Precise and Perfectly Placed

Monday, March 2, 2020; 2026

Interesting. It is a 9 Day. It just fits so perfectly.

That is something that could be said about the day itself. Hence the title of this post. I don’t really know what it was about the day exactly. It just worked. It worked well. I managed a lot today. I tweaked The Dormitory into place, sorting and organizing and straightening up. I managed my List of Lists - adding new things, subtracting things that are done and taking a look at the few days ahead, while also projecting the next two weeks. I managed a ritual bath and I have kept up with all of my Daily Practices. I organized and prepped my scrapping metal. I prepared projects for tomorrow morning in the Workshop. I straightened up the shop while I was at it.

I even managed to get quite a bit of rest in there.

All in all I have put in about 7.75 hours of productivity today...and, it seems, my day is far from over. I have this to work on and if I am feeling motivated afterwards, which I believe I will, I have some smaller projects that I can fiddle with.

I had difficulty sleeping last night. I was awake several times throughout the night. I don’t mind this so much when I am on my days off. In fact, I know of like it. It tends to lead to greater productivity in the long term. When I did wake up for the day it was still fairly early in the morning.

I pretty much rolled out of bed and headed straight for the restaurant to speak with the GM about this Punk. I was so headstrong on getting there as soon as possible that I realized on the drive I didn’t have my phone. [Not that I really needed it outside of tracking time.]

I addressed what I needed to with the GM. I didn’t get to say everything that was on my mind, but I did get things out on the table and cleared up for the time being. From here, though, I will handle The Punk my way.

I came back to The Dormitory and set to tasks. I got my soak in and did my Morning Devotion. Then I worked at the straightening up, including quite a bit in The Workshop. This is also when I prepped my metal. Before I knew it, it was time for my Noon Devotion and the larger Practices that have come to take place at that same time.

It really surprises my just how much one can accomplish in six hours - how fulfilled and satisfied that amount of time can make one feel. That is what I thought at Noon. It is also what I thought at 1800.

By 1300 I was done with everything I wanted, or needed, to accomplish today. I managed to lay down and just rest for a bit. I didn’t feel guilty about it. I put my time in and took care of my business. Besides, there is 1 to Rest.

With time on my hands, I first decided to play some games on my phone. Again, the important stuff was done. Anything from that point on was just a bonus. So, why not take a little more time for myself? It was in the afternoon that I worked at my List of Lists. I also took a look at my financial projection for the next few weeks.

I’m still not where I would like to be. Very far from it, in fact. But, I am so much better off than I was before. In this pay cycle I took care of bills, paid back some debt, got my groceries and have managed gas allot the way. I treated myself a bit and even put just the slightest bit of money aside. I have 3 more days left until payday and I do have quite a bit of running to do and things to which I need to attend. Still, I have Just Enough funds available that I know I can manage it - a little give here, some take there, and a bit of creativity. This is the first time in at least a year that I have been able to feel this comfortable and relaxed in regards to my finances.

I did look ahead at the next pay period as well. At this point, it looks a little tighter and constrained than I was hoping, but it should all still be workable. All in all, it should take one more pay cycle after this to get me to my first Goal, which is to be caught up and running smoothly.

I will still have plenty ahead of me to deal with, but by the time I get to that pay I should have many things fairly well established. The minor debts will be repaid. My work shoes will be half paid off [The other half coming from that following pay.] I should be all caught up with my monthly bills and be able to start managing them effortlessly. I will still need to be somewhat crustal with my groceries and gas, but there should also be plenty there with which to work. The way it is going so far, I’m not even sure just how many groceries i will end up needing to buy at all in this pay cycle. Of course, I will also have a little bump of income in the middle of next week and that will be nice. I will have established certain routines - such as having dinner with The Princesses. I will also have managed to get monies into each of my accounts, including Cash...and even savings. None of it will be large amounts, but again, it is all just another step closer to the Goal.

All of this will be settled into place, as well as any applicable pay raises, and by that following paycheck, I should be able to gauge just where I am in regards to the Goal and figure out how much more money I really need to be making. That following paycheck will be pay Number 4. It is 3 more weeks away - in Week 9 of The Job. (3-6-9.)

I do feel rested tonight. I feel somewhat calm and settled. I know that greater shifts are still ahead. This ‘Quest’ [as it was defined last week] is only just beginning. I do not know what lies ahead, but for the first time in a long time, I feel prepared to face it.

These past several weeks were very rough on me. The change in the work schedule. The strain on my back and my legs. The lack of productivity at home. [Or seeming lack anyway.] Still, I have noticed that I have been slowly building on everything I have learned over these past two decades.

I have definitely been more Day by Day than I have in the past. I have been utilizing The Bag. And, this week, I think I may have finally gotten my List of lists under control. Industriousness was the medicine of Ant, and Attention to Details the message that mouse brought. I have been contemplating both of these Totems quite a bit odd the past two weeks. I want to learn from them, use what they have to teach.

I have been having body issues today. My back is definitely a little tender but it has been worse in weeks past. Hopefully, after my shoes arrive on Wednesday, I will have less of this. I have also been coughing up quite a bit of plhlegm today. I was sick at this time last week, so I suppose it is only natural. But, I have also been having other issues today. My stomach is not quite right. I don’t feel nauseous, but something is not where it needs to be.

I am associating all of this with The Healing Process.

As I finish this up, I find that I am feeling a little more spent than I had thought I would. So it is probably off to my cot for the night. Tomorrow I have a long day planned. I will be out and about for at least 10 hours. I have my normal Tuesday things to which I must attend and then I have to pick up Sunshine and take her down to Reading for some school event. I’m glad I have the opportunity to do this for her, but it is going to make for a long day.

1 to Quest.

For now, Fellow Travelers...Peace and Blessings.