Dangerous cold and frightening prospects. Big new medical expenses starting next week; sales needed now (subscribers and shares, too).

Photo copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved.

Just around the curve down the road, there's not nearly as much snow as we have here. Even less in town. But we all have the bitter cold now, the kind that makes it dangerous to be out of doors. 

I've learned the hard way that I can't be out in it very much anymore. Just a couple of brief forays outside yesterday afternoon, and I was so chilled that it took me more than five hours to get warm again. Meanwhile, Wings was roasting in here. Any exertion at all in the cold, and my chest rebels, and that's scary as hell, too. What's also scary is what's waiting for me next week, trying to restart this process again: frightening in terms of what might be involved, in terms of what they might find, and unquestionably in terms of how much this is all going to cost.

As I've said, the snow is a gift, yes, but still no rest or respite from what's looming, particularly on the medical front. I never have a moment's peace from that, so holiday season or no, shares are still much needed and much appreciated. We also have a new avalanche of medical expenses waiting for us on the other side of the new year, beginning next Thursday, and that's on top of the five figures' worth remaining from the year just past. I posted Wings's newest works the other day, a return to an older series; this grouping consists of six pieces, all collected here. For purposes of sharing, here are all the regular links:

• My new Patreon, The Interstices (Writing Between Worlds) (and if you subscribe today you won't be billed until January 1st for December);
• Wings's site, for sales, with new items posted;
• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• A way to buy me coffee (which actually goes to all of our medical bills, which continue to mount);
• Amazon wishlist, which mostly consists of animal and household stuff;
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. There are new kitchen-y things on it now, stuff that I didn't realize we'd need to replace (either because the RV ruined it or because we gave it away when we had to downsize).

As I also said yesterday, somehow, the heavy snow seems fitting, a gentle benediction for the spirits of those who walked on on these days between two and ten years ago now. Four people, family and friends. Midwinter, indeed. But our path goes through the snow, not beyond it, and we have to make it through a long hard winter now.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2018; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.