Good morning, Readers!

It's not as oppressively hot today. When I woke up this morning, my toes were no longer on fire. Having the fan point at them the entire night, trying to keep myself as cool as possible so I could sleep. Which is another thing. I slept fairly well last night. It's been two nights of poor sleep before then, due to the heat. Last night was better.

Today is going to be another scorcher, but not in the same way as the past couple of days, and for that, I'm profoundly grateful.

Other than the weather, there's not so much going on that is remarkable in my life currently.

CERB is going to expire next month, and that has me very stressed, as the office where I used to work and hope to work again still is not open. Which is good - the plague is still very much an issue, even if people want to pretend it's not. I'm throwing around ideas for freelance or contract work, just in case I never do get my job back. I'm thinking maybe freelance editing. I don't know.

The freelance life doesn't really appeal to me. Sure, I love the idea of doing the work whenever I feel like it, as long as it gets done - the freedom of that is really appealing. The idea that if I want to go to a long brunch on any given day, I can, makes me sigh for want.

However, the lack of stability - which I need and crave - leaves me in paroxysms of stress. It gives me hives. Unless I have a relatively stable source of income, I can't deal.

I don't know how freelancers do it, honestly. I am in awe of them.

Still, if my job never returns, what then? I can apply like hell for jobs elsewhere, but job applications take a while. And there's no guarantee I'll get any of the jobs I apply for.

That's what is taking the largest portion of my brain power currently. Unless I win the lotto, I feel like I'm pretty much screwed.

So... Thanks for nothing, plague.

Right, speaking of editing, I have some work for a friend to do. But first:

A Song by an Artist Whose Voice You Love

This young lad from Kazakhstan has a six octave range. SIX OCTAVES. This is a Kazakh folk song, which never approaches the soprano he can achieve, but I love it all the same.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Look, it's just past 9:00 am and I'm already melting to the floor. It's too damned hot out, and I don't care that I'm Australian and should be used to the heat, I hate it so, so, so much. It makes sleep difficult, and thinking next to impossible. And yes, I'm going to complain about it, because I don't complain about the winter.

Winter is gorgeous. It's cold and cosy, and the air is crisp, and often smells of woodsmoke as folks gather around their fireplaces. You can drink mulled apple cider and hot chocolate, and cuddle with people without immediately dissolving into a slimy sweat puddle. Winter is fabulous.

My favourite season is autumn, though. The air is cold, the sun still warm. The leaves are spectacular, and you get all the benefits of winter (hot drinks, cuddles, cosy blankets and tea) without the wind chill.

What we have now is  a heat warning. It's going up to 34 today, and is supposed to feel close to 40 thanks to the stupid humidity.

I'm not happy.

Still, I'm slowly muddling my way though working. I'm editing and would be writing, but I'm combing through my stuff for to have my taxes in on time, so I'm focusing my writing time on that until it's done and handed in. Next time, I'll be hiring someone to do it for me, because I have a confusing number of sources of income and jobs and shite, and I am not inclined to spend the brainpower on this again.

Oops! I'm all about the complaints today!

Let's talk about something good.

I spent too much money a month or so ago, and bought myself a VR set for my Playstation. I have only two VR games, currently. Skyrim (of course!) and Beat Sabre. I've not yet cracked open Skyrim because I'm afraid that if I do, I'll just disappear into the world and die of starvation in real life, or something.

I have played Beat Sabre. It's really fun, actually. It's physical, which I quite like (though my arms are not as sore as I'd expect them to be). It's also challenging in the right ways. In this instance, it's a challenge to my hand-eye coordination and rhythm, and reaction timing.

For the record, I also adore puzzle games like the Myst series, and am really looking forward to the day that they are available in VR, because that would be super immersive and wonderful.

I've been playing Beat Sabre for roughly an hour and a half in the evening. I'm super impressed with it thus far. It really does feel like you've been transported to a new world.

Right, that's about enough to be going on with. I'm off to get more editing done.

​But first:

A Song That Breaks Your Heart

If I need a song to help me cry, this is it.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

I'm not supposed to be here writing this. I'm supposed to be in the country, by a lake, seeing family. I had to cancel that trip, as travelling anywhere is giving me too much anxiety at present, and even minor normal symptoms of chaining weather has me on edge.

