Novaurora

Thanks! Things are slowly starting to wind down, but it was a rough month. Good morning, nerds! Yesterday was fine. I woke up to more dog barf (different dog) and she continued to barf all day, but I already had a rabies appt scheduled for her today, so I just kept an eye on her and did my best not to catastrophize. She's doing okay this morning (no barfing) and the vet did not seem overly concerned, but I'll get bloodwork results back tomorrow. Despite my anxiety low key buzzing about that all day, I still got some stuff done. I SUBMITTED A SHORT STORY TO A MAGAZINE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION!!! I have been writing for years, and this is the first time I have ever considered my work "done" enough or "good" enough for consideration. Granted, the story I submitted is one I wrote in college (I'm 33, ha) and have been editing randomly over the last 3 years or so. I probably won't hear back either way for like 6 months, but still, the fact that I did it is huge!!! I got all the tree bits put on the curb and they were successfully picked up this morning (it was a very large pile), and because I was dealing with dog barf all day, I decided to skip the laundry, so I installed some lighting on my back deck instead so me and the dogs can see out there at night. I'm counting that as my three things because I feel like adjustments should be allowed as long as I am being productive. I also had a therapy appt, which was great (I love my therapist). Today's list: 1. LAUNDRY 2. Fix fence in the back where it has come disconnected (it's my neighbor's fence, but she's an old lady, and 1 board will fix it) 3. Clean up anxiety clutter LET'S GOOOOO

Thanks! I may be over reacting about divorce news. I'm just very interested to see what his lawyer wants to talk about that can be emailed to both of us. Yeah, its just really frustrating because we were doing pretty okay for a minute until I realized he was never going to take financial responsibility for anything and I took all my money out of the joint account (as was my legal right as he was contributing nothing) and started getting on his case about it, ya know, asking him to contribute to joint bills. But apparently that makes me a bad person. Today's list: 1. Drag tree pieces to the curb (I cut down 4 trees in my yard last week to keep the rats from getting to the roof and we have yard waste pick up on trash days) 2. Final Edit on Cucumbers and Submit to VQR 3. Finish Laundry Happy Wednesday!!

YASSSSSSS!!!!!!! I love deadlifts!!! Great job with your consistency!!!!!!

Congrats on your essay!!! And great job cranking out those funding apps! Now take some time to relax and take care of yourself!!

I think I’m going to start taking pictures. I’m super visual and taking a picture is easy, and it still captures everything I ate (and may not “measured” portion sizes, but I can see how much of what I’m putting on the plate at least. I’m not from the UK, but a sausage roll sounds magical (I remember breakfast rolls very fondly from my year in Ireland, ha). Good job on your goals!!!

it was a win all around indeed!!! thanks, today was pretty solid too!! Seriously! Get ready for it!!! I was definitely laughing yesterday (especially after they discounted the visit because I had just spent 2k for her to be there overnight). Hey guys, today was another good day! Full disclosure, I have been exclusively, but casually, seeing a guy since the beginning of April, ( probably a bit soon, but it is what it is now). Both of us are coming out of long term relationships and don’t really want to rush anything. It’s more than friends with benefits but I’m not his girlfriend…it’s a gray area we are both comfortable with currently because we are meeting each other’s needs regardless of titles and whatnot. Long story short, spent the day with him nerding out over the new Diablo 3 patch for season 27 (he got me into the game and I am so addicted) and watching movies and chatting and stuff. BUT I still made and completed a list: 1. Take out trash and recycling 2. Put sorted items back in the attic 3. Call the electrician I’m on a 2 day streak of goodness, but my lawyer just billed me again, so I’m sure I’m gonna hear from her at some point this week. We sent over an edited draft of the separation agreement to STBXH and his lawyer last week, and he said that my lawyer would be hearing from his this week (because apparently we aren’t grown adults that can talk to each other) so I’m just waiting for that shoe to stop. I really just want this to be over, and I hate that it is dragging out over stupid stuff. Anyhoo, that’s me…have s great night everyone!

