I can hardly believe I’ve reached the 9-year milestone! In celebration, I’m debuting something new on my blog.
9-Year Blogiversary
Posted in Personal
Category: Personal
A New Forever Hobby?
Posted in Personal
A year ago today, I started work on my first successful amigurumi (a small, stuffed, knit/crochet creature or object) a Cthulhu kit from Crochet box.
I had tried crochet in the past, and I was proficient at basic knitting. The Woobles ads were all over social media, and they made me want to give crochet another try. My dad bought me a seriously overpriced — but super cute — collector set from the Woobles, so I bought an affordable one with similar yarn off of Amazon. I wanted to try this new yarn in a less expensive kit first. My previous attempts at making amigurumi hadn’t gone well, and I didn’t want to completely f^©k up the expensive ones.
Bookish Side Quests
Posted in Book Blogger, and Personal
Sometimes you need a break from life’s main missions, so we have side quests! I’ve assigned myself some bookish side quests to accomplish by the end of this year.
Near the end of last year, I finally got around to getting myself a local library card. One of my friends is a massive proponent of libraries, and, though not her intention, her advocacy of them made me feel a bit ashamed that I have had a library card in… um… hmm… decades?
Having secured a card, I promptly set up a Libby account and was suitably impressed by how easy digital borrowing is. I don’t read physical books; I’m an eBook devotee.
The downside to libraries — versus buying books or subscription services like Kindle Unlimited — is book availability. You could wait for weeks or even months for a copy to be available. So, I started looking for ways to improve my access.
Hyperfixation Hobby
Posted in Personal
I’ve written about my ADHD a few times now. Today you get another update.
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve likely seen my crochet posts. Crochet is my new hyperfixation hobby. For those unfamiliar with the term, hyperfixation is when someone becomes intensely passionate and involved in an activity or hobby for extended periods of time — often at the expense of other responsibilities and daily tasks.
I’ve always had a tendency to return to fiber art hobbies, irrespective of the amount of time it’s been since I last engaged in them. Whether cross-stitch, knitting, embroidery, or sewing, I always find my way back to them.
Confronted by Privilege
Posted in Personal
Last week, I was able to attend the GSA Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) virtually. I learned about it while doing research for an accessibility series I’m putting together for work. This was my first year attending.
Because I found out about it on Section508.gov, I expected it to be a more learning-based event. Instead, it was more like a professional conference.
I did learn a lot, including about some very interesting technology and tools in the works. But, I was also smacked in the face with my own, unacknowledged, privilege.
Just a quick thank you to my readers.
Sometimes You Need a Rant
Posted in Book Blogger, and Personal
I’ve said before that I tend to read “easy reads” that I can get lost in, specifically books without much conflict or angst. However, I also read non-fiction occasionally, usually history based.
I especially enjoy books that examine historical expectations, lifestyles, and often-overlooked details like Unmentionable and Corsets & Codpieces. They can really help understand the nuances of historical literature and provide supplementary information to better understand documentaries. When done well, historical non-fiction can be interesting and a fun way to learn more. But, they can also go horribly wrong
Fountain Pen Cosplay
Posted in Fountain Pens, and Personal
If you’re a member of Goulet Nation, or if you follow me on Instagram, there’s a good chance you know about my Makeup Monday posts. On any Monday that I have the time to do so, I match my makeup to a pen. Usually a pen I own, occasionally a pen I want, sometimes one of NibsAndFlourishes beautiful photos.
At some point, someone on Goulet Nation called it fountain pen cosplay. While I still wish people a happy Makeup Monday, I tend to think of the matching by that term. Over the years that I’ve been “cosplaying” as fountain pens, I can’t count the number of times someone has requested that I teach a class or write a post. So, I’m finally doing so. Having said that, I’ve tried to write this post so many times. Never have I started a post as many times as I have this one. But, I think I’ve got it figured out now.
Be aware, this post is really long. I’ve added links so you can pop straight down to any section that interests you if you don’t want to read the whole thing.
Genetic Testing for Mental Health
Posted in Personal
I’ve written about mental health a few times now, generally to share information I’ve recently learned. This post only differs from those in that I haven’t recently learned about genetic testing for mental health.
Jim credits the genetic test he took about 9 years ago with changing his life. The one I took about 2.5 years ago wasn’t quite as influential, but it saved me from the medication equivalent of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Neither Jim nor I have done much research recently on the genetic tests we took. So, I won’t attempt to give you much in the way of up-to-date information. Instead, I want to tell you about what we each got out of taking the tests. I hope this gives you enough information to be able to talk to your doctor about getting a test done, especially if your current treatment isn’t getting you the results you want.
Why I Took a Break
Posted in Personal
There’s a small chance you noticed that I didn’t post much last month. The few posts I shared at the beginning of April were pre-written.
