I had to go have myself fingerprinted for a job opportunity...

I had to go have myself fingerprinted for a job opportunity.

The lady who did my prints recognized my last name and said she thinks she did my husband's fingerprints a few weeks ago, which tracks because Shaun started a new job recently.

She remembered the story of our last name (we mashed up our maiden names to make something new together), and also said that he seems to adore me because he lit up when he was talking about us.

I told her he's the best and I adore him, too.

That was so random, but it was really sweet and made my day. 🩷

So, I hate this.

So, I hate this.

I hate being the one working part-time and being responsible for the house.

As soon as we're back on our feet, I'mma need my trophy husband to take a demotion and work part time and let me do the hustling.

I literally can't think straight about anything with all of the house stuff in my periphery.

I was supposed to sign up for a certification by yesterday, and it slipped my mind. It was IMPORTANT. Thankfully, the deadline was extended and I'll be ok, but it's not ok that I forgot.

I'm overwhelmed. I'm the more driven one. My focus is needed on my career. Shaun can work part-time just to give me some alone time in the house.

I don't think this current setup is gonna help with my burnout recovery at all. This last week and a half has been rough.

(I know we're privileged that we can get by on one income, but I did fight my way into tech for that reason. We'll be able to pay bills, but not save. We still have to figure that out unless I want to work until I die. Fun.)

Life Update:

Life Update:

Shaun got a job that he has to leave the house to go to.  I was unsure if it was doing me any good to have time unperceived until I just caught myself badly singing at more than a whisper.  So I guess I do feel a bit more free for some hours per week now, which is nice.

I feel like I have a thing that has been nagging at me for many years, but I haven't been able to put into words.  I'm gonna try it now, so bear with me as I stumble through this.  I don't know where this came from, but I feel like I feel (for me, anyway) that my partner is supposed to be impressed by me; that they should always see me at my best.

Obviously, that is not reality.  Shaun has seen me vomit so hard I peed myself.  He's seen me through MANY a mental breakdown.  He's literally been here with me (for almost 20 years at this point) through the good, the bad, and the ugly.  He is the most solid person I've ever had in my life.

But there are many things that I feel reserved about doing in his presence.  I don't really sing, dance, or try to improve myself/my physical skills when he is perceiving me.  To explain further, he would like to work out/exercise together.  I don't want to do that because he "should" only see the results of my efforts in that case, not my efforts.  I don't tap or drum on things because it is not something I practice anymore, and I don't want him to see how hard I have to try in order to "get it right;" I'd rather he just see/hear me do it and think it's good.

I feel like this hearkens back to the day of women waking up early and doing hair and makeup before their husbands wake up for the day.  Despite not having a husband, I was doing this shit in elementary school.  I would get up at 5 am to hot-roll my hair and put on makeup.  I spent many years sleeping uncomfortably on curlers and painting my face despite how bad it felt on my psoriasis because I only wanted to be perceived "at my best."  When I had my son at 17, things started dropping from my routine because, well, priorities.  I still wore makeup and put some effort into my hair, but not as much; I think not long after having him is the first time I cut my hair above my shoulders.  It was maybe 7 years later that I stopped shaving my body hair and ended up shaving my head.  I never felt ok with the inconsistency of being perceived in makeup with hair done and shaven versus how I exist naturally.  I'm guessing it's the Autism with the yes/no, on/off, black/white extremes, but I felt that if you were EVER going to see me in my "undone" state, then you should ALWAYS see me that way.

Shaun had definitely seen me un-made because when we met, I was working as a pet bather at PetSmart and I did not wear makeup for that job.  But I started working at the same place as him and wore makeup to work one day because I wanted him to think I was pretty, and he pointed it out (just in an observational way).  So I was caught - he remembered that I wasn't as pretty as I was trying to pretend to be, so I literally have never worn makeup since that day.  (I know how that sounds, but honestly, no shade and no shame to people who wear makeup; this is entirely a me-thing that I am trying to work through.)  Don't get me wrong - dropping it from my routine was a HUGE relief.  I never felt good at it.  I never enjoyed doing it.  I hated the way it felt on my skin.  I hated the tugging and the touching of putting it on.  I hated having to remove it.  I was glad to be done.  I was very happy to be able to exist in consistency and have that be enough.

