nagi_schwarz | Day 1314: And through the woods

Or into the woods, or we're not out of the woods yet, or something.

I've continued to shuffle along, doing my best to manage two caseloads. I was supposed to have chill days this week, two of them, one on Tuesday, one on Friday.

Not so much.

I got landed with an expedited child protective order. I don't usually do them. I don't like them. They're a lot of work in a short amount of time, emotions are running higher than usual, and also I hate doing interviews. Ever tried to interview a three and four-year-old about whether someone sexually abused them? Not fun. And also just difficult in general, because of how old they are and how they can't do things, like describe events in the past very well (like when they occurred) or answer complicated questions.

I did get to play barbies and listen to one girl's excellent recitation of numbers and colors.

I also got to watch a man break down and cry as he told me about his four-year-old daughter's tragic accidental death. So many Jack O'Neill feels (yes, I use fandom to cope with my job sometimes).

In the end all my phone calls and emergency interviews were for nothing, because the thing settled before we even got in front of a judge. All that emotional punishment for nothing.

Dance class was pretty good this week. I'm struggling to catch up in beginner class (veils!) but we've already finished the choreography. From here on out it's mostly clean-up, and likely also some extra practices outside of class, and also setting our lines and formations. Advanced class was a whirlwind - we finished the choreography, assigned out solos, and talked about how we would re-cut the music. That is the fun of being in a small, advanced class - we have a lot more control over how our choreography plays out, and it's definitely a more collaborative effort with our instructor, which is nice. I do feel like I'm growing as a dancer.

We had a moment of silence. The matron of bellydance in this part of the country just lost her husband. He was in the early stages of dementia, went wandering, got lost, his body was found days later in one of the canyons. As much as I joke about dance husbands - men who were lured into belly dancing by the exoticism of it all and then get stuck with it for years, carrying boxes of costumes and props and filming routines - they are invaluable supports to an otherwise marginalized community, and I cannot imagine losing my husband in such a way. Her husband was a huge support to her and our community, and things will be rough for her going forward.

Friday I sort of had a chill day in that I had three appointments, one I skipped, one was fun, and the third canceled, but I was getting sick. Super, super sick. I've had the remnants of a cold for about three weeks now, and on Friday I was definitely getting worse. Naomi and I were supposed to have dance practice, but I told her not to come over. We ordered pizza because I felt too lame to even leave the house.

By Saturday I had full-on flu. Sore body, fever, runny nose, chills. I ended up sleeping through half of conference (although I got to listen to the last night of the proms on the radio between sessions - that was fun) and skipped the concert. Cody went to help his little brother move into his new place, and then they went to the concert together while I stayed home, used lots of tissue, drank lots of honey hot tea, and hated my life.

This morning I woke up with a migraine on top of my cold, and also a vicious cough. Cody and I both dozed through the morning session of conference - listened to it on my phone - and now I am feeling better, have more energy, but still really no appetite, and every time I cough it feels like I'm also getting stabbed through the eye. I am getting laundry done, though, which is always a useful thing. I did finish a crocheting project, so that was nice. Also I've had lots and lots of puppy cuddles.

I watched the new Beauty and the Beast on Netflix, and it was fun. Rewatched some eps of SPN, and that was good times.

I got to hang out with some of my girls this week, and that was nice. Soda. Cookies. Scifi. The whole nine yards. And I had some good laughs with the bailiffs while we were hanging around in the hallways at court.

As it turns out, one of my other coworkers is out of town, so I've been covering for him as well. He should be back by Tuesday. I am doing my best to take it easy and take care of myself today, because if I don't go in tomorrow, I don't know how things will pan out at all...

But it's a new month and I am surviving!

Eight weeks down, four to go.

But really, who's counting?