My Internet is undependable. I don't need speed. I don't game. Shopping is getting worse and worse. Ads on Facebook used to be relatively safe but now most are spam and some try to fishe me. BCTS has been fine aside from slow downs once in a while. YouTube used to have good movies but now it seems to be in decline.

Is it the Banks or what? I've been wanting a Laptop or Tablet but it is like dealing with criminals.

What?

My GP had obviously seen my letter (see previous blog) as I received a text message addressed to my new name but I was asked to complete a change of details form before anything else happened.

or maybe i'm just being a lazy b#@%$!

My old cable modem died of a voltage spike which occurred during last week's wind storm. It has been replaced. I'm back online!

So last night the wife and I had dinner out - not all that unusual. As we were leaving, a guy held the door for me, then complimented me on my shirt and earrings.

Folks, in real life I'm a very large, fat old man with a full, gray beard. Could I possibly been reverse-read? Did he somehow see my inner woman?

I did appreciate the compliment, though.

start to March

So because Sharon has been unable to get a caregiver for Sam, she's going to have to come here twice a week on the days Sharon works.

On the one hand, I love seeing Sam, and I'm sure she's not unhappy to spend time with me and mom.

On the other hand, this means me getting 1 mental health day a week is going to be impossible, and I worry I am not going to be able to provide the activity level she needs.

I think she needs someone who can keep up with her, not a crippled Dad.

Well, we'll just have to do our best.

Its the first of the month!

A day of contrasts:

Outside, snow is falling on the street beside my mobile home:

Inside, we had this delightful salad with lettuces, tomatoes, eggs, salami and a lemon dressing:

I hope all are warm, comfortable and have something nice to eat.

Hugs,
Erin and Melanie

In order to tell the story I want to, I have to tell a different one first.

A long time ago there was a TV show, called "Love, American Style".

The show was an anthology, each week presenting a different story about the perils and joys of being in love.

And on this show there was an episode where a singer known for his sad songs about heartbreak and loneliness found a girl, and then discovered he couldn't write sad songs, or indeed any songs.

So, I got my first, real, professional pedicure a few nights ago. I honestly do not know why I never had this done before because my feet felt *amazing* when it was over. I even got them polished with a nice sea foam green color. My wife was with me when I had this done (she actually suggested that we go together) and thought the color looked nice.

Since I can't afford therapy, today I went swimming instead.

2 hours in a pool probably did as much good to my state of mind, and much more good to my body, than rehashing the endless cycle that is my mental health with someone would have.

Maybe even more . . .

Hey everyone,

Today is going to be the start of what will hopefully become my new posting schedule on BCTS. Starting today I'm going to try to get into a set schedule where I would be posting Freedom of Naethari and The Faerie Blade one weekend, followed by Apocalypse Dawn on Tuesdays every second week. On the alternating weeks it would be Snow Angel and later something else on the weekend as well, followed by I Wish on Tuesdays until I Wish is completed.

So we had Sam today, and were able to go over to my aunt's and let Sam play with her new dog.

A top 10 day, for all of us.

or what i did this week.

So we were doing a little running around with Sharon and Sam, and several times Sam actually spoke.

It had been months since we had heard her voice.

She is clearly still not 100 %, but its a big step in my opinion.

So tomorrow morning, my mom is going out for breakfast with one of my uncles.

I've made the choice to not come with, because he apparently has a problem with trans people.

And as he is almost 90, and dying of cancer, I think I'll skip making a scene.

Sometimes, you got to know when to pick your battles - and when its best to withdraw

for which i apologise.

Had a strange dream last night, perhaps inspired by Svengoolie showing the Claude Rains version of _The Invisible Man_ last week.

Okay so last night at about 2 AM, the building's fire alarm went off, and while this has happened several times since we move in, most of the time it turns out to be nothing.

Not this time.

We could actually smell smoke, and as the elevators were out of service mom and I carefully made our way down the stairs to the lobby.

By the time we got there, the firefighters had gotten out the fire, and were taking someone to the hospital, possibly due to smoke inhalation.

So I'm seeing an endocrinologist for the first time Monday I am hoping to start hrt monday if all goes well

So we went out to help Sharon and Sam get some stuff done, and Sam was clearly doing better.

She took my mom's arm when they went into the grocery store, she laughed and smiled at one of my dad jokes, and she waved and used a kind of sign language to communicate.

I hope this improvement continues.