5/4/26

 This morning I woke up with a migraine. It made my stomach feel nauseous. This happens when I don’t drink enough but could also be a combination of allergies too.. So I pushed the fluids, added electrolytes and began dreading SSA meeting.

Ethan and I had a conversation about him feeling like he is being kicked down. He is frustrated. I don’t blame him.

He went off to work with his head hung low. When he got to work, he started venting via text. He said he is tired of dealing with disappointment after disappointment and feels like he has lost his ability to feel joy. Ugh! I hated reading that.

I reassured him that we weren’t going to let him fall and would be close by in the event he needed help. We were trying to set him up for success.

I vented to Sarah that I wasn’t feeling well, Ethan was down in the dumps and it was a crappy way to start a Monday. Bah humbug!

She then shared her Monday started with catching herself on FIRE! As a good friend would do, I laughed out loud. Geez! It reframed everything. I stated the things going wrong and added BUT…..I didn’t catch myself on fire! Perspective was exactly what I needed in that moment. Luckily she didn’t get burned. Her hoodie sleeve volunteered as tribute.

I got the call and had the guy hold while I patched Ethan in. Man I love that feature. I also opened a word document on my computer and put it on dictate so it would type up everything discussed in the call. Why haven’t I been doing this all along?

I ran it through AI to have it more organized with bullet points. I totally would have used this in high school if it were available.

The outcome of the meeting was that they would mail us a decision within the next 30 days. We then can appeal it two more times….with the same information…which made no sense to me….whatever!

I pretty much told Ethan I felt the vibe was he was going to have to pay it back and to prepare mentally for that. 

He was frustrated but handled himself very well on the call.

I worked outside today and gave the dogs some enrichment. They were smelling things, peeling on things and laying in the sun. Moe was in his glory. 

The spot I put his tie up outside is finally dry enough to leave him tied out. Yay! I also found these rawhides that last him about an hour. He laid in the sun happily enjoying life. This is why I work.

When Ethan got home, I expected him to be cranky. I was pleasantly surprised that he wasn’t. I think the weather helped with that. Who could be cranky with the beautiful sunshine and slight wind blowing all the flower smells around DRYING THINGS in the yard.

He went in the garage and the next thing I knew, he had his large “Renesis Rail” vehicle that he has created, welded and designed. I saw him working on it and he pulled it into the driveway. 

I walked over and he had the front of it up on a jack because a screw was not cooperating. He was replacing it. 

“This thing is a beast!” I said to him.

“It is nice to see you flipping off the SSA call from this morning. You aren’t letting them steal your joy.” I continued.

“Yes! I decided that I was going to do something I enjoyed today.” 

This is such growth. He worked through his frustration and has settled on acceptance. I was so proud of him.

Through the evening I was buzzing around getting our camper ready for Memorial Day, situating things in our basement, cleaning up the kitchen. Dishes (I hate doing the dishes!).

I trimmed Moe’s toe nails and made him run around on the driveway chasing treats to file his nails. The other 3 let me use a dremel. Moe has to be difficult.

I organized some of the things I am taking on my trip. It’s getting close. I am in my travel era!

With the weather so nice, the temperature warm, and getting over my migraine, it turned out to be a pretty nice day…..and to top it off….I don’t catch fire. 🔥 #winning

May the 4 th be with you! - never gets old!