life stuff

atthequillsmercy

Genetic Testing – Makes sense…

So, as previously stated, I’m 40 now. In my continuing efforts to get and stay healthy, I asked my doctor for a genetic test to not only determine my colon and breast cancer risk but to finally see what may be lurking on my father’s side of my DNA (since nobody knows who he is). The lab was frantically calling me and I thought “Oh shit. What’s wrong with me?!” What was wrong? Getting insurance approval for the test.

Okay. We go through what I know of Ma’s side of the family in terms of cancer and since it wasn’t breast cancer or anything that is classified as genetically related, the insurance won’t pay for the test. It will cost me $2,500.

After an interesting few moments of no heartbeat, I tell the nice woman I want the test because I literally have no clue what 50% of my DNA is. I can’t afford that. Of course there’s a payment plan or whatever but isn’t that interesting? “Hey, my genetics are a mystery and I would like to know my health risks. We don’t know enough about your genetics to qualify for insurance to pay for a test to determine your health risks and we will financially punish you for that.”

Lovely…

I need to know so, I guess I’ll just have to sell more books and stuff to make up the money.

Yay, American healthcare… 🙄🙄🙄

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atthequillsmercy

Obligatory Coronavirus Post

Well, things are a little crazy, as I’m sure everyone knows. Unlike some others, I haven’t been panic shopping. I mean, I stocked up on some frozen stuff in case I can’t get access to fresh meat and veggies (for whatever reason) but other than that, don’t come at me about toilet paper or hand sanitizer.

Unless you want some funny memes:

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I seriously try to keep things “light” on this blog (in quotes because I’ve reviewed some dark shit) I did feel it necessary to drop a note at this time.

As to how this all as affected me personally, I am not sick and the library where I work has closed for a week just to make sure the public is protected.

Quick side note: If your library has done the same, please use their online resources. If they have streaming apps, e-books, or audiobooks; this is the best time to take advantage of them. If there are issues and your library is closed, most of these services do have a helpdesk to email, call, or chat with. This is not the time to be proud or ashamed of any level of technical knowledge. You wanna annoy your nephew cause you can’t link your e-reader or smartphone, just do it.

What made me think of posting about this is I wanted to make it clear that I am not sick in any way and any items from my needlework shop are germ-free. If this status changes, I’ll shut the shop down. In the case of my books, obviously, e-books are no danger but the books available in print are print on demand, so they’re not coming from me.

You all out there don’t panic, take all the proper precautions, and stay safe and healthy.

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P.S. On a side note, you may have noticed more ads on my blog. Sorry if they annoy you but I’ve got a mortgage to pay.

atthequillsmercy

Happy Monday!

I wake up bright and early to get the kiddo ready, get my clothes ready for work only to check my phone and! No work today. >_<

So, I decide to take the pics of July’s Birchbox and post that today only to find my SD card reader is dead.

It cost me a grand total of $2 to replace it but I have to wait for it to be shipped.

It’s not even 8am. While minor annoyances, this doesn’t bode well for the rest of the day.

 

atthequillsmercy

Friday Update…

This week has been strange and stressful. I’ve been writing but not nearly as much as I’d hoped cause with everything that’s been going on, I come home and fall into bed. But the good news is things are looking up. A friend of mine who went to the hospital is recovering well and the legal stuff dealing with Ma is really almost over. I’d give it another 60-90 days and only emotional crap will be left to deal with. I finished two reviews for Otakus and Geeks and I have another on deck.

I’m off today so I am taking this chance to just chill out and relax so my muse can get back to work. Stay well, everyone!

atthequillsmercy

Getting started on 2012

In 2011, I sold about 2-3 books a month. This year, I’m hoping to double that.  ^_^

I will also be starting the 100 book challenge and also adding the Pagan Blog Project. That’s at least two posts a week for my blogs (remember I am also at livejournal) in addition to the fun updates about how my writing is going. XD

Another goal I have for this year is to clean out as much clutter as I can. The garbage man is gonna hate meee… I plan to donate and sell very large amounts of extra clothes and collectables that are taking up space in this house. I’ve already taken care of our living room tossing a 40 year old dining set that was falling apart but my Mother refused to throw out. We’re hanging up pictures that previously were crammed into shelves and tossing out anything we haven’t used in 6 months.

My workout schedule is going well but I have to admit; if I don’t have work, I do NOT get up at 6am to be in the gym. I figure if I’m off, I can work out in the afternoon when my kid is at school. As long as I DO it, the time isn’t important.

My goal of 4 pages a day has not changed. Even with the new comic I’m working on, I’ll still make sure to get one short story out every month and Greenhouse will be done by the end of the year. I would like to have a store full of stories in all genres! 😀

I would also like to take one vacation with my whole family. I usually run away and leave them behind. While necessary for my sanity, some of my best memories are traveling somewhere cool with my family. It was harder when I was a kid because my Granny was in a wheelchair but we are blessedly all able bodied so other than time, there’s no reason not to go. 🙂

I think that’s all the important stuff. Anything else you all think I should add?

atthequillsmercy

Let’s all share! Or not… Picking my battles.

