Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 2015 edition....

So, with 2016 now upon us, it's time for my to reflect over the past 12 months and give my Top Ten List Of Important Events In Polt's 2015! (or something like that...)

10. The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Everything that Marvel touch seems to turn to gold.  The Avengers 2, Ant-Man, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Daredevil, even the depressing but amazingly good Jessica Jones, all of it was unbelievably entertaining, fun, interesting and coherent.  In short, everything that DC's attempts at this are not going to be.

9. Sebastian

He's a 2008 vehicle that I've had since 2010.  He's been a good little car.  This year, however, I had to spend over $700 to get something fixed with the gas tank over the summer and then over $200 in November to get the rotors fixed.  That's $1000 (or so).  But, when you consider, other than normal maintenance and upkeep, I've not really put any money into him prior to this year, that's not too bad.  I really can't afford a car payment each month again, so I hope he keeps chugging away all through the new year.  And with only 88000 miles on him, he should.

8. Investing

So this year, I finally broke down and went to a retirement planner/investment specialist.  After two meetings with him, I gave him some money, set it up so they'd automatically take a certain amount out each week, and set myself up in a mutual fund.  I think I used all those terms correctly, I know as much about investing as I do about quantum physics.  But Ryan knew what he what he was talking about and when it explained it all to me, all the options made sense (at that time).  So I chose what was best for me.  And so, I guess I'm now an adult....

7. Gay Marriage

Even though I doubt it's ever gonna be in the cards for me personally, I'm glad I could finally get married to someone I love anywhere in the USA we'd choose to live.  It happened much MUCH faster than I expected (I can still remember gay marriage being used as a wedge issue by Bushie in the 2004 election).  My how things changed, in society and in politics.  But I'm glad it happened in my lifetime, as I thought it never would.  Eventually, yes, but not so I'd be around to see it.  Now we just have to make sure we get to keep it!

6. Rutter's Coffee

I don't generally like coffee, never have.  I always had a little cup of it at work, though it wake me up.  Well early in the year, I gave the Rutter's Coffee, with some French Vanilla Delight added, a try and fell in love!  I have a cup every morning on my way to work and drink the 24 ounces there.  I've even had it some morning when I don't go to work.  I actually enjoy the taste of it, although I honestly think that's the French Vanilla.  But anyway, as an added plus, since I scan my Rutter's card every time, I get 1 cent off a gallon of gas with each cup.  Over a month's time, that's like 16 cents!  So it's a win-win!

5. Mom's moving

I'm honestly not surprised this isn't higher on the list.  Last year this time, I expected that, with her no longer living at the house, I'd miss it, especially over the holidays, and not being able to just pop over to visit, and not being able to go into the house I grew up in.  But, honestly, I've had very little to no issues with it.  Oh the move itself, and the days leading up to it, were stressful, but that's because ANY move, just by the sheer act of moving, is stressful.   But she's settled in out in her cottage and she's happy there.  And I'm glad she's happy, and in a place where she wont have to mow grass, or shovel snow, or have any reason to climb on the roof!

4. Blu-ray and Netflix Streaming

So, with the blu-ray and Netflix Streaming I got very late last year (thanks again, A Local Celebrity, Mr. David ParisPeking), I have enjoyed SO much stuff on my TV!  There was: The Avengers' Cartoon series; several documentaries (including Ken Burn's baseball, which was AMAZING!); the entire Star Trek: Enterprise series, which was not as bad as I had originally thought (not good, just not as bad); All of the In-Betweeners (hilarious British sitcom); many Doctor Who episodes from before the reboot ten years back, at least one with every previous Doctor!; the aforementioned Daredevil and Jessica Jones, both just fantastically done; Star Trek: The Animated Series, from the early 70s; I rewatched all the NEW Doctor Who series, of the 9th and 10th Doctors; Bob's Burgers, all the seasons, and laughed my ass off throughout; and the incredible House of Cards!  And that doesn't even factor in all the movies I've watched that way!

3. Anxiety in May

Back in May, for most of the month, I was wracked with anxiety again.  Mostly due to stupid decisions on my part, but not all of it.  And certainly, the anxiety was WAY out of proportion to what was causing it.  But that was how it was a few years ago: I was anxious in huge amounts in relation to the small things that was causing it.  And it happened again.  Luckily, as time passed, the anxiety diminished and eventually went away.  On it's own.  Without having to resort to those meds I had taken before.

