Hailey Hudson's Blog, page 7

Blogmas 2023 Day 20 (church work)

I got up and moving earlier today so I could finish my work and then still have time to rest before I had to leave midafternoon. I answered emails/scheduled stuff/paid stuff, wrote a cybersecurity solution page, and finished the blog post on work breakdown structures. Then I rested in bed before getting ready to go.

I had a planning meeting at church this afternoon with my pastor and his wife. I think I mentioned this earlier in the month, but starting in January, I’ll be working for/serving at my church in a role that’s essentially like a communications director. Today we planned out our January events calendar and discussed our ten-year celebration this summer. I also recorded a piano track of Silent Night for us to use on Sunday. Due to my health, it’s been several years since I’ve been able to do church music like I did growing up, but recording tracks ahead of time is a more accessible option for me and a way I can still help.

We had Bible study this evening. It lasted nearly two hours and covered a VERY wide range of topics, from church elders to the number of demons in the world to Paul’s persecution and more! I always learn a lot and laugh a lot from our conversations on Wednesday nights.

Today I’m grateful for: Not being full-blown muggle sick (yet, anyway).

Check out Blogmas Day 20 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 19 (meetings and calls)

For weeks, I have labored under the delusion that the Percy Jackson show released today. I planned my entire week and my entire day around it, and my excitement level was through the roof… only to wake up to find that it doesn’t come out until TOMORROW, which means I probably won’t have time to watch it until FRIDAY! It was quite the disappointment.

Today I had to get some end-of-year stuff together for my accountant. Then, early afternoon, I had a phone call with an oncologist to interview her about lobular carcinoma in situ. It felt good to have more energy today and get some things done (and even be able to sit up straight at my desk for a few hours instead of lying on the couch!).

Windy, disrupting my Zoom calls since 2019.

After that I had my Zoom voice lesson (since I’ll be out of town on Thursday). I had woken up today with somewhat of a sore/scratchy throat, which I was trying to ignore… but when I started trying to sing, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Ugh, I really don’t want to get muggle sick! Since my voice wasn’t doing great, we ended up just looking at a couple of songs that we learned earlier this year and that I want to cover for my YouTube channel over Christmas break, and then chatting for a while after the lesson.

Since I didn’t have the PJO show to watch (seriously so disappointing), I resigned myself to sit down and work for a while on a blog post about work breakdown structure for project management. I could feel myself getting sicker almost by the minute… ugh! After working for an hour or two, I am now taking a hot shower and going to bed to continue my reread of The Lightning Thief since I can’t watch it yet.

Today I’m grateful for: I have already landed quotes from ALL FOUR of the sources I need for my January oncology articles–this is unheard of! Now I can relax over Christmas break and not worry about it!

Check out Blogmas Day 19 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 18

Today was kind of a blah day. I slept horribly, was in a lot of pain, and was in a bad mood for no real reason (probably because of the horrible sleep). My brain was not functioning well enough to do any real/quality work. So I poked around doing some marketing and 2024 planning for most of the afternoon. It’s easier for my foggy brain to send emails and futz around on Trello than it is to attempt to actually write an article.

I DoorDashed myself a soft pretzel treat in the hopes that would kickstart my brain or something. Big surprise, it didn’t–it just made me feel incredibly sick for the rest of the day. But I did force myself to do some actual client work (a trailer blog post) for a little while late afternoon.

I felt like complete crap, but I tried my best to stay awake this afternoon and evening so I wouldn’t be napping right before bed. Since my brain couldn’t handle focused work today, I pushed my body to do other random things around the house instead–like getting my packages/mail (I love getting branded merch as client gifts!), changing my central line dressing, and organizing my T-shirt drawer (which was satisfying, yet also embarrassing… I own an unholy amount of T-shirts and tank tops).

Today I’m grateful for: Catching up with Sophia, and getting some sweet Christmas cards.

Check out Blogmas Day 18 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 17 (church lunch)

Today was our monthly church lunch and our yearly Christmas white elephant gift exchange! I didn’t sleep great last night (I was still awake crying over Rilla of Ingleside at 2 AM), but it was a fun day. Annabelle picked me up and I worked in nursery with all of my favorite people. Truly, this little dude especially is the light of my life.

