I’m sitting in another library on the university campus, looking out the window. The window is proving to be a rather distracting feature of this particular library. Or maybe I’m just using it as an excuse to distract myself from what I’m supposed to be doing. Either way, I keep looking out the window instead of concentrating on the task in front of me. There’s something about sitting in a quiet library, surrounded by books and people who are presumably being productive, that makes staring out a window seem like a perfectly reasonable alternative to getting anything done.

I had my doctor’s appointment this morning. Unfortunately, I still have an ear infection, so the doctor prescribed another round of antibiotics and some ear drops. Hopefully, this will finally get things under control. I’m also getting a referral to a new ENT doctor, which is probably a good idea since this ear infection seems determined to stick around. I’d really like to put this whole thing behind me and get back to feeling normal again.

On a more positive note, I received a sample supply of Foundayo, the weight-loss medication. I have enough for about a month, so we’ll see how things go. The last time I took this medication, I lost ten pounds. I’m hoping I can lose another ten this time around. Of course, getting these medications approved by insurance can be a challenge in itself. Sometimes it seems like getting the medication is almost as difficult as dealing with the problem you’re trying to address. Still, I’m glad I have another opportunity to work toward my goal, and I’m curious to see what happens over the next month. I need to start riding the bike again. I stopped riding about three weeks ago. I need to get back on it.

I’m feeling better today than I was yesterday, which is a relief. I’m taking advantage of that by sitting here in the library and looking for jobs. Well, technically, I’m looking for jobs in between staring out the window. I suppose that still counts as job hunting, even if my productivity could use some improvement.

While browsing listings, I came across one for crime scene cleanup. Wow. Can you imagine doing that for a living? I’m sure it’s important work, and I have a great deal of respect for anyone who can handle it, but I honestly don’t think I could manage it mentally. There are some things I would rather not have to see, let alone clean up after. I wonder what kind of person chooses that line of work and what their training must be like. It takes a certain kind of strength to walk into a situation like that and do what needs to be done.

The job listing also reminded me of a movie I saw once. I vaguely remembered a woman who started a crime scene cleanup business, but I couldn’t remember the title. Naturally, I had to look it up. It turns out the movie was Sunshine Cleaning . I haven’t thought about that movie in a long time, so it was funny to have a random job listing bring it back to mind.

I also had my medication management appointment today. I ended up taking the call outside the library because we initially tried to connect through my laptop, but the doctor couldn’t get the connection to work. Eventually, we gave up on the technology and switched to a regular phone call. Sometimes the simplest solution really is the best one. It wasn’t the most convenient setup, but at least we were able to have the appointment.

There are no changes to my medications right now, so everything is staying the same for the time being. I also told her about my therapy, and she was happy to hear that I finally have a new therapist. I’m glad about that, too. It feels good to have that piece of the puzzle falling into place, even if other things in my life are still a work in progress.

I had lunch before my medication management appointment. Afterward, I went over to buy a soda, only to discover that the available choices were apparently limited to cans of Poppi. So, Poppi it was. I tried one, and it was okay. Nothing particularly exciting, but it did the job.

Poppi seems to be incredibly popular these days. It’s a probiotic soda, which I suppose is part of the appeal. We live in a time when even soda is trying to be good for us. Regular soda has been around forever, but now we have drinks that promise to support gut health while still giving us that fizzy, sweet taste. I’m not entirely sure what makes Poppi so popular, though. Maybe it’s the marketing, maybe it’s the health-conscious image, or maybe people genuinely love the taste. I can’t say I was blown away by it, but I wouldn’t refuse another one if that were the only option available.

So that’s been my day so far: a doctor’s appointment, more medication for my stubborn ear infection, a referral to a new ENT, a sample supply of a weight-loss medication, a medication management appointment conducted over the phone, lunch, an average probiotic soda, and some job hunting in a university library.

And, of course, there’s the window.

I keep coming back to it, watching whatever is happening outside instead of focusing on my job search. Maybe I’m tired after a morning full of appointments. Maybe I’m feeling better but still not quite back to myself. Or maybe I’m just having one of those days when concentrating takes more effort than it should. Not every day is going to be a model of productivity, and I suppose there’s no point in pretending otherwise.

At least I’m here. I’m getting things done, even if I’m doing them a little more slowly than I’d like. I’m taking care of my health, keeping up with my appointments, continuing therapy, and looking for work. Those are all worthwhile things, even if they don’t feel particularly remarkable while I’m in the middle of doing them.

Perhaps I should stop looking out the window and get back to the job listings. There might be something interesting waiting for me on the next page… preferably something that doesn’t involve cleaning up crime scenes.

When I get home, I need to remember to water my virtual plants. I recently started getting into gardening in Final Fantasy XIV , and apparently, my little digital garden needs daily attention. If I forget to water the plants, they’ll eventually wither and die, which would be pretty sucky after putting time and effort into growing them.

Who knew that playing an MMORPG would turn me into someone with gardening responsibilities? Now I have to add virtual plant care to my daily routine. I may not have a real garden to tend to, but that doesn’t mean my plants get to suffer from neglect! When I moved to Germany, one of the higher-ups’ wives gave me a plant as a gift. I tried to keep that thing alive. I think it lasted a month before it withered away.

Tommy is picking me up soon. I think we are going grocery shopping for dinner. I’m going to pack up here in a few and get ready to go.