It's been awhile!

Well hallos!

I don't know what happened. I just sort of tuned out, there. Been spotty on email and facebook too, and forgot to read my froggy's posts cause I never opened blogger. Eeps! So here are some updatees.

CATS
I no longer feel so guilty about taking Haley away to Nanaimo--she's a new woman! Minion is still top cat, but Haley stands up to her more. And she no longer shies away from demanding her share of attention from us. She also PLAYS with Minion, which she very rarely used to do. I see them scramble through the apartment at least once a day. So things are better!

Minion, who had to go fingerless for two years, is back with a vengeance. Took her a couple days to rediscover the old finger sucking routine, and now she's a worse addict than ever. And if I try to stop her cause I want to use my hand? "Mahmmy. Mahmmy... two years mahmmy. You abandoned me for TWO YEARS mahmmy. Yeah, so. Hand over the finger."

FERNANDO
I don't like to write about the old husbando because he's very private, but I'm very, very happy to be back with him. :-)

JOBLIES
I always have this perpetual struggle of whether I should look for a more professional job ( = better paying, more challenging, but saps time and energy from one's life), vs something simpler like a retail job ( = get bored faster, less pay, but don't take work home with you, and though you're on your feet, the good thing is you're on your feet!). I'd thought maybe it was time for something professional; but the first week I was home I went to a charity thrift store chain to donate some things and saw a temp, part-time, help wanted sign in the window. Well it seemed stupid to ignore it, so I called up.

And soon I had a full-time permanent position. Shrug. Whatcha gonna do? I believe in letting the universe shove you around a bit, and that's how it felt. "Get thee to a low level job. ...But for a charity, cause it's nicer."

This company is based on the Goodwill model. There are a whole bunch of little donation centers all over Montreal and surrounding areas, and that's where I work. We take people's things, do a quick triage, pack em up, send up out. The first location I worked at was new, so very slow--so I had time to plot my novel in between sorting items. Now I'm in a busier location which also has a wee bookstore, of which I am queen. I get to reorganize it, play with it, and do what I can to make sales. So while the sorting is dull, frolicking in the bookstore is fun.

I work 10 hour shifts, which means I get 3 days off per week rather than 2. It's all good for now.

WRITINGS
I used to write a lot of books based on my friends and colleagues. I'd take their names and basic characteristics, then throw them somewhere and run with it. I've decided to revise a couple of these to have some ebooks up and running. The ones I'm editing were written about my friends at my old bookstore, in Regency England. They are very silly. But editing them has given me back my excitement and love for writing, so this part of my life is finally back up and running. Phew!

CRAFTS
Crocheting an afghan and an octopus, and knitting a dishcloth. I'm doing more reading (a lot of PG Wodehouse) and less TV, so less crocheting. But still loving it.

FRIENDS
Slowly catching up on seeing people. It usually costs money (I can't entertain here, it's too messy), so I have to go slowly. So far I've hung out with Maewitch & The Boy, Onthatmidnightstreet and Vidal, and Swiss Girl. It felt really good to get back in the old friend groove. Though I miss my Nanaimo peeps!

I do miss chatting with my parents every day. I could remedy this by calling them, but I forget. And when I do, they're supposedly always out. When I lived there and they didn't do that much socializing, and all of the sudden they're never home? Puleeze. They are clearly avoiding me.

I miss Harvey, though we saw each other more on facebook so the change isn't so big. I miss my peeps at the store! And I especially miss my beautiful Mme Miroir. What a special person she is, and I am so so glad I moved to Nanaimo and was able to meet and get to know her. I'd have to say, on the whole, she's the *thing* I miss most. ...Even more than the weather. ...That may change February 1st.

So that's me! And now I have to make the blog rounds and find out how everyone else is. xxoo

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I did not know this cover existed! So exciting.