The Cantina Staring Back At You From The Abyss

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
I'm not sure any writing is truly a waste of time; you'll learn more writing a story that doesn't sell than not writing anything at all. Do you want/need to write the second installment, to finish the arc? Is that the one at the front of the mental line of "what do I write next"? I'd go ahead and write it, then, since it's a hypothetical whether or not the first one's sold or not at this point. You can redirect energies if/when it becomes something other than a hypothetical and if/when you get any interest (or lack thereof) in the second installment.

JMHO...

Friday afternoon, shopping trip done, and I may need an alibi at some point if things keep going the way they're going. Long story involving the sibling melting down again, which may or may not destroy the rest of the evening... headache's trying to come back, too, which is not helping.

Think I'll go pace around the yard for a bit, since I can't do any writing right now...
 
  • Like
  • Hug
Reactions: MaeZe and E.F.B.

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
6,340
Reaction score
1,802
Location
Valinor
Website
www.etsy.com
Thanks for the thoughts, y'all. You confirmed my gut feeling on the issue.


ION: Mom had another ENT appointment yesterday. The doc was glad to see some a little more reduced swelling in mom's ear, but it wasn't near as much as she was hoping for, and she's unhappy that the Bell's Palsy has yet to resolve. Mom's been referred to a specialist who may end up recommending surgery to clean out the inflammation. Cue dad having massive anxiety because surgery. Mom had a sit down talk with him about how we're not going to have a repeat of February when he was spiraling so much he had me and mom about to scream with how he couldn't stop flipping out that mom was going to randomly die during the surgery to fix her broken foot. (For those who don't know, dad has childhood trauma from all the way back in the 50's due to multiple surgeries his twin brother went through that did far more damage than good. That's where this anxiety is coming from.) He apologized for upsetting us and actually said that if the surgery really is the only way to help mom, then we'll get it done. I know he'll likely still have some anxiety later on, especially if that really is the only option left, but once he's been told something upset us (especially me), he makes an effort to be more self aware about what he's saying.
 
  • Hug
Reactions: MaeZe

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Another merghy day...

So, work was "fun" - only seven people (out of a "full" shift of nine, on a job that ideally should have ten or eleven), impossibly large volume of totes to sort, and then they kick the day off randomly testing the fire alarms.

And the sibling's still in meltdown mood, because today Dad had a foot doctor appointment and COVID restrictions meant she had to wait in the car while Mom took Dad in, instead of waiting in the lobby.

Also had to shop my way home - and totally had no idea I was supposed to pick up meds for someone at a pharmacy. (I thought the sibling would pick up her own meds, silly me, but once she's in meltdown mode, that's it for at least the day. I was so, so hoping her regular doctor was around to witness it... doctor can't/won't understand the sibling has Serious Mental Health Issues until she witnesses it for herself.)

Not entirely sure I'll get around to writing today; will have to be after dinner if it happens anyway. But I did pick up my bribe to finish revisions.
 
  • Hug
Reactions: E.F.B.

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
6,340
Reaction score
1,802
Location
Valinor
Website
www.etsy.com
Good news has followed bad news, and as of this morning, I'm 4 sales away from 100 in my Etsy shop! 😯 Gonna have to brainstorm how to celebrate when I get there (and I am open to ideas, LOL). At this point, I'm thinking either a gift card for the person who gives me the 100th sale, or maybe a surprise giveaway on the social medias and newsletter? Both? I shall think about it.

Writing, or more accurately, editing is still going well. I'm almost wondering if I might reach the end of my first big word-cutting pass this month. I'm still hitting sections of story where I'm like, "Why did I drag this scene out so long???" Because I was pantsing and pantsing hard in these latter chapters, that's why. At least doing so allowed me to finish the story, so can't beat myself up over it, and this is what editing is for, anyway.

Mom's appointment with the specialist is this afternoon, so I better go write while I have time.
 

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
4,067
Reaction score
4,865
Location
Belgium
Wooo! Big milestone! I like the idea of a give-away but be sure to also take the time to enjoy it and bask in the glory of the moment. Nearly a 100 sales! That's pretty awesome.:e2flowers

I saw a preying mantis up close today. As long as the palm of my hand and the colour of dried grass. Such a beauty.
 

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Yeah, yeah - those mantises always act holier than thou, praying in public, but have you ever seen them in a church on Sunday? Didn't think so...

Thursday evening, and I'm going to take a quick look at the Sisyphus Sequel draft, but I don't think any substantial work on that will happen until after the weekend (see also: Lucifer S6 dropping tomorrow). Or longer, if relatives interfere, as I fully expect them to do (see also: sibling pitching another loud fit right now as I was about to open the draft)...

