Personal Digest Saturday: October 17 – October 23

Life news this week:

• Saturday I did some apple bread baking using the apples Mom gave me. Also made some videos for my sister. I didn't get around to my blogging because Mom finally did come over (2 hours later than expected, but she came!). We hung out, ate bread, video chatted with my sister and nephew, and watched some karaoke videos. I fell asleep early.
  
  
• Sunday was an okay day--did some videos for my sister again and finally wrapped up my blogging. Did some laundry and updated merch lists. I drank questionable soda from a damaged can and opened some packages from stuff I ordered online.
  
  
• Monday I woke up after a bad sleep. I took a shower to get un-grimy and felt crappy most of the day. Decided it was probably the bad soda when I got a headache and a tummy ache that just kept getting worse. I threw up after work and started to feel better after. I was pretty worn out and just had 7UP for dinner but I was able to play with my friends in online games. I went to bed early.
  
  
• Tuesday I was still recovering and was able to eat small, tame meals. I busted out some brochure edits at work and did more Polos for my sister. We have good chats and they're such a nice break. I did some database stuff and worked on some of my long communications online. Scheduled a YouTube event for next week so I can participate in Ace Awareness Week! Did a bunch of edits on a tech proposal that was to go out the next day. After work I played games with my sisters, did karaoke, and wore purple lipstick for no real reason.
  
  
• Wednesday I got up early to do troubleshooting with our tech proposal. Got everything together and turned in about half an hour before it was due. Now we just hope they pick us! I also took some walks and did some house cleanup before Jeaux came over after work. We decided to make lazy food and bought frozen dinners. I had a healthy pasta and some zucchini patties, and he had a mac and cheese thing. We watched some funny political humor and one episode of Umbrella Academy. I also got a feature on the Amino for some terminology analysis in Steven Universe.
  
  
• Thursday I spent the morning on data entry and the afternoon on resume edits and document downloads and utility coordination. I took a walk, checked my bike to make sure it was still okay, wrote my storyboard for my webcomic, and talked to Victor on the phone while drawing. He fell asleep after a couple hours.
  
  
• Friday was another doctor day. I checked in at work and then rode my bike to my appointment. My bloodwork has been analyzed and I was "the healthiest person they've seen all week" according to one staff person. :) They just want me to get more Vitamin D and keep an eye on my thyroid function because it's a little low? Then they checked me out and I have one more appointment in radiology to go to. Yay. When I got back I did some proposal work, some project management reports, and some data entry. After work I finished my comic and prepared my stuff for my podcast the next day.

New Reviews of My Book:

• Kristen gave it an unrated review on Goodreads.

Food Plan Update:

• Since I had a bout with food poisoning early in the week, my stats dipped a bit and recovered. So now I'm about where I was last week--I think I am half a pound down actually. I started having problems with my pedometer since they changed the system, and so I put in a different one and I don't know how accurate it is. I've had a low appetite since the Monday hwarfing but I'm trying to keep decent nutrition in my body. And better hydration. Things seem to still be going really well and I'm happy with everything. The support information on the app I'm using seems to be trying really hard to push independence from schedules and tracking--they're training you to eat what you need and move how you want to, and make it more intuitive. It's pretty great.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week.

• Currently reading: Asexual Erotics by Ela Przybylo. I'm on page 35.

New singing performances:


This week's karaoke song is "One More Chance" by Madonna.



Stuff Drawn:

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0806: "Being Otherwise."






New videos: 

None, but you can sign up to be reminded of my Ace Event on Tuesday next week! I'm going to talk about nonfiction books that cover asexuality and then talk about whatever.

New photos:

Perfect apple muffin!

All my SU books!

Purple Lipstick!

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,290 for swankivy (lost 6), 669 for JulieSondra (1 new), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 105 for Not-So-Giant Women (no change). Twitter followers: 942 for swankivy (no change), 1,356 for JulieSondra (no change). Facebook: 298 friends for swankivy (no change), 630 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 70 likes for Negative One (1 new), 220 likes for So You Write (no change), 84 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,480 (no change). Instagram followers: 204 (lost 2).

Personal Digest Saturday (but posted on Sunday!): October 10 – October 16

Life news this week:

• Saturday I got a bunch of blogging done early and watched a panel from New York Comic Con about the upcoming SU book. Then I took a break to watch Hamilton on Disney Plus with Dad and Connie. They really enjoyed it and sat through the whole thing with no intermission! After hanging out with them, I talked to Jeaux on the phone and took a walk. Some really bad golfers were out there in groups and I found five balls in my yard! I helped Jeaux cook pasta over the phone. Took another long walk and came back and posted my video of playing a Steven Universe song on ukulele.
  
