Just a quickie

As I'm getting ready to go fill in paperwork for my new job, this blog will just be a quickie. But here are some things I'll cover in the future (and soon, Job, weather, and writing permitting):

Tumblr: I'm hooked. More on the story as it develops.

Sherlock Series 3: Waiting for the apparently trauma-inducing 'His Last Vow' to air before writing this.

Insidious 2: I don't own it yet, but I will soon. Review to follow.

Life and death and money: once I've worked a shift or two at the funeral homes, I'll have more info.

Teaching acting: Gonna propose this as a side job to a local theater owner I have an in with. Much discussion of business plans and models and tax codes and curriculum to follow. If I can make it interesting.

And about a thousand other things. Lately, my creative side has bounced back big-time. Guess I need the pressure of knowing I have a job and structured times where I can or cannot write and be creative. But until then, I'm sorry for the lack of real blogs and updates.

Well, gotta go put my face on and edit another manuscript chapter. Ahh, manic stages. Eases the pain.

Polar Vortex

I hate being cold.

Now, for those who know me, this will come as no surprise. I'm usually the one shivering, and trying to go inside when everyone else is enjoying their second (or first) hand smoke.

Which is not to say I don't enjoy winter, or snow, or things that come with being cold. It's mostly about shivering in a friend's house who prefers a cooler temperature, or mine where we're trying to save money. I generally find it easier to cool down than to warm up. I'll take being overheated any day.

Cue the POLAR VORTEX currently bearing down on us. 

Nope, I didn't make up the term. That is an honest-to-God (psuedo)scientific name for what the hell's going on in Canada and the Midwest USA. I've seen it on several website, and every time I've mentioned it, I've been accused of making it up. I'm flattered, but nothing I've made up is that good. Although the phrase 'The Netflix' is catching on among my friends.

But I digress.

Yesterday, Bahamute and I braved the crowds and went to Meijer for supplies, should the power fail. My future brother in law Grizz, a Kroger employee, has warned us in the past that storms make people crazy, and that everyone buys milk. Well, we needed milk, so to the back of the store we went, expecting the worst.

One hour later we left with milk, salt, Duraflame logs, and a tentative respect for our fellow man. Yes, it had been busy beyond belief, but nobody was shouting, or pushing, or complaining about long lines as far as we heard. There were a lot of  'pleases' and 'thank yous' and 'excuse mes' going about. It was nice that everyone realized the storm was the cause of the massive crowd, and that being a jerk wouldn't help anything.

However, I don't envy anyone who has to shop today, or even leave their house. Bahamute has a shift at GameStop in two hours, which will probably be slow beyond reason. That or a storm-maddened crowd will take the place over. Extremes are fun!

EXTREME!

My new job starts later this week, so the worst will be over by the time I have to leave the comfort of my green bloggin' chair. So to those of you who have to brave the cold: Godspeed.

The (Job) Hunger Games: the odds were in my favor.

I'm employed.

Next week I'll be working part-time two days a week, and on call for 6, at three local funeral homes.

If you read my last blog, you'll already know my feelings on working at a funeral home. 

I'm so happy to be employed again, even if it is part time. Essentially, it depends on how many people need their services. So, here's hoping for booming business!

Not that I want more people to die.

Practically, it means a few life-style changes. No more going to sleep at 2am. Not as much time to mess around Tumblr and Tickled. I won't be able to cook and clean like I (mostly) have been.

But I think this is just what I need to get writing again. I'd always feel the drive to write when I was at work, ideas flying into my head. Then, I'd go home and sort them out. This might just get me motivated again.

And if not, at least I'll have some money coming in. Even part-time is better than nothing.

So, next week, it starts. Thank you to everyone who helped me, and wished me luck over the last month and a half. And don't expect these blogs to stop: it's only part time, after all.

For now.

The (Job) Hunter Games: DoA?

Well Maria, you always said I'd wind up working at that funeral home in Keego. And now, it may be coming true.

Let me back up a bit.

A long time ago, when proto-hominids walked the earth, and my friend Maria lived 10 minutes away, I was in high school.

I'm not that old. I'm not even as old as this poster!

Well, near my home there's a small funeral home. None of my relations were ever memorialized there, and I've never been in the place. But I pass it every day. It's literally a half-hour walk from my home, and even closer to where my friend Maria used to live. We saw it every day in high school.

And with my fascination with all things dead and dreary, Maria would joke "You should work there!"

I only have 122 horror movies on this shelf ALONE (the tall one).

I would laugh and smile, but didn't take it seriously. I was going to college. I was going to be a teacher. I didn't need to work so close to home!

Now I've applied for a part time job there. My teaching aspirations are long since tucked away (no regrets there, not in this job market), and a part-time position with on-call possibilities sounds like a great way to get back into being employed.

I'm an approachable person, I'd like to think. The kind somebody would feel free to talk to if they have a question or an issue. I think that would translate well to the memorial industry. I've been to enough of them: I know the atmosphere of quiet dignity and grace. I think I could do that.

I think I could help.

I'm not gonna bring you down much longer, promise.

That's what it really comes down to, in all the positions I've had. Help. Help answering questions, approaching hard to approach people, finding a table, finding a file, getting drinks, getting figures, getting the right info to the right people. I can help. I am a good helper. I am a person to ask for help.

I miss that. I've been unemployed long enough to miss things besides the money. I miss people. I miss getting them answers and hearing 'thank you'. I miss being helpful.

I don't know if being helpful is 'What God put me on this earth to do', or anything that lofty/pretentious. But there are a lot worse ways I could spend my time here.

