H.A. Larson's Blog, page 17

Coffee Talk: Time, Net Worth, and Writing

 

Good morning! I realize it's been a while since I posted last, but that just seems to be my life these days. While there are definitive upsides to working two jobs, there are downsides as well. The upsides are that I'm making the extra money I need to pay down debt and I keep myself active, but the major downside is that I don't have as much time to do or engage in other things. One of those things is this blog and writing, but I still manage to do both - albeit it much less frequently. I miss seeing my friends as often or spending more time in leisure pursuits, but the trade-off is worth it. Besides, I'd rather sacrifice now to get where I want to be in the future. That future includes me retiring early and living the life of an adventurer-traveler, so it will all pay off in the end. And honestly, I do have some downtime, but I use that downtime to read, hang out with my daughter (more her than my son because my son lives on his own in a different town), and get important things done - like my laundry and doing food prep.
 


A few years ago, I talked about net worth in a post from my Basic Financial Fitness series. I started tracking my own Net Worth back in 2017 when I started using the Mint app. At that time, I barely had any assets but I had a hefty amount of student loans and other debt (car loan, credit cards, doctor bill, etc.). I remember looking at my incredibly negative net worth and feeling depressed. While I quit using Mint a year ago (I was admittedly a bit nervous aggregating all my account information in one place), I started a series of Excel worksheets, compiled in a workbook, to track my debt and my savings. When I began pursuing FIRE in August of last year, I decided I needed to pick up a second job to aggressively pay down debt. At the same time, I also decided I would start keeping track of my net worth again, so I made a spreadsheet for that and added it to my workbook. After my last paycheck, I'm happy to report that I am on the positive side of net worth. Granted, it's a low net worth, but for once in my adult life, my assets exceed my debt load. I have one last thing to pay off before I tackle my student loans, but I'm getting there. On top of all that, I've been saving around 40% of my regular income as well as employer-sponsored retirement with both jobs. The increase in my savings/retirement accounts is beginning to rapidly overtake my diminishing debt. I will be excited when I am debt-free and will begin saving as much of my income as possible.




Believe it or not, I am writing. Granted, it's a slow-moving process, but I am writing nonetheless. Since I don't have the same kind of time I had before to work on novellas, I spend time, instead, fleshing out and writing bits and pieces of short stories. While I had been putting out a few short stories as series in my monthly newsletters, I've decided to write them and polish them to send to publishers at some point. I'm also still toying with the idea of a book of short stories - something I started working on a while back as well. Who knows how my short stories will end up being released, but rest assured they will be released when the time comes. And even though I'm writing at a much slower pace, it still makes me proud and happy that I'm writing regularly at all. If you've been following my blog for any time, you know exactly what I am talking about. My creative process is always there, a small wheel of ideas constantly spinning somewhere in the recesses of my mind.


I do have some things to share with you coming up - time allowing - so as always, keep your eyes here in the coming weeks. Have a great week!

Saving Money and Being Less Wasteful

I've always been a fairly frugal person, but after I leaped into the FIRE, my frugality has definitely ramped up. One of the discoveries on my journey is that there are always ways one can be more frugal and, in the process, save more money - a tenet of FIRE.
Another aspect of FIRE that I'm learning from scratch - unlike my frugality - is minimalism. Minimalism is a life approach that aims to live simply, frugally, and less wastefully. It's no surprise, then, that the road to financial independence is paved minimally. 
Here are things I'm doing to be frugal, be less wasteful, and save money.


1. I quit buying cans of beans
As a majority plant-based eater, beans are a staple in my diet. Every trip to the grocery store would see me bringing home at least a dozen cans of different kinds of beans. Not only does this add up in cost, but it was almost sickening to see the number of cans that I was putting in the recycle bin each week. Surely there was a better way. Well, it turns out that there is. I invested around $45.00 in an instant pot. With this modern marvel, I can cook dry beans into perfectly tender beans in under an hour! A one-pound bag of beans costs approx $1.50 (less if you buy bigger bags) and will yield roughly 6.5 cups of cooked beans. By contrast, the cheapest can of beans is around $0.75 and yields about 1.75 cups of beans. This means that I pay approximately $0.40 for the same amount of beans that a can of beans provides. If that wasn't sweet enough, I'm cutting down the amount of waste I generate by a large amount.





