You remember those words? If so, you're telling your age (just like I am, apparently). But that's what I feel like this morning. I've shut the door, hoping the groo can't find me. Not sure it'll work.
Issue 1) Eldest cat has lost several pounds over the past six months. I'm pretty sure he's on his last legs given that his appetite has significantly diminshed and he's drinking water like there is no tomorrow. His white blood cell count is off, even though his thyroid condition is still being managed by the YD food we feed him. The vet has put him down for an ultrasound in a few weeks, so we'll see what happens. I'm glad he didn't pass while I was at Rainforest. It may be selfish of me, but I'd rather he die while I was around instead of doing it while I'm traveling.
I'm going to miss him so much. I hate that I've had to spend the past year preparing myself for that. But he's almost 18 years old (maybe 19 at this point), which is a lot older than I thought he was going to get.
Issue 2) In the weeks post-Rainforest, I've been repurposing a fanfic novel (Chosen, for those who have read the initial version) into an original piece. I've been reworking backgrounds and characters and plot points. While I have the villains and a couple of the heroes fleshed out, I don't have everything done. I do, however, have most of the plot hitches worked out. Yesterday afternoon I managed to pound out 2000 words of scene. It desperately needs TLC, but it has the bare bones of what I wanted to say and fleshes out the image in my head of funerals and succession rituals. I'm probably going to write a few more of these background scenes before I'm satisfied with my cultural context.
Chosen is going to be my first non-RPG trans-human piece. Science fantasy, not hard science fiction, and probably a mosiac novel. It'll be interesting to see how quickly I can get it done considering the basic story structure is already written. I'm feeling pretty jazzed about this one.
Issue 3) So it's that time of year again, and I have been waxing cats more than doing what I should. Today is the day where I slog through receipts and emails and statements, trying desperately to come up with a number that Uncle Sam and I can agree on. Yes, it's tax time. Better now than waiting to the last minute, I say. On the other hand, I'm really hoping I don't owe money.
Who has done their taxes, BTW? And how awful has yours been?
Go away, Groo. I've got work to do. And a cat to cuddle as much as he'll let me before I lose him.
One Response
I got the last of my papers together last week but my preparer hasn’t returned my messages, I need to call her next week. She’s my ex-GF in Phoenix, she has a BA in accounting and has been doing taxes for ages. This year will be interesting as I started working, but only two months, and we had a large distribution from my wife’s inheritance. Typically we get $1,000+ back from the Feds and owe the State $300ish. I’m doing additional withholding on my taxes to try to bring the State tab closer to zero.
I’m sorry to hear about the imminent demise of your cat as I do love me some cats. Sadly, my wife is allergic, so we have a standard poodle. I was quite torn up when we had our previous one put down three years ago, but she was 15ish and dementia was hitting her hard.