Times Are A'changin
This year has seen a few big shifts in the normalcy that is my day-to-day life.
The biggest of course is Ellen. Tomorrow is actually our “6 month Anniversary”…not that I’m the type that would really celebrate a half way point. That is…unless she thinks we need to. >.>; Yeaa…
Nah, Ellen’s not like that. She’s incredibly agreeable, but not so much for the sake of being agreeable. I don’t think I could date someone who was in the habit of saying “I want to do whatever you want to do!” And not just because I’m usually indecisive…but more that it’s annoying when someone does what you want automatically. Just to avoid making you mad or something.
Now that I live away from everyone else, and Kel is busy with school (or pretending I don’t exist), most of my daily communication is with Ellen. We talk a lot…like…a lot. Not that it’s a bad thing. I’m just a little surprised we haven’t driven each other crazy. O.o I think I like talking to her for the same reason I like talking to people like Jordan and Kel. There’s always a weird branching to the conversation that keeps me interested. Like today we’ve been chatting on FB for all of 20min and the conversation has gone from snoring to strange food cravings.
On a side note, she doesn’t like pork. We argue about it all the time. How can you not dig the swine? :O Speaking of food I’ll just roll into the next thing I was going to cover.
More than a month ago I went into a short bout of watching documentaries. Ever since I saw “Super Size Me” years ago, I’ve been interested in ones about the state of my average American diet. What I saw often horrified me, but there wasn’t really anything I wanted to (or could) change about it. The last one I watched was called “Food, Inc”. I think it finally pushed my last button. The new Kroger out on Hwy 96 (we call it Fancy Kroger) has an organic foods section. I vowed that when I went to go buy food for the week, I would see how hard it would be to buy nothing but organic products. Turns out even with a section of the store devoted to it, it’s still pretty hard.
Still, I would say that for the last 4 weeks 80% of what I’ve bought at the store sports a little “USDA Organic” marking. That’s not too shabby. It wasn’t hard to convert my lunches over (because most days I either have soup or salad). I’ve been buying organic vegetables (fresh and frozen), and everything else from pasta to yogurt. Never thought I’d be a yogurt eater…but I guess it’s growing on me. I wish I could go so far as to obtain grass-fed meats, but I just don’t think I’ve quite gotten to that point. Recently I settled for the halfway point and bought bulk from a local meat shop in Statesboro. I don’t know if I’m actually making a difference or anything, but it feels good to be actively trying at least. It also helps out with my latest health kick.
Yup, back on it. I figure there’s a lot of worse things I could have an obsession with. I’m keeping it manageable…working out on a 3 day schedule (Mon, Wed, Sat). Drinking mostly water again, taking home more food when I eat out, cutting out a lot of the junk food. I think I was in the best shape of my life last year around September, and I’m close to being back there. It feels good. It’s helping my immune system too. I caught a cold on a Friday and I had it kicked by the following Thursday. That’s got to count for something.
It makes me feel bad though, here I’m spending extra on organic foods and my family can’t even afford groceries for the week. Things haven’t been the best for the Johnson household. At one point this summer, I was the only person in my family that still had a job (though thankfully my mom was able to get hers back with the school system). My dad would probably never read this journal, but even if he did, I still can’t help but call him a sad sack of crap lately. He’s been out of work for months. Most days it could seem like he could even care less about finding a new one. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s not fair. He’s well passed retirement age and in the last several years he’s gone through a half dozen different jobs. But when your family is broke, you kind of need to suck it up.
I feel so bad for my mom. She’s really at her wit’s end right now. The worst part is that my dad doesn’t seem to care. He spends all day sitting at home either sleeping or playing fucking Farmville. That’s a journal entry topic in and of itself though.. I want to help out for my mom’s sake…and I’ve already given them quite a large sum of money. Having to support my family is a little ridiculous though, at least in the case where my father and sibling aren’t doing anything to help. I’ve already had to pay the fees for several golf tournaments for the latter.
I hate money…there’s never enough of it.
In recent news, my birthday is almost here again. I took it upon myself to plan a cool event. I’ve already made a reservation for a swanky cabin up in Helen GA. I’ve got a full load of people confirmed for coming along (hopefully they won’t back out). I’m looking forward to it…a weekend of fun activities, tasty food & drink, and good company. Can’t wait to see the falls, tube down the river, and maybe even play a little putt-putt. There’s a lot that could go wrong, but I think we can pull it off.
It’s almost time for AWA as well. I’ve been thinking the last couple days…and I might actually pull the plug this year. Sounds like insanity coming from me right? I’ve literally been going to Anime Weekend Atlanta for half my life. This would be my 14th year. I haven’t done anything for 14 years. This thing has been the only true tradition I ever had…needless to say I’m hesitant to let it go.
I’ve been asking myself if I’m keeping the tradition just because it’s tradition though. The last couple years have been sub-par overall. I still have a good time hanging out with friends and seeing the familiar sights, but I don’t know if it’s worth it. The most irritating thing is that the venue hasn’t changed in like half a decade. It’s far too small for the crowds they draw now…but they continue to have it at the Cobb. This year Becca is going to be out of action, Jess and D either can’t afford it or won’t want to go. Jordan has never wanted to come. Ellen would rather go to Dragon*Con. The only people that expressed interest have been Brett and Jeff.
I’ve always provided the room for AWA (first a gift from my mother and the last few years out of my own pocket). It’s been kind of my “good karma gift” to everyone. But not having it this year would save me several hundred dollars…not to mention another couple hundred from the dealer’s room, food, artist’s alley, I’m sure. I haven’t decided, but I’m really leaning that way. If I don’t go, I may accompany Ellen to a day of Dragon*Con…see what all the fuss is about. A much cheaper option, and at least there will be new sights to see.
