Thursday, February 26, 2026

It's late, but class update:

It's late, but class update:

It was a 2 hour class. Zoom cut us off every 40 minutes. I had trouble bringing up my ServiceNow window even though I could see it minimized in my taskbar, so I feel like I looked really incompetent. No matter how much I prepared before, I still felt fumbly and like I had no idea what I was doing.

HOWEVER, the previous teacher was there with me and backed me up and helped out and answered questions that I couldn't. He told me I did great. The class was patient with me. And overall, it definitely could have been worse.

I don't know if we have an exceptionally talky group of students or what, but I felt really happy that everyone replied to me and asked questions and participated. I hate it when I'm a student and I'm the only one who speaks. So I'm really excited to see how this semester goes.

❤️❤️❤️

I teach my first class tonight...

I teach my first class tonight. I have NERVES. Wish me luck!

Also, I have just shy of 250 users on my app, and I got another subscriber recently.

I'm planning to get back to work on it next week.

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.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Shaun heard some noise, so he checked on Baby Bear.

Shaun heard some noise, so he checked on Baby Bear.

He's so comfy. He never rolls and stretches like this outside of his crate. This is his safe space. ❤️

Volume up for a little Bear snort at the end.

The way I feel like crying happy tears...

The way I feel like crying happy tears because I can read and understand this. ❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭

Sunday, February 22, 2026

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.
❤❤❤