Offbeat Offline: January 2022 (And Why I Disappeared)

Welcome to Offbeat Offline, where I bring you up-to-date with what went on in my life during the month just gone, give you a sneak peek of my next shenanigans, and share my favourite posts of late!

What happened last month to yours truly? Medical examinations, family emergencies...and news of upcoming unemployment. Remember my 2021? Some of you could, in good conscience, say that I didn't exceed my quota of bad luck last year? And yet. Gosh, I cannot afford not to work. This is an utter and complete nightmare. Give me back my 2021 medical odyssey, please 🥺 😭.

Also, I've pretty much disappeared on everybody lately, blog-hopping included. Alas, having to add job-networking and job-hunting to my already full agenda (not to mention, the family emergency I mentioned above - more of it in a minute) left me with little to no time to visit your blogs and reciprocate your comments. The posts you're seeing lately/will see this month (minus this one) have been scheduled in advance, or in one case, are very low-pressure. As for comments, normally I would add your posts to a list and read/comment when time permits, but at the moment, the best I can do is write a comment here and there on the spot if I happen to read a post in a quiet moment. I hope to be able to talk to you again soon, but in the meantime, I hope you'll understand my plight. 

📚 KEEP IT SIMPLE. In January I made an historic decision: in some selected cases, a mini review will have to do even for books that aren't novellas/anthologies or aren't in the 1-to-3-stars spectrum. I realised that sometimes a long review couldn't possibly say more than I have already said in a mini, plus I don't have the time to reread ALL my books with a full-review mindset AND actually write those reviews anymore. I still plan on writing long reviews for most of them, but if I can't - or I think a mini will suffice - so be it. In retrospect, it was a wise decision, considering what I'm going through right now (more of that below) and the time it takes me to write a full review (up to three days).

I usually like A.S. King's books a lot, but I found myself throwing the towel on her latest, Switch. Too abstract, even for me. Mini DNF review coming later (though I've posted it already on Goodreads). I enjoyed Mira Grant's new novella Square³ instead, and I'll talk about it in my next Review Morsels installment (but again, you can find my mini on Goodreads).

I have a couple of ARCs on my hands at the moment: The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning (more about it below) and Prison of Sleep by Tim Pratt (Book 2 in the Journals of Zaxony Delatree series). I'll do my best to have my reviews posted in time (in March and April respectively).

In the meantime, this is what I have in store for January: I'm going to post a mini-review round called The Seanan McGuire by Any Other Name Edition - Part 2 on the 16th (sorry...it's her again 😳 😂) with three of her novellas, because 1) minis are easy, 2) I have two of these already written, and 3) I wouldn't have the time to read a different book and review it in full right now. The novellas in question are Where the Drowned Girls Go, Square³ (as Mira Grant) and Along the Saltwise Sea (as A. Deborah Baker).

Reviews aside, I'll participate in two Tell Me Something Tuesday rounds: on the 8th (question: What's the Chore You Resent Having to Do the Most?) and on the 15th (question: Has a Book by Your Favourite Author Ever Disappointed You Badly?). Both are prompts that I submitted. Also, on March 1st I'll answer another TMST question: If You Could Have Any Job in the World, What Would It Be and Why? (another prompt of mine). The latter will predate my February wrap-up, so I'm listing it here.

💊 A HEALTHY DOSE. January medical update:

• I saw the surgeon who operated on my finger, and he thinks I'm doing fine. Of course, the keloid scar isn't going to disappear, which means my finger won't be "normal" anymore, but I "should" be able to move it better in time.
• My latest bloodwork was much more encouraging than the previous one, so no therapy yet - I only have checkups coming for the time being (yes, I actually released the breath I didn't know I was holding. Or wait, I probably did).
• The gastroscopy (UUUUUGH, horrible thing, but mercifully brief) pointed out a mild case of GERD, which was expected. The doctor gave me the usual stomach protector (which I was already taking), plus some anti-reflux pills (which are nothing but supplements. It's always supplements these days, and they cost an arm and a leg).

