Everyday is an Adventure

Hey, gang! Welcome to my life – where anything is possible and nothing is as it seems. I’m Freedom and I’ll be your host, coming at you from within the depths of Geistopia. 

DOC: Velcum To My Life ees a prochect, un experiment in Life unt ART. A living storyboard, if you will. Its premise ees zat life ees experiential, unt zat you can, unt do, experience ze life you choose. It ees based on Ze Veel of Life unt Ze ARTs for Ze New Millennium as life building tools. Ja, it’s true! 

WALT: Welcome to my Life is a Geist…House Players Production, in association with the Center for Creative Inspirationalism. JustUs Productions, the parent company, would like to give a ‘Shout-Out’ to the following for their ongoing, and oft-times unknowing, inspiration and support:

Princess Cuddlebug

Princess Sunshine

Company

The Shaman

The Pillar

F’n Bob

The Entire Putt-Putt-Putter Clan

The Warden

FaeriePrincess

Professor Siggy Chong

Sparky Wentz-eclaus

The VanMan and General Ralph Glossop, and Craze (may they R.I.P.)

The Messengers of The Galactic Federation

 Looch

BJ & The Bull

Ace

Bert-On

The Baker of the Cornbread

Andy Pandy

The Mudder

Wilson

Zason

St. Diane & You (5)

Brother John & Sister Jen

The Bee Man

Spooky Queen

Boom-Boom Snuffbox

The Nameless One

Tim-Bo

The Mayor & The Turkey Man

The Rox

PDT

Sir Richard Slouch

The Wix-ians

The Socialite

The Village of Idiots

Piz-Niffer

Dancing Queen

Downtown Encyclopedia Brown

Chicken Witch

Dick Pointer

Soup, the Son

The Legendary Pink Elephants

Baby-Mama Rabbit

Wisconsin Belle

The Babes

Aaaand, of course, a very generous sponsor who (not-so-much) wishes to remain anonymous.

It is…Sunday, September 29, Two-Thousand and Twenty-More. Time...Calm

The Post

Good Lord!

I started this post 19 days ago. It actually started as an effort to get ahead of myself.

HA!

So much has happened, I'm not even sure my brain can recall it all or do it any justice in a retelling. But, the sentiment of the title still holds true. I have left the original entry at the end. I don't know what it says. I did not go back and read it.

Every day is an adventure.

I think this is true for anyone who allows for it. My life just happens to have been designed for it.

[Observation - Once again I have caused myself extra stress by taking the life I have been given and trying to shape it, form it, manage it like the lives of others.]

I have this life that pretty much allows me to do what I choose when [and how] I choose. Mostly. Kinda. That statement loses some of its luster when you realize I work every day. But, I don't work the same every day. I don't work all day every day. [Though it feels like it sometimes.] My schedule is mine to adjust as I see fit to accommodate my needs and Goals.

Take Right This Moment, for instance. It is much later than I would like it to be. Much later than I would ever have started a task such as this. Yet, here I am. I wanted to write. It has been way too long and so much has transpired. So, I am writing. I can do so with some peace of mind. I know I have a Mechanic's appointment in the morning so there is no real rush to get up and get situated and moving. Also, it has been my experience these past few weeks that if I truly just follow the flow and allow life to happen in its own time, everything kinda works out.

Today was a good example of such. Perhaps not as intense of an example as some of my others - such as yesterday when I spent the bulk of my first five hours of the day cleaning and helping to get The Homestead ready for Sunshine's Birthday Tea Party. But, still a very good example.

I came into today knowing that Brother john was coming by to look at/go over a few things. I would learn along the way that I would have to take Sunshine back to her mom. Financially, I looked at what I needed to finish out my week. I needed about $200. I think it was actually just slightly more. That is a lot for one day. It is not impossible. It has happened. It has happened on a Sunday. It is mostly improbable though.

That reality, in conjunction with Brother John's visit. had me budgeting as if I would come up $38 short of the Goal. This was a realistic call. Normally I would have probably figured $50 to be safer. $38 was a random, unassigned number in next week's budget. So, I figured if that was my worst case scenario, I could manage it without increasing my daily Goal for the week.