After the service, we had lunch; the judging of the cookie competition; and the gift exchange.

I racked up on cat-related gifts (ones I stole, and ones people directly gave to me).

I got home around three and promptly fell asleep on my couch. (My kitty is always so snuggly when I get home from anywhere.)

This evening I tidied up the house and did a bunch of small computer tasks, like financial stuff and planning my week.

Today I’m grateful for: Getting the photos back from the wildflower shoot with Grace Anne this summer! Here’s a sneak peek because I can’t contain myself. Things are coming soon…

Check out Blogmas Day 17 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 16 (show)

I had been really looking forward to some time and space to work on fun projects today, but that did not happen. I woke up with a migraine, drowsiness, and weakness and went back to sleep until 2:00, when I woke up incredibly nauseous. It was a pretty major struggle just to take a shower and sit up in bed and read Rilla of Ingleside. I had a commitment at my music studio tonight, so I tried my best to rest and get my body in better shape. I did manage to FaceTime Kenna and sing a little bit before I had to get ready to go.

The show tonight was a charity show with original music and covers played by various students, teachers, and bands at my studio. I joined in for part of Ari’s set to play the piano and sing with her on Hard to Sleep by Gracie Abrams. The noise of the two-hour show in a small room did not help my migraine and I came home feeling even worse. But it’s always fun to see everyone and hear them play! 

It was one of those nights where I come home feeling like it’s unfair that it’s so difficult for me to do so little, and then I still have to come home and set up my own IV fluids and tube feeds and everything. But life isn’t fair and it’s a broken world down here, so what are you gonna do? Simultaneously, I am thankful to have access to helpful treatments at home, and that my health is stable enough for me to even consider performing a song a few times a year.

Today I’m grateful for: Discussing music and performances with my dad.

Check out Blogmas Day 16 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 15 (mostly cat pictures)

I ended up getting a random burst of energy last night that led to preparing for some expert interviews, tidying up my house, FaceTiming Joshua, and reading Ada Limon poetry until midnight (the quote below is from somebody else, though, to clarify). Fun times.

I got another slow start today; it was 1:00 by the time I was ready to open my laptop and start work (when am I going to admit that this is no longer a “slow start” but seems to be my new normal??). It felt good to answer/send emails about creating 2024 content plans, raising my rates, and seeing my “wrapped” for some client content (more of my clients should do this, please, so I don’t have to compile it myself lol). One of those days where I love being a business owner and I’m proud of everything I’ve done this year–even if I don’t start doing it until 1 PM!

My dad came over this afternoon to hang up the gorgeous assemblage art piece I got this fall aaand to bring my latest and greatest online purchase… a vintage handmade hooked kitty cat rug. Is this, or is this not, the best $50 I have ever spent?

When he left, it was back to work. I wrote a solution landing page about IT networking; wrote a blog post on myths about donating blood; and did some revisions on a trailer blog post. Then I was finally done for the week. Although, I will admit I didn’t finish until 7:00 because I kept getting sidetracked this afternoon thinking about music releases and book releases and fun creative projects. I will still be working through next Friday before taking two weeks off, but my brain is jumping ahead to Christmas break mode and my ever-growing list of fun projects for those two weeks.

I wish I’d had time and energy to do non-work things today, but my body and brain were very beyond done. So I ended up on the couch scrolling through Pinterest and planning the behind-the-scenes YouTube videos I’m going to edit together of the recording process from this past summer.

Today I’m grateful for: Long-awaited creative projects almost ready to release into the world.

Check out Blogmas Day 15 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 14 (errands)

I slept hard until almost 1 PM today and woke up still exhausted. My chronic fatigue has continued to get increasingly worse and more severe over the last 8ish years. There are so many factors/causes that go into it and so many ways it affects me that it’s hard to describe. But even though I’m used to it, I was feeling more discouraged about it today than usual.