2. I quit buying paper towels and napkins
I used to think I was doing well financially if I could afford to buy paper towels and/or napkins. After several years, I realized that napkins were useless as I could just use paper towels for the same purpose. Lately, I realized how wasteful and expensive this can be, so I switched to using rags for cleaning up spills - no big deal because I always have rags around for cleaning - and to using cloth napkins. Not only am I saving money by not having to buy these items anymore, but I'm no longer throwing a bunch of dirty paper products in the garbage.


3. I quit using so much soap
Whether it's laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap, or shampoo, it sure seemed like I would frequently replace these items. Almost too frequently. So, I read the backs of the containers and discovered that I was using too much of each of them, particularly laundry soap. Did you know that the cap you use to dispense your laundry soap isn't designed to be filled to the top? Funny how companies give you a much larger cap than what you actually need! If you read the back of the bottle, you'll discover (for the most part) that you only need a fraction of the amount of laundry soap you're using. It's amazing how long a container of laundry soap lasts me now. Also, since I'm not going through these items as quickly, I'm throwing away less packaging.





4. I quit buying store-bought milk
I don't tend to use a lot of (plant-based) milk, still, I think I averaged around 3-4 2-quart containers each month. So, I bought myself a nice 2-quart glass drink container (Anchor Hocking at Walmart for under $5) and started making my own. Oat milk is the cheapest and healthiest plant milk to make, so I make my own. It does lack a bit of oomph so I add some pecans (cheaper in bulk than other nuts) and make mine a bit creamier and richer. I buy the large, generic oats, and use 2 cups of oats and a half cup of pecans to make two quarts at a cost of $0.36 for the oats and $1.06 for the pecans. This means my oat milk comes in at a grand total of $1.42 for 2 quarts. And again, making my own oat milk and storing it in a quality glass container means I'm throwing away much less packaging.





5. I air-dry my clothes
My dryer died early in the summer, and I decided not to try and repair it. It's quite old and last time I tried to fix an appliance, I wasn't able to because the parts for the machine no longer were made. So, I strung up some clothesline on the poles in my backyard and dried my clothes that way. Once the weather turned colder, I purchased a couple of good, metal drying racks to dry them inside. I also hang larger items on hangers and put them on my shower curtain rod. I have a few small fans that I turn on low to help circulate air, and this system works perfectly. And, as it turns out, not using the dryer nearly constantly saves money! It also happens to knock my carbon footprint down by roughly . How about that?





6. I walk as much as possible

You guys already know how much I like to walk for exercise. Because of this, I walk back and forth to my full-time job. But, I also try and walk other places as well. There are a few stores and other places that are fairly close to me that I frequent, so as long as I have time to spare, I will walk there as opposed to driving. Not only does this save me money on gas and wear-and-tear on my car, but it also reduces my carbon footprint significantly.


These are the ways, right now, that I am saving money while being less wasteful. I'm sure I'll pick up other tips and tricks as time goes on, and when I do, I'll make sure to share them with you. Do you have any tips or tricks that you do to save money and/or be less wasteful? Let me know in the comments.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

 It doesn't seem like it was that long ago when I sat down and wrote about my 2019 and how much I was looking forward to 2020. Yet, it's been a year ago now, and, man, what a year it was. Even though we dealt with a global pandemic, it was still a year that I can look back on and feel grateful and fortunate for. 
I've come a long way from the start of 2018 when I knew something was really wrong. I spent the next three years ('18, '19, and '20) dealing with the entirety of a life that was rough. Over those three years, I suffered, I cried, I learned a lot about myself, I went through big changes, I healed, I became stronger, I became renewed, and I forged a new path. See, my life had ceased to be my own and I was miserably depressed. Over these past three years, I've reclaimed my life and rediscovered myself.
The biggest takeaway from all of this is that I'm determined to live the life I've always wanted for myself and I'm working hard to get there. There were times in the past when I thought it was too late to ever achieve my dreams, but I know now that that just isn't true. My only barrier to my dreams was myself.
A year ago, I proclaimed that 2020 was going to be my year, and, to be sure, I righted my course. Now, I can look forward to 2021 as being the year where I intend to skyrocket in my growth...in all areas. Before I do, however, I need to give a nod to 2020 and all the goodness she brought to me.

