Mirrorakay

7,000 words in on book 4 of my series, Beloved Atrocity, I noticed something-- something I should have picked up on five years ago when my character was born. My character's name is Cory. It took me a while to decide upon his last name, but I found one within a few weeks that fit so perfectly. The name was smooth and easily spoken almost as if his first name was meant to go with his last.

Cory Anders.

What I just realized:

Coriander.

It took me until book 4 with Cory being one of the main characters to realize this.

Thank you NaNo 2011 for revealing something that will forever change the way I look at my book. Cory gets to keep his name, of course, but now I will always think of a spice instead of an awkward, bipolar, demon.

Animals have always been a major interest of mine. Ever since I was a kid I've had one pet or another and as time has gone on (and I began to earn money of my own) the numbers and types of pets I own have grown. Currently living in my house are 5 cats, 8 hermit crabs, 1 dog, and 1 bearded dragon. All but 4 of those cats belong to me. Each of my pets have taught me a lot of things I never would have thought I would learn. I was browsing some of the pet forums I frequent and began to wonder what kind of pets you guys keep and what those pets have taught you.

Riku, my dog, forced me to realize how common canine epilepsy is and just how poorly it is understood. When I got him as a puppy I had no idea that 4 years down the line we'd be dealing with Grand Mal seizures and the fear that comes from waiting for the next one. He also proved to me that I can love unconditionally as there is no way I could have put up with all of his health issues throughout the years otherwise.

Fennwick, my cat, was the one who made me really come to terms with how awful the pet stores are in ensuring the proper health of their pets. At just 8 weeks old Fenny was thuroughly infested with intestinal worms and ear mites. The worms weakened his immune system to the point where he requires steriods in order to have his vaccinations. Fenny is also polydactyl making him all the more exciting, especially with the extra toes that have no bones!

Don't even get me started on hermit crabs. They have become one of my biggest fascinations. What I thought were a throw-away pet have become one of my favorite investments of all time. I've become involved in advocating for the proper care of hermit crabs and helping people understand that these little crustaceans can live years upon years in captivity (the oldest living crabs in captivity the woman has had for 32 years!).

As for Zeke, my beardy, he taught me I can't win over every pet I have, but it doesn't make them any less important. The little bugger would chew my fingers off given half the chance and yet I love to watch his behavior and personality.

So, I want to know what your pets have taught you. It could be fun facts or "life-lessons". They are all valid and it never hurts to share with someone what you know. You never know when that information will come in handy at some point along the line.

Moo finally gave up her fight for life. Right now there aren't words strong enough to put to all that I went through with this cat and all that she did in her short life. For now I think I'm just fine saying that her misery is over and the real healing can begin.

This is turning into a very long summer, and not in the good way. Riku, my poor dog, is on his 4th seizure in about a month and a half. One partial, one petit mal, and two grand mals  as of today. Unfortunately the two grand mals were all of three days apart whereas the other gaps were a nice 20~sum days. Of course the one today had a definitive trigger so I suppose I knew it was coming. All the same, I'm exhausted. He has seized during his sleep so I'm now having many restless nights. Every odd sound he makes sends me running across the house to see his clueless, tail-wagging joy. Riku is now starting on medication to help control his seizures, so I'm hoping things will start looking up.

Otherwise, I've been doing lots of little one paragraph pieces where I had amazing plans to write a short story and then lost enthusiasm for the whole thing. I've been leaving my novels on the side-lines for right now; after I struggled with my year long block, I noticed I was starting to see writing them as more of a chore and I hate that. However, now that I've taken a few months off, I'm starting to get excited to write them again. Though I think I need to find some semblence of normalcy with Riku before I can relax enough to really write.

How is everyone else's summer going?

Ah, right-- if life is going to screw you over, it is going to do it in threes. Seriously, they should have never come up with that saying because then you're on the look out for the second and third thing coming to flip and twist your life around.

So June, lovely June in which I was born, is wearing an ugly mask this year. First came my school messing up my financial aid paper work risking my ability to pay for next semester. Fine. I can refill out paper work and argue with people all day long. I think that's livable.

Second one of my cats start vomiting and next thing we know she has acute AND chronic kidney failure, only one functioning kidney, a kidney stone backing up toxins into her body, and a 2,000 dollar vet bill to top it all off nicely (albeit not my money directly). Okay, not doing so well with this crisis. But life keeps moving.

Third, the morning we're going to pick up the severely ill cat, the dog has a Petit Mal seizure for the first time in his life being anything from stress to hyperthyriodism to a brain tumor. Two hours later and 200 dollars from my pocket (this time really my money) and potentially a whole lot more to spend, I officially know nothing.

And this is only seven days in to June. I can't wait to see what happens next

Despite my tone, I'm horribly frustrated, but coping alright. I'm just exhausted and ready for some good news to come my way. I'm sure everyone knows how that feels when life is just one blow after the other. I suppose I'm just after a bit of sympathy-- no pity though. Yeah life sucks but that doesn't mean the world stops spinning.