AnitaAngelo2

I couldn't let today pass without at least saying something. On this day, 16 years ago, I posted Chapter 1 Page 1 of ZQ. I went strong for many years, but I've been slow to put out updates for about 5 years now. Some day, I'll finish the story.

Thanks to those if you who have stood by for these 16 years!

Just popping on to say hi. I failed in my schedule to get ZQ going again, but that's just how my life is. Every time I think I have time to get caught up, to do things I used to do for fun, life smacks me in the face.

But this, I think, is turning into a good change for me.  I don't remember if I shared it here, but back in April I was told my services were no longer needed at my school due to a drop in enrollment. However, I've been teaching with the district long enough that I have tenure, so I've been given a new school. I freaked out a little bit, as I've been moved to an Elementary school. However, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions that have been mostly positive. My new co-workers are a positive bunch of people that have been super supportive and welcoming.

While I am not looking forward to teaching virtually, I feel as if I have landed at a good school.  A lot of personal reflection and reaching out and talking has helped me to realize that where I was was a toxic situation. I feel bad that the students I loved and cared for have been left behind, but I cannot change it.

So, instead of ZQ, I've been researching, working on the house, working on the garden, working on the finances. It might sound strange, or maybe a bit cliché, but I feel like I'm climbing up out of what was a very dark pit for me. For the first time in a long time, I'm anxious to see the future. I know it can smack me in the face and knock me down again real fast, but I want to cling to this last month and remember this feeling.

I will get back to ZQ. I WANT to get back to ZQ. I want to finish what I started. And I thank you all for your incredible patience with me.

Sorry. Sorry. I know I said Fridays, and here it is Tuesday and I didn't post last week. I HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE.

...


...

Well, sort of. My nephews and I built a new linen closet in my hallway, finished patching the ceiling in the new bedroom, installed shelving unit inside new closet in said new bedroom, and finished spackling and priming the walls that have all new drywall.

Long story, I bought my house in 2014 as a "handyman special". Aka, it wasn't in the best shape (but hey, buying a single family home on a teacher's salary?). It's a cape code style home, and originally had two bedrooms on the first floor. The previous owners had removed part of a wall and the original linen closet in order to turn the 2nd bedroom into a dining room. It was kinda dumb, because 1.) You had to walk down the hallway past the only bathroom in the house to be in the dining room, which was then butted up to the now only usable bedroom in the house. And 2.) The wall they partially removed was part of the support wall for the 2nd floor.

Anyhoo, what we basically did (started last August, then school year got in the way, and then COVID-19 hit and construction had been on pause) was rebuild the support column, restore the walls, and restored the built-in linen closet to restore the home to the original specs. The hard part, the construction, is now done and I'll just be working on the detail work (fresh coat of paint, trim, doorknobs...etc) over the rest of the summer.

So, that's why no comic on Friday. I'll try to have 2 this Friday to make up for it. (The next page is 75% done, I just have to shade and add text).

Ttyl

Me

Greetings everyone, happy July! It officially summer, summer, which means I'm back. I will do my best to update ZQ once a week between now and when school starts again.

It's been a crazy, messed up world as of late. For those who don't know me well, I live in Philadelphia, PA. Between coronovirus lockdown, protests over police brutality, and budget cuts to my school, life has been a non-stop whirlwind around here. I live alone, so 4 months of isolation have taken a mega toll on me.

Long story short, in case you haven't noticed by my journals and the fact that I've not been open about it, I suffer from depression. It's not...major...but it does effect my life in very real and very negative ways. When I get in my...well...moods for a lack of better words, I shut down and do nothing I enjoy. I've worked very hard to keep it hidden in my professional life, but as a result my personal life is a literal mess. I don't talk about it much, because I don't want people to pity me, or think less of me, or shun me, or treat me any different. But I felt you all needed a bit of an explanation why ZQ seems to keep taking these year long breaks. It's not just that I'm Uber busy with work, I am emotionally and physically drained by the time I get home. There are many days when I get home and just exist; I don't eat, I don't clean, I just exist. I spend hours yelling at myself to get up and function.

But I'm rambling now, and I just need to get to the point. I know my issues, I'm working on them.

I am officially "between jobs" at the moment. My saving grace is I have been teaching long enough now that they can't fire me (hooray for tenure) so I am guaranteed a job, I just don't know what school I'll be at. Philly is a district of 167 schools, so I could end up anywhere come September...if we even open in September.

Anyhoo, I've set myself a summer schedule to keep myself functional. I find giving myself a set schedule to follow helps me to focus. Shutting out the world and drawing for an hour every day is on my schedule.

Well, that's about it for now. I've made Fridays my goal for ZQ pages, so please look forward to a new page in 2 days!

With love, as always,

Me