Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Pbbbbbt

(sigh) Once again, it's past midnight... and the ol' noggin still has thoughts swirling like mad. Finances, regrets, plans... the usual litany. Along with the odd-ball thought (like I wonder what Reiko-san would have said had I ever showed up and greeted her family in Japanese) tossed in for variety.

Maybe I'm getting ready to shift into a manic period? I could really use such a burst of creativity and energy right about now - got some projects on the back burners that need a high level of focus/concentration. The last one that I remember was way back at the start of the year and I usually fluctuate 3-6 times per year. However, I was taking EffexorXR back at the start of the year up until Feb/Mar, so that may have thrown things off a bit. Mmmmm, I think I had a small burst back around July 4th. August was a middling month, felt "average". It's tough to spot the trend until I'm almost a week or two into the phase - then it's a question of how long it will last before I crash back to average (sometimes below average).

It's also one of the reasons I stopped treatment back in the early spring when the pharma doc was getting ready to try me on Lithium. Thanks, but as long as my symptoms are manageable, I would much prefer not to give up those manic phases. (Mine are actually pretty tame, barely classifiable as mania, I just get a lot done and am very creative for a few weeks. It's the downslope after that's the rub.) I think I as much as told him that - or maybe I mentioned it to my therapist - but I'm pretty sure I didn't get the point across. Saa... we'll see what happens in the next week or so.

posted by Wuphon's at 12:44 AM

Monday, September 15, 2003

More Pay Cuts

Wheee... just got the word this morning - everyone gets to take 4 weeks of unpaid vacation before the end of the year. Annoying, but not fatal to my finances as I have at least some cash reserves built up. On the downside, now I'm not sure that I'll be able to bump up my 401(k) deferral amount next spring. Right now I'm at 10% deferred and I was hoping to boost that to 15% next spring/summer. (Including other investments, I'm managing to squirrel away 17% of gross at the moment, with a goal of 25% by 2006.)

I'm betting my one co-worker is going to raise a good fuss this week though. I don't think he and his wife are as good about keeping a cash cushion on hand. Guess I won't be seeing a raise next year either... (unless you count not having to take unpaid leave).

But the lack of raises actually doesn't bother me much at all... I have a job that I like, I make an above average salary for the area where I telecommute from. What's not to like? Now, if I still haven't gotten a raise 5 years from now, I might have a bone to pick.

posted by Wuphon's at 3:22 PM