But there are things that I am not good at.  I'm not a good singer or dancer.  In band, some of the drummers could just bust out with great rhythms and I'm sure they practiced away from me, but I only saw the fruits of their labor.  For me, I had to practice a ton just to get the basics.  So these are the things that I keep to myself or only do when unperceived, although I find them to be fun.

I am also not as physically fit as I used to be, or as fit as I'd like to be.  Shaun has always been in great shape; I swear when we met, he looked like a Greek statue.  Even though he's gained some weight over the years, he carries it so well because of how tall and muscular he is.  If he wants to lose weight, he is just more mindful of what he eats.  Meanwhile, I'd already had a child when we met.  I bounced back pretty well because of my age and activity level, but I felt that the changes to my body were still obvious, especially on my belly and breasts.  When I started gaining weight (due to stress, bad healthcare, Shaun taking me out to eat frequently, etc.), it was impossible to lose.  I tried counting calories and have a journal of what I'd eat in a day.  I was miserable.  I tried fasting.  Fasting felt good, but I was inconsistent and always went overboard on eat days.  It wasn't until getting thyroid medication and starting a GLP-1 that I felt I could actually have any sort of control over my weight.

I do want and need to start strength training for my bone health and because I'm sure I'd look a lot better and I've never really known what it's like to feel physically strong and that sounds fun, but I feel like this is a situation I'd need a class or mentor for.  I have tried a few times alone over the years and don't want to do it by myself.  I can't stay motivated.  But put me in a class?  Yeah, I'm gonna try to ace it.

It's so stupid because Shaun is literally right here and has experience with building muscle, but I want to look good FOR him, not with him.  😅  I fucking hate this.  Why do I care if he sees me struggle?  It wouldn't be the first time, but he usually sees me struggling mentally, not physically.  Also, when I'm home, I'm relaxing.  I don't want to work out here.  And I don't want to go to a gym with him.  If I'm hanging out with him, I want to have fun, not be doing work.  He is my relaxing space.  It doesn't feel nice to have him push me, I think.  Yeah, I definitely don't like it when he has expectations of me.  It feels gross and frustrating.  I want to already be enough/good enough.  And it's not like he ever (intentionally) does anything that makes me feel like I'm not, but entering into a learning situation is literally saying "I'm not enough.  I'm not where I want to be.  Teach me." and that is an ok space to be vulnerable and improve.  So yeah, I don't want him to see me that way, and I don't really know how to change that.  I also feel like I don't have very much control over my body, in a way.  Like, never once have I been able to make a physical change that I wanted to happen, happen, so it almost feels pointless to even try.

So, all this is to say that I do still mask around him/when he's home, but far less than I do with anyone else.  It still costs me energy to do it, so hopefully having him gone to work will allow me to slow/stop the constant small energy leak while I work with my therapist on just taking the damn thing off for good.  I don't know.  But as usual, I'm a work in progress.

I'm in Houston for a few more days.

I'm in Houston for a few more days.

Meanwhile, back home...

Shaun and Bear are doing, well... regular Shaun and Bear things. 😂😂😂

I love these two. 🤣😁

So Colorado is really pretty.

So Colorado is really pretty. I didn't know; this was my first time there. The mountains are really nice and the landscape is interesting. I love that there are lava dikes and mounds. It's so cool to see geological features like that right in your face.  (That's one reason why I love New Mexico so much!)  It's also interesting to see preserved dinosaur tracks!

Our 2nd day, we went to Dinosaur Ridge and did the bus tour and checked out the museum.  It was really crazy to see actual dinosaur footprints.  I don't think our photos are going to do it justice; it's not as easy to see the tracks in bright sun in person, much less via photo. But it was a really fun experience and I'd love to take the kids one day.

They let me dig in the sandbox for fossils - they said I was short enough. 😂  Shaun found one from afar (it wasn't even buried) and I found my own by digging. They let us keep them. Of course, they are just molds of real fossils, but it was still really cool.  I always want to do all of the things. 😁

Overall, it was a very neat experience.  It really put into perspective how small we all are; just here for a blip in time.  Earth has changed so much and continues to change, even though it happens so slowly we can't perceive it.  It blows my mind to think about it.  It made me feel insignificant and grateful at the same time.