2. Tooth problems

Back at the end of March, I had an abscess in a tooth in my upper right jaw.  The dentist gave me an anti-biotic, I took it, it went away, all was good with the world.  Until August 15th (coincidentally, the same day mom was moving).  Then, I got a similar pain in a tooth almost directly under the other one.  And from this point, it ALL went crazy.  The abscess grew, I was on three subsequently more powerful anti-biotics, none of which did anything at all.  The dentist had to drill through the crown over the abscess to drain all the pus out, and he left the hole there to help it drain.  And while draining, it tasted just as great as it sounds.  Eventually, I felt the abscess bulge getting smaller and the drainage stopped, and the abscess was gone.  So the dentist plugged the hole with something....which lasted about a week till it fell out leaving the hole open again. I didn't eat on that side because I didn't want to risk getting food down in there.  And eventually, I just figured, let's just get that damn tooth pulled (even though I had just had a crown put on it last September).  And so, on November 13th, he yanked the tooth outta my head.  In just the last few weeks, I've finally been able to begin to eat on the right side of my mouth.....four months after all this crap started.  Man, I HATE tooth pain!

1. Home stress

Starting in the autumn, there's be some stress here around at home.  It's not caused by me, but once again, my anxiety and stress reactions are WAY out of proportion to what the issues are.  But knowing that doesn't help.  I have problems controlling it.  It's affected my sleep, at times.  It's affected my appetite.  It's affected my stomach and bowels, leading to stomach pains and...well, pooping issues.  And just feeling trapped here at home.    I dont really know how to make this stop, although, honestly, I think over time it'll end, like back in May.    I just hope it happens soon.

And so that's been the high (and low) lights of my year.  It's unfortunate that the top three are all negative things, but well, what can ya do?  Other than hope that this year is much better than the last year!

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 359)...

Chapter 12, Page 24...

So Thursday, Christmas Eve, I had to work.  Which is not a problem because at work, the holidays are laid back without too many new clients coming in or too may problems.  Usually.  This year, however, was NOT usual.  In any sense of the word.

It was freakin' crazy!  There was a total of eight new clients.  A few were acting a little strange, one was certainly certifiable.  Just crazy shit.  And I was supposed to leave work at two (since either the county government or the Big Boss gave civilians two hours off if they worked the last day before the holidays.  Which I did.)  And it repeatedly looked like that wasn't going to happen.  Although, thankfully, in the end, I left about 2:10 instead of 2:00.  No problems.

On the plus side, thanks to a co-workers reminding me the day before, I ordered pizzas and had them delivered for the staff at lunch Christmas Eve. (I've done this the last, 4 or 5 years.  It's a nice gift to them all, and they all appreciate it)  So at least we had pizza for lunch.

But, because of all the chaos earlier in the day, I ended up getting a nagging headache.  When I got home, I just hung out here on the couch doing nothing, other than a load of towels through the laundry.  I read some.  I was on the computer some.  I napped a bit.

I wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit.  I was still stressed about on going issues here at home.  It's crazy warm here, like 70 degrees, on Christmas Eve (but don't worry, Global warming is just a hoax, ask any Republican!), it certainly doesn't feel like Christmas.

But I knew "It's A Wonderful Life" was on this night.  So, I had a glass of beers, refilling it once, and I watched the movie.  That helped somewhat increase my festiveness.  And when it ended, I was ready for bed, going up, reading just a short bit and then going to sleep.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 318)...

Chapter 11, Page 13...

Friday, I got up and to work actually a little bit early.  Fridays are my one co-worker's day off, and the other was going to be late due to a Medical appointment.  SO I knew I'd be by myself at the beginning and I wanted to get a start on any work that needed done.

There were three new clients, which I took care of.  And then I set about getting through some other paperwork that needed done.  Anything, really, to keep me distracted.  See, as I may, or may not, have mentioned, I made the appointment with my dentist after work to get the nagging tooth pulled.

And I was stressed about it all freakin' day!  Naturally, I thought the worst was going to happen.  I knew the dentist, who is a GREAT dentist, would do a great job.  And I knew I'd have some good narcotics afterwards so I'd not feel any pain.  BUT, my concern was the actual process of ripping it outta my head: how much, even with novocaine and the dentist's awesomeness, it was gonna hurt.  Or, even it was numb, I'd still hear, and taste, and feel the pressure of the removal.

Oh GOD, the stress!

Stress that was WAY outta proportion to what I was stressing about.  Despite knowing I was over stressing about it, I couldn't stop stressing.  *SIGH*  That's the way it is.

Anyway, after work, I came home, again stressing all the way.  I got home, got the mail, brushed my teeth and gargled, and then, even though my appointment was at 5PM, and it was only 430-ish, I decided to just go over early and wait.  And so I did.

I got there, they talked to me, keeping me calm.  The dentist put the novocaine in and then we waited.  I was the last patient of the day, so the staff gathered in his office and was talking, but they were also 'checking in' in on me, I guess to make sure I was doing okay.  I was up pacing, though, was just too nervous to sit still.

When the time came, well they started working on it.  Put more novocaine in right around the tooth specifically and at the same time he said he was pulling the the flesh back from the tooth.  And then he took ahold of it with something (my eyes were closed) and the assistant said expect some pressure.  And despite all the novocaine and stuff, oh yeah, I felt it, for only like two seconds, but it was sharp pain.  Yeah, that wasn't pleasant, but then it was over.

