Month: June 2023

06/14/2023 Back to Work, but First, a Book!

Han had to skip out on Kung Fu class yesterday, due to a scheduling mix-up with other summer programs. When I got home from training, she was feeling down about missing it.

But I brought her something to help:

I wasn’t expecting the 7yr to squee with delight at a book about personal combat.

She was ecstatic, and asked to borrow it for her in-bed reading. As I was about to be in an epic struggle with the 5yr over getting in his bed, I saw no problem with it.

She gave it back this morning and asked me to work out some at-home training regimens for us. So, expect a few essays over time as I delve further into our chosen martial art.

Before that, I have to report in and sling letters. Another 12-15 mile walk, coming right up!

Stay safe out there, readers!

-JB Swift

06/13/2023 Penelope is Furious

We were gone for four days, and Penelope had to be boarded along with the dogs. I know folks usually let their indoor cats have free reign of the house while they’re away, but this cat is, unfortunately, just too dumb to risk that. as you can see, she is angry that we thought to take care of her.

Don’t look at me like that, cat. You were head-butting the full water bowl earlier.

Stay safe out there, readers.

-JB Swift

06/12/2023 Homeward Bound, and Chapter 2!

In the usual furious bit of chaos, we packed up all of our bags and managed to shove luggage for 6 back into the Pilot, thus reaffirming our titles of Tetris-Masters.

It’s time we headed back home!

On the road again…

But along the way, I’ve managed to finish Chapter 1 of the new novel and make inroads into Chapter 2. True to my wish for the story to be a “brick-of-a-book”, it’s sitting at 40-odd pages already.

Here’s to another 15 pages in the next chapter!

Stay safe out there, readers!

-JB Swift

06/10/2023 Beach Adventures?

I’ve made the joke that no matter where I go, no matter how much I intend to relax, ‘adventure’ will always find me. This used to be a reference to the fact that when friends and family have a crisis, they know they can reach out to me.

I wasn’t expecting adventure to find me at the beach, nor for it to be quite as literal.

I get that it’s a gimmick, but really: how often do you expect to walk out on your 27th floor balcony and see a pirate ship?

Stay safe out there, readers!

-JB Swift

06/09/2023 The Kilted Campaign Continues!

I’ve argued for years with my Postmasters to let me wear a kilt during the summer months. The going counter to my proposal, aside from it being a nonstandard clothing and against uniform regulations, has been “Swift, do you even know where your kilt is?”

Then my Postmaster got this photo over the weekend.

*cackle*

Stay safe out there, readers!

06/08/2023 Whittling Away Stories, Plus a Vacation

*looks around the website, sighs*

What’s sad is that this also happens with my office. If I don’t keep strict attention to it, suddenly it looks neglected and like the cat had wandered through.

So, what have I been up to?

Working! Writing! Fighting to stay sane!

Don’t know how well I’ve done with that third one, but let’s not worry about it overmuch.

I had finally sat down to work on the novel idea that’s been sitting in my notes for a couple years. I’m going to be showing the progress and materials for that in the Subscriber’s section, as my first subscriber has learned.

I was stupidly grateful to see that subscription. Thank you, Lina.

I’ll be adding on to that over the weekend, in small moments. But as we’re going on a family vacation, I’ll be heavily preoccupied with trying to relax on a sandy beach.

That’ll be a challenge for this constantly-working-outside guy. I’d rather a cave to hide in, but the family out-voted me.

Stay safe out there, readers! I’ll set a reminder to update this place.

-JB Swift