I'm scheduling 2 posts for while I'm on the road...

I'm scheduling 2 posts for while I'm on the road so y'all won't miss me too much. As if I've been on here being sociable at all in the last month. 🫠

On the way to Colorado, Google had my back and took Shaun a different route than he'd planned to go, which took us right by the Colorado Gator Farm.  OF COURSE we had to stop.  Shaun said "This looks like a trap." because it was in the middle of nowhere, but I was like "They'd have gotten me!  Let's go!" 😂

Literally, feed me to alligators. I don't care. That would be an awesome way to go.

Anyway, they operate as a rescue / education center for reptiles.  They had all sorts of lizards and tortoises and snakes and we got to interact with quite a few of them.  They had a BUNCH of Sulcata tortoises that they had taken in because they're not easy pets. Everyone always thinks that turtles and/or tortoises will be easy, but then they find out the hard way that's not true. Even our hamburger-sized little Tort Baby is a bossy/sassy little butt.

We also got to hold a baby alligator and they gave us a certificate that they notarized with the baby gator's teeth.  It seemed a little rude to use his snout like a stapler, but I know it didn't hurt him.  I laughed when they did that because it caught me off guard. Who even thought to do that? 😂

Overall, they seemed really knowledgeable and like they took great care of the animals there. I would love to visit again when we have more time.

Some things that are troubling me:

Some things that are troubling me:

About 2 weeks ago, my Reddit account logged out.  I have not been able to log back in.  I submitted a ticket for help, but I still haven't received any help.  Also, now if I look up my account, it shows that it's banned.  For what, I have NO idea.

This has been very dysregulating.  I read myself to sleep every night on Reddit, so I was used to my feed being a certain way.  It was comforting.  I had saved a lot of posts with useful information.  I had a 700-something day streak.  I loved it.

I basically had to start over and try to re-create my feed.  It's still not like it was.  It still feels very "off" - like it's a bizarro universe and it makes me really sad.  I am still hopeful that I will get some help with my original account, but the hope is fading.  I don't know what to do.

I also haven't been spending too much time in the greenhouse, but the last two times I went out there, many of my plants had been chewed or completely eaten.  I don't know who is doing it, but Shaun put the camera back out there to see if we could catch whoever it is.  We don't know if it's birds or rodents or what, so we don't know how to stop it.  We do close the doors at night, but leave the top windows open for ventilation.  We might have to put up some screens, I guess.  I don't know.  But it's got me really sad.  Whole plants are missing.  Like they've either been devoured on the spot or uprooted and taken. 😭😭😭

Last thing (for now):  I'm too soft and Adrian ended up back in my room. Shaun's going to move her out and acclimate her to the living room/other cats while I'm away. I hope it's successful. I need a space to myself. If it doesn't work while I'm gone, then it can't be done. Shaun is great with cats and less of a pushover than I am right now.

I overextended myself yesterday.

I overextended myself yesterday.  I ended up exhausted and went to bed so early, then woke up in the middle of the night (peri peeps, y'all know the 3/4 am wakeup call.  It's a hormonal thing that turns us into werecougars.)  I usually just read myself back to sleep, but I was literally having dark thoughts and spiraling.

I feel only slightly better today.  I talked to Shaun and told him I need him out of the house sometimes.  I just need literal solitude.  My background processes don't stop listening for him or thinking about him when he's here.  I don't quite know the logistics of how he's different than the animals or the child I raised, but he is.  Shadow and the pets can be background.  Kira sleeps most of the day and tends to stay upstairs, but can definitely be a demand sometimes.  She's a gray area because I still view her as a kid even though I didn't fully raise her.  But Shaun is like a best friend that never leaves my house.  Just isolating in my bedroom is not helping me recover.  Don't get me wrong; sometimes I definitely need that, but it alone is not enough.

Thankfully, he has been looking for work outside of our home, and he's had a few good leads.  Maybe something will come through soon.  Also, he didn't take offense when I told him that I never get to miss him.  He understands.

