Twitchy this morning. Good mood, but I've got that "ghost cat, trapped between cities" feeling something fierce. I have a lot to do for work, much of it feels like useless bureaucratic kipple, and none of it really gets me any closer to New Orleans.

Meanwhile, I did a little more research on our new neighborhood. Public library, three cafes, gourmet donuts, a bookstore, two chocolatiers, and a freaking _flotation spa_, all 15 blocks or less away. In retrospect, Seattle's bids to keep me have been kind of laughable.

Recently, as Anthy was getting over the last of her cold, she described her body as feeling "like it was still full of dead cells." That's how Seattle feels to me right now, like walking around in something that's somehow still in motion, even though it's already long since perished.

It's okay. There's _sun_ where I'm going. Maybe a little too much sun. And _food_. Definitely far, far too much food. And a beautiful park with pretty stone cats that don't mind me napping on them, and ducks to harass. And a bunch of tiny lizards who inhabit the sculpture garden, so I can make Anthy wear a tiny crown and pretend to be their Queen when we visit them.

And a guest room, in case y'all ever feel like sharing in it. No promises. It's been a rough year and I'm might need a loooong time to recuperate before I'm ready for much socializing.

But yeah. Seattle's got that "Monday morning after a furry con" disenchanted feeling, and I don't think anybody can do much about that at this point. Or to switch metaphors, a whole new map area -- maybe even a full DLC package -- has just opened up for me, and you know... while there are still plenty of flashing icons on the Seattle map...

I might have time to check in on a couple more of you high-level PCs who used to be in my adventuring party. There are lots of fond and/or sad memories there. But I don't think I want to do any more side quests here. Getting the Good End would take more time, patience, and cleverness than I think I will ever have.