Tuesday: Went to the office, but not by bike this time. Mrs. Movieman and I had an intake session with a psychiatrist for TimovieDaughter, so I had to leave work a bit early. We suspect TimovieDaughter might have autism spectrum disorder like me (I recognise some of the signs), but she's also highly sensitive (like Mrs. Movieman), which is a bad combo that leads to negative thinking and anxiety in her case. She's been going to a psychologist for two years now, but we feel we've hit something of a ceiling there. She doesn't really use any of the methods and coping mechanisms she's been taught (she'll do them once or twice and then forego them), so we're looking into a new approach - especially since she'll be moving from elementary school to secondary school at the end of next school year, and we want to make sure that she'll be ready for that transition. Even more so with the signs of negative / depressive thoughts she's developing as a 10-year-old... With all the tests and reports we already have on her, and with the intake conversation we had with the psychiatrist, he's already thinking in a different direction than we (and all other institutions we've contacted) had. He's not convinced TimovieDaughter actually has autism spectrum disorder. The reports lead him to think more in the direction of social anxiety disorder (which has the fitting but brutal abbreviation SAD). Some of the signs overlap with ASD. There's also an IQ test planned this summer, mainly to see if there's a discrepancy between her visual and auditory intelligence, which will be useful to help her with any studying difficulties she might have in the future. She doesn't have any right now, but any additional knowledge will undoubtedly help...     In the evening, I attempted to do ALL THE THINGS. The DailyDare exercise got done, some TV was watched, some darts practice was done, some daily chess was played, and the PS5 was fired up for some Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. The downside again was that I got into bed just after 1:30 am, which means a red mark. I had a challenge last year to balance sleep and gaming. Might need one again. All the sports in the coming months won't help. There's the Giro d'Italia now, Roland Garros starts next week, then we'll have the European Football Championship, Wimbledon, Tour de France, Olympic Games, etc.  

I love seeing your cosplay work photos! I hope you will share some this time.

That hydrangea is amazing. I want to experiment with mine now!

I want to eat at your house!

It was perfect! This time we had some nice lettuce with it. Usually I make a slaw.    Today was chicken cutlets with mango salsa and salad. Also really good. 

Whoa, this sounds amazing!   Hi, Sov! ❤️    Plain old boring energy sounds like exactly what i need!   Today was a good day. I was doing work things and getting them done, and being part of the accountability gauntlet that the weakest of our team members definitely needs to face. He’s never not been a problem in the two years I’ve been at the job, and this is overdue, and my portion was simply to be accountable for my win things as we went in a round robin. The Team Lead is really good at what he does.    At lunch I went to a meet and greet and it got booked before I was out of the driveway and heading home. This makes three finalized bookings with new clients (who will all likely be repeat clients for the future), and I have another meet and greet tomorrow.   Tonight is dance class night, but a sever thunderstorm is brewing and I can feel my neurology getting all spun up and making me dizzy. This is not the time to dance; this is not the time to drive; this is the time to lie down in the dark and be glad of my cave, and to be glad I’m only humming and not suffering. This is the Way. The weather prompted a Warning level for severe storms, but we aren’t expecting anything as dramatic as the Midwest has seen. Our mountains hold us gently and well, and this is why I live where I do, having chosen this area on purpose when I was pregnant with my first child back in 1998. Whenever the Appalachia-adjacent elements start to grate on my nerves, some weather thing or other will come along and remind me that I love it here.   Also, I am really liking the apartment. I had some thoughts about what pieces need to come in next, and how to arrange them so that this is more My Space and also more Our Space, and I like where it’s going. It will probably take the better part of a year to bring the vision to life, but when doesn’t it?   I dropped the dance instructor a note that I won’t be in class, and logged out of work, another 10 hour day in the books. At this pace, I’ll barely need to show up on Friday, which is all to the good.    The summer things with Vivian get either a nasty, last minute response or no response at all (this is the most common). It’s enough to make a person give up, but I ended up asking for time on Friday anyway, since there’s a movie at the local independent theatre that i think Vivian would enjoy, and because it will officially be Summer Break, and there hasn’t been any mention of when I’ll get to see her yet. So asking it is, even if it feels like sailing paper boats into the void.   I’m tired enough that lying in a dark room and just icing sounds really grand. May you have peace this day, Friends. ❤️ 

Dropping in to say I’ve been thinking about you and hoping you are well. How’s the storm coming?  

Thank you for this update. I’ve been thinking about you and the weather. I am glad it’s only downed trees and inconvenience — the idea of a tree falling on your house or car is worrisome!   I find it interesting that you fell asleep so well with the power out.  Perhaps a literal household time of lights out, followed by candlelight Zen would be helpful for everyone?   ❤️ 

Gardening and zen happened last night.   I started on cleaning, then got interrupted by a tornado warning. Elf came and asked if we really needed to go to the basement. Yes. Once it moves from a watch to a warning, we really do need to go take shelter.   So we sat in the game room and each played on our own electronic devices while the rain lashed the windows. The worst of the storm was past when our power went out. I did zen by candlelight (as usual). Not having power made it much easier for me to go straight to bed. I wanted to conserve the charge on my phone.   We were lucky. All of our trees survived intact. Power came back on about 5am. I forgot to turn off the light by the bed after the power went out, so it came back on and woke me up. I rested for another half an hour before getting up.   There were branches and trees down all over the place. The city posted a list two pages long of all the streets that were closed because of fallen trees or power lines. Some of the smaller streets may have to wait a couple days until crews can get to them. This is why so many of my neighbors value having gasoline-powered chain saws. This was a mess, but nothing like the town in Iowa where a tornado touched down. Half of that town is gone. --------   Plan for tonight is aikido and vacuuming. I already sat zen. 😇

Sounds like such a yummy supper. Just the kind of food im needing with all this hot weather (mental note to self. Make guacamole)