I haven’t posted in a while, and like all lapsed bloggers, I can claim a multitude of reasons, the most compelling of which has been a new writing project that is almost ready for release. In the meantime, I thought I would share some photos of what I’ve been up to since my last entry. Enjoy! And look for a note at the end of this post about my soon-to-be-released novel…
DECEMBER
Kris, her father, and I install new laminate floors in the living room
and hallway of our little house in the woods.
Our living room floor: BEFORE
Yay, power tools!
Living room floor: AFTER
Enough said...
Also in December…
On the Winter Solstice, Alex breaks her leg...
...but it doesn't slow her down.
Family photo on Christmas Eve
Alex learns the sign for book just in time for Christmas morning
January
Alex learns to feed herself--sort of.
The Western Washington Winter Snowstorm of 2012
Alex's first sled ride
Snow-hiking with the Ergo pack
Happy girl learning to walk
February
Getting ready for the Super Bowl--touchdown!
Walking the dog on the first warm day of the year
Alex turns one!
Opening presents at her birthday party...
...including "Pride and Prejudice" for kids!
Which segues nicely into my final catch-up picture: an image of the book project that, in conjunction with the life events noted above, has largely kept me from blogging for the past couple of months: Gay Pride & Prejudice, a queer take on the classic Jane Austen novel.
Why Gay Pride & Prejudice, you might ask? Well, as a long-time Jane Austen fan, I was fascinated and only a little bit nauseated by the release a few years ago of a variation on P&P featuring ninja warriors and the living dead. Soon after reading an article on the literary mashup phenomenon surrounding Austen and other classic authors and historic figures, I found myself wondering, “If zombies and vampires, why not gays and lesbians?” Not that monsters and queers have anything in common, of course, other than a long history of being denigrated and feared by the general public—a reputation, I would argue, more deserved by the former group than the latter.
And why shouldn’t we write ourselves back into history, back into classic literature? For centuries, historians and canonical writers have ignored the existence of gays and lesbians. High time, then, I say, that we queer the classics! With that goal in mind, I asked myself the question: “What if some among the characters of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice were gay? What then?”
The revised novel, which like its monstrous inspiration features at least 85% of the original text, is nearly ready for release, and will be available as an eBook (Kindle, Nook, iPad, ePub, etc.) first. Keep an eye out for more details in the coming weeks…
Homodramatica 
You have, indeed, been busy–but very productive. enjoyed the pictures. Glad you’re doing okay.
Thanks, Barrett! Hope all is well with you and yours, too. Happy Almost Spring!
You have been busy and missed. I’m glad to see Alex’s break didn’t stop her from progressing to walking. Thanks for the update and best wishes with this new book.
Thanks for the note, Pam. Alex was just starting to walk when she broke her leg, but it only put her back three weeks or so. We got lucky, if you can say that about a serious injury! Hope all is well in Iowa with you and yours.
Great to hear, via some super photos, from you. Look forward to your adaption of P&P; Take Care.
Hi Eileen. Good to hear from you, too. Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Needless to say, we have a lot more where those came from! The beauty of first children… Hope all is well in Germany. Happy almost spring!
Love the baby pics. Enjoy the times they grow so fast. My daughter is 19 and married. Maybe I will be a grandma soon. Eek, I am too young!!!! Naa, I love kids. They keep you young. I will retire from the Army soon and move on to influence young minds as a school teacher and softball coach. Thanks for sharing you life with us. It brings me happiness to see others happy and to know I have a hand in preserving that happiness.
Thanks for the note, Mary, and for picking up the new book! And for your service, too. Congratulations on being close to ending one career and beginning another. Closer to grandparenthood than ever before, too, from the sound of it! More adventures awaiting… Happy Spring- Kate