Good morning, Readers!
Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), home-spiced coffee... and a cardamom pod. At first I thought it was a horse fly. I'm very glad it's not a horse fly.
I'm feeling particularly good this morning, it has to be said. This is weird, as I received a rejection letter yesterday. It was a nice rejection, but still a rejection. I don't want to harp on about it too much because it'll ruin my good mood and make me sad. So, I'm going to write about my small victories yesterday, the cumulative effect of which has led to my great mood this morning.
First of all, I started a new lesson in the Say Something In Welsh programme I'm working though, and I managed all right until about midday, when my tongue went into revolt and wouldn't let me roll my 'r's any longer. I'm now onto lesson 19 if any of you care. There are twenty-six lessons in the free first course on the site (there are three courses, so they go quite in depth with the language training). The other two courses on offer must be paid for, and I'm seriously considering it... But I have a personal block to spending money on things that aren't absolute necessities. I will happily spend money on food and on rent. But when I need new clothes, or if I want a gaming console, or even those beautiful, beautiful new books, it's always a struggle to spend that money, even if it's something that I actually quite desperately need. Clothes, for example. Much of what I have is being held together by safety pins.
I wish I was joking.
My winter boots are ripped to shreds from all the walking I do. I really ought to buy a new pair, but I can't bring myself to do it. Spending that money gives me anxiety issues.
Anyway, the point is, I'm almost done the first course in the Say Something In Welsh programme that the Dysgwyr Cymraeg Ottawa (Welsh Learner's Ottawa) group is undertaking. It's nice to make progress, and I'm feeling good about it. I will need to start hanging around Welsh-speaking people (there are a fair number of them in Ottawa), so I can practice it. It's that or move to Wales...
Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), home-spiced coffee... and a cardamom pod. At first I thought it was a horse fly. I'm very glad it's not a horse fly.
I'm feeling particularly good this morning, it has to be said. This is weird, as I received a rejection letter yesterday. It was a nice rejection, but still a rejection. I don't want to harp on about it too much because it'll ruin my good mood and make me sad. So, I'm going to write about my small victories yesterday, the cumulative effect of which has led to my great mood this morning.
First of all, I started a new lesson in the Say Something In Welsh programme I'm working though, and I managed all right until about midday, when my tongue went into revolt and wouldn't let me roll my 'r's any longer. I'm now onto lesson 19 if any of you care. There are twenty-six lessons in the free first course on the site (there are three courses, so they go quite in depth with the language training). The other two courses on offer must be paid for, and I'm seriously considering it... But I have a personal block to spending money on things that aren't absolute necessities. I will happily spend money on food and on rent. But when I need new clothes, or if I want a gaming console, or even those beautiful, beautiful new books, it's always a struggle to spend that money, even if it's something that I actually quite desperately need. Clothes, for example. Much of what I have is being held together by safety pins.
I wish I was joking.
My winter boots are ripped to shreds from all the walking I do. I really ought to buy a new pair, but I can't bring myself to do it. Spending that money gives me anxiety issues.
Anyway, the point is, I'm almost done the first course in the Say Something In Welsh programme that the Dysgwyr Cymraeg Ottawa (Welsh Learner's Ottawa) group is undertaking. It's nice to make progress, and I'm feeling good about it. I will need to start hanging around Welsh-speaking people (there are a fair number of them in Ottawa), so I can practice it. It's that or move to Wales...
Perhaps I'll settling in the village of Beddgelert... A short walk from this gorgeous spot. Image courtesy of Snowdonia Guide. Click for link.
In training news, I actually remembered to bring my shoes last night and, after kick-boxing and before I taught Introduction to Self-Defence, I went for a run. If you recall, last week my run did not go so well. I had to stop and walk often. It was disheartening.
This time around, not only did I manage to run the full half hour, but I even did a fast lap and finished with a sprint. Go me! Mind you, my idea of a fast lap is actually not very fast at all. I'm a slow runner, being better built for carrying heavy objects on my back than running. I'm a Clydesdale, not a Thoroughbred...
This time around, not only did I manage to run the full half hour, but I even did a fast lap and finished with a sprint. Go me! Mind you, my idea of a fast lap is actually not very fast at all. I'm a slow runner, being better built for carrying heavy objects on my back than running. I'm a Clydesdale, not a Thoroughbred...
 Thoroughbred. Great runner. Dainty, lean and pretty. Image courtesy of imgkid.com. Click for link. |  Clydesdale. Dainty it is not (but I find them handsomer by far than the smaller breeds). Image courtesy of horsepictures2013.blogspot.ca. Click for link. |
In any case, I'm feeling far better about my fitness now, and the effect of that, plus the mood-boosting effects of exercise in general has put me in a good mood.
Also helping with my good mood was how quickly I managed to get my daily two thousand words down yesterday. I finished well before quitting time at four in the afternoon and the way I finished has made me excited to get writing again today. It was at the very beginning of a battle between the Batavian freedom fighters and the Roman Legions V Alaudae and XV Primigenia near what is modern day Nijmegen, the Netherlands. This battle actually took place in the year 70 AD.
I might be writing fiction, but it's well researched fiction, damn it!
Guys, I'm really excited about this story. It's the same excitement I felt for Skylark, and it is just so much fun to dive into the story each day. I mean, it's also heartbreaking. I just finished writing a bit when a soldier in the Batavian Auxiliaries stations at Castra Vestra learns that his wife was killed. That wasn't particularly fun to write. In fact, it was downright upsetting.
And also fun, I'm not going to lie. Even though I did tear up while writing it. It was fun.
Gah! I just... I really cannot wait to share this story with you! I'm so excited and thrilled and back in my groove! How refreshing, after the struggle of last year!
Excuse me a moment...
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahem. I really should get back to my lessons. I hope you are all well and having a fantastic Thursday.
Ciao! Stay Bless !!!
Also helping with my good mood was how quickly I managed to get my daily two thousand words down yesterday. I finished well before quitting time at four in the afternoon and the way I finished has made me excited to get writing again today. It was at the very beginning of a battle between the Batavian freedom fighters and the Roman Legions V Alaudae and XV Primigenia near what is modern day Nijmegen, the Netherlands. This battle actually took place in the year 70 AD.
I might be writing fiction, but it's well researched fiction, damn it!
Guys, I'm really excited about this story. It's the same excitement I felt for Skylark, and it is just so much fun to dive into the story each day. I mean, it's also heartbreaking. I just finished writing a bit when a soldier in the Batavian Auxiliaries stations at Castra Vestra learns that his wife was killed. That wasn't particularly fun to write. In fact, it was downright upsetting.
And also fun, I'm not going to lie. Even though I did tear up while writing it. It was fun.
Gah! I just... I really cannot wait to share this story with you! I'm so excited and thrilled and back in my groove! How refreshing, after the struggle of last year!
Excuse me a moment...
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahem. I really should get back to my lessons. I hope you are all well and having a fantastic Thursday.
Ciao! Stay Bless !!!
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