Managed to make 50% of my full-time income last week. I'll aim higher this week. Sleeping in my car's trunk is a very weird solution to my sleep apnea, but it seems to be helping. It's comfortable enough, at least. I think the problem has mainly been stress and allergies closing up my airways at night (hence the car sleeping). I'm still going to see if I'm compatible with the Inspire implant, at least. My doctor agreed that the CPAP was causing and worsening my aerophagia.
I still need $307 more by Tuesday (September 30) to pay my car payment, which was due the 8th. That's about a day's work as an Uber driver, though I am still going into car comas regularly. Yesterday I got one and then had a migraine for the rest of the night. One of my friends chipped in at least, so I'm in much better shape than I would've been otherwise.
If this is paid by the last day of the month, they won't mark it as late to the credit bureaus. Why is that important? Well, it's all part of the plan. My basic expenses are about $1800 a month. 1 month of full-time income from Uber driving = no more credit card debt (I have $4500 of it). 1 more month for another $3k = no debt except my car loan (I still have old personal loans). And a month or two after that, since I still have a "perfect" credit history, I can refinance my car for a lower rate, payments, and insurance. My credit will rebound very quickly but I need at least 3 months of good income history. All of these loans and cards have an APR of 18-35% >.>
It's really just a matter of sleep, now. And discipline, in the meantime. There's a lot I could be doing, but right now I should be on the road whenever I can. Even if I feel like shit. I no longer fear the pain, only falling asleep at the wrong time...
Once all that's taken care of, I can devote much more of my energy where it matters: toward my music and the development of my Beat Saber-esque VR synesthesia simulator. I'm working on a way to give you synesthesia without the continued use of software, because when paired with music it can feel better than an orgasm. And I need a system from this simulator to properly create the actual game I want to make - an animal-themed post-apocalyptic metroidvania about love vs the singularity. Earlier in September I applied for a grant, asking for $147k to create and market the simulator in its entirety - I'll know by December if I get it, but I think my chances are pretty reasonable given the nature of the project. This will pay for full training to use UE5, too. If that does not succeed I may consider something like Kickstarter or expanding my Ko-fi support.
I'm still rebounding on my work and sleep right now, though. I've been in an odd position for the last few months where I can make enough to meet my basic expenses, half a month late. I need more funds to buy groceries and finally catch up, as well as buy a full set of window shades ($140) for my car so that the sun does not disturb me and I have privacy while I sleep.
As a side note, the camping trip I went on didn't cost me anything personally other than time I would've otherwise spent struggling to stay awake on the road. And out there I discovered that I sleep perfectly and have decent energy when I'm not constantly being exposed to the smell of old cat litter my sister leaves in bags in the basement by the central air. I walked for 4-6 miles a day. It gave me much needed context in terms of my sleep. And I feel different. Better. I could get another apartment but that's an expense I can't handle right now, ironically. I've been thinking of moving in with my boyfriend, but he has 3 cats.
I'm not sure what's in store for me next. I've been watching what's happening in this country too, so I'm sure I share many of your concerns, but I need to keep my outlook positive and remain proactive about my dreams and my community. Forget you're in a community and that we have our own hopes and dreams and they've succeeded at dividing us.
Thanks to everyone who's chipped in this year to keep me afloat and make my dreams possible. I wouldn't have made it this far without you and I appreciate it greatly. Since I still may not be out of the woods sleep apnea-wise, I will still be keeping up my donaton pools and such in case you would like to speed up my timeline. There's a lot I can achieve that's just waiting for me to kick this grind. Though after October, I think it would be best to move it towards something like Ko-fi. There's a lot I can potentially provide as monthly rewards (musical training & critique, or custom songs for example - these only take 5-20 hours to create). I'm open to discussing what would be reasonable and/or desired in exchange for the funding of my projects.
Anyhow. Time to drive! I'll be around~
September pool ($307 still needed): https://www.paypal.com/pool/9hPxTZPtgK?sr=ancr
October pool ($1800 needed): https://www.paypal.com/pool/9hPycKus3e?sr=accr
Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/baumarius
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