Good morning, Readers!

I'm over at Black Gate Magazine today, talking about the state of things.

A fair warning, I’m attempting to tackle a topic that is currently at the center of a great deal of controversy in the realm. Because speculative fiction is a realm. This is especially of issue in the YA community.
​
A further disclaimer: despite my struggles to get noticed in a marketplace flooded with writers, I am fully aware that as a white, cis-het woman, I have a lot of privilege in this field. That will unavoidably impact what I’m trying to say here a little. If you belong to a minority, feel free to correct me where I misstep. I am always looking to learn, and I never mean to offend.

So... I was away most of last week.  I ran away, to be precise.  Still feeling overwhelmed and anxious, I was given an opportunity to spend three-ish days surrounded by good people in, on or near a lake, and I jumped on it like that psychotic squirrel from Ice Age jumps on an acorn.  I needed out, and I got out.

There is nothing more lovely than falling asleep to the call of loons (except, perhaps, falling asleep to the sound of a rainstorm).

Despite the fleeing, I did manage to scrape together a couple of posts so that there would be stuff for you to read while I was out of all mobile and internet ranges.

I swear, I did!

Here proof:

Wednesday's Post

Thursday's Post

The problem appears to be with the automatic posting to Facebook.  It doesn't happen anymore, and as I was out of range of all things and couldn't do it manually, it must have looked like I really did disappear from the world.  Which, you know, I kinda did.

Anyway, the point is, I actually set up posts for while I was away, even if the auto-cross-posting stuff went dead.  I did the thing.

Speaking of doing the things, I have more things to do, like writing a blog post for Black Gate Magazine for tomorrow.  I think I have a topic, and it's a toughie.  I also have to get back into writing.  I did none of that while I was away, opting to read instead.  I was on a mini-holiday.  It was good to not stress about the writing thing.

Today is different.  I'm back.  I have to get back into the swing of things, though I am cutting myself a little slack today.  I'm aiming for a completed post for Black Gate today (in addition to this one).  If I manage that, I should be good.  If I can also write a little bit after that, I'll be golden.  If I get there, I won't be expecting even a thousand words.  Just five hundred will do me.  If I get there at all today.  It might not happen.

Also, I need to get back to my workout routine.  I ate entirely too much, and exercised entirely too little while I was away (swimming and leisurely kayaking don't count), so I need to rediscover my schedule.  It's so hard to get back into an exercise routine.  I feel it's unfair, given how easy it is to break it.

Right, that's enough of that nonsense.  I have to go and get things done.  Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

So... as you know, I game, and I stream those games.  When I am finished a streaming session, I download the footage and create a short-ish highlight reel of my fails, deaths and successes.  I did this for the first Far Cry Primal stream and uploaded the video on Monday.

Here's the thing, though.  When I watched it after it was done processing, it looked fine.  Now when I watch it, it's a pixellated mess!  It might just be me, but it's awful.  I'm annoyed.

​Anyway, it's below.  Is it a mess for you?

For the record, I'm loving this game.  It's been fun thus far, and I'm really impressed with their research.  I will speak more on it, obviously, with my Sassy Review over on Chalgyr when I'm done playing.  It might be a while yet.  This promises to be a meaty game.

Right, I have to go and do all the things.  Have a great weekend.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

My friend PY does game reviews, and he shared this thing with me yesterday.  It's a really great video on Surge 2, and I'm sharing it here, because I think his hard work needs more attention.

The game looks great.

Anyway, life is still boring for me, so that's all I've got for you today.  Here's a question for you, though.  Gamers, what is your favourite game?  Board games and tabletop games are included.

Let me know below!

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

I spent most of yesterday editing a video.  It wasn't easy, because this shitty computer at work likes to sometimes stop various functions. Yesterday, it was the tablet driver, which, while it didn't complete disable the tablet, it did reduce its function.  It made for a frustrating time.

At least it's done.  I have more videos to edit today, and a fair amount of writing.  Not on my manuscript, mind.  I don't think I'll be able to get to that this week, but other things.  It's all work.

