Passions and Loathings

Hiya all.

A LOT has been happening. I just got back from hosting write_out in Albuquerque where we watched some good TV [Good Omens - v. enjoyable! and Chernobyl - horrible but so gripping we watched the whole thing in one day] and went to some kick-ass restaurants. We discovered Duran Pharmacy [in the same sense that Christopher Columbus discovered America] and had the MOST amazing, biggest goddamn burritos I've ever had in my whole life. Yum.

Then we went to Con*Strict from Thursday to Sunday. It was so great to see familiar faces - and familiar faces that I haven't seen in freakin' AGES. I didn't go to many panels but enjoyed the ones I did attend, and on Saturday night I played a game with a bunch of folks and had a grand time. It involved giving three answers to a question in five seconds. NOT easy [except for Write_Out who seems to have a knack for quick thinking on the fly]. Fun though! The vid show was also really good this year and I plan to seek a couple of shows out based on what I saw. It was a good time.

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Now my other news. I'm going to be leaving my job in two weeks to begin home hospice care. I had a CT scan a couple of weeks ago and met with my oncologist today. We agreed that every possible protocol has been attempted and that at this point, comfort care is the best option. She has given me a timeline of two to six months, while admitting six months might be a bit on the generous side given the rate of tumor growth.

It's a little surreal, but on the other hand, I've been low-key preparing for this for the better part of the year. Right now, I'm okay with it. I'm tired, you know? I want to hang with my dog, read some books, watch some stuff I never got around to watching. I had been planning to go back to New Orleans at Christmas, but that's not going to be a viable option, so I'm just going to be quiet and nesty. I am going to try to get rid of almost everything I own - clothes and whatnot. Maybe I should have a yard sale. Eh, too much effort.

Right now I am going through mountains of HR paperwork. It's complicated to die! But at least I should be financially comfortable given my access to catastrophic leave and disability. Funny - I've always been in a fiscal state of broke or close to it, and now I don't really have to worry about anything. C'est la vie, I guess. I told my boss and the dean, and word seems to be getting out because I've been getting a lot of people stopping by to give hugs and such. Better than me telling people myself, honestly. I don't mind people knowing, but I don't want a goodbye party or anything fussy. I'll see myself out, thank you. Tomorrow I meet with the hospice folks to discuss how everything is going to go down.

I can't think of anything more to say about it, really. I'm happy to answer any questions if you're curious about anything. I should probably also say, in case I forget later, that you all are fantastic folks and it's been a privilege to know you. Some of us go back twenty years - a long damn time.

Okay, that's it for now. I hope everyone is having a swell day and night.