Life Update
Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've updated this LJ. Been really busy with writing and art and generally dealing with RL stuff. Creative projects have been doing really well, with some new fics here at Writin' Across Universes. Some of them are drabbles (100 words or less) and some crossovers (Star Trek Enterprise, Doctor Who, Torchwood, SG-1 and SGA). Check out my new ENT/DW crossover "Trip and the Terrific Tardis"
I've also put my Star Trek Art here at the USS Sarasvati. My regular art is here at Lady Rainbow's Art. Been working with oil pencils and pastel pencils lately, with pen and ink. I'm part of a group that's doing the exercises from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and it's helped a lot. It's wonderful chatting and working with so much talent, with so many different styles and subjects!
I've also been reviewing my Linguistics 101 and other languages (grammar, culture, etc.) It's definitely one of those "if you don't use it, you lose it" things. I keep up with internet articles and language conversations, but doing this keeps my mind sharp so I DON'T lose it. Since I can't physically travel, doing this also keeps my hopes and dreams alive.
The kids have been improving academically in school. Son is strong in math and computers, Banshee Girl in music. They've done so well with adaptive technology and with caring, nurturing teachers. Baby Girl is now your typical 2 year old. Her favorite words are "Uh-oh!" "Whoa!" and "No!" (Tantrums optional). She's quite enamored with the Lego Store, definitely Daddy's Little Girl.
Unfortunately, my real life, for the most part, isn't all that great. Dealing with a lot of crap right now, including calls from kids' teachers. Older Daughter has been in a bitey mood, and Son in a real defiant "hitty" mood. Hubs is as clueless as usual, and convinced that repeated time outs in their rooms will eventually help the discipline "sink in". Hubs has also been saying a lot of stupid/inappropriate things and drones on and on about what he knows, takes over conversations, and is completely socially inept. The sad thing is that he's completely unaware how much this has turned me off.
An example of a typical conversation
Languages and cultures--->his travels overseas for work (which of course qualifies him an "expert")--->his opinions about his co-workers in England, Germany, and India (which I won't repeat here)--->the joint projects he has to work on with them--->computer programming intricacies--->his specialties and what he has to put up with on a daily basis--->drone, drone, drone, and I've tuned him out a long time ago.
Interesting conversation, huh? NOT! Thus, we never really talk anymore.
His parents completely ignored Baby Girl's Birthday on Oct. 5 and called on the week of Oct 28 to inform us that they were on holiday in Arizona and don't bother calling for MIL's birthday on the 28th. WTH? I'm not exactly keen on spending time with them on either Christmas or Thanksgiving. I know they aren't exactly comfortable with the kids, but that doesn't excuse their attitude and their behavior.
And I'm tired of Aspberger's as an excuse for rudeness. I only have so much empathic tolerance.
Financial woes continue, and Hubs' various payment plans means that we hardly have any money for the rest of the month. Case in point, $66 for the whole of November, from Nov. 1st. O.O Which means he has to borrow against his paycheck for December, which means even less for Christmas/New Years. It's a vicious cycle, which puts us even more in the hole. I've been trying to bring a little extra through my art and my writing, which is "minor".
Needless to say, he's been spending all this time on ancestry.com and his geneology project. The more he finds out about his family, the more convinced I am at how dysfunctional and mentally incompetent they are. And yes, if I'd known about this ahead of time and how it would affect my kids, I wouldn't have wasted the past 15 years. Harsh, but true.
But like I said, I find a lot of satisfaction in my creative work and watching my kids improve academically. Hubs and I pretty much have parallel lives and the twain hardly ever meet. Thank God for my creative support teams---they keep me sane and give me the will to go on!
I've also put my Star Trek Art here at the USS Sarasvati. My regular art is here at Lady Rainbow's Art. Been working with oil pencils and pastel pencils lately, with pen and ink. I'm part of a group that's doing the exercises from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and it's helped a lot. It's wonderful chatting and working with so much talent, with so many different styles and subjects!
I've also been reviewing my Linguistics 101 and other languages (grammar, culture, etc.) It's definitely one of those "if you don't use it, you lose it" things. I keep up with internet articles and language conversations, but doing this keeps my mind sharp so I DON'T lose it. Since I can't physically travel, doing this also keeps my hopes and dreams alive.
The kids have been improving academically in school. Son is strong in math and computers, Banshee Girl in music. They've done so well with adaptive technology and with caring, nurturing teachers. Baby Girl is now your typical 2 year old. Her favorite words are "Uh-oh!" "Whoa!" and "No!" (Tantrums optional). She's quite enamored with the Lego Store, definitely Daddy's Little Girl.
Unfortunately, my real life, for the most part, isn't all that great. Dealing with a lot of crap right now, including calls from kids' teachers. Older Daughter has been in a bitey mood, and Son in a real defiant "hitty" mood. Hubs is as clueless as usual, and convinced that repeated time outs in their rooms will eventually help the discipline "sink in". Hubs has also been saying a lot of stupid/inappropriate things and drones on and on about what he knows, takes over conversations, and is completely socially inept. The sad thing is that he's completely unaware how much this has turned me off.
An example of a typical conversation
Languages and cultures--->his travels overseas for work (which of course qualifies him an "expert")--->his opinions about his co-workers in England, Germany, and India (which I won't repeat here)--->the joint projects he has to work on with them--->computer programming intricacies--->his specialties and what he has to put up with on a daily basis--->drone, drone, drone, and I've tuned him out a long time ago.
Interesting conversation, huh? NOT! Thus, we never really talk anymore.
His parents completely ignored Baby Girl's Birthday on Oct. 5 and called on the week of Oct 28 to inform us that they were on holiday in Arizona and don't bother calling for MIL's birthday on the 28th. WTH? I'm not exactly keen on spending time with them on either Christmas or Thanksgiving. I know they aren't exactly comfortable with the kids, but that doesn't excuse their attitude and their behavior.
And I'm tired of Aspberger's as an excuse for rudeness. I only have so much empathic tolerance.
Financial woes continue, and Hubs' various payment plans means that we hardly have any money for the rest of the month. Case in point, $66 for the whole of November, from Nov. 1st. O.O Which means he has to borrow against his paycheck for December, which means even less for Christmas/New Years. It's a vicious cycle, which puts us even more in the hole. I've been trying to bring a little extra through my art and my writing, which is "minor".
Needless to say, he's been spending all this time on ancestry.com and his geneology project. The more he finds out about his family, the more convinced I am at how dysfunctional and mentally incompetent they are. And yes, if I'd known about this ahead of time and how it would affect my kids, I wouldn't have wasted the past 15 years. Harsh, but true.
But like I said, I find a lot of satisfaction in my creative work and watching my kids improve academically. Hubs and I pretty much have parallel lives and the twain hardly ever meet. Thank God for my creative support teams---they keep me sane and give me the will to go on!