Better late than never?

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I just want to preface this with a massive apology. I know you all probably thought this thing was abandoned, and I should’ve kept you updated, but instead, I’ve been neglecting my works, my blog, everything.

I have no excuses for the neglect, so instead, I’m just going to give you the long overdue update.

“Don’t Feed the Trolls” is not dead or abandoned. I was just struggling with it, and I couldn’t figure out why I was struggling. Usually, it means that I’ve forced the characters into doing something out of character, and they’re no longer speaking to me until I fix it, but for the life of me, this time, I couldn’t figure out what I could’ve done to piss Shelly (or her boys off). Now though, I think I figured it out. It’s not Shelly or the boys. It’s me. I’ve been reading back over the previous chapters and I am very unhappy with the quality, and I think that’s what has been holding the story back.

This past week, I’ve been going through and editing previous chapters. I’ll be posting them when they’re done, but I don’t want to rush things and end up putting myself in a rut again, so I’m spacing out the posting. Don’t worry, as long as you’re subscribed, you’ll be getting a notification each time a new chapter has been reuploaded.

Chapter One has been “fixed” and will be up for reading shortly. Chapter two is mostly done, and I’m working on Chapter Three right now. Luckily, editing is going fairly quick, when I actually get a chance to sit down and work at it, so I don’t expect another year to go by without something.

Thank you, everyone, for sticking with me for so long. I’m sorry for not keeping you updated. I’m trying to do better, but I think it’s obvious I kinda suck at this. Please continue to be patient with me 🙂 

-TH

One down, One to go!

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You all might’ve noticed that Chapter 18 was finally posted. I meant to do it last Friday, on my day off, but something came up. My temperature, mostly. (Don’t worry, I didn’t catch the plague. Quite the opposite, really…)

I think I’ve mentioned now that I work at a pharmacy, but I don’t remember if I’ve talked about their role in the vaccination process. The first one I worked at wasn’t a COVID hub – meaning, we didn’t do testing or vaccinations for COVID. I transferred to a different state back in late January though, and the store I’m at now, is a hub. We do testing, scheduled vaccinations, and – sometimes – unscheduled vaccinations.

It’s happened a few times, where they defrosted a certain amount of the vaccine, and not enough people showed up for their vaccinations. When that happens, the people giving the shots usually run through the store real quick to ask any shoppers if they want it. Most of the time though, they ask the employees, first.

I had already passed on two opportunities to get my shot (I hatehatehatehate needles), but I finally decided that if it was offered again, I would bite the bullet and get it. There are too many selfish people coming into my store without a mask, and I don’t want to end up on a ventilator because some idiot got their medical license from a cereal box and decided that this plague is a hoax. Well, last Thursday, the techs at our store had extras, and I did the damn thing.

Let me tell you something: when they say your arm will hurt, they mean it. The give the shot in the muscle, and you’ll feel it for a good couple days. Mostly when you try to reach for something. It’s not fun. I had a fever for a couple days and felt generally blech, so I rested most of Friday and Saturday. I’m back to baseline normal now, though, which means it’s time to get back on the ball.

Coming up in the next couple months is Chapter 19 of “Don’t Feed the Trolls” and a revamp for the site. Oh, and pictures of the newest addition to the family, Mocha.

Mocha, the “chocolate” kitten.

I go to find the snow!

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Legolas watched them for awhile with a smile upon his lips, and then he turned to the others. “The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow–an Elf.”

With that he sprang forth nimbly […] and his feet made little imprint in the snow.

‘Farewell!’ he said to Gandalf. ‘I go to find the Sun!’

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

In the weeks leading up to my journey from Texas to the Kentucky area, I had numerous people ask me, “Why there?” Every time, my response was the same: “They get SNOW.”

Now, I’m in the Kentucky area, I got my snow, and Texas…well…

You’ve all seen the news, right?

It’s bad. Very bad. I’ve reached out to my family and friends in Texas. One of them didn’t lose power, but I think it’s because they live onsite at a business. The others…one just got his power back on after three days of nothing. The other hasn’t had power in five days now. She went to a friend’s house who does have power to charge her phone. They’re holding out okay, but there are millions who are still going without.