1. I Traveled
Travel and adventure go hand-in-hand for me, and it's an integral part of my life. Traveling is what makes me happy, gives me joy & fulfillment, and broadens my horizons. To that end:
I spent Mother's Day weekend taking an adventure with my kids to nab the high points of Nebraska and Kansas with an amazing stop at Pawnee Buttes in Colorado.
In July, I took another joint vacation with my folks to Minnesota. While our main goal was to nab that state's high point, we had a fantastic time checking out sites along Highway 61 as well as the Lutsen Alpine slide and other fun things.
Then, in October, I took a trip with my best friend to the exquisite Grand Hotel and explored it's Michigan home on Mackinac Island. On our way back home, we made pit stops at the high points of Michigan and Wisconsin which means I've now made it to 8 state high points.
Before my travels this last year, I had never been to a single one of the Great Lakes. Now, I've been to three: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron.
I was worried that I wouldn't get to a Renaissance Faire in 2020 because of Covid, but the Des Moines Renaissance Faire managed to pull off a great one in the Fall. As a die-hard RF fan, I felt like my year was complete after watching a Joust.

2. I Made Major Life Changes
There comes a time when everyone reevaluates their lives and realizes that there are changes to be made. I was no exception to this and made my own changes. Big changes to be sure, but necessary. 

3. I Decided to Pursue FIRE
Back in August, I decided that FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) was the path my life should take and the goal I wanted to achieve. Shortly thereafter, I picked up a second job to pay off debt. This second job saw lots of benefits for me beyond paying debt, although I'm happy to report that I'm nearly debt-free - with the exception of my student loans. I will be financially independent and ready to retire no later than the Fall of 2030, and I'm excited about that chapter of my life. 

4. I Kept on 'a Walking
If you've been reading this blog for a while, or follow me on social media, then you know that I have had a goal since April of 2018 to walk at least 100 miles a month. While there were a few short months - there always are - I still hit or was close to my goal each month this year. I closed out December of 2020 with 112.22 miles under the belt, walking a total of 1,250.90 miles in 2020. This was my best year yet, beating out 2019 by three miles. I've now walked a grand total of 3,336.87 miles since I started walking and logging miles in earnest back in April 2018.

5. I Worked on Relationships
I was dealing with so much personal trauma for a few years, that I could barely take care of myself let alone be there for others. When I healed from everything early in 2020, I realized how much I had disconnected from those closest to me. I had to really start being there again for my friends, family, and especially my kids. My kids, more than anyone, needed me and I made sure to be there for them completely. We're now closer than ever and we're all much happier than before. And my friends - who selflessly helped me through my issues while putting their's in the background - had the tables turned as I now focused on them and the things they needed. I feel more connected to them now as well. I've also formed closer bonds with my outlying friends, and I feel like I have one big extended family.
All of this makes me value the importance of the people in my life and the role they play in my well-being.

6. I all but gave up Social Media use
Except for about a month stint using social media after quarantine, I've barely used social media in almost a year. At first, it was hard to give it up, much like other addictions I've had in the past, but over time I adapted. I've adapted so well, in fact, that my desire to use social media platforms is pretty much nil. The end result for me is that I feel more connected to my life. I'm more productive at work and more attentive to others, and I enjoy my time on outings and trips because I'm not constantly connected to my phone. I feel like I have my feet firmly planted in the world, and I wouldn't change that for anything.

While 2020 wasn't perfect, there were many bright spots. Still, there are plenty of things I need to work on in the new year, and I have no qualms about working hard to get there. I hope you can realize your dreams in the coming year, and that you will be able to look back on it and smile.

"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always on your back."                            - Irish blessing

Gud Jul to you and yours

Gud Jul, or Good Yule, to you and yours!
I'm a Swede by heritage, 50% to be exact, so I grew up with Swedish traditions that I found fascinating as a child. While that fascination never left me, it did get relegated to the background while I celebrated a more modern version of the holidays. Fast forward to the past few years where I've discovered a new-found interest in my Swedish history, particularly the more pagan traditions.
While I celebrated a more minor Yule this year due to my living arrangements, I'm eagerly looking forward to celebrating a full Yule next year when I'm once again in my own home. There's something magical about a traditional Yule, and if there's anything I enjoy, it's something magical. 
I hope your holidays have been and will continue to be a wondrous experience. After the year we've had, we sure could use it.




