Goals End of Year Review 2015

To answer question #2 from the previous entry:

1. Family
At the beginning of 2015, I was very frank with Brian, and more importantly very honest with myself, regarding pregnancy. I was 45 until August, and I had to admit to myself that the likelihood of me becoming pregnant was almost nil. My body wasn’t cooperating (I may be premenopausal already), and quite frankly, I don’t blame it for the way I’ve treated it over the years (see #2). Besides, Brian and I not only have each other, but we have the five furkids and Prince Mekhi, our son-by-love. When we married in 1991, our wedding announcement in the paper said that “the couple are planning many children.” We didn’t realize that our children would be four-footed or someone else’s biological child. I recently explained to Mekhi what a blessing he is in our life.

2016:
Brian and I will celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary this year, or as we the geeks like to put it: our Mithril Anniversary. Brian and I want a big party, and then I want a second honeymoon because our first honeymoon was one day at Great America. Maybe in Door County, Wisconsin, or a resort/spa on Green Lake, also in Wisconsin. The issue with these plans are financial (see #3).

On a regular basis, I’d like to re-establish game nights with Brian and/or Mekhi, and movie nights with just Brian (Okay, movie nights with Mekhi, too.). Netflix sent us The Descendants back in February, and we still have yet to watch it, making it a very expensive rental. I know Brian will want to attend some concerts, movies, and festivals, but I’ll deal with that under #6.

2. Health
2015 has been yet another year of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell regarding my weight, and even Brian’s. We are the heaviest we’ve ever been, having not only gained back all the weight we lost in 2012, but adding way to much more. I bought some new clothes in 4X, and I don’t even know Brian’s size any more. My arms are so fat (batwings/arm flab run in my family), I no longer can donate blood because the blood pressure cuffs used by the Red Cross no longer fit. Just looking up when this occurred, it was in November of 2014 that I found this out.

On the good side, because I gave up trying to get pregnant, my doctor could prescribe different medication to treat blood pressure, as well as finally taking medication again to treat my high blood cholesterol. Meds for the latter are considered Class X, and should not be taken while pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Another good piece of news was the fact that I do not have the PALB2 gene that runs in my family, along with the predisposition for breast cancer. Thus my risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is the same as the average woman: about 13%.

2016:
I bought a wrist BP cuff, which I have used, and an extra-large arm cuff, which I’ve yet to use. In the new year, I’ll be using both of these more often.

We own a PS2, a PS3, and a PS4 (which Brian needs to set up during our staycation this week). We also own several exercise games for these consoles. Now we just need to use them.

We did take Nina and Nibbler to the Dog Park in Sun Prairie a few times because our dogs need to lose weight, too. We need to do this more often in 2016. He!!, just walking on a regular basis would be a good thing.

Brian and I were talking about meal planning for the future to eat better and save money (see #3), but we’ve tried this in the past without success. So we figured the best thing to do is to clean out our cupboards, and start by planning meals around what we have.

3. Finances
Robert Reich is spot on correct in his videos for Move On.org in which he advocates raising the minimum wage among other progressive financial moves that need to be done to improve the US economy. Unfortunately The Wanker is listening to other idiots at the opposite of the politico-economic scale. Thus, Brian and I are actually making less money than we were when that jerk was first elected. Brian is next in line for a raise at work, when they can give them again (maybe after 2018 if that @$$h0!e doesn’t run again). I keep applying for better paying jobs with no luck.

When the garage and the main bathroom in our house needed roof repairs, we had to go to the Bank of Dad (Brian’s Dad, that is), and that was a horrible situation. We already borrowed our home equity to buy a new (used) caravan, so our only other option was to dig into our retirement fund. Fortunately Dad helped us after some hard feelings and words.

2016:
I already mentioned the big party and vacation I want for our anniversary. Brian also wants to go back to Gen Con, as well as attend Tesla Con, in 2016. I think the only way we’re going to afford all is to go through some of the “stuff” we have, determine what we’re willing to part with, and if it’s worth something, sell it. I’ve yet to present this idea to Brian, so I’ll keep you informed how that goes. I still keep buying lottery tickets, but winning is about as feasible as getting a raise from the Wanker Administration.

4. Creativity
At the beginning of 2015, I was determined to make this year the year that I finally write the next draft of Hirapis I. I completed my volunteer work for Odyssey Con, including instructions on how to do the things that I did, then I resigned from the ConCom as well as the OC Board. Then I completed a lot of the prep work for my last adventure/module in my Ptolus/D&D campaign. I hoped that by clearing my calendar of these, I could spend more time on my novel series.

