Happy things, maddening things, and well, lots of things!

My Downton Abbey came in the mail today.

Isn't pretty! I know Downton Abbey isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it and seasons 1-4 have come into my possession! Okay, I got it in the mail today after ordering it from Amazon on a fantastic deal! I paid 30 something for this set. I posted as much on facebook and my friend Emma demanded I send her a link, which I did. The price has gone up to 40 something, but that's still a really good deal.

I have been very busy as of late. Like I said before, I'd gotten sick. Playing catch up with my homework has pretty much consumed most of my time. I have since learned that the Math lab program is a pain in the ass of dastardly proportions and that I am basically doing the calculus of statistics. I've put in so much time working on the Statistics homework alone. I finally had to set it aside because my context of writing class was suffering. And it wasn't that I didn't know how to do the math homework. I was doing it just fine, it was just taking me 2-3 hours to do one problem and I got booted from the system the 1st time I did it. So when I logged back and found that my answers hadn't saved and I had to do it all over again with a completely new set of data, I kind of freaked. But I did it, only I forgot to put in a negative sign on the answer and had to do it all over again. Finally, I gave up on that problem but things just escalated from there and after three days of endless statistical hell, I just said screw it. I have an appointment with the tutoring center in the morning because apparently there's a software that does this stuff for you, you know so you aren't doing it step by step by hand. I will see how that goes and if this problem doesn't get resolved, I have vowed to fail the class. I simply cannot devote any more fruitless time to it and let the other class suffer. I will simply have to find a different math class to take. 

I really haven't done much else aside from homework and a few errands. I just haven't been feeling very well. We have done a little shopping, granted most of that has been online from Amazon. It was cheaper to get my textbooks for the next term from them and there were a couple of things I haven't been able to find locally. I actually do like to shop locally. 

The night before Thanksgiving Amanda and I were out running a few errands. I needed some winter candles for my altar and we decided to buy Christmas/Yule cards because I just don't think I will have time between now and when they need to be sent out to make them like I usually do. Which is actually a shame because I do enjoy making cards and playing with my embossing gun, paper, and stamps and ribbon. Anyway we found two long tapper candles that are pine scented, two small pillar candles that are cinnamon scented, and an apple cider tall pillar candle. We also found some beautiful non-religious Christmas cards that will work for all of our friends and family. Amanda is working on a little Yule/Christmas poem/letter and I've got all the envelopes addressed with the return address. We are printing out everyone else's address and gluing it on the envelop. 

Unfortunately, that trip to the store was marred by the fact that my Aunt Laura called me. She's my Mom's identical twin. Anyway I got the lecture about calling her more often. I got preached at and she really needs to stop that because A) I know she knows I am pagan because she likes the pagan things I post on facebook, B) She is the biggest hypocrite I have ever met and so many ways, and C) I am happy with the spiritual path I a walk. It is mine, not hers! On top of that this woman lied to me again! She was talking about how she has bone cancer and is going to have surgery and blah blah blah. She insisted on talking to Amanda after that and told her something different. Then she got pissed at Amanda when Amanda accidentally let it slip that we are moving to Spokane instead of back to Kansas. Needless to say that was not a pleasant conversation for us. We hadn't wanted to talk to her but we figured that we ought too, so my Cousin Shi-Chan wouldn't bear the brunt of my Aunt's vicious wrath. Seriously, this is no exaggeration.

I spoke with my Mom after that and my Mom clarified that Aunt Laura doesn't have bone cancer, something just looks odd on an x-ray and she will have to have some tests done. Well, my Mom must have said something to Aunt Laura because I got a heated message on my voice mail from my aunt demanding that I call her back because she NEEDS to talk to me. Until I hear from my Mom that it is in fact bone cancer, I refuse to believe my Aunt. She's screamed bone cancer and all sorts of things before so much that haven't be real or true that when she does come down with something no one knows if she is telling the truth and she is such a rotten person, no one really cares. I know that sounds insensitive, but this woman makes it her life's purpose to terrorize everyone around her. Just this morning when I spoke to my Dad, he was telling me that Aunt Laura had come over to scream at my Mom with a list of demands. She wanted soda, cigarettes, and various pills. As if my parents are the corner drug store. First of all, my parents don't have medicine to give out and they sure as hell wouldn't give it to her. Second, she was screaming so loud and fighting with my Mom that my Dad could hear it over his headphones up in his office. Now, Shi-chan said that her Mom was in a decent mood today but we all know that is because she wants Shi-chan to pay half the bills at the 1st of the month. As soon as Shi-chan does, Aunt Laura will just go back to being a monstrous tyrant. 