 

Latest Libations: Delving into the NA Beer World

You and I both know how much I enjoy a good beer. I've talked about it here regularly and considering this whole series, it's not really a surprise. But, I've also talked about how I want to cut down my alcohol consumption because let's face it, it's easy to take things too far. I've actually tried giving it up altogether - big fail - and I've also tried tactics like getting into drinking seltzer waters to trick my brain into thinking I was drinking hard seltzer - a drink I got into a few summers ago. This was pretty successful and I actually got into drinking seltzer waters, which are good for you. Unfortunately, I still really missed a good beer now and again, so I started thinking of other options. 
I understood that I didn't want to quit drinking entirely, but rather cut my alcohol consumption down to a more occasional thing. There are good reasons for this, but as I've talked about it in detail before, I won't bog this post down with them. At any rate, I started thinking about non-alcoholic (NA) beers. I'm no stranger to NA beers, having found a friend in Coors NA while I was pregnant with my daughter. I've also had O'Douls (the original NA beer), and while I found the Coors NA to be better, they both lacked the flavor of a real, quality, specialty brew. I love stouts, ales, lagers, and goses, to name a few, and there weren't any NA beers of this ilk, that I could find.



So, I turned to the internet for assistance and found a couple of places that brew actual NA beers that seem to look and taste like the real thing. After scoping out a few and thoroughly reading some reviews, I decided to give Bravus Brewing Company a try. Based out of California, they are the only brewery that exclusively brews NA beers, and we're not talking some run-of-the-mill beer either. They brew stouts, IPAs, ales, goses, and others. If that wasn't intriguing enough, they will ship their brews to you. Since it was more cost-effective, they had good reviews, and because it would take a while to get brews when I wanted them, I decided to take the plunge and order three cases of the ones that I wanted the most.




The first one I picked was the White Ale. If you've ever had a Blue Moon and liked it, then you would like this. Ale is a light brew and this style is brewed with orange, making for a crisp, clean, and refreshing taste.




This is what it looks like poured in a glass. Let me tell you, this brew is delicious.




Bravus brews an oatmeal stout, one of my favorite stouts. Stouts, if you aren't aware, are a dark, malted beer. The malting adds a rich taste and color that has a lightly sweet, caramelly taste. When I was shopping on their site, they showcased their limited-run Peanut Butter Stout. I love stouts and I love peanut butter, so instead of ordering their oatmeal stout, I went with this one instead.




It was everything I would want and expect in a stout. Dark, a little heady, and very flavorful. I poured it into my Boulevard glass, a brewery that makes my favorite beers of the alcohol variety, and it looks like a stout!




Last, but certainly not least, I purchased the Raspberry Gose. The main components of a gose are usually citrus, herbal, and a hint of saltiness. This translates into a fruity and sour light beer that is refreshing, especially on a hot day!

I have to tell you that I'm very impressed with the NA beers from Bravus Brewing Company. Not only are they delicious and taste like their alcoholic counterparts, but you'd never be able to tell you were drinking a NA beer. This is the perfect drink for people who don't want to consume alcohol but love to drink beer or would like to fit in at gatherings where everyone else IS drinking. So, say goodbye to that O'Douls and grab yourself a better option!













 

Portrait of Omaha: Gerda's

 

Recently, I decided to pore through my Google Drive in an effort to make more space. During the process, I came across so many pictures of things I had done and the places I had gone that I had completely forgotten about. One of those places was Gerda's German Restaurant. If you have lived in or visited Omaha on a regular basis, then you no doubt know of Gerda's whether you actually graced the establishment or not.
Gerda was a German woman who met and married an American soldier. Eventually, they made their way to Omaha where Gerda got a loan and opened her German bakery and restaurant. Her jaeger schnitzel was her best-selling item in a cozy place filled with murals of the German countryside, German flags, and other unique items, and her annual Oktoberfest brought 'em in by the 1000s.



For my best friend, Keith, and myself, Gerda's was a place we could come to get a stein or mas of our favorite beers. Mine was Franziskaner Hefeweissbier, and it was on tap at Gerda's. We were served every time by the same waitress (who'd worked there forever) who would always greet us with a smile and complimentary hard rolls with butter - another Gerda's favorite.



