Sort of. Been sick. In brief:

We're still not sure what's up with the place we're in. No eviction notice yet, but the ex was going to give us money that would catch us up this month and he may not get it in time. So we'll see.

Some gifts for Christmas. None from us, but the two older girls found some inexpensive things for everyone and the grandparents sent a few boxes. Dad's gift will be the roof over our heads assuming the money comes in in time. Dinner will be a donated turkey this year, instead of the usual Cornish game hens. We haven't decided on anything else, but I'm sure it'll be a trimmer year than usual. At least we're all together and relatively healthy (my cold from hell doesn't count).

domynoes is now firmly in its new home and the new blog The Chef's Wife is launched. DII has just started migrating and should be ready for me to set up the new boards tomorrow. They won't be completely up and ready to go until after the holidays though. Need to let the other Admins enjoy the holidays with their families.

The man did get a job offer but it didn't work with his school schedule, so he turned it down (with my blessing—school is too important for him right now to risk leaving and never going back for whatever reason). There's still another job that it sounds like he was hired for but no one has actually come out and said you're hired. We'll know more about it in January since that's when the position would start. In the meantime, he'll go back to looking again once he's over his version of the cold from hell. And after the holidays since it's unlikely that the head chefs will be working them even if their restaurants are open.

Haven't been writing much—been too distracted and sick. Playing taxi a lot right now since both girls work and have to go in opposite directions and don't have rides. Oldest usually walks, but not always. All the driving keeps me busy. When the man gets a job, it'll just be that much more since I'll be taking him to school and then to work plus the girls to work. At least I won't be driving youngest back and forth to school any more. She'll be getting door to door van service from the new school this year.

And that's pretty much it. Oldest put up the tree last night (we usually put it up Thanksgiving, but we waited because we wanted to see if we would be getting an eviction notice).

And with that, I think I'm ready to nap...again. Meh. I might be over this by Christmas, but not holding my breath since that's not my usual record.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

The domains are supposedly migrating to their new home. Not sure how long this is going to take. Last night it looked like domynoes was over on the new server, but I can't get to either the database or the url I set up for the new blog. even weirder, I can reach the new WP install, but the directory doesn't show up in the ftp window for me to download...and I'm using the new DNS for the connection, not the domain name. And at one point, there were ads on the site that are no longer there. So, yea, whatever is going on with domynoes is very confusing to me right now. DII just started going to the new server last night, but is still pointing to the old server because I can still reach the old forum. I know this can take a few days to resolve the way it should, but I'm the impatient sort. And while I wait for all this to sort out, I'm kinda in limbo. I have a few things I need to do for domynoes that I can't do until I'm sure we're all there and in working order. And if I'm going to have ads, I have to do a redesign to no longer uses iframes because those ads screw up the frame and look damn ugly besides. But I don't want to do THAT until I know for sure that I'm going to have ads since that's going to involve quite a few pages.

So at the moment, I'm in limbo and looking at the end of the year that's going to be crazy busy as I try to get the new forums up (not made pretty, just up and running and ready for members to come back to) as well as create a new members list page for the site itself plus do any work I need to on domynoes. Plus I'd really hoped to get A.C. ready to beta by the end of the year, and it looks like that's not going to happen.

At least I can work on A.C. The only problem there is I am greatly distracted by the domain thing. Getting motivated while distracted is a really hard thing to do, especially if you have ADHD like I do. Course, with the domains down, there's not much else I CAN do until they're back up 100%...except continue to browse through tastespotting (I'm checking out the old stuff on the site).

Guess we're throwing in HP #1 (to provide a controllable distraction for me and to occupy the younger kids all at once) and I'm going to attempt to work on A.C. and ignore the domain issues. Not sure how long that's going to last. The man is taking his last final for the term and will probably be stressed out when he gets home, which means no more HP because he will be totally uninterested and need to unwind. And one of us needs to head to the store when he gets back, and I'm almost positive he won't want to do it, leaving me to brave the cold and the rain. I'll also have to tackle dishes before he gets back since I'm not quite sure what his plan is when he gets home. He could avoid the kitchen all together, or he may want to start prep for lunch or dinner or something.

Even in real life, I'm in limbo. lol


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

So far today, I've made soup and done dishes. Oh, and picked up youngest from school even though that was supposed to be the man's job—he's studying for finals and agreed to do the last of the dishes. I'm currently uploading domynoes into it's new home. Could probably upload DII into its new home even though we're working on board salvage.

