This post will (like most things that end up in my feels) be primarily whinging and bitching. I've been really burned out lately. I don't know if burned out is the right way to describe it, but it's the best I've got. Finding that every day at work is an argument with a little me in my head who throws a tantrum every day and refuses to co-operate. I'm not enjoying the work and have to coach myself through it like every day is an ordeal. Time off isn't really a good option or I'll fall behind and have an even worse time when I come back. It may also be because it's been school holidays, so I've been pretty overstimulated with the kid-noise in the house. Because I've been pushing through, I'm finding my tolerance for all kinds of stimulus to be very low at the moment. I'm extra sensory-sensitive lately. On my lunch break, I usually wrap myself in my softest blanket and lie in bed like I'm wrapped in a coocoon for 30 minutes. After work I try to recover as much as possible by sitting in the dark and working on 
a personal data project that I find very relaxing and non-demanding. I haven't really had the energy to socialise, so my friends and family (except my kids and other half since we're all in the house together) haven't heard from me much lately.

Because I've been nursing a broken finger for the last few weeks, I've had to change the way I use my dominant hand and this is resulting in some compensatory pain especially in my pinky. I've had to modify the way I type to prevent it getting worse, and I'm finding it really difficult to use right ctrl and shift. I have an ortho appointment next week to check on how the healing process is going.

So what's this data project? I'm so glad you asked. I'm still active on GaiaOnline. If you're unfamiliar, a large part of the GaiaOnline experience is dressing up your avatar. Clothing, accessories, backgrounds, poses, and a variety of other equippable items can be purchased or traded for currency, or can be aquired from random item generators (RIGs). RIGs can be purchased or earned by playing games. There is a marketplace where users can buy and sell items and RIGs. I have a big spreadsheet where I track loot won in the games and what I get from opening RIGs, as well as market values and sales data, in order to minmax my profits. The grinding/farming and data entry is an end unto itself, but there are some very expensive items I would like for my avatar that I'm saving up for.

In unrelated good news, we recently took a road trip to a large indoor playground to celebrate my son's birthday, and they had snow! The man-made stuff of course, but it was still a magical experience to run around, frolic, feel it landing on our faces, and to pelt each other with snowballs. We're planning to go back again in the near future.