I’m writing this the night before because I’m going to be on the road. Heading out on a trip that is much needed. I’m exhausted and in need of getting away before I start summer school in a week. So, what happened lately?
First, we’re about a week away from Do I Need to Use a Dragon? going live. I even heard that Amazon sent out an email announcing it was going to be released. Did a little spot editing over the last month to put my mind at ease, but I’m definitely still twitchy about it. Been a long time since I published and I’m starting on something that makes me feel fairly exposed as a person. Dreading any typos that managed to survive me, the beta readers, and my final reader. There’s always a few that appear to make me seem like a talentless hack.
Oh, for anyone wondering about the medication issue, I haven’t taken the blood pressure meds since last Thursday night. I had another bad reaction to what was still in my system on Friday and Saturday evening. Friday may have been worse than Thursday because I was sweating and shaking while trying to sleep. I’m starting to wonder if I’m one of those people who can’t handle medication that tampers with their systems. I’ve met others like that and they’re forced to go with natural remedies. Trying to figure out what I can take to lower my blood pressure and how I’m going to explain this to my doctor when I visit in a week. Wasn’t able to get in touch with her because of the chaos. Read something about beetroot though.
Let’s get to the good news . . . I do have some.
This was the final week of school, which hit hardest when it came to going to one of my student’s homes for a graduation party. This young man has been in the life skills program longer than I’ve worked with him. He’s the last of the group who was there when I first showed up and I’ve seen him grow so much. The party was fun and started making me realize that the inevitable was coming. Spent the rest of the week thinking I’ve seen him accomplish. His final day was rough too because it was like he abruptly realized what was happening and flat out refused. He didn’t want to go and we really wish we could keep him in the program. Still, nothing one could do. Roughest part for me was that I took bus matron duty on his last day, so I saw him off along with the Life Skills teacher for the last time. Probably going to be tearing up for a while whenever I run into something that reminds me of him like I did when I got McDonalds yesterday. (First thing I heard in Life Skills was this student shouting ‘McDonalds’ at the top of his lungs.)
Another graduate was my son who is going from 8th grade to 9th. Finally entering high school, which is going to go by far too fast. We’ve been having to make a lot of decisions about his schedule, which has been stressful. Discussions between various parties has not always been clear and polite. Still, the important part is that he graduated and got his certificate this week. Passed his ASL benchmark, so he can stay in that program. All of his grades were in the 90’s, so it looks like he pulled off being on the Honor Roll for 8 quarters in a row. That would be all of 7th and 8th grade. Not sure if we can accomplish that in high school because things are going to get tougher, but we’re going to try. Talking to him about doing a lot of clubs as well.
The celebration for my son’s graduation was simple. Ended up buying him a graduation teddy bear with a bead necklace while waiting to get in. His mother got the bear too, but it was a different color and she didn’t do the beads. This necklace is to be worn for middle school, high school, and college graduation to show how much he has grown. He likes the idea and has it hanging over his desk. The rest of the day was a lunch at Friendly’s and then a tour of his new school. It was my old high school, so I enjoyed seeing what had changed and what stayed the same.
Well, there was one more thing. I put Pokemon Go on his phone and created a monster who keeps having me take him to the park. Yesterday, we went out and it started raining, so we walked in the rain catching Pokemon. Thankfully, we were in an area with enough trains that we didn’t get soaked and could hide during the worst. Still, we need to make some weather rules for our outings. Doesn’t help that rain can bring out certain Pokemon, which might include Pikachu. He got his first one of those and a Snorlax, which was one of the two I asked him to catch. The other is a Charizard. He’s going to be driving me crazy with this game on our trip.
Nothing much to say about the coming week. Going to be on vacation for most of it and then I get a day with my son. He goes off with his mom after that and I take care of a few appointments. Since I start summer school on July 3rd, I won’t be doing more than relaxing and preparing for Do I Need to Use a Dragon? to release on the same day. I really hope that works out. I might start writing Darwin & the Beast Collector since the outline is done. Should contact my cover artist about that series, which I might do while resting on vacation. Need to send her the other link since the sales page looks share-worthy to me now.
