Since my freelance writing job is basically full time now, I decided to put notice in at my city job. It was only two afternoons a week, but between the long commute and the inclement weather making it even longer, it just didn’t make financial sense to keep doing it. I do miss the opportunity to talk to people about all the mundane things office folk chitter about, which, to be honest, was the only reason I got a job outside the house to begin with.

So now when I need a break from writing, I wander around the house, starting random conversations with Gene or waxing philosophical to the dogs, both of whom are usually snoring right next to my desk. Did people really darn socks back in the day? Our socks always get holes underneath, so wouldn’t it hurt to stand on the stitches? Where do the turtles go in the winter, and do you think they’re cranky when they wake up? Why are those pesky Asian beetles so attracted to my desk?

These are conversations worth having, and yet Gene keeps finding reasons to disappear outside.

But on the plus side, now I have more time to do things like help him get firewood. Today he brought me to a stand of birch that required 4 wheel drive to access, and I may or may not have had a near panic attack at the overall condition of the “road”. It’s fairly remote, and he said there were wolf tracks all over the place and I should probably bring my gun. I assured him I’d watched that Liam Neeson movie twice, and took notes both times. Since I’m now fully schooled in the art of punching a wolf, I was a little disappointed that we didn’t actually get to see one.

I was probably making a bit too much noise, as I got to chop all the rounds that Gene cut for me after dropping the trees. I discovered I’m excellent at making kindling, but sadly not on purpose. Occasionally I’d miss the log completely and bury the ax blade to the hilt in the ice, other times I’d miss with the blade but take a direct hit on the handle. F-bombs were plentiful, which is why we didn’t see so much as a Jaybird.

But yay for kindling!