still here, still breathing, still writing (sometimes)

[oiran]

Over the holidays, I've had a death in the family, a joyous reunion with an old friend, and a wonderful icy, slushy, dirty xmas in NYC. Prior to that, I spent ~3 years in a depressed fog from which, mostly and most thankfully, I have been granted a chemical reprieve. I did very little writing, very little getting dressed and practically no leaving the house during that time, plus my little lovebird died of old age and I broke my foot, so there's not really much more that needs to be said about the general 2005-2009 period.

I sincerely hope some of you still have me on your filters. How have you all been?

Comments

[autumnyte.livejournal.com]

It's really great to see a post from you. I've missed your presence on my flist and thought about you a lot.

I'm sorry to hear about the rough time you've gone through in the past several years. Glad to hear the fog is lifting a bit. Here's hoping the 2010s are better for all of us.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thanks for remembering me :)

I've been doing much better for a few months and I think this time the results are going to be somewhat more durable than on past regimens. I hope so, anyway!

2010 is the year I will finish at least one book. Whether it's a good book or will find an audience is, of course, still to be seen.

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

I have been making plans for how to employ your sewing skills and trying to figure out how to compensate you for it in some kind of sneaky fashion that you can't refuse!!!! Muhahahahahaha!!!

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to make you a burlesque costume? Sequin and bead fringe bras? Because I'm super-good at those, and you could certainly rock a crazy bra if you wanted to. Somehow, though, I think you're going to have something less glitterwhore-y in mind...

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

Check yer email, lady o' mine. I sent the non-glitter whore-y details to you already. I swear, though, I will compensate you for whatever you do for me in ways both known and unknown!!! (Um, whatever that means.)

[isagel.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey! It's so wonderful to see you around. *HUGS*

I'm so sorry to hear about your depression and other misfortunes, and I do hope that things will be better for you in the year to come.

Me, I made some poor choices in the past years and was unemployed for quite a while, then moved back to my home town when Eva and I broke up, and took a job I'm vastly over-qualified for to save my finances. I feel like I'm being an under-achiever and that I should be doing more with my life, but at the same time, I'm kind of happy with the way things are at the moment. If only I could learn to work harder at writing. *g* So, that's me. :)

Anyway, you're still one of my favourite people, and I was so thrilled to see you post. *hugs again*

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Wow, you've had a lot of changes! I'm glad that it's all working for you, though I must confess that I'd love it if you worked harder at writing because you're one of the best writers I've had the pleasure to know (and beta).

*hugs you back*

[sauced-again.livejournal.com]

Hey! Glad to hear things are looking up for you. Drugs can be good like that.

I've been the complete opposite of you, it seems. I'm living in Australia and I'm getting out more than ever. I have a decent novel that I love in the works.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

When they're not making me fat or not helping me at all, I am a great believer in drugs. So far, this regimen is meeting my criteria.

Yay for writing, and even more so for being able to work on writing things that you love. I've got some things (back in) the works, and I am pretty confident that 2010 will be the year that I finish at least one book. Whether it will be any good or will find an audience is, of course, not up to me...

[hyperfocused.livejournal.com]

Well hello neighbor:) It's good to see you pop up on my FList. I've thought of you often. Sorry to hear things have been stressful.

I've been dealing with some health issues, and am still writing, if not as much as I'd like to be.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Health issues suck. I've had a few things happen (besides the stupid broken foot) that have left me unable to do the things I wanted to do temporarily, but even short-term issues are enough to make me feel very old.

Are you writing fanfic? or original stuff?

[devin-chain.livejournal.com]

I've missed you! Welcome back. :)

[oiran.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about your poem, Bastinado, yesterday, and I think that's at least part of the reason why I posted today. I miss the interaction and inspiration, and I feel like it's possible again for me to hold up my end of the exchange.

[claire.livejournal.com]

HI! *waves* Don't know if you recognise this journal name - used to be girlclone (and before that weredonut).

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Of course I remember you! We've both been around forever :)

[georgia-s-brown.livejournal.com]

Hey Jed! I'm sorry about the suckiness, honey. Hopefully, I'll see you again at Rio's wedding in June.

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, darling. Rio has decided to get married in the Carribean (or Jamaica or something?) in March. :( She's canceled the shindig!!!

[georgia-s-brown.livejournal.com]

WHAT?!!! She didn't tell me.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thanks re: suckiness.

