So...

It's been a while, and I have limited excuses. There's a lot I'd like to write about, much of it I can't/won't (work), and a lot of it is simply long past. I do wish I could write about work, since that's the stuff I could make funny, but sadly, I can't. So instead, I'll just write for a while, working backwards.

First off, we have new neighbors. The previous girls moved out around Thanksgiving because they wanted to live in a bigger, less cold, and generally less shitty place. While we don't blame them, they were awesome and we miss them (Ash does casual work at the greengrocers, so I still see her fairly regularly, but they were great neighbors, and I can't stress that enough). The new neighbors moved in about a month ago, and I called the police on them Saturday/Sunday. Yup. That was good times. The clocks moved forward, and I was dead asleep (Adam wasn't–he was just nodding off) in preparation for a 9am shift on Sunday, when I was awoken by screaming. Screaming that included the phrases "Get away from me!", "Don't touch me!", and "I hate you! Get out!"

Lovely. So I called emergency services, because a) she could have been raped and b) it was fucking 3am and I was asleep. Adam and I went though similar things with the neighbors prior to the girls, but at no time did that sound like potential sexual assault/rape, just your run-of-the-mill domestic argument. He stopped me from calling then, but not this time. Again, there was the rape factor (which I was so tired I didn't pick up on, nor did I want to, but Adam did), but they're also new and I want to send a message that this is not acceptable–either the noise or the assault.

Added bonus/weirdness: I have no idea what they look like, or even how many people live there.

What else? Oh yeah, I'm working "full time" now (32 hours/week) at the bakery. One of our directors (full time) left at the end of January, and one of the probationary directors hired last summer decided to leave at Christmas, so that opened up two slots, and they offered me one of them (I did apply). So 4 days a week I work in the café, either cooking or doing barista work and serving the public. I love it, though it can be frustrating for a variety of reasons (most of which shouldn't be public). Still, I really do enjoy it, and it's particularly nice to be working basically full time for the first time since I quit Ticor to get my MA. Taking the cleaning job there did pay off, which makes me smile.

Girl Museum is also going well (www.girlmuseum.org–go check it out), and I'm still loving working with them, too. Not much to say about it, other than check it out (new site last fall!).

Christmas was good; we spent it with the in-laws, and the Bakery closes for a week so it was very relaxing for me, and Adam's work was closed for most of that time as well, so it was nice for him, too. We didn't have a party for New Year's which was extra relaxing for me (lots of people and small spaces are very emotionally stressful and anxiety inducing). Instead, we just had a nice meal, played board games, and watched the UK equivalent of the ball drop (shit blowing up over Westminster). I really am so lame that it was a really fun night and much better than a party.

I could keep going backwards, but I'm bored, so instead I'll discuss current events. Adam and I are looking at houses to buy. We probably won't, since we want to move and buying a house will essentially tie us to staying (we could sell in a couple of years, but...), but it's fun to look, especially since we can get a pretty decent mortgage now with the combined salaries (and an even better one in a few months; if/after I'm made a director my salary will go up).

We're going to a wedding in early May, so after 5 years in the country I'll finally get to see Essex. Yay? Better though, is that we'll get to see our friends Matthew and Ami, and watch Matt and Claire get married, which will be awesome (provided Matt isn't struck down by lightning in the church, since he's an athiest). It should prove to be a fun weekend, and nice to get away, even if it'll be a bit of a whirlwind.

Lastly, Saturday is both the Grand National and International TableTop Day, so be sure to put some money on the ponies and play more (board) games!

Here's hoping it won't be another 6+ months before I post again!

2014 Reading List: March

MARCH

12. Goliath, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 3 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
11. Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 2 of the Leviathan Trilogy)
*10. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
9. Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld (Book 1 of the Leviathan Trilogy)

FEBRUARY

8. Bitter Blue, by Cath Staincliffe (Sal Kilkenny Series #6) (for reading group)
7. For My Own: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology (contains three novellas: A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard, Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels, and Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade)
6. Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat), by Alison Packard
5. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #1)
4. Walking Home, Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way, by Simon Armitage (for reading group)

JANUARY

3. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
2. Edible History: Easy Recipes for Homemade Mother of Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Wine Vinegar, by Cassandra Cookson (short, but I want to make my own apple cider vinegar. Probably won't, but want to.)
1. Zeus of Ithome, by T. E. Taylor (written by one of the guys in my writer's group. Really great guy, enjoyable book.)

2014 Reading List: February

FEBRUARY

8. Bitter Blue, by Cath Staincliffe (Sal Kilkenny Series #6) (for reading group)
7. For My Own: A Contemporary Christmas Anthology (contains three novellas: A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard, Christmas Curveball by Shari Mikels, and Kissing Her Scrooge by Kinley Cade)
6. Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat), by Alison Packard
5. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #1)
4. Walking Home, Travels with a Troubadour on the Pennine Way, by Simon Armitage (for reading group)

JANUARY

3. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
2. Edible History: Easy Recipes for Homemade Mother of Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Wine Vinegar, by Cassandra Cookson (short, but I want to make my own apple cider vinegar. Probably won't, but want to.)
1. Zeus of Ithome, by T. E. Taylor (written by one of the guys in my writer's group. Really great guy, enjoyable book.)

