Things to Come

So a LOT has happened since I last wrote (as usual, I'm pretty awful at the regular updates - this time it's exceptionally awful, though, as it's been over 3 months. Sorry!).

The biggest piece of news, which those of you that know me in life pretty much all already know, is that I have left Japan (I assure you, it was NOT easy) and moved back to Montreal.

It's cold here. And snowy. I don't remember there ever having been this much snow when I lived here before. For serious, there are places where it's literally piled up taller than I am. And, though it's a little bit warmer today (9 degrees fahrenheit, -13 celsius), it was a whopping -10 F (that's -23 C, for serious) when I first got back. I had to venture outside to do some grocery shopping and pick something up from the post office, and I am totally serious when I say that my nose hairs actually froze. Yeah, it was awesome.

I have been tutoring part-time (in math, French, English, etc...) while looking for a job here, but I don't really know what I want to do yet (maybe teach math, if someone will hire me to do so), so the job hunt isn't really going so fabulously. If anyone reading this has something they would like to pay me to do, don't hesitate to send an e-mail my way!!!! :-) (That may sound like a joke, but I'm actually serious)

Other than that, I have lots of things to write about:
-the rest of my vacation with Guillaume in Japan
-the end of my time in Japan
-Thanksgiving in Louisiana
-Christmas in Louisiana
-all the cooking I've been doing in Montreal

And that's what you can expect in soon to come updates in Brizmus Around the World. Yeah!

以上です。

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!

It's Thanksgiving, and even though I am living in France right now, I have decided to celebrate. I have a vegan pumpkin cheezcake in the oven and two artichokes on the stove. My sister and I tend to eat artichokes every Thanksgiving together. And so even though she's not here with me, I'm having one in her honor. With margarine and nutritional yeast! YUM! Aside from that, I'm not really doing anything special. In the past, when I was teaching English, we made turkey hands, and I made my students write something they were thankful for in each finger. That really reminded me that it was Thanksgiving, and that Thanksgiving is special. This year, I am jobless (:-( ) and broke, so I've got to find ways to remind myself.
I hope all of you guys in the U S of A are having a fantastic time with your friends and family!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
Just try to tell me you don't feel sorry for that poor turkey.

And since it's Thanksgiving, I've been reading some great lists of things that other people are thankful for. I decided that I needed to make a list of 10 things of my own.
So, what am I thankful for this year?

I AM THANKFUL FOR:
1)The fact that there are more and more vegans out there every year meaning that more and more turkeys survive this holiday.

2)All of my friends and family who love me and care about me (and whom I love and care about) and who support me through all of the crazy things I decide to do, be it write a novel in 30 days or move to Japan for 9 months (Normally, this will be happening soon) without a job or a friend in sight. (And who take care of my cat, Zedster, while I am off doing said crazy things.)

3)Guillaume aka the greatest, most wonderful boyfriend a girl could ever ask for.

4)Discovering the book blogging community and all of the wonderful people in it.

5)The store Thanksgiving, in the Marais, which, I am convinced, is the ONLY place in all of Paris where you can buy grits and canned pumpkin. Even if they are ridiculously expensive.

6)Organic farmers.

7)Starbucks venti soy classic hot chocolate with peppermint syrup and no whipped cream.

8)My stuffed dog, Eva, who has lived with me through thick and thin since I was 4 years old, who was there for me when my real dog, Eva, a Brittany Spaniel, died. I had had her and loved her since I was 7.

9)Courage and the odd places in which I often find it lurking.

10)And, of course, no list of things I am thankful for would be complete without BOOKS!!!! I will put being able to see and knowing how to read along with this one as well.

X I am cross-posting this to Brizmus Blogs Books. X

Happy day after Thanksgiving!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!



I wanted to post yesterday, but because of my broken heater, it was just too cold in my apartment to think about doing that.
In France, naturally, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so I had to work while everyone at home in the states was off playing. We made turkey hands in my classes to celebrate. I trust that you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving WITHOUT killing poor, innocent turkeys in order to do so. :-P
This Sunday, Guillaume and I will be attending a vegan Thanksgiving potluck chez my friend Sarah Tyler. I am very excited!!!! :-) I still haven't decided what to bring, so if anyone has any suggestions, I am open to them.

Because of the Sunday potluck, though, I don't think that I will have time to write my book, so I was planning on trying to have it finished by tonight. Unfortunately, though, it was hard to write in my freezing cold apartment, and I sort of had to be here. On Tuesday, they spent 5 hours installing the new heater, but then there was a piece that was the wrong size, so they were supposed to come back Wednesday. I waited at my freezing home all day Wednesday, but they didn't show up. On Thursday, he showed up right when I got home from work and then installed until about 6:30. The joys of living in France.
And then today I have been sick, I am guessing because of spending all that time in my freezing cold apartment.
All that to say, I wanted to be at 50,000 words by the time I went to sleep tonight, but right now I am only at 48,111, and it is already 11:30. Looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of writing tomorrow! Wish me luck!
It's looking like the book is going to have to be a bit more than 50,000 words, anyway. I really hope I am able to finish before midnight on November 30.

I have been reading Dune throughout the writing process. Let me just say, if you ever plan on writing a novel, DO NOT read one of the greatest books of all time while you are doing so. I read a chapter of Dune and then I try to write something, and every time I am overwhelmed by what a HORRIBLE writer I am.
So, people planning on reading the book, especially those that will be reading the first draft, DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING GOOD!

That is all.