So… it’s been a hot minute since I’ve updated. And let me just say… July 2023 fucking sucked.
A few weeks ago I WAS going to talk about a book I’ve been reading and what I’ve been working on, but that went out the window VERY fast and very suddenly! Let me break it down for you. For those wanting just a writing update there will be one at the end if you want to skip through the fabulous last month I had.
July 5th – scheduled 10 hours at work, but left 30 minutes early because I was in a lot of pain. I mean a 6 or 7 out of 10 on the pain scale. Fiancé says I was more like a 9. Left work planning on going to walk-in clinic, but was in so much pain driving that halfway home my fiancé convinced me to pull over and he had my parents come get me and I went to the ER instead! Acute appendicitis. Cue overnight stay in hospital and surgery scheduled for the next morning!
Surgery went well. Was off work the whole week after and the Monday of the week after that. That was the 17th of July. When my appendix decided to rebel I was training people with another trainer in the department. Because of being gone so long I was not training when I came back. Cool. That’s fine. I worked. Had pain, but no real issues other than one of the 3 surgical scars having discharge. If you want details contact me directly and I will gladly share about it.
Friday, July 21st I called out of work. Yay not yay. Following week! July 24th supervisor asks how I am and if I feel up to training. You bet! 25th I have a new person I’m training. Just the one. She’s awesome. All my trainees are. JULY 27TH I’m answering a question for another associate at work and I hear my name over the speakers that I have a call. Brain immediately knows what it’s about. My grandpa died.
My last. Living. Grandparent.
It’s like 9 AM. I have been at work around 2 hours. I left. Came back the next day. Saturday, July 29th my parents, my aunt and her husband, and my uncle (and me) are at the funeral home making arrangements for when viewing and funeral will be. Get out of there and I email the obit to my hr person at work asking her to enter my bereavement days into the system. I also put in for 2 vacation days. So I had asked the whole week off. One of my leads contacts me because one day didn’t get approved so I came back on Monday, July 31st, worked, and had the rest of the week off.
Wednesday and Thursday, August 2nd and 3rd were filled with family, tears, arguing, and all the frustration. Friday my dad and I went to see about getting a loan to get my car fixed. Don’t get the Chevy Equinox. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. Still working on things.
I finally had a normal week at work this last week. FINALLY!!! I missed 3 writing group meetings because I’m now attending 2 groups, one of which meets every other week. We meet this week. I’m excited. I really like these folks.
Writing update:
The only bright side to having so much time off and losing my grandpa is that I was able to get a bunch of work done on one of my poetry projects. And I mean a lot. When I showed people how much I got done they were surprised. I was too, but I am thrilled with the amount of work I’ve gotten done on it.
That being said I’m working on a few final things to get the I Know collection of books released this year still and my goal right now is finishing writing the new book and getting it typed up before the end of the year. Wish me luck. Because gods know I’m gonna need it.
It feels and sounds like the coming months are going to be super chaotic and busy and extremely trying on my mental health as well as potentially my physical health. Good thing I’m making changes for the better, right? Right?
~H
P.S. Yes, I’m absolutely terrified of what the next few months are going to look like. And yes, fiancé made it here for the viewing and funeral thanks to a friend of mine who I cannot thank enough.
H.R. Shavor 