  
• Sunday I got a lot of my housework and errands done early. Had to take a couple tries at my karaoke today because the first take accidentally used my low-quality webcam for sound (settings issues!) and it was unlistenable. Too bad. Talked to my friend Sarah on the phone while doing laundry. Was able to sort through some of my more recent e-mail and got through a bunch of stuff. And I edited my video featuring Cat, but I haven't gotten to the transcript at all yet.
  
  
• Monday was a stressful work day. Had to deal with some data inconsistencies and putting out a bunch of fires. I finished reading the Animorphs graphic novel and reviewed it. Played games with my friends online. Bought or bid on a bunch of SU merch online. Did some budget stuff.
  
  
• Tuesday was a very good day. It was Victor's birthday but his present from me got stolen? Anyway, I finally hit my first goal weight and therefore I've officially lost 10 pounds. And I got my work done at work relatively early. Then my Steven Universe art book was delivered on release day and I got to spend the entire rest of the day playing with it--reading it and reviewing it.
  
  
• Wednesday wasn't too stressful at work but there was a lot to do, so I did it. Got to harass some utilities people. Got my book reviews posted. Then Jeaux came over and we grocery shopped, ate breakfast for dinner, and watched some Umbrella Academy season 2.
  
  
• Thursday I had a weird sleep and got up early. Also decided to make some doctor's appointments (nothing to worry about but I'll let ya know if there is), and they said I had to have bloodwork first so I scheduled that for the next day. And Amazon refunded me for Victor's present, which we confirmed stolen because the remains of the box (with some of the candy I sent him) were found thrown behind the apartment building. Jerks! Wrote my webcomic storyboard and talked to Victor on the phone after work.
  
  
• Friday I got up early and biked to the doctor to get my bloodwork done. I had moved a meeting in case I didn't make it back in time but I did turn out to make it back in time. Oh well, still went to the moved meeting. The person who took my blood was really cute and had a cool tattoo. Then back at work I had to wrestle with a resume and handled a bunch of documents. Later called my mom and chatted with her to make some changes to Saturday plans. I had two fake hot dogs and a potato for dinner! I couldn't finish the potato in one sitting--I overestimated my hunger. So I ate the rest as a midnight snack. Managed to finish my comic on time and updated my collections pages.

New Reviews of My Book:

• Zoe✿ gave it a four-star review on Goodreads.
  
• Sonia Saccani gave it a four-star review on Goodreads. (It's in Italian.)
  
• Victoria gave it a three-star review on Amazon.

Food Plan Update:

• Very pleased that I have lost 10 pounds since starting this program. That's a lot for a relatively small person. So I have set my final goal weight now that I've done that (another 5 pounds), and that's all I need to do to feel like I'm back at a comfortable size to fit in most of my clothes. Hooray for suddenly getting a whole new wardrobe of stuff I already own if I can do it. :) I haven't changed really anything this week, so it looks like the level of activity and food intake is still resulting in weight loss. I don't see any reason to stop doing what I'm doing.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: The Invasion: The Animorphs Graphic Novel #1 by K.A. Applegate, Michael Grant, and Chris Grine. Four-star review.
• Finished Reading: Steven Universe: End of an Era by Chris McConnell. Five-star review.

• Currently reading: Asexual Erotics by Ela Przybylo. I'm on page 5.

New singing performances:


This week's karaoke song is "No One" by Alicia Keys.



Stuff Drawn:

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0805: "Unimaginable."






New videos: 

None.

New photos:

Me with my End of an Era book

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,296 for swankivy (lost 2), 668 for JulieSondra (no change), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 105 for Not-So-Giant Women (4 new). Twitter followers: 942 for swankivy (no change), 1,356 for JulieSondra (1 new). Facebook: 298 friends for swankivy (no change), 630 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 69 likes for Negative One (5 new), 220 likes for So You Write (lost 1), 84 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,480 (no change). Instagram followers: 206 (3 new).

Personal Digest Saturday: October 3 – October 9

Life news this week:

• Saturday was a day of procrastination. I managed to get my planning stuff done for the podcast I was gonna do the same night but nothing else really--just read my own old comic issues for fun and avoided doing important stuff. Well, the other thing I did do was make a silly video for my nephew. It's called "Poop School #1" and it's a game we played last time I saw him. I pretend to be a teacher who asks poop-related questions. He's six and finds it funny. Of course, I'm forty-two and also find it funny. The podcast recording with Daria was lovely as usual--we recorded "Full Disclosure" and "Joy Ride."
  
