Personal Digest Saturday: June 17 – June 23

Life news this week:

• Saturday I had to help with a short work task but otherwise had the day free. I worked on a Not-So-Giant Women podcast note document and did some blogging, got some walking done, and sat down with Daria to do another recording for two SU episodes ("Steven's Dream" and "Adventures in Light Distortion"). We did a lot of chatting before and after so it took up a BIG chunk of time, but I love it!
  
  
• Sunday I let myself sleep late and played around with the next Not-So-Giant Women episode and ukulele practice. Did some laundry, did dishes, called Mom, called Dad for Father's Day, and worried about Mom being sick.
  
  
• Monday, work involved sending out teaming invitations and three letters going out! Busy day. Also managed to do some research and attend what turned out to be our only practice for the upcoming interview. After work I practiced ukulele, walked, played games with the friends, and made Polos.
  
  
• Tuesday was more teaming arrangements and research. I had some drama with tree branches across the street--a dead tree keeps dropping them in the street right in front of my house and even in my driveway, so I keep having to go out there and drag these giant branches out of the road so people don't get hurt. I called the golf course that owns the tree to tell them something needs to be done. People are going to get hurt. Finally finished the book I was reading and reviewed it. Wrote out a script for the interview and packed my stuff for the journey, and went to bed early.
  
  
• Wednesday I had to get up at 5 AM and my boss picked me up at 5:30 to go to Fort Myers. We attended our interview for this project in District One. It went fine as far as we can tell. And then we drove back. I was back before lunchtime! I had a little nap and did a small amount of other research work at the office but it was mostly the interview. Then I went out with Jeaux to Saki (where we had a coupon) and had some delicious tofu. We grocery shopped and went home and told each other silly internet stories.
  
  
• Thursday I had to do some training all day in the hopes that I can help with a traffic count project but I don't know if I will be able to help. After work I talked to Mom and she's still sick so I went over there and took out her trash again, did her dishes, did her laundry, and sat around eating ice cream with her. Then I went home and went to sleep.
  
  
• Friday I worked on a storyboard that was really difficult to get through for some reason, and at work I did my usual upcoming project research and other miscellaneous tasks. I drew all of the webcomic after work and managed to get my steps in too. Later I just read old issues of the comic for fun.

New Reviews:

• An unnamed "Client d'Amazon" gave the French version of The Invisible Orientation a five-star review on Amazon.
  
• Abby Omlor gave The Invisible Orientation an unrated review on Goodreads noting they did not finish, indicating that it's too basic for their understanding.
  
• Emily gave The Invisible Orientation a three-star review saying they wished it had more on demisexuality.

Health Plan Update:

• Weight stuff: Finally making some progress here. Doing two things differently: One, cut out the chips and dip, and two, made an effort to pay attention to when I just want to eat something versus when I'm actually hungry (and drank some decaf instead when I wasn't hungry). High weight: 123.1 Low weight: 119.7.
  
• Nutrition stuff: I was eating a pretty low-fat diet this week (except one day when I ate from a restaurant). Did very well with the protein this week too. Trying to pay attention a little more. I ran out of spinach early in the week so I couldn't have my smoothies, but I had several earlier in the week which is good for the green leafy vegetable goals. Still consistently taking the vitamins.
  
• Activity stuff: I met my walking goal every day this week. My low day was Tuesday at 10,058 steps, and my high day was Sunday at 11,911 steps.

Books Read: 

• Finished Reading: Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown. Five-star review.
  
  
• Currently Reading: Be Gay, Do Comics by Matt Bors.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Rain" by Madonna.

Stuff drawn:

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0945 "I Have Questions." 

Videos Made:

None.

New photos:

None.

Social Media Counts: 

YouTube subscribers: 5,436 for swankivy (1 new), 680 for JulieSondra (no change), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 179 for Not-So-Giant Women (4 new), 71 for Tides of Time Band (no change). Twitter followers: 868 for swankivy (no change), 3,852 for JulieSondra (lost 8). Facebook: 296 friends for swankivy (1 new, added new Steven Universe friend Tanner), 643 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 82 followers for Negative One (no change), 240 likes for So You Write (no change), 95 followers for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,438 (no change). Instagram followers: 257 (no change).