WRONG!

Thanks to the Wanker, I received another “notice of at-risk for layoff” letter – my second one in my twenty-two years of state service. What time I had freed up was spent trying to find a better job. I did have a few interviews, but no offers. The good news is that enough people in my department retired or resigned, so I didn’t lose my job – yet.

Then came November and NaNoWriMo. I actually started off quite well and wrote 12,135 words. Then I slacked off with some computer games, actual work to do at the Day Job, and the need to find a new auto insurer because our insurer of over twenty-five years decided we were too high risk.

Don’t ask about my websites or any other creative venture. Hirapis was supposed to be my priority, and I already mentioned how much work I did on that.

2016:
My plan for NaNoWriMo was to mine and update the previous drafts to create a nice word count. Unfortunately (as is the case with most of my life’s endeavors) I didn’t follow through. So, that’s the plan for 2016: follow through. Hirapis is going to be my highest creative priority.

If I get the next draft of Hirapis done, then I will work on crafts and my websites.

5. To Do List
Looking on my improved method for the Infinite Master To Do List, most of the items are checked off.

2016:
However, I can do better, and I have a plan for doing more in 2016. See #7.

6. Events
I went to La Crosse and Minnesota for milestone birthday parties. Visited my in-laws and had dinner with my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN a few times each. Brian and I took the puppies to the Bark Park, sometimes with Mekhi. We also went to events for Mekhi at school or at Kicks Unlimited – where he’s learning American Tae Kwon Do.

We didn’t go to Summerfest or the Packers Shareholders Meeting, or other events like that, but we would like to do so again in 2016.

2016:
Big events are planned for the residents of Castle Curley in 2016: our Mithril Anniversary party; Gen Con; Tesla Con, etc. Plus, one of my dearest friends hits the big 5-0 late in the year, and I want to conspire with her best friend to surprise her in a very good way. Plus, we’d like to go back to the Wisconsin State Fair, as well as go back to Summerfest in 2016.

7. House
The house that is Castle Curley is almost a perennial problem as the weight of the denizens of the happiest home on the planet. As happy as we are here, the place is also one of the messiest. While Brian and I don’t fit the technical definition of hoarders, the house is a prime example of CHAOS: Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Every weekend, and especially the extended weekends, I have a to do list that is, well, infinite. A billboard on the way into Sun Prairie urged me to “Reclaim Your Weekend” by hiring whatever cleaning company advertised on said board. The problem at Castle Curley isn’t just the mess; it’s the clutter.

Fixing up the house the way we wanted to also is out of the question. See #2: having to borrow money from the Bank of Dad. At the time, Brian explained that when we bought the house ten years ago, we had certain expectations that our income would increase. Now we have a realistic understanding of 21st Century American Economics. The short version (too late) is that we cannot afford to do any of the major renovations we had in mind for the past ten years.

2016:
The priority for the house in 2016 is the Castle Curley Home Organization and Improvements List. On Monday (the 28th) of our end of the year Staycation, during one of the few incidents of the two of us having an argument, Brian and I argued over the number two item that we argue about: housework (Unlike most married couples, we rarely argue about money because our income is such a pittance that it’s not worth an argument. Our #1 “argument” is who got the better deal in our marriage. He thinks it’s him; I know it’s me.).

Back in November, inspired by the hideous time management seminar at my Day Job Statewide Training, I decided that I needed better organization in my life at home and at work. I spent a fair amount of time in November and December at the Day Job taking care of stacks that had piled up in my cubicle(s – I have what I call an “overflow cubicle” for files; a colleague refers to his as an annex), which included sending twenty-seven boxes of files back to the State Record Center, and dealing with some scanning requests made back in December 2014.

For the home organization, I decided that it’s going to take much longer, so I created a list of “areas” or “zones” to tackle, such as the Cleaning Supplies Closet or each of the two junk drawers in the kitchen or the secretary in the foyer or my craft table, work desk, and other areas in my home office. During the argument on Monday, I presented a preliminary proposal of this plan to Brian, and he agreed that it needs to be done. Again, the key will be the follow-through.

8. Delazan Enterprises (if)
The reason why DE was classified as an if for 2015 was that I would get to it if I completed the next draft of Hirapis I. Well, as you read in #4, that didn’t happen, so neither did any work for Delazan Enterprises.