This particular visit was a few days after Gerda passed away in 2018. Keith and I shared a few tears with the forever waitress as we reminisced about the place we'd never get to grace again. 



The monk that graced the bottles of my favorite beer stood watch in the corner, which I always thought was whimsical.
As it turns out, Gerda's children kept the place open for another year before having to close down permanently. I never went back during that time as I had already said my goodbye during this last visit. More than that, though, I sensed it just wouldn't be the same without being able to say hi to the woman who lived and breathed that restaurant. I miss Gerda's and being able to get a tall, cold glass of Franziskaner. 
Ruhe in Frieden, Gerda.

Roadtrip Highpointin'

 

You all know that highpointing is a passion-hobby of mine, and to that end, I've reached 6 out of the 48 state summits I plan to conquer. So far I've attained:
* Black Elk Peak - South Dakota* Signal Hill - Arkansas* Hawkeye Point - Iowa* Panorama Point - Nebraska* Mount Sunflower - Kansas* Eagle Mountain - Minnesota
Well, after October's trip to Mackinac Island, I can now add two more to that list:
* Mt. Arvon - Michigan* Timm's Hill - Wisconsin
I was also hoping to add Charles Mound in Illinois during this same trip, but it's located on private property. The owners only open up the area four weekends a year, and this one wasn't the one. Much as I would've loved to have gone anyway, I would have been trespassing on someone's land and I wasn't about to do that. So, let's check out Mt. Arvon and Timm's Hill.



So here's Mt. Arvon in Michigan. Unfortunately, I didn't quite make it to the very actual top. The weather turned on our way from Mackinac Island to here, and the road was nearly impassable to the top. I had to get out of the car and walk as far to the summit as I could. I was close enough to count it, for me, as I was right there! LOL 



After our treacherous journey back out of Mt. Arvon, this was the road on our way down to Wisconsin. It was quite beautiful.






We originally made it to Timm's Hill in Wisconsin at around 7:30 p.m. It was dark and the roads to the parking lot closer to the summit were closed for the Winter. We still tried to find it in the dark but had no luck. We made the decision to head to our motel, which was an hour south. After Mt. Arvon, I was completely dejected, but my best friend told me we could come back up the next morning if I wanted to. And, I wanted to! So, we arrived back the next morning and parked at the gate that closes off the road to the top parking lot.



After we walked about a mile, we reached the top parking area. 



Another mile up and we reached the top of Timm's Hill...success! Here's the official USGS marker for it. As a note, I don't always see these markers on high points, but I try and pose with them if I do.



There are two towers at the top of Timms Hill, one wooden and one metal. The metal one has a vertical ladder to the top, while the wooden one has a wooden platform at the top, much like the ones I've seen in many nature places. I climbed partway up the wooden one, but it was slick with ice.



The view over the landscape was a beautiful wintery view. 
Next summer, I'm planning on getting two more high points, Missouri and the aforementioned Illinois. I really do love highpointing and can't wait to get some more under my belt!

