Tremendulent!

1. I hiked up a mountain last weekend. It was really frickin' hard and my thighs still haven't forgiven me. But I did it. I'm kinda proud of myself. It was another one of those 'let's see if I can do this' challenges I keep setting for myself and I did it. The mountain is called Cadair Idris and it's pretty well-known in these parts. We definitely went up the wrong way, but my ankle held up beautifully. So, I think this may be one of those things that I'm going to cling to in the next few months (years?). I hiked up a mountain less than a year after fracturing my ankle and dislocating my shoulder. If I can do that, I can do anything. Right?

2. I'm about 95% committed to moving back to the states and it's still freaking me out. It's very strange to essentially be given a chance to actually be selective about what I do next. I'll be in a position where if I don't have a job, it won't be life or death and that's really, REALLY freaking me out. I actually get to be picky about what kind of job I do next? I've never had this luxury and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

3. Easter weekend approaches! Four day weekend! I'm pet-sitting an adorable Springer spaniel for a friend as well as house-sitting. She has an amazing kitchen, so I'll be baking a strawberry-peach pie and attempting, for the first time, to make a gumbo. Both of these dishes will be just for moi! And maybe for a friend if she gets back into town in time. No promises.

4. Other than the pet-sitting, I have no plans for the long weekend, so that means it's a perfect time to WRITE. I'm determined to finish my Black Sails epic, so that's what I'll be working on, I think. It's been a bit of a relief to think about it in terms of the whole story as opposed to chapter by chapter.

5. I keep trying to start new shows, or new-to-me shows, and then I just don't. It's really weird. Lately, I always just end up watching Midsomer Murders or Inspector Lewis re-runs. I don't get it. Although, I did watch Derry Girls and it's an absolute delight. I'm ready to watch the new season of Killing Eve, but it hasn't aired in the UK yet.

I hope everyone is doing all right! Take care out there! ♥

Happy New Year, everyone!

I hope everyone had a nice holiday period. I made (and ate) SO much food, including: cranberry creme brulee (because I got a kitchen blow torch for Christmas which is probably the closest I'll ever get to a flamethrower), Coke-brined ham, black-eyed peas and rice, kale and cabbage, cornbread and a proper Christmas cake which I decorated. It was a fun combination of British and Southern food. (if anyone wants recipes, let me know!)

I have a few things!

1. Holy crap, the response to my two Star Wars fics is amazing. I forgot what being in a large fandom is like!

2. Speaking of fandom, and sadly, I think this one is very small - is anyone watching Scorpion? It's a CBS Monday night drama/action thing with ridiculous science and even more ridiculous scenarios, but I'm kind of hooked. I've more or less binged the first season this last week. It's a team show, which I love and the characters are actually really fun and mostly three-dimensional. I'm also in love with all the possible pairings, so...that's fun! Anyone out there watching? Anyone? Bueller?

3. I have two main writing goals for the year:

- Finish Teeth, Claws and Guinness so that I can get that done.
- Write a romance novel, which I've already started.

Doable?

Happy Sunday! ♥

So, yesterday I woke up at the usual time, had a cup of tea and slice of toast, then sat down watched two minutes of Murder She Wrote (with a very young Linda Hamilton!), then opened my laptop and COULD NOT READ ANYTHING due to this weird crescent shaped wavy line that got bigger and bigger across my field of vision in my right eye. I couldn't read any text at all.

I took off my glasses, my head started to hurt and I closed my eyes. It got better. I got up to make some whipped cream and it started all over again, this time in my left eye. I made what I needed to make, then sat down in a dark room, with my eyes closed and my glasses off. It eventually went away, but I STILL have a dull ache in my head.

The internet says this was an optical migraine? I've only ever had one migraine before (after watching John Carter in 3D, not pleasant), so this was new and painful and not fun. I'm off to the eye doctor tomorrow to have things checked out vision-wise, simply because glaucoma and cataracts run in the family. My mother also had a macular hole, so I'm being cautious.

So...not a fun day. Although, I made an awesome Key Lime Pie using this recipe. SO good.

How is everyone?