Four Braids, and other Achievements Unlocked

(cross-posted to facebook, apologies if you read this already)

You may remember that some time ago, I advertised a Charity Auction to benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, UNIFEM and UNICEF.

Well, you'll be happy to know that the payment for the books I sold has arrived today, and the books have been sent to the buyer, and I have made the donations: 120 € for Red Cross, and 40€ for UNIFEM and UNICEF each.

The books I sold were three ElfQuest Reader's Collection volumes: Shadowstalker, Wild Hunt and Chief's Howl. The buyer is in Denmark. The books weren't pristine condition, and I assume that is why I only got one bid.

Anyways, I feel all happy and accomplished today.

I also feel tired, more tired than I can remember ever feeling.

I stayed up all of last night, stuck on the internet.

Then I went to bed at 8am.

Around 9 am I called my nurse about some meds. The nurse didn't answer, but the receptionist sorted it out.

My teacher called me around noon, wanting to arrange a meeting to sort out my personal study plan. I told her about the demon flu from Hell, she was very understanding.

Then the nurse called, and I told her it was already sorted out. I didn't tell her I'd been up all night.

Finally, giving up on sleep, I opened the computer, and checked my bank account. There was more money there than I have seen there in a long time, and the reason for this was of course partly that the auction payment had arrived. (I've also been on the receiving end of some government generosity lately, and I expect to have more funds at my disposal for the next three months, because I've arranged with the bank not to pay back any of my mortgage for that period of time, only the interest. Yes, this means that normally, while complaining about not having enough money, I also manage to pay back about 200€ of my mortgage every month. Yay me.)

It was half past three. I was in my bedclothes (or rather, in a velvet top and satin pants, because I haven't been able to find any of my nightgowns lately, but they were clothes I'd been sleeping in.) I got dressed in my smart new pinstripe jacket, a mauve lace top, and my customary jeans skirt (which didn't fall off today in a public place, although that will happen soon if I keep losing weight). I put on my trenchcoat, my steampunk hat (photos forthcoming once I've exorcised my camera), and my lucky five-cross necklace (lucky because it makes people assume I am a devout Christian. No one messes with devout Christians). And I put on my new black leather boots with the high heels.

I stuffed a medicinal cough drop in my mouth, and left the house at 4 pm. Bank closes at half past four. I walked as fast as a convalescent can (not fast compared to my usual march). I arrived at the bank at a quarter past four. There was a line. I waited.

Only to find out from the cashier that one of the bank account numbers of the charities that I had copied from the internet was missing a digit. I asked if she could look it up from her computer. Her response:
"We don't offer that kind of service."

It was the Red Cross bank account, and I was determined that Japan has waited long enough for my donation. So I called my mom and asked her to look up the number from the internet. The cashier served another customer while I waited for mom to look up the number for me.

Finally I got the right number - the missing digit was an 1 - and made all the donations. I have receipts. Making each donation at the bank office instead of internet cost me 5 €, for each of the three payments.

Service today, eh?

Anyways, after the donations were sorted out, I went to the post office and mailed the package to my buyer. Some blue packing tape was giving problems to the post office clerk, otherwise this encounter passed without further incident.

Then I went to the pharmacy, to get over-the-counter meds. And then I went to the grocery store, and went on a grocery and vitamin shopping spree. I even bought some pangasius fillet - fish from Vietnam, if you can imagine that. Definitely bad karma right there, but maybe the universe owes me.

And then I walked home. And I could barely, barely do it. I had to stop to rest on a bus stop when I was already within in sight of the house I live in. The flu hasn't fully relinquished its hold of my body.

But I persist. I keep fighting the gods, and I know together, you and I, my friends, we can fight the gods and win. I speak not of the gods you worship. I speak of the gods whose names you speak when you blasphemy. The gods you curse. The gods who stand apart from demons separated only by a thin line drawn in water. I speak of the gods of earthquakes and wars.

Remember, all those weeks ago, on March 16th, when I made the auction?

"This bulletin is a sword thrust at your face, yes, you, dear reader. I'm giving up some very valuable books in order to help people in Japan and elsewhere.

Out-charity me! Gift more. Sell more. Donate more. Do more. Give up more. Sacrifice more.

Japan needs you, Wolfriders, Go-Backs, Gliders, Sun-Folk, Wavedancers, High Ones, even you, the human in the back seat! Even you, the grasping troll with your treasures. Even you, the Preserver with no possessions other than a voice that sings, hands that help, and the hat you'd never give up. (don't worry, Japan still has flowers!)

I, Leanan, challenge you. *going offline now to put some braids in my hair* "

All of this still stands. And I'm still wearing the four braids.