*unenthusiastic yay* click

Anyway, I don't have much to say today, except that I am loving this weather.  The wind is wonderfully cool, the sun is bright and warm... a perfect morning.  It's such an improvement over the hell that was Saturday.  Why couldn't the run have the weather we're having now?  Le sigh.  Still, I'm really glad we're having it at all.  It was cool enough last night that I had a warm shower.  And I didn't require another one the moment I stepped out of the shower.  It was great.

Oh, here's a sad tale, there was a dead mouse at the bottom of my stairs this morning.  I highly suspect that the cats played with the thing to death, like arsehole dolphins bullying a porpoise.  Poor little thing.

It's a sad day indeed, when your most exciting news is a dead mouse in your house.  Alright, I'm just going to leave it here, and go do the work I'm dreading today.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

This weekend was a mixed bag, really.  Saturday was the first of the two 5km runs I signed up for this year.  It was, of course, the Ottawa Foam Fest, a 5km obstacle course run that involves mud puddles and pits of foam.  It's a lighter run; nothing like the Spartan Race, which I have done and did not enjoy nearly as much as this one.  Your run is not timed.  Your fellow runners are not there to compete with you.  There are no meatheads, no judgement, and a whole lot of silly fun.  I really like this run because it is so relaxed and all about enjoying your day.

My own personal goal was the same as last year's Foam Fest.  Run in between each obstacle.  I managed that, so I'm pleased.

We arrived late, alas, as my ride was a little late, and there were, on top of that, a couple of accidents on the way to the race location.  When we arrived, it felt like things were not moving well at all on their end.  Our registration line took a full forty minutes for us to get to the registration person and get our gear.  There wasn't much shade for us while we were waiting, either, and it was obnoxiously hot.  We would have missed our start time even if we had been on time, if things were always like this.

I have to admit that I was not exceptionally patient, waiting in that line.  I hate waiting at the best of times.  But standing in the full sun, in that awful heat, for that long, boiled away what little patience I had.  Apologies to everyone in my vicinity as I fumed.

It was genuinely a sweltering day on Saturday; the hottest one yet, and dangerously humid.  It made running hell.  It hit the 30s, and ended up feeling like 47 or so, according to the weather app on my phone.  For those of you who are still using outdated measuring systems, that's degrees celsius.  It was hot.  It was hot and awful, and I didn't manage it very well.

I don't deal with heat very well, at all.

I'm not the only one in the house who doesn't.  Galahad, the younger of our two cats, also does not cope well with the heat.  He got heat stroke last year, and was suffering these last few days.  He spent most of his time downstairs and wouldn't let me anywhere near him.  Like the majority of cats, he dislikes attention when he's not feeling great.  So, for three days, he's been downstairs, trying to hide from the heat and me.  This morning, it was wonderfully cool, and so Galahad spent the morning in my bed, being exceptionally cuddly.  I had missed him so much these last few days, and getting the chance to cuddle him again was great.  Thank you, cooler nights and mornings!

That was a diversion.  Back to the run.

I am super impressed with my sunscreen which, despite the sweat and the puddles and the mud and the running and the climbing and sliding over things, kept my ghostly skin from burning.  I do not have a sunburn, except, perhaps, a mild one on my scalp, which... I mean... I should've worn a cap.

Anyway, I'm super thankful for and impressed by my sunscreen.

Sunday was just as much of a mixed bag.  I proved I'm a terrible friend by double-booking myself, because I forgot about a get together.  I did get to spend the day with Dad, though, which is always lovely.  We saw the latest Spider-Man, and I really enjoyed it.  As far as live-action Spider-Man's go (Spider-Men?), I think Tom Holland is my favourite.

I was still quite exhausted from the run (and still am.  The heat, folks, I can't deal), though, and ended up going to bed very early.

And that was my weekend.  How was yours?

This week, I doubt I'll get much writing done, as I have a bunch of other stuff to do, starting with a video that needs editing and uploading.  If I'm very lucky, I'll get it done today.

Right, I'm off to do work.

Ciao!