#work friend

My boyfriend later, trying not to die laughing: He was flirting with you. Really trying to lay it on thick.

Me:

Emotionally: It's a liddol fren that is keeping me company during work! XD

Would myself from a decade ago that wanted to talk to this guy, but not sure if I wanted to get involved in all that (not sure what was going on with him at the time, but seemed to be a lot)

Be impressed that I finally talked to him/befriended him?

Or shake my head disapprovingly at current me at GETTING INVOLVED IN ALL THAT ( now KNOWING what all that IS )

Off to MRI #2 in a few minutes, this time on my neck. I hope they find the source of the pain in my head/body, because its been getting worse.

Also, the other "SITUATION" has gotten worse (I said I'd post about it when it resolved, it hasn't resolved, but it's getting to a breaking point. literally)

Went thrift shopping at Savers after work with my Work Friend.

It feels like a punchline to a joke. "How do you know when an asexual loves you?" "They help you feel LESS naked" *badum-tsh*.

But I bought him a watch, for making it to 2024. Wrapped it up with a label saying "The gift of more time" because I think I'm very clever. Because he hit some real low spots in 2023, healthwise and lifewise, where he wondered aloud if he was going to make it to the end of the year. And he did!

He wanted one. He used to have one, but it got lost along the way, like so many other things, in the tumult of his life. He said he "feels naked without one"

He used to have a military style watch, with a paracord strap, but those were too expensive. I couldn't buy him an expensive watch. You buy a man an expensive watch and that MEANS SOMETHING.

But I found this one on clearance, a black nylon strap with velcro fastener and red rim around the face, that has a large digital display (his eyes aren't good with detail without a magnifying glass or a pair of good glasses he rarely wears because he's afraid of scratching/breaking/losing them). So he can read this one without glasses. And he likes the band on it because he didn't want leather or metal.

And it displays the day of the week (name of day and number), which is helpful, as ever since his mountain-biking accident many years ago that ended up in a head injury, he has a very hard time keeping track of dates... whatever part of the brain that keeps track of what happens on what day is the spot he cracked his skull open. (Wear a helmet, kids!)

He wears the watch all the time now and it makes me happy seeing that.

He had to say he "found" it, that it was something he already had.... because a woman buys a man a watch and there's implications or some such, even one less than $10 on clearance. Because there are people in his life who criticize every purchase he makes, every interaction he has. Ok yeah, he had a drinking problem but he's been sober for a couple of years now and plans on staying that way, he was a victim of identify theft and so got into debt but has been crawling his way out of it, he's had mental health and physical health struggles but he's doing his best to make those better.... when are they going to treat him like an actual adult again? One that can make his own decisions? (I fear never).

I keep trying to instill on him that his life can't be all responsibility despite what every one else is telling him... yeah, do what you have to do to pay the bills, but also, that he DESERVES to have little treats! nice things in life! FUN! a break every so often! If his so-called "loved" ones, "friends" and family, actually care about him.... shouldn't they want him to get BETTER? Shouldn't they recognize he needs rest/fun/ etc in order to be in good condition to keep working and paying the bills? Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one trying to keep him OUT of the hospital (trying to prevent and further mental or physical breakdowns).

But at least he has a watch, a watch he wanted and likes. So he can feel less naked.

He did some more work for me yesterday at my house... painted a door, raked the backyard to get rid of all the pinecones that fell last storm (which I paid him for, plus bought him lunch) ... things I could've done myself but I appreciate the help in having less things to do, plus he needs the money.

And he gave me his Xmas present to me.... its a Poochie (plastic) purse, form the year I was born! I've been looking for the big plush Poochie, since the one I had as a child was stolen (probably by a cousin's kid) but used ones of those are in bad condition, but he found this and it's near perfect, only a little discoloration on one side. There was Pocky inside, he knows I like Pocky :)