Thanks! I do have a great support system of friends here, and my family has my back (emotionally and financially sometimes) and I have you guys. So I get pockets of good all over the place, I’m just hoping everything (especially divorce stuff) is resolved by August before I go back to school. Thank you! Just in one of those seasons, so welcome to the roller coaster!! Probably not, but I appreciate the sentiment. And to your spoiler, it does help knowing that people have shared your experiences and can understand what you are going through Thanks guys for all your support! It means so much! Today was pretty good, actually (this is another reason I need to document…to not get stuck thinking everything is terrible all the time). All I learned at the Emergency Vet is that my dog (and her perfectly normal pancreas numbers) is a drama queen who was refusing to eat because she didn’t want to take her meds. So, thankfully because her numbers were normal, they told me to just not give her any more meds (it was like 4 different things a day). Problem solved, literally. She is eating, drinking, and back to her good old self. In terms of my list, I got it all done! And I even did a little more because the stress of potential further dog illness and more $$$ was lifted off my shoulders. I took a really great nap too, so that was a win. I need to put “call electrician” on my list tomorrow because I’m not sure how much longer I can go without a microwave though. I have good leftovers to eat! Ha! Goodnight everyone!!

Fox! Hi! Following!!

Woohoo consistency!! Keep it up! You got this!

Welcome back!! I’m glad you’re coming out of the dark chapter and into your strength and power! You got this!!!

Todays tasks: 1. Do at least 1 load of laundry 2. Put away the dishes 3. Fill at least one circle on my Apple Watch

Hey! Can’t promise I will comment a lot, but I’m supporting as best I can!!

Hi Nerds! I’m back (again…can’t finish a challenge but can’t stay away either). This last month (and the preceding months to come extent) have been a real gut punch to my life, and I am really struggling to do even the most basic stuff a lot of days, so here I am. Spoiler below for people who would like more detail….TW: divorce, death, pet peril So, basically, I’m in survival mode, and with the school year coming out, I need to crawl my way out of that so I’m not totally overwhelmed come August. I am going to start very simple and just go from there and add things as I can. 1. Take meds 2. 7 hours of sleep every night 3. Choose 3 tasks every day and complete them (can be big or small depending on physical/emotional energy available) 4. Update here at least twice a week, even if it’s just a sentence That’s what I have for now. Happy Challenge Everyone!!

I did that a few summers ago when my cousin came to visit. It was both ludicrous and entertaining

So, yesterday was a bit interesting. It was pretty boring until about 8:30. Story in spoiler because it turned into a novel. Nothing bad, actually kinda funny. So, GOALS....I need to be better. I need to use this week to really get back into it. McGonagall Consistent sleep and wake times In bed between 10 and 10:30 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ Awake between 5 and 5:30 🐈‍⬛ ❌ Consistent House Upkeep We have a list, just do the list 🐈‍⬛ Consistent Use of Calendar (very good at this, need to keep this up) 🐈‍⬛ TAKE MEDS EVERY DAY 🐈‍⬛ ❌ Cook at home x5 a week 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ Bianca Belair Consistent Workouts (I have been doing well with this) 100 Kettlebell Swings and 50 goblet squats x4 a week (working up to doing this every morning) M/W: Heavy Lifts 5x5 at home 🏋️‍♀️ T/Sat: Bootcamp class 🏋️‍♀️ Doing a combination of any 2 of these in a week is considered a win Consistent Calorie Intake 1800 a day ❌❌ IF 7:30am to 5:30pm ❌❌ (I eat my emotions, including boredom...so gotta get this under control) Tiana Finish grad school application Write 200 words a day (1400 a week): 0/1400 Choose one of the following" Read/edit my work 30 minutes Read/edit others work 30 minutes 🐸 Grade 1 hour a day (yes, even if you don't want to) Visit a "Wilmington Bucket list" place (I have lived here a decade and there are so many things I haven't seen) Plan a lone summer excursion

Thank you!!! I love our chats!! Welcome!! Hopefully I'll last longer than a week this time, ha. Thank you! I'm going to need it! Hell to the yes I am!!!! Thank you!! Welcome! I'll take whatever support I can get! We had some animal wrangling to add to the crazy tonight. More on that later, but DANG I need a break. Thanks! I'm always trying to control things that I can't control, so hopefully this will be less stressful. A bit all over the place, but I'll get to that in a second, ha

Same on my desktop, but not on my phone. I'm so sorry to hear you are struggling. And if we fall of another challenge, at least we fall off together. ALL THE HUGS!!!!!

Oh girl, I'mma be all over your ass now that I know you have that shit at the house! I do too! We can be lifting buddies!!!! You and me both!! You got this!

