As the title says, it was a long, mostly disappointing, painful day. 

I developed a migraine on the way home from my parent's place last night, and, like normal, it was still there this morning.  What really sucked was that it was a nauseous migraine with related dizziness.  I called into work and said that I'd be about 15-20 minutes late coming in.  I generally walk to work and pass right by a pharmacy.  I wanted to wait until the pharmacy opened, so that I could pick up some Emetrol for the nausea on my way to work.  It's OTC, but works beautifully.  You can take up to 3 doses as an adult, if you have to.  I took 2 at work alone. 

I had an early shift on the desk today.  I worked it.  It sucked.  I took a rolling chair out to the desk with me in case I needed to sit down.  I had a teen craft program today.  No one showed up.  That sucked, too.  But, I managed to interest a few more teens in the library's teen advisory group (TAG), which it great, since our next meeting is in two days. 

I went home early because I was crashing and needed to lie down.  But, I found out I am getting a raise! 

All in all, as I said, it was a long, mostly disappointing, painful day, but it had some high points, and I did get a lot accomplished, considering the shape I was in.  Even my director noticed that my eyes were "like slits."  Well, duh!! I'm sitting at a desk across from a bank of windows looking out into sunshine, with a migraine.  Slits?? I would have been wearing my shades, if I could have. 

Another good thing, bad thing...my grandfather arrived safely in Maine at the family's cabin for vacation.  My mother, grandmother, sister and her boyfriend, and my aunt's family will be joining them over the course of the next two weeks.  I'm not going...but I've got a job that is paying me, and now paying me more, and will pay me to go next year.  I've never missed  year until now.  I went the first time as a 3 month old.  But, the job comes first. 

Okay, now I'm just babbling.  It's time to go to bed.  Goodnight and blessed be all.

My name is Cynthia. I have many nicknames. One of them is Pollyanna. I'm an eternal optimist. I can find a silver lining in almost any grey cloud.

I'm a degreed librarian in my late 20s working in a public library in rural, southwestern Michigan. I'm only been at my job for a limited time, and it's hard. I have no friends my age. I've made only one almost-friend in the time I've been there, beside my co-workers, and I've chosen not to pursue that kind of relationship with them. This one friend is about 60 years older than me. It's really quite sad.

I've always been extroverted, but it's mostly as a people-pleaser. I talk to gain approval from others. I know that about myself, but it's hard to stop myself sometimes. I have a hard time with impulse control anyway: talking, eating, lounging around - doing nothing. It's hard for me to self-start. It's something I've been working on as a self-improvement project for a long, long time.

It was drummed into me just how long this week. I had both my first, official review at the job, and my 10-year class reunion. There were aspects of myself that I dislike and had thought that I'd almost overcome. They were revisited at both. It was painful and embarassing.

But, I passed my first evaluation, which is good. That means that I can finally take that sick leave I've been accumulating all this time, if I have need of it. And, I got to reminise about the good time (along with the bad) with some old friends, who may become friends again.

It definitely made the point, though, that I need friends my own age, who I can talk about real stuff with. One reason I've chosen not to pursue a friend-type relationship (opposed to a friendly-acquaintance relationship) with my co-workers is that southwestern Michigan is *very* conservative. Between my community and the "rival" community about 10 minutes away, there are 52 churches. *Fifty-two!!* These people do not, and likely will not, know that I'm pagan. A couple are Mormon, and one is a bible-thumping, fasting weekly, raise-your-hands and cry "Jesus!" Christian. H-O-L-Y C-R-A-P!!

I found a Universalist Unitarian church in a larger community 35 minutes away, but at these gas prices, and me living paycheck-to-paycheck, I just can't justify it, especially when it doesn't get me any nearby "peeps."

So...that's why I'm doing this. If I can't have nearby "peeps," then I'll have virtual "peeps." I hope . Here's the absolute, real-deal low-down on Cynthia:

late-twenties, librarian, reader (romance, erotica, science fiction, fantasy, teen fiction, a little non-fiction biography-type), crafter (crochet, quilt, weaving a little), music lover (classical, country, world, instrumental), movie lover (comedy, drama, superhero), food and flavor lover (especially spicy stuff), belly dancer, reluctant exerciser and cleaner (in need of workout buddy). more to come as I think of it.

Well, it's late. I'm tired and sunburned, and am headed to bed. Maybe I'll find some groups to join tomorrow.

Goodnight to all who read this. May the God and Goddess bless and protect you, and safeguard the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and financial health and well-being of you and friends and family, and the friends and family of your friends and family.