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Happy Christmas Eve Day to all who celebrate! We have family friends over tonight (our big dinner celebration is usually Christmas Eve), and I’ll be cooking most of the day. The menu suspiciously resembles the Thanksgiving one (salad, noodles, fried rice, chicken, roasted veggies, soup) but that’s only because I only know how to make so many dishes on a larger scale that my children will eat.
Despite me insisting we don’t do presents, just like last year, Not Yoongi has been shopping a lot of sales for ridiculously cheap boardgames and other sorts of things he thinks the kids will like. I, thankfully, have nothing to do with the whole folderol and am only in charge of saying, “Don’t forget to buy presents for so-and-so’s kids” and then they magically arrive by post. I already did my job of buying presents for all their teachers and tutors.
As with last week, you will find the following in today’s newsletter (feel free to skip to those parts):
- Personal note
- What brought me joy this week!
- What challenged me
- What else?
- Support and love our community
- Tell me more
Personal note
I am a wee bit embarrassed to share that I only have one pair of non-sweatpants pants that I can fit into. I bought a $19.99 pair of CK jeans that are high waisted, straight cut, and dark wash—and I think these jeans are where happiness and joy go to die an ignoble, uncomfortable death. I am, however, too lazy to return them so, we’ll see if I need to ever wear them again or just never leave the house.
This is the only reason I prefer summer, the season of wearing giant bags. No need for waistbands!
Anyhow, this is just my post to tell you that pants are stupid.
If you can relate, hit reply and let me know. (Note: I’m not interested in diets or advice on losing weight. Just need allies in our mutual hatred of pants.)
What brought me joy
Kitsune continued her self-directed potty training, and while this doesn’t exactly bring me joy, it also does amuse me greatly. Nothing like the terror of hearing the diaper tab rip open followed by water splashing sounds in the potty a few minutes later. (Don’t ask. Your conclusions are likely correct.)
What else? Run Jin, the YouTube variety show starring Jin of BTS consistently brings me joy. Last week’s episode is him trying to beat an MMA fighter and I could not stop laughing. I also realized that Yoongi from BTS looks amazing on our new 65” flatscreen TV as I watched his concert, though the sound quality was criminal. However, Not Yoongi informed me that he already bought new speakers, so this is great news!
What challenged me
Remember last week’s ADHD assessment forms? Welp, I had a feeling the printing was going to go poorly, and I was correct. I even took notes so that I couldn’t gaslight myself into thinking it wasn’t that bad.
FRIENDS, IT TOOK NIGH 45 MINUTES TO PRINT 3 SETS OF FORMS. HOW, YOU MAY ASK. WHY, LET ME TELL YOU.
Keep in mind, this is on my NEW LAPTOP.
The printer wouldn’t work. I restart the printer, but it still does not work. I restart the computer, but then Adobe Reader freezes. I restart Adobe, but this time, the printer dialog won’t work which, once again, freezes Adobe Reader. This whole time, I was interrupted multiple times by McAfee telling me to sign up for their stupid services.
It still won’t print.
The printer fell back asleep so I restart the printer, but it still won’t print. I try canceling the print job multiple times, but it doesn’t work. I restart laptop again. I was then interrupted by a child informing he had to poo. The forms still won’t print despite printer queue saying it’s printing. Am now interrupted by aforementioned child informing me he is done pooping.
I try canceling the print job multiple times to no avail. I try to print a test page. It does not work. I run an error check on the printer through my settings. Big surprise: no errors. I pull up the printer queue, but now it is unable to cancel print job.
I then delete the device from computer, add device back, but am now unable to connect. I
replug in all pertinent cords, but the printer fell back asleep. I restart the printer and attempt to print a test page.
SURPRISE: It does not work.
The print queue tries to gaslight me, saying the page printed. Dear reader, it did not.
I remove device again. Re-add device. There are now two printers of the same name. One is ready; the other is idle. I delete both printers. Re-add printer. Fails to connect. Try again. Fails again.
I switch USB ports. Try to add printer again. Failed. I restart the printer. Fail again to re-add printer, and now I want to scream and cry. I wonder if it’s the wrong printer. I try again and fail. (Rinse, repeat.)
This whole time, I ask the kids to ask Not Yoongi if he’s free. He is not. In desperation, I text Not Yoongi and he rushes down. I explode and almost cry and the poor man is baffled.
He takes my laptop to another printer and I go have a frustrated pee. Not Yoongi asks again where the documents are. I explain. Again.
Our gardener comes so I write a check for next year and find cash for the year end tip. We have worked with his family for over 30 years. I chat with him, pay him, and finally come back inside. Not Yoongi has all the documents printed out, saying it did not work from my laptop.
This, dear reader, is why I despise anything that requires printing. This happens every time. If it’s not the gardener, it’s my children. The whole ordeal took over 45 minutes.
Do you also have printer problems? Reply to this email and let me know all about it! (It’s only fair. You made it through that tirade and likely got second-hand stress.)
What else
Truly, WHAT ELSE IS THERE? I WAS EXHAUSTED. I did, however, fill out my forms and even uploaded them. I have an appointment on Thursday to give them my pee and get my blood pressure taken.
OHOHOHOH! I updated my author site!! Please to check out my pretty site and sign up for my monthly author newsletter. How is it different than this one? UM? IT’S JUST DIFFERENT OKAY. FOR ONE, IT IS MONTHLY NOT WEEKLY.
If you’re looking for an engaging read about messy people’s problems so you can feel better about your own life, have I got a book for you! (Mine! It’s mine!!)
Here is a clip from my first novel “Illusive.”
“What are you doing, Noona?” Do-won asked, trying desperately to remove the judgment from his voice.
The furniture of her studio was pushed to the edges and Katie was stopped mid-move where her coffee table normally was. She turned bright red. “Um, twerking?”
“Oh, no. No,” Do-won’s voice dripped with disappointment. “No one would ever call that twerking.”
Katie wilted. “You know I’m terrible at this stuff,” she sighed. “I just feel like an idiot doing sexy shit like this.”
“What are you twerking for anyway?”
“Does a person actually need a reason?” she replied.
Do-won knew his triangle mouth of disapproval was a bit too prominent, but it just pained him to see such an abysmal showing—especially since he knew Katie could do better.
“You do if you’re going to desecrate a club staple such as that.”
It’s perfect for people who love angst, slow burns, sexy times, and K-pop!
Support and love our community
Now, for my favorite part of my newsletter!
I firmly believe in mutual aid and helping uplift and support our community when our current societal structures fail people.
Instead of asking for money or putting up another GoFundMe, I want to remind folks to consider and think about what their giving philosophy is, and to budget for that in 2025 if possible. Particularly in this next presidency, we may need to rely on our community more than ever.
Think about the causes you want to support, and if possible, set up a monthly donation. While one-offs are helpful, it is the steady additive effect over months and years that can make a more sustained impact. If money is an issue, consider volunteering your time or expertise on a regular basis instead.
None of us make it alone in this world.
Tell me more
And finally, how are you doing? Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you do anything for New Year’s? I am truly so grateful for you all in my life. I would love to hold space for you, just as you hold space for me every week. Reply to this newsletter and let me know how your week is going so far. It really does bring me such great pops of joy throughout the week.
May you have a week full of chaotic joy!
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