MY furries. Yes. They're all mine.

In light of all the Christmas "booty" I've been reading, I figured it fair to post my own.  Again.

My mom sent me socks (family joke), a shaving kit, a pair of insulated overalls, and $150 cash.    My aunt Barb sent me a card.  Panger got me chocolate.  When it comes to teddybears, one cannot go wrong with chocolate.

I used the cash to get by between projects, of which I got another deposit a couple of days ago.  The overalls will come in especially handy over the next few weeks as I work on my truck getting it ready for the massive trip out west, as our house had a garage at some point in the past, but no longer.

Christmas day itself was rather...normal.  I didn't do anything special; got some work done, phutzed around online, brought a project home from the shop. 

I did use this time to reflect on my blessings:  I have a house, family, food, clothes, and friends that care about me (ditto).  Though I don't have a job, I do have a little bit of scratch and am getting by.  I have a music studio and a shop where I can be creative.  I am on the road towards conquering this 800-pound gorilla that's been crapping on my life for doG knows how long.  Peace of mind and spirit is within my grasp. 

I didn't always have these things, not all at once.  Fate has been kind to me this year, not something I can say about every year; I actually feel as if I'm on the real road to getting my shit together.  I recall previous Christmas days full of shame and anxiety because I had nothing to contribute.  I still feel like that sometimes by simple virtue that I am growing distant from the holiday; people get me things and I stress about returning the courtesy. 

It ain't always easy, and I can't always get what I want, but every little thing is gonna be alright.

Woke up to a phone call.  Back still hurts, which sucks because that means no Craigslisting today.  Everything we need is heavy and in hard-to-access places (basement, second floor, etc.)

What's really ironic is that I finally, finally got back some ambition and desire to kick ass on my work, only to have this happen.  I have the desire to move and make progress, which is getting increasingly rare these days.  Is fate trying to tell me something?


Edit:  Anyone else getting comment spam from ggfsdgr ?

Over the last 72 hours, things have changed in such a way that not only will I be driving to the Bay Area, I should be able to do it in time for FC.

I have three, count 'em, THREE seperate crib orders going to the same geographical zipcode (SFBA), plus one highchair going to Denver. The timing works out where I can collect the shipping costs and deliver them myself.  I even have enough time to complete a rocking horse work in progress, so I'll get it on eBay the week before I leave.

How this differs from other attempts to do this kind of thing in the past is my priorities.  While it would be nifty to attend Further Confusion this year, it's not the be-all, end-all of this trip.  I'll still come to Cali even if I arrive the day after it's done, and simply enjoy some California sun.  FC is secondary to meeting my commitments on these orders.  I've been to 19 furcons, so they're not as important to me as they used to be.  Repairing my horrendous delivery reputation is the priority.

Because I cannot plan for weather, etc. I will not make any hard scheduling plans until I actually arrive at FC's doorstep (IF I make it in time), then I'll see about accommodations and stuff.  This way nobody has to wait up for me and I don't stress about it if I get caught up in a snowstorm. 
 

For all of my physical faults that have caused me grief, I consider myself lucky to not have had any back issues.  I know people that have back trouble, and it causes them a world of hurt and long-term misery.

A couple of weeks ago, as I was hauling lumber to the new shop, I felt a "twinge" in the middle of my back, towards the right side.  I figured I had lifted or twisted incorrectly and this old body didn't like it.  It didn't hurt, but definitely felt wrong.  I was able to keep working with no further issue, I just took it more carefully. The next morning it was gone, and I haven't thought of it since.

Around 9:30 tonight, (2 hours ago) the twinge came back, without any prompting from physical labor.  Instead of staying a twinge, it became a full-blown pressure ache, as if somebody had placed a small balloon between muscles and started blowing it up.  It's always there, and flares up every few minutes on its own, regardless of the position I am in.  I can still move, but I am taking it easy lest I make it worse.

At first I thought it might have been a kidney stone, but it's too high for that.  I hope it's not a slipped disk, because I know how much of a hassle that can be.   Whatever it is, it's not supposed to be like that.