Getting close to the finish line now. After, I'll still need to do a full reread, but my biggest challenge was bringing us to two revelations: 1) my "Thucydides" telling the story of a war as if it had been started by "great nations"... only to realize that another principle sparked it all along (as per real history), & 2) a lone crew trying to protect its better nature in that war of "great nations"--only to learn how hard it is to keep nationalist urges at bay.

I *think* I've pulled it off. 🤞

It was a busy lunch service, so my whole treat took longer than expected, but it was so nice to support a franchise dedicated to uplifting women in its employment mandate and benefits package.

Usually I get myself a new book, too, but this year I'll hold off until *mine* is done, and I'm all caught up on paid writing tasks to boot.

And of course, the real gift is tomorrow, when my next year officially starts with a couple weeks of self-repair and home-cleaning. 🙂

Back to writing now. #AllGood

Even after all my time here, I still haven't tried every fruit. But today I added feijoa to my list! A subtly tart, earthy fruit, a bit grainy in the pulp but packed with nutrients, seen as helpful for cardiovascular, skin, and digestive health, and... the namesake of the term "guayabo", aka "hungover": possibly because after drinking you might reach for this, or more literally... probably from the idea of someone so drunk they passed out under these or similar trees. 😁
#TheMoreYouKnow #Colombia

There we go! 🌎

Today for OnlySky: an essay on what we can take from our struggle for scientific literacy when it comes to the theory of evolution, to improve how we advocate better for the forms of democracy we value.

Just as "species" is a human word used to describe clusters of organisms on record, so too does "democracy" represent a diverse material reality.

We need to get more precise about the endangered facets of our societies that we're now fighting to renew.

https://onlysky.media/mclark/how-the-fight-for-evolution-prepared-us-to-fight-for-democracy-too/

Okay, be honest, CoSo--

If someone told you to choose the form of your destroyer, and you tried to avoid thinking of anything terrible, what would *you* accidentally summon to wreak havoc in your neighborhood?

Still a goofy nighttime wonderland in my dear old park. ❤️ #Colombia

I always have such an urge to pet these fuzzies. 🙃

#Colombia #Nature

What a gift to be able to experience the world, for all its many hardships. 💛

#Nature #Colombia

There were caracaras circling out my window while I was trying to work, so I had to take a photo break. (Thems the rules.) Sadly, close-up nature photography isn't in the cards with my cellphone, but what a happy day all the same.

We are alive, and get to make choices.

Sometimes they're not right.

Sometimes they do harm.

But we learn from them--if fortunate--and go on.

This makes us the lucky ones.

Okay, so movement is still a big energy-cost. Currently fatigued from even a few blocks of walking. Noted. Will hold off for another day or two on running etc. again.

But - all the more reason just to focus on the book today.

Have a lovely one, chums! Off to work with me.

#AmWriting

My fever brain would *not* let this go, but my goodness, 2023 needs to end.

Today's year-end round-up covers five core issues for the world this year: AI hype cycles, climate change and inaction, union power, war, and far right extremism - in the world as in the US.

These issues all feed into one another. Maybe, just maybe, understanding the intersections between these struggles will help ready us for the fight against them all in the year(s) ahead.

Go get 'em, tigers.
https://onlysky.media/mclark/five-core-issues-that-defined-2023/

On the plus side, I got to pick up my annual wheat for New Year's. I love this local tradition. You keep a stalk of wheat in the house in hope of prosperity all year round--some simple, some laden with food and other tokens, that your home might always have what it needs--and... on New Year's you burn last year's wheat as a way of saying good freaking riddance. 🙃

Very therapeutic. Catholics here add in prayers and incense and "cleanse" bad spirits from the home, but the burning's enough for me!

Time to venture out masked for more meds. COVID tests aren't as easy to acquire here, but better safe than sorry, and even regular influenza sucks. Don't know who gave this to me, but I'm not regifting.

Every time I sit up my head starts to overheat like a robot trying too hard, and the "exertion" has me breaking a sweat, then breaking out into coughing. Sleeping it off is dull, though, and has me behind schedule.

Silly body. Silly best laid plans.

🫂 Big hugs for all the well-wishing, though.

Still fever-ridden, but while tossing & turning last night I knew I finally had to write a piece I'd been putting off for a while.

It's not pleasant - but as you read the latest reports about the war crimes visited upon women on October 7, pay attention to the excuses given for why the internal investigation was such a mess. Horrific things happened--& the victims deserved a hell of a lot better than being used as political props while evidence was allowed to slip away.

https://onlysky.media/mclark/the-weaponization-of-crimes-against-women/

After I finish the novel, I'll finish editing the audiobook version of Children of Doro. What a kind note was waiting for me, out of the blue, this evening about the work!

May all who create do so in the presence of such generous people.

Still writing - around two chapters to go tonight! - but every now and then I feel a huge bout of gratitude coming on, which is *much* less uncomfortable than a bout of gas, but just about as difficult to hold in, so--

Love you, you weirdos. 💛

Keep being good to your messy, rotten, wonderful selves.

Stage 2: 🍃

Stage 1. :)

All right, loves. Showtime. 🕵️

Have a good one, and spread love* where you can!

*You know the kind I mean. 🙃

Me, warming up for a videochat with a conservative friend* today.

*A decades-old friend, who's going through a lot of socioeconomic precarity right now. The aim is to steer clear of topics that will drive me nuts, and focus on reminding him that he matters as a human being irrespective of the rough time he's been having. 🤞