Welcome! Love your thought process!!

I love a straight forward challenge. I'm here for it! (hopefully more consistently this time)

So, I had this whole intro written out and then a transformer blew at my house and OF COURSE I was on the desk top so I lost it, so, the tl;dr of that (because I'm not typing it again) was that I'm having a really hard time lately (hence my ghosting of the forum) and I have to put a lot of my financial goals on hold due to things outside my control (*cough* A not paying his share of the shared bills that are also in my name *cough*) SO this challenge will focus EXCLUSIVELY on things that are in my control. So, what are those things? What I eat How I spend my time My own emotional response to things The last few weeks, my foundation and structure were not in place at all, so the first step is getting those things back Here are the goals for the end of this challenge in that regard, paired with the appropriate bad ass bitches Daily Routine Professor Mcgonagall : Let's be honest, when it comes to consistent and dependable, this ya girl. She keeps Hogwarts running as smoothly as possible and is sassy to boot. I just need her tough love in my ears constantly. Consistent sleep and wake times In bed between 10 and 10:30 Awake between 5 and 5:30 Consistent House Upkeep We have a list, just do the list Consistent Use of Calendar (very good at this, need to keep this up) TAKE MEDS EVERY DAY Cook at home x5 a week Food and Fitness Bianca Belair: So, the WWE is 100% my guilty pleasure, and Bianca Belair is known as the EST of the WWE (StrongEST, FastEST, etc...) but I mean, she can lift who dang PEOPLE over her head, and I'm here for it. I want to be STRONG! She also is as confident as she is strong and I'm here for all of that too. She takes care of herself and knows her worth and works hard. Consistent Workouts (I have been doing well with this) 100 Kettlebell Swings and 50 goblet squats x4 a week (working up to doing this every morning) M/W: Heavy Lifts 5x5 at home T/Sat: Bootcamp class Doing a combination of any 2 of these in a week is considered a win Consistent Calorie Intake 1800 a day IF 7:30am to 5:30pm Working Toward Personal Goals: Tiana from Princess and the Frog: While I don't intend on attempting to work myself to death, I do need to borrow some of her insane drive. She knew what she wanted and she went for it. I know what I want and I think about going for it. I have taken a few solid steps in some directions. I started my grad school application, I joined a writing group, I let go of being a perfectionist at school. So, goals: Finish grad school application Write 200 words a day Choose one of the following" Read/edit my work 30 minutes Read/edit others work 30 minutes Grade 1 hour a day (yes, even if you don't want to) Visit a "Wilmington Bucket list" place (I have lived here a decade and there are so many things I haven't seen) Plan a lone summer excursion Here's hoping that having control of all this shit will help me let go of everything else. Have a great day, everyone!

Your house looks so cosy!!!

I have been sleeping SO GOOD. Very happy. We had a workday today which was also very helpful for my soul. Another 4 day week next week too. Spring break is on the horizon as well. Living for these breaks. Look at me, updating two weeks in a row like I'm keeping my shit together ha. So, I'm behind on all sorts of shit, but I have started making moves to move forward on the important shit. 1. I have a lawyer and A and I have started talking about and working out a separation agreement. 2. I borrowed some money from my parents to pay for this lawyer catch up a few bills we had perpetually been paying late so I could stop paying late fees and panicking about one mistake ruining my credit 3. I paid my car registration that hadn't been paid since 2020 (small miracles that I never got pulled over) 4. I have continued decorating and organizing parts of the house 5. I got Diamond a surgery that she has needed for a long time (blurry picture of large tumor in spoiler, but also a cute doggo after picture) Actual Goals: BEAU 2 gym sessions per week ✅ Can replace with a home session of at least 45 minutes as needed 1800 calories a day ✅✅❌ (I wanted cake today and let it happen) Yoga x3 Meditation after yoga (1 minute, with a 30 second build each week) AMY Meal Prep With HelloFresh ✅ Use the wall calendar and COMPLETE the daily and weekly chore lists AM: ✅❌✅ PM: ✅❌✅ Daily Chore:❌❌❌ (OOOPS) Take my meds EVERYDAY: ✅✅❌ Make preparations where I can for financial independence in March (Now, REALISTICALLY, April...due to A) Put things on auto draft (by end of month) Set up a summer saving account to help bulk up my savings without having to think about it ✅ Turn in Direct Debit form (by 2nd of week 2)