2016:
DE will be an if in 2016 also; however, I may make it more of a priority to help pay for events that are desired in 2016. See above for more details.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

“An optimist says it’s going to be a sunny day; a pessimist says it’s going to rain; a realist brings an umbrella just in case, and I keep a small umbrella in my book bag.” – LAC

Lori’s Year In Review: 2015

When I started blogging in 2004, someone posted this meme. I’ve answered the same questions for over ten years now, and I like to keep up the tradition.

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?
Said no to volunteering for something.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions (NYR), and will you make more for next year?
I refer to NYRs as the Infinite Master To Do List, and yes, I made them. See the next blog entry for an accounting of what I’ve achieved in 2015, and what I hope to achieve in 2016.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Surprisingly, no. Nor has anyone announced a pregnancy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Uncle Bill, one of my mother’s five brothers, succumbed to cancer. When Brian and I were on our honeymoon at Great America, we ran into Uncle Bill and his wife, Aunt Kay (they live in Illinois, but we try not to hold that against them).

5. What states or countries did you visit?
Illinois to visit the zoo that was the Ikea warehouse store on a Sunday afternoon. Minnesota for a friend’s 50th birthday party.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
More money; a better governor and legislature; a better paying job.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Monday, July 13, 2015, my 24th wedding anniversary with the World’s Greatest Husband. We made each other cry with memories of our wedding day. Then at Parthenon on State Street, we had fun watching our son-by-love Prince Mekhi eat his first gyro ever.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Wrapping up some volunteer work I did for a convention, then resigning from its ConCom and Executive Board.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing Hirapis I, Draft III

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Clinical Depression will be challenges for the rest of my life, as will the epilepsy and hypertension. I pulled a muscle in my back in May and November, and I really need to strengthen my core so that my back muscles don’t do that anymore.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
So far, a new thin wallet from American Science and Surplus in Milwaukee and the R2D2 flare dress and the Twin Suns of Tatooine shift dress from Think Geek. Plus a new (used) Grand Caravan.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Bernie Sanders, Russ Feingold, and Alan Grayson: all announcing their candidacies for 2016, and I hope they all win.

13. Whose behavior made you:
Appalled? The State of Wisconsin Legislature for trampling over worker and voter rights, and the Wanker for signing it into law. (Right to work (for less); dismantling the Government Accountability Board, etc.)
Depressed? Same, but for writing my job out of the budget (for the second time in my 22+ state civil service career).

14. Where did most of your money go?
I don’t know; the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation keeps lousy records.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
At the moment, I cannot think of anything. Not even Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (I am cautiously optimistic about Disney films.) Isn’t that sad?

16. What song will always remind you of 2015?
After the Super Bowl commercials came out, Brian confused the 2014 Bud commercial “Puppy Love” song “Let Her Go” by Passenger with “Let it Go”, the Oscar-winning song from Disney’s Frozen. Knowing that the Academy Award for Best Original Song cannot go to a cover, I googled both songs and finally listened to the Idina Menzel video. I was hooked. Since then, I also purchased Frozen on Blu-Ray.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
  a) happier or sadder? I have moments of both. As I’m typing this in December, I feel sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, unfortunately. I’m now up to 4X.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer due to no significant raise despite a higher cost of living.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing Draft III of Hirapis I.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Hating my job

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
 Eve: With Prince Mekhi, then (hopefully) the World’s Greatest In-Laws (mine!);
Day: With the World’s Greatest Husband (mine!) and our critters; Brian and I also will go see The Force Awakens at the local cinema.
Boxing Day/my late mother’s birthday: with my siblings and their families (my one holiday concession to my side of the family) because my brother Tom actually got his arse in gear to plan it (I refuse to do so).

21. With whom did you spend the most time on the phone?
Brian: the Great Love of my Life.

22. Did you fall in love in 2015?
Been in love with the same guy since 1989, and every day I love him more. Many days I truly am surprised that he still puts up with me. He still thinks he got the better end of the marriage deal; I know that I did. Seriously, that is one of the “fiercest arguments” in our marriage. ;}

23. How many one-night stands?
Because I am monogamous in my marriage, I only have one night stands in my dreams and with the strangest people/fictional characters. See #35 for this year’s details.

24. What are your favorite TV program(s)?
The Big Bang Theory which keeps getting better and better. I also have a soft spot for TV shows based on Marvel and DC comics.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Is there anyone on the planet with half-a-brain who doesn’t hate Donald Trump?

