The Marshmallow Ranch Gazette

Volume 7, Issue 7 -- Tuesday, July 4th, 2023

Howdy, patrons!

Yesterday, a positive COVID test ended my 1,260-day streak of dodging the pandemic. Husband came down with it for a second time last Thursday and though we quarantined once we knew, my immune system couldn't keep it back. I was feeling a scratch at the back of my throat on Sunday morning. That worsened into a nagging cough by the afternoon, and in the evening I had a killer headache to go with it. Monday was bad too, and today I'm feeling notably better (though with a lingering cough). I'm sincerely hoping we've seen the worst of it and I'll be back in fighting shape by the weekend, but we'll see. It's my first time with COVID and I know there are all kinds of mysterious symptoms that tend to pop up afterward. Fingers crossed there aren't too many long-lasting complications.

Unfortunately this means I don't have the next episode of Swiftie's Intergalactic ready to post today. I sincerely apologize for the additional delay.

I'm going to take it easy this week, but I'll still be writing to make sure I'm in better shape through the rest of the summer. In better news I had two very promising interviews over the month -- one for a friend's company and another for a local university! Neither of them are perfect positions, but it's more interest than I've gotten in the past two months so I'll take it. I'm anticipating a potential offer from one company by next week, and a final interview for the university position will be on Thursday or Friday. If all goes well, I should have a day job again before the end of the month!

Writing has also been a bit easier now that I'm back in it. I really appreciate the feedback you've been giving in previous posts, and I'll make sure to respond in due time. I think I forgot that I could just angle the story to glide over many of the problems I was talking about, or at least address them directly through better characterization. Basically, I've been identifying too much with the main character and failing to let him have his own life! Checking back in with his internal conflict and brainstorming different ways for the next scene to go turned out to be a great way to remove the block.

Again, I'm incredibly grateful for all of your patience, support, and suggestions. See you next week!