Ramping up to Christmas

My life is really different than it was a year ago, when I had a job and stability. Yet, despite the nearly-complete lack of money, I'm pretty darn happy.

A year ago I sat in cubicle in a big cement building. My job wasn't miserable, at all! But it wasn't often enjoyable, either. I had some friendly co-workers but they weren't really my friends. I had stability and financial security, but I spent so much time on those things.

Now I'm almost always flat broke. The biggest impact from that is that I'm not meeting child support obligations. Everything else I can get through. Both Heather & Celia are remarried and supported elsewhere ... which doesn't, of course, release me from my obligation in any way. But it affords me the luxury of not getting an utterly miserable job, like when I worked for the auto body shop. That's gotta be the worst job I've ever worked.

But even though I'm broke... I have so much time! Usually I don't utilize much of it, but in the last few weeks I've been able to spend that time beneficially. Between moving myself, moving my sister, Kazum & shows, and work... I've been really busy. It would've been horrible to be this busy with a full-time job. *shudder*

I'm really excited about the Christmas holidays with the boys. I'm planning on lots of D&D. Plus reading to them, and Guitar Hero (Haus got a PS2 for Dana's kids for Christmas). I may also spend a day or two at Jem's place... he'll be super-lonely after Tasha's vacated, and the kids love it there. So do I. He's superb with kids and they dig him, too.

I'm all giddy and a-flutter over Joey. We chat now & then on the phone, and she sends me the most delightful, long emails. She's infatuated with me, just as I am with her. Since we're both broke and confined to our relative remote corners of Oregon, we can't overdose on one another. Instead we pine and jones. When we finally get to see each other we're gonna fuse together at the face, methinks.

I hope that she can come visit for New Year's Eve. I also hope that Kazum will get a gig that I can bring Joey to. She's spectacular arm-candy (not that that's her primary draw) and I want to preen and grin and be obnoxiously pleased with my good fortune. Honestly, I'd be just as happy being locked into a room with her... but a big fun party is cool, too.

I work on Christmas Eve - odd for the gym to be open, but hey, it's hours that I desperately need. I'm hoping that we can get Tasha packed & bustled off in time for me to volunteer at a soup kitchen with Nico & Noah & some other Wanderlust folk. I used to take the boys to the soup kitchen once a month or so, but since losing stability we've not gone for a looooong time.

After volunteering I'll work from 4 to 6, and then hustle over to Emily's place for Christmas Eve dinner. Yay! I'm hoping that Doc will come along, too.

Then it's back to my (Haus's) place. Haus & Dana & the boys are spending Christmas Day with Dana's mom, so I'll have half a day to clean & tidy things to prepare for the boys' arrival. I'm nervous about their extended visit; I'm not really set up for Benjaminions. At the same time I'm excited for it.

I have a gift card for Powell's, but other than that my Christmas funds are less than $5. :( That's kind of okay; Christmas isn't about gifts. But it's really tough 'cause I don't have anything for the boys. :(

I played guitar & sang for Dana's boys last night, and had much fun doing so. I played for Haus & Eric & Dana, too. I love having folk to play for!

Okay, it's almost 2 am. Time to sleep for a few hours before the final long haul to get Tasha off on her long haul. We're all postponing the sad, but soon it has to crash home. :(