At least I still had my computer open, I guess.

Not too much of interest - it was a Museum day, and I talked to HK there about the plan for tomorrow, where we are giving a tour and demoing some stuff to one of the director's classes. So I'm going in in the afternoon instead of the morning, and will head straight downtown to find myself dinner somewhere and go to kitting.

Oh, also, my ex-coworker (he still works there, for now) made a VR bowling game :V It was pretty fun, though not what I'd meant to try out!

I did some writing tonight, but I'm getting close to the 'end' of the story, which is all fine, but I'm not sure if It is going to manage to seem like a story and not just a series of events. So we'll see. I need to tie things together more tightly, I guess. Maybe this last pivotal conversation I'm working towards will give me more room for that. And maybe if I aim for that I'll have more inspiration.

I meant to go to bed around one yesterday. I wond up going to bed around two, and I didn't get to sleep for at least another hour after that.

I sort of woke up around 7, because children, but fell back asleep for a bit. I then woke up more around 9, still really tired, but managed to pull myself out of bed half an hour-ish later to go take the dogs out.... only to find they'd already been out. So I started to go back to bed, only to remember that I *did* still need to feed the kitty. By the time I actually got back to bed, it was a little after 10:30.

And then I slept until 1:30.

So that was most of my day! Maze was out and about, so I had some snuggle time with him, did some kitchen tidying, and then worked on some story edits. Then I baked some lime squares, then it was dinner. Wooh!

I realized I never said, but this is the anthology I'm working on a submission for: Ride the Star Wind: Cthulhu, Space Opera, and the Cosmic Weird. I need to do some kind of cover letter as well, and I'm not totally sure how to handle that. "This is a story about Lesbian space cultists. It is inspired by Clark Ashton Smith's "The Door to Saturn". I hope you like it enough to buy it, cheers!" I think my story meets the criteria but I'm a terrible judge. Maybe it isn't weird enough. Maybe it isn't cosmic enough. Maybe being in space isn't space opera enough (I mean it is still in our galaxy, is that spacey enough?). Maybe the world lacks scope or interest. I dooooon't know! And these things never give you much feedback, so hey. But I've written a good story, I think, and the worst they can say is 'no thanks'.

I would say it is original work but.... Mythos stuff is also kind of fanfic. There is more of a market for it these days, true. But it's still basically fanfic. I'm a fan. I'm playing in this world and with these concepts that other authors originated. In this case, others have always been welcome to add their own (and especially so since it all became public domain). I am really enjoying the diversification that's been happening in Mythos work lately though, with the explicit inclusion of more women, queer people, and PoC because lbr the original is *terrible* for that stuff. This story has some of that diversity (space lesbians!), but my writing could certainly use more. I just have to find ways to do so that I am comfortable with. It is easier when dealing with fantasy/speculative contexts. In horror I feel like I need to tread a lot more carefully, because the genre has a lot of baggage. Anyway, I started this paragraph talking about fanfoc, how did that get away from me? It's basically fanfic. I could have written this for my YT assignment last year. Ahh well.

Anyway. Now it is midnight and I'm not particularly tired, which could be a Problem as I need to get up early on Thursday. I guess I'll aim to get out of bed by 10 tomorrow and see how that goes. More of problem is that I'm hungry, but I'm already kind of heart-burny, and if I want to go to bed in the next hour or so, food is not the best plan. maybe I'll have a banana. Excite!

Also - ugh, I remember why I wasn't using Semagic - I managed to do something that hides the tag input and I can't figure out for the life of me how to get it back :p I guess I'll try reinstalling -_- ETA: reinstall fixed, let's not do that again!

Another not-super productive day, though I did manage to wake up early. Tomorrow at the museum should be good - I at least have things to do, which is always better than me trying to find things to work on. I did some more writing and got my sister to look it over and assure me that it is comprehensible and interesting. Woohoo! I've got a better handle on the plot now too, and things are Moving Forward.