On March 29, my first cat, Sandy, died unexpectedly at the vet during a drop-off appointment for a very routine blood sugar monitor application. He was my little old man, my Sandman, my Colonel Sanders. Needless to say, I wasn’t really feeling like myself.
I know a lot of people are against others sharing tragedies, but every time I tell the story, it gets a little easier. I’ve been finding it’s true that a burden shared is a burden halved.
ADHD Update
Posted in Personal
As I briefly mentioned in my BWIPS 2023 post, I’ve adjusted my treatment for ADHD recently. Before I get into it, for those who haven’t read my ADHD journey post, allow me to give you a quick overview of what’s been going on.
10 Long Years
Posted in Personal
heal [ hēl ], transitive verb: to make free from injury or disease : to make sound or whole
Merriam-Webster
They say time heals all wounds. I disagree, I think time closes all wounds. After all, if you have a large scar, are you truly healed?
I questioned writing this post because it seemed a bit over the top. But, this is my blog, and I can write about whatever I want.
Also, I could use a chance to write something easy. The recent Athena posts have been exhausting. The posts about her illness and FIP, especially, each required hours of research to turn veterinary and diagnostic reports into something understandable.
A few years ago, I took advantage of a Groupon deal to try out a boudoir shoot. I wanted to improve my self-confidence and thought that seeing myself through someone else’s eyes might help. It was a nice experience, and it did what I’d hoped. We still have some of those photos on the wall in our bedroom.
That shoot led me to research boudoir photographers on Instagram, which is how I found Trevor of Provocateur Images. His posts caught my eye. They’re gorgeous! I especially liked seeing that he’s size-inclusive and LGBTQIA+ friendly. And, while it didn’t apply to me, he takes great couples shots.
But, he’s in Toronto. A bit far to travel for a photo shoot. Jim, though, came up with a fabulous idea to combine a trip for the photo shoot with a trip for Scriptus. Brilliant man.
So, we booked a trip for October 2020. And then the world exploded. Thankfully, Trevor allowed me to put my shoot on hold until things got back to normal.
It’s An ADHD Thing?!
Posted in Personal
At roughly a year since I first sought help for a resurgence of ADHD symptoms, I’ve learned a lot, especially from meme accounts on Instagram. One of the big things I’ve learned about fairly recently is that sharing a personal story to relate to something someone has said isn’t something everyone does! I legitimately never noticed that I could be somewhat unusual in that.
Slowing the Shopping
Posted in Fountain Pens, and Personal
If you read my ADHD post, you know I have troubles with purchasing things. As it seemed that at least some of you found that post helpful, I’d like to share one of my biggest weapons in managing my shopping impulses, especially with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday shopping coming up.
For me, the most helpful thing has been what I call anti-shoping mantras. These short phrases and questions let me pause my thinking long enought to reconsider what I’m doing. This extra moment is often enough to allow me to stop myself.
My AD(H)D Journey
Posted in Personal
I found your interest in a post about my AD(H)D journey surprising. I included it as a possible topic in my request for help only because I’d recently experienced a lot of new symptoms. I never expected it to be in the top 5 most requested.
I’m going to shorten “ADD/ADHD” as AD(H)D. I’m not an expert on either “variation” of the condition, so I don’t want to imply that what I’ve dealt with or information I’ve found is specific to one or other. Also, some medical professionals are now using ADHD as an umbrella term to to cover hyperactive type (previously referred to as ADHD), inattentive type (previously referred to as ADD), and combined type (also referred to as ADHD).
5-year anniversary
Posted in Personal
It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I started this blog. I originally considered writing some great retrospective with a side of holy crap, I kept this going for 5 freakin’ years!! But, then I found a tag to do instead. While I haven’t posted consistently for the full 5 years, I am pretty happy that I’ve stuck with it this long. Here’s to another 5!
This post is inspired by Angelica Nyqvist‘s video Well This Has Been Quite The Journey…. In that video, she credits Erica Conger and notyourbasicsteph with coming up with the idea.
Stick Shift Update
Posted in Personal
The interest you all showed in an update to my experience driving stick shift surprised me. I wrote the first post about 1¼ years ago, and there have definitely been some ups and downs in that time. Let’s start with the lows, shall we? Then we can end on a positive note.
London Relaxation
Posted in Personal
A few weeks ago, Jim and I were finally in London for vacation. Let me tell, you, missing out on vacations because of COVID sucks. This vacation, however, was unlike any other I’ve taken as an adult. Going back to London for the fourth time, and knowing that we’ll be back again, removed all pressures to see and do everything.
Instead of my typical approach of planning something each day, we made plans for every other day. The extra time in the evenings and “off” days let us really relax.
British Museum
The British Museum was our first scheduled activity. The architecture was surprisingly contrasting, and the sections we walked through were fascinating.
Jim and I outside the museum. 
The entrance to the museum. 
The interior of the museum.