  
• Sunday I had another lazy morning--slept late and didn't emerge from the bedroom until afternoon. Did more old comics reading and made another "Poop School" video for my nephew. I did a bunch of walks too. Finally got my blogging done from the previous day and did some laundry. Also did karaoke.
  
  
• Monday it was back to work. Had to edit a letter and do some research on utilities. After work I made a silly video for a music cover--I got dressed up in costumes for each of the four main characters of Steven Universe and covered the show's theme song in four-part harmony. So that was fun. But I also played online games with my friends.
  
  
• Tuesday I got up early to go to meetings online but they were canceled. I did some utility stuff, document processing stuff, and proposal stuff. Did some editing on my next podcast video and took a long walk (made longer because I got lost). Made a guide to my singing videos to collect them all on Amino.
  
  
• Wednesday the meetings were canceled again! So I worked on a database most of the day. I took some walks and read some funny entries on a blog where people who want stuff for free try to "pay" artists in "exposure." Obnoxious. Jeaux came over after work and we shopped, ate veggie burgers and fries, and watched the ending of season 1 of Umbrella Academy. He also took a walk with me because I didn't have enough steps for my quota!
  
  
• Thursday the meetings finally happened. I got some info together and made progress on my proposal, and also did some more database stuff. Mom said she would come over but did not. I dropped off my mail-in ballot! Yay I voted! Also worked on my podcast video and got it posted for "Onion Trade." Talked to Victor for a while and drew comics.
  
  
• Friday work was busy. I had to make a resume for another new guy, make some reports and revamp a database, and update some utility stuff. Then on top of that was my normal Friday work. Managed to take some walks too. Mom finally came over after work! We hung out, gave each other things we'd been saving for each other, chatted, and didn't really get around to most of the stuff she'd been planning to do at my house. I got my comic done and posted it, and recorded a kinda low-effort recording of "Let Me Drive My Van (Into Your Heart)," and not much else.

New Reviews of My Book:

• RhB427 gave it a four-star review on Goodreads. (It's in Spanish.)

Food Plan Update:

• Everything's great. Lost another half pound and am THIIIS close to that big milestone. Maybe next week I'll be there. :) I am trying to incorporate soup into more of my meals because I need vegetables and am having trouble being enthusiastic about fresh ones these days.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Gravity Is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty. Four-star review.

• Currently reading: Animorphs Graphic Novel #1: The Invasion by K.A. Applegate, Michael Grant, and Chris Grine. I'm on page 99.

New singing performances:


This week's karaoke song is "What About Love?" by Heart.



Stuff Drawn:


Webcomic Negative One Issue 0804: "Brother and Sister."






New videos: 

"We Are the Crystal Gems": The theme song in cosplay, featuring four-part harmony and ukulele playing!

 

"Let Me Drive My Van (Into Your Heart)": Here I am playing Greg Universe's famous song!

 

Not-So-Giant Women #15: "Onion Trade" is out. Join Daria and Ivy as they watch and talk about "Onion Trade" and cover such topics as child endangerment, Onion being a thief, the ethics of mystery pack toys, funnel cake, Onion's chaos face, the mystery of Dave Guy's identity, Onion as a potential secret crime boss, and how replicators work. We also do impressions of Onion and his dad.

New photos:

None.

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,298 for swankivy (lost 3), 668 for JulieSondra (no change), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 101 for Not-So-Giant Women (lost 1). Twitter followers: 942 for swankivy (lost 2), 1,355 for JulieSondra (lost 1). Facebook: 298 friends for swankivy (no change), 630 likes for JulieSondra (lost 2), 64 likes for Negative One (1 new), 221 likes for So You Write (no change), 84 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,480 (lost 1). Instagram followers: 203 (no change).

Personal Digest Saturday (but posted on Sunday!): September 26 – October 2

Life news this week:

• Saturday I had plans with Mom but she wasn't able to come. I spent the day working on yaelaed's transcript so I could post their interview video and I managed to get it all done. I also took walks and redid my decorations for autumnal equinox, so it looks more like early fall than late summer in my house now. I chatted on the phone with Jeaux and put up the last of my laundry from the previous week, and I researched banana milk and stuffed pancakes because I wanted to make some. Got my blogging done too but it was technically Sunday when it posted.
  