Tonight was knit night, which is always nice. It can be a bit like introvert club, depending who is around, where we mostly just sit quietly together and work on our own things we meet at the boardgame café in town, and it can be fun to listen to other people. There were some folks playing a game called... um... battlesomething? Superfight? I forget, shoot, because it looks like a ton of fun. The basic gist from what i could tell is that everyone drawn an adjective and a non card, and then you argue for who would win in a fight, with the person whose 'turn' it is arbitrating. There is some way of modifying things as well. It seemed like it would be awesome with a group who was sufficiently creative and ready to go to bat for their weird ideas (50 moose vs internet trolls, google vs the grim reaper, etc).

In terms of actual knitting, I got most of the heelflap re-done on my sock. I can finish that and probably get the heel turn started on the bus tomorrow if I opt to knit (I probably will). I'm sort of sick of knitting them at this point, though.

Maze was about catting around a lot today. I coaxed him out when the kids were playing video games in the morning, and after he sat with me, he decided to follow me around the house, Sierra was closed in Longpig's room, and kittyface was being sufficiently cute that she left Sierra there after she got up, and he hug out causing minor kitty mischief all morning and part of the afternoon. Apparently he can't tell the difference between mint and catnip. I also managed not to have a major allergy attack while petting/playing with him, though my hand is still red and itchy where he scratched me (my fault, I couldn't resist the belly...)

It's the new year, and I'm trying (again) to journal more regularly. This happens less because of the New Year thing, I think, and more because Yuletide gets me back in a more regular habit of engaging with the journaling world. There's also been buzz from a few corners about people leaving LJ because of the Russian Relocation, so I think more people are paying a bit more attention, which helps. I'll continue to crosspost, I expect, as I have been doing for the past few years.

I'm also stuck in the Holiday Time Limbo, which is worse because I don't have a real job at the moment. But that is bound to change....soon? I have references being checked. I have been told I am the desired candidate for another job if I apply for it. Basically I continue to be in Limbo, but glad to do so in a place physically and socially as well as financially where I can afford it. It is still not my favourite thing. Thursday I will go back to my regular volunteering gig. I could have gone today (I think), but lacked motivation. Anyway. I've been staying up too late and feeling like I'm accomplishing very little.

I'm working on an original story (original Mythos, anyway) for submission to an open call. I'm thinking about signing up for Chocolate Box (or Chocobo, as my sister insists on calling it). I've been doing lazy mindless and practical knitting rather than fixing the slightly more complicated project I messed up (and actually can't find when I did a half-assed search yesterday).

What else.... I got some really awesome mugs for Christmas. Two cheap-but-rad clear skull mugs from my aunt, and a lovingly hand-crafted vagina dentata mug from a friend who had them hand made for a few of us (me, my sister, and Nary, as far as I know). They're things of beauty, I tell you. Mine is red. I will drink from nothing but skulls and vaginas for the rest of my days (well I can dream, right?).

I've been writing things in my notebooks because I have some really pretty journals and I have fountain pens and it seems like a waste not to. Also I have about three on the go and I can probably finish at least one of the off just taking noted for the AU Colonial Call of Cthulhu skype game I'm in. We're trying to stop a serial killer from summoning an ancient god called the Devourer of Millions. I think we at least have figured out who it is now, and just have to do the actual thwarting, hopefully without going any more crazy (hah!) But it is complicated enough that it requires notes, and since it is skype, there are not logs to refer to, so actual note taking is handy. It helps me remember things better, even if I don't look them over. And I've gone all stream of consciousness here. Probably if I journaled more regularly I would be more organized about it (no.)

--

Anyway! I did want to do Pay it Forward again this year. I'm lifting it from karanguni who lifted it from someone else. So!

Let's start 2017 off in a positive way with a Pay It Forward meme. The first 6 people to comment (and more if I can manage it) will receive a surprise from me at some point in 2017 - anything from a book, a ticket, something home-grown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! It will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy.

(If you don't like surprises and would rather have something off a wishlist and/or some warning, let me know in your comment. The goal is to make you happy.)

If you can, post this in your own journal and pay it forward. Let's do more kind and loving things for each other in 2017, without any reason other than to make each other smile and show that we think of each other.