🆘 OUT WITH THE JOB. On Friday 22nd, my boss broke the news to me that our radio station would stop broadcasting on April 30th, which means I'll be unemployed in three months. Covid delivered the final blow, since a radio station lives on advertising, and it was hard enough to find businesses willing to get the money out before the pandemic stroke. I've been wanting to find another job for years now, for a bunch of reasons, but I was too chicken...so it serves me right. The worst thing is, I have a number of problems that prevent me from doing just any kind of job (disabled husband, age + failing health, no driving licence), not to mention, I don't have the kind of experience and/or certification most places look for. I'm aiming at an office or shop job, but it's awfully hard. For now, I've compiled a list of people who might or might not be able to hear something and alert me if they do, and I'm building a list of places where I intend to apply. Again, I've been scarce lately, and I'll probably be even more so in the immediate future, but I'm in over my head, so please don't think I'm purposefully neglecting your blogs. My life was messy enough without this happening 🥺.

An ugly-crying David Tennant...

🦵BREAK A LEG. Speaking of which...the day after I was told I would be unemployed in three months, my mother in law fell on her leg at home and broke her femur. She got surgery and is presently at the local hospital, but on Friday she'll be sent to a rehabilitation center 90 km (56 miles) away for three weeks, because she can't go back home alone for now and we can't keep her (also, at this stage she needs the kind of round-the-clock care that we can't provide...and that my husband wouldn't be able to provide at ANY stage, since he's the one who needs help. Not to mention, she lives in a different municipality...). Also, if you can believe it, the day BEFORE I learned I would be jobless in three months, my husband fell himself while standing up from a chair, hit the table and broke one of his plastic glasses temples, that got SO CLOSE to stabbing him in the eye. I don't even have words for this kind of bad luck 😭.

PUBLISHING NEWS/TIPS

• Amber compiled a list of 2022 adult science fiction and fantasy titles by BIPOC authors (it's massive!).
• In a similar vein (for what concerns the genre), Kit  posted a list of 2022 queer SFF books she's excited for.
• The retro fantasy novel I beta-read last year, The Shadow Glass by Josh Winning, has a book trailer! You can also read an interview with the author on Bloody Flicks, and listen to the book playlist! Plus you can join other '80s fans on Twitter (the book pays homage to the era, though it's contemporary in nature) and be part of the very Shadow Glass Guild 😃 (no need to have read the book to do that, but you can always request it on NG and EW in the meantime...).

THINK-PIECES, DISCUSSIONS, ORIGINAL FICTION

• Cee promotes the Bookish Diversity Link List 2022 (and you're welcome to contribute!).
• Louise lists 5 classics that have been misinterpreted by modern audiences (fun post!).
• Emily reflects on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and abuses of power after the creator of the two shows, Joss Whedon, was exposed for his toxic behaviour on set.

REVIEWS/RECOMMENDATIONS

• Veronika recommends some of her favorite underrated books in a mix of genres that will appeal to everyone.

OTHER

• Moses shares his wildlife photography (spoiler: it's amazing!).
• Daniel's Etsy shop provides a collection of cute, colourful stickers and cards (with a Pride selection too). I mean, "creatures" can be cute, right? These most certainly are! From ghosts to witches to bats to...cats! (yes, cats are definitely "creatures", as any cat owner knows too well...😉). Also, if you make a purchase after reading this post, you can add the code OFFBEAT10 at the check-out and get a 10% discount on your order!
• While it's still unclear if Wordle will remain free to play for long, I wonder how many of you know that a six-letter version of the game exists! Unlike its predecessor, it's updated twice a day. Also, if you aren't interested in comparing your success or failure of the day with your friends, there's a clone game where you can refresh the grid indefinitely (and play with 4 to 11 letters!). Hey, don't fall into the rabbit hole now 😂.

That's it for now! My next post will be up on Tue. 8th, and it will be the TMST one about chores (see above).

So, what were your highs/lows in the past month?