Maybe it’s time for even more changes..
The biggest of course is Ellen. Tomorrow is actually our “6 month Anniversary”…not that I’m the type that would really celebrate a half way point. That is…unless she thinks we need to. >.>; Yeaa…
Nah, Ellen’s not like that. She’s incredibly agreeable, but not so much for the sake of being agreeable. I don’t think I could date someone who was in the habit of saying “I want to do whatever you want to do!” And not just because I’m usually indecisive…but more that it’s annoying when someone does what you want automatically. Just to avoid making you mad or something.
Now that I live away from everyone else, and Kel is busy with school (or pretending I don’t exist), most of my daily communication is with Ellen. We talk a lot…like…a lot. Not that it’s a bad thing. I’m just a little surprised we haven’t driven each other crazy. O.o I think I like talking to her for the same reason I like talking to people like Jordan and Kel. There’s always a weird branching to the conversation that keeps me interested. Like today we’ve been chatting on FB for all of 20min and the conversation has gone from snoring to strange food cravings.
On a side note, she doesn’t like pork. We argue about it all the time. How can you not dig the swine? :O Speaking of food I’ll just roll into the next thing I was going to cover.
More than a month ago I went into a short bout of watching documentaries. Ever since I saw “Super Size Me” years ago, I’ve been interested in ones about the state of my average American diet. What I saw often horrified me, but there wasn’t really anything I wanted to (or could) change about it. The last one I watched was called “Food, Inc”. I think it finally pushed my last button. The new Kroger out on Hwy 96 (we call it Fancy Kroger) has an organic foods section. I vowed that when I went to go buy food for the week, I would see how hard it would be to buy nothing but organic products. Turns out even with a section of the store devoted to it, it’s still pretty hard.
Still, I would say that for the last 4 weeks 80% of what I’ve bought at the store sports a little “USDA Organic” marking. That’s not too shabby. It wasn’t hard to convert my lunches over (because most days I either have soup or salad). I’ve been buying organic vegetables (fresh and frozen), and everything else from pasta to yogurt. Never thought I’d be a yogurt eater…but I guess it’s growing on me. I wish I could go so far as to obtain grass-fed meats, but I just don’t think I’ve quite gotten to that point. Recently I settled for the halfway point and bought bulk from a local meat shop in Statesboro. I don’t know if I’m actually making a difference or anything, but it feels good to be actively trying at least. It also helps out with my latest health kick.
Yup, back on it. I figure there’s a lot of worse things I could have an obsession with. I’m keeping it manageable…working out on a 3 day schedule (Mon, Wed, Sat). Drinking mostly water again, taking home more food when I eat out, cutting out a lot of the junk food. I think I was in the best shape of my life last year around September, and I’m close to being back there. It feels good. It’s helping my immune system too. I caught a cold on a Friday and I had it kicked by the following Thursday. That’s got to count for something.
It makes me feel bad though, here I’m spending extra on organic foods and my family can’t even afford groceries for the week. Things haven’t been the best for the Johnson household. At one point this summer, I was the only person in my family that still had a job (though thankfully my mom was able to get hers back with the school system). My dad would probably never read this journal, but even if he did, I still can’t help but call him a sad sack of crap lately. He’s been out of work for months. Most days it could seem like he could even care less about finding a new one. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s not fair. He’s well passed retirement age and in the last several years he’s gone through a half dozen different jobs. But when your family is broke, you kind of need to suck it up.
I feel so bad for my mom. She’s really at her wit’s end right now. The worst part is that my dad doesn’t seem to care. He spends all day sitting at home either sleeping or playing fucking Farmville. That’s a journal entry topic in and of itself though.. I want to help out for my mom’s sake…and I’ve already given them quite a large sum of money. Having to support my family is a little ridiculous though, at least in the case where my father and sibling aren’t doing anything to help. I’ve already had to pay the fees for several golf tournaments for the latter.
I hate money…there’s never enough of it.
In recent news, my birthday is almost here again. I took it upon myself to plan a cool event. I’ve already made a reservation for a swanky cabin up in Helen GA. I’ve got a full load of people confirmed for coming along (hopefully they won’t back out). I’m looking forward to it…a weekend of fun activities, tasty food & drink, and good company. Can’t wait to see the falls, tube down the river, and maybe even play a little putt-putt. There’s a lot that could go wrong, but I think we can pull it off.
It’s almost time for AWA as well. I’ve been thinking the last couple days…and I might actually pull the plug this year. Sounds like insanity coming from me right? I’ve literally been going to Anime Weekend Atlanta for half my life. This would be my 14th year. I haven’t done anything for 14 years. This thing has been the only true tradition I ever had…needless to say I’m hesitant to let it go.
I’ve been asking myself if I’m keeping the tradition just because it’s tradition though. The last couple years have been sub-par overall. I still have a good time hanging out with friends and seeing the familiar sights, but I don’t know if it’s worth it. The most irritating thing is that the venue hasn’t changed in like half a decade. It’s far too small for the crowds they draw now…but they continue to have it at the Cobb. This year Becca is going to be out of action, Jess and D either can’t afford it or won’t want to go. Jordan has never wanted to come. Ellen would rather go to Dragon*Con. The only people that expressed interest have been Brett and Jeff.
I’ve always provided the room for AWA (first a gift from my mother and the last few years out of my own pocket). It’s been kind of my “good karma gift” to everyone. But not having it this year would save me several hundred dollars…not to mention another couple hundred from the dealer’s room, food, artist’s alley, I’m sure. I haven’t decided, but I’m really leaning that way. If I don’t go, I may accompany Ellen to a day of Dragon*Con…see what all the fuss is about. A much cheaper option, and at least there will be new sights to see.
Maybe it’s time for even more changes..