The rest of the day? Pfft.

Photo copyright Aji, 2024; all rights reserved.

I had such high hopes for this day on every front, and it's been absolute trash.

Except, of course, for Wings's latest, one he had hoped to have done in time for Christmas purchasing, but everything has conspired against it. But you can see here what it looks like, smaller rounds and discs of turquoise up the rest of the strand on either side. It's very vintage Indigenous Art Deco, hints of a century ago, and a bit of an Egyptian feel to it, too. Royal lapis, and he found those turquoise cabs hidden away; no idea what they are, except absolutely extraordinary clear blue, like old Sleeping Beauty. He doesn't even the findings on yet, so it's not on the site, and I don't even know what he's charging for it, but if you're interested in it, I can find out.

The rest of the day? Pfft.  Started out with beautiful low dark cloud cover, and we got nothing out of it. High in the fifties again; dry as ash and bone. The dogs are mini-Pigpens, as in the Peanuts character; they each carry their own dustcloud with them wherever they go. And, of course, they bring it inside, which means I'm fighting a losing battle daily.

Speaking of Peanuts, our little Charlie Brown tree is up, but not decorated; lights aren't up outside yet, either. The latter is for tomorrow; I'll get the former started yet tonight, at least lights and garlands and a few ornaments, even if the rest has to wait for tomorrow. I ain't going anywhere.

At all. I'm beat. This has been a destructive, dangerous, deadly year, and we all know what's looming. There is never any respite from the pain, and the RA is attacking new joints now [and I suspect the lupus is doing the same with certain organs, given the difficulty everything is causing me now]. As bad as things are, I'm just glad we're home, in for the night, housed and warm and not needing to go anywhere or do anything at this moment. And right now, I'm just trying not to think about what we're facing, because barring the miracle we so desperately need right now? We end this year in a hole, and start 2025 the same way. 

And yes, I know we're lucky. The housing crisis worsens daily here. On that note, in reference to the deliveries above? Also go here, buy something, or several somethings, off the outreach group's wishlist, and you will literally be saving a life, probably more than one. It's not really possible to overstate how bad it is out there, nor how great the need is. I've sorted it in their Priority order, but there are new priorities as of what they've given out today. This is from the organizer herself:

• The bulk backpacks - at least six 12 packs
• Hand Warmers
• Space Blankets
• Pepper spray
• Money/Document belts (look like tan fanny packs, worn under the clothing  to hide and keep documents safe and protected.
• 2 person tents
• Tarps

The outreach program is giving gear out as fast as they get them, and being mostly housebound now, it's hard for me to get out to pick up any before they're gone. That's why I put some of those essentials on our own wishlist, with a note that they're for the outreach effort; soon, I'll adjust those priorities accordingly, too. 

For us? THERE'S SO MUCH NEW WORK ON THE SITE. And I need to sell them all, because I still need to make a ridiculous amount of sales to cover all the stuff still in the pipeline that needs covering [laptop, roof next year AND now the well pressure pump, more medical, always prepaid taxes, etc.]. So: GO BUY! PLEASE. [Yeah, I know; I don't know why I bother, either. Hope is a stupid, stubborn, fucked-up thing sometimes, even if it's also very thin and half-broken.] Links are here:

• Sales here; 
• Testimonials here; 
• Amazon wishlist here (Priority is the liquid soaps and Amazon cards, probably most useful at this point); 
• Patreon here;
• Ko-fi here.

After such a grim year, this one far worse than the last, we really need to end 2024 on a better footing before 2025 and taxes take every cent, so please share all of the links. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2024; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.