just some general updates on all fronts. i've been dealing with quite a bit of pain and ensuing bad sleep the last week, it had me all emotionally out of sorts, too. i'm reading a book that turned out to be sad as hell, too, in some unfortunately realistic, daily ways that affect many people i know.
there's also been a whole swathe of animal deaths in my online circles. just a bummer all around and had me missing our cat. it's been years without an animal companion but i don't know that we'll have one any time soon. after kara's passing our life became much more flexible, we travel, we can be spontaneous (partly because of having more energy due to fewer daily responsibilities). i fear the only pet that would allow us to somewhat maintain that flexibility would be a dog and i don't think that's for us. training, socializing, walking... all the extra vet stuff with an out-door animal. so that's also making me sad, not being able to envision a way to have an animal pal around in any way. at least there's the crows!
also: partner is having some time off, so we've been hanging out, playing games, enjoying new media. not all is woe!
i'm doing alright with the internet-limiting. although in some ways i've been a bit loosey-goosey. mostly with the backgammon, it definitely spills out over the allotted time. and not just that i go longer, i pick it up at different times as well. also reading fics, somehow i don't treat that as internet time, maybe i should?
also i notice that i've accidentally done a bit of a reverse for what's recommended when you're trying to stay off devices. apparently it's most beneficial when you start later, at least an hour of no-devices in the morning to kind of set the tone for the day, anchor in "real life", and then an hour of no-screens before bed, for obvious reasons. since i only officially allow myself that one hour in the morning and evening, that has usually meant first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening lol. i shall try to remedy this.
thanks to letting myself get bored i've seen some progress in my projects. i've finished spinning this batch of yarn, i'm half way done with plying. looking how much fibre i've got left i don't think it will be enough for the blanket i've been knitting. might need to frog the lot and maybe try a more open crochet version. or something else entirely, i've been looking at a hooded scarf pattern. or some version of the garment?
i've been reading more, including books. alas - they're from the library. i don't know that it was a good idea to ban those, i don't want to inhibit reading, i want to inhibit purchases. so i'm going to read whatever comes along in whatever form.
also: started on a little cat-doll thing! i'm stalling after having made the clay elements because i'm intimidated by the armature wire, but surely there are tutorials...
that was the quickest turnaround of monthly decks yet lol. i started a week early, enjoying the ancient italian. then i really wanted to try the cat people for real and started reading the related fantasy books. it was interesting/illuminating enough for me to really get into the deck. i've edged it in a nice purple and played around with it a Lot. alas, it's still gunky. perhaps even more than before. and the gunk is now picking up the inked edging. i just don't want to Touch the deck anymore, but after it's beautiful art i find the ancient italian quite off-putting/unsatisfactory. i'm trucking along with it for now, but as in months past, i'll probably dip into some of the by-gone decks.
overall i think i'm beginning to see how whatever i end up keeping will be categorized:
on one hand i'm really happy with how it's going! i think i remember maybe one sort-of-emotional purchase, otherwise things have been much calmer than the previous years. i'm mostly sticking to the wishlist and taking my time with it. on the other hand it still feels like Pointless Shopping. like i mentioned on the wishlist post itself, i keep forgetting to be mindful about it.
i think for next year i'll try one of those 12-items projects. only 12 items for the entire year. if we subtract the coffee grinder which i received as a gift off my wishlist, i'm sitting on 12 physical items right now, and it's only 3 months left 'til the end of the year. alright i'm cheating a bit, treating the two rings as 1 jewelry item, same for the 5 scent samples. but it's definitely doable and i imagine would be easier to remember if there was a hard number limit. i already want to do a monthly-theme thing next year so that might coincide nicely and keep the monthly-focus at the forefront of my mind. plans!