Whew and that's all I will say about that.   

Thanksgiving was spent in pain. We went to Amanda's Aunt Lola's for the afternoon. She rented out the clubhouse where she lives, which was awesome! But the metal folding chairs were too low to the ground and me, being a long-legged person, had kind of hard time with that. Plus they really hurt my back. I did switch to another type of chair in the club house for a little bit, but I barely fit in it and it kind of hurt my back in other ways. Aside from the physical pain, I had a lot of fun. I watched part of Frozen with Aunt Lola's granddaughters. We played 99 and I learned how to play card bingo, speed, and Mao (sp?). 

Later Thanksgiving night we decided to go visit a friend. But first, because we thought she was taking a nap, we stopped by Hasting's to get a coffee and look around. We found a few Christmas/Yule presents there, which was cool and it wasn't very busy. After we went there we went to visit our friend and watched a few episodes of RWBY with her. It was really good and I want to finish the show. 

I have also learned that not only is a friend having trouble with her husband (he told her he wanted a divorce on her birthday and this is after she found out he was cheating on her) but that she may have lupus. She and I haven't always been friends, there was a huge mess when she left my cousin Tony- as she was right to do but I didn't really know why she did at the time and on top of that, it was the way in which she did. That aside, we have since become friends, she is a wonderful mother, and has been a great friend to my cousin Shi-Chan. More than that, despite the fact that she and Tony had an ugly fall out, she still brings their kids over to see the rest of the family, which she really doesn't have to do. She never had a problem with the rest of us just Tony. Anyway, I am really scared for her and pretty much want to smack the shit out of her husband because he just doesn't care. He still wants a divorce and has said something awful to her son, something that pretty much made me cry a little for him. He is quite honestly the kindest, sweetest little boy I have ever met, well mannered, and so loving and that man just ripped his heart out. It is disgusting and my friend doesn't really know what to do. She will probably go ahead with the divorce, what else can she do, and then try to figure out where to move her kids and herself. Either she'll stay in the town she is in or she will move back to Wichita. As much as we all don't want to kids to have to change schools in the middle of the year, it might be easier on them if they are closer to family that can help their mother and who love them to pieces. 

Last night Amanda and I cuddled in bed and watched Snowpiercer after I finished some homework. It was pretty good. We then watched a few episodes of American Dad before deciding we needed toast and Coco. We got a little sucked into a movie on the Hallmark channel her mother was watching. It had cats in it. 

Today I have managed to get a little more of my homework done, but really I am just overwhelmed and in need of a couple of days without homework period. I just need to crochet and watch movies or read something for fun, something that's not a text book, and I need to get some sewing started... except I can't do that until Cathy gets her stuff out of the dining room, or at least gives me some room to sew. 

But for now, I am going to get back to homework before laying down for bed. I have to make sure I am up at a normal, decent time, so I can be ready for my tutoring appointment. Since I've been sick, my sleeping schedule has been a mess. I've been getting up around 2 pm and that's not okay. I will feel better when I get back to a normal routine and rhythm. Seriously, I almost cried over the anime I used to watch but haven't in a long time. That's just silly.  

Quick update!

I decided to delete my Crimson's Crafts and culinary blog tonight. As much as I would have loved to keep it, I just haven't had the time to truly give it the attention it deserves. So for now on, I shall revert to posting craft projects and cooking projects here again. 

That is all.

Busy, Sick, and Miserable

I've been really kind of busy lately. We've had company again and done a few things with the IEPG. Earlier this week we went to a class or rather a discussion on Heathenism. I've always liked our Heathen Coordinator and he is still and will be a go to person when one has questions. It's also nice to hear someone express some of the same opinions you have when it comes to the Gods and Wights and so forth. However, it's not that I don't like new people, but there were two out of four new people who came who I just really didn't like. One I found to be kind of rude and annoying. I understand that she and her husband came in from out of town but if waiting a few more minutes for others to show up is enough of an annoyance to you, then maybe you shouldn't drive and hour and half to come to a two hour discussion and leave your dogs in the car while it's cold. Or get testy when someone else is talking and didn't seem to get the memo or understand that certain things may not happen as far as an open Kindred until next year. I mean really, chill the fuck out.