We also had a talk about showing affection.  I have never been a hugger.  I'm actually not big on being touched.  Growing up, I didn't receive affection that way and most of the touch I received was violent in nature.  So I generally don't enjoy having hands coming towards me at all.  But when we started dating, I hugged Shaun.  I wanted to touch him and that was what people did, so I did it, too.  And I did enjoy it.  It's easy when things are new.

But now that's not the case and it's no one's fault.  His shirt is always covered in cat hair because that is our life right now, so when I hug him my face goes right into that.  It's a sensory nightmare.  I also don't like my face being smushed, but due to our height difference, my face goes right under/between his pecs.  Sometimes if I actually want to hug him, I just go under his shirt and that's better.  His chest hair doesn't stick to my face like cat hair.  So for years, I've just been doing this thing that I don't get anything out of because he seemed to need it and I thought it was what I was supposed to do.

I'm not gonna do it anymore.  Not like that, anyway.

If he's sitting and I'm standing, I greatly prefer those hugs.  His face is on my chest, and my face isn't getting smushed or haired.  I can enjoy those.  We haven't figured out how he can physically show me affection in a way that I will like yet; I don't like to be massaged or petted or anything like that.  I like it when we touch legs while hanging out.  That feels like not an attack.  Head bonks are cool.  I also like sitting next to each other, like a cuddle - like what cats and dogs do with us.  I don't know, but I don't feel like that's as big a deal right now as me letting go of the daily "demand" (of course he doesn't actually demand them; it's just a thing that I felt like I was supposed to do) of hugs that I don't like.

I feel like the worst partner.  I don't know why he likes me.  Even when I was (unknowingly) fully masking at the beginning of our relationship, I know I wasn't an easy person.  My mental health has only gotten worse/more complicated over the years, and he's still here, still putting in the work, still not taking any offense to anything I need to say - no matter how insensitive it may seem.  I feel very lucky, but also very confused.  Like, I don't get why anyone would choose the mess that I am, but whatever floats his goat, I guess.

Me and Shaun went away for a couple of days.

Me and Shaun went away for a couple of days. (More on that later.)

It was fun and hotel sleeping without a cat on my head was glorious (yes, moving Adrian downstairs FAILED).

But we got home yesterday and I immediately had to go to bed because I'd had zero alone time for 3 days.

Later this week I'm driving 13 hours through the desert and I am looking forward to those 13 hours like you wouldn't believe. Nobody can see me. Nobody can ask me for anything. Nobody can even talk to me if I don't want it.

Sometimes I worry that living with my husband was the wrong move. We do have separate spaces to retreat to, but either I'm so deep in burnout that being perceived is a stressor, or we just should've kept separate houses like we did for the first 10 years. I'm giving it until the dogs die (hopefully no time soon) before making any decisions or changes to our living situation, but...

Damn, it's hard.

Shaun is so great and I love him all the way. He is not doing anything wrong. It's just me. I'm built different and I feel like a terrible person and terrible partner because of it.

It's been a big day for the baby doves.

It's been a big day for the baby doves. They're moving around now. Most of these clips are less than a minute long.

They got into my baby Teddy Bear Cholla and got a piece back into the nest. We went and removed it and then moved my cart of nursery plants out so they don't do that again.

Also, there is no water in my bucket. We're trying to minimize danger for them as they get out and explore.

Shaun has been camera-spying all day. 😂

First Flaps:

Big streeetch!

Test flight:

Feeding time!

That was a baby on the table!

They're mobile!

Good parent

Exploring

Hey friends! Happy Friday!

Hey friends!  Happy Friday!

Life Update:

I'm still sleeping a lot.  Like, 12-14 hours a day during the week.  I am so grateful that Shaun doesn't hate shopping/going to stores/doing the errands because I certainly do and they are such a drain.  Thankfully, it's not as big of a deal for him and he is handling all of that for us.  He's like "Since you're working..." and I'm like "Bruh, I am part-time at best at my official job, and barely even taking baby steps on getting my web design business off the ground or Polish ALL the Things! converted to a Native app."

