#Happyhalloween🎃
It’s finally Halloween!! Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃💖🎃
Happy halloweenCategory Archives: Miscellaneous
April showers + May flowers = June rainbows
Welcome to June, folks. First off, let me just say, HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve been using this time of enforced “solitude” to do some re-evaluating (and writing, of course). I went through all the trouble of getting my teeth fixed because of the health concerns associated with the way they were. Now, it’s time to start working on the rest of my health.
I had been thinking of trying yoga for a while now, because I know I need to get more active, but I hate the “standard” exercise things I mostly heard about. Jumping jacks, treadmills, stair masters, no, no, no. Yoga, though. I’m probably going to find out I’m wrong about this later, but it seems more like a low impact sort of workout, that is still…you know…a workout.
I never really bothered though, because of my living situation. When you share a home with four other people and very little room to yourself, it’s hard to find a place to do any sort of exercise without tripping over someone else, or having them up in your business. That will (hopefully) be changing very soon, though. We’re working on changing our living situation, and I am still hoping to relocate to another state by this time next year. Given all that, I figured it would probably be a good idea to start making the whole working out thing a habit sooner, rather than later. So, as I’m writing this, I am munching on chips and salsa, and looking up yoga lessons online. Gyms are open in Texas now, but I already work in a risky environment. I don’t need to add onto it.
Now onto the writing news. Chapter 15 of “Don’t Feed the Trolls” is complete, and has been through my beta reader. I am currently planning on scheduling it for June 18th. If all goes well, Chapter 16 will be released July 16th. I have no idea yet how many chapters this monster is going to be, but it’s looking like close to 25-30. There’s a lot going on, and I don’t want to cheapen the story by just glossing over the events that are going to take place.
I haven’t had a chance to look into self publishing “Say ‘No!’ to Zombies” yet, due to the school closures, and having to take over full time teaching the kiddos, but that is also on the ‘to do’ list for the month. I am hoping to have news to give you in the July 1st post.
I think that’s all the news for now. I stopped doing the writing log because it wasn’t actually helping me keep up with anything. All it told me was that I’m too easily distracted, and I already knew that. I think, until the living situation changes, this is just how things are going to be. Once I have a little more room to myself it won’t be as bad (that’s my hope, anyway). Once I have a little more time to myself, it really won’t be as bad.
Oh! There is one more bit of news. I do still hope to finish “Don’t Feed the Trolls” before the end of the year. That means I will hopefully be able to start posting a chapter more than once a month. No promises though. I don’t want to make a promise I’m not sure I can keep. Also, once I’m done with “Don’t Feed the Trolls,” I’ll have to take a break to work on some of my other stories. They’ve been sitting on the back burner for much too long.
Now, I’m done with the news. I hope all of you are staying safe and sane, and I’ll see you next month! If you’re taking part in the protests, remember to keep your eyes open and look out for each other.
May the 4th be with you…
Even if it is only the 1st…
In May 2000, I graduated high school in – I believe – the bottom quarter of my class (I believe my GPA was in the 2.0s, if even that high – I hated my school). It’s now May 2020, and I am a college graduate with a 3.98 GPA. If you all will excuse me, I need a minute to sit down and process this.
Seriously though, this is a very weird time for me. For the past four years, aside from a week-long break here and there, every day has been filled with research and/or homework. Now…I don’t even know what to do with my time. I mean, the state finally bit the bullet and shut down the schools for the rest of the school year, so the kids are still doing online schooling, and I do have the new job, so my planner isn’t going to be completely empty, but it’s weird not penciling in my own assignments and whatnots. Once everything calms down, and the kids are done with school, I plan on penciling in some “me” time. Nothing special, but maybe I’ll Uber over to an IHOP or something, where I can sit back and read or write in peace. Maybe I’ll find the local library, instead. I miss libraries…
Anyway, it’s May 1st, and I had planned on getting straight back to writing, but I got called into work later today, and I also work all this weekend. I wanted another day to myself, but ah well. I’ll just have to wait til Monday to get back to writing. I don’t have a chapter of “Don’t Feed the Trolls” to release for this month yet, and I’d like to change that. It’s already halfway done, but I need to look back at where I left off, and get back up to speed.
