Good morning, Readers!

With 2020 being an awful trash fire, and 2021 looking like a struggle to pull ourselves out of it, it would probably be a good idea to be gentle with myself this year. So naturally, I've got lofty goals, and far too many of them, but I'm going to try and do them all the same. I've broken them down into a bunch of sections, as they are all different areas of my life that I want to develop.

Let's start shall we?

• Resume my French lessons on Duolingo
• Resume my guitar lessons
• Save enough to get a new Mac because mine is bricking
• Save enough for that adventure vacation I desperately want to do, departure date 2022
• Contribute at least $100 per month to my various savings for a minimum of $1 200 in the year
• Buy a decent blogging camera
• Get a computer desk that fits my space so I can finally use my drafting table

So... that’s it. That’s the list. It’s quite the list, isn’t it? I estimate that I’ll get no more than half done this year, but that’s better than nothing at all.

Once again, these are not resolutions. They’re goals. They’re things I would love to achieve this year. Some, like getting an agent, will likely not happen, if other years are any judge by. But it’s the trying that matters. I won’t get anywhere if I don’t try.

Honestly, if I just manage to try for most of these, I’ll consider that a win.

Wish me luck!

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers.

Normally, in the second-last blog post of the year, I take a look back at what, on my list of goals I made for the year (not resolutions - goals) I've achieved, and what I failed to do, as sort of an accountability thing for myself.

Well, fuck that noise.

2020 crashed down on us all hard, and I know I didn't achieve anything that I wanted, and frankly, looking back at the goals considering what a trash-fire year this has been will likely only depress me or make me angry. I'm not okay with either of these things.

So, instead, I'm giving myself permission to flip the mother of all birds at the past year and my past goals, wipe the slate clean, and try again. I have a new situation, with a new schedule, and some new dreams, and I'm still finding my way.

I'm not looking back at my 2020 goals. I'm not.

So instead you just get this brief blog post, letting you all know that I'm not looking back at 2020. What I will be doing, is looking forward to 2021. But that's tomorrow's blog post.

For now, to everyone who didn't get near their goals, give yourselves a hug. It's enough that you're still here. You're enough as you are.

And fuck 2020, and every single politician and citizen who made it harder than it ought to be.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

I'm over at my art blog today, talking about the gifts I made for Christmas this year.

Good morning, Readers!

Gods, there are so many characters in this thing. This is the last of the lists before I start hitting the series reviews, and these aren't even all the characters I think you should be looking out for... just who I had time to squeeze in. 

Listen, this show is convoluted. It's part of why I love it so.  Anyway....

Jin Guangshan

THIS DICK.

His alignment is definitely Lawful Evil.

Fucking jerk.

All I have to say about him at present is that he is the patriarch of the Jin Clan, and he's a massive cunt.

​That is all.

Su She

Speaking of absolute fuckers, here is another. Su She. This fucker defected from the Lan Clan (you know, the elves of the Cloud Recesses (Lan Cheng and Lan Wangji's clan)) to begin his own clan of cultivators.

Horrendously jealous of Lan Wanji, everything Su She does mimics the former, but the man never could hold a candle to the Light-Bearing Lord.

So he turns into a monster and does unspeakable things.

Jesus, I hate him.

Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen

I love these two so much they get a .gif instead of a still. Introduced as 'best friends' I think they're best friends in the way that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are best friends... Which is to say, lovers. They are in my head, and nothing you say will convince me otherwise.

They're lovely together.

Unfortunately, their story is tragic, as so many stories are in this series.

But I love them dearly, and in my head, they find one another again.

Lan Sizhui

While we're on pleasanter people, this adorable, kind-hearted boy made me happy.

I'm only including him here because he proves that not everyone who isn't one of the heroes of the story is utterly shit.

Yes... that's why.

I reckon he's Neutral Good... because I feel like he's cheeky enough to break a few rules.

Xue Yang

Aaaaaand we're back to absolutely psychotic fuckers.

That was a pleasant interlude.

This dude could use a therapist. Or a padded cell and a straight jacket. The havoc he wreaks just because of some candy... 

This one is Chaotic Evil.

He's so chaotic, in fact, that he brings about his own doom; but not before ruining it for fucking everyone.

Ugh.

