Life betwixt & between the floors

Work – auditors are still here so that hangs in the air and occasionally means requests for documents, but they have otherwise been strangely quiet. With year end essentially completed I enter my “slow” time. I do have a large project looming over me, but it is truly so overwhelming and data intensive that I am having a hard time starting it. Not quite sure how to approach it.

Still stressing over money. Since I received my cell phone bill last month so late in the cycle (just 3 days before it was due), I actually didn’t catch the minute overage until well into the current billing cycle and that one was even worse! Even without that painful bill, I gotta figure something out. Most likely have to reduce what I am putting in retirement for awhile again.

Had a visit from a way too cute kitten. DS1’s gf got one last week. His name is Chip and he is a stripey charcoal grey with white. He was the runt of his litter and is just as loving and sweet as can be! I held him on my shoulder the whole time. Man he made me want a pet! I never had one growing up – my mom just didn’t want the fuss. When I was with DS1’s dad we had a dog for a couple of years and then cats afterwards. But that was at a time in my life that was way too complex and stressful so animals actually made it worse. Since then, I have been renting which meant no pets, and then just happy not to have that responsibility like my mom. However, the complete bombardment of cat and dog pics on the blogs have been chipping away at my resolve. Especially since I did have a couple of weeks this year when I was totally alone at home, a furry friend would be great companionship. I know – see above with the money worries and don’t add on a money sucking animal to the mix. Got it. For now :->

With the destruction downstairs, I have been living in my bedroom all week. Also haven’t walked since Labor Day. Trying not to feel too guilty about that. I do know that I am in strong enough walking shape to handle things, but I also need to get out there which is probably not going to happen until the project is done. At least I got a nice donation this week. Only $435 to go!

The anniversary of 9/11 turned out better than I thought it would. Someone on DailyKos started a diary titled “Where were you?” and it was a great non-political way to just share stories about where we all were when we heard about it, who saw what happen. It was for me a great way to commemorate the day. Many of the commenters were there in NYC and one was actually in Tower 2 on the 16th floor. The stories were wonderful. I did not watch any of the TV events.

For me, the commentary which hit my soul the deepest was Keith Olberman’s. He has recently just been on fire with his special commentary. Of course, I relate to it since his opinions mirror my own regarding this administration, but after so many years when I felt like there was no one in the media who saw things the way I do, it was deeply satisfying to hear. I must say that with my recent foray into political reading and blogging I am always amazed at how one event can be viewed from so many different angles and how passionately we all feel about our individual interpretations. As much as I love a good debate and welcome diversity and differences in opinion though – it’s been a long hard run with the GOP in power and I am often angry and embarassed and feeling almost helpless and often silenced. DailyKos and commentary like Olberman’s give me hope.