This week starts a new round of infusion treatment for me and a new round of uncertainty. In that vein (see what I did there?), this song is speaking to me, because I'm not a real fan of being unprepared by design. I need to know what's coming, but you can't, of course. So when I was listening to this song as a part of my Nanowrimo 23 prep, the line "But there never seems to be enough time/ To do the things you want to do once you find them" really struck me. The first round of treatment I focused only on the treatment. I planned my life around it. And to some extent, you have to do that...but I haven't written anything since July's Camp Nano save my Very Short Stories on the bird app. That has to change. That will change. There is enough of me to do both. Let's do this. Hand me that bottle.
So, I've recently (like a year ago, but still) been able to fullfill a childhood goal and have started playing D&D with a group of my friends. I didn't think it would be too hard - I did play MMORPGs for more than a decade (still do, shoutouts to Everquest and WoW) and am currently working my way (slowly) through Balders Gate 3.
I was wrong. So wrong. BDG3 helps, as it is part of the D&D universe. But you know what helps the most? The wonderful folks in my campaign. All but one of them are seasoned players, and they have taken my noob-ness in stride. Today's song is from my other newish obsession, Critical Role. It's like sitting down at my table! Friends (who are all voice actors, but still) gathering around a table to play D&D and I get to watch and learn! This is the opening theme from Campaign 3 and while I'm still watching 1, this is good stuff.
Also, turn on the captions for the words, and you can see who is singing each line. Join the adventure, chose your actions...you can certainly try. 😈
This weekend was a welcome return to normal...whatever that means. I spent the weekend at the Upstate Renaissance Festival in Greer, SC, signing/selling books and talking writing with loads of people. I was apprehensive because my booth mate, the marvelous Misty Massey, had car trouble on Thursday and couldn't join me. I wasn't sure that I could do it - but when I got there, my years as a Rennie and my years of selling books kicked in and it was a breeze. The organizers and staff are amazing, and I'm planning to put in my application for next year as soon as they open!
The intrepid author melts into her seat...
My cozy little tent, Friday evening.
In fact, on Saturday, it was a swift breeze that made my canopy jumpy, but there was no lift off like last year. But I digress...
Hey look, I've got the same garb as...fifty-eleven others.
The view from the chair...
So the moral of this story is that cancer treatment has changed a lot over the years, and I must just be too stubborn to let it beat me. First round is finished as of this morning and I still feel pretty good. Bring it!
For Music Monday I've chosen a song by the late Jimmy Buffett to remind all of us how to get through tough days...Breathe in, breathe out, move on. Thanks, Sailor, for showing us how to live.
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On
by Jimmy Buffett
I bought a cheap watch from a crazy man
Floating down canal
It doesn't use numbers or moving hands
It always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was had
But this watch is never wrong
And if I have trouble, the warranty said
Breathe in, breathe out, move on
And it rained, it was nothing really new
And it blew, we've seen all that before
And it poured, the Earth began to strain
Pontchartrain leaking through the door, tides at war
If a hurricane doesn't leave you dead
It will make you strong
Don't try to explain it, just nod your head
Breathe in, breathe out, move on
And it rained, nothing really new
And it blew, seen all that before
And it poured, the Earth began to strain
Pontchartrain buried the ninth ward to the second floor
Right Outta Nowhere by Christine Kane. Lyrics in CC.
Hey there, all you dozen or so Lettuce Readers. Today's post is going to differ somewhat from my normal musical musings and appearance agendas. Today, I want to tell you something that hasn't been made public yet, but I think it's time to come clean.
Leap, and the net will appear, right?
So, back in June, I got a doctor's appointment with a new doc - hooray for insurance companies that switch up preferred providers, right? Anyway, starting on June 7th, I was seen, poked, prodded, bombarded with several types/levels of radiation, and at the end of it all was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
Still leaping, still hoping for that net.
I started chemo on July 31st, and as of this writing am about to finish the first round. It hasn't been too bad, other than my scalp yeeting most of my hair and some days where I just felt not quite right. But I am thankful beyond measure that most of the side effects they warned me about either didn't happen or were so slight that I could manage them. I was also having a week in between each infusion, so that helped with getting me back to normal...ish.
On the 25th of this month, I will start a new round with a new drug, but this time it will be every week, so here's hoping my luck holds out longer than I fear my eyebrows and eyelashes will. My oncologist says that he sees I am responding well, so I guess that means that the tumor (whom I have named Eugene) is reacting unfavorably to the chemotherapy. Good. I hope it hurts, Eugene. I hope it hurts.
So why am I telling you this? Well, I'm staring down an author appearance at the Upstate Renaissance Faire in Greer, SC this weekend and for the first time I will be out in public, all day, in garb. I've mostly been staying home since diagnosis, and even cancelled my trip to Baltimore for my DayJob™ professional conference before any of this wacky rollercoaster ride started. No one outside of my families of origin and choice have seen me in person, especially since my hair fell out. I needed to be okay with this, I guess, before it became public knowledge.
Am I okay with it now? Of course not, but that keeps me fighting. I'm not a warrior, by any means, but I will be a survivor.
Trusting the net will appear.
So, here goes. I'm taking a first brave step out into a wider world, like my MC Gin did when she was yanked out of the Great Forest in Wanderer. (Y'all didn't think I'd completely stop pushing my books, did you? 😂) I just hope that I can handle what comes with the same grace that she did...and does. I hope to see you at the faire this weekend, at Multiverse in Atlanta in October, and the Geekery Market in Concord in November. I'm usually up for hugs, but I may need masks in place first.
