It has been a bit of a struggle getting back into the writing brain. These past couple of years have been rough and well, so much tragedy in my life. But the thing is, sit down and hit the keyboard really is a thing.
I am kind of purging things out of my life and also in a way, shedding a bit of emotional weight burdening me. I am hoping that in the coming days, I can submerge myself into the ether that I write in. I miss being able to do that. But I can feel it rising back up and I am hopeful it will soon become a sanctuary once again.
There is also too much mustard on my hot dogs right now. Dijon mustard. It’s a good mustard but I think my brain is searching for the spicy brown. Should have drizzled chili crisps on them.
I also am looking forward to being able to fall back into whimsy. I miss it.
The Potato will be continuing his Borking Strolls and I hope to publish his Borking Reports. Right now he’s begging for either a hot dog or a doggie treat but that’s his life. Treats, Borking Strolls, Scritches, and Naps. Oh and dinners.
And I actually want to leave a video from a channel I follow called Tribal People Try. Normally they sample foods, usually Western / American, and it’s an interesting look at how people view one another’s tastes. In this particular video, it’s 2 pairs of the men on the channel playing a game. It’s lovely to see them smile, laugh and simply have a bit of silly fun. I think we sometimes forget silly fun is probably the best kind of fun to have. I think I’ll need to find a time and place to do this for a bunch of people.
The Potato has had a morning! Mostly it’s a bit misty outside today and cold but not cold enough for a jacket. I might break out his jacket on Monday if the weather continues. Just so he stays warm. He’s already grubby despite getting a bath this past week. So… it’s like a never ending battle. His Auntie Barbara who grooms him is locked down because of COVID and hasn’t opened in a bit but promises she will soon. Because if not, I’m taking a clippers to him soon. He’s a hairy beast.
He’s having a cavort right now because he came back very full of himself and borky.
From his Auntie Jessica:
Gus did a lot of borking this morning! There were a few kids out that he wanted to say hi to! He seems so happy now. Merry Christmas! Best, Jessica
I haven’t shared much here other than Borking Reports but as you all know, my sister Jenn passed away and it’s been… odd. Jenn lived with me from 1987 to her passing last month and just the suddeness of it all and the shock of it happening means for me an unsettling mind space. I’ve been focused on trying to get her affairs in order and well, my brain’s not been into writing.
Because as you all know, this year has sucked.
I’m hoping I can reboot things off and dive back in because I do need to find those words, find those stories. I think it will birng me some peace and calm.
What I can tell you is to NOT order a 9 drawer dresser / armoire from Amazon which requires 6 hours of assembling. We’re on hour three and a half of the dresser and the preassembly is complete. All of the drawers are done and now comes the pulling together of big pieces. As a project to get my head out of the dark places I was falling into, I focused on getting the guest room changed about to refresh it and provide a place for our friends and family to come to. And see, I say our. Because that’s… that’s where my head is at.
Andi is here in the other room which was planned before Jenn passed because we were planning on having Jenn’s space refreshed and making room for a hospital bed if she needed it. Every single plan we had was for her to come home.
And instead, she went to a different home, back to the stars and the universe to be with those who have gone before her. It is unfair and I’m angry about it. She should have had more time with us. She just should have had more time here.
But moving forward is necessary. So, there will be more plans, more words, more laughter and we will continue to share stories about her and always couch it with… well, you know how Jenn was… *grins*
It’s been a long treat-profitable week for the Potato. Actually it’s been treat-profitable for weeks now and now the Grubby Blond has gone out on his Bork and has come back happy and full of himself. He needs another bath because he IS grubby AF even though I just gave him one. The roll in grass and dirt is hard work.
There was a lot of Borking today. Apparently everyone was out and very friendly to Jessica and Gus Gus on the walk today. He had a lot of opinions to share and boy, did he.
There’s going to be the junk removal guy coming in a bit and well, he’ll get more borking in. As one does.
From his Auntie Jessica:
There were a lot of people out this morning so Gus was borking a lot! It was a little warm so I’m sure he’s very tired now. He was barely able to make it up the steps back in the house! Hope he gets plenty of water! Best, Jessica
Welcome to the Bound Blog Tour! As always, there’s a gift certificate giveaway at every stop so please be sure to enter. I’m talking about world-building in this alternate San Francisco where a snarly, ex-alcoholic Inspector finds himself entangled with an enigmatic Asian demon… while trying to discover who is leaving dead bodies all over his newly adopted city. International entries accepted for all giveaways!
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
One of the things I wanted to make sure to include was a good name for my demon. I chose Xian not just because of the sounding of it but also its meaning and the personality behind it. There are subtle differences to how it is pronounced across the Asiatic corridors but the one I chose is the one I liked how it sounded. Results may vary.
Its base meaning is: refined, elegant which for me, reflected Xian’s outward appearance. The personality traits associated with the name are:
Basic Personality When you are injured you need all-out sympathy. Logic does not appeal to you. You want to be comforted. You will listen sincerely to the advice you give, and then do exactly as you please. Since you have a lot of spunk, no matter how down and out you get, you never give up. You can always start over again.
Here is the characteristics of Xian in details.
There is a tendency to be scattering in your efforts and you prefer to avoid menial jobs of a routine and repetitive nature.
You can be a spontaneous, expressive, and talkative person.
Generally you are good-natured, though at times you can be rather blunt and sarcastic.
You are inclined to pursue good times and emotional indulgences to excess.
Weaknesses in health due to the influence of this name centre in the head.
This name incorporates creative, artistic, and musical abilities, and there would be an element of originality in all that you do.
Xian as a first name gives you a very independent nature, yet you are friendly, approachable, and generous.
You like to do things on the spur of the moment without planning or prior arrangements.
Your spirits are buoyed up greatly by encouragement and appreciation.
So how do I pronounce Xian?
So that’s the basic how did I get to Xian and what does it sound like for the day. Hope you enjoyed meeting him and Spencer and I can’t wait to give you Book Two!
Bound, Chinatown Demons, Book One
Chinatown, San Francisco.
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
Welcome to the Bound Blog Tour! As always, there’s a gift certificate giveaway at every stop so please be sure to enter. I’m talking about world-building in this alternate San Francisco where a snarly, ex-alcoholic Inspector finds himself entangled with an enigmatic Asian demon… while trying to discover who is leaving dead bodies all over his newly adopted city. International entries accepted for all giveaways!
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
Welcome to the Bound Blog Tour! As always, there’s a gift certificate giveaway at every stop so please be sure to enter. I’m talking about world-building in this alternate San Francisco where a snarly, ex-alcoholic Inspector finds himself entangled with an enigmatic Asian demon… while trying to discover who is leaving dead bodies all over his newly adopted city. International entries accepted for all giveaways!
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
Welcome to the Bound Blog Tour! As always, there’s a gift certificate giveaway at every stop so please be sure to enter. I’m talking about world-building in this alternate San Francisco where a snarly, ex-alcoholic Inspector finds himself entangled with an enigmatic Asian demon… while trying to discover who is leaving dead bodies all over his newly adopted city. International entries accepted for all giveaways!
A different place — another time— and where the city’s streets keep secrets, shadowy mysteries SFPD Inspector Spencer Ricci needs to dig through after he finds himself on a case involving a dismembered, mummified man in a restaurant’s locked storage room.
Spencer drags around a lot of baggage, including an ongoing battle with the bottle and a long career as an LAPD detective he’d set fire to in a blaze of booze-soaked mistakes. San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.
For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.
Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
Bound, Chinatown Demons, Book One