Category: About Me

About Me

Personal Update

Autumn

Normally I don’t blog about super personal information, but I’m in the mood so why not.

This last week I developed a blood clot in my leg. It’s a superficial one and responding quite well to basic home treatments, so I’m not very likely to die (though it is still painful). Honestly, I’ve known for my entire life that I inherited poor circulation in my lower extremities, but I kind of assumed it would never amount to anything worse than chronically cold feet. At least while I’m still in my 30s, you know? But blood clots does explain why I would periodically get fingerprint-sized bruises in random spots on my legs.

The event managed to hit me right in the emotions.

Unfortunately, a few days prior to this happening, my husband commented that I’ve been getting a lot of migraines lately, and I had an “Oh shit” moment. A number of things that I had attributed to a combination of stress and sleep deprivation could actually be signs of mini strokes, so I’m pretty freaked out. If I’ve been getting blood clots in my legs, then there’s a chance of getting them in my brain. I do not want to have a stroke and turn into a vegetable. I like being the way I am, and using my mind as much as I do. Everything I want in life revolves around being a functional person.

Angst angst angst.

At the very least, I did let a few of my usual habits slip over the winter, so hopefully getting off my butt and back into daily exercise in will help improve my health, with a strong imperative of “DON’T BE LAZY AGAIN.”

I am not remotely thrilled at being prone to this sort of problem.

About Me

Time Management

Autumn

I often think to myself that I ought to treat writing more like a part-time job than a hobby, and make some adjustments to our routine so I can write in the mornings when my mind is sharper. The benefit is that I’ll be able to work much faster than I currently do.

I’ve given myself the goal of publishing a new novel every year, which is a perfectly respectable pace all told, and in that regard I think that I’m doing just fine. But I’m also interested in exploring creative writing in different formats, and that’s going to take up more time. A lot more.

Which means that I need to manage my time more efficiently.

Which is a bit of a trick with a 10-month-old crawling all over me. >.<

So, in addition to writing novels, I’ve decided that I want to turn The Scion Suit into a text-based game.
i dunno why im such a nerd.
That means writing a multi-pronged script, and learning basic programming (which has my husband tickled). You’d think that I have enough going on, but writing the script for a video game is one of my bucket-list items, and there’s no time like the present.
We’re probably not going to be spending every weekend at the pool this summer anyway.

Besides, as long as I stick to the adage that “Progress is progress,” even just an hour a week will eventually add up. I’m pretty certain I do everything in 10-20 minute increments.

So I plan on starting off with a “choose your own adventure” format, but I want to get stats worked in as well.

I’m also looking forward to when the New Pokemon Snap comes out at the end of the month, so I’m probably going to have to quit watching movies and youtube. Frank James will just have to continue on without me. XD

About Me

…

Autumn

All right, I’ve been in a mood lately.

I can’t help but feel that time is running out, and there’s some large scale comeuppance in the works.

Could be anxiety, or even wishful thinking.

My last oracle card reading was actually extremely positive. As in, “You’ve been biting your tongue for awhile, but now is the time to co-create with the Universe!”

And the dark part of me mumbles, “You always say ‘co-create’. It doesn’t mean anything.”

But the description for one card explicitly named another card in the spread, so there was definitely some magic afoot.

You know, I used to never be skeptical. My husband and I survived 2011 on a mixture of miracles and penny fumes, and you’d think after that I’d never question anything again. Unfortunately, the human spirit is prone to fear and doubt, especially when things have been good for awhile.

But who knows.

I just can’t stop the feeling that time is running out, and it’s becoming enormously distracting and agitating.

About Me

Easter

Autumn

I confess, Easter as a pagan is a lot more fun.

We celebrate the goddess Ostara, who reigns over Spring and fertility — hence eggs and rabbits actually make sense for us. At this point, I’m so wrapped up in my own little bubble, I have a hard time remembering that Christians also celebrate Easter; truthfully, I feel put off by all of the death symbolism slathered on a day that’s supposed to honor birth and renewal. But anyway, it’s a fairly big day for us, with baskets, egg hunts, and lots of food.

This holiday also typically falls in between some birthdays, which means that I’m busy baking, sewing, and trying to whip together enough magic to keep the kids dazzled. I love it all, but it sure keeps me busy.

So. Very. Busy.

About Me

Crochet Hanger Covers pattern

Autumn

Truth be told, this post is more for the anecdote than a crochet pattern…

Once upon a time when I was little, my mom taught me how to crochet hanger covers.

