Crafting goes alien

A while ago I decided to embrace my creative side and decided to make something out of butchers string. Well, I have to warn you, not even I know what it's supposed to be. I started out with an idea of wanting to make a tree, but it ended up being something completely different. 

This is just a piece of cardboard, butchers string and glue. I tried to make a tree shape. At this point I think it kind of resembles a tree, or if you're my brother you'd think it looks like a lollipop. And then I decided to take things a bit further and then this happened. 

In my defence I was trying to create branches, but it ended up looking like wings. And to make sure others could see it's meant to be a tree I added roots, but it ended up looking like legs instead. Okay, now even I have to admit it looks more like some evil plant than a tree. But my brother? He got so excited because he thought I was creating my own alien species. 

At least I enjoyed the whole process, even if I don't know what it is. 

End of the bank drama, hopefully

The other bank I went to see today gave me everything I hoped my new bank (previous one) would give me, so I closed my previous account and opened a new one. Third time lucky? The account I signed up for today works with Paypal, finally! So hopefully everything is sorted out. My new card comes in a few days. Yay! And most importantly, I can afford the account. 

I did some walking last night and I didn't get dizzy. Walking definitely keeps my moods in check and helps me manage stress. Now I just have to focus on fixing my bad eating habits too. I have a terrible sweet tooth and love of all things potato. Now I'm thinking about crispy fries, Yummy!

I've actually started on the pile of free e-books I have hoarded on my laptop, so hopefully I can start making good on those reviews. Also, I will start on the second round of rewrites for my second book in my Thelum series. I'm excited to get started. 

What are you up to today? 

Just keep walking

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement with regards to my previous post. Your words helped. 

Today was the first day where I could actually walk without getting dizzy. Yay! I needed to walk because I felt so stressed today my head ached. Why? Well, my new bank prevents me from adding my new card to Paypal, which was one of the reasons why my previous bank also couldn't help me. I spent most of the day querying my new bank and trying to find a solution, but I didn't get the answers I wanted. Of course I contacted Paypal too and they were fast in getting back to me and they were more than helpful. Unfortunately, my new bank is not going to budge. 

I really need my own Paypal account because editors and cover designers mostly prefer that payment option. The last thing I want is for my family to do all my payments for me. This is something I want to do myself. And...my bank only allows me to do online purchases at certain online stores, which is very limiting. Tomorrow I'm going to yet another bank, only to hear if they can provide me with an option that does allow me to use Paypal. If they can, I will be switching accounts again, as long as I can afford the account of course. Sitting in long lines in banks is definitely not my idea of fun. But I guess I have to do what I have to do. 

My family thinks that my predicament is very amusing. I however do not. I just don't like getting things wrong or struggling to sort things out. I was told my new account could do all of the above and it doesn't. But okay. Tomorrow is a new day and I will deal with everything then. 

We all start at the bottom, right?

I’m feeling much better after being sick with the flu for over two weeks. I still get dizzy when I walk for too long, but I guess it will take some time to get back into exercising. Thank you to everyone who wished me well. You guys are awesome!

Today I had a new experience. I had to close my bank account with the bank I had been with for ten years. Why? Because they couldn’t give me an account that could accommodate my unique needs. Because I do data for my brother I don’t earn a “wow” salary. Basically the consultant told me that I didn’t earn enough to have the account I wanted with the specific bank, which made me feel really crappy. I’m still a poor writer and might always be a poor writer, but damn, don’t be mean about it.

So, I went to another bank who could not only give me the account type I wanted, but they didn’t make a big deal about me not earning big bucks. They welcomed my business and when I went back to my bank to close my account, there was so much crap to go through before I could successfully close my account. But I am sorted out now and it was a very unique experience. My new bank doesn’t care how much I earn, as long as I can afford to maintain my account, they’re happy.

I’ve never actually spoken about the financial aspect of my life, but I am ready to now. I still live in my family home, which my brother now owns and because he’s a researcher, he needs someone to do his data (because none of his interns wish to do it), which I do from home. I also do a few other administrative tasks for him. In exchange, I get to live at home without paying rent and I get free meals and he pays my medication/ medical bills. Also, I have to help my mom out in the house and accompany her when she does shopping or run errands. For cash I do my oldest sister’s admin and her chores, which my mom insists all of us do (because she wants us to stay humble).  My other sister, the chef, buys my toiletries and whatever I need in exchange for me taking care of her and my brother's pets (which I count as my own anyway). I'm the youngest of 4 kids by the way, if you're confused right now. 

I don’t mind doing all of the above because I still get to have more writing time than I did when I had other jobs and I get to help my family out, whom I love more than anything. Living my current lifestyle might never make me rich, but I’m happy. Isn’t that what counts? I think so. Besides, my mom and siblings take excellent care of me. What more could I want? 

  

So, do you ever get treated differently because you don’t earn a lot of money? If so, what did you do about it? I’m curious.

Don't let the insecurity win (IWSG)

It is that time again, where we bare our souls and share our insecurities with the whole world. I’m not insecure this month, mostly because the flu won’t make me think straight. But I’m sending tons of virtual hugs to everyone who has insecurities this month, especially today. You can do whatever you set your mind to. How? Because you are awesome.

 The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the talented Mr. Alex J. Cavanaugh so that writers can share their insecurities and/or encourage others who need support with their own. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.

Getting in shape

I didn’t mention this before, but for the past month and a half I started walking as a way to not only get in shape, but to also beat my depression. Its working wonders and I didn’t want to mention it here if I couldn’t get myself to keep doing it. Unfortunately, two weeks ago I got the flu and I’m still not recovered properly, so I haven’t walked in two weeks, but I’m anxious to get back to my walking schedule. I’m actually going for a walk after this.

My sister even got me a pedometer to keep track of my walking progress. It monitors the amount of steps I take, the amount of calories burned and distance walked, which is good. Luckily we have a long backyard and that is where I do most of my walking. I do laps of the backyard with my mp3 player providing me with great music and I actually enjoy it. More even, it is a type of exercise I don’t mind doing and when I feel stressed I go outside and go walk (pace). My walking has gotten the neighbors curious though, because they can see over the wall and want to know what I’m doing, or if I've lost my mind. As long as I work up a sweat and feel good, I don’t really care what my neighbors think. 

So, how are you feeling on this Monday?