Goals of the week:
- Enjoy my vacation.
- Spend time with son.
- Work on Phi Beta Files while resting.
- Read some manga.
- Start working on Darwin & the Beast Collector.
- Biking when I get back.
- Figure out what to take for blood pressure . . . Be nice if the causes of my high blood pressure would leave me alone too.
- Maybe watch the first part of ‘Witcher Season 3’ even though I have misgivings about its future. Depends on how I’m feeling.
Legends of Windemere 
Hope you can figure out an option that works for you to keep your blood pressure in a good range without having medication that causes you lots of issues.
Glad you had some things to celebrate with the graduations.
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I hope I find something too. Looking into if I have drug hypersensitivity. Might be why medications knock me for a loop so often.
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Certainly possible.
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The last day is hard, and weird. Our district got out at noon and then the rest of the day I didn’t know what to do with myself. Enjoy your vacation time!
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We got out around that time. Figured lunch and home were my only options. Just kind of in a daze for a while.
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You are a great Dad -you and your son have such fun together. More to come in the next four years. Do ask your MD about other medications. I had trouble with the first one they put me on for high BP – it made me cough continually. And I’ve had to monitor what I do take when I have a cold, the flu, on a diet, or stressed. I keep a pressure cuff handly. Enjoy you week away!
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Thanks. The problem with the blood pressure meds is that the other types have a higher chance of wiping me out. They have a higher risk of rebound if I stop too. I’ve been told that I need to give meds a month or so to get used to them. I don’t have that luxury. If I get battered by my meds, I still have to struggle through work and parenting. Too crippling and I could lose things.
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Yup, I have a friend in the same situation. All I can say is I hope your MD can find you an alternative!
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Fingers crossed. Although I don’t want to keep trying different drugs. I feel that could do more harm than good.
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I hope your trip is enjoyable and you come back refreshed.
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That’s the plan. Though they have really big mosquitoes here.
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Carry a ball bat.
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These might be strong enough to steal the bat and beat me.
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Ha ha ha
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Congrats on finishing the school year and for your son graduating middle school. Sorry to hear about the continued medication issues. When I was reading the Pokemon Go stuff (I’ve never played that game, just the original Red, Blue and Yellow ones), I did chuckle at the irony of finding a Charizard when it’s raining outside. I hope your vacation goes well.
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Thanks. Vacation is going well so far. Not close to any good Pokémon spots though. So, we’ll have to leave the house at some point.
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Sure thing. I’m glad vacation is going well. I hope the Pokémon Go stuff doesn’t drive you too crazy in trying to catch them all. Whenever I have kids of my own, I feel like when they get to be elementary school age, I’d feel compelled to say “When I was your age, we only had 151 Pokemon.” Hahaha! I’m sure you heard that one before online.
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I’ve said that line a few times. Pokémon Go isn’t too bad. We’re learning that restrictions were put in the game to make it unusable while driving.
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Nice! Haha! I remember how huge it was when it came out, and one could argue it made Pokemon relevant again when Go was released. The driving restrictions do make sense for road safety purposes even if it makes things inconvenient.
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Enjoy your time off. I say that tongue in cheek, because I’m always working on some project or other when I’m off. The trip sounds like fun.
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Thanks. Since I can’t bring my laptop, I really can’t do much. Brought a notebook, but don’t have the privacy I expected.
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Stepping away can be refreshing. Be present in the moment and the Muse could show up. Then you have your notebook.
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Can’t carry the notebook around lately. This R&R trip is getting busier than expected. Some people just need to schedule outings and be busy all day.
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Sounds like a great week, Charles. I know how you feel with that Life Skills student. It’s why we teach. Congratulations to your son. Enjoy your vacation, and I hope you get the meds worked out.
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Thanks. Vacation is coming to an end. The meds are going to be a big work in progress.
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Gotcha.
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