2017 in the rearview

It was a year of endings and beginnings.

In January, I got a passenger and schoolbus endorsement on my CDL and started a new job.

I left LiveJournal after 15 years.

AIM has disbanded. I wrote many novels with Naomi via AIM.

I phased out the Angelia Sparrow Facebook account, and blogger account.

I renamed tumblr and almost everything else. Today I even changed my Netflix profile on the TV from Angel to Nick.

I got my first male underwear and my first binder (didn't fit). I bought more male clothing. Why have I been buying women's sweaters all these years? I've been generally trying to be Nick as much as possible.

I had several epiphanies about myself.

We had two litters of kittens: Cirrus, Stratus and Nimbus, and Cloud, Vanya and Phantom. Nimbus lives in Oklahoma with Christopher.

Niko left us this summer.

Jon and I cleaned out the garage.

I saw 50 movies and read 26 books.

I had a gym membership and actually went regularly. I'm up to 12 minutes on the elliptical, when I started at 4 steps.

I had my first short story in years published in the Primal Fear anthology.

I started a Patreon and released my first novel in four years.

Edward and Charlie are slated for re-release.

All my other books are back in my possession and out of contract.

We took out a Home Equity loan to get some repairs done. So far our system works, but the ductwork is being redone. And we have two new toilets.

A Viking Ship for the SCA was decided upon, but hasn't yet happened.

I made a lot of soap, knitted a lot and crocheted a lot.

I turned 50.

I saw Phantom of the Opera live at the Orpheum.

Olivia went on homebound because the Reynaud's got her.

Jon came home from college in May and has hidden in his room since.

I went to the Zoo and the Botanic Gardens.

I lost a friend to cancer.



Carrie Fisher Dream-walked me twice: February 13 and December 19.
The first:
Mid South Con needed me to lodge some guests and save them hotel charges. (Not the first time they've had dream-me do this. Once they had dream-me pick up Peter Mayhew at the airport because I had a minivan.)

So I have a much bigger much cleaner house. But I still have some moving boxes. Dave Prowse is helping me go through them, despite my protest. he just likes digging in boxes.

A bit later, I'm pottering in the kitchen. My books are all in paperback on a shelf. Carrie Fisher (not dead in my dream) looks and says I've written more books than she has. I counter with they're not as good as hers. She says "Make the next one better."
I tell her I'm blocked, daunted by the prospect of the new marketplace and fucked by lack of coauthor.
She reached up, cuffed me on the back of the head. "Now I know you've read my stuff. Get your vaudeville ass in front of the computer and write more of your own."

The second, i woke up with "Space Mom wants you to use your CPAP" ringing in my ears.

Planning for the year ahead

So my goals for 2018

50 books read
I have the stack ready!

50 movies watched

Two books of Edward and Charlie reissued and the third written. Contracts are done for the first two, now for the third.

Four books published in Eight Thrones
Nikolai is written. Anthony and Glad Hand need edits. Master Anton is mostly written and Niko-Chan needs lots of rewrites.

DJ rewritten and reissued.
She needs to investigate more than the contents of his kilt.

Gym workouts three times a week (5 if possible) .

A new job. Interview is the 2nd.

Yuletide Youtube: New year

I know a man whose name is Lang
And he has a neon sign
And Mr. Lang is very old
So we call it Old Lang's Sign.

Yuletide Youtube: Twelfth Night a bit early

 

 

 

Yuletide Youtube: Ugly sweater edition

It's not the holidays without ugly sweaters.

So that just happened.

It's been one year today since Carrie Fisher left us.

This pic, by Linsay van Ekelenburg is making the rounds

So I was inspired.

Hail our Lady of Self-Care

Lady of Mental Illness and Not Giving Any Fucks
Role-Model to a Generation
Author of Wit
Script-Doctor of Reknown

You who Drowned in Moonlight
Strangled by Your Own Bra
Grant us Your Wit
Your Courage
Your Outspokenness

And we will sit our vaudeville asses down
and write, no longer daunted and fucked.
And we will take our meds.
And we will wear our CPAPS.

Because Space Mom Wants Us To.
Yours is the Machine Gun,
The Glitter
The Blockade Runner,
and the Publishing Contract
Forever and Ever.

Our local Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence asked to add it to the liturgy. I'm tickled and flattered and of course I said yes.

Next year's reading and viewing list, so far

My to-read stack:

The Art of Manliness

Geek Love

9 books by Julian May: Intervention Duology, Milieu Trilogy, Pliocene Exile

World War Z

The first 5 John Carter books. I may see if I can find my copies of 6-10, since 11 is very skippable.

Red as Blood by Tanith Lee.

The Two Towers and Return of the King (audio)

(that's the first 20/50)

I'm considering just watching my way through my DVD collection, alphabetically.

Friday only will get me through Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Monday and Friday will get me to The Patriot.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday will get me to Vanity Fair. (I'll skip the 20 movie vampire collection)

I'll play with it. I don't have a lot of evening time to enjoy a movie.

Yuletide Youtube: Snow

 

 

 

And one of my favorites

Yuletide Youtube: Leftovers

 

 

 

Yuletide Youtube: Boxing Day

The serious version