Regardless, he says that I'm doing enough and I'm glad that he feels that way.  I've been a lot easier on myself since finding out that I have Autism, and I am grateful that Shaun understands and doesn't put any extra stress on me while I try to continue to recover from burnout.  He's never been anything but gentle and supportive of me, even before my diagnosis.  When I was pretty well incapacitated in 2014 he basically body-doubled my entire life to keep me going until I got help.  Part of that was depression, but looking back, it was probably partially due to a burnout phase, too.

I don't really have any idea what life will look like after May, when the UI/UX class I'm taking and the ServiceNow CSA class I'm teaching both end.  But I'm hoping that I will be more functional as a person and able to hold down more steady work, should I be so lucky to have it.

I do have a lot of items on my To Do list that I feel like have been holding me back from things I really want to do.  I feel like I've been stuck in "Waiting Mode", as in, "Waiting for things to be done before I can enjoy myself or take on more projects" for a few years, so that is unfortunate, especially since I was "shoulding" myself and putting pressure on myself to finish them, but since I've stopped with the pressure and just worked on things at a sustainable pace, they're finally (slowly but surely) getting done.  Nothing is checked off of my list yet, but there is progress, which is better than no progress, so I'm taking the win.

It's really not as satisfying to not binge and finish things super fast, but I've learned that that is dopamine seeking and I'm trying not to do that anymore (at least not in ways that end up being detrimental to my health).  So we'll see how that goes.  Maybe THIS will be the year that I finally get my shit together.  😂😂😂  (If you don't know:  I say this every year after I binge a project and make progress, only to burn out and accomplish nothing else.)

Anyway, Happy Weekend, friends!  ❤

It's Thursday. I'm in a funky [negative] mood.

It's Thursday.  I'm in a funky [negative] mood.

How are y'all?  Did you fall for a prank yesterday?

I didn't, but Shaun got got, which is hilarious because he's so skeptical.  One of the local animal businesses posted that they were now offering helicopter rides for pets to the daycare.  I was like "You know what day it is, right?"  😆

Today we're married 8 years...

Today we're married 8 years. Together for 18. I don't know what I would do without Shaun. He's held me together in so many different ways over the years. Through mental and physical breakdowns, migraines, throwing up so hard I pee myself - and now peri. The good, the bad, and the ugly - he's solid through it all.

And as usual, he's got the most creative gifts ever. 🥰

My favorite has to be this Teddy Bear Cholla he made using my stash of whiskers (with my permission!). They aren't glued in or anything, but they're definitely not falling out. We're going to paint the pot; he didn't realize it matched the cactus body so well. But I love this so much. Also, he didn't even use all of my whiskers. 😂😂😂  We might have to start another cactus for the shorter ones. I'm thinking an Opuntia for the next one...

I'm also digging this little monster dude with the succulents on his head. It's a stash jar, so that's neat. And since it's our Bronze anniversary, he got me a little beetle guy to sit on my shelf. He manages to bring the things I love into every gift while somehow keeping it traditional.

Here's to all of the years behind us, and hopefully many more to come! To my bestie for the restie:  I love you! ❤️

I got my business plan finished. That's a relief!

I got my business plan finished. That's a relief!

The only other thing on my agenda today is watering my plants. I'm gonna start that shortly.

I was talking to Shaun earlier about his Executive Dysfunction and why he never said anything before. He said he's here to support me, not burden me.

Bruh. Love. Motherfucker. That is not how this works. 😂

He's got a list of things (in his head) that he wants/needs to do and that he is not always able to work on. (Relatable). And having this list prevents him from relaxing and doing other things he needs or wants to do. (Also relatable).

Sometimes I need a "Jumpstart", like "Help me do this", but really all I need is for him to be right there while I start and then I'm good. Sometimes I need a body double. But in either case, I've been expressing my needs for years and he's always showed up.

I was like "Let me do that for you." Because really, it's not a problem for me to to help anyone... Except myself. 😂😂😂 Need me to walk you to the yard to trim the bushes? Got you. Need me to direct you because you're overwhelmed and don't know where to start? I can do it. (This is not the same as him not carrying his share of the mental load around here, btw. He definitely does that.)

He says he doesn't forget his tasks and that's why he doesn't write them down, but he's going to try it and see if it does anything. It always makes me feel less anxious to clear my head.

