. It'll be very small and no birthday song or candles allowed, but it's good that he's agreed to be feted.
- I have a registration date for classes at City College.
- Squidz and I have tickets to go to Thailand in October. Not sure if I already posted about that.
Bad stuff:
- There was still some drama and dysfunction on the trip. My dad's current wife, while his sanest ever, is still cripplingly insecure and oversensitive and took several casual comments of mine as vicious criticism. At least she's quiet about it - I found out later from Dad. She's an indirect communicator, so I can't talk things over with her, but maybe my dad can facilitate better mutual understanding. I can't be bothered to feel too bad about it, since I'm as friendly and gentle as I can be already and because she won't talk about it. Also, hideous fast food garbage on the trip. I avoided as much as I could, but seeing my obese, very unhealthy stepmother and her obese 10-year-old son with his disturbingly large, ripe nipples pack away countless Big Macs and quarter pounders and drink constant soda pop is upsetting. They don't eat any different at home, either. Food was a topic to be avoided. However, both McDonald's and Burger King have pretty good fresh fruit snacks now.
- Bronchitis AGAIN. Third time this year, I think, plus a couple sinus infections. I've been on antibiotics for part of every month in 2009. Just when I think I'm getting well enough to get back to regular exercise and jujitsu, another respiratory infection. Joy. I've been convinced to try the neti pot. Promise to try it this week. Also digestive system is out of whack, probably due to eating garbage on the trip Back East. I don't feel good about my body right now.
- Am anxious about getting the algebra class I need when I register on July 17. If I can't get in, will try to find an online version someplace. I really need to get moving on the new career thing.
- Frustrated with my sister. We had a great visit with her, but she's back to ignoring my friendly FB postings/texts as well as the ones trying to plan her next visit. I really need her to take a step toward me. I want to spend quality time with her, and I'd like to do nice things for her, but I'm tired of extracting visit dates out of her at the last minute like pulling teeth. She needs to be more forthcoming. I would like her to search for her own flights, too.
I'm happy to pay for the flight and for everything when she's out here, but she's an adult now. I enjoy her trips, but she's not doing me a favor by visiting.
- Miss Tasty has been struggling with the Squid's casual dalliance with another chick. I know how she feels, and I'm relieved I'm able to see it for the not-a-big-deal it is. I realized I would be sad if Miss Tasty and the Squid broke up. I really like her, and she's a good thing in our lives. I hope it all works out in a friendly and healthy and positive way.
- Squid is going through a mid-life crisis, doing a lot of questioning, suffering a lot of anxiety as he faces mortality and What It All Means. I suppose it could go in the Good Stuff section too, since it'll result in growth, but for now I just worry about him and hope he's able to get to a more comfortable place soon. I see it for the solo journey it is, but I'm here if he needs me.