The Shuffle

Started my day today thinking about getting rid of the most reliable car we have to get out of payments and to pick up yet another old shitbox that, with a little money and TLC, they can be reliable...

Radical Acceptance

The Serenity Prayer in AA goes something like asking for courage to do the right thing, strength to keep from doing the wrong thing, and wisdom to know the difference between the two. It's a transcendent prayer. It applies to us all.

My COVID Experience is Done

Yesterday morning, which was Day 10, was the first day I popped negative on my COVID Test. I'm so relieved. Nobody else got sick. I still don't feel quite right, but i think it is just the feeling of being a solid week behind my chorin'. Ugh. Time to get moving.

My COVID Experience, Day 8

Today is frustration. No symptoms, but I'm still popping positive and going to work. Nobody else is positive, but here we are. Gonna go see how much of the kitchen staff i can infect, apparently.

My COVID Experience, Day 6

Yesterday was my last day of CDC recommended isolation. My sleep schedule has been adapting and making up for the lacking i felt the previous days. I've made it to the third season of Stranger Things. Other than being tired and still a little achy, I'm not bad. The CDC recommends i wear a mask until Day 10. Let's do this.

My COVID Experience, Day 4

The worst part about this so far has been the lack of consistent sleep. I fall asleep after tossing and not being comfortable. Then i wake up early aching. My nighttime sleep averages about 4-5 hours. However, to yesterday i was able to catch up with a few naps and this morning, i was able to sleep from 3 to about 7 am. I still feel like I'm in a cold fog, and I'm still testing positive as of this morning. But the rest of the family is negative. Lysol on all the doorknobs and light switches daily. Isolation in the bedroom. It's been an adventure.

My COVID Experience, Day 2

Two days ago, Sunday, my only day off, and I'm home doing dad stuff. Mid-afternoon, i notice my nose is starting to run. That's unusual, because it typically only gets runny when i wake up then the morning. Thinking the worst, i took an at-home Covid test. Positive.

The panic of the first day got me an N-95 mask and isolation in the master bedroom. That night, i didn't sleep well. Couldn't get comfortable.

Yesterday, more of that. Tired from not sleeping, and perpetually uncomfortable. The best way I've found to describe it is like having the flu, but without the symptoms. I don't seem feverish, I'm not coughing, and my nose is only occasionally leaking.

Last night, the trend continued. I think I may have actually slept from midnight to about 3am, but not comfortable and rested. This morning (it's almost 9 now), I've been up, i went for a walk around the block, and I've tested the family to ensure that i am the only one with Covid so far. (I am.) Thankfully, I'm vaccinated and boosted, and with any luck, this trend of finding more comfort will continue. I don't have to work again until next Monday, so I'm taking advantage of this down time to catch up on some shows that people won't shut up about. Stranger Things is happening, and The Boys will happen next.

Everything you've heard is true. I believe that without vaccination, it probably would have been worse. I believe that these masks are protecting my children, and that the social distancing is proving effective. We are a very affectionate family, and we are safe.

Neverland

...as in:

Never buying a house.

Never paying off the wife's student loans.

Never moving back home.

Never going to make it through a day without pain.

Never driving a car less than ten years old.

Never going to see my kids enjoy feet of snow.

Never going to see my kids in a peaceful world.

Never.

Unrelinquishing Stagnation

Going nowhere. 

Is There A Plan?

We are breaking into the meat of July. That gives me and the family a little under a year to figure out what our next step is. At this point, it looks like a vehicle and a trailer. A house payment here is almost unfathomable. Rent is a waste. Colorado isn't home. The OG BattleWagon is all but dead, needing too much work to drive consistently, and far too much to depend on it.

2022 sucks.

Family Life

My mother-in-law is visiting from West Virginia, and I'm off from work, making the best of the chill time at home to slay old chores and daily duties. I'm playing my productivity checklist game with myself hoping to break my own personal record today.

My oldest has taken an interest in Civil Air Patrol, and I'm beyond excited for him to take this journey. I hope he loves it, and i hope it motivates him to get some things done. Like maybe cleaning his room...

Formulating Things

It's been a long time since the original mission of the Battlewagon Chronicles, and it's been a long time since that mission has concluded. I've been punctuating things by posting, but there is no fire there at this point, admittedly. It's chaos. Broke and hungry and trying to scramble. 2022 America is difficult. 

Should Star Wars Inspire Rebellion?

Having the chance to watch The Clone Wars and Rebels, I'm thrilled with the portrayal of the various rebel forces against their Empire. So many different types of characters; diplomats, monks, warriors, robots, all fighting for a cause in the best way they know how. It's a fun bit of show, whether you have kids or not.