--

Also, this reminds me - I've seen people doing Fandom Snowflake, and I've seen people doing various journaling and year end memes. I'm not sure I am that committed, but I am open to suggestions. Is there anything you would like to see me talk about? Want to know more about me? My interests? Pet pictures? drop me a comment for that too, if you like!

...and with that posted, probably I should go to bed!

I have such great intentions of regular posting but I can't seem to keep it up ;p I't a shame - I don't know if anyone reads this regularly, but personally I always feel more connected to people when I can read regularly about their lives. I'd like to.... I dunno if it is that i want to offer you that same opportunity, or the more egoistical version where I want people to feel more connected to me as a sense of validation. Anyway :p Hi?

Work goes on. It is a big mess and I have so many mixed feelings.

I managed to write two things for Jukebox, and am quite pleased with both of them! I also received both a gift and a treat, and they were both so so great! I'm super pleased! I wish I'd been able to write more, but I am having a hard time with time, and motivation, and organization, and life balance things.

I went to a LARP game a few weeks ago and it was super great fun! I know I don't have the time and energy or money to get really sucked back in, but man can I feel the pull of it!

I got more tattoo work done! I got a few more spirals on my underarm (ouch!), plus I got some way-overdue touchups and fixes done to the last bits I had done when I was in Texas. I really really like the artist I've found here, much more than I liked the person in Texas. She's looking in to branding for me, because it isn't really a common thing. But I might know some other people I can look through. I want to get at least one more brand as part of this over all piece. Possibly I'm crazy. But I really want it. pics here!

Uh... what else...I have been and am going to be doing a bunch of traveling! in two weeks I'm going with Nary to Massachusetts for her Grandmother's 100th birthday party, wooh! It will be a pretty hit-and-run affair. Then in August I'll be in New Brunswick to see my dad and folks for two weeks, and then at the end of the month I'm taking a road trip down to Texas for Webercon and to see some other Texas friends. I don't think we have officially told tethys123 that we are planning to descend upon her, but we are (hi! :V)

I am about 3/4 through knitting a cool bolero (ember bolero), and I've started some socks. But also I bough some gorgeous gradient yarn (midnight paintbox by Fiber Optic yarns) to knit another shawl. A bigger shawl! The pattern is Cynara, and I'm still debating how I want to do the gradients for it.

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff, but honestly nothing much has changed with me lately. I really should be job hunting but ugh. Just ugh. Also, ugh.
I'm going out bin a bit to Kareoke at the pub up the street, which is a newish thing in my life (see above re: life balance though, ugh). But I have a cold, so we'll see how things go...

Like I said this is a quicky so if you want links to anything poke me and I'll add them later :3

I had/am having a great Christmas. It is great to be here with my family, especially my nephews. They got me a "Star Wars Guy" for Christmas - a Finn figure, literally the last one in the store. we watched A New Hope with them a few days ago and it was great.

I have seen the new Star Wars and I loved it! I have many ~feelings~. I wrote a short little fic yesterday, over here - just a short missing scene form near the very end of the film. Spoilers, clearly.

Yuletide has been great - today I am planning to read through stuff in madness. I have one outstanding comment on a madness fic, for a recip who is apparently usually a late commenter, but it has gotten other positive attention so I'm not worried. I need to do a longer write up on my writing journal but might not get a real chance until after reveals, we'll see.

I have the week off of work! \o/!

The rest of the family is out...somewhere....atm - time to work on lace knitting! And make quick journal posts I guess...

Other things I need to do today or in the next few days: call and make an appointment for someone to come and register my animals. Try and get out to take the written part of my drivers test for Ontario so that maybe, in two years, I can get a license :p Go and get cat food (wet and dry) and litter. Laundry. Other things I'm probably forgetting...

I have been sick since Friday. I thought I was better today, but I am not. I have been eating and tolerating more food, at least, which feels like improvement, but I am still very low energy

I'd wanted to do a bunch of writing on Friday but lacked the brainpower. Instead, on flamebyrd's suggestion, I created a pseud on my AO3 account for all my drabbles: Precisely_Measured_Words. It was too clever to pass up! Plus about half my works on AO3 are drabbles, so it made sense to separate them out.