My FIRE Journey: Credit Card Churning

 As most of you already know, I started pursuing FIRE this year. My goal for FIRE is to retire in ten years, so there are many things to do and learn as I work towards that goal. One thing I started thinking about almost right away when I decided to pursue FIRE was, "How do I take vacations without breaking the bank?" I mean, traveling is an important part of my life. Sure, I can, and have, done staycations and other cheap vacations, but what if I want to take a vacation that costs money? That's where credit card churning comes in.
What is credit card churning, you might ask? Well, it's a process in which you strategically use certain credit cards in order to gain their rewards points. You can then use these rewards points to travel for free (the ultimate goal) or very cheaply. Which cards you use for this purpose depends on a few factors, like how much money your household makes, if you're single or married, how much your expenditures are, how the rewards points work, and what you're hoping to achieve with your rewards. I took those factors into consideration when choosing my rewards cards, but before I get into how those factors affect me, let's talk about how the credit card churning process works.
In the most basic terms, how credit card churning works is this: You get a card, for example, that offers 50,000 rewards points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months. The rewards points, in this example, are worth 1 mile or maybe 1.5 cents per dollar spent. So, you pay your bills with your credit card for the next three months. You then pay off the card each month with the money you would've spent on the bills anyway and before the credit card due date so that you don't get charged any interest. After three months, you get your rewards points for paying your bills and you can then use these points to book flights or get cash to spend on vacation purchases.
In the research that I did, I ran into married couples with higher incomes than my own and with higher expenses. For them, this means that each adult can get a card and score the rewards points, making their vacation goals cheaper and more attainable. This works differently for me because I am a single person with a modest income and who already lives below their means. And, unless I can pay my housing costs with a credit card, I could never make $4,000 in purchases in three months. So, how I do credit card churning looks different for me. Here's what I'm currently doing and what I'm planning on achieving:
1. I started off picking the card(s) that would best serve my needs. The first card I picked was the DiscoverIt Miles card. Their rewards were appealing to me because their's works a bit differently than any other I've seen. I get 1 reward point for each dollar I spend and after one year, whatever I've accumulated, Discover will automatically double them. If I accumulate 12,000 points, Discover will give me an additional 12,000 points, and, my rewards never expire so I can keep accumulating them. My goal with this card is to purchase airline tickets for my daughter and me to travel to Ireland in 2022, so I need a fair amount of points. I pay every bill I can with this card, such as my gas bill, the electric bill, cable bill, car insurance, food, gas for my card, and any household items.
2. Right after I got that card, I knew I wanted to take a domestic vacation in 2021, so I found a rewards card that would give me lodging advantages with ease. For this, I chose the Choice Hotels Rewards card. Choice Hotels own a host of motels like Quality Inn, Rodeway Inn, and many others. I only needed to spend $1,000 in three months to gain 50,000 rewards points. So, I used this card to buy food, household supplies, and gas for the card for three months. 50,000 points will get me six free nights at most of their motels. I still used the Miles card for my other bills, and after I got my 50,000 points from Choice Hotels, I went back to putting all my expenditures on the Miles card. 
3. Next year, after I take my domestic vacation, I will choose a hotel card that has locations in Dublin, Ireland and has the best rewards deals. So far, that looks to be Hilton Honors. I will then use that card for three months, in the same manner I used the Choice Hotels card, to get enough points to stay in Ireland for a week. I will use the Miles card for two flights and the hotel points for our stay, making our European trip nearly free - only needing to pay for any ground travel and spending money (which I've already started saving at $20 per paycheck now as one and a half years of saving that will amount to a nice chunk of change).
That is the basic gist of credit card churning. Now, not everyone is looking to travel with their points. Some use the cashback advantage for various other things, so, again, what cards you would choose depends on your goals. Something important that needs to be said is this: If you aren't going to pay the card off in full each month, then you shouldn't do credit card churning . Paying interest on things and not paying them off in full means you're not really gaining any advantage and either can't afford to do this process or need to hone your financial skills first. Why? Because the idea behind credit card churning is that you get to travel (my goal in this process) for free. It is NOT free if you're constantly carrying a balance on these cards and paying compound interest to the credit card company.
Now, having warned you of how not to do credit card churning, if you do it correctly, this process is highly advantageous. For me, getting free or deeply discounted travel by simply paying my normal monthly bills is a huge deal for me, especially considering that I'm a single mom with a modest income who lives a frugal lifestyle. I'm looking forward to the next two summer vacations, so I'll definitely give you the final details on how they were both funded as they come around. 
Have a great week coming up my friends! December is almost here. 

Home Sweet Home

 

