So, I haven’t been posting much. I’ve spent the last year and change miserably depressed, off and on (unfortunately more on than off). And it’s not like I’m out of the woods, despite much of the population around here going “wa-hey, everybody throw your mask up” and all.

But last night I put together a new patio bench for my plants, and put my newest planter on top of it, and today I moved the rest of the planters around so they all fit nicely, and now I’m sitting on the couch looking out the sliding doors at the porch as evening draws on, and… I feel really happy. Maybe it’s just because of this tangible indication of the season turning toward warmth. Displacement cleaning has been a coping mechanism for a long time, certainly, so it’s probably some of that too. But I felt like posting for the first time in a long while.

So. The seasons are still turning. The light is still changing. Those of us who are still here, are still here. There are baby capybaras, and delighted dogs in daycare, and clothing to dye to make over new, and extremely fluffy anime to rewatch. (May I commend Yuru Camp to your attention for your low-conflict, fluffy needs.) Soon there won’t be frost in the mornings, and the students will go home for plain old calendar-related reasons, and the farmer’s market will have fresh herbs and flowers again. Soon there will be enough sun on my west window for my second potted rosemary hedge to grow tall, and the air will soften with thaw. These things will happen, regardless.

Those of us who are still here, are still here.

I'm still alive! Have a really excellent fireworks simulation.

I haven't killed a single one of my faculty, though it was a close run thing with one or two. I didn't even covertly pass the hat to put out a hit on the uni president for trying to do an in-person Fall! I figure the county public health people are very probably on top of that one already, though I've got a couple bucks to chip in if they'd like.

September and its outskirts did kind of burn me out, though, so I've mostly been grinding along at survival level for the past couple months. Two extra vacation days were pathetic compensation, but still nice to have. I feel mostly human again. Nice comments on my fic kept me going more than once, so allow me to generally thank everyone in fandom who's made a point of commenting this past year; it really, really helped.

Favorite fan-accomplishment: the Lodestone XiYao arc. I was honestly surprised that I wrote at all, this past year, much less another novel length fix-it, but that's the human brain for you. Falling into the quite lively Untamed fandom was certainly a good thing to have happen, even if I do feel a persistent desire to beat parts of that fandom over the head with copies of Science and Civilization in China.

Most entertaining coping method: vacation planning. I now have a whole list of places to vacation when that is possible again, ranging from cabins in the Smokies to Grand Traverse Resort. Also, Smoky Mountain cabins are dirt cheap for the amenities, just saying.

Best silver lining: not having to drive when it's snow and ice out.

And now: onward to vaccination and a new president!