But I'm pretty much adrift today. Did get some revisions on A.C. the day before last, but I've just not been in the mood of late. I'm sure there's stress involved with that, plus the fact that it's been an exhausting 6 months, but I'm wondering if it also might be that whole "coming to the end" kind of thing kicking in and making me hang on a bit longer.

Not sure what else to do today, though. For once, just feeling kinda...lazy.

Oh, the domynoes thing means those links will temporarily be mucked up as the server migrates.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Lots to do today & most of it isn't writing related:

* more office cleanup
* laundry :: load started
* dishes
* get psycho_meower to work
* get tsykika to work :: decided to walk
* pick up youngest from school
* move dragyncat back to the desk
* DII salvage :: more to do but did some today
* cont revising A.C.
* call Progressive & get payment moved again :: didn't exactly move it, but did help some (why is it some people can be so helpful and others say they can't help the way you need?)

Trying to get started despite a headache that won't go away.

Also, if I get the domain info, I need to get domynoes moved ASAP and I'm still working on ideas for next year's whysper layout.

Already started on moving the laptop back to the desk. Need to grab the cord for her then I'm done. Next: a load of laundry.

(And maybe that doesn't look as long as some days...well, never mind, it does; it's just most of it isn't writing related. lol)


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Wasn't quite so busy after all yesterday. First, psycho_meower forgot she has a $30 copay for doctor appointments and didn't set aside the money. Then, one the way home from the farmer's market, my back started spasming. While I was driving. Yea, not good. Got home, set the girls to work doing some of yesterday's tasks (dishes, books), picked up youngest, had her make the bed, then I pretty much crawled into bed and stayed there. Did eat with the family, but was back in bed and ASLEEP by 9:30 or 10. Definitely was under the weather because I don't go to sleep that early otherwise.

Today is another busy day. Need to take both tsykika and psycho_meower in to pick up checks so we can get the money order for the rent. We're going to try to finish office clean up today, which means finish unpacking books and actually cleaning up the mess that piled up while we were waiting on the house and then while we were waiting to see if we were getting evicted. I've also moved dragyncat into the office thinking it would be a good idea for me to go back to doing my writing in there. I've been working from my bed, and that seems to be bad for both productivity and the back. As soon as we can afford to do it, though, we need to replace my sinking chair of doom. And the dead printer that would cost more to repair than to replace (and doesn't speak to any of the computers in our house anymore any way).

And I still have the DII salvage and A.C. revisions to do.

So, running around, cleaning up, salvage, and revisions on today's list. Also need to pick up youngest from school and get her and boyo started on chores later. Leaving for check pick up and money order buying in about an hour. Between now and then, I can do a little more on the desk. A little later, a nap will definitely be in order.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Just have had a lot on my mind. A.C. progresses slowly but progresses. We've not heard anything from the landlords yet and are going to assume at this point that's a good thing. Yesterday I started unpacking books because I can't stand the office in the condition it's currently in. And I'm trying to find some particular books. Since we didn't list titles on the boxes (or even authors)....

Yea.

Today's plan was to get up early and take youngest in to school, shower, then goof off for a bit before taking psycho_meower (daughter #2) to her doctor appointment. Good thing because kitten chose to use my shower time to pee on the bed again. None of the usual triggers around as far as I can tell. *sigh* Anyway, being up anyway meant I could take care of the bed. Yay. (So thrilled; can you tell?)

The rest of today's plans include: taking psycho_meower to her doctor's appointment, running to the farmer's market for 2 whole chickens for the man to fabricate for dinner tonight, going to Kroger for sugar and a few other things, picking up youngest from school, more A.C., dishes, continue the salvage operation at the DII forums, and unpack more books. Whew!

That's the plans, anyway. With the way things have been going, FFX-2 just might take over. :P

The man is working a construction job today. Won't see that money until next week, and it makes it so he can't go apply for a job he's probably under qualified for anyway, but we could definitely use the money. Friday the plan is to send $6-700 of our November rent in to the landlords. That leaves $275 for November and all of December to pay for. Plus utilities. And food. Hopefully the help the ex plans to give us later this month will get the rent caught up, and then we're back to being late all the time but paying in the month we owe. The money he earns today can help pay our internet bill.

I'll be glad when this crap is over and I can sleep again. :P

Anyway, I'm alive, well, stressed but okay, trying to be positive about having a place to live, and have a lot of other things I'm taking care of. Thus the only break in my radio silence these days is my Twitter updates. Once we're in a more stable pattern around the house, I should be able to get back to normal posting. One hopes anyway.

