Welcome to October…What the heck? What do you mean it’s Oct. 15, so the month is half over? Ack.

It feels more like a wind of change. So I’m ditching the bracketed tags in the subject line. It’s all going to be writing and life stuff, so it seems unnecessary.

What’s happening? Adulting. LOTS and LOTS of ADULTING.

For my Writer Friends – be both proud and scared – this Discovery Writer is Outling a couple of projects. One of them needs to be, because of moving parts. I’m not detail outlining, because there needs to be discovery, but I’m currently building out the base cast of characters and getting the puzzle pieces sorted. But I should be able to still have fun putting the puzzle together. And it kinda feels like Productive Procrastination — which I know isn’t a thing, but kinda feels like a thing.

I’m using the Produtive Procrastination to further projects I’m not quite ready to dive into to make the stalled in the the late middle projects jealous and say “WRITE ME!!! WRITE ME!!!” And yes, I’m probably going to learn that if I do at least MILD OUTLINING, maybe my projects won’t stall in the late middle periods. (I know. I KNOW…)

I lost a few days of writing to Adulting things – vaccines/sick days (when I get my yearly vaccines, I have to plan a second day for the fever. Thanks, Immune System, glad to know you’re on the job.) I’m also looking into other common health things – like cholesterol. I brought up non-statin ways to lower cholesterol (because no one needs another forever drug), and my PCP asked me why I’m not fond of the statins, “Is it because of the memory issues or the muscle weakness?” IT IS NOW! Still adjusting diet. Still adjusting exercise. It’s not high enough to have to treat NOW, but…dang, a theoretical “Gold Standard” treatment still has potential messy side effects.

But still look after your health, my friends. You’re the only one of you we have. We need you.

Day Job Update: As of October 1, I officially do not have one anymore. I have been diligently searching for the last 8 months plus. It’s tough out there and getting worse. It’s hard not to take it personally, and it’s definitely depressing and anxiety inducing, which is why I continue to have a therapist.

I want to say this one thing in the kindest way possible – unless you’re passing along a job referral (yes, please all day long), please don’t offer job hunt advice. Heard it, read it, etc. LinkedIN is awash in contradictory advice (and writers, you thought Standard Manuscript Format was a discussion??? The Two Space After a Periods War? OXFORD COMMA? Resume/job hunting advice is way more fraught).

So here we are in October. It’s going to be a rough holiday season for a lot of people for a lot of reasons, but let’s start kind and with the good candy if you can afford. Chocolate (or whatever your treat of choice is) doesn’t fix everything, but it can put a glimmer of happiness in a few bites.