I woke up later than I had intended. I had, apparently, set at least one alarm because it was on snooze when I woke up. I do not recall hearing one at all. Not once. Still, I managed to get myself together and be ready to be out by 0800. I worked for a couple of hours, made some decent enough money, and then headed back to Nu Geistopia. I got back a little earlier than I was expecting Brother John but I like to be early.

Time marched on and he wasn't coming. I didn't want to be a nudge, but I did finally message him and see when he was coming. It was totally possible that I misunderstood. While I waited, I managed to take my rest. I don't know that I ever actually fell asleep. It was more like being in a coma. I wasn't moving. My eyes weren't open. I was definitely lost in my own mind and stream of thoughts. Yet, the entire time I was fully aware of my surroundings. I could hear everything.

Brother John came and went. That's all a whole other thing. Too much detail. not enough relevance. After he left, I loaded up Sunshine and we headed off. All in all today, I lost all of my lunch time. But, I started as soon as I dropped her off and I worked through dinner shift.

Till all was said and done, I ended my day at a fair time and was$16 and some change short of my weekly Goal.

That's just how it has been going for weeks. Last week was filled with all sorts of interruptions - 2 medical visits to 2 different ERs for Cuddlebug, plus 1 visit to one particular ER for me to lodge a complaint. I had 2 trips down the line to see Sunshine with both marching and conccert bands. One of those turned into a longer stay because Big 'D' wanted to hang out and grab lunch. [That was also the one that changed times before it was all over.] In between all of that The Great Flea War waged on. Still, I made my week. I didn't even finish short.

If it wasn't last weekend, it was the weekend before when I was scertain I wasn't going to make my week and then somehow I did.

It's all just happened naturally. It's become a rather casual existence. All I do go with the flow and follow the vibe. Yet, for the past 21 months, i have been overly stressing myself because I was trying to take this free flowing life and squeeze it into set schedules and responsible thinking.

Things may not be easy or smooth but I am blessed with a life that just lets each day be an adventure unto itself. In fact, I find that at the end of each day I am so satisfied and fulfilled that is as if each day is a whole life unto itself.

I still have lots of tweaking to do. but...

Lesson - It Takes Time

Everything takes time. The bulk of life happens in increments - little moments or shifts or advancements. I fiond that even the ones that seem almost bigger than life [such as moving into Nu Geistopia] can be traced back through a number of smaller moments and steps. Eventually all those small shifts begin to accumulate and add up.

For instance, for several months now I have been slowly shifting some of my shopping habits. Little things. I started shopping for some things at a more discounted store. There are certain things I will specifically go there for and then I fill in some gaps. I do this about once every 2 weeks.

I have started expanding my Club Store shopping as well. Little by little I am finding things I can get there and save money long term. Its just a matter of working it in that first time. A good example is Bagel Bites. Both Cuddlebug and I will eat them. We've kept them in the house but they never seem to last long. I bought some at the Club Store, saved some money, and there are still a few sleeves left.

Slowly, we have saved, or at least managed, money and we have managed to add a bit more variety to our menus. Also, things are stocking up a bit. Nothing too extra. Just Enough of the right stuff.

As this balances out, I find that I am having a little more free time as well to take care of tasks and projects and such. but, always just a bit at a time.

I like how things are flowing lately and the direction in which they seem to be moving. And none too soon honestly. Starting this coming week, i have a multitude of funds that I need to start setting aside. It all came at once. Like in one week I found I had at least 4 things I needed to start preparing for.

It's time to get some oil for the winter. Sunshine has a few things coming up with the school that need payment, as well as a birthday present for her. I have a couple of my own things I am working towards. And, UPDATE:

Starting in November I will be making monthly payments to the IRS. We finally connected. I am so relieved. We have come to an arrangement that is suitable for all. Granted I will be making payments for a long time, and this is just the beginning, but I am glad it is working out. It has had me all twisted up.

I have worked all of these payments into the already existing budgets. I always leave $170 per week to manage household and miscellaneous things. So, Im using those funds and then building my other needs around that.

Some Tuesday Ago....

