Well the tree came down today and (most of) the decorations are packed away.  I've got a small Dickens Village to put away later this evening and I'm done.  I had the Yule Tree in front of my window and I can't believe how much it's coming down has opened up the space in the living room.  I've already noticed some of the oppressive darkness has lifted (prolly didn't notice it before because the tree was lit up constantly... it's only been the past week that I've kept it dark).  Anyway, I've placed some small houseplants in front of the window so they can take advantage of the light without blocking it from the rest of the room.  The rest of my plans include picking up and organizing the living- and bed- rooms, then actually cleaning and cleansing the space.

 I do have a question for anyone who may be listening.  Without going into too much detail (some things should just remain private) My partner & I have a neighbor who makes a lot of noise, banging doors and walking heavily up and down the stairs as he comes and goes.  For reasons that I'd rather not go into, I cannot confront him directly, nor can I involve the police or landlord with a nuisance complaint.  Nor will I stoop to petty gestures like leaving notes, slamming doors myself, pounding on walls, etc.  My most pressing need is to bring what peace I can into my building until I am in a position to move out, which is my ultimate plan.  I cannot take the jumping and/or cringing at every boom, slam and pound he makes.  I'm kinda thinking (hoping?) that once I get my space and affairs in order, the problem will either resolve itself or at least become more tolerable.  Any thoughts?

Greetings everyone,

Well, I'm in a pickle. I've recently (like, last Friday) lost my job and have been down in the dumps about it.  I've either been poo-pooing and feeling sorry for myself or ignoring the situation like it will magically disappear.

On the up side, I think that most of my problems are stemming from my rather stagnant and dismall home life.  Let's put if this way, my and my partner's place looks like a tornado swept through it and I've lost all caring about it.  I wanted to pick up and clean before I put up my Christmas tree and decorations (yes, I still call it Christmas--old habits die hard), But I merely picked up the area where I wanted the tree and left everything else.  The past week, however, I've been getting more and more fed up with the mess and have been cleaning.

I've started feeling a connection with Hestia, too, and I can feel her presence starting to seep into the apartment through cracks in the walls and around the door & windows.  I feel mildly compelled to erect an alter to her in either my kitchen or in the living room.  I don't actually have a hearth, but I have a potpourri burner in the shape of a miniature working teapot and wood stove (tealights only for heat).  I feel like she wants to come into my life and transform it, but she can't quite get past the mess yet.  So little by little, I pick up.  Hopefully soon, I'll actually clean (MOST of the dishes are now clean and put away).

Anyway, now that I've thoroughly depressed everyone, I can at least look on the bright side of life.  I still have my health and a warm place to live.  I've got food in my belly and a partner who loves (and only occasionally agrivates) me.  My kitty, who was sick two weeks ago, is on top of her game again and has her ravenous appetite back.  She's even feeling so well that she's begun challenging me for my spot on the couch every time I get up!  Once, I even sat on the floor and let her keep it.

I know it's just the Winter Blues creeping up on me, adding to a natural bit of depression about the job.  I've just got to remember to focus on the positive and the important: the love in my life, the health my family emjoys, and the fact that there are other, better jobs out there.

Hestia's Blessings to us all.

Steven

Greetings all, I've been asked by my partner to join Covenspace, so here I am!  If you get my invite, I hope you'll join too.