settling in to staycation

I'm not surprised it's been basically two weeks since I've blogged. Like I warned you all, life was really busy for a while there. Yesterday was the beginning of staycation, but to be fair, I spent most of it running errands. So today is the first day of really just relaxing. I slept in, had a tasty homemade brunch with my partner-in-crime (Polish hunter sausage = YUM!), got some laundry happening, and have made a grocery list. My plan for the rest of the day: balance the checkbook, buy some groceries, do some writing, play my instruments. Maybe be social in the evening. That's about it!
I missed blogging about Yule this year, sorry about that. I was busy at work that day, and then was out for the evening. So we did ritual last night instead, with two friends, and that was really lovely.
One book to report:
38) The City's Son by Tom Pollock. This was really, really good. I felt so bad for Pen, she was put in such an awful position over and over again. I loved Beth's guts and determination to see things through. And I adored the magic elements thrown into urban London: The railwraiths, the scaffwolves . . . I can't wait for more books in this series. The writing was gritty, the story intense and fast-paced, and the way the urban fantasy element took everyday urban things and just turned them on their sides was great!
Tomorrow we've got some afternoon/evening Christmas Eve plans, and then we're spending Christmas with a friend's family. After that, a whole unscheduled week of staycation still stretches before me. I'm loving the mellowness, the unplanned natured of my days right now. It's so different for me. Maybe I should give myself this kind of time more often.

seven days later

Hey, at least I seem to be hitting the Fridays fairly consistently.
What a long week! I wanted to get here earlier to ramble about half-forgotten dreams and interesting musicians and books and such, but things have been just busy in my little office. But I didn't want to leave you all high and dry for the weekend without saying hello.
It feels like autumn today, and I love it. I can't wait for the weather to really change! It's not like this summer has been particularly bad or anything, though. I'm just craving fall. Oh, to go sit in the park with the autumn leaves swirling down around me. . . .
I've been going through the things I've got bookmarked here on my work computer recently, since the list was a little out-of-hand. I may have to post some links here soon. There is some fantastically interesting, inspiring stuff out there on the internet!
I've started planning Yule gifts for people already, and I've got a good start on it, I think. Anybody else out there started already? I think my idea for people's stockings is going to be great. I'm making little magic sachets full of herbs, and different people's sachets will have different focuses. And yes, I'm sewing them myself. By hand. I bought the sweetest little fabrics for them at Purl last week!
Countdown to parent visit. They get here next Tuesday, late late late in the day. Should be a lot of fun!
I've been slowly wending my way through Nor for one last tidy. Unfortunately, I won't finish by the end of August, which was my original goal. But perhaps mid-September; we'll see what happens. I need to spend more time crafting a query letter, too. Those are hard for me. Are they hard for anybody else? I'm sure they must be. Hmm.
Anyway. I just want to go sit in the park and read, that sounds so lovely. I think I'll reserve part of tomorrow for that. Now I think I'll dive back into cleaning my office for a bit, and then head home to my freelancing project. Have a good weekend, all!

On the Fly

I know, I've got to stop with the tiny little posts and do more substantial ones more often. I did feel like I was off to a good start in November, but then life just got busy with houseguests and freelance work and such, and now all of a sudden it's December and I've barely started my Yule gift shopping. Yikes! How did December get here so fast?
Anyway. A brief update, against the to-do list I made for November. I did do two freelance projects last month(or did I do three? They've all blurred together in my head). I read three books. I started a fourth but wasn't into it, so discarded it, which only sort of counts, I know. Or I could count one of the books I proofread. I mean, I did read those . . . Anyway. I'll deliver some book reviews soon. Next week, perhaps. Let's see, what else. I did make some progress on the first two movements of the Time Pieces, but they're not performance ready or anything. I've been hampered by my lack of good reeds and my reluctance purchase more, but today I finally went out and got a box, so I should make some good headway now. I didn't manage to deliver on my novel, either. I got part of it sent out to my loyal readers. And the rest will happen over December, I suppose, so I'll have to push my timeline back a bit. I'll live.
I have to run, I have way too much to do tonight, and am expecting a phone call from my oldest goddaughter, who I haven't spoken to enough lately. Next time: book reviews, and my thoughts on the movie Twilight, and possibly a rant about buying gifts for people.
Have a good night!

Wednesday, Wednesday

Having a hard time controlling my anger this morning. It comes and goes, and any little thing triggers it. I was full of rage before I even left the house this morning, just because it's a mess and my b/f left his wet towel on the floor and after squishing a roach with my shoe he left it there and there was butter all over the kitchen table and just . . . AGH.
But then outside, on my walk to the train, everything was lovely. Clear blue sky, that crisp snap in the air that autumn brings, crackly leaves underfoot. Lovely. And for a few minutes I was happy. And I was happy to be going to work. I like my work. A lot. And my coworker who I've been covering for is back from vacation today, so work will be normal again! I actually worked up some excitement on my way here. But then said coworker beat me here and immediately started giving me a hard time when I arrived. I helped him carry some things to his workspace, and he panicked a little, I think, at the sheer volume of work waiting for him. But I did SO MUCH for him while he was gone. He said thanks, but . . . somehow I was hoping for more. Just more heartfelt words, maybe. I shouldn't fault him; I know I'd be overwhelmed, were I him. But it set me off again. so, back to the anger, although it is slowly ebbing away as I write this.
I've been extremely touchy lately. The littlest things can set me off into this terrible black rage. Maybe life has just gotten too complicated and I'm now on overload and that's where it comes from. But how to simplify? I wish life could just be work, writing, the lovely autumn sky, the leaves slowly changing color, and a couple good friends. And music. That doesn't sound so hard, does it? Sigh . . .
Well, the Christmas planning has begun in earnest. I bought a plane ticket yesterday, and I'll be home for nearly two weeks for the holidays. I've got most everybody's presents planned. I'm in good shape, I think. I just need to figure out how I want to celebrate Yule, and I'll be pretty set.
And now, after pecking away at this short little entry all day in spare moments, it's time for me to head home. Wish me luck . . .