Jin Guangyao

Okay, but... his dimples.  He's got the cutest dimples when he smiles!

It breaks my heart.

You'll understand when you watch the thing.

Nie Huaisang

Childhood friend of Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang is the sole heir, and later the Patriarch of the Nie Clan.

I would describe this loveable dear as True Neutral.
​
And he's far more clever than one might think.

Okay, that's it.  That's all I'm willing to divulge to you before the recapping of the episodes begin.

I hope you had fun reading what little I wanted to share. And I hope even harder that by now your interest is piqued enough that you have watched the series. Or, you know, you could discover it all by reading my blog posts... Though, for real, watch it.

​It's gorgeous.

Good morning, Readers!

I still need to wrap the gifts I made, so I shall keep this brief.

This is very difficult for most people this year. It hurts to be kept away from loved ones. Some people are struggling to even put food on their tables, or keep roofs over their heads this year.

I am very fortunate.

I get to see my loved ones (they are part of my permitted ‘bubble’), and I found a job in a field that is considered essential (construction), so I’m able to have a relatively normal Christmas this year. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, even most, and I just wanted everyone to know that I’m thinking of you, and keeping you in my heart.

A paltry thing, I know. It doesn’t help you any, when you’re hurting so. I wish I could do more. I wish I could send everyone money and gifts, food baskets and warm things this Christmas. My equivalent of ‘thoughts and prayers’ is nothing.

Perhaps one day I’ll be in an even more fortunate place, and I’ll be able to ensure many more people have food on their tables and roofs over their heads.

For now, all I have is my love, and a wish - that your Christmas Eve is filled with warmth and love, and that there is enough of that in the world that you can feel its soft, radiant glow wherever in the world you are.

​You are loved. We’ll see each other again soon. Hang in there.

Good morning, Readers!

I'm over on Black Gate Magazine today, sharing my solstice story from last year.

It’s going to be a rough Christmas for many of us. Where I am, the government is considering an immediate, province-wide shutdown. Just a few days before Christmas. This means that I won’t be able to see my brother, who had been planning to come up and see us (he’s been very good about quarantining, so I feel safe hanging out with him). It is all for the best, though, as cases of our particular plague are spiking and hospitals are struggling to cope as it is. It’s looking increasingly like this Christmas I’ll have my cat, and Zoom. It’s a good thing my cat is a cuddle-monster. I’ll at least have some affection.

What I also have in these difficult times are stories. Stories, in fact, have gotten me, in particular, through so really tough times. Really tough. Since I have nothing else to offer today, I thought that I’d offer a story. I wrote this last year for my publisher’s Christmas season blog hop, so it’s not an original. I mean, it’s original to me, but it’s not new. Sorry. I’ve been a bit caught up making my Christmas gifts this year and I’ve run out of time.
​
In any case, here it is.

Good morning, Readers!

The longest night has passed, and while Christmas here in Ontario is looking uncertain what with a another lockdown announced, the light is returning. There is a safe and effective vaccine on the horizon. We just have to get through this rough patch together. We do that by staying home, wearing a mask when we're out, and being extremely careful. I know that for myself, I'm less worried about getting ill, but I'm terrified that I could get someone else sick.

And while I'm not worried for myself, I'm worried that if I do get very ill and am hospitalized, I'll be taking a bed away from a trauma patient who badly needs it. A heart attack victim who may be turned away. A cancer patient whose treatment has been postponed. It's not just folks with Covid who may die because of it.

It's hard to think that I'll not be able to see my brother this year. I miss him very much. But I want him well and alive for the next time. That's is what is getting me through feeling upset about a ruined Christmas this year.

Remembering what hugs are, and knowing that if I'm good, and they're good, and the people around them are good, I'll get to hug my loved ones again soon. There are going to be some uncomfortably long hugs, my friends. I'm warning you now.

There is light on the horizon. The shortest day has ended. Night won't hold on forever.

That's what's getting me through.

I have my cat, who is curled up on the table beside me as I type, and he is adorable and very affectionate. I have my friends downstairs, who are kind and generous and lovely. I have my writing and my art and my crafting. I am in a better place than many people as this lockdown looms, and I'm so very grateful.

It's be a shit year. But the longest night has passed.

​And if not, I'm going to lose my damned mind!