Right off the bat, I’ll let you know that this a casual ‘this is what’s been going on in our neck of the woods’ kind of post and not some super duper dramatic thing. I struggle with writing these posts because every time I start them they just feels so serious and ugh, just no. I can’t stand that. I’m trying to find a way to be a more open blogger and express my thoughts and feelings more with you guys but I struggle with that. So much. I just haven’t found that sharing boundary line–you know sharing enough but not too much kind of boundary. I’m just telling it to you like it is and I hope that you appreciate my honesty and straightforwardness.
OK! So, we have a had a lot going on the last six months and I thought I would share! I’ve already told you about Lemon and my back stuff and those were some really big changes. My brother got engaged this spring and is getting married in September and we’ve been preparing for that. Part of all this physical therapy and pushing myself so hard is so that I can travel to Nashville for the wedding.
The biggest change has been on the work front. Sam, who has worked at the same company for the entirety of our marriage(twelves years people) moved jobs to a new company. We are so excited for this new chapter but whew has it been a doozy! It’s a totally new schedule/work setup that we are adjusting too–one so far, that we both love. Sam went from working at an 9-5 office job to working from home. Oh, and did I mention he will be traveling too?
Honestly, I love having Sam work from home. We haven’t figured out the work space issues yet, but honestly it’s going pretty smoothly. I try to stay out of his hair, though I catch myself talking to him when he’s trying to work. Overall, I love it, he loves it. He hasn’t traveled that much yet, but that’s sure to pick up soon. I didn’t think it would be good for me to be in an empty house while Sam is away and we went back and forth for a while about the best solution for the issue.
I really want another dog. I miss Lemon something fierce but trying to take care of a puppy right now just isn’t the best idea. I’m still working on my day to day endurance and strengthening my body and taking care of a puppy would be too much strain. I think we will eventually get a dog when I’m in shape to chase a puppy on my own. A cat wasn’t my first choice, not because I don’t like cats, it’s just a litter box issue. We have a small apartment and I don’t have a laundry room to stow a little box in. But we figured out a solution and went to Operation Kindness(whom I highly recommend) and adopted two cats.
Originally, it was just supposed to be one cat but you know how that goes. We ended up looking at two kittens from the same litter(we didn’t know that before we looked at them)and Sam we couldn’t bear to separate them. May I present the boys Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck–Pip and Merry for short. 
I’m a writer and I couldn’t pass up this golden once in a life time opportunity to name two male sibling CATS after the cousin hobbits from Lord of the Rings(underline). The names fit them perfectly by the way.
The Hobbits as we call them have been a handful! They were sick and had to go back and forth to the Operation Kindness vet for a few weeks until they were well enough to come home permanently. And they are into everything like kittens usually are. But it’s been fun and we’ve really enjoyed watching them chase each other and rip around the house. It’s been joyful. Pip is the golden boy but Merry is the snuggler. They are adorable.
Our apartment got repainted last Friday and I could not be more excited! I’m in the middle of redecorating our living room and it’s been like going to Disney World! That’s how awesome it is! I’ve been staring at that same beige paint for the last eleven years and I was so so so ready for a change. We also got rid of the red couch we’ve had for an equal amount of time. It was a good couch for a long time but it was time for it to be put out to pasture. I’m really looking forward to show you guys our redecorated living room in a couple of months–once I get it done.
For the last month or so–since I could climb the stairs again–I’ve been working steadily on my middle grade manuscript. It’s been incredible the progress I’ve made. I really really hope to have the first draft soon. Like, so so soon. I want to make a living writing books and I’m determined to see it through. I’m so passionate about this manuscript. I come alive writing for children and I’m really good at it–and I understand what an awesome thing it is to be able to say that. Not many people can write for children and even less of those people love it and are as passionate as I am. I love writing for children. It’s the best audience I could imagine. I confess, my dream is to get my manuscript signed with a publisher this year. So there’s been a lot going on for me.
Trying to translate what my day to day looks like to non-writers is difficult because from the outside it looks like I just sit all day. Sit and write, sit and read, sit and research, repeat. But from the inside I’m running around in a complete and totally different universe; orchestrating, observing, cataloging, asking questions, adventuring, and feeling. When I get done at the end of the day I’m exhausted most of the time–but in the best way. I’m trying to find better ways of sharing that side of my life with “the outside world”.
So that’s a little bit of whats been going on with us. Soon, I want to share our loft we turned into a home library. It’s not complete because my back went out in the middle of it, but I’d like to show you the progress we’ve made and my ideas for the rest of it.
We have plans for the Fourth of July with friends and we plan on watching the fireworks at KaBOOM town. I hope y’all have a fun and safe Independence Day. I’ll be back soon with more DIY projects and my summer reading list. In the mean time check out this adorable blow up sprinkler I’ve been trying to find an excuse to buy, and these gold sandals that I am living in this summer, and this artist I’m dying to work with.
Maegan
maegankjohnson.wordpress.com 