One piece of good news: I did blow away my goal for my year end word count last week. At least some of my goals for the year have been met. Sorta. lol


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

First, I dropped the amount we need on our ChipIn again (we paid the overdue electricity). We still haven't heard from the landlords, so we're still in need. Just really concerned they won't work with us. Anyway, if you're feeling generous, click here. Even $5 would help.

The figure I used for the ChipIn was strictly rent and overdue utilities, which is probably a good thing, because I'd be trying to figure out what to cut out for food right now. We received some wonderful help along those lines: $50 spent the way we needed to (church lady went with the man to the store; he shopped, she paid), a turkey and a ham, plus another $25 for holiday food. We've tried not to go to crazy with the holiday treats (and our dinner will be minus a few things just to keep costs down, which is fine since there should be plenty of the rest to cover us). The man found sweet potatoes at 3 pounds for a dollar, so we're getting sweet potato pie. He found cranberries for $1.50 a bag, so we're putting some in the stuffing and I've made one batch of cranberry bread. I already had everything we needed for a batch of chocolate crinkles, and he picked up some eggnog for our eggnog cookies. We'll be having one of the turkeys, some green beans, mashed potatoes, and some biscuits as well. So we're surprisingly well covered for the holiday meal. We also invested half tsykika's last check in food for everyday, so we should be good for about 2 weeks—especially with that extra turkey and ham.

We'll be eating a little later tonight because tsykika has to work until 6:30. With the cable cut off, though, it's not like there's a game the man needs to rush to see. ;) My other girl is also working, but she doesn't get off until after 11, so she'll be going home (she doesn't move in here until closer to the 1st). We promised to save her pie and cookies. lol

There are two things putting a bit of a damper on things. First is my younger cat and her tendency to confuse the cat box and the bed. An 8 AM wake up was not what I was wanting!

The second is a bit more serious and has the kids unhappy: we're not putting up our Christmas tree tonight. Putting up our tree on Thanksgiving to show our thankfulness for Christ has been a tradition I think we've only broken once in the last 10 years or so (and that's because everyone in the house was too sick to care). This year, we're not putting up in case we get an eviction notice because it would just be one more thing to worry about. We haven't finished unpacking from the failed house buying thing either. We're going to wait and see if we get a notice on the 1st (since that's likely when we'd get it since we're still behind the November rent), and then decide what we're doing, if anything. The kids are NOT happy with this decision, though the older ones seem to understand it. (Explaining anything to an autistic, even one as high functioning as Taz, is pretty much next to impossible.)

For now, though, we do have a roof over our heads, the electricity is on, and we have a decent dinner going. We're pretty thankful for that...and a whole lot of other things, but having a roof still over our heads is a really big one. And I'm not letting my worries about the future take away from that, not today.

Happy thanksgiving all!


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Added/found some LJ food blog feeds, mostly to help out saxykam, but also because I've become quite the food prOn addict. lol


Here's the list (including a couple I already had on my flist):

plating_up
blogchef
vintagecookbook
food_beast
instculinaryed
slashfood_feed
tastespotting

That last one looks really cool. ;)

Anyway, I did manage some A.C. revisions today, but I'm highly distracted at the moment, and my PS2 playing is on the rise again. I'm also waiting to hear from my hostess on some questions I have about the move of my sites into her new server. Plus there's the whole "will they let us stay or will they evict us" thing going on. So, yea, really distracted right now.

Tomorrow I need to start going through the DII forums and figuring out which boards to assign to who and what we're keeping from each for reposting to a new board on the new server. The final move for DII won't be until December, but we're looking at quite a bit of salvage work.

Just a lot going on right now.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

First, I want to thank the people who have donated so far. It may not seem like much, but every little bit is helping. Even more importantly, it is giving us hope. And we appreciate every penny more than we can convey.

I dropped the amount needed by what we've sent out today (we didn't know how much tsykika's check would be so couldn't give the reduced amount when we first started). I'll be dropping it again by another $300 or so next week, depending on what we need for food out of that money. We are trying to get in what we can to help ourselves, just so you all know. The other thing that went out with the money today was the letter begging them to not evict us, to give us some time to clean up this mess. We've been here 5 years, and we may not have always paid on time, but we've ALWAYS paid. Hopefully that will count for something. I'll let you all know. (We've also avoided turning on the heat and buryng under blankets to help keep the gas costs down as long as possible—more money to take care of this mess.)

