A Twist of Things to Come

Had a longish talk with my Beloved today. It seems there's going to be a labor strike in South Africa in the next week to ten days, and he really, really doesn't want to take us into that sort of situation. SA has 40% and no welfare programs to speak of, so high food and fuel costs mean many people will be hungry. You know what they say -- no society is more than three meals away from revolution. At the very least it will probably mean riots, and SA is already the second highest country in the world for annual number of murders (second to India, which has a HECK of a lot more people, and this is raw data-- number of murders not murders by percent of population).

So, yeah. Staying here. :) I think the boys will be pleased, actually, because they didn't really want to go. The plan now is that we'll go with him when he's not working and we can all stay together and hit the wildlife parks and things.

Also, the company's prospects for domestic work are improving, so the travel may not be as large a factor in our lives, soon.

So, pretty much good news all around. :)

***

Now, for the Unfinished Novel Meme, gacked from nearly everyone, but cristalia most recently, I think.

I figured it would be good for me, since I need to face my demons. And my biggest demon is the Fear of Success demon and the Self-Sabotage demon, which morph collectively into the Can't-Finnish-A-Long-Story demon.

( List below the cut, with short descriptions of the Angst )

In any case, I managed to write some short stories, and even to sell one this year while wrestling with various mountains of crap/novels. ;) So I feel pretty good. I think I may do a list of short story ideas, too, because that will likely be what work on next.

Random monkey seen at local bar and grill in Pietermaritzburg, near where my lover is staying.

Golly, I miss him, but he'll be home in a week. We talked some today about how we're going to manage getting everyone over there on short notice. The tickets are pricey, and we have a bunch of stuff we need to dispose of, so that may be the answer.

By which I mean, selling our piano. It's a 1901 Webber, fully professionally restored. It's lovely and sounds great, but it poses certain storage or transport problems. I bought it with part of my inheritance after my father died, and I do so love to hear my Beloved play it. But I suppose it's good to let go of things, and selling it would mean not having to sweat climate-controlled storage or what have you.

I suppose we'll have to see what we can get for it. Somehow just talking about this makes it real. :) There's something really empowering about casting off worldly possessions and going to another hemisphere. Hee!

Adventure!

Check it out:

http://sarah-prineas.livejournal.com/25471.html

I can hardly wait to get my mits on this, because the author is made of awesome and I *think* my kiddies are in the target demographic, which always comes in handy when I'm scoping YA and midgrade stories for personal reading. :D

Which reminds me I need to do a year-end post about books. Somewhat delayed, like everything in my life. :D Maybe tomorrow.

***

I was teacher's helper today, for nearly three hours. Then I met with my Beloved and his Africa project boss, B, for a bit. I love B. He's really frustrated with his CEO/Father at the moment. Ah, the minefield of working with family...

Have not read word ONE of my sister's novel. It's like it's made of snakes and slathered with poison-dart frog juice. *sigh* I must post about my sister as well, because she really rocks and you'd never know it the way I've been whining about... whatever it is she wants me to do with this novel.

***

I have reading and math buddies tomorrow and teacher's helper again on Friday, but surely I'll still be able to write more than I did today. Funny how I did 750 words a day until I came home. There has been a lot to do and the house is still a wreck. Oy. But designated Library Time returns tomorrow. Yay!

***

So, last night I realized that Torchwood starts again this month, and when I fell asleep I dreamed I was making a cheeky Torchwood video. The kind with thought balloons and character introductions. Like, "Meet Jack 'My Head Is Purely Ornamental' Harkness. Here we see him making an important decision." Then in the thought balloon it says things like "Should I stop the rampaging Cyberwoman, or molest the unconscious Teaboy... Cyberwoman... Teaboy..."

My dreams amuse me.