The white was the first one I ever made, and the other was after I had gotten a little bit better at crochet. They originally had pompoms, but those got lost somewhere along the way. Wasn’t I so cute back then? I didn’t have the slightest clue how to control the yarn, lol.

And this is what I can do now:

The funny part is, my mom actually hates making hanger covers. She’s quit for good, and has absolutely no interest in ever picking it back up again. As for me, I love it, through and through. I like how pretty the hangers are, and how clothes don’t slip off of them while I’m rummaging through my closet.

Now, I believe that the wood hangers used to make these are no longer being manufactured. I got mine from ebay, and there are usually a few in thrift stores, but the general consensus is that no one knows where to get them anymore. But hey, with some basic woodworking skills, you could totally corner the market!

This is the variation of the vintage favorite pattern that’s been passed down through my family:

Size H hook
Worsted weight yarn

Make 2

Ch 58
dc in third chain from hook, 4 dc in same sp (5dc)

*skip 2 ch, sc, skip 2, 6dc* across. In final ch sp, 12dc around to other side. Continue pattern across the bottom, mirroring the top.

In the last space with 5 dc, make 6dc then sl st into top of ch2.

Creates 10 shells total.

Place wrong sides together, and slip stitch the top of the two pieces together. Slide hanger hook in between stitches in the center, then continue slip stitching across the bottom with the hanger inside.

Weave in ends

Decorate!

Pompoms are more traditional, but they also look beautiful with crocheted flowers. Leave tail ends to tie around the hanger hook, then weave them in.

About Me

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Autumn

Truth be told, I’ve been feeling extra stressed out about St. Patty’s Day.

Last year, the idea of making a quick jaunt to the grocery store to pick up cabbage and potatoes was abruptly shattered, and I still haven’t returned to any semblance of “normal” grocery shopping. PTSD.

But the most depressing part was realizing that my excessively dark worldview was actually justified. Just because I tend to be a cynic doesn’t mean that I actually want people to be that bad.

Anyway, my tradition is to pull out my Irish cookbook and make something authentic for St. Patrick’s Day. This year, I’m putting currants in the soda bread — I’m not actually sure if I’ve ever had currants before, so it should be fun. I know that at least one child will refuse to touch it on principle.

This year, we bought the barley well ahead of time.

Also starting the day off with Irish coffee, because fuck it.

About Me

Crochet Hangers and more

Autumn

You’re a hard core loser if you don’t own at least a dozen of these bad boys.

Also, I’m kind of addicted to spinning yarn. I made the green meself (I bought the cream online a couple years ago for some project or other i dont remember).

The pattern can be found here.

Also, because I know that you’re dying of curiosity, I finished making this out of the pink and yellow roving:

About Me

Creative Self Promotion

Autumn

When you’re a creative sort, the number one advice is always, “Use social media to promote yourself.”

I don’t.

(I have nothing good to say about social media, so it would be rather hypocritical.)

This blog is the closest that I get to that sort of thing, and instead of trying to encourage any sort of ‘community’, I’m content to post my musings to the void. Lurk as much as you want — it’s fine by me. Personally, I miss the days when I could sit down in a private corner and read something entirely for myself without having to taint it with everyone else’s opinions, so I like to imagine that I’m recreating that here. Feel free to not leave any likes or comments. You don’t have to share if you don’t want to. What you experience when you read my blog and stories belongs 100% to you.

Note: If you are interested in helping me build a community, then join us over on Discord! We can chat in a more intimate setting, free from the pressure of garnering ‘likes’ or looking cool. Not to mention, I share my plans for my stories over there before posting anything about them here, so you, too, can be among the first to know.

Of course, I can’t be too well kept of a secret, because then I might as well stuff everything in a drawer for all the good it does. Writing is my form on self-expression, and I have some idealistic notions about being a positive influence on the world. I know, I know, but my north node* is in Pisces, so I can’t help it.

So, the question of how to reach people is always on my mind.

I’m trying to be creative about it, especially because I have a very rich real life that demands an enormous amount of time.

I’m still very much figuring out what I’m doing — because it’s very much my own thing. I’m not going to get myself into something that’s going to end up sucking out my soul and destroying my creativity.

How would you do it? How would you promote yourself without using social media?

XD

*In astrology, your north node is your overall life purpose/goals. In this context, Pisces represents empathy and healing.