The fourth and final chapter of "Branded" is up:

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/75450/branded-chapter-4

Well, my muse brought me a little snippet, so I'm sharing it with you, my friends. Hope you like it!

https://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/75371/gibraltar-falls

you may or may not remember that a few years ago there was a documentary called "super size me" in which a man decided to eat nothing but Big Mac hamburgers for a year. In the documentary, the man's doctor begs him to stop half-way through the year because of the damage he was doing to his organs.

Well, I am in basically the same situation as that guy.

I have been told in no uncertain terms I have to change my eating habits and my lifestyle, or I wont have either style or life, or at the least I'll be unable to enjoy what life I have.

When I was little, I had this rather bad habit of trying to lecture bullies on why it was bad to bully. Of course, that usually resulted in me getting pounded, me running for my life, or my brother trying his best to protect me.

All these years later, I still jump in when I see people getting hurt, even though there is nothing I can do except lecture people from behind my computer, and it has cost me more than I would like.

But I dont know how not to fight for what I think is right.

In Pathfinder terms, I guess I'm a Paladin, whether I want to be or not ...

Well, a week from today, I am going to have the opportunity to meet with a group of local women writers of speculative fiction. To say I'm nervous is putting it mildly. So send extra huggles this week, if you can spare them?

Birthdays have always been a bit strange for me. Growing up, it never worked out for people to be available on the actual day, so if I wanted a party, it would always have to happen a couple of days later, to the point I started joking about "unbirthdays" like in the cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland.

Usually the actual day of my birthday was a quiet one spent alone, and this year is no exception.

I dont mind so much now, especially since I do get nice messages online from friends to keep me company.

Oh, if you havent guessed, today is my birthday ...

I saw this amazing compliment on a blog here: "Dorothy is not just a great soul but has one of the most inventive storytelling minds on this site. Her Chekovian economy with words means a whole lot of story with very little investment of time. "

Wow.

I'm ... stunned, and flattered.

Thanks Laika (aka Veronica) !

Just wanted to pass along an update on my writing.

"E-Girl - the gift" - work in progress, I'm hoping this weekend to maybe get close to finishing the final chapter.

Staycation story: work in progress, should be finished or close to by the time the contest opens

Pathfinder story: gotten started, gonna be a while.

"The secret of M.Y.T.H.": kinda stuck. hoping for inspiration

"Jaci and Dottie go to Whately": started. we'll see how this one goes.

"Branded": Stuck. I need a mastermind character. any suggestions appreciated.

Caution: Discussion of suicide

Just wanted to publicly thank crazypagangurl, who talked me through a flashback last night. Thanks, hon!

My life the roller-coaster.

Went from the amazing high of seeing Weird Al in concert (Thanks to Mike and Carol) to literally holding a stuffie against my mouth so no one would hear me scream as one of the worst waves of dysphoria I have had in a very long time kicked my butt.

Sighs ..

The final chapter of By the rivers of Babylon is up. wish it was a little better ...

https://bigclosetr.us/…/fict…/74609/rivers-babylon-chapter-3

okay so yesterday Sharon needed me to drive her to the vet because her cat was having problems. While we were waiting, she starts this conversation about her church, and says she thinks they are a little too quick to pull out judgement.

Then she says she was also guilty of this in dealing with my desire to transition. She said while she doesnt really understand it, or like it, she felt she had been more negative towards me about it than I deserved, and she apologized.

honestly, you could have knocked me over with a feather ...

i seem to have lost my pidgen connection to the chat room. Can anybody help me?

I thought I had solved my block on the final chapter of "By the rivers of Babylon", but unfortunately, a really bad PTSD attack last night has left me with no spoons for writing. And if I dont get it done by the middle of next week, well, I'm gonna be a tad busy with my daughter going in for surgery on Wednesday.

Sorry ...