How Writing Feels (Credit to Oglaf)

Anyway, several things for your first of the month briefing.

The Christmas cards are almost done being messaged and signed. A lot more people than I thought wanted the cards, so I might have to run another batch if too many more people sign up.

As you can tell, the war is winding down. We all know that won't last, however. There's still a lot of people and a lot of things to cover. We'll see old friends and almost forgotten characters, see how the war effected them and how they're carrying on.

Last, is the tough part: As some of you know, I didn't start in the best physical condition. I've been ignoring a lot of the pain and injuries for years, but they're starting to pile up.

The big ones are my shoulders. I've had full repairs on both of them. One of them has been repaired six times (the initial damage was so catastrophic that amputating my arm was a well discussed option, complete with an option to have it amputated later) and is at the point they've tried to talk me into joint fusing a few times.

The pain in my shoulders and hands gets to the point where I can't move my arms or my fingers for a few hours when I get up. When I close my fist the knuckles pop painfully. I can't lift my arms over my head any more without pain. I can't raise my hands over my head with my right arm at all and without pain for the left one. It's gotten to the point where the pain is affecting my sleep.

Pain killers are not an option. I don't trust them after what happened to so many people with "non-addictive, non-habit forming" Oxy. Enough to kill or dial back the pain is enough to leave me loopy and make me itch all over.

So, no pain killers.

And before anyone asks, Pot and CBD leaves me sick to my stomach, which is funny, since I can eat stuff from roadside stands with no problem. I've got an iron stomach except for marijuana and CBD. Even gummies make me want to puke.

I haven't even been playing video games that much because it hurts to be at the keyboard.

I'll be seeing the doctor about it next week. Going through my options. They'll probably recommend another round of physical therapy, which is how I ended up with a rotator cuff tear last time. I've just shredded them up and didn't let them heal too often.

I already can't drive very much any more. I usually drive one handed, switching off when my hands go numb. Which I don't feel is safe, so I let my daughters, my wife, or my son-in-law drive.

I'm being honest here. My shoulders are screwed.

What does that mean for FC?

Well, it sure as hell DOES NOT mean I'm quitting. Hell, I don't even want to slow down. I don't even like taking days off.

I said before, as a joke, to my wife: To be different than all the other web-serials on the internet, all I have to do is finish the story. Even if I trip after the finish line and face-plant, I'll be different than 90% of the web-serials out there.

We're going to finish.

I'm not going to skip over stuff and rush. I'm not going to pad it out. I'm going to let it flow organically, just like it's been doing, and finish.

I just figured you should know why FC posts might get a little erractic.

Between some IRL stuff that hit me like a truck, a full blown PTSD melt-down, my injuries, and how busy the holidays get since I have a large family, I thought you'd like to know why it might get erratic.

I'm not making excuses. I'm still going to put out as much as I can.

We'll have another holiday special, I think.

I just wanted to let you know where things are on my end.

The story, as always, will go on until the end.

--Ralts