rose bud thorn - january 2026
Stealing the format wholesale from Ava, who reminded me this framework existed, I present rose, bud, and thorn for January 2026 and the first four days of February because that is when I am writing this.
rose
- It is a New Year, and while it's been rough going, to seriously minimize, I appreciate the symbolic new start. Speaking of that, Imbolc/Candlemas just happened, another symbolic new start should one want that. Also, Lunar New Year!
- I took the first week of the year off with my husband, and that was very nice.
- We had our property surveyed and our new fence is coming along nicely - we're DIYing it as cashflow allows.
- I successfully trimmed the borders off my Crystal Visions Tarot deck and it turned out wonderfully, by far the best deck modification I've done. I can now comfortably riffle shuffle it.
- My husband and I and two of our friends are having a glorious goblin-mode Baldur's Gate 3 phase with our joint game.
- I'm really enjoying getting back to our Stargate first watch (mine)/3rd-ish rewatch with my husband.
- I have not abandoned my 2026 planner!
bud
- I reached out to a new therapist today and had a response within 17 minutes - I greatly appreciate the quick reply because my current therapist, though I deeply appreciate her, can be quite flaky. If this works out I would be switching to in-person appointments, which would get my work-from-home self out of the house and talking to real people points, which I am in dire need of.
- I have an appointment with a new primary care provider tomorrow and am hopeful it goes well and I can get some helpful suggestions.
- Immediate TBR: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, Homeland by R.A. Salvatore, The Will of the Many by James Islington, and Cheshire Crossing by Andy Weir
thorn
- An expected $700 bill is actually $7,000, holy shit; we're expecting an update and it to decrease slightly, but by how much is unknown and the person responsible, a family member, isn't showing the level of urgency I feel is appropriate.
- Finances are tight even outside of the above, we're paying off some debt and trying to save for an expected $10,000 bill this summer.
- I am struggling with my mental health. I feel like I've been stuck for a while now and repeating the same old, bad loops both personally and professionally.
reply via email: raccoonwrites [at] protonmail (dot) com