This month’s post is a bit late due to the fact that I went to Florida to visit my parents and celebrate my birthday with them. I swam a lot, got very tan, and even saw an alligator!

The trip there was a bit of an adventure, since the day I left there was a computer snafu with Aer Lingus. When I was finally able to check in, it was so late they actually had to hold the plane for me! It was the first time in my life that I’d ever been that close to missing a plane. The rest of the trip there was fine, except that they lost my bags. I did get them four days later, but it resulted in me having to borrow and buy clothes. Thankfully, my mom was planning to give me some clothes that no longer fit her, so I didn’t have to go too crazy.

One thing I ended up buying, which was a bit of a unintended and slightly self-shocking purchase was a bright pink bikini! Shocking because I never would have really thought of getting a bikini even a few years ago, and unintended because I didn’t expect Target to have plus size bikinis!

I have to admit, though, I really rock that thing!

I got some really great pictures, too, especially this one of my Mom and Dad. Aren’t they cute?

Thankfully, the flights home weren’t as nerve wracking at the gates, but jetlag, yo. Still not quite feeling myself yet…

I did get quite a bit of writing done (I’m above 100K!) and some plot planning, thanks to my Mom! It’s interesting that when I was writing my second main character’s story, it seemed pretty straight forward, especially looking back at it now that I’m writing the third character’s story. This character even has a completely new playlist! They’re more cerebral, and their story has more intrigue and political chess.

I did read a really interesting book as research for this character, though: “Deep Undercover” by Jack Barsky. Well worth the read if you’re a spy buff or cold war nerd!

Writing:

• Unity: This is a military/hard sci-fi/spy novel set in a future where humans have colonized several other planets. One of the main characters is a Religious Program Specialist and Senior Communications officer who has PTSD and works with the station’s Chaplain to figure out why the colonization survey they’re supporting isn’t going according to plan, and realizing that who’s behind it is more dangerous than just a failed colony.
  • Word count as of today: 101,765!!! (not including the chapter I’m currently working on.) And I’m still not done!
• The Four Keys: A spiritual prose journey to the underworld and back.
  • Needs final edit pass and cover for e-book version.
  • Graphic novel version on hold for the time being.
• The Little Tarot E-book: This is a book started for my tarot class here in Zurich
  • Still in draft. Need to finish Major Arcana and more spreads.
• Poetry For Lent
  • New devotional project starting on Ash Wednesday.

Travel:

• Belgium: Short road trip for business. Not sure exactly when.
• Crazy Trip to the Northern Most Point in Europe: Summer 2020?
• Rome/Vatican: TBD (Maybe Fall/Winter 2020?)

Fiber Arts:

Finally started spinning this cotton fiber that I’ve had sitting around for awhile. The espinner makes spinning cotton really easy! I’ve got the hang of it now, and the thread looks good.

Brought a crochet project with me to work on during the Florida trip and never touched it. Oh well. I also still have a project on the loom which needs finishing.

Photography:

Fountain Pens:

Recently bought a couple of Noodler’s Creeper Flex Nib pens, and they’re interesting pens. Certainly does make one’s writing look rather fancy. I also bought two Noodler’s Inks: British Blue Waves and Massachusetts 54th. I like the colors of the inks, but they do tend to feather on paper that’s even made for fountain pen use. Using these inks in the flex nib pen makes things a bit weird, so I might try some of my other inks to see if it makes any difference.

If you’re wondering, I traveled with my Parker Sonnet and my Pilot Vanishing Point. I have cartridges in both of those pens, and I find that cartridges are less likely to be messy after air travel. I might try bringing one of the TWSBIs on the plane next time to see how it fares. The Wife’s brought her TWSBIs on the plane before and has had no issues. I will say, though, the Parker long cartridges last quite awhile, even with the medium nib!