State of the Author · 12:03am Jun 19th, 2020
Hey everyone, Sunset here. Just a quick update to the craziness going on here at ground central. We had a few... unfortunate delays due to equipment malfunctions and replacement times being ridiculously long due to the impact of COVID-19. But, I'm happy to let you all know that things are once again proceeding on Rose's rather lax schedule of writing and releasing.
You know, when I said you could start this off while I finished drinking my tea, I didn't think you'd comment on my writing speed.
I didn't say anything that wasn't true.
...
Fair point.
Anyway, like she said, my laptop that I've had running since 09 finally decided that it wasn't up to doing too much of anything anymore. It still runs fine and I can type on it, but it wont run off the battery, it's cooling fan is shot so one of it's two USB ports is dedicated to a cooling mat, the trackpad said bye bye in 17 so the other one is for an optical mouse and it's OS is about five versions behind now (yes, it's a Macbook Pro. Sue me) and while I use it sparingly now, I am shopping for a replacement for travel.
As such, updating stories has been troublesome since typing with a USB keyboard on my phone or tablet is a typo-ridden headache inducing pain in my tail, I opted to do something I should have done a while ago.
I had the tower from an older PC that I had once converted into primarily being a print server and music repository. A little work and it's now as up to date as I can make it considering it's still running on a platter hard disk drive. I have plans to get a SSD at least for boot up and such. But it was mainly done for gaming with my fiance but Google docs is where most of my writing was for most of the last year or so, so no new major program learning curves. I'm still hitting the windows key thinking it's the apple key on my keyboard though. That'll take some time.
So, UPDATES!
Trials' next chapter is with the editors and should be up soon. It's a bit of a hallway chapter, but it's also got some much needed reveals in it. Truth of the Heart will also be getting an update this weekend assuming work doesn't get too outageous between now and then. (we had a uptick of orders for plushies and there's only so many hours in a week unless I cut out sleep)
So please, as far as stories go, please remain patient. I intend to wrap up Trials and Truth, then Wilds, then I will reopen Remedial and tie it off. Sorceress will be updated as ideas come to me. I'm set on how I want it to progress, but I have to hammer out a few more things internally before I can have good conflict for Aria and Sunset
On more personal natures - or as personal as I feel sharing - This is Pride month and as such I feel it is appropriate to share once again that I am a demisexual transwoman and am in a very happy loving relationship with my fiance whom I love deeply and am grateful that she puts up with as much of my silliness as she does. July 7 will mark our anniversary, which last year we celebrated by going to Niagara falls. This year we will go, in all likelyhood, from the living room to the kitchen and back. You know, travel bans and all.
Just a few weeks ago marked the one year anniversary of my mother's passing from colon cancer. I wasn't overly close with my mother, and had really hadn't talked to her at all for the better part of a decade, but I wouldn't have wished cancer on her. It's horrible and destroys people in ways beyond the medical. Now, that's not to say that Mom had been a paragon of goodness prior to, goddesses no. I had already limited ties years ago, but when I came out it severed all ties completely. And seeing as how she controlled communications in the house, I'm sure I got filtered into some horrible person via her.
The reason I bring this up is that recently my father finally got around to accepting the friends request I sent him WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back in 16. He's not the most up on things, and dealing with things understandably took it's toll. But, we've not said a word to each other yet. Father's Day is this coming Saturday in the US, and I'm at a loss of what to say if anything when it rolls around. With the outbreak going mail delivery is wonky here and even though he's only three or so states over, it could be a month before he receives a card (trust me, today I got a letter from my insurance company dated May 16) so... yeah.
Gaming news. The PS5 stream was amazing... in that it showed us virtually nothing of the PS5. I loved a handful of the games announces, especially Horizon Zero Dawn's sequel, and Aloy looks amazing. It's really got BW and I hyped for it.
I'm also mildly interested in the RE8 trailer and the Miles Morales Spider-man game, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and a few other titles, but I'm still very wary on how little we know about the console. Sure, we were given specs and capabilities, but I'm not a tech head, I'm a word nerd. Teraflops don't say a whole lot to me - and yes, I know what they are, Google is a thing - so much as the words "Backwards compatible". The new Xbox has traits I'm actually interested in, including one where it sets you up with the most current version of the game, in a way. Say you have a game like glances at game library hrm... ok, lets use Cyberpunk 2077 (which I am looking forward to so much) If you purchase it for XBONE, you would be able to play the Series X version upon it's release from CD Projekt Red when they finish it gratis. Now, granted, this is just one example and other studios may ask for a fee if they offer anything at all, so more information is needed before I jump on that hype train. Sony has outdone Microsoft in titles currently, which seems to be the norm.
I mean, honestly, the new Madden looks like the old Madden, just with new skins. Before anyone complains, yes I know there are new things in the development, but honestly, if they took a year or two off and revamped the mechanics and engine and focused on getting the core game great and release new players and rosters as DLC or season pass stuff, then they might stop being a joke in some circles. Not here, I've hated EA since they got their sticky fingers into Ultima.
I think that's about all for now.
But, until next time, here are some things to consider:
COVID is a real threat. Wash your hands, wear your mask if you go outside, and please continue to socially distance yourself for your health and others.
I try to stay anti-political in my blogs, usually, but I stand with the protesters. Black Lives Matter. Do not send an All Lives Matter thing to me. I will delete that shite immediately. No hesitation.
Also, if you think the protesters shouldn't be rioting, consider this: The Boston Tea Party was a riot, brought about because of the Boston Massacre. The first Pride parade was a riot (search Stonewall Riots) and was headed by black transwomen. Nothing in Human History has ever changed the status quo without disruption.
Things are not great here in the US right now. They haven't been for a while.
Now for your moment of Zen
See You Later folks
Glad to hear you're doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
Yea, I've gone through that "laptop dies a slow death" thing too, with pretty much the same symptoms. My current laptops in the shop right now because the battery CMS has a problem which causes it to drain, only to start charging again after it drops below a threshold. Still waiting to get it back from the shop.
Watching the Playstation presentation, honestly one of the titles I'm most hyped for is actually Retrunal by Housemarque. Housemarque has always shown that they know how to make exceptional games with exceptional gameplay, so I'm stoked to see more. And, well, Bugsnax looks strange enough to intrigue the surealist in me.
And, yes, EA is awful.
Stay healthy and as sane as possible.
We were supposed to go to Florida to visit my wife's father, but with rampant infections even he told us to stay home so yes, staycations for everyone and preemptive happy anniversary.
Hey. Good to hear that you are alright. I too know how it feels. I am actually Bisexual, but I wouldn't dare come out to my parents as my father said that he would disown me if I ever did. I don't even know what to do anymore about that.
On a lighter note, I too watched the PS5 reveal, and while I am disappointed that there was no PS5 in it, I am hyped on some of the games that are to be released on the platform. Especially Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and Spider-Man Miles Morales.
In closing, stay safe and happy Pride Month and Anniversary. I hope you have many more wonderful years together.