lose to gain

My recent disappearing act was the result of an accumulation of many small mistakes, mostly due in part by my lack of care, lapse in judgment or simply fate. But according to my mom's fortune teller, they're all supposed to happen, just be glad it wasn't worse. Whatever the cause, I am glad to slowly regain my strength and sound of mind, because changes are coming, and they're coming on strong.

About two Fridays ago, after picking up M from the airport and getting the rental back to the city, we met up with the rest of my friends for a movie. We parked in the parking lot of the theater and moved our valuables to the trunk (which to many, is a pretty safe way to deter theft). But to our detriment, we hadn't noticed our laptop bags were stolen until we had arrived home. Suffice to say, we both lost our laptops, and all the other tech/gadgets in our laptop bags. Whoever stole them hit the jackpot, because after we tallied up our loss, total was worth more than five thousand dollars. After much grief and moping around, we filed the proper reports, called the proper authorities and mustered up some will to just keep moving on from that.

Never in my life have I lost so much in material value in one shot before. It took some time to shake off the shock I was in. Not that I wasn't upset about the amount of money I had lost because of it, but I was even MORE upset that I had lost my backup drive, which stored in it was all the work I've been saving from freelance gigs, personal work, resources, ideas, inspirations, and many of my photo/video backups. Poof, gone just like that.

To protect ourselves from identity theft, we made the arrangements to keep our credit safe with some credit protection agencies, changed passwords, and switched handles around. Just. In. Case. And so that I don't lose my clients, I've requested extensions to the jobs with deadlines still pending. So when I get paid for these jobs, at least I can pay for the new tech I have to replace... like this new laptop I'm typing on.

All the while, the past two weeks or so I've been battling with the most insane allergies I have ever endured. I am also positively sure that somewhere along the lines of allergies, I caught a bug that manifested itself into a sinus infection. Lacking adequate knowledge of such conditions, I've began a loosely armed war again what I thought was mere seasonal allergy attack, when quite possibly it was an onslaught of a head-cold, sinus infection, and the said allergies. I took various drugs to no avail, allergy medication, cold medication, specifically targeted medicines for whatever parts that cause me grief. Then one night, I hit a peak of infection and got a fever. Ah ha, finally something I'm familiar with. I took the proper meds and hit the sack for a night of full-on sweat session. I grew up learning that whenever I have a fever, with the right medication, one sure-fire way to feel better is to sweat it all out under a ton of blankets and plenty of water (to counter the dehydration). Lo and behold, the next morning, I began my way to recovery. Though the recovery has been slow, I am finally beginning to feel better. I still have the occasional night cough and morning loogies, but otherwise full strength gained. Now enabled with new laptop with top of the line apps to get work going again, healthy regained, prospective jobs upcoming, I am starting to feel a lot better.

As for the changes that are ahead, M finally got a job offer he had been waiting for, and glad we are to have waited. He'll be transferred back up to the Bay Area, most likely San Jose, with a pay cut, one he's happy to take because at last he'll be back up here. And as for me, I will be moving in with him. It's a big step, one that took me awhile to arrive at, but am confident to take. I know the logic behind moving away form the city in which I work to another city just to be with the boyfriend, but logic never was my ally much of my life anyhow. I will commute to San Francisco from San Jose, I'll be close to a Caltrain station so I can easily stay mobile. And if all goes well and as planned, I may even consider buy a car to make my California life complete.

There are many benefits to moving in with M. Most of which we both agree will make our lives better. A main component to it were the amount of money we'll save, the ease of living, and quality of life we will improve upon. This will effectively be the first time I ever live with someone I am dating, but since we have discussed this at length, I see it wise to finally take this step.

So what did the fortune teller say exactly? That I turn thirty this year (in Chinese astrology, first year of birth is counted as one), which will affect my luck for the next few years. But before my luck turns better, it has to turn for the worse. I was to lose a lot of wealth, face painful health issues, and endure shit-talk, gossip, from others. I am to work hard, but be wary of health and fitness, and for the rest of the year joy will be plentiful.

Whether or not I should believe, I know honest hard work always brought me results. I know karma will work her cosmic ways and the thieves and shit-talkers will get theirs.