#muddling through

[seathesilverlinings]

Dose of Kayo, anyone? 🖤

[missnoodliness]

I always forget how large his vacation home is. Regular sized human dresser for scale.

It's 7 levels of fun. I forgot to bring his ramp with us.

But he's happier back in the apt.

[whynotfabulous]

Officially furloughed starting next sunday and the florida unemployment filing site will not recognize my information.

[saltyspitfire]

Holly had spent a while leveling out a patch of dirt. A tedious task, which took longer than one might think, and she’d hated every minute of it. But it would make the rest of her project much easier in the long run. Tossing the shovel aside, she began stacking her cinder blocks.

Gathering them from down near the lack had turned into a fiasco, and her stomach still turned when she thought about it. She wanted to drink. Drown those memories away, but she’d gotten rid of everything in the house. And she almost had two months without taking even a sip. It was nothing, and if she told anyone they’d likely have a good laugh, but it was an achievement. She’d gone six months earlier in the year, before the trouble with the raiders. Then the shit with the pasty faced puke had pushed her over the edge. 

The anger and shame she felt over the whole thing was overwhelming, and she did not know how to get shed of it. All she knew is that if she started drinking again, this time, she might not stop.

Footsteps behind her drew her attention for a moment, and she turned to see Matty approaching, and the dogs all running to greet him.

“Hey,” Matty spoke over the excited yips and whines from the dogs, “Heard you met a Gunner today.”

She half turned, and gave a nod.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t do nothin’ but run his damn mouth,” she scoffed, unable to bring herself to tell him the kind of shit he’d said. The implications. It made her skin crawl, and it would only piss him off, “Already talked to Betty about it. She’s  dealt with him before.”

“He been a problem?”

“Not that I’m aware. Besides being a fuckin’ pig, anyhow,” Holly shook her head, “We’re puttin’ more folks on patrol, Keepin’ a close eye on things just in case.”

Matty nodded, and took a seat on a nearby stump, “You sure got shit luck with assholes, don’t you?” a pause, while he rubbed his face, “Speakin’ of...found out a little ‘bout the other shithead.”

Holly stopped, and turned to face him squarely, “Yeah?”

“Not a helluva lot, sorry to say,” he let out a breath. Duke rested his head on Matthew’s thigh; a request for ear scratches, which Matthew was happy to give, “‘Parently he’s part of a group that calls themselves The Saints. They all wear purple, so you know who they’re with, I guess. They’re fairly new to these parts from what I’ve gathered, just gettin’ set up. Fella givin’ you trouble does go by Boss.”

She rolled her eyes, and made a sound in the back of her throat and grumbled, “Stupid fuckin’ name.”

Matty chuckled, and nodded, “Gotta agree with you there.”

“You know where they’re holed up?”

“Not for sure. Nobody I talked to knew much on that account. Best guess, somewhere not too far from Diamond City, but there’s a whole lotta places they could be, I’ll have to do some more pokin’ around,” he shook his head, “But, from what I gather, they’re havin’ a pissin’ match with local raiders and Gunners in the area, so gettin’ in to look around ain’t gonna be easy.”

Fear flickered across Holly’s features, and her stomach did a quick twist. Even without the raiders and Gunners, it would have been hard to do much recon without getting shot, but with all of that going on too? Holly swallowed against a knot in her throat. After everything else, everyone she’d already had to bury, she could not bear the thought of having to dig a grave for Matty too.

“Don’t...” her voice broke, and a brief moment passed before she was able to continue, “D-Don’t go pokin’ too much. That little puke’s off his damn rocker.”

He studied her for a moment, face solemn, and then shook his head, “Ain’t gonna set to it just yet, but I’ll be careful when I do. I promise. I reckon if he was gonna try’n come at you again right away, he’d woulda done it by now. We’ll keep the Shepherd’s around for a while longer, if they’re willin’. Once you’re ready to go out scavvin’ again, Starling says she’ll go out with you. Grant and Slim too. Reckon you got plenty-a folks who’d be willin’ to go with you.”

“That’s a while off,” she said quietly, now turning back to the cinder blocks. Holly lifted another, and placed in line next to the last one, taking care to butt them right up against each other, “I’m tired, Matty.”

“I know,” he spoke gently, There was no condescension in his tone, only sadness, “You been walkin’ a rough road for good long while. Ain’t no shame in takin’ a breather.”

Holly did not answer, and instead studied her assortment of blocks. It was not going to be enough, not just yet She’d need two rows stacked up at least. Three would be better, to get a nice bed of coals going. Two that she’d dug up earlier were broken, and might not end up working. They could be used for something else, but probably not for this. Holly let out a long sigh, and grabbed one of the blocks that was whole.

Duke had settled in the grass for a nap, and Matthew stood, and coming closer to look at her project, “Whatcha workin’ on here?”

“Smokehouse,” she nudged the cinder block into place with her foot, “Like the one we had back home.”

“Gotta good start on it,” he smiled, “Be nice to have some smoke meat over the winter. You want a hand?”

“Nah, I’m alright. Might get you to help later though...when I’m doin’ the walls. You was always better with a hammer’n nails than me.”

“Sure, be glad to,” Matthew looked up at the darkening sky, “I’ll go get some supper goin’ while you finish up.”

“Alright, I’ll be along to help in a few.”

[dr-archeville]

Fictional Phrases: Making due with no supernatural powers of your own in a world of common magic.

"Muggling through somehow." 

[source: Owen K.C. Stephens]

[atlemont]

Today is supposed to be our pre-Christmas set up day. My wonderful husband just informed me that his parents are coming over for Christmas morning breakfast, so I have about 500 more things to do before Christmas now.

Today we have to: clean the front room, put up the tree, get ready for and go to R’s Christmas showcase, decorate the tree, go to the local drive through lights display. We also have to feed and cloth and shower etc.

I’m. Just. Not. Feeling. It.

I know why. So I’m gonna try really hard to push through. I sent Hubby to bed at 8:30 last night cause he was falling asleep standing up, so hopefully he is well rested and down for this. I think I’m making it a no tv or electronics day (except for taking photos or video!). I think we all need it.

Happy Saturday everyone 😕

[liskantope]

There’s an idea I want to express which forms a basis for part of my outlook on life which I formed gradually in the years following college. One day I’ll find the words to explain myself fully, but for now I’ll just say the following (not exactly endorsed, just a guideline for how I’ve chosen to live my life).

When you see someone just one rung below you on the ladder of Life, it’s good to reach out your hand to lift them up to where you are. It’s not necessarily a good idea to reach out to those who are many rungs below, since they may wind up pulling you down more than you’re able to pull them up.

When you see someone just one rung above you on the ladder of Life, it’s good to call out to them to give you a hand. You should not expect those who are many rungs higher to reach out to you, as you run the risk of pulling them down more than they’re able to pull you up.

Note that if everyone follows this guideline, everyone eventually makes progress.

[hdyram]

This is definitely a "thank God for my cat and chocolate" pms day