It Gets Around · 9:48pm Dec 29th, 2022
The past week has been both utterly lazy and filled with activity, depending on the day. Of course Christmas came around and we had our usual couple of gatherings, first with my mother's extended family (i.e. all the aunts, uncles, cousins, and kids of cousins) and the second with my brother and his army of seven children. Yes, seven, and they were actually here to open presents at "Mawmaw's and Pawpaw's". It was... not as chaotic as I expected. I mean, it was still chaotic, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been.
Also, I got the most gifts because everything I got was cheap or even free. The kids all gawked until they realized it was all kitchen stuff. The things adults want as presents are hardly interesting to the big dreams of little children. On the plus side, my dad really likes his copy of The Poetic Edda and my decision to get my mother a fancy wind chime proved a sound one. I usually just get them gift cards, so knowing I can actually buy them presents that they want is heartwarming.
The only issue is that my dad's been sick with the crud. Not Covid, but something that made him feel like crap nonetheless. And since he's the head honcho chef around these parts, that made his days right before the celebrations particularly miserable. He insisted he at least cook for Christmas though, so he pushed through it all and produced a great meal as always.
Alas, I think he's given me his crud. It's only a cough so far. Let us hope it goes no further. I really don't want to skip the first ever cousins-only get together on Sunday. I've been trying to counter it by being a lazy loaf of useless, which seems to be working out for me so far. Except last night when I only got two hours of sleep. On the plus side, I got an interesting new Limestone Pie-centric story developed in my cavernous skull while I was staring at the ceiling above my bed. Perhaps I'll even write it. I'm way overdue for a MLP fanfic release.
In other news, I decided to play the Sims 3 while at my parents' place for the week, both for nostalgia purposes and because it's something I know this dinky laptop can handle. I even went and bought a few DLCs for the heck of it. This led me to discovering that mermaids are a playable race starting with one of those expansions. And that's when it hit me that I can have mermaid Rarity in the Sims 3. I can play out Guppy Love. I am very much interested in trying this. Will probably wait until I get back to my gaming PC, though. This laptop can handle the Sims 3, but it's apparent that it's just at the edge of what it can handle. I bought this thing for reading and writing purposes, not gaming.
I'm rambling. I didn't really have any point to all this save that I just wanted to post a blog. Better than being silent for two straight weeks. So how are all y'all's new years/Christmas periods going?
I got a good chuckle out of this. I've definitely had similar moments of epiphany and following glee.
Quite a Christmas for yourself, it would seem!
Between all those cousins and kids, the practical presents (I largely bought with a practical mindset for others this year, as it happens), potentials a new Ponyfic brewing from ye, and some Sims shooting the breeze (hey, I won't judge getting to relieve one of your signature Ponyfics), quite a series of events you had!
Me, I dunno, it's been a quiet one, and I've actually barely utilised my presents thus far. Some due to not reaching circumstances to use them or them being more along the line of desk ornaments, but you'd think I'd have delved more into my new or stockpiled video games, certainly. I guess between most of the family gatherings happening before Christmas, when I spend the rest of those days preparing or sorting things out, one of the family being out of the country for a month, and other things, it's been… slow.
Or maybe I'm just getting older. Who's to say?
Well, still got several days before the holidays are over. I can try and make the most of them, anyway.
Things went largely well, though my own chef-dad is still going through/recovering from long COVID and my sister and I needed to act as assistants a few times during the holiday. Also my mother and sister can only get along for 72 hours at a time at most, and at this point most of the antagonism is coming from Mom's end...
But hey, that's part of why my sister and I picked up the traditional Christmas Eve Chinese takeout. I did my part to keep the holidays merry and got... well, mostly clothes in exchange. But it was wonderful seeing everyone happy, and the gifts I gave went over well across the board. In all, it could've gone much, much worse.
Peak at Amazon is finally over… *very fatigued noises*
Hey, Merry Christmas, man. Tis the season, I guess, I'm still recovering from a nasty bug, myself. It's been chaotic- mum and I are the ones traveling this time. Push vitamin C and sleep, the body heals faster when it's allowed to recover. See y'all next year.
Being isolated for so long has lessened all our collective immunity systems when it comes to everyday stuff, it seems. I might be the only member of my family not sick right now.
My Christmas has been relatively quiet and uneventful, what with my family being so spread out these days. Though the scope of your kin seems a lot more grand than mine, too be fair. My gifts mostly consisted of chocolate and books - including one of the official pony picture books. Those things are actually pretty neat. Also got a manual for tree planting for if I actually follow through on my plans to spend six weeks in the spring being choppered to Northern BC for a reforestation gig. It's a little daunting. Also exciting.
If you go through with a Limestone-centred fic, I will be right there at the starting line, my guy. She's gotta be my favourite M6 relative of them all, and just an incredibly underutilized character. Been searching for a really solid Limey fic for a long time. And if it comes from you, I have to think it'll be something pretty special. Perhaps I can offer up my incredibly unpolished prereading skills, or maybe just additional motivation. Anything to bring more Limestone into the world.
Happy holidays, my dude. Been glad to get to know you a teeny bit better this year. Here's to another one.
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I offer up only three words: Cutie Mark Story.
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*Interest intensifies*
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Oo! Cool! Not sure what the protocol is here, but...
I have a little editing experience, if you ever want it.
The best Christmas present I got in 2022 was that I didn't get reinfected with COVID-19
For many of my friends and families failed to escape it.
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I'll be happy for the help! I don't intend to start writing in earnest until I get back to my own comfy home, but that'll only be in a few more days. I'm hoping I can get it covered in 10,000 words or less.
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You two still interested in pre-reading/editing? I just finished a ~12k rough draft and am eager to see if there are things I can do to improve upon it.
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Aw heck yeah man hit me up on Discord I'll be there with bells on
*ahem*
I would be happy to provide my services. I shall fetch my reading monocle.
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Sure thing, if there's still time. I'm TheLatestQ#1016 over on Discord, sorry for the late reply.