A few weeks ago, I was celebrating the grand triumph of paying off my car. Today, I took my car to the tire shop for a “flat” tire — I was having issues where I had to put air on that tire every 5 days or so — and rotation. Not only did I have one, but two nails on that tire, yikes! But now, it looks like I am going to need breaks. Of course, they quoted me and since they would like to change everything associated with breaks, it would be close to two and a half car payments total.

yay! (said no one ever)

Today, was not only one of the scariest commutes back from work, but also the most upsetting. I don’t think anyone was expecting it to snow today. I can tell because of the way we were all dressed up at work. The not-snow-days pants, the not-snow-days shoes, well, you get the idea.

Also, as I have probably expressed before, my office space, is in a trailer west side of the main building. We have windows, but, my cubicle, does not face any of them. It wasn’t until I went out that I have realized how it was snowing. It was so much and so fast, that I felt like I wasn’t fast enough clearing my car from all the snow. By the time I was done on one side of the car, the other side was already covered in snow again.

Roads were a mess, drivers we also a mess. Judging by my first 10 minutes of driving, I knew I was going to be late to pick Marley at school. A few cars on the sides of the road, in ditches. Slow traffic and small accidents, It was an unannounced snow-apocalypse. Being stuck in traffic because of weather, knowing you’ll be late to pick up your kid as school, is one of the most stressing and upsettings feelings.

Gladly, we called the school, informed them I was going to be late and held Marley inside the school until my arrival.

Phew

What normally would have been a thirty-minute commute to Marley’s school, today, took me an hour and twenty minutes.

Every once in a while I get this idea in my head of something I would like to add to my site. Normally, I would have no concept of how to go about it. I poke around and find what I think might do the trick. How knows? Maybe not? Then, I try it, see what happens, and then, boom! It works! And, at that point, I cannot contain myself and I lift my arms up to the air in excitement, and inside my head, the victory-fanfare from FFVII plays.

The best food?

eighties food

Made a few tweaks to my weblog recently.

I added a new menu, Follow My Weblog! It's got a selection of links to which you can subscribe individually. In case you just want to follow only photo posts only, long posts, and or everything.

Added a subtitle, nothing fancy but the fact that I was able to accomplish that made me happy.

Added sublime ads, and just like Mike, it is a way to promote the things I love and bring me joy. Although, I had made a mistake and I need to re-do it all. It is coming up, though — soon! 

I promise!

I have also been experimenting with the new theme, Hitchens, over on my test blog. Lots of back and forth between the two "accounts" these past few days. I figured it is safer to use the test site before committing to any changes.

According to past posts and journal writings, it is a recurring theme that I close or walk away for a while, from a social platform, every January, at least for the past two or three years. Consistently, it has been Instagram. A few years back, it was Facebook, which later, became permanently closed. The problem has always been letting go of Instagram. I have thousands of excuses on why I keep it and a few very valid reasons of why to close it, permanently. This time around, I have scheduled my account for deletion and re-opened it twice.

Last night, was my last attempt at trying to make it "better". I unfollowed almost half of the accounts I was following, and muted some others, mostly the stories. At first, it was good, then, I found myself down that rabbit hole again of going to the 'discovery' tab and just doomscrolling, and seeing all these things that make me anxious and somewhat depressed. I may not have the force of will, or the discipline required to fight these tendencies.

This is clearly an indication, that the platform is no longer good for my mental health.

So, let's add Instagram to the list of permanently closed.