 ^deep sigh^

[So, yeah. This ^ is my current * since those disappear and leave me with only the italic.]

It is Tuesday morning and I felt the need to capture my week so far. I wanted to last night, but yesterday was an intense and almost overwhelming day.

I mention all the time that I just never know from day to day. Every day is a new day. Every day is an adventure of its own. When I wake, I have plans and schemes. The more I move through my day, the more it takes its own course.

The plan yesterday was to work breakfast and lunch. Then I was coming home to meet Cuddlebug and storm the flea army on all fronts. Then I was going to go back out. I had a high daily Goal yesterday. [Everyday this week.] Along the way, I had a few errands I wanted to run. I didn't really expect to make my Goal. I mean, it was Monday after all.

So, I got up [late. of course 0630 is late for me.] Getting up this late threw off the course of my whole morning. The latest I usually get up is 053o. [And, quite frankly, even that is too late for me.] This gives me time to wake up a bit, have a lil coffee and chill before I start my routine. At 0600 I do my Morning Devotion and Rituals. Almost immediately after, I give the cat his [measly portion of] wet food for the day. Then I get ready for the day and go.

I fed the cat first. Then did my morning things. I made two waffles to nibble on as I scurried to and fro getting ready. I skipped a shower and got out as early as I could. It was about 0745 when I headed out.

Normally, I would get gas in the morning, but since I wasn't sure just how this Monday would go, I decided to wait it out. I did have other errands to run - Dollar Tree, Mechanic, Wally World, Smoke Shop.

I headed in a direction. Off towards my errands. Usually the method is to head towards what I want to do with all the apps on, taking work as it comes up and getting to my mission when it happens. So this is how I set off. I finally got to all my missions around 1030.

The morning was what could be expected. I had some orders. Enough to keep me moving for the most part. Lower fares cause its breakfast. But, I made what is reasonable for a Monday morning. Around 1000-1030 I decided I would stop for a bit and take care of all of my errands so that I could focus on lunch.

Errands moved smoothly. I got everything I needed plus just a smidge more. It all came out of cash that I got from the lottery and a tip. It wasn't counted in the budget that I was working off of. It felt good.

I turned the apps back on and headed for my parking spot. I was almost there when I got a ding for one of the pizza shops. I am choosy with pizza deliveries because the wait time at the restaurant is usually longer than one likes it to be. There's something with the timing from the apps. But, it was just the start of lunch, so why not.

The offer was for $6.00, with a notation that the actual pay would be more. They do this from time to time. [For whatever reason.] It's usually not much. I've seen it go up 25 or 50 cents. I've seen it go up $1 or $2. Whatever. It wasn't going far. [Not at all.]

I get to the pizza shop. I mark myself as arrived. That's when I get all the order information and I learn that the order is 13 pizzas and 3 catering items - antipasto, Caesar salad and something else. All of that? For something more than $6.00.

Ugh. What had I gotten myself into?

So, I check in with the one employee. He says its about ready and I tell him that I am going to pull my car up to the curb. After all, that's a lot of food to carry out. I get the car moved and go back in. now I am dealing with the owner. We have chatted on occassion. He knows me on sight. He says, "DoorDash, yeah?"

"Yup. The really big one."

"About 30 more minutes."

I stared at him blankly. Not because I was upset with him but because I was calculating in my head if I really wanted to wait that long and haul all that food for what might be $10.00.

He laughed. "I'm just kidding. I wanted to see if you would yell at me."

"When have I ever?"

"Oh, but a lot do."

This has become a Theme lately. More and more restaurants are commenting to me about the rude and inconsiderate behavior of other drivers.

OK. So I get the food all loaded up and I head out. I'm thinking this better pay like $20. As I said, the drive wasn't far. I texted ahead to let the woman knonw I was close and she would need a cart or like 4 people to move all the food. I also called her when I arrived. Thankfully because she hadn't seen the message.

I got her all straightened out and set on my way. I completed the order on the app.

$90.97

That was my fare. That was officially, half of my day's Goal. Till the day was over I had made all but 98 cents. [Whatever happened to the cents symbol?] So, not only was I on track, but I was a little ahead because things I bought [that were listed in the budget] were paid for with cash [that was not.]