After cancelling the trip, I cried. A lot.

I haven't seen family in months, despite livi​ng same city. It didn't hit how much I missed them, my father in particular, whom I visited at least once a month before this, until I cancelled.  I sobbed for almost an hour afterwards, then broke down again later in the afternoon. I'm crying a little just writing this, because now I have to think about it.

Honestly, I don't know how folks who are totally alone through this are making it. I at least have my cats, and Galahad in particular is a cuddly little bugger, and my flatmate who, even if we're both doing our thing, is still a comforting presence in the house.

I didn't teach this weekend. I cancelled the class because I was supposed to be away, and didn't reinstate it. I was too depressed Saturday to face anyone. So, I spent the whole day gaming. Probably because I was carving some fatherly comfort, I revisited the 2018 God of War. I played for two days straight. Still not finished it,  by the by. I still adore old man Kratos, and his adorable son. It's such a brilliant story and exceptional execution of it.

Sunday was a bit brighter.

Ages ago, I had made an impulsive order for something that would help improve my time in quarantine, particularly those rainy days when I can't go out at all. It's a VR kit for my Playstation. And also a VR copy of Skyrim. And also Beat Sabre.

Though escaping in to virtual worlds is my modus operandi for when things get difficult, I have set strict limits on it. The first is that I'm not allowed to touch it at all until I've finished my work for the day.

For today, that means writing this blog post, French lesson, editing a couple of chapters on a friend's manuscript, and also writing at least a thousand words on my own project. Also today, I need to fold and put away my laundry and wash my dishes.

Than I can play some games.

Maybe I'll feel a little less sad with work to do.

Right, on that note, I have to go and start editing. But first:

A Song by an Artist No Longer Living

A classic. Back when I was going out on the town, Irish pubs would play music like this all the time here in Ottawa. They don't really, anymore. I miss those days.

Stan Rogers died so young. It makes me so very sad.

This challenge day was very appropriate, me thinks.

​Ciao!

A Song by a Band You Wish Were Still Together

Okay, huge caveat here, because I actually don't wish any bands were still together. I'm not so nostalgic for bands in that way. So, honestly, I just picked a song I liked from back in the day.

A Song You Think Everybody Should Listen To

While it's literally every song in the challenge so far, I wanted to highlight some nerdy music that I love, and a singer I adore. I've posted this song before (but not for this challenge).

A Song That Moves You Forward

A change of pace, and another difficult choice. There are so many songs that get me pumped up. This is just one of many. I chose it because it also gets my imagination in gear. That's important to me.

Good morning, Readers!

Yesterday was the Amazing Flatmate's birthday, and so I had set aside the day, planning to get little to no work done. I was correct. I got little to no work done. I did do my editing job, though, which was good.

I spent the day relaxing with the flatmate, who celebrated her birthday in quarantine in style. Part of the fun was her request for friends and family to send her pictures of themselves in costume. The criteria was this:

A person - real or imagined - who had to spend some time in isolation.

That was it.

I am not good with costumes, and have a very limited wardrobe in any case, so I dressed up as Runner 5. Folks who are familiar with that character will recognize them from the running gameficiation app Zombies!Run. It's a fantastic app I've written about before. Basically it turns your running training into something fun with high-stakes radio-play-like missions for each run. Anyway, it required little more than my usual running gear with a torn up running bib with the number 5 painted on it.

Low-effort, but fun.

We had a long breakfast outside in the sun, lounged around inside when it got too hot, then I made dinner for us (which apparently was tasty... Part of me still feels like she was just being kind, even though I enjoyed it too. I am a well known food vacuum, though. I will eat most anything. Mmm.... food), and her parents visited, all masked up, and staying well away, to deliver gifts and chat for a bit.

Later, we listened to music and played around with sparklers.

I stayed out later than I normally do, though, so today called in for a lie-in. I also don't expect to be doing much work today either. I'm le tired, and I feel like cutting myself some slack. Chances are, though, I will manage to get some work done.

I am aiming to continue with the editing, for example.

Speaking of which, I should go now and get that done. But first:

A Song With a Name in the Title

This song is one that'll just randomly pop into my head. It's so damned catchy.

​Ciao!