November (October and September) 2013 Round-Up
We were hoping that James was better. He went back to work in September and things seemed to be going well. Then the pain started returning, so he’s been back on the antibiotics for about three weeks now, but they don’t seem to be doing a lot of good. Unfortunately we still don’t know what really helped before, as he was on a mix of three different pills at the time he started feeling more normal - antibiotics, alpha-blockers, and an anti-inflammatory. At one point before he was on the same alpha-blockers, which makes me think it might have been them that were helping, but not knowing for certain means we’re probably going to end up experimenting to see what works best, along with trying some other possibilities that I’ve found while searching online. I’m sure I mentioned that he was told this might be a permanent issue and, even though I’m beginning to worry more that it might be, I really am hoping that is isn’t.
Unsurprisingly the longer this goes on for the worse James feels mentally. He’s feeling as though he’ll never be able to do the things he wants to do, because he wanted to get into some form of mechanics and being in pain all the time isn’t going to make it easy. Plus he’s worried that if he mentions it to a prospective employer they’ll automatically overlook him for someone who doesn’t have medical issues - even though he may well be better qualified. At one point we were even thinking of him starting his own business doing up cars, obviously when we’re at a better place financially, but now that seems impossible to him and feeling so low isn’t helping him in any way. I do understand why he’s feeling the way he is. I just wish there was more I could do to help him.
I’ve been having a better time. Doggy day care is getting busier and it’s been great fun, so as long as I can keep doing that, along with the writing, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to keep paying my half of the rent (although I didn’t quite manage that this month) and the groceries. James is still worried that if something happens to mean he has to take more time off work, or loses his job (which I can’t see happening as they need him more than he needs them), then we’ll have a major problem. We do both have a bit in savings and I’m sure Teresa and Russel will be understanding, but that doesn’t stop his mind from going to places that make him feel even worse. He’s much more of a pessimist than I am, so I’m the one who keeps trying to make him feel better about everything, even though it doesn’t seem like anything I say actually helps.
Christmas is one of my least favourite times of year. I have no idea what we’re going to be doing this year or if we’re even going to be celebrating - it’s not as though we have much to celebrate, really. It seems doubtful that next year will be any better, with how things are going, so my focus is going to be on my writing, getting the website as sorted as possible for the new year, and working out what my plan is going to be for 2o14. To be honest I can’t believe we’re a month away from the new year. We were so hopeful that 2013 was going to be a good year for us and it’s turned out to be another awful year. Maybe next year will be better, maybe it won’t, all we can do is keep living life one step at a time and keep hoping that his medical issues will fade away.
Fiction posted: The Case of the Counterfeit Enchantments: part 9, 21st continuation; part 9, 22nd continuation; part 9, 23rd continuation; part 9, 24th continuation; part 9, 25th continuation; part 9, 26th continuation; part 9, 27th continuation; part 9, 28th continuation; part 9, 29th continuation; part 9, 30th continuation; part 9, 31st continuation; part 9, 32nd continuation; part 9, 33rd continuation; part 9, 34th continuation; part 9, 35th continuation; part 9, 36th continuation; part 9, 37th continuation; part 9, 38th continuation; part 9, 39th continuation; part 9, 40th continuation; part 9, 41st continuation; part 9, 42nd continuation; part 9, 43rd continuation; part 9, 44th continuation; part 9, 45th continuation; and part 9, 46th continuation.
Sponsored: Nick and Alice’s First Visit to Echoes of Alexandria (part 5) for Elizabeth Barrette; Sullivan: Arriving at the House; Darian: Rescuing a Vampire; Elise: Talking to Lewis; Sarah: Entering the House; Dawn: Meeting Alice; Jack: Talking to Georgina; Nick: Talking to a New Vampire; Leon: Meeting Morgan; Magda: Making a Decision; Nick: Finding Out About Sam; and Midna: First Visit to the House, all from the general fund.
Free: Sophie: Listening to An Argument; Saskia: Becoming a Vampire; Jasmine: Followed; Bethany: Waking Up; Morgan: Wearing White (part 2); John: Making A Decision; Matt: Arriving (part 4); Ivy: Kidnapped (part 2); Melody: Becoming a Vampire (part 2); Linnea: Living with a Vampire? (part 2); Caleb: Making a Decision; Jasmine: Followed (part 2); Saskia: Becoming a Vampire (part 2); Sophie: Listening to an Argument (part 2); Adara: Raining Mushrooms (part 3); Thalia: Meeting the King (part 4); Rayner: The Seventh Son of a Seventh Daughter (part 2); and Mirica: A Thief in the House (part 4).
Other: August 2013 Round-Up; Update: 28th September 2013; Update: 23rd October 2013; October Prompt Session; October/November Raffle 2013; Update: November 1st 2013; Advent Story Poll 2013 (closed); Wednesday Case of the Counterfeit Enchantments Update; Advance Warning: Change of Domain; Update: 11th November 2013; Setting Rental Sale (ongoing: one Donor House and one World Walkers sold); 2013 Advent Story; Input Wanted; Conversation Post: K. A. Webb; Answer 1; Answer 2; Answer 3; Results of the Advent Story Poll; Rent Update; Answer 4; Answer 5; Answer 6; Winter Holiday Fiction (ongoing); Input Wanted Again; and New Page.
December, as always, is the month of the Advent Story - this one, as I’ve said before, is going to be a little different, with every update being 2000 words and, if I get enough interest, I will be extending it. As an example, if I get more than 10 write mores on the story I’ll extend it by a day. If I get more than 10 write mores on any one part I’ll extend it by a week. Comments and links (any link, as long as you tell me about it, including Facebook shares, Tumblr reblogs, and Twitter retweets, count) will also extend the story. Fortunately this year I’ll be writing in the Donor House collection, which has a large cast of characters, so it should be an easy job.
I’ll also be continuing to post the Case of the Counterfeit Enchantments twice a week. I know what bonus story I’ll be writing, so I should have that done some time this month too. Remember bonus stories cost £5; extensions on the side story (Kaito: Running) are £1.50 per 1000 words; or any other donations will lead to a Wednesday Update (£10) and an extension to a Monday and/or Friday episode (£5 each). With the sale of two setting rentals I should have posted all three last week, so I’ll do that this week. If I get another £20 before the second week in December you’ll get three updates then too.
Winners for last month’s extended raffle will be announced this week sometime.
Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.