1040 Number 3

I found yet another mistake in my tax calculations, so now I'm on my third round of trying to fill out the 1040 without making any mistakes! Ack! Wish me luck. ;) Maybe the third time's the charm . . . Here's hoping, anyway. :)

Having an o.k. weekend. M. has a friend from collage visiting. It's nice to be able to meet one of his friends, but certain factors are resulting in some personal stress for me. Some of them are un-related, like being overtired and busy with work-related stuff and taxes, but others . . . Well let's just say that the whole thing is less stressful than expected, and I'm coping relatively well.

Work-related things have gone well. Spoke to many potential clients and did some volunteer work that may save me money later. Now am hungry and in need of going home for a snack and some meditation.

So, that's all for now. More detail when I'm happier.

Tired and Grumpy

Tired from dreaming last night--you know the kind of dreams that wear you out and leave you exhausted? Yeah, that kind.

Grumpy for no good reason. Worrying about groundless-ness of worries is a bad cycle. Trying to talk self out of same worries is worse. It doesn't work. Option might work, but only with focus, not if trying to do other things as well. Would probably have to sit down and write. Will try to find time for that after taxes finished and before discussion, tomorrow.

Some things are good. Taxes nearly done. Bills paid. Registration for BABI Fair complete-just needs to go in mail. Cards to family sent. Remembered important birthday--must get and send cards!

Really, not much else to say. Will write more when life is better.

Progress

Progress is being made. Sent a necessary fax for one project. Made a necessary phone call for another. Now have an interview for Thursday. Am scheduled to meet a friend of M's on Friday, give a talk that evening, and do some volunteer work on Saturday. Progress is good.

Re-learned an important lesson about communication: people want to talk about themselves and are often satisfied with a minimum of information about others.

Finished listening to The Fellowship of the Ring and checked out The Two Towers. Have listened to these books before, but am enjoying a repeat performance. Wish I could find a local library with the recordings of The Mists of Avalon series and The Left Hand of Darkness. Would like to hear both of those again. Am still waiting on requested copy of The Amber Spyglass and vaguely wondering how the author will reconcile the idea that, because evil things are done in the name of "The Authority" (God), The Authority must therefore be bad and should be destroyed. Am looking forward to further understanding of this. :)

Am about to be signed off of Library terminal--more later.

Processes

Current Processes

• Taxes
• Emotional Stabilization
• Financial Document Organization
• Continuation of the Name Change Saga
• Spring Cleaning (includes sorting of possessions)
• Seeking Work/Promoting Business

All goes well and things move, if slowly. An order placed here, a phone call made there, a document downloaded, an e-mail replied to. Questions are asked and answered, leading to further exploration. But isn't that what life is all about?

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.--T. S. Eliot

I've had that thought in my head, rolling around in response to a somewhat on-going conversation about stagnation.

Parentheses and Quotation Marks

Am feeling a bit more stable, despite another emotional outburst yesterday. (Outburst isn't quite the word I'm looking for. Maybe obstacle, or event or issue? I don't feel like digging in a thesaurus just now--if you were there, you know what I mean, if not, it doesn't matter.) Did get all worked up, but was able to stay sane enough to keep some perspective and look for solutions rather than for problems. (That might not sound like much, but it's a big deal for me--am usually so good at paining self into corners and putting self in boxes.)

Am still in the process of doing taxes--found an error that will save some money if corrected. Am also now working on a "paperwork reduction act" of own for home and "documents that must be saved."

Had an orgy with the fresh produce at today's Farmer's Market. Always seem to go through one of these in early spring when all the produce starts to appear. End up buying more than can be eaten by one mouth in a week, but usually end up enjoying all the variety. :)

Had some unexpected, but very welcome company at lunch. Should now wash up and meditate before this evening's entertainment begins. Had planned to go out and buy one more thing, but time is growing short and other needs seem more pressing.

Better

Had a better day. Talked to both parental units without getting angry or upset--this is good. Also, did some volunteer work for BABI. Mostly spent the time chatting/debriefing with other birth professionals. But logged about half an hour volunteer time. Need to get in 10 hours by August for a discount on membership next year--shouldn't be too hard, but we shall see.

Not much else, really. Books on Tape/CD, e-mails with friends, talk with M., enjoyable covenant group. Got excited and volunteered to do prep for an upcoming meeting--now wonder what I was thinking--I don't know what to ask people to think on for that topic! Will try my best.

Overall, feeling much more stable and relieved to have found a professional whom I think I can trust.

And hungry. Have a snack waiting at home, calling me. Calling . . . calling . . . Perhaps it's time to go . . .

First Contact

First face to face contact with a potential professional helper went well. Feeling safe so far, but will sleep on it. Have asked for references, mostly to know if said professional was comfortable giving them, but always good to check with things like this--you never know.

Driving was nice. I'd forgotten how soothing it can be to just drive, especially while listening to jazz radio . . .

Have a meeting of my covenant group tonight. Topic is "Advice". Still thinking about what I might want to say on that subject besides quoting my favorite advice (no pun :p) from a friend:

"Unsolicited advice amounts to criticism."

Not much else to say at them moment--more later.