Thanks for the pokes, guys. I'm okay. Work and life have just been very busy. When I got sick at the beginning of the month I got really behind and I have been doing a lot to get caught up. The dogs are also being super needy with the transition, so I'm spending a lot of time with them. I currently don't have a laptop, so if I'm on a computer, I'm ignoring dogs in the office on the desktop...they are not fans of this. I'm currently updating on my phone with a dog in my lap and another snuggled right up on me. I'm trying to keep busy, so between Girls nights, county equity meetings, therapy, and grading essays every morning for a while, I just haven't made it back. Though, to my credit, I have been pretty consistently taking my meds, I have been working out at least once a week and eating well overall (down 6 pounds), my house has stayed reasonably clean without too many days of ignoring dishes (just don't look in my sink today), I have rearranged a few things and cleared out some stuff, and really started claiming the space as my own. I have secured a lawyer and A and I are getting together Friday to create a separation agreement, hopefully getting both of us what we want as best we can and making everything very easy moving forward. I haven't been nearly as sad lately, just exhausted. I'm ready for it to all be over. Focusing on my job has been hard, hence why I am behind, but I'm letting myself be okay with that as best as I can. I almost updated a few times this week, but just didn't know where to start. I'll be gone this weekend too. Diamond and I are taking a trip to my uncle the vet to get a tumor removed (a big sac that hangs off her belly). I'm very excited and am sure she will appreciate it once she realizes it's gone. Case as point, I just fell asleep on the couch. I will do my best to be more consistent, but also...I love sleep

Thank you! I have lots of great support IRL too. I'm hoping everything will work out, but we haven't even scratched the surface really because he has been out of town for 2 weeks (and its only been a month since we decided) This is a really good point. Thanks! This is the right answer. Haha. I would only get into it if I thought I could make the system better, but its really just too broken. I like my equity gig, that's close enough for now. Good morning, nerds! Yesterday was pretty good. School was uneventful. Had a really good conversation with one of my co workers (who is also a neighbor) about divorce tidbits (mostly housing because he too bought the equity from his wife). He had some good advice and some ideas that were less complicated than what I had been thinking, so that was good. A stopped by the house while I was at work to check on his motorcycle, and he will be back today. I just texted him to let him know I would be home early for a telehealth appt. It's not that I care if he's around, I just don't want him around during my therapy session. I have been noticing small changes in the dogs' behavior lately. I think they are starting to realize that daddy is gone for good, and they are responding by (gently) resource guarding ME. I had friends over yesterday, and Piglet climbed into my lap (50 pound dog) and curled up on top of me. Generally, she just sits on her "pillow throne" or harasses my friends for love. She has also been following me to the bathroom and sitting in front of the door while I pee. They all have to touch me while I sleep. Even now, Diamond is under the desk on the dog bed (which is normal) but her head is resting on my foot. It's kinda sad for them, but everyone is getting EXTRA LOVE. It was good to have my friends over, but did mean that my daily chore didn't get done and I was over calories, and I didn't write....oops. But today is make up day, so I can still catch at least the chore up. BEAU 2 gym sessions per week Can replace with a home session of at least 45 minutes as needed 1800 calories a day ✅✅✅❌ Yoga x3 ✅✅ Meditation after yoga (1 minute, with a 30 second build each week) ✅✅ AMY Meal Prep With HelloFresh ✅ Use the wall calendar and COMPLETE the daily and weekly chore lists AM: ✅✅✅✅ PM:✅✅✅✅ Daily Chore:✅✅❌❌ (can get this check if I do the chore by Friday...that's catch up day) Take my meds EVERYDAY: ✅✅✅✅ Make preparations where I can for financial independence in March Put things on auto draft (by end of month) Set up a summer saving account to help bulk up my savings without having to think about it. (by end of Month) Turn in Direct Debit form (by 2nd of week 2) Track spending: ELSA Let go of who we thought we had to/should be at 33, and welcome who we CAN BE Try a new (or forgotten) hobby or gym class Visit somewhere in town I’ve never been WRITE daily for at least 15 minutes (finish draft 3 of Children’s Book, revisit your novel, or one of the million short stories on your drive) ❌✅✅❌ Keep a journal about new adventures and self discovery and write in it at least once a week (does not count toward writing goal). ✅