1) Busy body
It’s been a busy week for me. Let’s review:
- Monday: A friend and I met up for a book talk downtown with Lisa Unger
- Tuesday: Pizza and podcasting with Bri (we recorded two episodes! On a weeknight!)
- Wednesday: Trivia night with mom
My weekend is going to be equally busy, so I’m seeing all of my napping hours slip away. Wahhh!
Not to mention, I started my period on Monday, so I’ve been in a bit of a hormonal state and dealing with terrible cramps. And it’s been a very meeting-heavy week at work, so I’ve been so busy during the day that I can’t find time for any of my hobbies. I didn’t even open my laptop for two days, so I am insanely behind on reading and commenting on blogs.
Thankfully, next week is a three-day workweek for me, since I gave myself a four-day weekend. I have no real plans for this long weekend, aside from a scheduled massage. I was hoping to spend some time at the pool, but the highs are in the low 70s. I can probably sit by the pool, but the water may still be too cold to enjoy. Oh, well. This time off will allow me to relax and get some stuff done around the apartment, at least!
2) Tax SZN
I did my taxes. I have been putting it off, even though I had all the documents I needed, because I just didn’t want to see the damage. I used to get a nice lil refund check from the government, but then I started making an actual livable wage, and for the past two years, I’ve owed money. I also got a bonus in 2025, and I was concerned that it was going to affect my tax return. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I am getting a refund this year! Once I paid all the appropriate fees to TurboTax, it only wound up being $80, but hey, money is money. And I will not complain about that!
3) No news isn’t always good news
There’s not much to report about my PsA progress, or lack thereof. Yesterday, I started my fourth week of methotrexate, and this could be the week I start seeing some symptom improvement… or it could take another month. I’m still dealing with a swollen ring finger and left shoulder pain. My hips are also a bit stiff every morning, but that gradually gets better as the day goes on. And every now and then, I’ll wake up with a random joint flaring. One day, it was the side of my left knee, the other day, it was my right elbow. Sometimes, both shoulder joints are so stiff and painful that I have to wait to take a shower because there’s just no way I can lift my arms high enough to wash my hair.
I’m still on prednisone and haven’t even thought about the tapering process. (My rheum said I could start tapering if I was feeling good enough, but nope!) I’ve been on prednisone for six weeks now, but thankfully, the dose I’m on does keep the more miserable PsA symptoms away.
I’ll get bloodwork next week to see how my inflammation markers are looking, and then I have a rheumatology follow-up the following week!
4) Canceled plans
My mom and I have decided to postpone our trip to Boston (we planned to go at the end of March). Instead, we’re going to plan an epic New England road trip in the fall. !!! We’ll get to enjoy all the fall foliage and check off a bunch of states we’ve never visited. The loose itinerary I have in my head is flying into Boston and spending a few days in the city, then road tripping through New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, before driving back to Boston to come home. I am so ready to plan an incredible itinerary for this trip!
5) Weekend plans
It’s going to be a busy weekend, on top of my busy week. Ahhh! Today, I have a colleague’s going-away party and dinner with my mom. Tomorrow, my mom and I will take the dogs to get baths, have lunch while they get pampered, and then drive over to Dunedin to visit our favorite ice cream shop that serves dog-friendly ice cream! (It’s Chip’s birthday on Monday, and one of our traditions is taking the dogs to get ice cream on their birthday weekend!) There’s a really cute, tiny bookstore nearby, so we’ll see if I can sneak away for a few minutes (or 30) to peruse the shelves. And Sunday will be a low-key day, as my only plan is my writing date with Mikaela. The goal is to finish up the character study for one of my main characters!
What are your weekend plans? Have you done your taxes?
Hi friend! TWO episodes?!? That’s awesome. Looking forward to listening to them soon.
Taxes… we use turbo tax as well and Tony does it. We owed money for the past… three years? Now this year we increased our withholdings hoping that THIS year we’ll get a refund. I doubt it :/
My weekend plans. Tomorrow, gym (albeit it will be second day of my period so will tread lightly), kids have gymnastics. Maybe go for a swim in the afternoon?…
Sunday is exciting: Brooklyn Children’s museum with an event from WNYC our classical radio station, where people can touch and try to play a variety of musical instruments. It will probably be an all day affair.
Oh darn, I’m sorry to hear about all the pain flare-ups. It probably was a good idea to postpone your trip. Hopefully by fall you’ll have all the meds figured out and feel better, plus autumn leaves!! It sounds amazing!
Wow you have been busy!!! That’s a lot of plans, girl, I am getting a bit tired on your behalf!
ROAD TRIP!!! I do love a road trip. That sounds like it will be very fun for you and you’ll be able to see all the pretty fall colours.
Ugh on the pain front. I hope that this is the week you see improvement!
I have not done my taxes yet, but will very soon! We are teaching Jake how to do his (Mark is in his third year accounting degree, and he is in tax class, so I’m sure he can figure it out) (plus those tax programs are very simple to use!)
Congratulations on getting your taxes done. That’s actually pretty remarkable to get your deductions that close to actual taxes. I have a goal to finish mine by April 1st.
Enjoy your busy weekend. Ice cream with the dogs sounds fun.
GAH! A New England road trip in the fall sounds amazing. You will love that (with your mom!!!) Obviously you will have to take lots of photos for your poor, deprived Floridian friends back home.
Our taxes are usually a mess, but this year I think we’ll be saved-ironically- by the “Big Beautiful Bill.” I’ve been paying taxes on my tips, but I should get that money back. Um… hooray?
Your weekend sounds busy, but fun. Happy birthday to Chip!
Um, holy moly, that IS a busy week (and weekend)! You are doing all the things! I love that you and your mom have pivoted to an epic autumnal adventure. Sounds fabulous. I have never been to New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine and very much want to go!
This weekend is going to be busy but in a housework kind of way. Yuck. So much laundry and cleaning to do.
I am sorry to hear you aren’t seeing any improvement on MTX. I won’t be surprised if you end up on a biologic like Enbrel. That does mean weekly shots but it’s worth it to have your disease well managed! I am glad you have an appt soonish!
I think fall is a better time to visit Boston. March can be quite cold and it could snow which would not be fun! Fall is lovely and pretty! And the weather should be pretty nice!
You do have a full weekend! We had a fairly full weekend but we are getting a big snow storm potentially. We might get over 12” of snow. I am hoping it’s not as bad as forecasted. It will melt fast but heavy snow storms are such a hassle.
Lunch, dog pampering, ice cream and a book store sounds like a perfect day! I hope you enjoy it.
I have to work Sunday. I’m not sure how late I’m going to stay because it is the Oscar night. I haven’t seen any of the movies nominated for Best picture, but KPop Demon Hunters is up for two nominations and seeing Asian people get awards and recognition always makes me super thrilled – so I might skip out of work early and watch the ceremony.
I am glad you had a short work week planned after all that! I hope you relaxed 🙂
Yay for your taxes not being ridic!!!!! (We have done our taxes. It was bad.)
I hope you started seeing symptom improvement!!!!
I hope that you and your rheumatologist can figure out what med(s) will give you sustained and substantial relief. Living with pain sucks, particularly when it’s unpredictable. Sending positive thoughts your way, always. <3