Standing here solidly on my own two hands and going crazy

 Sunday was a DAY.  Weird, at times stressful, with bouts of cranky-inducement.

First, this guy decided we needed to start our day at six AM.

I was able to spend some time with the Porch Kitties (SINCE WE WERE AWAKE SO EARLY); Shadow got to experience canned tuna, though Syd would not share her can with him.  It was still cool enough (this week's temps are all mid to upper 90s, so I wanted to take advantage while we could), it was neighbor-free and relatively quiet - Except for the murder of crows (at least 20 swarming the skies), and a very emphatic bird of prey.

 

I decided Sunday was the day I was finally going to make a trans pride cake, so that was next.  Because it was going to be a five-layer affair, we'd picked up some disposable pans...only discovering after the second set of cakes came out of the oven that one of the pairs was slightly different from the others - scalloped rather than straight edges - and this just made me cranky.  

See, I hate everything to do with cake decorating.  I LOVE baking.  I just take zero pleasure from the outer details. I know it has a lot to do with unresolved crap with my mom, but that doesn't change how I feel about it. 
So I knew I was going to have one layer that was going to stick out, and it just turned my mood. 

But I kept going, and with enough buttercream as Spackle, I think it turned out Ok.

 

                   

This project, plus the laminated biscuits I made for dinner and the early start, left me exhausted but not TIRED.
So I was up long after the guys had gone to bed.  

I was just about to wash up when I noticed something on my peripheral.  

SPIDER.

SPIDER.

SPIDER!

Extreme arachnophobia here, so...

I know it's all tiny things, but it's a bunch of tiny things that added up to A LOT, ok?

I boycotted Monday.  I couldn't risk it.

Labels: baking, cakes, cats, dogs, food, personal, trans pride, trans rights, tw: spiders, updates

 

I meant to to get to this a few days ago. Really.

It's the 'thing' to do, right? A reflection post, all the stuff you've done/seen/consumed?

 

I can't promise a complete list, but here we go.

 

Books

 

I read a lot. I mean, a lot.

 

I use GoodReads to keep track of my reading - it's useful for things like "oh, this book sounds interesting, lemme check my GR list and see if I've read this author before". 

 

I also do the reading challenge; last year, I set 160 books as my goal.

I ended the year with 207 read.  

48,852 pages read.  Some of them didn't suck. There were definitely some stinkers, but that's all part of the joy of reading.  Finding the jewels among the rocks.

TV

I'm watching less TV every year. Part of it stems from Alex essentially commandeering the screen for video games, but honestly, what I want to watch is narrowing. I don't want to give my free time to unpleasant people. So that eliminates a ...lot. 

I thought Ms. Marvel was fantastic.  She-Hulk was a delight. Moon Knight was...ok, but I was coming into the series with zero knowledge of the character (other than a panel or two in a Wolverine comic). 

I loved Dalgliesh! Because it was set in the 1970s, I was worried, going in, that it was be 'gritty' and unpleasant, but it's actually quite beautiful. Smart and thoughtful. So glad we're getting two more seasons. 

I watched a slightly silly but charming series called Recipes for Love & Murder.  Cozy mystery plus food porn. 

I also enjoyed Queens of Mystery - I can best describe it as if Murder, She Wrote and Midsomer Mysteries had a fling with Pushing Daisies. 

And, of course, lots and lots and lots of baseball. So much baseball.  

Films

Not nearly as much to report here. And there's the issue of 'what is time? aka When did I actually watch this thing?'

I did just see Glass Onion!  Oh, what a brilliant movie. It's been days and I'm still thinking about it.

Holy crap. Is that the only thing I watched? Or at least, the only 'new' movie I watched. Yikes. 

I'm still waiting for things like Everything Everywhere All At Once and Wakanda Forever, and I'm sure there a handful of others I meant to watch eventually.  I'm often too tired and/or in pain to sit through a film, alas.  

Misc

Otherwise, I'm still here!  That's an accomplishment.  I'm still doing the cooking and baking.  Still being adored by the dogs. 

I don't 'do' resolutions, though I'm cool with "I'd like to's".  

So, this year: more books, obviously.  Books keep me going. Always have. 

More hobbies!  Not sure what they'll be, but I need to get the brain engaged.  The body may not work as it should, but the mind (mostly?!) does. 

Finish the current WIP.  This book is good. I can feel it. And it needs to be written.  I just need to get past my crippling low self-esteem and imposter syndrome. Definitely a goal. 

 

I guess that's it? Maybe finish with some pics of the dogs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labels: books, dogs, life, movies, TV, updates

 

 

This past week has been great. Matt's off work, and with him around, I've actually been able to cross off things from my to-do list. Between the low energy levels and 24/7 pain, I have to budget my tasks.
As much as I haaaate needing and asking for help, that's my reality now. And I am grateful for it, even if a part of me is angry that it's even necessary.