I got a flyer in my kid’s folder inviting parents to come share their holiday traditions. I didn’t even have to read the whole thing in order to decide there was no way in hell I was doing that even if I was free from work to do so.

Why? This is why. And so is this.

I have no intention of turning my kid’s pre-k into a religious battle ground and making school miserable for her. Granted, in all likelihood, nothing would come of me going there and saying what the Solstice means to me but if I’m gonna throw down for my religion, it’s not gonna be there.

You may think me cowardly for not using this as a teaching opportunity or something like that, but I pick my battles carefully. When someone asks me what my pentacle means, I tell them exactly what it means. If another parent has a problem with me rolling up to the school with all my pentacles on, it’s on them, not me. I remove them for NO ONE. But it’s not MY school, it’s my daughter’s. I teach her my traditions but I feel it’s not the right place to get such a discussion started.

atthequillsmercy

NaBloPoMo Prompt – Happiest Moment of my Life

It’s hard to pin down the absolute happiest moment of my life. I’m sure many people will say something about their kids or significant others or graduating but rather than pick one moment or one person, I am going to have to go with one unique feeling which gives me great comfort and never fails to put a smile on my face.

Despite how bad this year has been, with Ma’s decline and inevitable death, I find that when I sit back and look at my life, REALLY take stock of everything, I am one loved and lucky lady. There are more people than I can count who genuinely care for me and are there for me no matter what silly thing is bothering me. I may not have spoken to some in years but their energy is there and I know it.

I am happy to be rid of dead weight friends and have only those who truly care be in my life. The moments I remember I am loved and have love to give are those that make me a happy lady. ^_^

atthequillsmercy

The First Birchbox – My First Impressions

In my attempt to be more involved with girly stuff, I subscribed to Birchbox and today I received my first one. 🙂

My first reaction was it was smaller than I thought it would be but they are only sample sizes after all.

You take off the outer pink box to find this pretty cardboard box. I threw it away before I could decide to “do something with it one day” which turns out to be never and I just have a pile of them…

Everything comes wrapped in pink paper with these cards in it. The big one explains what everything is and the little one asks for feedback. 🙂

I like how it came packaged! It’s pretty and the tissue paper can be recycled or used to pack other gifts (I’ve done that before). Nothing leaked or anything, which I was happy with. It all looks packed with care.

The above swag is (from left to right) foot cream, mascara, a lash card sample, face scrub, and above that is frizz cream. I’ll review them as I use them. 🙂

I think it’ll be fun to slowly try out different things and see what I like.

But today wasn’t all fun and makeup. I was off in exchange for working this Saturday and I spent the morning knitting so I could spend the night writing. I also had a meeting with my accountant to see how Ma’s final business is coming. I’m still having to make calls and annoy people to make sure they give me Ma’s due.  Ma did warn me that her union would try to be shady with her pension money so I’m keeping on them to get what we’re owed.

I think it’s times like that which make me upset. Like going to the gyno yesterday and seeing she was my emergency contact or having to explain over and over to Mr or Mrs McCorperate Person that Ma is dead and to give me my fucking money. I feel like a vulture! But Ma wanted me to have that money so I’m gonna make her proud by annoying the ever-loving crap outta them to get it. >D

In other news, I lowered my WiiFit age from 32 to 24. And lost two pounds. 🙂

I believe that’s all the excitement for the day. I will spend the rest of the night trying to finish this short story. This one is just for the lulz, not for an anthology or anything. After that, it’ll be all anthologies and vampires for the rest of the year! 😀

atthequillsmercy

Happy Columbus Day! Now, get the eff to work…

Image: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I proclaim today that for every person who calls us and asks us if we’re open today, I get ten bucks. T_T

Anyway, in the flurry that was this weekend, I did NOT get even half of what I wanted done finished. But seeing as how I can stand without feeling light headed or nauseous, I’m calling it a win.

I try to greet every Monday as a chance for a fresh start and aim to get to Friday with a list of accomplishments. On the list for this week is to get to Friday. >_< Ok, maybe it’s not THAT bad. XD

This week is NYCC, and I will be attending as a guest. I’m not such hot shit that I get a booth or have anyone know my name or anything… But I will be there this Thursday all day milling around and being one of the coolest librarians on the planet. 😉 I’ll make sure to take pictures of all the swag I get (free and non-free) and of actual famous people that I see.

Also, I will get back on the Wii now that I’m sure I won’t fall off the thing. I didn’t wanna risk it while I was sick. Either way, I’m healthy(-ish) and back in the saddle!