Tag: kitties

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nesting

I have arrived at my favorite part of moving: the nesting phase. There is something satisfying about finding new homes for your things and settling into the new routine.

This house has more storage space than the old one, and an extra bedroom that will likely become the craft room. There is also an extra bathroom and an actual place for a kitchen table. There are also stairs, which one of the kitties thinks is the best thing ever.

The downstairs bedroom is now my office and it has a sizeable closet which, when combined with an actual craft room, means my office will stay cleaner because I don’t have to empty the closet every time I’m looking for something!

There is still so much unpacking to do, but I have today and tomorrow to devote to it, and that should get me to a good place.

The cats are getting used to the place, and getting used to being indoor kitties again. The old house was on a quiet street where I didn’t have to worry about them being outside. The new house is in a much busier neighborhood with cars going by at all hours and kids walking to and from school and the small shopping center around the corner. The doorbell camera is getting a good workout.

I should have my tax refund this week, so I’ll be able to go get myself a washer and dryer for further settling in (and not having to schlep laundry around).

In writing news, I slapped together some poetry this morning. If you’re interested, have a gander: morning-news.

The coffee cup is empty, so I guess that means it’s time to get to work. Have a wonderful Saturday, Readers!

Photo by Pauline Bernfeld on Unsplash

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the Harry Potter problem

I have a troubled relationship with Harry Potter. On the one hand, I love the magical world and all of the people who occupy it. On the other hand, there’s the world’s creator, who has shown herself to be…well, a terrible person.

Yesterday, I watched the reunion special on HBO Max, because despite that woman and her TERF views, the movies have been a big source of comfort in my life. I watch them when I need something familiar and yet not real, I can immerse myself in that world and forget the real world exists.

However, I am very aware of her problematic, and vocal, opposition to the notion that transwomen are women. As a part of the LGBTQA+ community, and as someone with transgender family and friends, I simply can’t abide those who would punch down at an already marginalized group of people.

I will never understand how having a penis or not having a penis matters to anyone other than the owner of said penis.

Oh, my, I think I’m getting derailed. Back to Harry Potter…

For the most part, the reunion was a lovely trip back in time, and we get to watch those kids grow up and become amazing actors. I’ll admit to crying when they memorialized those who had died since they were at Hogwarts…to be fair, I was pretty weepy anyway for some reason. Watching them talk about what the movies meant to them, how they became the characters, and what they took away from the experience was moving.

And then there were those clips of her. I mean, sure, she created this world for us to enjoy, but I think I’ve come to a place where the books belong to her, but the movies have a life outside of her, so it felt odd to have her there, even if the clips were from 2019.

I refuse to give up the movies because of her, much as I refuse to give up Buffy because Joss turned out to be an asshole. She can have the books. However, I will not spend another penny on merchandise that will continue to fill her pockets.

Fancy a trip to Hogwarts, Readers? I think I do. It’s a cold day here, perfect for cuddling kitties, drinking tea, and curling up under the electric blanket with some magic on the television. It’s the last day of vacation as well, so I aim to relax. Tomorrow it’s back to work.

Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash

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I am one with the coffee, and the coffee is with me…

There is a certain ritual to the mornings, even now in the middle of this pandemic that has altered the way we live our lives. For me, that ritual includes an alarm at 6am, though I’m often awake well before that, a quick check of email on my phone (so I can be prepared for any emerging issues…half my team is on the other side of the world), then the requisite bathroom trip before I find my way to the kitchen.

There we have several mini-rituals that include giving my kitties treats, and the prep for coffee…fill the kettle, put it on the stove, rinse out the french press, fill it with hot water…then I move to the personal computer to finish going through the email, both personal and professional, check facebook, maybe post, take the morning meds, and by then it’s time to go back to the kitchen to finish the coffee.

All of this is something I do daily, not just during the week (well, except the alarm part, that’s only weekdays). The coffee part of the day is one of my favorite things. The ritual of measuring out the beans, grinding them, dumping the prep water, putting the grounds in the press, adding water…it provides me a chance to center. I like to make it a mindful practice and not let my thoughts wander into to much of what the day has in store.

I am one with the coffee, and the coffee is with me.

But, once the coffee is made, it’s anyone’s guess where the day will go. Somedays I get some writing time. Some days I play mindless games to wake myself up. Somedays I dive right into work.

Today I have a line up of work projects to jump into, so I best get on that (as I pour myself a cup of Valhalla Java from Death Wish Coffee). I hope your Tuesday is amazing, Readers!

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sleep, sweet sleep

You know those mornings when you wake up slowly, snuggled into warm blankets, with cuddly pets on either side and you lay there, not quite awake thinking how nice it would be to just fall back to sleep?

But then the alarm goes off and just like that you’re faced with the fact that now you’re fully awake, you need to pee, one cat is eating your hair and the other one is meowing at you for not being up already to give them treats?

Yeah, that’s what this morning was like.

I almost had myself convinced it was the weekend.  It is not, in fact, the weekend.  Not yet anyway. There are two more work days between here and there!

Oh well, at least there’s coffee, and this morning it is strong!  Happy Thursday, Readers!  May your cup be full and your work day short.

 

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash

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whatever normal is…

Happy Saturday, Readers!  I’ve spent most of this week on the job hunt, and it’s starting to show signs of paying off.  I’ve had three phone interviews with one company and have an in-person interview with a different one on Monday.  I’m hoping I am gainfully employed before the first of June.

In the meantime, I finished the first editing phase of the Anthology for Sirens that I’ve been telling you about, and I’ve had some time to do some writing, though my focus has been definitely scattered, so I’m not sure how much of that writing is any good.

I’m trying to use today to kind of reset everything, get back into the rhythm of my normal life: coffee and writing, some consulting work, chores, and with luck a fair amount of exercise.

It helps me feel like I’m still in control.  Even if I’m not.  And I’ve been feeling very not in control of late.  Partly due to the way my phone is ringing all day long, from 7 am through to 6 pm with recruiters who don’t know how to read a map, or who think it is completely logical to relocate to another state for a 6 month contract job.

I’m trying really hard not to count on either of the positions that I have interviewed/am being interviewed for, but it sure would be nice if one of them came through with an offer next week.

Now I have two kitties who seem to think they need my attention and a cup of coffee that’s getting cold, so I should get on with the day.  Hope your weekend is filled with beauty and kindness.

 

Photo by Emma Matthews on Unsplash