Five things for a silvery, sunny Saturday morning

[scarlettina]

1) Just finished reading our own jimhines's (Jim C. Hines) Unbound and enjoyed it quite a bit.* I really like his Magic Ex Libris series, with its book magic and its librarian hero, Isaac (who looks incredibly hot on this volume's cover--guy's been doing upper body work at the gym, I see). They're fun, fast reads, peppered with history and humor. They're thoughtful and clever. I like all of the protagonists, and I also like the matter-of-fact portrayal of a working polyamorous relationship. Looking forward to the fourth and final volume in the series, Revisionary, which was just published in hardcover. And now, I'm on to Stephen King's 11/22/63. I'm late, I know, but I figure better now than after the TV series premieres.

2) I want, very much, to love my day job and I just don't. Doesn't help that it's the slow time of the year and there's just not much for me to do. I will occasionally propose a project and be told that there's no budget or that it's not the direction we're going in, or that it needs to wait until another group's plans are solidified. There's no question that it's a way to pay for my roof and cat kibble and all that. But every day I find myself less motivated and less interested in going to the office. Even working with people I genuinely like, I just . . . my heart's just not in it much anymore. And I don't know what other direction to turn in to change things up.

3) Plans for travel continue apace. It's going to be a busy year. Next week I'm off to the rainforest for Patrick Swenson's Rainforest Writers Village retreat. Next month I'll be at Norwescon (first time in years I haven't been on programming and I find myself remarkably OK with that). In April, I'm off to San Francisco for a trip with family. And it looks like, in July, EB and I are off to Ireland. I'm reading and learning and trying to prep. I'm hoping plans will pick up after EB and I are both back from the retreat.

4) Lately, I just want to hibernate, hibernate, hibernate. It could have to do with my weight gain. It could have to do with my depression. Even medicated, I struggle sometimes. I need to find that therapist I've been trying to find for three months. After two false starts, I'm weary and wary, I admit.

5) My one solace right now is the crafting. I've been working on a modified version of a woven beaded necklace that I've made a number of times before. It's painstaking, meticulous work, and I exhausted myself the other night figuring out how to create the effect I wanted, but in a really good way. Had Sophie not insisted on cuddle time, I would have continued last night. So there's that.


* Every now and then, I'll refer to an author as "our own." This generally means they're part of the LiveJournal community. But it also means that I'm pleased and proud to be associated with them in this, the most tenuous of connections, even if I've never met them in person. In these latter days, with so few of us still here, we are--in my mind, anyway--a special group. We get to know each other in ways we never would on something like Facebook. It's awesome.

Comments

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

Enjoy Rainforest Writers! I gave up my spot due to visa/travel date uncertainty (which turned out to be the right thing, I think), but I'm a little sad that it's the second year in a row that I gave up my spot and... well, at least the next couple of years aren't an option XD

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying LJ these days. Quieter, slower, more reflective. Doesn't seem to spin me off kilter as Facebook sometimes does and Twitter always did, which was why I packed the latter in.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

People don't get as het up here as they do on Twitter and Facebook. We're communicating in real language, not in the shorthand of modern social media that is so prone to misinterpretation. I am unlikely ever to give up here. I may be the one to turn out the lights when it's all over. :-)

[ckd]

I can't make it to Norwescon (other conflicting travel plans), but I may stop by to lobbycon-ghost on Sunday. If so, I'll hope to see you and get a chance to catch up.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I will most likely be found in the bar. :-)

[herself_nyc]

I'm so glad that you have something that lights you up (the beading) in the midst of the struggle right now. :: hugs ::