[random]

[wispfox]

I have a new laptop. Now, to get it dual-booting with Linux (it came with XP. I'm leaving it in case I end up needing it for anything).

I'm thinking that I'm going to try keeping a vague journal of my SAD this winter, probably starting in October (I don't have a good sense of when it usually starts, but that seems to be possible). I will flag such things, and lj-cut then, but I will _not_ filter them. It feels wrong to do so, partly because this seems to be something that me posting about tends to help other people with. I also want to do it so I have a more concrete sense if it, myself - and if I say I'll to it, I'm less likely to not do so because 'no one wants to hear this'. And I want to try to remember to create a memory category for them, so I can go back and read them when it's summer next, and get a sense of whether or not I really _am_ as different then as I feel like I am.

I've spent an awful lot of time recently without many people around. Considering that up till recently, I've had a roommate around, this is kinda odd. But apparently badly needed.

It's kinda amusing how strongly my 'I want to go to _this_ school, in _this_ program' things affect my behavior. I've started clearing out excess clutter, and am working on getting a vaguely related volunteer job both to help me figure out if I really want to be doing this kind of thing and to get some recommendation potential for when I apply (gonna try a mentoring program - it's only 6 hours a month, so I ought to not have it drive me completely batty, even in winter).

I can easily see how I can modify my 'spend a year or so wandering the US' to 'spend a about a year wandering the US with the end goal being crossing the country', although I'm still not quite sure what to do about Ash. I don't think he'd want to travel for a year, especially if I end up deciding against changing my vehicle for the purpose. It'd be too small for him, and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting a declawed cat who has no known outdoor experience wander around outside, I don't care _where_ I am. But I don't want to have to give him up, even if only for a year while I'm crossing the country...

If I'm good and reduce my unnecessary spending, I ought to be able to pay off my college loans in a year-ish. I will also finish my car loan next Spring. Which will be nice. The college loan paying off will be modified by such things as random bits of travel and cons, of course, but I mean in terms of not buying random things. When combined with reducing clutter, this ought'n't be _too_ difficult. Presuming I avoid book and music stores (used book stores might be safe, since I can also _bring_ books there). Books and music are addictive, you know...

I should remember to tell my family _not_ to buy me stuff for my birthday. Which may or may not help, but if I'm trying to reduce clutter, I should at least say something (now, if they want, for example, to help me reduce my loans, I wouldn't complain about _that_!). Of course, with my birthday in a bit over a month, it may be too late to say something... Also, if any of you people were planning on purchasing me anything to clutter my apartment with, _don't_! Please. :)

Hungry, and should sleep. On the plus side, all this time to myself has resulted in a reduction of my sleeping needs to what is more normal for this time of year, and I seem to have managed to stop my body's unhappy reaction to excessive soy, as my appettite is back to normal.

*pleased* I got to initiate a random phone call with australian_joe earlier this week. That was oddly fun, even if I did have the strange expectation of talking to voicemail, and then not actually do so. :) Yay for random contact initiation via a communication method I used to hate and avoid!

Made appointments for my cat and I to have medical appointments - both routine. His is his yearly thing (I've had him almost two years now!), and mine is my 6 month regular testing thing. I honestly don't think appointments for stuff (medical, dental, eyes, cat, car, etc) ever stop. It's kinda annoying. At least I don't cut my hair all that often. Only when the split ends are excessive.

Just finished Jack L. Chalker's _Soul Rider_ series. I don't remember who recommended, but I like. I keep now, yes.

Norescon in less than a month! (I will _not_ buy random crap, I will _not_ buy random crap! No matter how neat it is...) That'll cramp my not spending goals, as - if nothing else - I've a hotel room. Ah, well. At least that part isn't random crap, and I really _do_ know it's better to _stay_ at a con, even if local.

You can tell I have no one to talk to by the fact that I'm talking about the most inane things in here. And by the fact that I'm starting to crave non-work human contact fairly strongly. I get to see ladytabitha Saturday, though, which is good!

There was lightning a bit ago, but it seemed to have stopped. Hearing rain was a strange enough thing that I think it must have been a while since it really rained last. We probably need it! And it sounds nice. If it were more rural, I'd go out in it w/o clothes, but it's not. I _like_ rain, I just don't like days and days of drizzle and clouds.

OK. I think this is probably too long to not lj-cut, and I need to find food before trance practice and sleep. So. I stop, I lj-cut, and I go.