thought it was a good solution

In the last week I've met two cats, hung out at a beer garden, worked a lot, went out for a friend's birthday, and made some good progress on organizing my office. I also finished a book:

4) Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn. Honestly, I'm iffy about this one. I like Vaughn's writing. I like the concept. I even liked watching Kitty grow and change over the course of the book. But . . . the werewolf pack came off as an abusive cult, and I guess it's a testament to how well Vaughn wrote it that it made me uncomfortable, but I still don't think I'm going to continue reading this series. That said, I'm glad I read this one, and am more than happy to try other things by Vaughn.

Last night I dreamed that I was living in this suite of apartments with a bunch of my friends. My partner-in-crime, my good friend J, my old college boyfriend C, and a lot of other people were there, running in and out of each others apartments, drinking, talking, etc. At some point I tried to have a cigarette with J but I couldn't find him (he spent most of the dream lurking around the edges). Tried to take a nap with C but it was too loud, so I got up to talk to some girls and realized it was 5 a.m. and none of us had gotten any sleep yet. Then the dream shifted, and I was in this woo-woo new-age shop that my godchildren's grandmother was running, and she was in the middle of leading a meditation so I snuck down to the basement to have a look around. I found a flyer with a picture of my younger goddaughter on it that said, in essence, "My granddaughter needs a new home, her mother died and I can't take care of her." And I got really angry because she hadn't called me about it, she was just going to give her granddaughter away.

So, yeah. Monday morning. This week looks to be busyish but not awful. And next weekend is a three-day weekend, hurray!

I'd better get my workday started. Good luck with yours, everyone!

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.

Imbolc

Happy Imbolc, everybody! Imbolc is a celebration of the early signs of spring. It is a time of purification and dedication. Brigid, goddess of healing, poetry, and smithcraft, is closely tied to this holiday. I'll be celebrating later today with a simple ritual, some wine, and a cleansing of my new apartment. Anyone else have any plans for Imbolc today?

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!

happy new year!

Happy 2012, everybody! I hope last night was full of good company and good booze and that today has minimal hangovers involved.
I made my list of goals for 2012:

• less work


• more yoga


• read fifty books


• spend fifteen minutes a day on myself


• finish/submit the ghost/witch novel


• finish novelizing Emmelina


• write two shorts


• start the fey folk/secret societies novel

Pretty good list, hmm? I think it's reasonable. How about you? Any goals or resolutions for this year?