*tap*tap* Is this on? State of the Ann 2011
It's been months, nearly a year, since i made much of a post, and a couple of years since I posted regularly. Don't know if anyone out there still has me on their read list, but I want to put this out here for my own clarity.
About this time last year, I realized that I was depressed, thanks to a friend naming it, complicated by my basically cheerful disposition. Began taking St. John's Wort, which helps keep me from crashing in the pit, and then, when GARF was done, I began water aerobics which I love, love, love. The last piece to put me back together is a borrowed light therapy lamp. So, no magic wands here - a combination of exercise, pharmaceutical, and light all together to help me function.
The depression was exacerbated and camouflaged by my extreme busy-ness -- it's hard to differentiate between depression and exhaustion. Since Thanksgiving, 2007, I'd been working weekends in the box office at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta, in addition to my full time 8-5 Monday-Friday job as bookkeeper (and IT person) at a small family industrial plumbing supply wholesaler. That's in addition to GARF eight weekends every spring (which I've been doing since 1995). and some occasional fill ins as house manager at Theatrical Outfit. So, yeah, tired. I haven't been working all those jobs because of a Type A personality, but because I'm scrabbling to make ends meet and pay my bills. Anyway, good news/bad news - I was let go from Horizon this past week -- restructuring, and no reason given. They fired 3 of us and immediately posted the positions as open. To top it off, the chief operating officer said it was not her idea, and that she'd give me an excellent reference. I have weekends back, but now there's a gap in my budget.
This weekend is a do-nothing weekend. I did go to the grocery, and put some clothes into a charity bin, but that's it. No church or GSU orchestra concert, either. Nothing. A bare minimum of chores (litter box, laundry, and dishes). but otherwise, I am off. I'll have to kick into gear this week, and make best use of the time I now have on Saturdays and Sundays before GARF, but for mental health, I' ve been off this two days.
I really, really want a job that I love and enjoy and pays enough. I'm not a high living kinda gal, but I do want to be able to cover basics and unplanned expenses (my check engine light is on, and must be fixed in order for me to pass inspection and get my car tag renewed.) I'd also like to get new glasses and go to the dentist.
Okay, I'm done with me, for now. Kids are doing well. I posted last summer for help finding a place fro #3 son and his wife to live in Chicago to attend grad school at Northwestern University. Thanks to the outstanding LJ Renn Faire brain trust, immediately wendyzski popped up - she loves in Chicago, is an NU alum, and is in real estate management, AND is a musician at Renn Faire. Wow. They got a place to live in time for the semester to start -- astounding. Rick's grad school is going well (Performance Viola) and he was complimented by the members of the Berlin Philharmonic Quartet after his quartet played for them in a masterclass. So cool!
Oldest son is a First Lieutenant in the Signal Corps in Washington state, back home from his third tour in Iraq. He misses the South -- Washington weather and people aren't his type. He smiles and waves at his apartment neighbors, and they hide in their car to avoid contact. A shock for a Southern boy.
Middle son is cooking and serving for Chef For a Night at the Shakespeare Tavern, and still loves his job. He's the last one in town, and it's so good to have one where I can still set eyes on him sometimes.
I'm going to try to post more often, whether of not I have comments. I need the clarity writing things out provides.
About this time last year, I realized that I was depressed, thanks to a friend naming it, complicated by my basically cheerful disposition. Began taking St. John's Wort, which helps keep me from crashing in the pit, and then, when GARF was done, I began water aerobics which I love, love, love. The last piece to put me back together is a borrowed light therapy lamp. So, no magic wands here - a combination of exercise, pharmaceutical, and light all together to help me function.
The depression was exacerbated and camouflaged by my extreme busy-ness -- it's hard to differentiate between depression and exhaustion. Since Thanksgiving, 2007, I'd been working weekends in the box office at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta, in addition to my full time 8-5 Monday-Friday job as bookkeeper (and IT person) at a small family industrial plumbing supply wholesaler. That's in addition to GARF eight weekends every spring (which I've been doing since 1995). and some occasional fill ins as house manager at Theatrical Outfit. So, yeah, tired. I haven't been working all those jobs because of a Type A personality, but because I'm scrabbling to make ends meet and pay my bills. Anyway, good news/bad news - I was let go from Horizon this past week -- restructuring, and no reason given. They fired 3 of us and immediately posted the positions as open. To top it off, the chief operating officer said it was not her idea, and that she'd give me an excellent reference. I have weekends back, but now there's a gap in my budget.
This weekend is a do-nothing weekend. I did go to the grocery, and put some clothes into a charity bin, but that's it. No church or GSU orchestra concert, either. Nothing. A bare minimum of chores (litter box, laundry, and dishes). but otherwise, I am off. I'll have to kick into gear this week, and make best use of the time I now have on Saturdays and Sundays before GARF, but for mental health, I' ve been off this two days.
I really, really want a job that I love and enjoy and pays enough. I'm not a high living kinda gal, but I do want to be able to cover basics and unplanned expenses (my check engine light is on, and must be fixed in order for me to pass inspection and get my car tag renewed.) I'd also like to get new glasses and go to the dentist.
Okay, I'm done with me, for now. Kids are doing well. I posted last summer for help finding a place fro #3 son and his wife to live in Chicago to attend grad school at Northwestern University. Thanks to the outstanding LJ Renn Faire brain trust, immediately wendyzski popped up - she loves in Chicago, is an NU alum, and is in real estate management, AND is a musician at Renn Faire. Wow. They got a place to live in time for the semester to start -- astounding. Rick's grad school is going well (Performance Viola) and he was complimented by the members of the Berlin Philharmonic Quartet after his quartet played for them in a masterclass. So cool!
Oldest son is a First Lieutenant in the Signal Corps in Washington state, back home from his third tour in Iraq. He misses the South -- Washington weather and people aren't his type. He smiles and waves at his apartment neighbors, and they hide in their car to avoid contact. A shock for a Southern boy.
Middle son is cooking and serving for Chef For a Night at the Shakespeare Tavern, and still loves his job. He's the last one in town, and it's so good to have one where I can still set eyes on him sometimes.
I'm going to try to post more often, whether of not I have comments. I need the clarity writing things out provides.