Where to start...
So, last winter, my housing situation was fairly terrible, and when I felt like I had hit rock bottom, life threw me a shovel. I don't necessarily want to get into details or name names or locations, but I will say that a roommate situation ended up turning a bit abusive. Thankfully, I moved out of that place and into my current place in the beginning of April. The short of it is that's why I've been on such a long hiatus with updating/redesigning here.
Now, living alone is both liberating and isolating. I don't really get to see my partners that often, but I also don't have people trying to enter my bedroom in the middle of the night or having extremely loud meltdowns in the common areas of my home anymore (Oops, I said I wasn't going to get into details). Be that as it may, my home now is really nice, and while it feels lonely or that I can't really relax just yet -- I know it's five months later -- it's safe. "Safe" is my number one priority for the moment.
My dysautonomia got really bad this summer. In my area, our storm season isn't usually so long, but it was this year. I would assume that a sudden change in barometric pressure has any number of effects on disordered blood pressure and tachycardia. Uh, so, I kind of learned how to faint without blacking out (which I guess can happen, from my research?). I still don't know unequivocally if I have POTS, as in, I have yet to recieve the tilt table test I was allegedly referred to (a year and counting!), so I'm operating on a best guess based on my symptoms and a stand test. As it turns out, an extended storm season at this particular elevation tends to also have an effect on chronic pain/joint problems. The gist is that I had a very painful, very fatigued, very discombobulated summer, and I'm quite honestly happy to have the weather change. The good thing that came of it, I suppose, is commiserating with a few people over various chronic pain/disability symptoms, and at least not feeling so alone in it. I bought and started using a cane a few months ago, as well, and so far, it feels better.
I'm still on fic-hiatus, unfortunately. I really want to write, but I have yet to find the motivation. I did find the motivation to read, however, and have been eagerly following a host of BL manhwas, some to their conclusions, some begrudgingly through their hiatuses, and some that are completed. This is a list of which ones I've been reading:
All of them sucked me in with fantastic art. If you choose to use this as a rec list, remember I'm a fucking freak, and I like Dead Doves. Mind the CW's/tags.
Most recently, and in preparation for fall and winter, I made a Gothic TBR Pile. All of these are on my regular TBR Pile, but the ones I've prioritized (and currently own) are as follows:
We'll see if I get through all of those, and if I do, I own a library card. I do want to start writing again this winter, but the best solution for a lack of inspiration is to read, so I am gonna do that first.
Lastly, this summer I made the decision to divest from music streaming services. At the beginning of the year, I switched from Spotify to Tidal because of the lower sub costs, but I basically said to hell with it all, and repurposed a broken down old phone I have into an 'mp3 player'. Sometime in August, I got my hands on an iPod Classic that I plan to refurbish slowly, and when it's done, I'll transition back to that. Let me tell you, though, it's been so much fun to download music again. Obligatory plug to lucida here.
Also obligatory "I am not responsible for what you do with the link above."
Speaking of 'divesting' though, I will likely make a later blog post about the ways I've chosen to 'divest' recently. So... look for that, and perhaps it will help you on your own journey. That about does it for me, though.