26. What was the best book you read this year?
I finally read The Hunger Games trilogy, and it was very, very good.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Imagine Dragons sophomore album Smoke + Mirrors is beautiful.

28. What did you want and get?
More Munchkin paraphernalia, a couple of great dresses and other fun sundries from Think Geek.com

29. What did you want and not get?
A better job, or at least a decent raise (ain’t gonna happen in this administration). A winning lottery ticket for the jackpot.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
So far, probably The Hunger Games film series, though I’ve yet to see the final segment. The movies were impressively close to the books. Again, I have yet to see SW VII, and I thought Avengers: Age of Ultron was pretty good. Unfortunately with Joss Whedon at the helm, I spent the movie wondering which major character was going to die.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Brian was afraid that he couldn’t top my birthday Packer game in 2014, and I honestly told him he didn’t have to. I do not expect something special for my birthday, Mother’s Day, etc. every year. Every few years, or at least once a decade for something special, and I’m ecstatic. Quite frankly, unless the Packers play at Lambeau Field on my birthday again, the WGH doesn’t have to do anything extraordinary for my birthday until I turn fifty.
See my journal entry for the day. I turned 28 for the nineteenth time.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A finished novel, but that’s my own fault.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?
I stopped wearing the color scheme day of the week that I did in years prior. Now I have enough clothes that I don’t have to wear the same five outfits every week. I also bought a couple of dresses from Think Geek’s Star Wars line. I need to buy some palazzo pants or have some made by my seamstress/sister-in-law Donna.

34. What kept you sane?
What is this “sanity” that you talk about? Although the WGH, the critters, Prince Mekhi, my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN, and especially the psychotropics do help.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Many people have their “List of Three”: the three celebrities your spouse would have to be okay with if you ever got the chance. My list is actually three and two: three single men: Clay Matthews, III, J. J. Watt (yes, both defensive gridiron football players), and Liam Neeson; and two married celebrities: Mark Hamill and Chris Hemsworth. Yeah, like I have a chance with any of them.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Any legislation that provides electoral reform in the United States.

37. Whom did you miss?
My parents, my Auntie Clare, my late cats.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Dana D.: an HR person at DNR who held my hand and soothed my nerves when I was given my at-risk-for-layoff notice.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015:
Being there for someone is not as difficult as it sounds, and the rewards are worth far more than the challenge. You may feel like it’s hard or impossible to comfort someone who is going through depression or frustration or whatever; You may feel like your words are meaningless tripe; however, just the fact that you are there makes an universe of a difference in that person’s life.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
 It’s funny how some distance
 Makes everything seem small
 And the fears that once controlled me
 Can’t get to me at all
 It’s time to see what I can do
 To test the limits and break through
 No right, no wrong, no rules for me
 I’m free!
“Let It Go” by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez from the Disney movie Frozen

—–
First Blog Titles Month by Month 2015:
January: New Blog, New Goals
February: Prince Mekhi
March: Holidays at Castle Curley…
April: Due to being busy at both the Day Job and Odyssey Con, I wrote no journal entries in April 2015.
May: Finally Two Stores That Get Me as a Female Shopper
June: Party Planning
July: 24 Years Ago
August: Fricking Fabulous
September: Riddle me this…
October: Good News: I’m Average!
November: Thanksgiving was Damn Near Perfect
December: Rubbing Nina’s Bentley…

Blessed Be,
-Lori

“This year has just been overwhelming depression with showers of kitten.” – R. K. Milholland
“…and puppy.” – Lori

IMTDL

Some would call them goals or New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve been setting them for years, and I even achieved a few, such as completing my bachelor’s degree (thirteen years after graduating from high school) and buying a big house. Now I simply refer to these as the Infinite Master To Do List (IMTDL).

You will recall that I posted an extensive list of goals in my first Word Press entry, as well as a “progress report” of sorts in my Annual Review post in my private journal. Yesterday, I checked a lot of items off the IMTDL:

