24 November 2016

Thanksgiving Day so far....

6:30 a.m. Max is at the bedroom door, yakking his damn furry head off. 

Me: It's not time to eat.
Max: Food o'clock is almost here.
Me: You had a snack at three this morning. You are not hungry.
Max: Yes I am.
Me: It's not possible.
Max: I AM STARVING.
Me: You're waiting until after seven.
Max: I hate you. You're not my real mom.
Me: Yeah, well, I have the thumbs. Go away.

Every 30 seconds: meow, meow, meow

7 a.m.

Max: I AM DYING HERE I AM SO HUNGRY I WILL EAT BUDDAH IF YOU DON'T FEED ME NOW
Me: Fine, you little shit.
Max: (following me down the hall) You know, I could trade you in on a better model.
Me: Shuddup.
Max: I AM STARVING TO DEATH.
Me: You know, there's dry food.
Max: To quote Wick, dry food is for peasants.

I get out plates, I open a can, scoop out half for Buddah, half for Max. Buddah starts scarfing it down. Max looks at it like, WTF?

Max: I'm not eating this.
Me: You said you were starving. You like this flavor.
Max: Yeah, but it's not what I wanted.
Me: It's got shrimp in it. Your favorite.
Max: I want something else.
Me: Three days ago you ate this like it was your last meal.
Max: I want something else.

I cave, I open a can of roast beef.

Max: There you go. Making yourself useful.
Me: Just eat it.

5 minutes later:

Max: You performed adequately.
Me: Go find something to do that doesn't involve me.
Max: Fine, but we'll be repeating this performance at two o'clock.
Me: You don't eat again until five.
Max: You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you? See you at two.

=sigh=

21 November 2016

I have this on a sweatshirt, but I can't find it and I kind of want it again. It would be spiffy to wear on the days when I hog a table at Starbucks, which lately has been most days.

There was a star dash this week: 8 purchases netted 150 stars. I netted 150 stars. And I discovered how awesome it is to order on the app while I'm sitting there working. All I have to do is listen for my name...no line waiting. The downside...I have spent a lot of money at Starbucks this month, and discovered I realllllly like the hot chocolate with extra mocha.

But, the end result, I won NaNoWriMo already, and the second book in the Wick Chronicles is formatted and awaiting a proof copy. If it doesn't get held up because of the holidays--they tend to actually look at the files before printing them--I should have a proof in hand in about 10 days.

Now, I could make the Kindle version available for sale this week...but that usually comes out with the book release.

Tempting.

So tempting.

And I need to go find that sweatshirt online again and buy it...

11 November 2016

I almost have no words...

(shared with permission)

This was bad enough; I spent some time on FB last night talking to Charlie, less about the election and more about the fallout, and the biggest issue for them is their youngest son. He's going to school overseas--a move made because he was being endlessly bullied for who he is, and he just wanted to go back to the place where he felt most safe--and he's telling them now that he doesn't think he'll ever come back.

"He's 17, bisexual, a bit on the flamboyant side, and has been a target since he was a little boy. When we took the kids to England a few years back, he relaxed. He was treated fairly, and no one cared that he was this unique, multi-racial kid with a penchant for blue hair and ballet. Within days of returning home, however, the bullying began again. He wanted to go back, to live with Erin, and finish school there. Instead, we went with him and have just been going back and forth, and my dad is staying home to be there for Alex and Rachel.

"We always thought that once he was through school, and grown, he would be comfortable coming home, but the morning after the election, he was on the phone with us, literally crying. He doesn't think he will ever come back, and as of right now, we're inclined to let him make this decision and support it any way we can."

 I floated around online a lot last night, and kept seeing similar messages: people are truly afraid. I have gay friends who are now terrified that their newly-won right to marry will be taken away. Friends who worry that they'll be deported--even if they're here legally--and one person who is legitimately afraid that if he's deported, he'll wind up beheaded, because of who he is.

As of last night, it was just fear. I read post after post of people who are deeply afraid.

But then this morning...

I was supposed to meet Jacob next week during an investment conference in San Francisco. That it's postponed, fine, in the grand scheme of things it's a ripple in a very big pond. If it had been postponed because of the holidays or a mood swing, or the weather didn't suit all of the participants just right, it would be fine. It's not a life or death thing.

But this...the reason it has to be postponed.

His fourteen year old son didn't feel safe enough to keep living in this country.

My heart is broken for someone I've never met. My heart is broken for every single person who feels this afraid right now.

For years the mantra has been "It gets better." It's what we tell the kids who are suffering because they have to live in a world where they're treated like crap just for existing. It gets better; when you're older people will change and accept you. It gets better because you have more control over the people surrounding you. It gets better because you have choices in life that will take you away from the hate and the bullying.

Right now, there are a significant number of people who don't think it will get better. They're positive that it will now get worse.

I have no answers.

My heart hurts, and I have no answers.

10 November 2016

Nearly half the eligible voters in the U.S. did not vote on Tuesday. 46.6% of the adult population of the United States failed to cast a vote in one of the most contentious Presidential elections...ever.

It's not a judgment.

I don't know why so many people didn't vote. I can't even say they didn't go to the polls; there were issues with names being removed from the rolls a couple of months ago, and for all I know some of these voters were caught up in that. People were discussing online having waited in line with other voters who clutched their IDs, believing they needed them to vote (in CA, you do not) which leads me to think that some people stayed home for lack of identification. There could be a million different reasons why some either chose to not vote or could not vote; it's not up to me to judge them for it, not knowing the reasons.

But still...we had an election in which only one-quarter of the country elected the victor.

I've maintained for years that it's time to do away with the electoral college. The President-Elect himself thinks the electoral college is a disaster. This is the 5th time that the victor was, technically, the loser.

The archaic system needs to change. A government of the people and by the people needs to be chosen by all the people. What was a necessary part of the process--to be a Republic--is no longer needed. It really isn't.

And for the record, no, I didn't vote for Trump. I don't think he's qualified. But he is going to be the President, and I'm not going to start wailing about how horrific it will be and how we're all doomed. We don't know that yet. We know the things he said while campaigning, and we know the things he's done, but I think it's too soon to melt down over it.

And no, I also did not and will not start dumping friends who did vote for him. I'm watching this happen right and left on Facebook, and can't help but wonder why. Yes, you now have an insight into something you don't like or understand about someone you care about. That's life. People are different. People will cast a vote to someone they don't agree with on many fundamental levels, just to enact some change.

If you voted for him, I don't get it, but that's it. I just don't get it. I'm not holding your feet to the fire for it.

But the memes? OMG stop with all the political memes. Both sides. I might not judge you for whom you voted but I'm sure as hell judging you on the massive number of memes you post.

Let's go back to cat memes.

And let's try to be kind to one another. We're all in it together, whether we sit on the right or sit on the left or sit right on that middle line. Mourn and grieve for the horrible things that have been said and done and for the outcome if it was not what you wanted, but...be kind. We're gonna need that.