Personal Digest Saturday: June 10 – June 16

Life news this week:

• Saturday I asked if my mom wanted to hang out but she didn't answer so I ended up sorta accidentally spending the entire day watching a charity stream for the Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective. FOR TWELVE HOURS. I did my blogging and walking in between listening to the music and watching the panels. There were awesome interviews and cool music and discussions, and of course the highlights were "Love Like You" with the Gem Choir (I was one of the 92 members in the choir!) and Rebecca Sugar's performance.
  
  
• Sunday I got up early and went to see Across the Spider-Verse with Jeaux. We enjoyed the movie! Then we picked up lunch at Zaxby's and ate it at my house. My mom called and said she was sick and wanted to know if we could pick her up some supplies, and Jeaux volunteered to take me on the errand since he was still there! We picked up the stuff she asked for (including medicine) and then after all that and he'd left, I did my chores (trash and laundry) and called my friend Sarah. Followed up with Polos for others, karaoke recording, and working on my podcast.
  
  
• Monday we didn't have ANY letters due, which is very weird for a Monday! Did some research and teaming arrangements. Also made a new friend on Facebook and we talked off and on all day about Steven Universe merchandise we are looking for. I let him buy a couple of my things and packaged them up for taking to the post office. In the evening it was Monday Night Game Night, and after that I practiced ukulele and did the dishes. Stayed up late answering work e-mails weirdly.
  
  
• Tuesday I did my upcoming project research and worked on forms for our submittal. Also took a walk to the post office to drop off the Steven Universe package for my new friend. Later I talked to Tony in the yard and he told me about a health app he's using which sounded interesting. Talked to Mom to check on her and she still wasn't doing any better. Did some podcast planning and took some photos of cups for my collections pages.
  
  
• Wednesday I had a bunch of organization to do with subconsultants at work. Later did some Polos and podcast plans, and called my mom. She asked if Jeaux and I would bring her a hot meal so we got her one of her favorites and stopped at her house before starting our evening. I did her dishes while I was there. Jeaux and I then ate at Mandola's and watched some fun videos.
  
  
• Thursday we started preparing hardcore for our upcoming interview at work. I'm being asked to be part of the interview team so next week I get to go to Fort Myers with the guys. I worked on some question transcriptions and some documents for our proposal package. Also did some unrelated project manager research. After a nap, I did some online shopping and worked on my webcomic. Also updated an old project with a visual illustration of a bunch of Steven Universe characters on a color wheel.
  
  
• Friday was more interview preparation, and we turned in our package too. I had to do timesheets and reports also. After work I finished my webcomic and took my walks. Also heard from my ex-coworker Suma and we caught up chatting on the phone! Very nice to hear from her.

Interviews, Articles, Mentions:

• I used an online fan/blogging name instead of my real name here, but I got to be in this Gem Choir accompanying "Love Like You" on aivi & surasshu's charity stream.

Health Plan Update:

• Weight stuff: I think my stats were the same as last week but didn't skew high for as many days? I dunno. High weight: 123.1 Low weight: 121.5.
  
• Nutrition stuff: I haven't honestly been paying much attention to my stats lately and have been eating a lot of the same foods. Usually I use choices I've made earlier in the day to help balance out daily intakes by the end of the day, but this week most days I just didn't do it. Every day except one ended up a little on the high-fat side, but at least I'm doing okay on protein. Still consistently taking the vitamins.
  
• Activity stuff: I met my walking goal every day this week. My low day was Friday at 10,014 steps, and my high day was Sunday at 16,610 steps.

Books Read: 

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week.
  
  
• Currently Reading: Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown. I'm on page 180.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Always Something There to Remind Me" by Naked Eyes.

Stuff drawn:

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0944 "Right For You." 

Videos Made:

Not-So-Giant Women Episode 61 is out. Join Daria and Ivy as they watch and talk about "We Need to Talk" and cover such topics as what Rose meant when she said she's not a real person, a first examination of Rose's flaws, Garnet's bro moments with Greg, Pearl's jealousy, Rose's method of loving others, the mic drop, whether Amethyst or Garnet has ever fused with Rose, what we think of Rainbow Quartz and what she might have been thinking about her own motivation, what Connie's parents might think of their daughter's fusion, to what extent Steven "is" his mom, censorship on the episode, and Garnet's savvy advice.

New photos:

None.

Social Media Counts: 

YouTube subscribers: 5,435 for swankivy (no change), 680 for JulieSondra (no change), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 175 for Not-So-Giant Women (4 new), 71 for Tides of Time Band (1 new). Twitter followers: 868 for swankivy (lost 1), 3,860 for JulieSondra (12 new). Facebook: 296 friends for swankivy (1 new, added new Steven Universe friend Tanner), 643 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 82 followers for Negative One (no change), 240 likes for So You Write (lost 1), 95 followers for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,438 (lost 1). Instagram followers: 257 (lost 1).

