New Fic Alert!! "Playing Pool With Planets"

So recently I watched the updated Fantastic Four and was mostly meh about it.  My favorite character is Victor von Doom and frankly, the film didn't do him justice.  We get about 20 minutes of Victor near the middle and a smooth 15 minutes of Dr. Doom at the end.

I was like

The Expat Diaries: Near and Far

Since my relocation to the Middle East, I have found myself in a situation where I get to travel far more often.  Within the past three months, I’ve traveled to Bahrain, Cyprus and Italy.  I am fortunate (in a way) that where I currently reside offers no temptations in the form of shopping or entertainment.  But because Saudi is such a harsh, difficult place to live, one must leave as often as possible in order to breathe.

Bahrain is a kingdom just to the east of Saudi and is a quick 55-minute flight away.  It is not nearly as restrictive as Saudi and offers actual things to do for its citizens and visitors.  I go to Bahrain strictly to go to the movies, as I’m a fan of the cinematic experience.  The malls in Bahrain have multiple cinemas and plenty of food options other than the usual concession fair.  The theaters are huge with comfortable seating and are very clean.  Bahrain is my go-to when I need to get out of town quick.

Update

Dilettantes,

I have been a complete 'chaud this past month.  I have not been actively writing because I've been up to my earlobes with work.  I've never had a work schedule this diverse.  I suppose it's a good thing as it boosts the shit out of my resume, but at the same time I do not feel like each subject is getting my full attention.  I suppose it ultimately does not matter, as my presence here isn't going to change a damn thing.

This particular institute is akin to a can of Planter's.  It defies logic, so for someone like me, it can be nightmarish at times trying to apply sense where none is to be had.  I've had to take several steps back and several deep breaths and remind myself that my current location is temporary...for the purpose of gaining specific job skills.  But the day-to-day ranges from pleasant to ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?

But I do have news.  The publication of episode 1 in my Nightingales series, cool air, is scheduled for February 10th.  I am currently in the final stages of publication and am looking forward to continuing the Nightingales' supernatural saga.  I've got a kickass new cover designed by my co-conspirators, Ankhesen and JVNX, and the cover to the pilot episode, CRASH!!! has been completely redone.  

I hate that it has taken me a year to get this done, but having to relocate from China to the Middle East put a serious dent in my writing schedule.  And I sigh in despair knowing that another relocation is coming in 18 months.  So I will do my best to get episode 2: Whispers out by the end of this year.

My trip to Italy yielded magnificent creative fruit in regards to my other serial project, The Velimirs. It's amazing how one tiny little thing can lead to something massive.  I seriously hope that my next excursion will unleash the trigger the Muse needs to unleash another book.  My soul needs unleashing.  

There will be another Expat Diaries entry coming soon, and I promise to work harder to isolate and protect my writing time.

Until then...!

2015—It’s A Wrap!!!

This past year has probably been the most eventful of all in terms of new experiences.  I started a new job in a new country, but more importantly, I traveled to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Taipei, Manama, Limassol, Rome, and Milan.  An entry in The Expat Diaries is coming very soon.

You hope that each year brings more experience, understanding and wisdom.  For me, it also brings a bit more patience.  I have learned to accept that certain things take time and that one must be in a particular place (mentally, spiritually, and emotionally) in order for said things to happen.  You have to be able to reflect and that has become valuable over the past five years.  Living in Riyadh forces a woman to learn patience, and because things move so slowly over here, there is time to think certain things through.

A Story to Tell

It’s been over a month since I last posted, and probably over a year since I posted something like this.  My new life as an expat has its challenges, and said challenges have kept me away from my writing as a necessity.  But since writing is probably more a part of me than my career choice, you can probably imagine the slow metaphorical death I’m undergoing.  Living in the Kingdom is especially challenging in so many ways.  The only way I can deal with it is to (1) focus on my kids and (2) travel as often as possible.

I’ve said before that I’m living my dream.   As I write this, I am sitting in a lovely hotel in Rome, Italy.  I’m a block from the Piazza del Popolo and maybe 15 minutes from Vatican City.  Italy is and always has been #1 on the bucket list; the first place I wanted to travel to when I was a child.  Momma gave me a globe and I picked out the boot and said I wanted to try it on.