My sister is an optimistic soul. She’s hoping that this will help curb the COVID outbreak in Texas, but I don’t see that happening. The state is having to open up their shelters and warming stations for families without power, which means large numbers of people packed in (relatively speaking) small spaces. There’s no other choice though. Either people freeze or they expose themselves – and their families – to a deadly virus. Read that again, folks. Either they slowly freeze to death or put themselves at higher risk of catching a disease that has already killed millions worldwide.

And then, there’s Ted Cruz, who – after giving the smarmiest “I got no defense 🤷‍♀️” response to someone calling him out for blasting California’s energy problem, while not taking care of his own home state’s power grid – decides that he’s tired of the snow and jaunts off to Cancun, Mexico.

I’m not usually a “thoughts and prayers” person, but if you have any of either of those to send up for the people of Texas, please do. While you’re at it, please pray that they finally realize their “representatives” don’t actually represent them and vote them out.

New place, who dis?

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So, it’s been a hot minute, huh? Sorry about that. I meant to post regularly about the moving sitch, but…well, moving turns out to be quite a chaotic event. It’s been so long since I did it, I think I’d forgotten. I have been duly reminded, that’s for damn sure.

The past two weeks have been busy AF. Between moving, getting to the new workplace, getting used to the new workplace and co-workers, finally getting my promotion (!!!)…yeah, it’s been a ride. I’ve even already had my first taste of drama in the new place (wtf, neighbor?). It’s okay though, cause now I’m unpacked enough to feel up to writing and I’m starting to get a feel for Shelly again. I lost her for a while, which is part of why I just couldn’t write, even when I did find a second to sit down in front of the laptop. I’ve been itching to get back to her story ASAP.

I’m not setting any date for when the next chapter will be out – I don’t want to make myself a liar (again) – but I am working on setting aside time devoted solely to writing. I couldn’t do that before, so I’m excited to give it a try now. I’m especially hopeful, given that my new roommate also writes and understands the frustration of distractions getting in the way of words.

On that note, I’m writing this instead of working on chapter 17. I should probably get to that…

SNOW DAY!

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I have spent way too much time trying to figure out what I want to say about this past week. I mean, personally, I thought we were done with 2020, but, oops?

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It’s okay though. I refuse to dwell on the bad. VP Pence showed that he might be creepy AF and wrong about a lot of things, but he at least respects the voice of the voters; the arrests have already began for the people who decided to use our capitol buildings as their own personal stomping grounds; the person who incited the whole damn thing has been banned from all of the major social media platforms and faces articles of impeachment (again) on Monday; I move in 16 days; most of my stuff is already packed away in a unit; AND the DFW area of Texas is getting SNOW.

As I’m writing this, we are under a “Winter Weather Advisory” and I am LIVING for it. Before anyone starts judging me – you have to understand: while I didn’t grow up in New England like some people (*cough*Nikki*cough*), I did grow up in an area where we at least got a dusting of snow each winter. I’ve had white Christmases before, thankyouverymuch, and I miss them. This snow is more than a bit late for Christmas, but I will take it and I shall not complain.

What’s this mean?

Well, I was supposed to be spending the day packing and moving more stuff out of my room in preparation of the big day, but instead, I might just grab a couple cups of coffee and do some writing. Or playing Sims. I haven’t really decided yet. Whatever it is, it will involve multiple breaks to go outside and twirl with the falling snowflakes.

Shoo 2020, Shoo!

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Pretty sure we can all agree that 2020 has been an absolute shit show for most people. Even other writers, those of us who thrive on social distancing ourselves from anyone and/or everyone, are starting to feel the struggle…which is why I kinda feel bad for this next part.

This past year was amazing for me.

There have been down moments (remote learning is not fun to deal with, and some a$$hat got hold of one of my credit cards), but overall, my life has changed for the better. I’ve got a new job I love (except for the idiots who come in, refusing to wear a mask) and coworkers I enjoy working with. I graduated college, summa cum laude. I self-published my first book. I finally got my teeth taken care of, I’ve started eating a little healthier (I’ve lost 10lbs! *dances*), and I’m taking steps to keep the momentum. I’m about halfway packed for my move next month and have paid off one of my big monthly bills.

I’m trying not to jinx anything, but I can’t help but to be excited for the new year.

We have new leadership (suck it, dumpster fire!), a new vaccine (yes, it was rushed; no, I don’t exactly trust it, either, but it’s better than nothing)…in 39 days, I’ll also have a new address and a new roommate. It’s hard not to feel hopeful.