I rested in bed for another hour or two; I was nauseous and having abdominal pain, with my headache and brain fog increasing, and also realizing that my legs were numb and I couldn’t really move them. But I felt like I couldn’t cancel all of the things I needed to do today, so I pushed myself to still try to head out and do at least a couple of them.

I went to the post office (which was unnecessarily difficult and exhausting) and then went to my songwriting lesson at my music studio. I was supposed to have a Zoom voice lesson after that, but I canceled it because I was continuing to feel really rough, and I hadn’t really practiced anyway… whoops. So instead, I came home and crashed straight onto the couch. And now I need to try my best to manage a shower before bed.

Today I’m grateful for: Christmas break is in sight and I have a lot of relaxing plans involving my couch and books.

Check out Blogmas Day 14 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 13 (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

It was SO nice to wake up this morning feeling a little more clearheaded and energetic than usual! I enjoyed listening to “Psalm 146: The Hallelujah Chorus of Heaven” from The Theology & Apologetics Podcast as I got moving. Then, my main work goal for today was to finish up the massive blog post on cost and time estimation for IT projects. I didn’t have a ton left to do and I was proud of the final piece.

Midafternoon, Ari came by so we could practice a song we’re singing together in a show this weekend. When she left, I crashed for a bit trying to get my abdominal pain under control before it was time to get ready to go.

Tonight my dad and I had tickets to see A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. (He and I used to go to the ASO together, but haven’t been in several years.) We took Marta down to the Atlanta Symphony Hall, where the show was taking place. I was feeling increasingly exhausted and pretty rough (all of the stairs didn’t help), but the show was fun! It was colorful, energetic, and dance-heavy. Afterward, we got home around 10 and I stumbled straight to bed.

Today I’m grateful for: Finding another public painted piano–and a TinyDoorAtl!

Check out Blogmas Day 13 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 12

I was still very tired today, but in a better mood. My goal was to focus hard and get as much work done as possible. After my usual morning routine (let my body wake up, get somewhat ready, do Bible/Scripture memory, etc.), I was able to get started around 12:45, digging into a big article on estimating time and cost for IT projects. It was an intimidating piece for a few reasons, but I was happy with what I got done on it.

Late afternoon, I took a break to treat myself to some pasta; catch up on one of my favorite YouTubers, Jordan Bauth (who I like so much that in early 2022 I wrote a novel inspired by her life/job, haha); and unpack/tidy up stuff while dramatically singing Amy Winehouse to my cat (hey, the sign says it all).

To finish up my workday, I wrote an article about how to get a lawyer for a disability appeal. Then I tried valiantly to stay awake all evening and managed to succeed. I took a long shower and changed my central line dressing (I have a Hickman currently).

Finally, I had the loveliest, most peaceful time listening to music on repeat and writing the latest poetry/creative nonfiction piece that’s been marinating in my brain. It’s on my secret blog, but let me know if you want to read it and I’ll send it to you privately.

Today I’m grateful for: Unexpectedly getting a $100 check in the mail for work I’d thought was volunteer.

Check out Blogmas Day 12 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?

Blogmas 2023 Day 11 (coffee date)

I way overdid it walking around at Atlantic Station last night. Today I could barely use my legs–they were numb, shaky, weak, painful. I hobbled around with my cane, inched carefully down the stairs, and managed to safely drive to a familiar cute little town about 30 minutes away to meet Andrea for coffee. We were long overdue for a solid catchup and debrief session… and there was certainly plenty to debrief about! It is always so good to spend time with her (and, of course, her new sidekick, who wasn’t quite born yet at Blogmas last year!).

When I got home midafternoon I had to go straight back to bed. Several hours later, I woke up feeling very anxious about a life situation; very stressed about work; and physically a lot worse–my legs are so useless and in pain that I can barely shift in bed or stand up, much less walk. So unfortunately, after some email-answering and brain-dump journaling, that’s pretty much how I’m ending the night. At least I managed not to cry. (I told you you’d be getting real life on my Blogmas, lol.)

Today I’m grateful for: My kitty coming to purr and snuggle when I woke up from my nap.

Check out Blogmas Day 11 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016. What did you do today?