But then my life took a turn—as life does—and Italy became a dream, a mirage.  I spent 20 years of my life as a caregiver and caretaker to my parents.  I watched my friends go out, have fun, date, fall in love, get married, have babies, etc.  My life was different: countless hospital visits, learning how to distribute medicines, understanding the effects of ravaging diseases, surgeries upon surgeries, all while working (and later, going to graduate school).  I had minimal help.  I tried to date, but it was too much.  I knew my parents wanted me to have that life but between caring for them and working, I had no time for myself, and that included self-care.  At this time, I was undiagnosed, so my emotions swung like a pendulum. 

When Reality Hits...

When I was researching information about my current destination, I found a lot of blogs that described this place as relatively okay for women, as long as they're aware of the rules and restrictions.  The emphasis was placed mainly on hobbies and activities, as this part of the world is severely lacking in entertainment and a lot of women are here as trailing spouses for hubbies who work for the oil companies (and thus, don't have to work).  A lot of this info loosely translated to single women, but at the time, I could not find any definitive information on what life is like for singletons.

Here is the pure, unadulterated truth...and if I'd come across this information in my research, my decision to come here would have been quite different.

1.  Western women are assumed to be whores and will accept any man's advances, be they wanted or not.  A man actually said to me, "You're American and you're a woman...why not?"

Review: Sirens

I picked up the first four issues of this sci-fi series, written and illustrated by George Perez. The reason, of course, is Sherita. While browsing in Oxford Comics, the below image caught my eye and I was immediately stoked to see this beautiful sistah front and center in a sci-fi comic book.  Without hesitation, I snatched up all the available issues and asked about the ETA of the remaining two issues.  Of course, I was not able to procure them prior to my departure...and you'll soon learn why I'm not pressed about it either.

The Expat Diaries, Volume II: Riyadh

Well, as mentioned in the last update, I arrived in Riyadh a month ago to start the next phase in my expat adventures.  Of course a lot has happened, but let me see if I can summarize it in a series of points.

1.  A large percentage of Saudi men are fucking fine as hell.  I mean, gyatdamb!!!  Hotties to the left, hotties to the right, hotties up above and hotties down below.  The hotness quotient is as high as the temperature, praise da lort!  We’re not supposed to stare, but I wear my sunglasses all the time so I can eye-fuck at will.  I can’t help it.  I’m a healthy hetero woman and the eye-candy is real in these dry, dusty-ass streets. 

Update

I've been in Riyadh for three full weeks now and finally have some basic needs met.  I'll be covering details in an upcoming Expat Diaries blog post, but I just wanted to poke my head up from what feels like the ninth layer of Hell and say I'm here and I'm in one piece.

It's hotter than the devil's asshole over here.  The other day, we were busting the hell out of 140 degrees, hand to Jesus.  It was so hot that Satan was camped out next to my AC, chugging Dasani.  I mean, I know I'm in the desert and it'll take some adjusting, but sweet gawd...this is the absolute worst.

Settling in has had its ups and downs.  The rules for single ladies over here...they're freakin' crazy.  I mean, there were some things I was fully aware of (and fine with), but then you get here and learn other shit that doesn't make any freaking sense.

I gotta say tho...the ratio of hotties per city block is astounding. There are so many fine ass men over here.  That we are not allowed to mingle with them--much less date--is migraine-inducing.

Details to come soon, I promise.

Update: Rat Queens

My summer of comic books continues with Rat Queens.  Written by Kurtis J. Wiebe and illustrated by Roc Upchurch and Stjepan Sejic, Rat Queens follows the adventures of four female mercenaries who are tasked with ridding their city of supernatural creatures and fall prey to malicious malevolence.  There are two volumes currently available from Image Comics, which I picked up on Amazon.

The first volume, Sass & Sorcery, introduce us to the Queens: Hannah, an elf; Betty, a “smidgen” (little person), Violet, a dwarf, and Dee, a human.  You already know the reason why I’m even bothering to read the series and report on it: Dee.