Really gonna be a full month of merghishness, isn't it?
 
  • Hug
Reactions: Friendly Frog

Unimportant

No COVID yet. Still masking.
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 8, 2005
Messages
19,425
Reaction score
22,571
Location
Aotearoa
Good news has followed bad news, and as of this morning, I'm 4 sales away from 100 in my Etsy shop!
WOOT!

ETA: is there a link where I can etsyooogle?
 

Unimportant

No COVID yet. Still masking.
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 8, 2005
Messages
19,425
Reaction score
22,571
Location
Aotearoa
W

I saw a preying mantis up close today. As long as the palm of my hand and the colour of dried grass. Such a beauty.
EEEWWWWWW BUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::faints dead away with horror:::
 

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
4,067
Reaction score
4,865
Location
Belgium
Yeah, yeah - those mantises always act holier than thou, praying in public, but have you ever seen them in a church on Sunday? Didn't think so...
Oh I dunno, considering what I've seen from some churches, she'll fit right in, regardless of which spelling of preying you use...

Then again, I'm pretty sure other bugs will definitely agree that they would prefer more of the other sort than what a mantis usually does...

WOOT!

ETA: is there a link where I can etsyooogle?
She has one in her profile!
EEEWWWWWW BUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::faints dead away with horror:::
But... but... pretty bug?

*gets Unimportant some smelling salts*

Best not to mention then I had to relocate two of them back outside and one was bigger than my camera...
 

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
6,340
Reaction score
1,802
Location
Valinor
Website
www.etsy.com
Thanks, y'all. :) <3

I saw a preying mantis up close today. As long as the palm of my hand and the colour of dried grass. Such a beauty.
We've had some around lately, too. One big brown and green and one smaller solid green. The brown and green one was on the back porch railing and when da lab mix came up the steps it started swaying in the wind like a leaf, LOL.
WOOT!

ETA: is there a link where I can etsyooogle?
Most definitely! Here ya go: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EruvandiCrafts I've got a new collection launching in the next couple of weeks, too, so you might want to check back at some point to see the new purty things. ;)



Well, mom's appointment with the specialist yesterday resulted in her being scheduled for surgery on the 28th. The guy's going to go in her ear and clean out the inflammation. If we wait any longer by trying to clear it with medication, the damage to the nerves may be permanent, so this is a last ditch effort to fix her ear and her Bell's Palsy. If the hearing bones are damaged, they can be replaced titanium ones, apparently. Who knew? Not what we would prefer to have to be done, but we'll do what's necessary. It's outpatient at least. She'll go home immediately after. And hey, at least she won't be unable to walk much, unlike with her foot surgery.
 
Last edited:

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Friday afternoon, and started the Lucifer binge, but I have to deal with dinner now. (One ep in; so far, setting up a good final season, dealing with some of the things I'd hoped they were going to deal with.) Writing will probably be on hold until I clear all 10 episodes, so we'll see how many I manage to get through tonight; if I'm dedicated enough I could be done by Sunday. Supposed to be a real roller-coaster in a good way - I'm deliberately avoiding spoilers.

Work existed. Number of totes to process keeps going up, number of employees on the floor holds steady or goes down...

...

And it's Saturday afternoon, and cleared 8/10 Lucifer episodes. So far, very much enjoying where they're going; it is, indeed, a love letter to the fans (and not in the "cater to the lowest and loudest common denominator" way). Only one or two minor quibbles so far. Will save the last two until after dinner, I think; will probably want to go straight through on those. (I've been breaking between each episode for other things, mostly pacing in the yard to simulate exercise.)

...

Sunday morning, and for the record I did clear - and very much enjoy - the whole season. Great ending and send-offs for the characters, though I'm sure some fans who had their head-canon violated are (as usual) not happy. Definite shades of The Good Place, though a somewhat different direction.

Got a bit of throat scunge going on, on top of minimal sleep last night because uncooperative brain is uncooperative. May chill for a bit before attempting writing; still got a bit of a post-series hangover goin' on, here...
 
Last edited:

greendragon

Registered
Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
4,217
Reaction score
475
Location
Beacon Falls, CT
Website
www.greendragonartist.com
The plan: Husband was out of town for three days. Yay! Time for alone time! Nope - working 14 hour days all three days. Sigh.

But at least I got about 6000 words edited on Legacy of Luck. Keeping at least one chunk ahead of my critique group. That's good. The rewrite of Taming of the Few is on the back burner until this is done, I think, unless I get a wild hair up my...nose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MaeZe

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Well, hooray for extra money (I hope, at least), and revision progress.