Personal Digest Saturday: June 3 – June 9

Life news this week:

• Saturday I went to Sarasota with Jeaux and met up with my dad, Connie, and their friend Jimmy to see Man of La Mancha. Great performance and it was neat to compare it to what I remembered from other versions I've seen. We ate at Spice Station afterwards (I had tofu pad thai). Jeaux and I went back to Tampa and I took a nap, and then got up just in time to do my walking and my blogging, then spent some time on Reddit.
  
  
• Sunday, as usual, involved trash and laundry chores. Did some Polos and spent most of the day on processing the next video for Not-So-Giant Women. Did my karaoke too and took a lot of naps.
  
  
• Monday I went back to work. Just dealt with timesheets and a letter to edit. Also did an outline for a project. Had an argument on Reddit with an extremely disingenuous person I ended up blocking. Practiced ukulele and played games with friends. Did some walking and reading.
  
  
• Tuesday I had to throw together teaming requests and info research. Practiced uke after work and then went to the Trans Town Hall at the MCC. Jeaux met me there and we got to watch an excellent explanation of laws that affect trans people in Florida and what action is being taken. They also had some yummy treats for us. Afterwards, Jeaux and I talked about the event while getting Five Guys food. We took a walk and after he left I went to bed early.
  
  
• Wednesday I had to work on teaming arrangements, a proposal, and some data entry. After work Jeaux and I shopped, got Moe's food, and watched a little bit of The Dragon Prince. We took a walk and after he left I answered some e-mail.
  
  
• Thursday was mostly organizing and teaming stuff. Did some ukulele practice and wrote Negative One and worked on it a bit. Worked on my photos page. Followed the indictment news.
  
  
• Friday just involved follow-ups to teaming partners, wrapping up a proposal submission, and reports. Got my comic done early and did some walking and Polo-ing. Practiced ukulele and consumed news.

New Reviews:

• Amanda gave The Invisible Orientation a three-star review on Goodreads.
  
• Seolhe gave The Invisible Orientation an unrated review on Goodreads, unrated because they did not want to finish it due to being too much of an introductory book.
  
• Capercaillie gave The Invisible Orientation a three-star review on Goodreads.

Health Plan Update:

• Weight stuff: I had quite a few surprise meals and other strange occurrences with food, but I was still surprised by how high my high was! We'll see what happens. I still intend to work on seeing this number go down a bit. High weight: 123.1 Low weight: 121.5.
  
• Nutrition stuff: I had a not-too-bad nutrition week but except for the restaurant meals, I had a lot of the same stuff over and over. We all have weeks like this. Still consistently taking the vitamins.
  
• Activity stuff: I met my walking goal every day this week. My low day was Saturday at 10,024 steps, and my high day was Wednesday at 11,387 steps.

Books Read: 

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week.
  
  
• Currently Reading: Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown. I'm on page 158.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "When You're Strange" by the Doors.

Stuff drawn:

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0943 "Your Own Choices." 

Videos Made:

Not-So-Giant Women Episode 60 is out. Join Daria and Ivy as they watch and talk about "Keeping It Together" and cover such topics as the horrific Fusion experiments, Garnet's reactions, Peridot's status as a villain, whether this is the most Garnet has ever spoken in an episode, Steven's concern and curiosity about Ruby and Sapphire, the terrible experience the forced Fusions must be having, Ruby and Sapphire's traumatic conversation, the physical acting of the characters, the nuanced discussion of consent and the importance of broad metaphors, whether Gem shards are conscious, indicators of time passing in the show, Peridot's insult "clod," and Homeworld's position on the Crystal Gems.

New photos:

Food at Trans Town Hall

Trans Town Hall

MCC Sign - "Say GAY!"

Social Media Counts: 

YouTube subscribers: 5,435 for swankivy (3 new), 680 for JulieSondra (1 new), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 171 for Not-So-Giant Women (lost 1), 70 for Tides of Time Band (lost 1). Twitter followers: 869 for swankivy (no change), 3,848 for JulieSondra (2 new). Facebook: 295 friends for swankivy (no change), 643 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 82 followers for Negative One (no change), 241 likes for So You Write (no change), 95 followers for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,439 (no change). Instagram followers: 258 (no change).

