Oy, what a process.

THE GIRLS: The boobies are smaller, though swollen and scarred and taking their time healing. All this is normal. The stitches came out last week, and I see the doctor again at the end of next week. The size turned out perfect, and the nipples look lovely and symmetrical. My surgeon was right - wow, do I sure notice my gut a whole lot more! I've been easily tired, which has been tough because I moved my stuff out of boxes and into the customary and previous locations (with a few improvements). My friend noticed that I'm not chatty, don't have my usual huge appetite, and seem contemplative. Well, it's true. I think a week on Percocet let my lose a whole lot of physical tensions I was holding onto, and now the forced activity restrictions, have just let me spend some quiet time with myself. Truth be told, sometimes that stare is me thinking how much I appreciate whatever I'm thinking of at the moment. Kind of nice to have a vacation from the squirrel.

THE NON-MOVE: So, the house thing. Work hours got cut, and I hate not having a certain margin of safety financially, so the Lazy Kitty Ranch will remain in downtown Cowtown. No move. No B&B, at least not now. This has turned out to be a blessing. I stay closer to my mother and father and brother and sister-in-law, and my rent stays low. I'm still trying to figure out how to wear earplugs but not worry that I won't hear my alarm, since I live on Main Street and within shouting distance of three bars. Maybe an alarm buzzer that vibrates the pillow, I don't know. Still working on that.

THE WORK THING: My company is a good one, but the economic situation has finally come home to roost. Not entirely predictable, though, because the industry is still fairly new and the income stream is hard to predict. Hours are fewer. New revenue-generating ideas are apparently on the horizon. For now, I am working strange hours in order to get as many hours as I can. For instance, I have a day coming up on which I will work 6:30-8:30am, then 11:30am-12:30pm, and finally 4:00-5:00pm. Nuts, huh? But fine with me. Income is good. I'm also doing sub work at local community colleges. Eventually I plan to register with the local interpreting agencies (with my references and certification, I should do just fine) and do some freelance work. I will not starve, I will not get further into debt (I will say that to myself every morning and believe it!), and I will have interpreting adventures.

So, there it is. I'm tired, I'm plugging along, and I'm slowly regaining my perspective while incorporating new ideas about work, life, and living.