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Snow Sunday
Dec. 5th, 2021 11:22 amTwo more weeks til Winter Break! All fingers and toes crossed that I can actually take the trip I have planned, because I need to get the hell out of here for a bit! There aren’t many times when I regret being single, but living here has made me wish for a partner more than I have in years. And I don’t really want to find one here because I’m desperate to leave and don’t have a clue how to even meet people (in a way that wouldn’t make my own anxiety and insecurities spike — I am aware that apps exist, but I’d rather gnaw off my own foot). So, I’m holding on.
I did have a good evening yesterday with some work friends — actual friends who I met at work. There’s a restaurant that does Korean BBQ and hotpot, so we tried it out last night. It’s a Belarusian take on the cuisine, which meant that the kimchi was spicy enough for me to be sweating a bit, and there were a few types of different dishes in the banchan, but the sauces for the meat were mostly Western, which sweet chili sauce and soy sauce thrown in for good measure. The restaurant advertised itself as catering to Belarusian tastes, so I didn’t have super high expectations, and in the end, I still had plenty of tasty food and a fun time with friends. I told them I want to go back for my birthday for sure. I’ll be turning 42, so we had talked about having a Hitchhiker’s Guide themed party, but now I want to have a dinner with friends. I’ll get some tea towels and embroider 42 and the little thumb symbol as party favors.
Winter seems to finally be here for the duration. We got our first proper snowfall last week, so I anticipate snow on the ground until about April. I’m glad I bought a good winter coat last year. I was wearing a wool peacoat for much of last winter, and while it did keep me warm, I had a hard time regulating my temperature in it, so I got a nice Columbia one at the end of season sale.
I finished November strong with regards to writing, managing something like 35K words. I haven’t written much in the five days of December. I don’t really have any pressing ideas. I have been reading Shelley Parker-Chan’s novel She Who Became the Sun. It’s a historical epic set in 14th century China, which is not my normal cup of tea. It’s got some brutal stuff —war, famine, murder. If you click on the link in the book title, the author’s website includes links to content warnings. I bought it because I’ve been making a conscious effort to support BIPOC authors in the last few years, and I am interested in stories set in Asia more than I have been in the past. Despite my general avoidance of big war and empire epics, this book as totally sucked me in! While the story is harsh, much of the writing isn’t too graphic, and I’m totally invested in how the story plays out. Too late, I noticed that this book is part of a duology, and I don’t see an estimated date for book two 😫. I suppose I shall bear this weight with my usual grace and dignity.
In an “Old Person Yells At Clouds” moment, the new iPad update has messed up my icons, and I am vexed.
I do have a little snippet. I published a new chapter in the fic that I privately call Jin Ling Is So Loved I started it for his birthday and will be adding little chapters (that can be standalone stories) about the Lemon Prince and all who love him. This week I published a chapter about Jin Ling and Jiang Yanli.
Jin Ling lifts his head up to find his mother standing in the doorway.
“Yeah, Mama?” Jin Ling sits up and leans on his elbows. “Did you need something?”
Maybe she’ll send him on an errand to town! He’s nearly sixteen and has been practicing driving in Lanling. Technically, he won’t be able to get his license until he’s eighteen, but still. No one questions Jiang family members, not in Yunmeng anyway.
“Do you have plans for this afternoon?” Yanli asks.
“Is jiujiu gonna be here today?”
Yanli smiles, and Jin Ling feels a little guilty that his favoritism is so obvious, but she doesn’t seem upset.
“He and A-Sang will be down tomorrow.”
“Then nope. I’m free.”
“Excellent.” Yanli’s smile widens. “Your baba is in charge of your siblings for the day. I wondered if you’d like to go out with me.”
I did have a good evening yesterday with some work friends — actual friends who I met at work. There’s a restaurant that does Korean BBQ and hotpot, so we tried it out last night. It’s a Belarusian take on the cuisine, which meant that the kimchi was spicy enough for me to be sweating a bit, and there were a few types of different dishes in the banchan, but the sauces for the meat were mostly Western, which sweet chili sauce and soy sauce thrown in for good measure. The restaurant advertised itself as catering to Belarusian tastes, so I didn’t have super high expectations, and in the end, I still had plenty of tasty food and a fun time with friends. I told them I want to go back for my birthday for sure. I’ll be turning 42, so we had talked about having a Hitchhiker’s Guide themed party, but now I want to have a dinner with friends. I’ll get some tea towels and embroider 42 and the little thumb symbol as party favors.
Winter seems to finally be here for the duration. We got our first proper snowfall last week, so I anticipate snow on the ground until about April. I’m glad I bought a good winter coat last year. I was wearing a wool peacoat for much of last winter, and while it did keep me warm, I had a hard time regulating my temperature in it, so I got a nice Columbia one at the end of season sale.
I finished November strong with regards to writing, managing something like 35K words. I haven’t written much in the five days of December. I don’t really have any pressing ideas. I have been reading Shelley Parker-Chan’s novel She Who Became the Sun. It’s a historical epic set in 14th century China, which is not my normal cup of tea. It’s got some brutal stuff —war, famine, murder. If you click on the link in the book title, the author’s website includes links to content warnings. I bought it because I’ve been making a conscious effort to support BIPOC authors in the last few years, and I am interested in stories set in Asia more than I have been in the past. Despite my general avoidance of big war and empire epics, this book as totally sucked me in! While the story is harsh, much of the writing isn’t too graphic, and I’m totally invested in how the story plays out. Too late, I noticed that this book is part of a duology, and I don’t see an estimated date for book two 😫. I suppose I shall bear this weight with my usual grace and dignity.
In an “Old Person Yells At Clouds” moment, the new iPad update has messed up my icons, and I am vexed.
I do have a little snippet. I published a new chapter in the fic that I privately call Jin Ling Is So Loved I started it for his birthday and will be adding little chapters (that can be standalone stories) about the Lemon Prince and all who love him. This week I published a chapter about Jin Ling and Jiang Yanli.
Jin Ling lifts his head up to find his mother standing in the doorway.
“Yeah, Mama?” Jin Ling sits up and leans on his elbows. “Did you need something?”
Maybe she’ll send him on an errand to town! He’s nearly sixteen and has been practicing driving in Lanling. Technically, he won’t be able to get his license until he’s eighteen, but still. No one questions Jiang family members, not in Yunmeng anyway.
“Do you have plans for this afternoon?” Yanli asks.
“Is jiujiu gonna be here today?”
Yanli smiles, and Jin Ling feels a little guilty that his favoritism is so obvious, but she doesn’t seem upset.
“He and A-Sang will be down tomorrow.”
“Then nope. I’m free.”
“Excellent.” Yanli’s smile widens. “Your baba is in charge of your siblings for the day. I wondered if you’d like to go out with me.”
