The Hard:
-my voice was in pain from having the flu last week, which meant no voiceover practice or auditions.
-my Dad’s entire department was not funded and he and his people-for-whom-he-feels-responsible were laid off.
-I realized (based on a Havi thing, actually) that I have rejected being a teacher (which I’m good at) because my Mom is a teacher and I don’t want to be any more like her than I already am. I am not sure how to feel about this, but right now, I’m leaning toward guilt.

The Good:
+in one month, I’ll be on a week-long Disney cruise with my hubby and kids! They have child care for both kids and I will actually get hubby time on the family vacation!
+I bought a new microphone that should work really well with my voice and I’m actively looking around for used recording gear so I can finish setting up my home studio. Not giving up on this!
+the husky voice was proclaimed to sound like Jessica Rabbit, so there was some upside.
+I got brave and talked to yon hubby about planning to quit my job and he not only did not freak out or act disappointed, he offered to distribute my resume to all of his contacts. Relief!
+My Dad has rights of retention to a job he previously held with his employer (a county in Florida), so will likely be able to finish out his 30 years and keep his benefits and retirement, albeit with a lower salary.

Way more good in general – I’m feeling lucky.

The Hard:
A week and a half ago, I learned that my sweet, kind, and gentle aunt would not be with us much longer. She had battled cancer for several years. She had been fine a few weeks ago, but took a sudden turn for the worse. The doctors said she had two weeks.

The Good:
My friends moved heaven and earth to get me out there to see her. They have been hugely supportive.

Very Good & Very Hard:
Having a chance to say goodbye.

More Hard:
She died two days ago.

Extra Bonus Frustration:
She died one week after her doctors said she had two weeks to live. Three weeks before her death, her doctors said she was fine and that her body was strong. (Thanks, guys. Really appreciate the accurate prognosis. Totally helpful.)

Good:
She passed peacefully in her sleep. She was slightly uncomfortable during her last few days, but she was never in any pain. She was not afraid. She had made her peace with it and was ready to go. She was looking forward to going to Heaven. She died at home in her own bed with the man she loved right beside her.

The Hard:
It’s so hard for my uncle. They had been married for over thirty years, and they were so in love. Total, absolute, fairy tale true love.

I kind of hesitate to submit what may well be the most depressing Chicken ever. But it helped me to write it. Maybe it will help someone to read it. Maybe it will help people remember to live for today. Thanks, Havi, for creating a space where we can share these kinds of things.
.-= Serendipity´s last blog .. =-.

Also hard: I think I didn’t get this freelance writing position that 1) I really want and 2) our family finances could really use. The uncertainty is unsettling.

The good: We’re all feeling better, mostly. The fevers are gone. The coughs are abating.

Also good: Looks as if my husband is going to land another client, yay.

Also good: I got the braces off my teeth this week, although I had to do the eight basic Shiva Nata positions in my head during part of the process to keep from bolting out of the chair. And now I never have to have braces ever again, which is very very good.

Still coping with being separated from my husband, but I’m still comfortable with letting him take a little more time to center himself again.

Exhaustion.

SUPER PANIC MODE on almost all the time.

The Soft:

I got your Destuck, Dissolve Procrastination, AND Recession call within a few days of each other! GLEE!

Listened to the Quick Calm last night before bed and had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages.

Mere fractions of days and I already feel a difference.

Thank you, O Lovely Piratical Queen!

The hard this week-
Having so many ideas about what to do I can’t manage to do any of them. I’m also swimming in information overload what with all the blogs, e-books, teleclasses, etc. etc.
Feeling distant from a community that once was very useful to my own personal development. It seems like I might be outgrowing them because I’m not finding the spark of inspiration there these days.

The good this week-
Cleaning off my desks (I have two. Probably part of the problem! But they’re both clean now.)
Purging files.
Feels like I must be making room for something big and new to come in.
First snow flurries of the year. Beautiful flakes coming down.
Hubby is home after two weeks traveling for work and now he and son are on a school trip. I’m enjoying some quiet time at home.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..Do-Overs and High-Fives: Didja miss me? =-.

I am using Dragon Naturally Speaking, which is an automatic dictation software to chat with my sister on Skype. (I just speak into the mic and it types).

I explained to her that I was using the dictation software and when I looked up to see what it had typed, it had just called itself: Dick Tatian

I think we’ll keep the name lol.

Kathleen

@Gina – Wouldn’t brandy breath be better than deodorant breath? Maybe?

The Hard -
- work (what else is new?)
- the mornings are darker now, which makes it So Hard to wake up early. I’m already dreading winter.
- ittybiz stress and I’m having difficulty finding the time to do the things I need.

The Good -
- the Hubs is cleaning the bathroom as I type this. Woo hoo!
- great calls with clients – they are all such cool people. Love. Them.
- little inklings of ideas brewing (come on, baby, come out from hiding!)
.-= Victoria Brouhard´s last blog ..When Selves Collide =-.

But now the poor kid freaks out every time she sees her stitches. So we’re still dealing with the hard, but less so. And I’m still fearful that somehow the recovery won’t go well, even thought that appears to be totally unjustified.

And I have to say, I have always wanted to take a tap class, if only to wear the shoes. The idea of wearing tap shoes makes me smile. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Why I’m a Censoring Censorer =-.