DoorDash is offering platinum drivers 30% off one order on Mondays. [Or so I thought.] I decided that Cuddlebug and I were going to order food for dinner. None of that went as planned, and we ordered from GrubHub instead. I do have a plus membership through Amazon for about another 3 months. I figured we should use it. Nonetheless, we spent that "extra" oney plus a little.

That's OK.

Because I had made my day, I thought I wouldn't go back out and when Cuddlebug and I were done with this round of battles maybe I could wash The Rocket and/or mow the lawn. The thing is, these battles wear me out. Seriously. I don't really know why. But, we finish the tasks at hand and I am always just too beat to do anything productive.

I realize it is a lot of moving and lifting and shifting. We try to do do it as quickly as we can to minimize flea contact. The "new" vacuum is definitely heavir thatn the old and I had to hold it up by both hand to try and do the stairs going up to the bedrooms. I had to lift and move her mattress, as well as other furniture. I was up and down the steps with plants so she could keep them from dying while not going in her room. But I think the thing that hurts me the most is the spray. I do cover my mouth and nose as best I can but I am certain I still inhale plenty of it.

On the flea front, I think we may be slowly making progress. The light trap in the barroom is catching some. We put the couch back together. [I washed the cushion covers and sprayed the cushions.] I resprayed the couch. We vacuumed again. Cuddlebug is still getting some bites down there but less than before.

Things were definitely different in the bedroom. When I went up there last week, I wasn't in there very long and I had a hoarde of them crawling over both of my socks. Yesterday, I caught some along the way but nothing in comparison. Even Cuddlebug's experience was less than previously. The light trap up there has certainly been doing its job. No complaints.

Anyway, we emptied the plants, I vacuumed the room [on my way in to do all this stuff.] We shifted furniture and vacuumed some more. I lifted the mattress. The I sprinkled bakingsoda and salt all over the floor again. After that, Cuddlebug cleared out and I sprayed the whole room - Mattresss, couch, chair, the entire carpet.

We're going to give that a couple of days and then go in and vacuum again.

We have to start getting our lives and this house back in order. Everything is just turned upside down and inside out. Even things that are not directly related to the flea war. We are just so consumed by fighting the battles.

When we were don, I did not feel like doing anything else. I was just wiped. We ordered our food and while we waited I played some game. I decided that I deserved some actual time-off. It was a good day. I actually made all my money. That alone was an accomplishment. I felt I had earned it.

SO, I played game after dinner too. I did play a little too long but thats ok. After that I turned on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and watched that while I worked at updating my hours tracking. [Which is 2 weeks behind.]

I woke this mornign feeling good. Strange, but good. I've been having that a lot lately. I just feel overwhelmed with gratitude and relief. I don't know why because my life is still the same shit show it has always been.

One of my tasks this morning was to get online, while the site had business hours, and apply for my payment plan with the IRS. It took me a bit to get logged on, but when I finally managed to, I received a message that the site could not currently help me and I must call the offices.

One more step. One more wall.

This is what I was saying last week. I keep trying. I keep failing - not by any doing of my own. It is just one brick wall after another.

And time is running short.

Still i feel good. It is later in the morning than I would like it to be. I still have to eat and shower and whatnot. But, I wanted to capture yesterday while it was fresh in my mind.

Everyday is an adventure.

If you’re not already there, go to the Welcome to my Life Facebook page – WTML. Or the YouTube channel – WelcomeToMyLife08. You can also find me on Facebook under Rev. Matt.

Wherever you are and whenever you are – Like, Comment, and Share – we’re on a Journey and it takes you to get there.

So, without hesitation, for now and for always, from here in Geistopia, this is your beloved Rev…

WALT: And Walt…

DOC:  Unt Doc…

JOHNNY: Aaaaand Johnny…

And those guys, saying, “Stay Tuned-In, Fellow Travelers,” and wishing you Peace, Love, Light…

WALT: And Freakishness, Baby.

The Totems & Archetypes

from Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak

Deer

Cat

Cricket

Dog

Hawk