another step

Last night we rearranged the office in our new apartment, and I think it's a much better use of space. I think I like it. now we just have to get rid of all the stuff we're not keeping, and then do a lot of organizing. And then decorate! It sounds like a lot still, but we're really getting there. I'm still trying to keep the freelance work to a minimum so I have time to deal with things at home. AND, I've started looking for a cat. Finally!

In other news, I've been slowly brainstorming about the series arc and sequel plotlines for my book. More to do on that, but I think I'm moving in the right direction. Once that's all sussed out, I can start editing this book, which I'm looking forward to.

I've read a couple books so far this year:

1) Ganymede by Cherie Priest. Third book in the Clockwork Century series. Love it! I love all of Cherie's books, honestly, but this series is so much fun. Steampunk! Air pirates! Civil War alternate history! Zombies! What's not to love?

2) The Saga of Swamp Thing. I read the first trade that came out after Alan Moore took over, and I have to say, this is a pretty amazing graphic novel. It's dark and moody and introspective, and has some great horror moments to it. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.

3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 8: Vol. 1. Love it! This picks up shortly after the television series ends, after Buffy has changed the world. I enjoyed it so much I went to the comic book shop down the block from work and ordered the next two trades. What can I say? The Buffy 'verse really resonates for me.

And now, I should probably get to work. Things are a little on the quiet side this week, so I stand a chance of catching up if I can find a little focus and motivation.

apartment update

After another long weekend, we're still not quite 100 percent settled in the new place. But we're closer. The office still needs some work, but it looks worse than it is. There are several boxes in there that just need to go to the basement, and that will make a huge difference. The next couple evenings, I think, is all it's going to take to whip the office into shape. Then we can start thinking about things like curtains, new rugs, a coat rack, etc. Progress!

Things that will happen in the near future: Getting a cat. Editing my novel. Fixing up my desk. Getting caught up at work. MAYBE a trip to Vegas. Stay tuned for more updates!

a moving dream

About a week ago, I moved from Astoria to Williamsburg. Last night, I dreamed that my partner-in-crime and I had to go back to our old apartment to clean it out. When we got there, the whole neighborhood was sort of crumbling and returning to the elements. One side of our old building had fallen away, so the basement studio was wide open. There was an old mattress in one corner, and drifts of fallen, rotting leaves everywhere. There were porcelain dolls and coins and pocket watches and candy scattered beneath and around the mattress. Someone had built a wooden deck off one end of the apartment. It was completely overwhelming, and utterly fascinating. My parents and my younger sister, and a good friend's mother, came to help us clean up, but right when the landlord arrived to deal with things, we were expected somewhere else, so we had to leave and just hope our family would take care of the mess well enough.

I woke up really wishing I could hang out with my mom today.

We made good progress on the apartment. The bedroom is mostly settled now. We're contemplating rearranging the living room. The office is still definitely a work in progress, but it'll get there. And once we're done rearranging furniture, I'm getting a cat.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

moved!

Two days ago, I finally moved out of the basement apartment in Astoria and into a two-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg. I have windows! And sunshine! And separate rooms! It's amazing. We're not totally settled yet; the kitchen and the living room are good, but the living room and my office need some work. It'll take a week or two, I think, to get through everything. But I don't mind that. I need to start a list of things we need for the new place. I need to go grocery shopping. I need to finish my freelance project! I'll get it all done. I'm just happy I finally have an office, with a desk that faces a window.

Happy Tuesday, everybody!

winding down

It's the tail end of December now, and I've barely said a word here all month. To be fair, the lead-up to the holidays was CRAZY, all freelance and long hours at work and holiday gift shopping and apartment stuff. So, to clarify a couple things from previous posts:
We did not go home for the holidays. I am currently on staycation. I was bummed at first, but now am really enjoying reading and writing a lot. I survived all the freelancing, so everything I'm doing this week is really just for me, which is nice.
We got an apartment. It's in Williamsburg, and we're moving January 15th. I'm really excited about it. My partner-in-crime is on the fence, so to speak. I'm going to have an apartment with lots of windows, and more than one room! It has a backyard! And laundry in the basement!
I'm over seventy-two thousand words in my novel. Still hoping to finish this draft by the end of the year. Well, by the end of staycation, which is approximately the same. Still feeling pretty good about where this one is going.
I've managed to read a few books in the last week or two:
51) Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey. This is one of the first sci fi/fantasy books my dad suggested to me when I started really getting into genre fiction, and I chose to reread it recently in homage, I suppose, since Anne McCaffrey passed away a few weeks ago. I always enjoy her books, and the trilogy this book belongs to is no exception. The world if Pern is such a vivid, well-fleshed-out creation, and the characters are interesting. And, of course, the dragons . . . I love her work.
52) Graveminder by Melissa Marr. I've read her YA stuff; this one is her first adult book. I got a copy at BEA and have been wanting to get around to it ever since. It was seriously worth the wait; this book is REALLY good. The world-building is fresh and interesting. The characters are complex and empathetic. The slow reveal of what it means to be the Graveminder, and what's going on in the town, was great. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good read.
53) Bone Gods by Caitlin Kittredge. This is the third book in the Black London series, and it's another solid entry. I've enjoyed watching Kittredge grow as an author over the last few years. I can't wait to read the last two in this series, and see what she comes up with next.
54) A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin. Third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. I enjoyed this one . . . but I don't know that I'll continue with the series. Several big characters died in this one. Kingships keep changing hands, everybody's angry all the time, the Stark family is really getting the crap beaten out of them by life. I just don't know that I want to read several thousand more pages full of bloodshed and abuse. I don't mean anything negative about the book in saying that. I just don't know that it's really my thing. Epic fantasy is a hard sell for me these days, and while the basic plot is interesting (and convoluted), there's an awful lot of secondary plot to wade through. We'll see.
That's it for the books, and the life update, really. Things are quiet this week. Lazy brunches and late dinners, reading and writing time and a bit of hanging out with friends. It's nice.
Happy holidays, everyone!