Meanwhile, we have made it sort of a goal to boost each other's productivity and see how we can shrink our to-do lists by the end of May. Not at an overwhelming, burn-out pace, but by steadily boosting each other with Jumpstarts or whatever is needed.

I hope it works like we think it will.

It's been a day.

It's been a day.

I had UI/UX class this morning. I was planning to meet my group partner at the library, but I felt rough when I woke up and have a cough and scratchy throat, so we decided to stick to online today. I'm not sharing the germs.

I left class early and also canceled other plans. Then I temporarily got stressed and got hit by a migraine. I took Tylenol and went to my room, but woke up sweating and feeling worse, so I finally took a migraine pill. I've been in a haze all day from that. Very drowsy and I want to sleep, but I want milk more, I guess. Shadow will bring some when he gets off work. I can wait 45 minutes. 😂

I didn't really get anything done today. I have a few things to do tomorrow, like watering my plants. Hopefully, I feel up to it.

The teacher of the class I'm in is neurodivergent, and she's so flexible and helpful. She spent some time talking to me the other day (outside of class), and it sounds like she does a lot of work to manage herself. And I think that's going to end up being me, too. I mean, if I want things to be different going forward, and I do.

One thing I really love about her is that she's kind of open about it, but not in an unprofessional way. I struggle so hard not to overshare. 😂 But she's like "I need written or verbal confirmation before I move on" and stuff like that. I find her very easy to talk to and understand. Hopefully, I can be like her one day.

The deeper into the neurospicy stuff we get, the more Shaun is identifying with it, too. I didn't realize that he ever struggled with Executive Dysfunction, but apparently, he does. He's like "It's definitely easier for me to do things if someone helps me or gets me started." He's always been MY helper, so I'm going to start helping him, too. It's not that I ever would NOT have, but he literally never told me that or indicated that there was a problem. ☝🏻 But now I know.

I'm pretty sure I'm struggling with ADHD, as well, but he doesn't seem to have that issue, thank goodness. He's the calm and regular and reliable one, and I'm the storm that comes through with energy and then disappears into nothing for a bit.

Anyway. I also have to do my business plan paperwork because I have a meeting on Monday. I had to give myself a deadline (by scheduling that follow up) or I wouldn't do it. I was going to do it today, but didn't have the brain for it on these migraine meds. But I'll try again tomorrow.

Goodnight, friends. ❤️

Shaun was sent an evaluation...

Shaun was sent an evaluation from the place that's doing my assessment next month.

As he was working through it, he was like "Damn, if you have Autism, then I do, too." 😂😂😂

Like, buddy... I've had my suspicions. 😅 It's probably why we get along so well. 🤣

Shaun isn't feeling well...

Shaun isn't feeling well, so yesterday he didn't hug or kiss me so he wouldn't get me sick.

Because I'm ridiculous, of course I had nightmares last night that he divorced me. 😂

In general, I'm not a person who likes to be touched, but apparently he's not only my exception, but my necessity.

I had a mostly good day today.

I had a mostly good day today.

***

This morning Caitlin picked me up and we got lunch and went to see Judy P. at the rehab center.  We had some delicious bagels and then we hung out and I did her nails.  She said she hadn't had her nails done in 11 or 12 years!  Well, we'll make sure that doesn't happen again.  😊  She was so happy for the company and food and to get her nails done, and I had a great time chatting with her.  It was so fun hanging with the girls and I hope I'm doing as well as she is when I'm 98!

I came very close to enrolling in a nail tech program in December (because it has been pointed out to me many times that I should, and I finally agree), but I was unsure of what my employment situation/schedule would be once this year got started, so I didn't.  We also didn't have $6000 laying around for the course, which was also a big factor.  Hopefully financial things will ease up with my teaching gig starting this week.  We'll see.  But it's definitely on my to-do list this year or next, if I can make it happen.

I follow a lot of nail communities and I think my work is comparable to what many techs can do.  I just haven't studied all of the safety/cleaning stuff and don't have my hours working under supervision to prove that I can.  But if I had my credentials, I could do some volunteer hours and I think that would be fun.  It's just not something I would be comfortable doing without a license, (and probably isn't legal).

