Surprisingly, this isn’t about the U.S. Presidential Elections results….
… although having this “President” inaugurated on the same day as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an absolute insult.
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So, January 2025 has been one of the longest, most frustrating months in a very long time. The main sources of frustrations have been money and foot:
- Money issues were/are two-fold. One: it seems like my main paychecks are not going nearly as far as, say, the spring and summer of 2023 and 2024. Bills are paid, groceries are bought… and that’s about it. Two: I started to file my taxes, using the W-2s from my main job. I filled out enough to see what the estimated Federal return would be.
$1.
That is not a typo.
If that holds up (I’m waiting for a 2nd W-2), that would make a grand total of $14 returned from 2023 and 2024.
- Two: the foot issues come from a bad sprain. I was on my way home from hanging out with my best friend (after a nearly 2-year gap) and mis-stepped off of a curb. It didn’t bother me too much until the following morning. Since then (a few weeks later), most of the tendon issues that I thought I had reined in the pain with have returned with a vengeance, plus extra pain on the side of my foot. I do not have the co-pay money to go to a Podiatrist, just for them to say “ice it, take a Tylenol, and here’s a $500 bill”.
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The West is on fire, the South is recovering from a snow and ice storm, and the Midwest is finally thawing out from a massive snow/ice storm from 2 weeks ago. And Severe Weather season is about to start.
The lack-of-intimacy streak (of any kind): 13 years.
On less stressful notes:
I get to go to the WWE Rumble on Saturday!! This is one of WWE’s “Big 4” yearly events, and a ‘Bucket List’ item for me. I can’t wait!
I have set a hefty (for me) reading/listening goal of 35 books in 2025. I am currently reading one book – “The Eleventh Commandment” by Jeffrey Archer, finishing one audiobook – “Gwendy’s Final Task”, and re-reading/listening to “The Sword of Shannara” by Terry Brooks. I want to get through the Shannara saga (at least 20 books) this year, plus possibly start on some of Brandon Sanderson’s books. If things go well, I bump this up to 40 books. We’ll see.
I am taking the last week of February off to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of my heart valve surgery. I had intended to take 2 weeks off and travel somewhere, but money wouldn’t allow it. Instead, I’m going to try and find little things around town to visit, eat at, see, and experience, throughout February. I also want to do more with friends, outside of the apartment. While D&D sessions are fun, I need more variety, especially on the weekends.
Speaking of ‘fun’: Elden Ring is going pretty well! I have 3 characters that I’m currently playing:
– an Astrologer (level 29) that I am planning on building as a Spellsword (about a 60/40 usage of magic and melee weapons)
– a Confessor (29) that I plan on turning into a Paladin/Templar, wearing medium-to-heavy armor, wielding a Greatsword/Greatax (or Colossal Sword/Ax), and using Faith-based magic to buff and heal myself
– a Bandit (22) that will mainly be a bow-wielding fighter, but can also wield light weapons and a whip (yup, a whip!)
Having multiple characters is a nice variety, especially when I don’t play much on weekday nights (1-3 hours, depending on the 2nd job). I’m in no rush to finish the game – I’m just going to enjoy the ride (and the many deaths)!
January has felt like it’s lasted 80 days. I’m hoping that February keeps that feeling under 40 days. 😉
The Nexus 