Hey, so things have gotten a little complicated around here...and as a result, there won't be another Music Monday until September. Y'all go scare up some songs to suggest, will ya?
In the meantime, I'm going to juggle ALL THE THINGS and then spend some time trying to get past the first part of Baldur's Gate 3.
Now, I'm not one to name names...but this song brings it out in me. Not only is the message of sisterhood and unconditional love something that I find coming out in a lot of my writing and my music...this is a nevertheless moment. She saves herself, y'all. (Also The Chicks are just awesome, so there's that...lyrics are in the CC in the video.)
I am almost positive that I've posted this one before, but it is speaking to me, my situation, and even my characters right now. You can't really ignore those kinds of convergences, now can you? So on this last day of Camp NanoWriMo for this year I think that if we are all a little unsteady we can support each other...right? (Lyrics are in the video.)
I'm very into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, so when I saw that this actress was also a singer I was HOOKED. But the concept of the song is very familiar too...Sath and Gin, Hack and Elys, Maggie and Henri, Lex and Em...even Taeben and Gin. As much as I say I'm NOT a romance writer, it always ends up there in the end, somehow. Enjoy.
This past weekend was my first trip to ConGregate, and it will not be my last. What a great group of people, good panel discussions, and just an all around good time. Many, many thanks to the Con staff for that weekend away from the chaos that is my life right now. They have a tradition that everyone wears Hawaiian shirts on Friday, both in memory of a specific member of their con family but also for those lost in Sci-Fi/Fantasy fandoms over the past year. So quite accidentally I ended up cosplaying one of my personal heroes, my friend and adopted sibling, Robby Richardson.
All I needed was a turkey on my head and some Elvis glasses, right? For Music Monday, please enjoy this Jimmy Buffett tune that always makes me think of good times and friends from the "Baby Rich" era of my life. I miss you, Baloo. Thanks for the inspiration.
So...It's going to be a long few months, and right now I have run out of bandwidth to explain further. This song is representative of one of my new video obsessions - West Coast Swing. This keeps me sane, at least for now. Camp Nano continues, ConGregate 9 is coming up this weekend, and I am holding on with all I've got. Enjoy.
I know it's July. I understand that Camp Nano started two days ago. I am aware that I'm editing this month and I'm already behind. But I'm still living in May, for a variety of reasons--one of which is Eurovision. When there's a lot of awful in your everyday, Eurovision is a blast of happy, over-saturated, European musical goodness. This was the winner this year, Loreen from Sweden, and she won the year that hubs and I watched the finals on my tiny tablet screen in a HOT hotel in Maisons-Laffitte just outside of Paris on our belated honeymoon. (That sentence was almost as long as the days felt in that hotel that did not believe summer had started and wouldn't turn on the AC.)
So you enjoy Loreen in the comfort of your air conditioned whereveryouare, and I will go back to my virtual tent at Camp to get back to writing...at least until the bell rings for teatime and then singing on the virtual porch, that is.
This has always been one of my favorite songs, and I can't beat an epic remake when I'm staring down another Camp Nanowrimo month. Enjoy. Watch this space for more Nano tidbits and other bits...once I can slow down enough to blog about them!
Hey, y'all. Listen, I have a question for you. Have you been to the eye doctor recently/ever? You know how you have to tell the doctor which lens helps you see best, with the tried and true, "better one...or better two?"
Well, today you get to do that for me. I need some feedback. I'm looking at changing the font on the front of Red to make it more interesting and less...well, drippy. The font that I thought looked like FIRE actually looks more like MOLTEN LAVA and that isn't the vibe I'm going for here. So....
Better ONE or better TWO:
Let me know what you think. I can see pros and cons for both.
In the meantime, I will be starting on the edits for Hero in July for Camp NaNoWriMo, and working more on the failed Kindle Vella project, "The Outpost." More on that later.
I had a FANTASTIC weekend at Con Carolinas after an equally fantastic one at the Author Event at GARF. While you're thinking on which font is better, have a look through some photos from those two events.
Remember, my next event is Congregate in July...I hope to see you there!
This pose is becoming a tradition...Kaylee Frye at 50 Cosplay and Saucy Vala Cosplay
When I was in high school, a MILLION years ago, I was actively involved in my church's youth program. Kinda hard NOT to be, when one is the eldest daughter of the minister, right? Anyway, we were constantly raising money for one trip or another, and one of those fundraisers came in the form of a talent show (and maybe spaghetti dinner? I can't remember). My good friend and resident Duckie (IYKYK Pretty in Pink), Sean, and I did a rendition of "Just You Wait" from My Fair Lady, and then Sean, another friend, and our MYF (again, IYKYK) leader (who is now in the Virginia State Legislature) did a skit that involved the SC state dance, the Shag. Shag is in the Swing family, I think.
So, I heard this song on telly recently and had to add it to my summer playlist. I've forgotten the steps in the TEN MINUTES AND I WILL NOT BE TAKING QUESTIONS since that talent show, but I still remember it fondly when this song comes on. Enjoy (lyrics are in captions).
PS - because my brain is about half British at this point, you can imagine how CAREFUL I had to be to write a blog post about this dance style. Giggles abundant.
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