In the meantime, if you can find $5 or $10 to spare, we're still in trouble here, and any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Here's the entry with the chipin widget thingy:

http://domynoe.livejournal.com/650866.html

Thanks again. Now, I've got to go feed a toddler, get her to bed, pick up my youngest from school, and then maybe work on A.C. (which I've ignored for a few days), plus, if I get info from my hostess, continue moving my .com (she gives me hosting for free, so, no, not wasting rent money on that).

Busy afternoon ahead. Better get to it.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Still in that...not so with it mood, and likely to be until the crises is over, but I wasted a whole day on this thing yesterday. We're doing what we can, and worrying over it won't help make anything better.

So, back to A.C. with me. Maybe having so much else on my mind will help me not pay attention to my neurotic insecurities. I mean, my critters are all liking the novel, so my doubts are just me being neurotic, right? lol

The hard part will be to resist that desire to sleep all day—tends to come up when I'm feeling avoidant/depressed. But I'll do it. Must finish this novel. Must, must, must.

The man is off to the culinary job fair being held by his school. Not as many employers there as we had hoped, but anything is better than nothing. And he can really be a charmer when he wants to. Besides, anyone who has talked to him has seen the passion he has for this career. that's not something you can get across in a resume too well. So here's hoping someone sees that and decides to give him a shot despite not having much recent experience (or much experience at all).

Tomorrow night we're going to tsykika's church to see about getting some food. We have stuff for a dinner or two, but breakfasts and lunches are pretty much about gone. We get a check on Friday, but as much of it as can much of it as possible (and it'll be a very small check) needs to go to the rent/utilities as possible.

We're doing what we can, just got to hope it all comes together.

On to more revisions!


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

We may be evicted and our gas and electricity are about to be disconnected because the house ran us into the ground and the one thing that was going to help isn't going to happen.

And I know the temptation right now: to offer us reassurances that it will all work out for the best, that God knows what He's doing, so on and so forth.

I don't need that. I don't WANT that. I'm not in a place to hear it.

What I need is HELP. We have looked into every option we could think of and nothing. And I know no one can help, so, no, not asking.

Tomorrow my husband goes to a job fair for culinary students at his school, but even if he gets hired, it's not going to save us.

So, yea, we're in trouble. The priority is to keep a roof over our heads, obviously, and I'm going to write to the landlords and send in the letter with our next (so not enough) payment, but I'm not holding my breath.

Anyway, not sure if I'll be around much until this is salvaged. I'm an emotional wreck and don't have anything much to offer right now. I'd like to work on my novel, but it almost seems pointless right now (what? losing your housing and you're writing?), so, yea, quite obviously not in a place to much good to anyone right now.


~~~

most recent

whysper screwed :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

This week has been tough and I've not really paid attention to my goals so far. I've continued to work on A.C., but been pretty much too distracted to do much else.

See, the house we were trying to buy pretty much ran us to the ground. EVERYTHING is coming due. We had a plan to cover our rent, but now that's fallen through as well (it had to do with financial aide, which is disbursed VERY differently in online programs than I'm used to, and since tsykika didn't successfully complete the classes, she now won't get that aide and may even now owe the school for the two classes failed). So we're trying to come up with $1400 to avoid eviction now. Everything we get will go into this, minus money for food, but it's still quite...distracting.

At least, if we get help, there's no paperwork involved. :P

But it does mean we won't be doing Thanksgiving this year, and any Christmas at all will be minuscule at best. Getting on track and as stable as we possibly can under the circumstances is far more important.

Course, the kids will tell you I always say there's not going to be much of a Christmas, if one at all, and we still usually manage to have one. Unfortunately, this year I don't see how we're even going to pay for our traditional dinner. Things are just too crazy tight. The hope is that the man's unemployment will kick in, but I don't see even that being enough to do Christmas.

Anyway, going to try to get back on track a little with the weekly goals. Like I said, I've been working on A.C., and I'm actually almost done with my read through pass, which means the crit pass will probably start next week. Don't see as much in cuts happening in this section as in the last, but the crits might help direct me where I can do a little bit more. I've also managed to read about every day since I do that while waiting for girlo when I go to pick her up from school. But those two things have been pretty much it this week.


To do today....

» A.C. chapters 21-30, v6 first pass
» journals: whysper
» daily reading: The Bell At Sealy Head
» White List update
» pick up youngest from school
» continue cleaning/unpacking: books, blankets, garage


The focus today on the cleanup/unpacking: office. Mostly I want to get my books back out of boxes. I think this weekend will be spent cleaning up the garage again because we have a leak, so we really need to get stuff away from the leak area. The man thinks that roof is going to come in as well, and we need things up somewhere safe before that happens. So the garage has become something of a priority as well. I need to locate a crate for the last of our gaming books (no time, no players, no reason to keep them out, but unwilling to sell, assuming they would sell since they're 2nd eds and thus 2 editions out of date, minimum). Also want to find the blankets since the nights are getting cold.

First on the list today, though, is food and meds.