2014 Reading List: January

JANUARY

3. The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
2. Edible History: Easy Recipes for Homemade Mother of Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Wine Vinegar, by Cassandra Cookson (short, but I want to make my own apple cider vinegar. Probably won't, but want to.)
1. Zeus of Ithome, by T. E. Taylor (written by one of the guys in my writer's group. Really great guy, enjoyable book.)

2013 Reading List: December

DECEMBER

57. Blue Lightning, by Ann Cleeves (book #4 of the Shetland Series. for reading group)
56. Whispers Under Ground, by Ben Aaronovich (Peter Grant #3)
55. Room, by Emma Donoghue (for reading group)

54. *The Last Vampire, by Christopher Pike

NOVEMBER

53. *The War with Grandpa, by Robert Kimmel Smith (hey, I loved it as a kid)

52. Just a Geek, by Wil Wheaton

51. Sick Puppy, by Carl Hiaasen (for reading group)

50. Deadly Heat, by Richard Castle (Nikki Heat #5. Best guess at ghostwriter is still Tom Straw, but there's an "Andrew Major" also mentioned, who is most likely show creator Andrew Marlowe. Brad Parks is also mentioned as a possible ghostwriter.)

OCTOBER

49. Linked, by Heather Bowhay (Book Two of the Guardian Series. It has more or less turned into Twilight. Since it didn't really end on a cliffhanger, I have no pressing need to read the third book).

48. Roots, by Alex Haley (for reading group, and quite possibly the most amazing book I've ever read. It's taken nearly a month to read, but I loved nearly every second of it.)

SEPTEMBER

47. The Enchantress, by Michael Scott (Book 6 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

46. *The Vampire's Promise, by Caroline B. Cooney (The Vampire Trilogy Book 3)

45. *The Return of the Vampire, by Caroline B. Cooney (The Vampire Trilogy Book 2)

44. *The Cheerleader, by Caroline B. Cooney (The Vampire Trilogy Book 1)

43. The Winning Season, by Alison Packard

42. Music and Silence, by Rose Tremain (for reading group)

AUGUST

41. Frozen Heat, by Richard Castle (Nikki Heat #4. Best guess at ghostwriter is still Tom Straw)

40. Under the Dome, by Stephen King

39. Into the Heart of Borneo, by Redmond O'Hanlon (for reading group. And no, it is not "the funniest travel book I have ever read," despite the claims on the cover)

JULY

38. Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, by Michael Scott (ebook short tied to The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

37. The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, by Michael Scott (ebook short tied to The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

36. *The Other Side of Dawn, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #7)

35. *The Night is for Hunting, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #6)

34. *Burning for Revenge, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #5)

33. * Darkness be My Friend, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #4)

32. *A Killing Frost, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #3)

31. *The Dead of Night, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #2)

30. *Tomorrow, When the War Began, by John Marsden (The Tomorrow Series #1. This is the first thing I've reread anything this year, apparently. Cool)

29. The Whale Road, by Robert Low (for reading group)

JUNE

28. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters

27. UnEnchanted, by Chandra Hahn (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, Book 1)

26. Amethyst, by Heather Bowhay (Book One of the Guardian Series)

25. The Morville Hours, by Katherine Swift (for reading group. I may have disliked #16, but at least it had a plot. This just rambled on about nothing interesting, and while the writing itself was ok, the construction of the–I don't know, it didn't have a plot, or even really a reason for existence–whatever was chain-of-consciousness. It was dull.)

24. Death Comes to Pemberley, by P.D. James

MAY

23. The Age of Zeus, by James Lovegood (Book 2 of The Pantheon Trilogy)

22. The Saddlebag, by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani (for reading group)

APRIL

21. The CIA Lockpicking Manual, by the Central Intelligence Agency (not like it'll help, though at least I better understand the theory. The only locks I can successfully pick are TSA approved luggage locks. Real secure.)

20. 2BR02B, by Kurt Vonnegut (a very, very short story)

19. The Warlock, by Michael Scott (Book 5 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

18. The Hippo with Toothache, edited by Lucy H. Spelman and Ted Y. Mashima (originally published in the US as The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes. I think it's fairly obvious why I checked this one out from the library. It's a bunch of zoo and wild-animal vet stories.)

17. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (I thought #16 might be a ripoff or variant of this. It isn't really, other than the reverse aging thing.)

16. I haven't Dreamed of Flying for a While, by Taichi Yamada (for reading group. This is one of the most self-important, boring books I've ever read.)

MARCH

15. The Necromancer, by Michael Scott (Book 4 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

14. The Sorceress, by Michael Scott (Book 3 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

13. The Magician, by Michael Scott (Book 2 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)

12. Plugged, by Eoin Colfer

11. The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud (A "prequel" featuring Bartimaeus from The Bartimaeus Trilogy)

FEBRUARY

10. Weight, by Jeanette Winterson (for reading group. The parts where she wasn't naval gazing were ok. The parts where she was, well, yeah...)

9. The Lady of the Rivers, by Philippa Gregory (Book 3 of The Cousins War)

8. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

JANUARY

7. The Walking Dead Volume 8: Made to Suffer, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn (graphic novel)

6. The Walking Dead Volume 7: The Calm Before, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn (graphic novel)

5. Love in the Afternoon, by Alison Packard

4. The Owl Killers, by Karen Maitland (for reading group)

3. The Bromeliad, by Terry Pratchett (actually a compilation of three of his books: Truckers, Diggers, and Wings)

2. Smitten, by Janet Evanovich

1. Witness, by Cath Staincliffe (for reading group)