January 23, 2006

I've finally rejoined the living, 2006 überlist in hand. With the book pretty well out of the way (for the time being anyway), I can finally get back to... well, whatever it is I do.

First on the list (well, not technically first; but der überlist isn't prioritized): give me blogware advice! I need to get this bitch automated so I update more than semi-annually. Ideally, I want something I can update online & just pop into my existing site with a snippet of code. I use Dreamweaver, if that matters, but I'm comfy enough with code (although I am something of a caveman these days).

We got a cat a couple weeks ago, my first, and now we're painstakingly acquainting her with Herman, who would really, really like to eat her. Happily, she would just as soon eat treats, which is apparently a good sign. (They say if the dog can't be distracted with treats, you're screwed.) I'm actually into the cat, probably because she's the first cat in the history of the world who actually likes me. As a rule, I'm as stiff and uncomfortable with cats as I am with children.

Speaking of children, there was apparently a rumor around here that I was pregnant, possibly an indication that I need to lose some weight and run a comb through my hair every once in a while. (My hair has gotten revoltingly long, but I'm getting a free Locks of Love haircut tomorrow, hooray!)

There was also a persistent rumor that we were internet pornographers. I like that rumor better, but it's still insulting. Not the porn part; the notion that as a pornographer, I'd be stupid enough to move from Austin, land of broadband and cash-strapped loose-moraled college hotties, to rural Kansas, land of dial-up and churchy, disapproving grandmas. Jimminy christmas, nobody but nobody wants Harveyville porn. Give me a little credit.

The adjustment to small-town living has been strangely seamless for me--mainly because I'm a hermit and rarely leave my homestead. My chief struggles have been with groceries. Local groceries are mostly about the iceberg lettuce & processed food, with a few notable surprises. And I'm sure to figure out where to get fresh local stuff sooner or later (for starters, there's a seasonal farmer's market, a u-pick-it orchard & one of the librarians sells fresh eggs).

As a social creature, Ron's adaptation has been rockier. Luckily, we've had plenty of guests, and with the exception of a few arctic weeks, the winter's been pretty mild, so no Shining scares. By next winter, we'll have residents & some action around here, so I think I've made it safely through the danger zone. Although I should probably really wait until spring to call it.

9.9.05