I’ve set aside looking for an agent using “Say ‘No!’ to Zombies,” simply because, at the moment, I’m thinking it might be a bit wrongfooted, if you know what I mean. I do plan on looking into self-publishing it though. Might have to skip on the editor for now, which kinda sucks, cause I found one I like, but it is what it is. Maybe next year I’ll be able to have her look it over, but I’m also planning on moving sometime next year, so…we’ll see. As far as I’m aware, Amazon allows ebooks to be updated by the author, so if I am able to afford her services, I can just update the file.
I hope you all are staying safe and sane. It’s crazy right now, but we’re all in this together. ♥
Maybe some good April showers will keep people inside…
Kinda doubting it, though.
So. A lot has changed in the past month. I actually had to go look up last month’s update post to see what I had planned for March, and oof. March definitely has not lived up to my expectations. I mean, we had rain and flowers are starting to pop up, and there were tornadoes not too far from us, but the biggest source of concern (and cussing….lots of cussing) wasn’t Mother Nature, for once.
I’ve mentioned before that I was looking for a job, and if any of you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know that this virus crap was putting a major damper on that hunt (as well as just about everything else, let’s be real, here). Well, the good news is, I was able to find a new job. The bad news is, it’s considered “essential” so I’ll be out there every work day, just the same as one of the roommates. I plan on being extra extra careful, cause I know a lot of people out there aren’t, but it’s also at a pharmacy, so…yeah. This is going to be an interesting time.
The kids’ school have extended their distance learning for another almost two weeks. Personally, I’m just waiting for them to close til the end of the school year. It only makes sense at this point. The school district has ran out of “bad weather make up” days. If they switch to online learning for the rest of the year, they don’t have to worry about extending the year any further to make up the difference (course, then again, I don’t know how the school year works, so I could be wrong).
At any rate, the kids aren’t quite as miserable as they thought they would be. The eldest finished their homework with days to spare and was permitted to treat the rest of the week like a long weekend. The youngest and I worked together to schedule his school days to give him time to talk to his friends in the school chatroom, so he’s much happier with the set up. He also really likes not having to get up at six a.m.. We haven’t been able to factor in Phys. Ed yet, but we’re working on it. If the rain can hold off this week, he can start running around outside and getting some exercise that way (any parents out there with suggestions?). All of my plans for the kids’ April Fool’s Day are shot, so today is going to be rather boring for us.
I know a lot of people are starting to get strained with the Shelter In Place order, and to you all, I would suggest reaching out online. There are so many group chats and Facebook groups popping up; just because we’re social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t socialize at all. I’ve joined a group of ladies on Facebook, and we’re all helping each other plan projects to keep us distracted. I already have plenty of projects I want to work on, but the encouragement is nice to have, especially from a bunch of strangers. It feels like the coming together of a mini-community, and I definitely recommend it for anyone feeling the walls starting to press on them.
For those of you who don’t know, April is Military Awareness Month and Child Abuse Awareness month (anyone who suggests a correlation will be given the mother of all stink eyes). Given that the National Guard is out there helping in places like New York, where the virus is rampant, I figured they (and the rest of our service men and women) could use some love. I also wanted to bring attention to child abuse, since so many children are being forced to stay at home in unsafe conditions. For many of them, school is their only safe place, and it’s been taken away from them. This pandemic needs to end soon, and not just for the people who are at risk of the illness.
For all you out there, stay safe, sane(ish), and healthy. The next few months are going to be bumpy. Hang in there.
How we doing out there?
So. I’ve had a post sitting, waiting, for the past two weeks, explaining (and apologizing for) the lack of writing logs. I had them on pause while I was back in classes, because, honestly? I just didn’t have the spoons to write with. Now…oof.
I live in Texas. The schools in our district are shut down and we’re not sure when they’ll reopen. For now, the kiddos are doing online courses. The eldest kiddo has had their first online assignment, but most of their classes won’t start/open until Monday. They were very unhappy with the idea of online schooling until it sunk in that they could do it in their pajamas. Now, they’re like “YES!” There’s still some grumbling because they miss their friends and boyfriend, but I think the prospect of spending all day in comfy clothes is helping to soften the blow a bit. The youngest is in full denial mode. He misses his friends, and he doesn’t want to spend all day staring at a computer screen when it’s not playing games.