Another woman was only faintly annoying and in that way, she was kind of, oh I don't know, enlightening? She was talking about Oath Rings for her and her fiance and of course, Fiona, Amanda, and I didn't really know what that was so we looked them up when we got home. Apparently this woman is extremely particular and possibly half full of bull shit? I'm not sure. It's a toss up because she seems to know enough but some of her info is very weird. Apparently you can make Oath Rings, they aren't that hard to find, and aren't even wedding rings. The Kindred uses them to make Oaths. I suppose you can make an Oath on the Ring during the ceremony? Not quite sure on that one, but I will be looking into this further because it's kind of neat! However, I did not really agree with her that depression is a luxury that people today have. Yes, people in olden days had to work the land and were busy as hell trying to survive, but if you have a chemical imbalance in your brain, it doesn't matter how much work you do, you can still be depressed. I know this first hand, even with working in the land. Do I feel better doing gardening, sure, but I still get depressed. So that kind of ticked me off. That and she said that she had to pay 400 dollars to get a Thor's Hammer pendant made and shipped from Scandinavia seemed like total bull shit because I've seen them on the Internet for years when I wasn't in the market for one. But apparently she wanted a very special one made of silver but silver isn't that expensive. 

Somehow Fiona managed to get some flu-like bug and it hit her fast! She was sick all night at my house and I slept right through it, granted I sleep through a lot. She snuck out of my house like a ninja before I was up and left a note on my toilet explaining what happened. And then, I caught it whatever it is that she had. I've spent the last couple of days and night sick and miserable complete with fevers and all the gross bathroom issues. Today, I am feeling a little better, but my body whole body hurts something awful and I'm not even sure if I will be at my desk much longer not to mention that I'm really tired. I can't seem to handle water, which is odd. It makes my stomach cramp horribly, so when I do drink it I have to sip carefully and small. I've managed to keep some ginger ale and soup down but not very much. Amanda made Cream of Wheat for me for breakfast. I wasn't able to finish is but hey, that was a couple of hours ago and I'm feeling a little hungry. I might try some soup again and see how I do with tea because that's basically water with herbs. 

I had to e-mail my instructors yesterday and let them know I'm sick. I told them I would do my best to work on homework but some stuff might be late. Since I feel a little better today, I am going to work on a little of both. 

      

Unhelpful doctor, room arrangement, overwhelming and sadness.

I don't remember who did this picture but it's pretty, it's a kitty, and it makes me happy so that for me, that's all that matters.

Last night Amanda and I rearranged the bedroom. We have more room and it looks nice. We should be able to really move back into the bedroom to get more homework done now instead of having to wait for Amanda's mom to go to bed at night. Did I mention that Cathy changed her work hours to later in the day. So she can stay up later and only goes to bed when I am getting ready to. So any homework I want to get done absolutely has to be done when she is at work. And then I have to move into the bedroom if I have any hopes of doing it. Which means I don't really get to spend time with Amanda because she's still stuck out in the living room because Vizio still hasn't sent her her fucking computer! But that's another rant for a different time.  

I went to the doctor today for my ear. I have a bump inside and at first I thought because it hurt, it was a zit, but it's not red and doesn't have a head. It is also really strange because I am really good about cleaning my ears. Anyway, it's been causing me some pain and discomfort and even hampering my hearing. I've tried antibiotic ointment and finally decided to go to the doctor. I didn't get to see my usual doctor but another. She didn't have my chart and thought that I was a new patient. She was very nice but also not very helpful. Her advice was to try moist heat for the next couple of days to see if it will resolve itself. If not, then I need to fill and take the prescription of antibiotics. Oh and did I mention that I have gained weight again? That bit just about made me scream while I was standing on the doctor's office scale.

After the doctor's visit, a very short and disheartening conversation with my Dad, and some other things all piling up on me, had me kind of- no really sobbing on the phone to my mother while waiting for Bethy and her sister to bring their laundry down to my Jeep to bring it over for washing. I am so tried of Amanda's parents lying to me about food I make. They say they like it but really they don't like change, they don't like any spice what so ever, and that really is okay. But they also don't want us to eat food separately from them. I don't like Cathy's bland-ass cooking and what she cooks, is slowly killing me. Its so unhealthy! I just wish people wouldn't lie to me. Like when Cathy said she would help me figure out how to expand the coat pattern I bought to make me a coat that I actually liked and that actually fit me properly. She even called me today and asked me if I had tried some on at Lane Bryant. I have, they don't really fit right. But she doesn't want to be bothered to help me I guess.