Speaking of, I suppose I ought to get back to it. Sorta off my game today; never totally shook the scunge, and blew off exercise because energy drop (see also: crudtastic sleep last night). Just checked transcription, and it's a dud night for that, too. So, back at the draft, I guess... just made the first reasonably major change, which always feels like progress even if it's probably not. I know I overwrite terribly, too, but this one may just end up an overwritten draft. Sorta want it off my plate at this point - not that I dislike it, just that I feel like I can't do a ton more with it than a solid editing/revision pass, if that makes sense, so I kinda want to move along.

--

Monday, late morning, and got a little bit of sleep last night until the intestines decided to rebel. And there are various family stresses going on that aren't helping.

Sooo... yeah. Gonna be a fun day.

Really need to dig in and get back to revisions; there's some stuff from last night I had to rough-sketch because family was being loud and annoying right outside my door, so I gotta get that squared before I trudge onward.
 
Last edited:

MaeZe

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Messages
12,748
Reaction score
6,435
Location
Ralph's side of the island.
Well it's started: flu shots. Sat went fine, done by 2:30.

But today was a nightmare. First I get a call at 4 AM because a police officer had a blood exposure dealing with two drunks who were fighting. At least I didn't have to go see him at that hour.

But in the morning I had the same flu shot clinic, different fire department shift. Then I had to go see the cop. Fortunately the guy he was exposed to was very cooperative and met us at the police station. It went smoothly. But I'm exhausted. By the time I got home I still had to run the rapid HIV test and get the blood spun then I put it out in the lab box I have at home (the benefit of having a home office).

It was 9 PM before everything was finished. When you hardly work for two years then you are back to what amounted to a double shift it wears you out. And I'm still up because my dog was alone all day and he's now asleep on the couch and I don't want to put him to bed just yet. Guilt, yep I feel guilty but there's nothing I could have done about it.

Tomorrow I have the last all day flu clinic with the fire department. They have three shifts. But there are three half days to catch the folks who were not on duty.. And it doesn't stop there. My calendar is full for the next four weeks.

On the bright side, the timing was good since my unemployment ended this week.

Thanks for listening to me venting at actually having to work again.
 

jallenecs

Searching for Wonderland
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
Messages
9,940
Reaction score
1,292
Location
Appalachia
I'm being unfaithful to my Blue Moon stories! I had an idea for a quick little horror story, completely unrelated to everything else I've written. I'm trying to figure out how to write it without guilt!
 

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
6,340
Reaction score
1,802
Location
Valinor
Website
www.etsy.com
Morning, Cantina. Been fairly busy the past few days. Friday involved taking my craft entries to the State Fair. The intake people were already admiring the epic blanket of epic proportions. Really hoping for a blue ribbon on that one. I also entered a baby blanket from my Wizard of Oz collection, and a sweater I crocheted earlier in the year. Also hoping for good things for the baby blanket as it was semi-involved to crochet, not to mention my own design. I'm less confident about the sweater because I don't see it as being all that fancy, but mom thought I should enter it, so can't hurt to try.

Saturday involved editing. I officially only have 35 pages left to edit!!!!!!!!

Sunday, after church, I took pics of all the items in my upcoming Jungle Book themed Etsy collection. I have no choice but to do some of that outside because there's not enough room and clear space to photograph the crochet items in the house, not to mention the lighting in here is crap. And of course I just HAD to finish this collection right when the mosquitoes are at their awfullest. I had to wear a large, button-up shirt over my clothes to protect my arms, the support gloves I wear while crocheting to protect my hands, and finally had to take my hair down because a ponytail let the tiny monsters fly in my ears. ICK! It's a wonder they didn't eat my face, but I tried to stay moving between shots. The pics turned out pretty good, I think. I edited half the photos yesterday and will try to get more done today. Fingers crossed I might be able to launch next week, which would be a week earlier than originally planned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: greendragon

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Wednesday morning, and I'd so rather not go to work because I'm sick of work and finally was getting some good sleep in when work decided it needed to exist. Stupid, lousy work ethic, compelling me to actually do my frellin' job...

After work, assuming I'm not too zonked, got to get back to Sisyphus Sequel revisions. Am still hopeful I can keep this sucker under 30K total, 25K ideally, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
 

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Messages
4,067
Reaction score
4,865
Location
Belgium
Morning, Cantina. Been fairly busy the past few days. Friday involved taking my craft entries to the State Fair. The intake people were already admiring the epic blanket of epic proportions. Really hoping for a blue ribbon on that one.
Sounds cool. Is a blue ribbon first place? Best of luck!
Am still hopeful I can keep this sucker under 30K total, 25K ideally, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
*sympathy fist bump* My sisyphus is also trying to get away from me length-wise.
 