I am standing by my decision from last year; I’m not going to focus on any new year resolutions. I’m just going to keep on working on where I want to be in 2030. For 2021, that means the Indiana side of Louisville, Kentucky. Between now and the end of January, there’s going to be a LOT going on. If anything good happens, I’ll share it, but what fun stuff can come from packing? And why do I have a sudden sinking feeling that this move is going to be more eventful than anticipated? 😬😬😬

2020 Finish line is in sight!

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We’re in the final stretch! Just gotta make it through the next 31 days (not counting today), and 2020 will just be an ugly mark in history.

Polina Tankilevitch @ Pexels.com

Seriously, the only good thing that came out of this mess was the election results and even that was somewhat depressing. Don’t get me wrong, I am 100% here for Biden and our first female Vice President – of color, at that – but the fact that so many people still voted for the other choice, and the absolute ridiculous amount of people calling for him to run again in 2024 is heartbreaking. One of my roommates had her brother here for Thanksgiving week and I got to listen to a tin foil hat level conspiracy about how Biden’s going to put a chip in everyone by the end of the first year and they’re going to take everyone’s guns. By the time that guy left, I had a headache from the sheer…I don’t want to say stupidity, but wow. 

In other news, I haven’t even touched “Don’t Feed the Trolls.” As predicted, my hours at work almost doubled, and the increase in hours lined up perfect with my Thanksgiving break from watching the kids, so when I wasn’t working, I was recovering from working. There was drama at work on Thanksgiving, so that was really fun. A co-worker came to work with COVID symptoms. We had to send him home until he got tested and cleaned as much of the store as possible. Because of the possible exposure, I got to wear an N95 mask (3/10. Effective but hell on the nose) on top of my regular mask for the rest of the night. The coworker’s test came back negative, but we’re both having to have two temperature checks per work shift, just to be safe. 

I’ll have a two week break around Christmas, but I highly doubt I’ll get to write then, either. I’ll probably be working more, for one thing, and also ramping up on my packing. My future roommate signed the lease on our apartment just yesterday, and I’m supposed to be having a weekend off soon to finish organizing the family storage unit. Right now, everyone’s crap is all mixed in together, and I am not taking a bunch of toys the kids outgrew to my new place. Not happening, folks. I will be taking a washer and dryer (which may or may not work) and other assorted pieces of furniture, but that’s part of the organizing fun I get to have.

Lisa Fotios @ Pexels.com

I’m getting more and more excited, people. My future residential area has already had snow and it’s barely reaching freezing, here in DFW. I’m not going to have much of a winter this year, but it’ll still be more of one than I’ve had for the past twelve years, and I am so ready for it. 

TL;DR

No writing done, no writing probably until after the move. COVID still sucks. WEAR A DAMN MASK. Hell yeah, Biden/Harris, 2020!

In case you missed it:

“Say ‘No!’ to Zombies” is available on Amazon kindle! (Still working on the paperback copy.)

Thank the gods, 2020 is almost over~

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Every single time I thought to sit down last month and write a blog post, something else happened. Some good, some bad, some…undecided. I’m just glad I was able to finish that last chapter in time. It was a very near thing. 

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Just a heads up everyone, the next couple of months are going to be spotty. I finally got my moving stuff sorted out, and will be moving from Fort Worth, Texas to the Louisville, Kentucky area at the beginning of 2021. For the next two months, I’ll be going through an entire storage unit full of crap, sorting it out, figuring out what I want to keep and – in a lot of cases – repacking a ton of boxes. This, by the way, is on top of working an increasing amount of hours (yay, holidays!) and homeschooling the kids. 

I had really hoped to have “Don’t Feed the Trolls” done before the end of the year, but with everything going on, I don’t know if it’s going to be possible. I plan on working on it as much as possible, but I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. Due to this, I can’t promise a chapter in November. If I am able to post a chapter in November, I can’t promise one for December, and so on, and so on. 

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I can’t even promise Music Mondays anymore, and those are my favorite posts to do. I have a replacement idea in mind, but I haven’t decided if I like it yet, or how actionable it is, considering how busy I’m about to be.

Stay safe everyone. Whether the Idiot-In-Chief wins the election or not, the next couple of months are going to be interesting.

In case you missed it:

“Say ‘No!’ to Zombies” is available on Amazon kindle! (Still working on the paperback copy.)

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