July 4, 2023 – Reintroduction: I had to take some time away. Inflammation got bad, and I’ve been chronically digestively challenged, and then a nasty bout of Covid-19, all on top of needing to get exercise while deep-cleaning the flat in preparation for the first new flatmate since 2015. I am still interested in doing this journal, but not always committed to it. After Covid (and Paxlovid) in early June, I feel less inflamed, but I also feel the accumulation of inflammation collecting. Would it be better to commit to regular journaling? I dunno… Why? It is a journal of sorts for me, but not one I ever intend to read again. It’s more fun if I am making pictures that I like and when I feel better than Achy.
I do have a bit of a plan that I can announce: Upon the arrival of the new flatmate, I will return to the art-making table on a more regular schedule to expand on the cathead series. Why not?
Learned: that I can still paint a relatively straight line; that I can produce the energy to do many of the things I could not over the past ten years as long as I take ample breaks; that a dear friend had been kidnapped in Haiti that the city of San Francisco is more-or-less okay with the lawlessness that goes on as long as nobody gets shot.
Grateful: that I can envision putting my retirement business plan together now and see if the industries and niches I choose still exist in four years.
Accomplished: OMG, so much I won’t remember it all. Put together a little reunion and shared some energizing love on the day that it happened. New stove installed, and then re-installed how I actually need it after the installers left. Repainting of sections of kitchen floor AND adding grey and black areas to account for the new stove in the composition. Repainting of kitchen table (sorry, Javon!). Pulled all items from the black wire pantry shelf, cleaned it, painted the pantry’s lower walls (and way better than I did before… I remember bottoming out energy-wise at that point back in 2003), touched up pantry window trim and other parts in there (thankfully the paint still works that I kept for this kind of touch-up), super cleaned the hallway carpet… it still looks pretty bad, but as a first pass, I got about 55% of the ancient dirt pulled out… new toilet seat installed. Shower window un-painted-shut. Oh, and all but secured a lovely new flatmate with a gentleman’s agreement. Who’s coming is a gentleman, for sure!
Thinking about: all I need to do and that I’m writing this instead of doing it; that I need to start putting my retirement business plan together now but wait and see if the industries and niches I choose still exist in four years when I need to have unsuccessfully launched two years back (because people on disability aren’t allowed to earn money); that I really want to rest more than I want to do more work, and wonder if it’s a habit or if I really need the rest.
Thankful
Reading/Listening/Watching right now: I’ve been listening to a lot of French pop on Spotify while cleaning and painting. I have been adding new artists to my old listener’s head and have realized some of the lesser-known artists I used to listen to pre-2006 have become huge successes. Working on a Playlist called “Make Him a Tape.” Finished Netflix’s “Better Call Saul” and rewatched “Breaking Bad.” Just started a Korean show on Hulu called “Big Mouth,” which is a little crazy but fun. Finding comfort in occasionally binge-watching “The Rookie” on Hulu.
Seems: like some human-caused calamities are being considered acts of god.
Seemings From Before: like I need to be being a particular way that is invisible to me; upon realizing that I am so loved, it’s like I DON’T GO THERE; like I get thrown back, pulled back, or pushed back, even though I get there is no back; like low barometric pressure gives me extra inflammation; like there is now so much content churning out about every single thing that someone could be interested in that it is pressing my “just give up” button.
Ecology of Practices: MOVED TO HERE:
A Quote About Independence:
“What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.”
~Marcus Tullius Cicero