• Paid bills, including the Costco annual membership fee and the U. S. Cellular additional fees from buying new phones last month.
• Called DirecTV’s customer retention and asked for the NFL’s Red Zone Channel. It should be up by game time on Sunday.
• Sent my siblings an e-mail about my son Mekhi’s school fundraiser. (If you wish to donate money, please let me know.)
• Also arranged to attend the school’s Fall Family Night with Brian and Mom #1.
• Contacted the landscaper to schedule getting rid of the detritus around our house and garage.
• Contacted the contractor, who contacted the roofer, and scheduled repairs of the bathroom roof and the garage roof.
• Contacted my D&D group about the games in October.
• Put our Badger tickets on StubHub because we won’t be able to attend Saturday’s game.
• Bought a math workbook for Mekhi to do as homework, per his teacher’s suggestion (and after I cleared it with Brian, of course).
• Checked my lottery numbers; didn’t win, but I sent in tickets for the second chance drawing.
• Ordered a book from Scholastic’s book club for Mekhi, just like I used to order when I was his age.
• Printed my blog entries to date for the year (I like to keep print copies just in case).
• Searched for a new job and applied for four jobs on campus.
• Worked on the shopping list, which includes lists for groceries, Target, Costco, and Farm & Fleet.
• Scheduled the DVR to record both the Badger and Packer games this weekend.
• Picked up books I had on hold at the library.
• Attended the Fall Family Night at Mekhi’s school to learn more about what he’s learning (and it’s awesome!). Mom #1 didn’t make it.
• Put another load of clothes in the washing machine.
• Scanned in medicine refills to our local Walgreens.

And I still have more crap to do today.

I can haz nap nao plz?

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

Me: “Some days, I think I’m losing my mind.”
Brian: “Other days you’re sure?”

BTW: the answer to the previous entry’s riddle was “violin.” Go figure that the person with no musical skill whatsoever couldn’t find the right answer without asking someone. -L.

Riddle me this…

Yesterday, I came across this riddle on the Internet. Unfortunately, I can neither find nor think of a solution. Can anyone out there in the World Wide Web help me?

There came four men from out the wood
Their way was straight and their strength was good
Then over a bridge the four men ran
To come together as one man
There came a horse without a bone
That made the four men whine and moan
Wood and men and bridge are all but one
Put them together and you’ll find my riddle is undone.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

Finally Two Stores That Get Me as a Female Shopper

I’ve been complaining for years about marketing toward women. Well, I finally found two stores that are listening:

From a recent American Science & Surplus e-mail subject, “Your Mother Wears Combats Boots.” “Which means for Mother’s Day, she’d really appreciate a nice ballistic nylon tool bag, purchased specially because it doubles as a ballistic purse. Or a Swiss army helmet. If she doesn’t wear combat boost, we can still send her something she will not see in every other mother’s mailbox this year.”

I just ordered the hardish-side fancy wallet case in red.

Another store that gets my tastes for Mother’s Day: Think Geek’s e-mail read: “Does you mom geek out over stuff as much as you do? Give her a Mother’s Day gift from her favorite fandom. Moms are fans, too. Whether it’s nature or nurture, children who are geeks often have parents who are geeks, too. Honor your mom’s fandom by getting her a gift she’d never get herself – but one that she’ll totally geek out over, in her own mom way. We’ve put together a selection of our favorites from the most popular franchises.”

I just ordered the R2-D2 Fit and Flare Dress in XXXL; I also receive a free Darth Vader vs. Luke Duel Pin, which is kewl because it’s from Empire, my favorite SW film of all.

Remember, I have a wish list on Think Geek.

Pog ma thoin!

-Lori

Emperor: “The Force is strong with him. The son of Skywalker must not become a Jedi.” (I used this line as proof that Vader wasn’t Luke’s dad. Boy, was I wrong!)

Holidays at Castle Curley…

…where Geekdom reigns supreme.

For the uninitiated, Brian and I refer to our home as Castle Curley (CC) because of the old saying “a man’s home is his castle.” Brian (the World’s Greatest Husband (WGH)) is the King of CC; I am the queen; and all the critters are princes and princesses. Mekhi, too, is a Prince of CC, and his Mom #1 is a duchess.

We have a very different view of the holidays here at Castle Curley. Closer to the end of the year I’ll give you more information on the major holiday season, but let’s talk about this time of year for now:

Valentine’s Day vs. Gamemaster’s Day

You must understand that the WGH is allowed to buy me jewelry from only one store: the Packers Pro Shop (PPS). Recently I had to include the caveat that he is forbidden from buying anything by Pandora, when the PPS announced they started to sell the ugly and expensive charms. Ugh! Every December I rant that not all women want diamonds or other jewelry for ‘insert holiday here.’ Valentine’s Day is just a candy holiday, so a simple heart-shaped box filled with chocolates is more than sufficient. Brian and I tell each other “I love you” every day (like this couple), so we don’t need a hallmark holiday to remind us to say it.