  
• Sunday I had plans with Mom but she still wasn't able to come. I did laundry and dishes and cleaned my outside table. Took a walk inside the house because of the rain. Chatted to Mom on the phone because she wasn't able to visit. Did more research on banana milk and wrote up a review of the Season 5 instrumental album for Steven Universe. Did my karaoke.
  
  
• Monday I got up super early for a meeting but it got canceled so I just worked early anyway. I had to work on a letter, collect timesheets, and process new guy paperwork. After work I rode my bike to the Asian market and got the stuff I needed to make stuffed pancakes and banana milk. Also dropped off postcards at the Post Office that I wrote for supporting candidates I want to win in states I don't live in. The bike ride was really nice for some reason and I found most of what I wanted at the market. I played games with my friends online and we had a terrific time. Put away laundry and planned a comic for So You Write.
  
  
• Tuesday I attended the postponed meeting and it turns out it was for a proposal we're dealing with. Then I had another afternoon meeting with some utilities people I'm working with for a pursuit. It's pretty intense and I'm going to be in charge of my own three projects for utilities if we win. Oof. After work my mom was supposed to come but she canceled again. I made the pancakes anyway and froze some for her. The pancakes are Korean filled pancakes called hotteok. They have a brown sugar filling and various nuts and seeds--I decided to use sunflower seeds, walnuts, and almonds. Yum! Also made the banana milk and it was delicious, and I had bought some store-bought fruit milks to compare them to. I liked mine best! I played games online with my sisters. We had a lovely sister time.
  
  
• Wednesday I had to dive into my utilities project. I wrote up a list of everything we have to investigate on the three projects I'm doing and I bounced the list off the coodinator people I'm working with. They gave me some more feedback and then I walked to the Post Office to drop off more political postcards. Jeaux and I went to the grocery store and had cauliflower pasta for our dinner. We watched a few episodes of The Umbrella Academy. He liked my hotteok and banana milk.
  
  
• Thursday I was mostly just routing e-mails about utilities since I had sent out over 30 messages to the utilities for my projects. Also had to do some updates on the data entry project. I sent out more political postcards, wrote my webcomic, and made videos for my sister P. Posted some cartoon blog stuff and talked to Victor on the phone while drawing comics.
  
  
• Friday I was a little sleepy all day. I sent more utility mails and coordinated about the data entry, some stamp applications, and Excel documents for my boss. Mailed my last 10 postcards for the campaigns. Stayed late at work because I was waiting for some answers that didn't come. After, I did my comic pretty early and posted it. I didn't get around to the other stuff I wanted to do because I was distracted by news.

New Reviews of My Book:

• migue Chaves gave it a five-star review on Goodreads.
  
• Charlotte gave it a five-star review on Goodreads (referring to having listened to the audio book).

Food Plan Update:

• So! I'm within a pound of my (first) goal weight, and very proud that I've continued to hit 10,000 steps a day and stay under my recommended intake for overall meal plans. I haven't done great at the balance of TYPES of food though--still need to eat more leafy greens and veggies, though I'm doing pretty well with fruit and have some every day.
  
  
• Since this is the end-of-the-month update (a little late for September), I guess I owe you some stats. I am ending the week at 117 pounds, down from a high of 126.5. Not bad. My "goal" was set at 116, but eventually I'd really like to be around 110. For maintenance purposes I'll be happy to be between 105 and 115. I don't want to go below 105. Realistically I don't think I'll get much below 110 though. Here are the exercise summaries.

Reading progress:

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week. Almost done with my current read.

• Currently reading: Gravity Is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty. I'm on page 434.

New singing performances:


This week's karaoke song is "Army of Me" by Björk.



Stuff Drawn:


Webcomic So You Write Issue 0803: "It's Fantasy."









Webcomic Negative One Issue 0803: "A Word."






New videos: 

None this week.

New photos:

Banana Milk!

Filled Hotteok

Sealed Hotteok

Frying Hotteok

Cooked Hotteok

Filling of Hotteok

My Korean street food

Eating it up!

Mailing my postcards!

Social Media Counts:

YouTube subscribers: 5,301 for swankivy (lost 1), 668 for JulieSondra (no change), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 102 for Not-So-Giant Women (no change). Twitter followers: 944 for swankivy (2 new), 1,356 for JulieSondra (4 new). Facebook: 298 friends for swankivy (1 new--friended Jesse, partner of a friend), 632 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 63 likes for Negative One (1 new), 221 likes for So You Write (1 new), 84 likes for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,481 (1 new). Instagram followers: 203 (1 new).