A lot has happened. Let’s dive in.
SONG INSPIRATION
This month’s blog is inspired by Nicki Minaj’s “Chi-Raq”.
HOLIDAY-WEDDING RECAP
After four cold ass (sometimes snowy) weeks in Idaho and a year away, I spent 2 weeks on the Gulf Coast for Thanksgiving and my sister’s wedding. We reminisced, argued, laughed, ate, and drank. A total blast. The week after Thanksgiving, I took a short staycation at a local casino/resort. I love my family, but y’all know how it is. I had a chance to try new restaurants (cuz of course y’all know me by now), stroll through downtown Ocean Springs, and catch up on some Netflix series I’ve been putting off for months. I also reunited with some old friends and classmates, some of whom I haven’t seen in over a decade. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to visit everyone but time is short when you fly into town.
From 2007 – 2022, I didn’t cry once. And then on December 3rd, I lost it watching my very best friend – my “sister” – walk down the aisle arm in arm with her father. Personally, I blame it on the Hennessey shots taken in the party bus before the ceremony. It was a hectic day of tea ceremonies, endless photographs, loud music, frantic errands, and multiple energy drinks. In the end, we celebrated a long-awaited union, tore up the dancefloor at the reception, and basked in the outpouring of so much love and support.
WRITING
I finished my novel. The final 30,000 words were written from Nov 1st – 18th. I finished. After years of procrastination, planning, and toiling, I finished my novel on an unremarkable day in an under furnished temporary office. Although I felt a tremendous amount of relief, I haven’t jumped for joy because the work isn’t over. Editing and revision is right around the corner. And I have to start writing my next book at the beginning of 2023. The discipline instilled in me by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) has shown me that I can produce a novel (80,000 ± 20,000 words) in 3 – 6 months (350 – 600 words/day) for only 30 – 45 minutes per day. That’s the power of incremental progress and consistency. I’m stoked to start my next novel and even more thrilled to edit the one I completed. However, I am following the advice to put one’s writing aside for a while before editing. As such, I don’t anticipate editing for another couple of months, especially if you consider….
MOVING – AND ALL THAT IT ENTAILS
I’ve finally scheduled the logistics necessary to move across country. Moving containers. Car transport. Airplane tickets. All that’s left now is to…pack. I’ve been boxing up belongings, bagging clothes to donate, and removing wall decorations for weeks now. But with 4 weeks until my first shipping container arrives, the process is intensifying. The first container is for essentials. I know it’s cliché at this point, but you never realize how much stuff you have until it’s time to pack it up (or throw it away). But this is a perfect opportunity to downsize and donate. Although I have a lot to do over the next month (which is of course complicated by holidays), I’m not too stressed. Doing a little here and there has helped make it less insurmountable. After a year of tremendous travel, generous social obligations, and professional milestones, it feels good to wrap up life in the Southwest and prepare for a new adventure in N’Angland.
CURRENT BOOKS / SHOWS
Recently finished: House of the Dragon; Q-Force; Trese
Currently watching: Andor; Columbo (s5); Victoria (s3)
Currently reading: Wine for Dummies; A Modern History of Japan
Thank you for reading! My next blog is scheduled for January 12th, 2023. See ya in the new year!
The Planetary Novelist 