Also my Dad hasn't been answering my text messages. Turns out he just didn't feel like replying to them, which is annoying and kind of hurtful. I don't really get to talk to him too much since I haven't been able to play Guild Wars or really game much at all. It's like he doesn't really have anything to say. I know he's really depressed but I'm really depressed too and still get up everyday and try to make the best of it. They have also had my cousin over a lot, which makes me happy because she needs all the breaks she can get from my insane and abusive aunt. But sometimes it feels like my family back home has just written me off and have started to replace me. I feel like I am being punished because I moved back to Northern Idaho with Amanda. I've spent the last three years miserable in my living situation, fighting with a body that will not cooperate, and being humiliated for all my health issues (by doctors and a judge). I've made the trip home twice, once for my Uncle's funeral, and again for a month long visit but none of my family can be bothered to come see me, even when they had the money to do so. My Mom said that they haven't written me off and aren't replacing me. It still hurts and I am upset that I even had thoughts like this.

Dad also said that he's only read some of the short stories I sent him last term but not all of them and hasn't sent me any feedback. If I can't get my own family to read my stuff, how am I supposed to expect the general public to?  

But we have Bethy here tonight, I am pushing my homework to Saturday night. We've got a little Angry Orchard's Hard Apple Cider, and are going to watch movies. I might even crochet. 

Running a little behind

I decided to do a little cosmetic change with my blog while I'm taking a night off from school and remembering to do it. As it is, I am a little behind in my classes. It's my fault, I misread some directions in my math class and was trying to do homework for week seven instead of week one. I got a little stuck. So this week I called the tutoring center learned my mistake and did the homework for week one. I also did the homework for this week for my context of writing class. Except that I forgot that we are supposed to be doing journals for our big final project. I still have those to do and this week's math work and the 1st exam. I will probably get it done tomorrow and Sunday.

We managed to get all but one piece of our Halloween/autumn decor packed up. It's not in the garage yet. I don't know for sure when we are doing Christmas decorations but I am kind of hoping Amanda and I can be moved out by then. She's looking for another job but I will talk more about that later. I've been really tired lately so I am keeping this short. 

Very belated Haunted Hump Day 10 and Halloween Party

I know I am painfully late with the last Haunted Humpday post. Part of that is on purpose and part of that is not. Last weekend we had Samhain with the IEPG group, we've had company, and I spent some time with my friend Jen before she moved back to Wisconsin. I also had a new term of school start up this week and we've been very busy getting ready for the Halloween Party at our friend's house. Anyway, the above picture is me in my Halloween costume. I was a vampire sans the teeth (never got around to getting them). I made the shirt from a black knit material and black lace and while I still have to put bias tape (?) on the neckline, I can say it is one of the most comfortable shirts I own. Why? Because it's actually tailored to me!  Don't ask about my hair, it's a curly mess and I'd already started sweating and drinking by then.

These were our forks and napkins for the party. It took Amanda asking if we could do this, me trying to do it, and Fiona figuring out how to make the teeth stay for it to work! 

Our dessert table has Chris B's ghost brownies, my green coffin cake, and a blue berry lemonade-lemonade-vodka-hibiscus pomegranate vodka punch.

There's Amanda making out with one of my haunted skulls again. She's done in years past. 

We had such a good time! A lot of our friends up here came and brought their kids, fur kids included. There was food, drinks, fun, and dancing. The kids had a lot of candy to snack on and after they left, I got pretty drunk. I actually felt pretty good, danced a bit, somehow I ended up on the floor. Apparently Amanda decided she needed to help me out of a chair and I didn't exactly want to go. I also apparently walked up the mirror and looked in it and said "I look like a princess". I don't remember this but everyone else does and they certainly gave me shit about it this morning. It was good fun though. Shenanigans abounded for certain. 

This morning was another matter. My back was sure to remind me that I can't move like a normal person no matter how much I want to, and that I have to be careful. 

Thank you Marfi for hosting the Haunted Humpday Event!!! I hope to jump in again next year with more fun goodies to share! For now, I am dragging myself to bed so I can do my statistics homework tomorrow.