Wait for it.

Protagonist and antagonist in the story of my life. Sad is happy for deep people. If Michigan lost I'm probably in a bad mood. I knit, read and obsessively watch tv shows to keep things interesting.

[rfsnyder]

Sculptured Sandstone by Maynard Dixon – 1944 Western Desert Rock Landscape

[like-a-telescope]

Damn, the proposed 2027 budget cuts 10% of my staff in my department. It might end up being not that bad and it might end up being worse. No idea how they would decide who.

I’m tired!!!!!

[like-a-telescope]

I know I complain about this a lot, but what is the fucking POINT of making this much money with so little vacation time? I hate this so much.

[random-brushstrokes]

Alexandr Alexeevich Borisov - Seals (1912)

From the diaries of the artist: «It was very difficult to work; I had to cut the brushes, make the bristle short, rub the colors was almost inconceivable. <… > The hand is cracking, it is breaking; the roaring hands refuse to serve. But you draw, all thirsty to put on the canvas these bizarre, gloomy, full of peculiar beauty paintings of the Far North» (source)

[like-a-telescope]

The house next door to BF's house went up for sale last week-ish and I was FERAL for an open house but it only took six days to become active with contingency. I don't think they're going to do an open house. Whoever buys the house might live there for the next 20 years and I will have missed my chance to see the inside and compare it to his (soon also my!) house. I keep ranting about it and I'm sure BF is a bit perplexed, but you cannot underestimate my desire to see inside this freaking house. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

[like-a-telescope]

One other life/job update is that I’m going to be a union steward for my union. I’m really excited and think I will find it deeply rewarding work AND a great way of meeting other like-minded people and feeling less alone at work — I will be talking to the other union stewards a lot and they seem great.

I see it as a really big responsibility and want to do a good job! For anyone who doesn’t know what a union steward does, I don’t know a lot yet, but my impression is that it can range widely from responding to emails from union members to attending disciplinary meetings as a union rep and making sure managers are following the proceedings above-board. I see it as being an advocate.

[like-a-telescope]

Lately I have been drinking more lattes because I love going to a coffee shop and having a little treat, but even though I order half caf, my body is consistently telling me it cannot handle these drinks by making me feel sick for the next 6 hours about 30% of the time, which is unfortunately too high to be sustainable.

I may have to go back to tea/kombucha/refreshers only, but so many of the coffee shops here do not have good options for non-coffee drinks! It aggravates me.

[angelicguy]

i bet girls hated it in 1902 cuz you would constantly go on dates w guys who are working on an invention to present at the world fair

[like-a-telescope]

OMG I got a step increase for being at my job a year and am now very very close to $100k.

But relatedly it is tough to be making so much more money than your partner and knowing he is very unhappy with his salary, and meanwhile I have had two 5ish% raises in the past three months (the first as part of our new union contract). Like my salary is now 10k higher than it was in May. Which is crazy!!!!

[nobrashfestivity]

William Morris, Wallpaper Designs, 1870′s

[like-a-telescope]

Was very bereft because I was in the middle of three books I didn’t like, so I picked this up on a whim at a used bookstore today…I absolutely LOVE it so far. It’s a travel memoir following backroads in the US from 1982, and the writer has such an eye for detail, such poignant insights, and clearly has a way with people given the interactions he has with them. I guess it’s a “critically acclaimed bestseller” but, while I own (but haven’t read) another book by this author, I’d never heard of it.

[like-a-telescope]

There’s really no delicate way to put it, but Ernie’s butt smells pretty rank. He needs to go to the vet, but I’M sick and just haven’t been able to deal with it yet.

The worst part of it is that he is also leaving the rank smell on surfaces like the sofa. There isn’t any visible stain or anything but I imagine this has got to be an anal glands thing or something? GAHHHHHHHH. My sinuses are too inflamed to deal with this. Though also I shudder to think how bad the smell is with clear nasal passages.

[like-a-telescope]

Oh also my department at work might be eliminated. There are going to be major layoffs for the first time in 16 years, and they are STILL going to have to increase the levy by double digits. It's up in the air which jobs and which departments/divisions get the boot. I'm in a difficult position because I absolutely believe the most fiscally responsible thing to do would be to nix our department; we provide services duplicative to the County, effectively taxing people twice. But I also would hate to lose my job (again). Anyway, it'll probably all be fine. They couldn't get through the conversion to the County without my team, I know that at the very least.

[like-a-telescope]

BF has been wanting to grill all summer and I asked him about what kind of grill he wants and it took some time to find one for a) a decent price and b) in a location I was willing to drive to but I got the kind he wants this morning off FB Marketplace for $20!!!! I can’t wait to surprise him later teeheheee

[like-a-telescope]

so obsessively following these MI primary returns

[nobrashfestivity]

Emil Nolde, 1934

more

[like-a-telescope]

I am home! Though very troublingly, I have a pretty bad sore throat and feel like I’m coming down with something. Like geez, I just got home after more or less being away for the last two weeks. Sadly it would make sense for me to be sick after such demanding travel but like PLEASE no. :(

[like-a-telescope]

Well I am indeed sick. I mostly feel terrible because my mom is immunocompromised and my grandparents are supposed to travel this weekend. I just really hope I haven’t infected them!!!!!!!

And I hope I haven’t infected BF too but let’s be real, I would guess he is extremely likely to get it. I wasn’t totally sure I was sick or if I was reacting to stale air in the plane and tired from travel yesterday and he decided he didn’t care and kissing (A LOT) was critical after being apart for a few days.