~~~

most recent

whysper not over yet :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

Today's going to be a little on the busy side. The man is out picking up his check now. Once that's in he comes back home and has to study for this weekend's midterms, so about everything else will be up to me. I'm paying a few bills and need to take tsykika up to the bank to put her check into our account so I can pay a few more bills and feed us. I suspect she and I and baby will be going to the grocery store, the farmer's market, and the pharmacy for my meds. And later I pick up youngest. Not sure what's up with the cooking tonight. More than likely the man will do it so he can practice.


To do:

» A.C. chapters 21-30, v6 first pass (read through)
» crit
» daily reading: The Bell At Sealy Head
» take youngest to/pick youngest up from school
» bank
» grocery store/farmer's market
» bills, bill,s bills....
» pick up meds


Watching the account for that deposit so I can get our cell phones back on (which the man needs for his job search). The big question right now is the cable bill. Have to pay the water bill, and both the water and the cable are the largest bills we have other than rent right now. Rent's covered in about a week or so. Water will be paid because it's a necessity, but, believe it or not, cable is something of a necessity too because of the boy. By the middle of the month, we'll be able to pay everything off, but we'd kinda like not to lose the DVR, and there's a good chance they'd be trying to pick up the equipment by then.

Silly I'm sure.

One thing at a time right now though, I guess. Get the cell phones up, the water paid, and food in our cupboards, and we'll be doing a lot better than we have been this past week. Any step forward is a good step.

While I wait, I probably can start that crit. Critting is the one place where an interruption doesn't seem to cause continuity problems for me. ;)

I'd try to finish out the last 3 (of 8) book reviews I need for the booklog, but I need to unbury those books. and 5 reviews in one week is pretty good, if you ask me. ;)


~~~

most recent

whysper catching up :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Heat Wave

No, didn't post this morning because we went right into moving things so we could de-flea the living room. We also rearranged some of the furniture (not a lot but enough of it) and I picked up youngster from school.

Then I started feeling kind of sick so ended up laying down for awhile Feeling better now, but this was like a nasty stress reaction, which made no sense. And I may be feeling better, but I'm not feeling 100%. I'm kind of hoping it was the ulcer acting up because I let the tummy get completely empty.

And for the first time in a long time, the family all ate dinner at the same table (which is why we moved things around; been wanting to arrange it so we could eat as a family, and today seemed a good time to do it).

So far no revising or writing, but hope to get to that tonight. Depends on if I start feeling any better at some point tonight. For now, going to kick it and watch some TV and let dinner settle and see if it helps. Hopefully some revisions will kick in at some point.


~~~

most recent

whysper catching up :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Small Favor

So, yesterday I was supposed to do 2 journal entries and some writing and some A.C. Only managed 1 journal entry, no little bits of writing, some A.C., and some reading. As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, I just don't see too many new words coming until A.C. is done.


Today is pretty much more of the same:

» A.C. chapters 21-30, v6 first pass (read through)
» 250/day
» 250/day in world building
» journals: whysper, booklog
» daily reading: finish Harrowing the Dragon
» get youngest from school
» start de-fleaing carpets


The carpet thing is going to take a few days (which will also interfere with the writing since I have to put the stuff on the carpet, work it in with a broom, then vacuum it up over an hour later, and all that bites into my time). Have two rooms and most of the upstairs hall covered with the stuff right now. Tomorrow I'm going to want to get around our living room, which is one of the worst rooms in the house...and where the man and I sleep. We're going to need another canister of the stuff to get the last upstairs bedroom, the dining room turned office, and the last bit of the hallway.

Tonight: "V"! ;)

Such a thrilling entry. lol

Off to try to squeeze in a whysper entry before I need to vacuum up flea powder and go pick up youngest from school.


~~~

most recent

whysper catching up :: journeys Not As Busy, Still Going :: booklog Small Favor