What’s more important to us is Gamemaster’s Day (GMs Day), celebrated on March 4^th. Usually during our RPGs closest to this day, we’ll have snacks to celebrate, and the PCs may bring gifts for the GM if they so choose. Brian and I attend Plattecon every year, typically convened on the first weekend of March (This weekend!), because UW-Platteville is where we met when we were college students. Every gaming convention has a dealers room, and Brian and I usually buy our GMs Day gifts to each other at Plattecon. One year he bought me a Duck of Gloom; another year I gave Brian more expansions for Mansions of Madness. In another blog entry, I’ll discuss our “no practical gifts” rule.

Critters Day Party

Every spring, we celebrate the birthdays of our feline and canine children with a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Once when a friend of ours took his dog to the same vet that we utilize, he overheard the staff discussing a couple that has a birthday party for their cats. Our friend laughed because he knew they were talking about us.

Independence Day Party

This started when our friends the Stewart Brothers came to our home on July 4^th many years ago, and we lit fireworks and watched Wimbledon. Now we host a barbecue where we provide all the meat (including vegan), some beverages, and some fireworks, and the rest is potluck. We try to keep the fireworks on the ground because we live a block from the local police and fire departments.

Anniversary vs. Thanksgiving

This year, our wedding anniversary is on a Monday. Wazoo. Plus, it’s our 24^th wedding anniversary. Wazoo. Our anniversary is not a big deal (See above re: saying “I love you” every day.). Case in point: the year we moved to our current house, we took off the day of our anniversary (it was a Wednesday that year), and spent the day in bed (the majority of the time devoted to actual sleeping). We’re thinking of doing something big for our Silver Anniversary, but that’s not until next year.

No, the major holiday to celebrate us and our family is Thanksgiving, despite the fact that we almost divorced our first married Thanksgiving (long story short: Brian taught me how to drive). We always have the day off, so now we stay home in our jammies, cook our own meal, and watch football (especially if the Packers are playing) or the Lord of the Rings Extended Editions. We also share our meal with our critters, who nap with us as we watch TV.

My Birthday vs. Life Day

I’m still a pink hatter, which means I’m not yet fifty and eligible to join the Red Hat Society. Unless the Packers play on my birthday again, we’ll probably go out for dinner at our local Nitty Gritty, then watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II on Netflix. Seriously, that’s all I want to do.

I tried to commit suicide when I was fifteen (December 5, 1985) in a desperate plea for help. Since then, I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders and now am receiving the appropriate health care for these conditions. Now every year I celebrate Life Day (no, not from the hideous Star Wars Holiday Special, which despite being a SW geek, I never have seen) by watching the sunset, then going out for dinner. This year, I’d like to go to the Melting Pot if Riff Trax isn’t having a special live showing that night, as they have done previously with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

Curley Con

The WGH hits the big 5-0 in September this year, and the AARP already is sending him membership offers. We’re going to have a party at CC called Curley Con, which basically is a day of games, friendship, food, and celebration. Need I say more?

Pog ma thoin!

-Lori

“My lovely wife, Cristi, sought to get the perfect 3rd year anniversary gift. Consulting the Ms. Manner’s Guide to Geek Husbands, she found that a new graphics card is just the thing!” – Aaron Williams

New Blog, New Goals

Hello. My name is Lori, and I like to write.

I started journaling in 1997 because I have several goals in my life that are listed below and will be explained at a later date. My first blog was on LiveJournal from 2004-2012, then I moved to Dreamwidth for the past two years. Now I’m here on WordPress (and I find it interesting that WP’s own spellchecker does not recognize WordPress). I reflect on my goals on a monthly, annually, and quinquennially basis and jot them down in my blog or (written or typed) journal. Typically, I end my blog entries with a quote that pertains to the entry, even if just tangentially. It’s a habit I picked up from the late Robert Asprin when I read his Myth Adventures books. I also add hyperlinks to educate my readers because sometimes I speak in various jargons, or even an entirely different language (I am trilingual in English, American Sign Language, and French; but I also know a smattering of words in each of a dozen or so different languages)

Goals 2015:

1. Family
2. Health
3. Finances
4. Creativity
5. To Do List
6. Events
7. House
8. Delazan Enterprises (if)

Pog ma thoin! (“Kiss my @$$” in Irish Gaelic)

-Lori

“I think if I achieved or completed everything on my to do list, I would probably drop dead from exhaustion or surprise.” – Lori Ann Curley