No Quit in Me

I started a new job recently. Had to get out of the hospitals, my body just couldn't take it anymore. There has been a nursing shortage my entire career, but its never been this acute. I already had a bad back before I started nursing, and if I kept up this pace I would crawl into old age quite crippled. This new job was supposed to be more laid back, and allow me more time to work on this blog and some other things I am involved in. As a final insult I threw my back out on the first day of my new job a couple of weeks ago.

Chronic pain is a bitch, and the nature of my injuries are such that I always have a baseline amount of pain I am dealing with. However, every so often my bulging lumbar disc will "go out" and then its game over for me for weeks sometimes. Thankfully enough this occasion wasn't so bad. After all, I literally just started this new job. Having to call out right after starting wouldn't be too fair to the guy who needs my help. In a less magnanimous sense I also needed the money, I had just missed a bunch of work because of Covid. Such is life.

The thing about the kind of pain that doesn't go away is that it becomes a mind game of sorts. After 20 years of this I am quite good at winning this game. I simply ignore it, shove it somewhere in the back of my consciousness and take a couple of Aleve at the end of the day. Done, I win. I am too strong for you....bitch.

However, when this more acute pain joins the party, even when I push it to the back of my mind its just not as effective. To describe it to someone who doesn't have to deal with this affliction, I would say it would be reminiscent of your neighbors car alarm going off and just not quitting. Your neighbor is either oblivious to it, uncaring, or his corpse being suddenly sized up by his hungry house cats. The signal just doesn't quit, becomes overwhelming, and you just do what you have to in order to get through it. This 24/7 car alarm does not lend itself to writing much.

That said, I have been able to get some cool work done, and I want to tell you about it.

Stacks Advocates Blog

One of the things I am working on is launching a blog to educate the community about the work of the Stacks Advocates. To people just getting into this ecosystem they are completely unaware of the complexity of what is happening behind the scenes. This is a very active ecosystem, and it will be good for the community to know what's up. That is the purpose of the blog, and I cannot wait to launch the first post. So be on the lookout for that.

Zero Authority

Have you read the piece I did on Zero Authority? You should. Here's a link. Caught up? So Zero Authority has this thing called the Cerulean Marketplace. This is a space for people who either want to work in Web 3 or are looking for talent in Web 3. Right now I am working on some user profiles for the folks who are advertising their services there. The concept is great, and the idea just drips pure Bitcoin ethos. There are no barriers to entry in this space, you can go as far as your talent and work ethic will take you in crypto. This is true meritocracy, and we are here for this. So go check them out, sign up, and get involved. If you decide to sign up let me know, I will write your profile and publish it here as well.

Two Stories

This is my first real crack at fiction. If you follow the link above you get a brief introduction into a couple of the characters. The story will have what I like to call parallel protagonist, and that is all I am going to say about the plot for now. This is a Web 3 story, and Stacks will be a big part of it. Pay attention to this, because not only is the story concept great (just have to nail the writing), but if I do my job well this will grow to be its very own project. Big plans for this if I can pull off the execution. After I publish this update I have a call with a script writer who might come on board and help give this story life. I am truly excited about this, and I hope you all love it.

That is what Jack has been up to. I hope all has been well in your neck of the woods. Life is unpredictable, your plans almost meaningless. Too many factors for one person, or even groups of people to control. Whatever you are dealing with, or find yourself dealing with in the future, just know that you can thrive with the proper mindset. At one point in my life I thought all of the good things would cease to exist, and my fate was sealed. Never accept defeat, even if it means drawing strength from the One greater than yourself (that's what Jack does). We are in a place that offers endless opportunity, seize it with every bit of focus and perseverance you can muster and take the ride. The world is 50 different kinds of fucked up, and the only way its going to change is at the individual level. There is work to be done, lets get to it. That's all I have to say for now, until next time. Jack.

Just broke 900 followers on Twitter, thank you! A like, follow, and retweet are always appreciated. Give me a follow on Sigle as well. Also, if you have a minute go check out my Stacks Parrots NFT gallery. The 2nd floor is my Sigle Explorer's exhibit. I wont stop buying them until I have it completely filled (who am I kidding, I will keep buying in anticipation of the 3rd floor).

*The easiest way to DCA your Stacks here