I had told him before when the OTHER dentist (the one before him, the bad dentist) had pulled the other bottom tooth of mine, he had a HELL of a time.  I was in the chair for like a half hour.  And when it was out, he said the two front roots had grown together and that made it harder to get out.

I'm glad I told the current dentist this, because when it was out he asked if I wanted to see it.  Which I didn't really, but I said yes, and he showed it to me.  All I saw was a bloody tooth, but he said my roots HAD grown together, and that it was a big tooth, and if that's the case, you needed the special forcets like he had used, not the regular ones.  Okay, whatever, I was all sweaty and a bit pale and not feeling great after all this.  But at the same time, I was very relieved it was over.

So they told me some instructions, gave me some gauze and a prescription for Vicodins, and sent me on my way.  I got home by 5:10pm.  Mom stopped by as planned, took the script and went to get it filled.  She got back and I started taking them, also making sure to change the gauze every 20 minutes.  I kept changing it up until after 10 sometime, and then I didn't put any more gauze in.  I think it might have still been bleeding a bit, but not like it had been.

Mom and I went to the basement to get a few things she wanted.  And then I spent the remainder of the evening on the couch, watching "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", all three hours of it.  And then I watched an hour or two of the news coverage from the terrorist attacks in Paris.  Horrible.

During all of this, for over an hour, I was texting this guy named Diego.  I follow his blog and have for years.  And we've chatting via email, and then decided to exchange numbers and we texted.  He is a FASCINATING individual.  Been all over the world.  Went to school in Paris.  Has several degrees.  Works in NYC.  Just a real interesting fellow.  I'm looking forward to texting with him again soon.

Finally about 11:30, I went up to bed.  I wasn't trying to stay awake, but I wasn't really tired.  I read some, was on my phone some, and the next thing I knew, it was almost 4 in the morning!  Finally, then, I turned the light out and soon thereafter went to sleep.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 312)...

Chapter 11, Page 7...

Saturday, I got to work (dressed regularly in jeans and a short sleeve pullover shirt and NOT a tie and jacket like that week) and had a VERY light day.  I had two new clients to take care of, and then spent the day trying to catch up on paperwork and such.  Wasn't terribly successful, but got some done.

After work, I came home, putzed around on the computer, then watched the 4th Star Trek movie (the one with the whales) on cable.  Then it was time to rewatch last week's Doctor Who and then the new Doctor Who.  I kinda wanted to see Trump on Saturday Night Live, but it was only a little after ten, and I was yawning my ass off.  So I just turned every off and went up to bed.  I didn't even read much, just a little, and then turned out the light and went to sleep.  And thankfully, for the third evening in a row, there was no drama or stress here at home.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 310)...

Chapter 11, Page 5...

Thursday, I got to a lil bit early, and it was an okay day.  I was still pretty stressed thinking all about the stress here at home.  But I still managed to get some things done that needed to be done.

After work, I stopped by Wal-Mart to get some things, including some cards.  When I got home, I got the cards ready to mail, and then took a walk over to the Post Office to mail them.  On the way home, I stopped by Waynesburger and got a burger and chili.  I came home and ate them while on the computer and watching the football game pre-show.  I then watched a portion of the game.

The issues causing the stress were not in play this evening, so I had a VERY good evening.  And a little before 9, I turned everything off and went up to bed.  I read some and then turned out the light and went to sleep.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 309)...

Chapter 11, Page 4...

All day, at work, I was stressed, about the issues going on here at home.  Had issues focusing and not getting done the things I really should have, even though I DID get some stuff done.

After work, I had an initial appointment with my financial adviser.  First time I met with him, but it went well.  I was there about an hour and a half.  We went over a LOT of stuff.  He asked a lot of questions and explained a lot of options.  So we made a few decisions.  But we made an appointment for next Wednesday as well, to do a bit more.  And best of all?  He's kinda cute, easy to look at.  He's around 30, tallish, lean, cute face, I certainly didn't mind look at and listening to him.  But I had to play attention to what he was saying.  And I think I did well.

Afterwards, I went out the mom's and we chatted for nearly and hour.  Then I came home, and had to deal with some of that stress again, but it ended up being kinda humorous as well.  Still, very stressful.

Then, about 930, I went to bed, read some and then went to sleep.

POLT

Someone book me a room (Part 308)...

Chapter 11, Page 3...

I got up and to work with no problem, I even got there early.  That's cause of the time change.  I have no trouble getting up at 645 or 700am (which was 745 or 800am prior to the time change...and both of those times would have made me late).

Work was okay, nothing special, but I got some things done that I needed to get done.  After work, I came home.  I hung out here all night, watching some TV and dealing with a lot of stress from around here.  After a bit, I went up to bed, read some and then went to sleep.

POLT