Personal Digest Saturday: May 27 – June 2

Life news this week:

• Saturday I got some nice sleep! It's good that some of my weekends have been restful lately. Spent the day updating my blog, taking walks while reading, talking on Reddit, reading through some more recent chapters of my in-progress book, and talking to Jeaux on the phone. I took some updated pictures of comics and practiced ukulele.
  
  
• Sunday I didn't have to take the trash out because Monday was a holiday and there would be no pickup. Worked on my book, did some reading, did laundry, took some photos of socks, took a nap, and made a karaoke recording.
  
  
• Monday I had the day off work. I slept late, made a video for my asexuality channel about a fellow who joked about "asexual reproduction" and then got really aggressive when I told him why the joke wasn't funny, planned and sketched my So You Write comic, practiced ukulele, played games online with my friends, and worked on Chapter 36 in my book.
  
  
• Tuesday was a pretty low-key first day back to work after a holiday and I only had one letter to read and get out. Just did some data entry and teaming arrangements otherwise. Took a nap, put away laundry while talking to my sister, talked to my lawn guy Tony, practiced ukulele, and made some pumpkin donuts.
  
  
• Wednesday I got up late and spent the day looking up research for upcoming projects. I finished drawing So You Write and posted it. Went to Vallarta's with Jeaux and talked with him a lot about music.
  
  
• Thursday brought the first of June. Happy Pride month! I outlined a proposal at work and did some crash analysis, and then a little more project research. After work, wrote a storyboard, texted with Yasmin and Ben, made a Polo for my sister, and took some photos of shirts. Updated my online collections where applicable.
  
  
• Friday there was an internet outage at work that delayed me by about an hour. Then I got to do timesheets and reports. Had an annoying argument online where someone kept being super petty about something I debunked, demanding I go into details while insinuating that I wouldn't have any, and when I dumped what they asked for all over them, they blocked me. Ah, internet. After a nap, I drew my comic and posted it, posted some silly collection pictures, and finished my walking.

Interviews, Articles, Mentions:

• The Washington Post shared "Let's talk about sex — and about asexuality, too," crediting my book with inspiring more books in the digital age.

New Reviews:

• Heidi gave The Invisible Orientation a four-star review on Goodreads.
  
• Arayr gave The Invisible Orientation a two-star review on Goodreads (in French). Mainly the low review seems to be because the person would have preferred a book with personal perspectives for people who already know they're asexual instead of what the book was.

Health Plan Update:

• Weight stuff: Had some kind of disordered eating this week--got busy with things and didn't eat, then ate really late and overcompensated. It probably wasn't very helpful for my goals. My high is higher and my low is lower than last week. Weird. High weight: 122.0 Low weight: 119.5.
  
• Nutrition stuff: Too much salt, not enough protein this week, and not enough consistently eaten vegetables. We all have weeks like this. Still consistently taking the vitamins.
  
• Activity stuff: I met my walking goal every day this week. My low day was Monday at 10,024 steps, and my high day was Saturday at 12,749 steps.

Books Read: 

• Finished Reading: Nothing this week.
  
  
• Currently Reading: Refusing Compulsory Sexuality by Sherronda J. Brown. I'm on page 123.

New singing performances:

This week's karaoke song is "Russians" by Sting.

Stuff drawn:

Webcomic So You Write Issue 144 "Flowing." 

Webcomic Negative One Issue 0942 "Personal Experience." 

Videos Made:

Letters to an Asexual #103 is out. This video features a man who claimed "asexual" is only for reproduction and explained what terms he believed we should use instead, to avoid confusion. When I responded comprehensively about why that isn't appropriate, he told me I was rude and also that I must have been homeschooled, didn't have cable TV growing up, and live with my mother. (???)

New photos:

Pumpkin donuts

Social Media Counts: 

YouTube subscribers: 5,432 for swankivy (1 new), 679 for JulieSondra (1 new), 17 for v & V Vids (no change), 171 for Not-So-Giant Women (lost 1), 71 for Tides of Time Band (no change). Twitter followers: 869 for swankivy (1 new), 3,846 for JulieSondra (2 new). Facebook: 295 friends for swankivy (no change), 643 likes for JulieSondra (no change), 82 followers for Negative One (no change), 241 likes for So You Write (no change), 95 followers for Not-So-Giant-Women (no change). Tumblr followers: 2,439 (1 new). Instagram followers: 258 (2 new).