Weeks Later...

Hello again. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me during my unexpected hiatus, to check on both me and the status of the blog. I do apologize for dropping off the face of this part of the internet for so long. Honestly given the world events of the past several weeks I simply haven't had the heart to write anything that wasn't just rage and a deep sadness. I try not to stray too deeply into that territory here because it's already out there everywhere, and I'd rather spend some time reflecting on the good in life.

So. I've given myself some time to calm myself and am returning to the blog. I'm not sure if the upload schedule will remain the same as it has been in the past, but yes: my intention is indeed to continue on with updates and check-ins. I'll try to give notice again if I feel a hiatus is on the horizon again. Until then, hopefully I can get back on track here!

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Spring is springing in the Netherlands, and hay fever has everyone in its sneezey, sneezey grasp. I've been pretty fortunate so far, but I have had a few days of runny nose and itchy eyes, so I stocked up on antihistamines in case things take a turn for the worse. I had terrible allergies when I lived in Colorado, and everything since then has always come as a lesser evil. I'm hoping the Netherlands will be kind to my sinuses, but since this is my first spring here, I'm taking no chances and carrying meds and my inhaler with me when I go out. Juuuuust in case.

There's a massive park in Amsterdam that I have yet to visit, and I've heard the cherry blossoms there were in full bloom this week. I didn't make it earlier in the week, and won't be able to make it until next week, probably, so I may have already missed out on the best show. Nevertheless, I'll see what there is to see and I'm sure the trip will be an enjoyable one regardless.

In my personal life things are ticking along. My application for the change of visa is FINALLY in, and I'm due to get my biometrics taken once again next week. This time my resident permit should come with a limited work permit and finally allow me to earn any amount of money while here. This is good news, because the business is for all intents and purposes ready to go and just sitting in limbo until I have that blessed stamp. US state governments are still delaying my partner's permit application from being completed, but every step forward feels like a milestone these days. I am anxious to have legal right to work here, no matter how limited. I need to be making an income before I lose my student housing in August and have to relocate. There is a serious housing crises here, and some landlords have strict income requirements for applicants. I won't be able to really meet any of them, but having something to show is absolutely better than nothing. And being able to show that I have a right to earn an income is important on its own.

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I am currently on a free week between blocks of classes. The new block begins next week, after Easter holiday, and I'm looking forward to the subjects again. This term introduced me to the first class I have actively disliked. It was grueling to get through, and I'm happy to leave it in the dust. I passed the course and the final, but it wasn't an easy road. It resulted in the first negative review of a course I've given yet!

And on a much more somber note, one of my classmates passed away this month. She was one of the few folks in our sign language course, and the loss is a shock and a tragedy. The family's memorial has come and gone, but there is a student-driven one in the works. It will be strange and painful to return to class after break to a room without her. It sucks.

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This weekend I'm traveling a bit south to meet with my local SCA group and hopefully do some archery. I've had my bow for months here and haven't yet had the chance to shoot it. I realized a few days ago that I have a lot to carry with me to the meetup, and neither the bow nor my arrows came with any sort of carrying method that doesn't require hands. So I spent a day fashioning the bow's tube sock into something that can be slung over the shoulder, and am in the process of designing a carrying case for the arrows out of the box they were shipped in. I also need to decide on a potluck dish and calculate that as well as the medieval gar I'll change into into my hauling situation. It shouldn't be a problem if I can wrangle the arrows into something safe, but I am down to one day to get everything together. Wish me luck!

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Also in the past week or two, my PC arrived! My besties and partner shipped it out to me way back in February, but we suspect it was lost for a while. It didn't make it to the Netherlands until midway through March, and then took some time to arrive to me. By the time it did, however, it was damaged irreparably, and I'm now without a functioning GPU. Happy to have the majority of my beloved PC here with me, but I'm now also embroiled in damage complaints and insurance claims. The box was incredibly damaged by the time it made it to me, with large holes and tears in the cardboard, packaging material clearly visible and also falling out from the holes, and the bottom quite clearly showing signs of being ripped open and then taped up again, This was especially obvious given it was weakly held together by nothing but bright green US CUSTOMS duct tape. I am expecting to be put through rigmarole by the USPS because it's an international package and they'll want to push the blame onto the Netherlands, but I hope we can get at least some of the value refunded to us (me and the bestie who did the actual shipping). Just the GPU alone is valued at over $1000 these days, with the PC parts prices being what they are. I'm sure I won't be able to replace it fully, but a similar replacement will do just fine. But those themselves are at least $500. So. Some compensation for the damaged goods would be great.

So frustrating. I really want to play with my pals online again, and I also want to be able to do digital art and edit video again. My laptop has done an exceptional job up until this point, but I"m ready to retire it to portable school-and-work computer and return to having a powerful home PC again. Someday, someday.

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Speaking of video editing, I'm considering starting up a youtube channel soon. I'm been especially depressed about AI content taking over digital spaces, and have found myself really enjoying creators who just talk about things they love, recently. So much so that I've been inspired to maybe do the same for myself. No big flashy algorithm-tuned videos, really, but something that's honest and ideally positive.

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Other than that, I've been keeping on keeping on; making art, going for long, long walks, being thankful for where I am and especially where I am not. I miss my US friends and family, and I really keenly miss the comfort of my cats and the sound and feel of their purrs and the weight of them napping on my chest. I even miss their stinky breath and the feel of their claws digging into me with each little kitty biscuit made. I haven't lived without an animal since I adopted my cat Atticus in 2017, and before then the only time I was without a furry friend was during the four years I was away from home at college. When I moved into my first solo apartment, my sister was so encouraging for me to adopt a cat. "Just to have someone to come home to," she said, and she was completely right. My parents-in-law and a dear friend of mine both unexpectedly lost their cats in the last few weeks, and my heart goes out to them, Their loss makes me feel my own boys' absence all the more keenly. So if you have a furry family member, please give them an extra squeeze and a kiss for me, and make sure they know you love them dearly.

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With that, I think I'll sign off for the evening and see about my arrows. Worst case I'll see if I can wrangle a shipping tube tomorrow, just to get them from point A to B with me this weekend. I can always fancify it later.

Be well, please take time away from the news to relax and to decompress and to do something you love to do - be that crafting, gaming, watching something, hanging with friends, sleeping, cooking, walking, reading, writing, building, driving, whatever. The constant influx of incomprehensible evil isn't good for us, you know. Make sure there's some good getting into your awareness, too. We need it.

I'll see you in a couple of weeks! 'Til then, happy April!

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