Image courtesy of visitomaha.com


I've lived in Omaha for seventeen, almost eighteen, years now, which is longer than I've ever lived anywhere else in my entire life. It's hard to believe this as I look back on my life, yet it's undeniably true. I arrived in the Metro area in January of 2003, a single mom of a young, three-year-old son. Between then and now, so much has changed - not just in my life but in the city I call home as well.
An entire life has evolved over these years. I got married and divorced here. I gave birth to my second child here. I've worked several jobs here before finding my home at the University of Omaha. I've joined and quit organizations. I've met tons of people, many of who've become my best friends, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, bosses, collaborators, and mentors. I've put my kids through one of the school systems here, becoming a permanent part of its fabric.
I've explored most of the nooks and crannies of this city and most of the surrounding area. I've learned of its history through an access cable channel, through local museums, tours of historic places, and lots of research either on the internet or through writings.
I've become regulars at various gas stations, department stores, grocery stores, bars, restaurants, and a handful of cultural buildings. I've familiarized myself with every nature center in the metro and have explored the uniqueness of the suburbs. 
I've watched neighborhoods change, highways and byways being built, new buildings dottings the landscape, barren areas turned into vibrant areas filled with shops, entertainment, parks, and condos. I've watched festivals come and go, the complete overhaul of the downtown area, and the steadfastness of icons.
I've attended more events than I can count, witnessing the best that the city and its people have to offer. I became a vegan here, I lost a lot of weight here, and I've watched my children turn into adults. I've lived in three different places. I've never bought a home but I rented a home in the heart of the city for 10.5 years that became our family home anyway.
I've cried, laughed, felt hopeless, euphoric, and ecstatic. I've grown and changed from a young woman unsure of herself, into a wiser and older woman who knows where she is going. I've learned so much about life, relationships, and the world in general.
This city has been a springboard for me as I learned to travel and explore my country and others. Still, when I think about home, nothing else comes to mind but this city, and I am comfortable here. Someday, another city will become my home, but until then...

Omaha, oh, Omaha, you're Homaha to me. 

Coffee Talk: Life Lately

Good morning! Do you have a nice warm cup of coffee? I sure do. You know, when I think about it, I don't know how I'd ever make it through a morning without at least one cup of coffee. Even when I go camping, getting that morning fire going first thing so I can put the coffee percolator on it is a necessity! Ahh, that brings back memories and reminds me that I'm looking forward to doing some camping again next year. 

Anyway, on to life updates. First, I managed to contract Covid-19 recently. It started with me feeling like I was coming down with a bad cold or the flu, having body aches, chills, and sinus pressure. I had bad nausea and vomiting the next day (which only lasted a day), and then from there on out, it felt like I had a mild to moderate sinus infection. With the Covid pandemic ramping up, I wasn't taking any chances so as soon as I started feeling ill, I made the household quarantine. I made an appointment to get tested, which I couldn't do until a handful of days later, and then I had to wait 2-3 days to get the results back. It did take 2.5 days to confirm that I, indeed, did have the virus. Fortunately, I'm one of the lucky ones who hasn't had horrible symptoms - besides a general malaise whose severity comes and goes in waves - especially respiratory symptoms. My daughter and I have taken a few drives to alleviate boredom and I took a few hikes, one with my daughter and one alone. Of the two places I've gone to, one isn't visited by people, and the other is visited by people but I went on a weekday morning that was very cold and very early to ensure I wouldn't be around other people. And I wasn't as no one else was there nor was there anyone in the parking lot when I left. I was exhausted when I got home, though, and had to take a long nap. Again, I am fortunate that my symptoms were pretty mild. No one in my house exhibited any symptoms of illness, so I'm thankful for that as well.

Being ill means I had to miss working my second job for a few weeks. It was the worst time, too, as they were going to give us all an extra 10% bonus for working during the time I was sick. Boo. Oh well, there wasn't anything I could do, and I was still able to work remotely for my main job, so, again, I'm fortunate.

With this extra downtime, I have been writing aplenty. I still haven't finished my short story for my newsletter, but I have managed to write a few reviews for Slime&Grime. I started a new review format called "Sound Bites" where I give a review longer than micro but shorter than a standard one. I've been working on albums that have been released this year, and so far I've done the latest from Ulver and Pig Destroyer. I've seriously been contemplating doing some freelance writing work to bring in another income stream, but we shall see. Normally, my 60-hour workweek cuts into my writing time, although I still manage to eke out some time during the first couple of days during each week.

My Google Drive is full, so I've been working my way through the photos to see what I can delete to make more space. Since I use the Drive often to upload my phone photos so I can then edit for my blog and social media, it's important that I can add things to it. This has resulted in me realizing that I had WAY more photos on there than I realized and that there were so many events that I never posted about. So, I have a fun post or two coming up, including a new Portraits of Omaha entry. It's been a while since I've made one of those!

The biggest update I have to share, and I've mentioned it before, is how normal, happy, and mentally healthy I feel again. After such a dark period in my life, it's good to be back in the light again. Not only that, but I found a true focus in my life and started working on goals that will secure the future I want.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

 

―  Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities