a few random updates

[mellowtigger]

In happy news, my Venus flytrap is putting on new leaves since I switched to distilled water, and those leaves are all green. All of the older leaves are black, and I already trimmed away several of the black stems too. The large leaf I used for the box elder bug stayed healthy the longest. Its stem is still green, at least.  You can see it in the background on the far right, still bulging slightly.

I got my first dose yesterday of the Jynneos vaccine against monkeypox. I don't know why the name is usually in all capital letters. It's a trademark name, not an acronym. I go back in 4 weeks for the 2nd and final dose. The free clinic sets up in the community room of the local Cub grocery store. There are 8 differently qualifying criteria for the free healthcare. I especially liked item #4 (of 8): "Are you experiencing homelessness and/or have you been in contact with the justice system?" I don't know how I managed to avoid Covid during my 1.5 days in jail, but I'm very glad they allow for this condition for some free community care. I also qualified on another point, just for being gay.

I don't know what this squirrel thought they would uncover, but I watched them outside my house for a minute or two, digging fruitlessly in the snow.


I woke up a few days ago to Hope sitting on my chest. She doesn't usually hang out there for long, and this is the first time I've found her there while I was sleeping.  I managed to not disturb her much while I reached for my smartphone to take this picture.

And, finally, the continuing jobhunt.  It's been a few weeks since I found a job listing for something that I really wanted.  One site never responded to either my job application or my followup contact about 2 weeks later.  The news is noticing that fewer remote jobs are available now.  I may eventually have to take something less than ideal (but still remote)... otherwise I'll resume preparations for selling the house and returning to school up north.  I've got many months of wait time still available to me in bank savings.