***

When I got home, Shaun had done some cleaning and things looked nice.  I wanted to watch a video on YouTube that comes out on Sundays; it's a series I follow and it's just like, 12-ish minutes, usually.  Then Shaun had a video to show me.  Then he wanted to order pizza.  Then that was waiting.  Then I could hear Tort Baby scraping around in the dining room (which is why I don't work in there, despite that being where my desk lives), and Shaun was watching a loud show, and the neighbor started making noise, which put Bear in Beast-Mode (running around roaring/growling because he hears something he can't identify), and I just... had to go upstairs and get in my bed.  Shaun is great and turned off the show when I told him I was getting sensory overload, but it was too late.  I woke up around 8.

When I woke up, I talked to the kids for a bit and then came downstairs.  Shaun wanted to watch something and have his ice cream, so we put on a show, then shortly after the kids came down and started talking to us (over the show).  Shaun didn't pause it fast enough and I started heading towards overload again.  And Kira wanted to use the blender to make nice-cream.  So I put in earplugs while she did that, then toughed out the show, and thankfully I am finally alone.

I have a couple of things on my to-do list today, but I still haven't accomplished them, because, well, I slept from 4-8.  Now the kids are upstairs, Shaun and the dogs are asleep, and the cats (except for Toebean) are being chill.  Toe is over here throwing paws because he wants attention/to get in my lap, but I need to update my resume and get some things ready for class to start this week.

***

I feel like this is pretty representative of my daily struggle, except that for some reason my sensitivity is turned up to 11 today.

I will have a list of things to do, but if I get trapped on the couch *with Shaun*, it's game over for me.  That sounds so stupid because I am about to do my tasks on my laptop, here from the couch where I'm comfortable and my legs don't dangle and I have my warm blanket and cat snuggles, but I am just more comfortable alone.

A lot of times he'll put on a headset and watch something or play a game in silence next to me and that's fine, but I really do hate how often he encourages me to get sucked into watching the TV.  He is a distraction.  A sweet one, but a distraction, nonetheless.  😆  I guess there are worse things he could be.  😝

I still haven't added a lot of things to my calendar like I've been meaning to, but maybe I can do some of that tonight after I do my two planned tasks.  Maybe I'll add quiet hours or focus hours or something, too.  I think that would be a good idea.

Anyway.  I'm off to check my things off my list, finally.  I just had to empty my brain so it could focus.

❤❤❤

Today has been good! 😊

Today has been good! 😊

Caitlin went with me to the consignment stores and lunch today. I only sold 4 things total, but I found a few treasures. One is a neat-looking sweater. Another is a plain shirt, but very soft and will look nice at work. I also got a printed shirt. And the best one is one that Caitlin spotted. It's navy blue and so beautiful. I've never felt elegant one day in my whole life, but that shirt made me feel like a princess. Caitlin got it for me because we couldn't pass it up! (I'll get pics, but not today).

Then me and Shaun and the dogs went to a park. They walked and I skated. I had some stumbles, but no falls this time. I got about 30 minutes in before the dogs were done.

After reading about wheels with edges, I decided to try some tighter turns and that went well. I can definitely tell the difference in the precision. Also, I had Shaun install a back brake for me. I'm already doing better using it than I ever got at using toe stops. I usually stop without using brakes at all, but I wanted some kind of brake just in case.

I know I'm not supposed to look at my feet while skating, but it's helpful that I can look down and see if I'm holding my foot straight while using the back brake. Using a toe stop has my foot bouncing everywhere and lurches me forward, and it's behind me so I can't see the mistake I'm making to correct it.

Anyway, after that we went to a car wash and cleaned our cars. Both were super past due, so I feel happy to have that done. Now I'm just resting, or maybe doing my nails. We'll see.

I hope this Monday has treated you well, too! ❤️

I have a presentation today, so I tried to dress nice.

I have a presentation today, so I tried to dress nice.

When Shaun saw me, he said I looked like a little kid playing dress-up, then helped me find a shirt that looked better.

I kissed him before I left, then said "Your lips are crusty. I love you. Bye!" and went on my way. He's gonna balm those babies or something, I'm sure.

Are we the most tactful? No. But we are honest without malicious intent, and it works. ❤️😊