One of my roommates is a distributor, so he’ll be working through this crisis. The other’s workplace has gone to “no contact” operations. She keeps the doors locked, and all business is done online or through drop-offs. She’s also the one who got herself a trip to the ER last week, leaving with a possible (probable) flu diagnosis. That was scary, in itself, because the weekend before, we went to a couple shops and then out to eat at IHOP. The doc said she didn’t have enough symptoms to warrant a COVID test though, and the symptoms she did have weren’t in line with the virus, anyway. Still a scary moment. My cousin posted on Facebook last night that he’s sick. He’s feeling better today, but he’ll be tested on Monday. He lives in Japan, and apparently tests aren’t as hard to come by there, I guess? My sister has imposed some strict quarantine rules for her house. She just turned 50, is asthmatic, and is our mom’s caretaker, as it were. Mom is 71 and diabetic. She’s otherwise fine, health concern-wise, as far as I know of, but sis isn’t taking any chances, and I don’t blame her one bit.
My university has postponed the commencement ceremony until this whole mess is over. My job hunting is at a standstill now, until businesses start opening again. I supposedly still have a job at 7Eleven, but I haven’t even been paid from the last time I worked, so…yeah. I’m not falling for that again. We’re hunkered down and not going out if we can avoid it, but other than that, not much has changed for us. I guess we’re all lucky in the fact that most of us are introverts, and the one extrovert we have is the one driving around to all these stores. He gets all his people time out there, so he’s alright.
I know a lot of people are stressed lately, and I hope for a pleasant end to this soon…for everyone’s sake.
#MusicMonday – Week 11
I dedicate this one to my sister, Kawanee! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy February!
They aren’t wrong when they say January is the longest year, but I have to say I’m rather happy with the way it turned out. I finished three chapters, started making actual actionable plans/changes in my life and my blog, and didn’t have to hide any bodies.
Look at me, being ahead of the game, and all!
We’re in February now, though, and Valentine’s Day is coming up on us fast.
You know the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Well, this month has been set aside for sappy love stories since long before my time, and I don’t really see a point in changing it up. A bit cliché, perhaps, but it gives me the opportunity to share some of my favorite love stories put to song.
This is also the last couple of weeks I have off of classes before I start my final term. Then it’s off to graduation! I’ll be full time for the term, so no promises on how much writing will be done once it starts. I’m trying to make sure I stay ahead, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans.
This is also the month I begin looking for a new job and tackle one of the more daunting parts of being a writer: sending out query letters.
Wish me luck? 😬😬
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Every mom ever.
Plans for this month:
- Finish at least another two chapters.
- Query at least one agent a week (unless advised otherwise).
- Start a new job.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Hardcore judging the states that have chosen to combine Martin Luther King Jr. Day with days celebrating Confederate leaders (Alabama and Mississippi, in case you were wondering).
[Review] Frostbeard Studios – Pemberley Gardens
This candle is part of the limited time Spring collection!
Time for the candle I had the most concerns with: Pemberley Gardens.
When I opened the tin, it was like I got punched in the face with a rose. Not the most terrible thing to be hit with, but I was hoping for more of the lavender scent to make an appearance. So far, it’s the spring candle with the most scent throw.
Now, I have to say – for having such a strong initial throw, I expected this candle to be overpowering. It’s not though. I burned the candle for a couple hours, and while there’s a definite rose scent to the room right now, it’s not like someone is trying to shove an entire rose bush up your nose. It comes across as the scent you would get if you were walking through an actual rose garden. Sometimes the smell is stronger, and I can just perfectly imagine walking through a rose garden with puffs of wind carrying more of the scent as I go.
As someone who isn’t generally fond of roses, I have to give this candle its due: it’s good. The tin pictured is actually the 4oz, because as soon as the 2oz tin was gone, I turned around and immediately ordered the larger one. I figure this should last me until next year.
Still, I do wish the other scents were actually noticeable…
| Breakdown: | Frostbeard Studio says: | I say: |
| Scent Details | Rose, Lavender, Hyacinth | Rose garden. |
| Scent Strength | Medium/Strong | Medium/Strong. |
Note: This particular candle is seasonal and only currently available from
March 16 – May 31 .
Click on the bearded fellow above to get your order on~
