My energy levels were still fairly lackluster and my knuckles were sore in a way I have never experienced. They were not achy, but sore like wounds. And the amount of muscle pain I had from 8 minutes of tai chi later in the week didn’t make sense. This heightened pain seemed to resolve with Liquid IV. Drinking plain water wasn’t keeping me properly hydrated.

Despite that, I made gradual progress on my condo declutter. I’ve gotten some furniture moved around and I’m slowly moving towards having a space for my workout equipment. Considering I was completely exhausted after a lunchtime outing to two stores on Wednesday, I think it will be awhile yet before I’m fully back to myself and able to work out regularly, but if I can keep making progress on getting the area ready, it’ll be there when I’m able to use it.

A weird thing I’ve noticed is that I often feel ravenous since beginning supplementation. Prior to vitamin issue being discovered, I was struggling to eat. I had no appetite. Now, the need to eat feels urgent. I guess my body is trying to get back to its normal. There are some people who get far lower than I did before it is discovered. Sometimes, this particular vitamin is sneaky and you won’t feel any symptoms until it’s very low. I’m glad that wasn’t the case with me because I already felt like I was hobbling towards death.

This week I decided Duolingo is only good for less serious language learning. Because they have restructured everything in recent years, it would take 23 years for me to learn French with them. Even if I had a paid account, their lessons are too often the same thing over and again. I don’t need that level of concentrated repetition. I’ve moved to Babbel for my serious language learning. I invested in a lifetime membership after having one French lesson because I could tell they actually want me to learn the language rather than keep me there forever. Ironically, that model will keep me there to learn other languages because they are actually giving me what I need to succeed. They put me at A2 level. Did I understand every word? No. But I could figure it out and easily check it. I was exposed to new words in real scenarios. It’s not gamified and I don’t want it to be anymore. It doesn’t punish me for making typos. It tells me, “small typo, no big deal.” I felt like I learned more in one lesson than I have in years on Duolingo. The only thing that I feel needs improvement are the speaking exercises. It seems to have difficulty hearing me properly or doesn’t give me enough time to say the words. I’ve mentioned it in a review, but I may try to submit feedback somewhere on that.

Also this week, I also got my computer desk cleaned up and reconnected all my hardware. I had been working from bed for a bit because I didn’t have the energy to get up and go to my desk when I was at the height of the vitamin issue. It feels good to have it in a better location. My living room has better flow now. When I can, I really need to look at my balcony door as there is a draught somewhere and I am rather stymied by it. I’m beginning to wonder if the issue maybe be behind the trim because I recall that when I moved in, they had replaced the balcony door and didn’t insulate or anything underneath. I came home to see that the frame was on shims, but open to the outside world. So it wouldn’t surprise me if there are other parts of it that weren’t fully insulated.

I booked four of the five Monday mornings that exist in March off. I had two days left of vacation and it felt like a nice way to use them up without hunting around the department for coverage. Mondays are my least favourite days of the week, so having less Monday is a solid plan. On the fifth Monday, choir begins for the spring session.

I finally made it out to the library to renew my account, update my contact information, and unexpectedly get a new card. I chose the cool new black design. I’m working my way through the music documentaries they have for now. I grabbed a beginner to intermediate bass course that I’m looking forward to getting into over the next couple of weeks.

On Thursday, I did a first tai chi exercise. It was only 8 minutes, but I think it really helped loosen my body after working from a desk all day. After that, I got some dinner into me and read while I awaited the return of PWHL. I wondered if Marie-Philip Poulin would be playing or taking a night off to help recover from the Olympics as I hadn’t seen anything about her status in the news or on social media and this kind of thing is usually everywhere. Perhaps it would be a game time decision. As I figured, Poulin would not play in the first game back. I think that was a wise decision. Erin Ambrose is out long term as well. The team came out on fire and scorched New York 4-1. I had some difficulty paying attention as I had scalded my left hand with pasta water. I truly could’ve done without that. Luckily, I had some first aid items in my car.

Post game, I organized my writing projects some. I realized that the second half of one book may not be as far off as I thought. It’s two drafts behind, but I thought it was far worse. On another book, I’m half way through the vomit (first) draft. And I have two screenplays I’ve barely begun. More than those, but there are two I’d like to focus my efforts on for this year. I think it’s time for a re-read of some screenwriting books.

I finished Twin Peaks this week. I may be branded as a goth heretic for saying it, but I don’t think The Return needed to exist. I enjoyed the first two seasons. The final one set 25 years later lost the charm the first had. I suppose it may be that I’ve just never really connected with Lynch’s work. I agree that he influenced a lot that came after, but I still don’t find much of his work gives me what I want from a film.

Friday was my monthly scriptwriting alumni chat. It went pretty well. We’re all at different stages in our projects with some on hold for life or industry reasons, so sometimes we just chat generally about films, the world, etcetera.

After the Charge loss on Saturday, I tried a Rolife kit. I hated every second of it. Warped parts, terrible glue, broken pieces, and poor instructions. I threw it out. Never again. I saved myself some future dusting. There are other art forms for me. I’ll leave miniatures to Bridget McCarthy and Nerdforge. I’ll stick to the ROKR kits in the future as well.

My gluten free noodles arrived a day early:

I capped this week off with a friend visit for dinner on Sunday. Excellent conversations were had and plans for future hangouts are in the works. After everything lately, it was just what I had sorely needed. It gets terribly lonely being single and living alone sometimes, so I’m so very thankful for the good people I keep in my life.

Catch you on the flip side,

Rae