Which is not nearly as bad as years past. *crossed fingers* My mood is always improved by seeing Darth Katie and Domino share the cat-tree. Katie isn't much of a climber, so she takes the lower bunk, and Domino leans over from the top to watch her, talk to her, and occasionally pretend to poke at her with a white paw. Katie demonstrates her affection by not destroying him. ;) She has also started to grok the concept of toys (jingle balls are the latest favorite) and that being picked up by two-legs does not mean instant death. I still think she'd be less stressed as someone's one and only cat, but she is making progress.

The patio rats have returned. I think only my herd of felines is preventing them from coming inside -- they take shelter in the utility shed out there and scamper out to eat seed that spills from the bird feeder. I've called the office about them -- I hate having any creature harmed, but I can't mess with wild rats. I've seen two, which probably means there are ten. Not good.

I'm working on the next bit of Snips. Wish me luck!

The next part of Snips is up at AO3. These poor people, what I put them through. But as always, I promise a happy ending (if an ending at a funeral can be considered such.)

A bit of the new section of Snips I'm editing: ( cut out of mercy for those with no interestCollapse )

Alas, poor Karloff. Maybe I can post this section by the weekend. Wordcount of about 7K, I think. *crossed fingers*

An answer for trolls and lazy folks alike from lmgtfy.com: Why is the term "Redskins" racist?

In other news, as I work on this chapter of Snips, I begin to see clearly why (apart from RL distractions and mental health issues) I've had such a hard time finishing it. Because this is when Clark finds out who he is. And he'll never be the same again. And I will miss the innocent boy, yes I truly will. Not to say he'll change completely -- but still. You know what I mean. *sigh* I have something of a Peter Pan complex.

When you're writing and you *feel* something's not working but you don't know what? Let me state for the record I HATE THAT FEELING. It's stalled me on both Identical and Ruse. But I think I've figured out the Ruse problem. I need another character POV. And I need to bring a mystery character to the fore earlier in the story. Mycroft, fetch your grenade-launching umbrella, you're up. Mystery character, get your heels on. :)

I also think I'm close to a solution for Snips. PLEASE LORD YES LET ME FINISH THAT ONE. Let me finish the whole blessed series. I will throw such a party...