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Winding down Wednesday, and had a pleasant little surprise when I checked my email for my site. Someone wrote to say how much they'd enjoyed my old Skyhaven Adoptions place. (It was a "click and take" place with drawings to save and "adopt", plus a little puzzle and exploration area because I have always been a bit evil...) Bit of nostalgia, as it was always a labor of love... nice to know someone else enjoyed it. Hopefully, someday my stories will do the same, and be enjoyed by strangers...
 

E.F.B.

Stories, stories everywhere
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Messages
6,340
Reaction score
1,802
Location
Valinor
Website
www.etsy.com
Sounds cool. Is a blue ribbon first place? Best of luck!
Thanks! Yep, blue is first, red is second, white is third. It's also possible to win a "rosette" for best in section.

I spent today's computer time finishing editing Etsy photos and getting the listings for my collection set up. Took about 5 hours, but I love how the finished listings look together on the drafts page. <3 I also got a newsletter typed up and sent out to my subscribers about the official launch date on the 22nd. (I'd previously planned for the 29th but finished early and decided to launch a week early. Probably best not to try to do major stuff the day after mom's surgery when I don't know what my schedule will be like.) Everything is ready for launch and I'm getting excited! Tomorrow I'll get back to writing/editing.
 

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
12,937
Reaction score
4,453
Location
USA
Website
brightdreamersbookreviews.blogspot.com
Hooray for photo editing!

Sending extra crossed fingers for parental surgeries!*

* - Just don't ask where the fingers come from... I mean, they probably won't be missed, not any time soon... Look, do you want the luck or not? 'Cause I already dropped them in the mailbox and everything...

Thursday, and it was a "Fool's Friday", in that it felt like Friday and I really hoped it would be a Friday but it was not a Friday. Work is literally just treading water at this point, plus the machinery feels like it's building to a major blowout that I fully predict won't even be on my shift, so I won't even get the benefit of the down time, just the extra backlog. And no writing today because shopping and family stuff, and now Windows is being pushy about an update so I think I'm going to take the hint and not even bother tonight.

Major weather shift coming tomorrow, possible thunder over the weekend. That would be cool, so long as we keep power.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: E.F.B.

CMBright

Cats are easy, Mice are tough
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 23, 2021
Messages
5,616
Reaction score
7,914
Location
Oklahoma
The Labor Day weekend Friday, someone decided it was a great idea to set two kittens of approximately 3 weeks of age in front of the door, knock, and run off before being seen.

Since then, the three responsible adults and one responsible teen have been taking care of the pair. Keeping up with keeping two bottomless bellies filled was not easy. Neither was keeping two bladders and lower GI tracts empty. We managed, they thrived.

Today? The pair left our care for a kitten foster.

While I wish the pair the best in their future, I wish to apologize to any with injured eardrums at my screams of primal joy at the departure. I did manage to wait long enough to not deafen the pair, but it was a struggle.

I really, really do not want to go through that again! If presented, I will not turn a bottle kitten down, though I will wish it a swift departure from my life to a foster who will care for him or her.
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: Laelia and MaeZe

MaeZe

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Messages
12,748
Reaction score
6,435
Location
Ralph's side of the island.
Speaking of that storm that's forecast, it'll be a dud because I just spent three hours getting things battened down, the gutters cleared and the driveway blown clean.

You know you put off gutter cleaning a tad too long when you find the bird nest up there that egg laying and fledging happened twice from this summer. At the time I saw the fledglings I couldn't see where the nest was.

It used to be easy when I could get up on the roof. But my ladder isn't quite long enough and now I'm afraid I'll knock the ladder over with that last scramble on my knees to the roof. Of course I didn't get around to scheduling the crew I've hired before to do it and I was sure they would be very busy for a couple weeks. I am such a procrastinator.

It was a gorgeous day to sit in the backyard . I didn't get much done on my query, but it was so pleasant.

I only had one job today to give flu shots. It was easy and the people at this company are so nice. They make marine hardware and they managed to stay busy the whole two years of lockdown. Half the crew speak Spanish and we made friends years ago when they found out I could speak a little myself plus I have flu vaccine information in multiple languages. They all put masks on when I asked with not one person complaining.

They've all been vaccinated and they aren't wear masks when working. Can't blame them given they work with molten brass and other things that make mask wearing difficult. It's refreshing to see a whole place of employment like that where no one is grumbling about vaccines and masks. Honestly, give me Hispanic immigrants any day over the Trump cult-followers we have in this country.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brightdreamer