If I still don't feel well tomorrow, I'll not be going to the museum - the hour long commute, each way, seems like a terrible idea :p Last week when I was there they had me cataloging, also. Starting a new collection of thousands of things... the curator was very impressed with my ability to write tiny legible numbers. I have been doing this a very long time now... My very first experience of archaeology had me writing tiny legible numbers. I will never escape it. Theoretically I may be learning a lot more about projectile points than I have ever needed to know previously, but we'll see. I am not an expert but a lot of the pieces I was looking at were crap ass "replicas". We did know that going in, at least, and there are a lot of legit pieces in the collection. I would say I have no idea how long it will take to get through it all, except that the answer is "forever". Meh :| There is a job open at that museum but it is a community coordinator job. Meeeeeeh.

I don't wanna be sick any more :( Also I have been sleeping for shit on top of it. I have had some good dreams but haven't had a chance to write them down, alas!

Good thing though - lots of fun chatting + gaming this weekend :) Hooray for the internet!

Things I did today:

Write a short, silly, Hannibal/Blue's Clue's crossover.

Sew a bunch more lithics onto a felt-covered peg board.

Knit many rows on my socks durin my bus commute.

Buy timbits.

Have homemade pizza rolls for dinner. Eat too many pizza rolls.

Eat a homemade popscicle out of a bowl because it broke.

Pretty good day, all told :)

My nights are not being any less disturbed. Saturday night the dogs got sprayed by a skunk. Sunday night it was too humid for me to sleep, and I got up to help one of the kids (Nugsy) at 4:00 and it took a while to get him back to sleep. Last night, there was an EPIC THUNDERSTORM with very loud, close thunder. One of the dogs (Sierra) was freaked out. One of the kids (Bubs) was scared when he woke up to pee and the power was out. The cat was up in my room. Nugsy was up early, and the cat was in the kids room ( a concerning combination...) We'll see what tonight has in store!

I actually feel better rested today, despite getting up early-ish. I have some quiet time atm, and I feel like I should be doing Something, but I'm not sure what. I do need to find some part time/temporary work here, as pets are expensive. I did get up to the archaeology museum today to talk to them about volunteering - I'll be going back on the 6th.

Ummm, what else? I've managed to do a little bit of writing - a couple of drabbles. But I feel like more is within my reach! I just need to decide where to focus... I want to finish the last of my last alphabet drabble challenge which was apparently, uh, from last year >.> So that I can do another one guilt free. I feel like starting something new and longer too, though I have some WIPs that need attention - we'll see. I wanted to try getting back into original fic as well, but that requires more solid ideas than I currently have :p

I think I mentioned already that longpig has gotten me going back to the gym? I need to be going at least twice a week, though, and haven't quite managed that. Hopefully we're going tonight though!

I've also been watching a lot mote TV here, for various reasons. Longpig is addicted to masterchef, so we burned through what was available of that, and she was bitter to realize that she's now caught up and can't binge! I've been watching Rescue Bots with the kidlets, which is adorable and I love it. And Hannibal, which hopefully will be picked up, because it really is quite good. And I watched the opening of the new season of True Detective last night which was slow.... but has some interesting potential. I think my favourite character, though, is Vince Vaughn's character's wife. The only main character whose name I remember is... haaa I forget the actress. But the lady cop, whose name is Antigone. Interesting choice thee, parents ;p

Anyway, that's all I've got. Gonna go walk the dogs before supper :)

The other awesome thing in life currently is that it is Jukebox time of year!



The nomination period ends in about, uh, 13 hours. But there is still time! There is a list of nominated songs on the community.

In addition to writing for the exchange, this year it is accepting podfic! So if you have fic that is based on songs and would like to let participants know a: if they can use it and b: where to find it, where is also a post collecting that information. You don't need to be signed up to participate to link stuff!

But you should sign up if you can, because Jukebox is awesome.