So. I'm off to seek jobs, post silly pictures, and clean the house. Maybe it'll help someone, maybe not. 

Maybe it'll just help me.

Post-Christmas Non Hangover

Usually after Christmas I'm a wreck, just coming off all the joy and adrenaline and stress and awfulness and wonderfulness that's wrapped up in the holiday.

This year, everything is moving at a glacial pace, and I'm ecstatic.

So far I've spent my days hanging at Grizz's house with his family, watching TV, eating pizza rolls, and playing World of Darkness (like D&D, more vampires and faeries). This is what we all should get after the holidays: time to recover. A vacation from the vacation. I know I'm not the first to say it, but it's still a great idea.

If I could just stop having nightmares about not being prepared for the wedding, it'd be perfect. That and the end of the world. But that's pretty normal for me. Zombies. Nameless monsters with yellow eyes and my friends faces. Normal. For me.

So, back to blogging, applying for jobs (a few interviews and such are coming up, hooray!) and writing. Started the morning with a rejection letter from a flash-fiction site. Well. At least I submitted something. It's a step forwards. 

What's on the agenda for today? Maybe seeing The Hobbit with the family. Maybe more. Maybe something worth writing about that doesn't make me sound lazy and spoiled. Well. Besides my in-character notes from gaming last night. That felt good. Very good.

I'll keep this short, as most people besides me are busy. Happy holiday hangover. Hope this helps:

My Christmas Wish was Granted

The power came back on. They're coming. :D Enjoy these fun Gifs and pics.

Thank you God, for answering my prayer, and giving the greatest gift since...well....

The reason for the season.

My Christmas wish

So, my fiancee may have the worst Christmas ever.

Let backup me explain.

My fiancee Bahamute's parents divorced a few years before we started dating. In the last few years, both his mother and father moved out of state. This year his Mother, Stepfather, and 2 Stepbrothers, for the first time in 8 years, were all going to come up on Christmas Eve, and stay for almost a week with his brother, Grizz, and his boyfriend. Bahamute had never been this excited about Christmas. Usually, he hates the holiday, and working retail, I can understand. He's getting ready for a Christmas Eve shift as I write this.

Last Saturday, Grizz's power went out, and hasn't come on since. We had no idea. And as a result, his folks aren't coming up tonight unless it kicks back on. It's supposed to have come on at midnight every day since this happened.

This is the news I woke him with on Christmas Eve. Now he's getting ready for work, and I have no idea what to say. I'll be spending the day cooking, cleaning, and with my own family. The only pain I have that's comparable is the death of my father in 2009. It's two very different situations.

What do I do? What do I say? How can I make this suck any less (We can't have them at our place due to space issues)?

I have nothing. It's a rotten situation. Merry Christmas and be alone.

Grizz and his boyfriend may come stay with us tonight. I hope they will: they're some of our best friends in the world, and Bahamute needs to be with family.

A Green Christmas for me?

Or rather, a green post Christmas, perhaps. I have a possible job starting in January with a local school district, and an interview being set up with a local irrigation company in a week or so! I'm very excited about the 2nd one, as they reached out to me, and the location is closer. Here's hoping!

All I really want for Christmas is a new job. And this stylish piggy bank!

In other news, SAVING MR. BANKS is AMAZING.

I went with Bahamute and another friend. Bahamute and I cried. A lot. But it was good crying. He just sat there muttering 'Stupid Tom Hanks.' I said 'It's fine to cry if it's Tom Hanks. It's like how it's not gay if you're attracted to a 10 of your own sex. They're just so good, you can't help it.'

He didn't think that was as funny as I did.

Other than that, it's been pretty quiet around here. Today is gonna be a real house-wifey day: cooking and cleaning. Baking for Christmas, really. I have a super Jam-Thumbprint cookie recipe that I may share with you all in the near future.

Not much else to report. I'll have to do something more interesting today than a Narnia movie marathon.

Psst. Special kudos if you're here from my Tumblr: over 100 followers! :D

Writing Exercise: Moving Day

Looking for a new home is always so trying. There’s the children: they’re so sensitive to anything the littlest bit different. Pets can be a pain, dogs barking at new noises, cats hissing at new people. They’re all so easily disturbed. It’s really very sad.

Even adults have a hard time coping. ‘What’s that noise?’ ‘Where did I put the box of china?’ ‘When did this get moved?’ It just never ends. It’s almost not worth finding a new home.

But once they moved the graveyard I didn’t have much of a choice. This house looks nice…

Geek Grub: Innkeeper's meat and potatoes

Get a real inn-style meal without spending the gold pieces!

You want HOW much for trail rations?!

You'll need:
1 cup of milk
 4 7/8 ounces instant potato mix
1/2 lb ground beef
2 cups shredded or sliced cheddar cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese (optional)
1/4 cup butter
1 tsb Garlic
Dash of salt
Dash of pepper

1. Salt and Pepper beef. Cook in non-stick pan on stove top until brown, then drain off the fat.

2. Make mashed potatoes according to package. Add milk, garlic, and mozzarella if you're using it, and stir until creamy.

3. Layer time! In a baking dish make the following layers: one inch potatoes, all the beef, half the cheddar, the rest of the potatoes, and lastly, the rest of cheese.

Tasty, tasty murder.

4. Bake at 350 until the cheese melts and the potatoes start to turn golden brown. usually between 10-20 minutes.

5. Let sit for five minutes and eat.

6. Defeat the orks.

He looks hungry!