an unquiet grave

[the_siobhan]

2 – World Book Day: What are you reading at the moment or what have you just finished reading?  
3 – What if cats and dogs had opposable thumbs day? This is a fun one, what do you think our furry companions would be doing if they could open the cans themselves?
4 – International scrapbook industry day: Have you ever made a scrapbook?  If you were to start a scrapbook today what would you put in it?

 I just finished reading The Martian. If my cats had thumbs they would become unstoppable in their quest to destroy everything I own and eat until they throw up. I have never done scrapbooking, but it seems to be popular amongst some of my friends who have kids.

5 – Fun facts about Names Day: Does your name have a meaning?  Were you named after somebody? How old do you think your name is?  This could be your first name or surname.

My name is a feminized Gaelicized version of "John", so it has a religious background.

My father tells the story that when I was born he filled out the required paperwork and he put 'Siobhan' in the space for my name. But when the birth certificate came in the mail, it said 'Yvonne' instead. Anti-Irish sentiment in England was pretty high back in the 60s, so he was strongly convinced some London clerk did it on purpose. When I was in my 30s I legally changed it back.

Oddly enough I've been vaguely thinking of changing it again, to something more gender neutral.

***

The view from my office window.

That went up on Monday and since then we've been waiting for the engineer to come by and do whatever checks and tweaks to the plan need to be sorted before the next stage. I took that picture on Monday and it's since filled up with about two feet of snow.

It's amazing how soothing the sound of hammers and saws has become, and how stressed I get when I don't hear it.

***

Visited the Old Man yesterday. He asked me to spot him while he tried to walk because the staff there discourage it. So I set up his walker in front of his wheelchair and stood by his elbow, and although he didn't manage to take any steps he was able to get to his feet several times. This is a huge regain of strength for him. I promised him I would start harassing the physiotherapist to come and do a re-evaluation and give him some new exercises to do, because he's eager to get his mobility back and he's obviously doing the work.

***

Going through old sketchbooks and I found my Convergence 4 planning notes. That was in 1998. The prices I have listed for the hotels I was checking out made me laugh.

Also apparently we were looking into getting condoms printed up for the goodie bags. I had forgotten about that.

Other things I have discovered from looking through old journals, I used to go out a lot. So many concerts, so many parties. Most of the venues I wrote about have closed down and so many of the people have moved out of town.

***

I am dealing with a gout episode that fired up yesterday and I am so annoyed about it because I did fuck all to trigger it[1]. It has settled in my left one knee and it makes going down stairs really painful.

To add insult to that injury, our router has been crapping out at random, and every time it does I have to waddle downstairs to reset it. Usually cursing a blue streak the whole way. Bodies are such bullshit.

 

[1] Said triggers being red meat, fish, or alcohol. I haven't had any of those things for two weeks. There is no excuse for this nonsense.

 

Comments

[dissectionist]

Oh no! I hope the gout passes ASAP and this doesn’t mean that something new has been added to the Can’t Have list. :(

[china_shop]

and although he didn't manage to take any steps he was able to get to his feet several times. This is a huge regain of strength for him.

That's so awesome!

I hope the gout passes quickly, ugh, and also that the router starts behaving. *hugs*

[disastrid]

Omg please scan and post those C4 journal pages, I can only imagine!

[doggiesushi]

Once every couple of years I come across a bit of C4 & Hallowmas swag that I keep meaning to scan in case others don't have them... and then I forget and I come across them all again later. One day I'll remember to do it... one day...

[the_siobhan]

Story of my life, my friend. Story of my life.

[kest]

The Martian was good. Once upon a time I decided I was going to get into scrapbooking. I spent $200 on supplies and never did scrapbook. A lot of the supplies have been used for cards since then though, so it wasn't a total waste. I think my thought was that it is what replaces photo albums for the digital age and it would encourage me to print some out and pair them with old ticket stubs or whatever, but maybe the detritus of the past is unnecessary sentimentality. The present is overwhelming enough.

When was...crap, I don't remember the name...Hallowmas! Was it in between 3 and 4? I wasn't able to make it to that or to 3, 4, or 5 because I was a broke not-yet-21 year old college student. Quite a few other people must also have been in my same age range, I don't know how they managed it.

What they are working on is what used to be the kitchen, right? So in the meantime is it just 100% takeout? Sympathies about the gout.

[greylock]

Hallowmas was after 4 (maybe two years after?). I can get the date if I get the shirt out.

I couldn't afford any because I was an entry level drone a world away.

They managed it... and had wrassling in kiddie pools filled with chocolate.

Oh, the dream.

[the_siobhan]

Yep, between C4 & C5 in New Orleans

The pudding wrestling was at C5

[greylock]

Hallowmas Oct 1999.

[greylock]

My name is a feminized Gaelicized version of "John", so it has a religious background.

woah! I had no idea!

When I was in my 30s I legally changed it back.

Or of this!

Oddly enough I've been vaguely thinking of changing it again, to something more gender neutral.

Oddly, I know a local lass (she's Irish and younger than me by a bit) who goes by Slaine, which I've always thought of as a girl's name... and she had your vibe. Unrelated, really.

He asked me to spot him while he tried to walk because the staff there discourage it.

Why. The. Fuck? That just has overworked staff can't deal with a fall energy.

Going through old sketchbooks and I found my Convergence 4 planning notes. That was in 1998.

*rocks T-shirt*

Also apparently we were looking into getting condoms printed up for the goodie bags.

Sensible, and... wait, what?

Other things I have discovered from looking through old journals, I used to go out a lot. So many concerts, so many parties.

You were younger, and then pandemic!
I almost never go out.

To add insult to that injury, our router has been crapping out at random, and every time it does I have to waddle downstairs to reset it

I am sure there is a solution to that. But the gout... not sure. Must be a new trigger. :/

[the_siobhan]

He asked me to spot him while he tried to walk because the staff there discourage it.

Why. The. Fuck? That just has overworked staff can't deal with a fall energy.

Kind of. They aren't strong enough to pick him up and the residence staff aren't trained on the hoist.

[greylock]

You'd think a hoist would be pretty common, if not standard.
But I am so glad to see things there are like things here: not ideal.

[the_siobhan]

Nope. It's a privately run place, and they don't want their staff to have any skills that might require paying him more.

The publicly funded care workers that come in three times a day, on the other hand, are expected to be able to do everything.

[(Anonymous)]

jeeze, you'd hope by going private you'd be getting some better service, not worse.
Oh, of course, profit above all.

I've started becoming more aware of aged care issues and... I can't say I am a fan of what I am hearing anywhere.