And, yeah, Rhi already told you that the big shindig is canceled. I'm not a fan of big, expensive weddings, so I think they've made the right decision :)

[serabut.livejournal.com]

Nice to hear from you again! Life's okay from my end, hopefully 2010 will be a lot better for you. :)

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'm glad to be remembered :)

I have high hopes for 2010 - I should be able to finish at least one book this year and I'm looking forward to that feeling of accomplishment!

[perclexed.livejournal.com]

Holy sweet jesus you're alive! I've thought of you often, and am glad to see you post. Welcome back!

I have stupid drama right now with a house fire and scrambling for a place to live, and am fairly in love with my married boss, but am content with our friendship. Grown up a bit in the past few years, and am perhaps, just maybe, kinda thinking about liking myself for once. Shocker, no?

I hope you continue to post. Where are you at now?

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Hey! I'm sorry to hear about your housing issues (fire? Jesus!) and the rest of your life sounds...complicated, let's call it, but you sound pretty positive about it anyway. So, I hope it's not inappropriate, but I'm happy for you, despite the obvious negatives of your current situation.

As for me, I'm still - STILL!!!! - in Nashville. I have vague hopes of getting back to the West Coast (Portland preferably) permanently within the next few years - but that's all they are. Hopes, vague.

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

How strange, I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I'm really really happy to hear you've turned a corner, and that you might be a regular presence here again.

ETA: stupid missing words!

[oiran.livejournal.com]

You're someone I've thought about frequently, too. I've always really liked you, we were close, and then I just...disappeared. Depression is such a self-centered condition, and the way I treated quite a few of my friends these past several years has been incredibly selfish. I am so happy that you responded to my post - it makes me feel like I've not burned all my bridges, and it's a huge relief.

[shaggirl.livejournal.com]

You haven't burned your bridges with me at all. As I think I've mentioned, I kind of suck at keeping in touch with all of my friends, and just take for granted that we'll eventually reconnect. I am lucky that this seems to be the case more often than not. And I really would love the chance to reconnect with you. Your friendship was important to me, too. ♥

[zeldadestry.livejournal.com]

Nice to see ya! Glad you are feeling better.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad to be more or less back :)

[pun.livejournal.com]

You'll always be on all my filters!!

But, in all honesty, I rarely read LJ these days. It's only the stupid nightmare and resulting insomnia that have me up reading it now.

I sent you an email about a cheap sublet I got wind of yesterday. No idea if it interests you at all. I would promise that I won't be a total pest about this very excellent plan of yours to spend some time in NYC, but we know I'd be a liar.

[runpunkrun]

Hi! So good to see you again.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Good to see you, too!

[disbelief11.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see you posting! Of course we remember you. I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you've been facing and my condolences on the death in the family.

By the way, I'm in San Francisco now so if you're ever over this way, give me a shout. I'd love to talk with you again.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

San Francisco? Cool. I was there in June during the horrible heat wave and spent a lot of time sitting in a cold bath because my heat tolerance is pretty much zero. Did I mention that it was PRIDE weekend? I was finally visiting SF during pride (!!!) and it was too hot to do anything pride-related. However, when I did get out, I had a great time.

And, yes, definitely. I will let you know if I'm heading your way again.

[swanswan.livejournal.com]

Hello! Your journal is still the prettiest I know and I count you among the lovely things fandom has brought me. It would be splendid to have you around again!

I am busy and mostly pretty good! 2010 comes with relief and not a small amount of hope.

[oiran.livejournal.com]

You quaint island people certainly have a way with words :P

I hope to be around more often. I'm going to try. Trying, just generally, is my resolution for 2010. So far, it's working out pretty well.

[miella]

i was just thinking of you the other day. i was cleaning up my flist a bit, and thought, hmm. should i? she hasn't been around for a long time. and then i said, well, maybe she will come back!

and here you are. it's good to see you.

: )

[oiran.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

ZOMGZOMGZOMG you are indeed still on my list but now I have the netbook I don't tend to do the long scrolling reading thing and I missed this! I have been missing your posts a TON! Every time Rhi mentions "Jed" I go all wistful and wish you were still posting! It is so good to see you!

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Wow! I ran across your velvetglove (fic) account about a year or two ago and thought it was a shame that you'd left LJ. Since I'm moving into original writing, I'm hoping I can read more of your writing, as frequent or as rare as it comes out.

I'm glad to see you back (although very sorry that life has been beating you about the head). Mind if I friend you on DW?