Gencon, end of day 2...
It's been pretty much nonstop judging/coordinating for Living Force and RPGA. Still no badge -- they have had some problem with badges, and a number of us are still wandering around badgeless and forlorn. Had to borrow a badge to get into the dealer's room.

My badge problem is solved now, though... After I delivered all of the signs and props to HQ to store for the interactive (live action) Living Force tomorrow, I wandered off in search of a real meal. Along the way I ran into Ed Greenwood (he of Forgotten Realms and Elminster fame). I had gotten to know Ed when I was in London for the UK launch of Living Force a couple of years ago, and I stopped to hug, chat and engage in obligatory behind-groping (Ed is such a card). When I told him about my badge woes, he gave me a spare of his, autographed. So, for the rest of the con, I'm Ed Greenwood!

Good news on the financial front -- I called & heard back from the Trust, and they approved my entire request. The check is in the mail; now, if I just get it before the end of the month, I'm golden.

All in all, things could be worse...

End of a hectic week; but they're all hectic these days.

I'm faced with the impossible task of completely rewriting a scenario between now and Aug 1. This with Gencon in the way (23rd-27th gone, as well as prep for same, which will pretty much take up Monday and Tuesday nights. Ghaaa. And it's not like I'm anticipating much in the way of fun for me at Gencon -- I'm scheduled to work 10 of 14 slots, don't have enough volunteers and need to find a way to afford/have time for the props.

I remember when role playing games were a hobby for fun... I wonder if they ever will be again?

What was it the fellow in Shakespeare in Love kept saying? "Somehow, things always work out." My life over the past few years has been anything but "working out"... but I have to confess that the interactives somehow always do. Let's hope that the trend holds.

I still think the interview went well, but not welll enough it would seem. I didn't make the second round of interviews. But hey, at least this time I got an interview!

Onward... *sigh*

I think the interview with Ingham County went well. I felt I hit it off with the interviewer -- but I'm not sure I'm the person they need for the job. My skill base is somewhat broader, with less emphasis on pure hardware wonking, than they really need. Still... I suppose I might have a chance. I'm certainly a good candidate if they're looking for someone with growth potential. Hey, at least I got an interview -- they'd picked only 10 to interview. They'll be whittling that down to six by Wednesday afternoon for the 2nd round. I'll call then and see how I did.

Last week one of my neighbors, a very sweet lady, talked to me on behalf of the Pinecrest Condo board about my much-in-arrears (to the tune of $1,600 or so) association fees. She indicated that the rest of the board was just ready to haul me into small claims court, but that she'd asked to be able to talk to me first. *sigh* I sent in July's fees on Friday when I got paid (a day late, so there may be that pesky $25 late charge) at the cost of groceries for the next two weeks and more test strips ('cause I'm down to about 6 of those). Still... I hoped that it would at least hold them off till I hear back from the Trust. Lord knows when MSU will pay me for the work done in June (a month past, now).

Anyways... I dragged in yesterday's mail, and there was a card from this sweet lady -- containing a check. For no reason that I can think of other than that she's a wonderful human being, she's given me some money to help me out. I'm speechless... and touched to tears. How very, very kind...

Perhaps the world isn't quite as hopeless a place as I thought.

Fingers crossed -- I have an interview on Monday with Ingham County for a computer technician position. I'm not holding my breath, but an interview is further than I've gotten for some time! My wonderful next-door-neighbor Joan clued me into it.

Otherwise things continue the same. I faxed the Letter & documentation to The Trust, along with leaving a voicemail for the person who's reviewing the situation. I hope he calls back soon...

If all else fails, Food Stores plans to keep me till the end of September, so that's something, at least.

Feeling both a bit more chipper (thanks to an e-peptalk from Joanne) and more wracked (finally -- FINALLY -- wrote the Letter to the Trust... now I have to worry that they won't help me.) I was able to do the full workout at Curves on Tuesday without significant pain, and am anticipating the same today.

I think... maybe... I might be able to squeeze out the minimum to cover the delinquent taxes by the end of the month, providing SCJ finally gets around to their last payment. How I'll pay the income tax, though, I will have to worry about later.

*sigh*

We're into full summer in Michigan now. The day started out steamy, turned gorgeous at lunchtime, and now a thunderstorm has just passed through. I'm half expecting snow any minute.

The employment situation could be better, but it could also certainly be worse. I've been temping for MSU Food Stores since mid-June, and they seem to like me as much as I like them. Unfortunately that means I'm slacking on the jobhunting, since I'm happy here, filling in for vacations and doing various clerical type things.

Financially things are dire, and I need to push myself to get help from the trust (hemorrhaging money though it has for the last year) so that I can pay my property taxes and save my house. And pay my overdue medical bills. *sigh*

Diabetes and I seem to be doing okay. I've cut the carbohydrate content of my day to about 100 grams, and that, combined with regular visits to Curves, seem to be keeping my blood glucose down around 90-120, where it should be. Unless, of course, I succumb to the siren call of donuts in the break room, or ice cream...

I'm afraid, though, that my depression is creeping back. I'm under tremendous pressure to produce scenarios for the Living Force campaign, while a vocal minority of players scream and complain about their undelivered metagaming materials. Yestereve I was just so down I laid down for a "little nap" and woke 2 hours later. I then packed it in and crawled into bed to really sleep. When my alarm rang at 6:30 am, I couldn't believe it. How can I sleep so much and still be exhausted? Worse, I seem to be drizzling into tears at the slightest provocation.

Ah well... tomorrow's another day, and I was thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain...