Just when things looked like they were getting better, I've had a setback, in the form of several bad moments with super high blood pressure over the last couple of days.

I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday, so here is hoping for an idea on what I can do about it, but not fun ...

Even the very best authors probably have at least one story in their collection that just ... isnt as good. Something between imagining the story and writing it down some factor gets left out, or something that doesnt scan gets added in, and it just ... flops.

So what does an author do?

Well, hopefully, learn from it.

So, as I am in that place with my last story, I'm hoping for some constructive criticism in the hopes that I might get better the next time.

My aunt got through her surgery okay, and is going to be looked after by family while she recovers. It doesnt mean she's totally out of the woods yet, but things are looking up.

New story up!

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/73541/jamie

I dont know if the issue is on BC's end or mine, but I'm getting this dark purple background that makes things kinda hard to read. Help?

I got scary angry today and managed to break a shovel in half.

Sighs ... all the work I've done on trying to get a handle on myself, and I still do stuff like this ...

My sister in law had to put down one of her cats today. Needless to say, we're all sad here.

Just letting everybody know that my brother is home, and beginning the long slow recovery/rehab process. And apparently, that was good enough for my muse to send me another little story to share with you all:

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/73081/rivers-babylon-...

Just to let everybody know I probably wont be on much the next few days as we will be spending a lot of time at the hospital with my brother undergoing knee surgery. I'll try and give an update when I have one, but in the meantime, I'm leaving behind a big store of huggles, should anybody need one, and if you want to leave one for me, that's always appreciated.

Just got a call from my aunt. She's going in for surgery on Jan 31, for some kind of tumor in her uterus.

Prayers and good wishes appreciated.

the optimist says: Look at the progress we've made. The former Eastern Block is now full of prosperous democratic countries, in fact more countries are freer than ever in history. For LGBT folks, more of us are coming out, and getting support from our family and friends, progress has been made in acknowledging our rights in many countries, and there are positive portrayals of us in the media.

Serious adulting done today. I went and got my oil changed, my air filters changed, and a new wiper blade put on my car, then I went downtown and paid my speeding ticket.

Its not normally the case that i would be celebrating spending close to $ 600, but I feel a lot better about things with those tasks taken care of.

I am writing a story that involves a group of soldiers during the first Gulf War, and have a question about how soldiers refer to each other. For example, according to what I found online, there is a rank called "specialist" which is above Private and below Corporal. How would say a Sargent call for such a person? How would someone distinguish between a Sargent and say a Master Sargent?

Any advice appreciated.

As it is supposed to be super cold here the next couple of days, I'm going to stay in as much as possible. I'm just wondering if anybody would like to share their "snow day" activities - the stuff they would do if stuck inside for a day or more?

Assuming I have any people interested in reading my stuff left, I need to give them an apology. Massive stress around here with my mom hurt, my dog struggling, Sharon having troubles, my brother looking at surgery, and he and I getting into an argument over my transition during which he said he never saw anything feminine in me growing up, and doesnt see anything feminine in me now, has all led to me not being in a good state for writing at the moment. So no new Branded, or The gift, or the war/supernatural story I had started on for now, and maybe not for a while.