It's been forever since I used this, but since friends and family have now started using blogs, and I'm so far away, I thought I'd give this out and start writing more religiously.

So what's new with me?

I'll be visiting home soon! Flying out next Wednesday and returning on January 8th, I believe. I'm looking forward to it, but there's a lot of work to be done. The apartment needs a lot of attention and we have all sorts of new furniture (gifts from Mom and Dad, wow...) to assemble.

Almost all of that is done - all that's left is the coffee table, my bedside table and the new comfy chair. I'll be assembling at least the chair tonight, probably that and my bedside table.

I did a lot of deep cleaning to prepare for the new furniture, things I'd never done and clearly Amy's former room-mates hadn't done either, and that's nearly done, so today will just be finishing that and vacuuming up all the mess from the boxes.

The other day the building fire alarm went off, and we went downstairs to wait. Why does it always rain whenever the fire trucks come? Anyway, as we went downstairs all we smelled was incense, and true to form, it turned out to be nothing. Still, the whole thing was very poorly organized, and our resident manager didn't speak to anyone or help much at all. It was a fireman who eventually told us we could go back inside.

I failed NaNoWriMo... only got about halfway done. I think it's because I needed a week or more to plan before I could really get anything out there. They say to just write, even if it's crap, but even crap needs a 'what happens now' inspiration that I can't really bring unless I really know the characters. I'm currently working on a short story while I plan for another novel project, to be worked on when I have the time after the holidays.

That's all, really. Viva vacation!

For R________, the beginning of my novel. What do you think?

( There were places where what was Beyond was better, more beautiful and more primal. There were places it was unspeakably worse, places where the Beyond was a nightmare you would give anything to escape. And there were always places, like here, where it wasn't too different, and it wasn't any better or worse. Those were the places, more than anything, that forced you to recognize that Beyond was the true reality. )

It's been a while since I've updated. I guess there just isn't that much to say. I think Amy and I will be at Mr Bill's tonight, so hopefully I'll get to see a lot of you.

Ta and Happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Ren Faire was fun. Got to be a bit piratical, and had a long interesting chat with some new folks. Got new, fitting boots and Chris got a blacksmithed knife, cold-forged for a mottled appearance, very cool. Still working on my Japanese persona... I think it will work though.

Pictures to come.

Bit of a bug fell on me yesterday. Sore throat, deep lung cough, nausea. I hope it goes away so I can enjoy my weekend.

Have a job interview on Tuesday. It's a very good thing. I hope I can make the cut.

September writing projects include submissions for Sails and Sorcery, Dreams of Decadence, and Dark Wisdom.

Boring post, but I thought I'd keep you all updated.