Holiday cards are done and awaiting stamps (ordered from the USPS website)

Gifts have been wrapped, with the Great Present Migration already in process (they'll show up wrapped, promise!).  We're getting our tree Sunday, which means trimming Monday followed by gift-placing after.

I've been making chocolates, with Matt handling sous vide duties for tempering. 

 

We've also had time to just...chill.  Hanging out in bed with the dogs, watching the Donna Hay Christmas special on Disney.  We played Castle Panic. Talked.
There never seems to be enough time to just BE together, so that's been fantastic.

This weekend, more chocolates and, hopefully, the start of Merry Cookie Season.

However, I'm planning on getting my Covid booster and flu shot either Monday or Tuesday.  And I'm always the lucky sort who gets totally flattened by these things, meaning this upcoming week will be a total loss.

There's so much frustration, knowing you have 'X' amount to give, and once that's used up, you're done. And that it's not even a standard 'X'. One day, I could feel almost human - 70% energy supply. Another, simply thinking about getting out of bed to use the bathroom makes me want to cry.


I'm not good at idle.  It feels like I'm wasting time. And I know there's a whole lot of trauma and needed therapy behind that, but it doesn't change the fact that not being able to do things only makes the situation worse.

So, do the thing I need to do for my health, and that of those I love...and be (feel) useless for days.  But I can't bake when I'm in pain!

Eh. Rambling and complaining, I know. I wouldn't if I thought anyone was still reading this thing.

Labels: health, personal, updates

 It's dusty over here!

 

I know.  It's been a while.  I think it's mostly my unhappiness with the way this thing formats (I don't remember it being this clunky years ago!), but I suppose it's equally due to, frankly, not knowing what to say.

 

Alex isn't a little kid anymore - he'll be 20 in a few months (yikes). Fewer stories and antics to report.

 

My declining health is something no one really wants to hear about, and as I no longer leave the house unless I have a doctor's appointment, there's not a lot of external stuff happening. 

Let's see...I'm writing. Actual, full-length novel writing.  Even if no one else is reading it!

 

I've reading a lot.  Set this year's GoodReads goal at 160, and I'm currently at 204.  So, yeah. 

 

Always cooking, always baking.  Constantly pushing myself and trying new things there (I suppose I'll be giving the food blog a bit of housekeeping, too).  

 

I started wrapping holiday gifts! ...Mostly so I can ship them to other people, as this house has zero storage. 

We have a cat. Sort of.  

 

 

 

I'm more than happy to catch up with anyone who wants, just not sure what to say at the moment.

 

This post brought to you be everyone freaking out over Twitter.

Labels: catching up, life, personal, updates

Well.

Hi.

It's been some time, hasn't it?

Five and a half years!



I know, I know.

Life got complicated. And the blog just became less of a priority.

So I guess you're due for an update!



Where to begin?

Alex recently turned seventeen.

I KNOW.

That sweet little guy is growing up! And I do mean up.

He's pushing 6'4"!!

Our dog situation has changed over the years. We went from five to three to two and now back to three.

Meet The Pack.



Malainn is my sweet baby girl.

When we lost Donegal, I was bereft. And then we found her.



This is Derrynane.

He's a tremendous goof, but super-loving. Always happy.



And Rahara.

Matt calls him The Little Prince, and it's fitting.















What else is new?

I've been doing the Good Reads challenge; this year, the goal is 110 books. I came close to that last year, and this time, I'm also re-reading the Agatha Christie catalog (celebrating 100 years), which gives me plenty of material.

Speaking of books - I wrote one!

Let me back up.

Three years ago, I participated in NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to commit to writing, every day, in November, with a 50,000 word count by the end. With luck, you'll have a finished novel.

The first year, I did fairly well. The novel's a bit rough, and I'm planning to go back for some serious revisions. But I liked the characters, setting, and plot, so I feel it's worth the effort.

The second year...there were other factors in play, and I didn't finish. Lost the thread, and just never went back.

So last year I was determined to do better.

And I did.

Exceeded word count, finished before the end of the month. And the best, most shocking part? I liked it. I mean, I really, really liked it.

So much so, I went back, and edited. Revised. Again and again.

And I still liked it.

Now? It's in the hands of five 'beta' readers, if you will.

I'm not saying you're going to find it on the shelves of your local book seller, but I'm stupidly proud of it.

I'm also teaming up with an artist friend, who liked a fic I wrote (my very first!) so much, he wants to turn it into a web comic. So that's happening.

Since we last chatted, I've become the biggest Earper.



Never before have I found a fan community so delightfully open and supportive. And the show is everything I could want. (Only Legends of Tomorrow comes close.)

Still cooking and baking (seriously considering restarting that blog, too); I'm always covered in flour.

Some health issues that are, frankly, sucky, but that's for another time.

Anyway, odds are good I'll be posting here again. No promises as to how regularly, but anything's better than not.

Take care of yourselves. Wash your hands. Stay home if you can. Binge lots of awesome TV. Read books. Play games.

Labels: dogs, life, puppies, status updates, updates