right around the corner

Do you know what tomorrow is?

It's December.

That's right. Already. How did that happen? Where did November go?

I wish I had more to tell you, but honestly, life is pretty much the same as it was the last time I posted. Still working on the novel. still behind at work. Still trying to sort out a new apartment; yes, there's one in Astoria we want. No, we don't have a signed lease yet. If that doesn't happen this weekend I am going to start looking again.

because the apartment hunt is taking longer than I originally anticipated, I don't know if we're going home for the holidays. Which, frankly, really bums me out. I like spending the holidays with my family. I like seeing my friends, and my godchildren. I like shopping at my favorite bookstore, and having long evenings of board games and Christmas movies. But this year . . . we'll see. I need to have the apartment thing done before I can go anywhere. With each passing day, it's less likely that I'll make it home this year. . . .

Sorry for the glum entry. That's really about all that's going on. Happy Wednesday, everybody. Maybe next week will be a more optimistic one.

Apartment

It's 6 pm and I'm still at work. What a crazy day it's been! And don't worry, I'm leaving momentarily. But internet access has been spotty at home as of late so I wanted to get this in really quickly. Just a couple of apartment pictures for you:





Obviously I have my work cut out for me! but I'm excited about it. So much space, what will I even do with it? Anyhow, I should go home and not sit in my office any more. I will post more pictures on Monday when I am done making a home out of my new apartment!

Slow down

That's what I wish life would do right now. Just a little.
I've felt anxious and restless the last few days. Part of that is just my annual springtime mood swing. Part of it is because I just have too much happening right now. I'm trying to pack my old apartment, paint my new apartment, proofread a book, and work full-time. And maintain some semblance of sanity. Admittedly, I feel like I'm hanging on by a thread sometimes! Part of me is starting to get very nervous about whether or not I can get everything done that I need to do. But another part of me just keeps whispering "Be in the now," and I'm trying to listen to that part. Because every moment is special, and every day there are things to love and enjoy and be happy about and get inspired by. And I'm trying. That's all I can do.
I was thinking about the concept of spring break recently. Several blogs I read on a regular basis have recently mentioned spring break, be it plans for theirs or their children's, etc. Wouldn't it be nice if everybody, on the whole planet, got a spring break? Think of how nice it would be to get a week off to go play, like we did when we were in school. What would you do with your spring break? Sometimes I think I would travel. But other times I think I would just stay at home and do the things I love to do. Create, create, create! Think of how much you could squeeze in to one whole week without work! And how much better would everyone feel afterward, simply because we had time to recharge our batteries! I think it's a great idea. Maybe we should start a petition. In an abrupt change of topic, I've managed to read a couple more books recently. Eat, Pray, Love is a simply gorgeous book, shot through with humor and pathos and brilliant moments of insight. Liz, the author, spent a year essentially trying to find her balance, and herself. There were several moments when I really, really empathized with this woman. It's an amazing thing to read about her grappling with her inner demons, and more amazing that instead of just accepting her suffering she worked through it and moved beyond it. Now, we aren't all lucky enough to spend a year traveling in Italy, India, and Indonesia to exorcise our demons and recenter ourselves spiritually, but there are lessons in this book that we all can carry with us. We do not have to let life beat us down. We can all take care of ourselves. The world is a beautiful place that will take care of us if we let it. There is so much more to it than that, but I'll leave it on that note.
The other book is very different: Night Life, by Caitlin Kittredge. It's a dark urban fantasy about a werewolf detective named Luna. I really enjoyed this one. It's edgy, and sexy, with characters who aren't afraid of anything, it seems. The world that Caitlin built is solid and interesting, with a lot of depth and style. But I do want to say that, to me, it feels like a first book. There's nothing wrong with that at all; but there were a couple of moments where I felt like the characters didn't need to be quite so in-your-face badass, and one moment where I entirely disagreed with how Luna reacted to a situation. It just didn't feel like how she would have reacted. However, that said, this was a really fun book. And I'll definitely be picking up the future Nocturne City books by Caitlin.
It's that time of the afternoon where I wrap up my work, sneak out to Home Depot to buy a screwdriver, and then spend several hours painting my new apartment. Wish me luck, and hopefully I'll post a few pictures within a couple days!