Der Feuervogel aufersteht.

1. Get my evaluation for Chen style done. Status: waiting reply from Dr Jay with when works for him. Deadline: 1/26. DONE 1/25

2. Get serious about cardiovascular fitness. I ain't getting any younger. If I want to be active in my old age, I need to get fit now. That means getting on my walking in place machine at least 3 times a week. Status: uh. Working on that.

3. Write 4 short stories and submit them for publication, until at least one is bought. Status: 1 story submitted and rejected; 2nd story submitted. Revising story #1.

4. Get Nothing Beside Remains to queryable form. Status: revisions GO.

5. Stop feeling like a poseur when I put "sf/f writer" in my bio. Status: not there yet.

I'm gonna post-date this in a couple days so I can keep track/accountable with a post at the top of my journal.

Why Dreamwidth?
I've been on Livejournal since May 2001. If you look, you can probably find it pretty easily, but I'm not direct linking it. I've come to dreamwidth to start over. (I have imported my LJ, but I've got most of it private.)

Why Feuervogel?
2009, I decided very early on, is my year of renewal, rebirth, and change. The phoenix is traditionally a symbol of that, rising from the ashes. Feuervogel means firebird, with the connotation of the phoenix.

A bit of backstory
I am a third-generation German-American. I have no German culture. I majored in German (and chemistry) in college, and I spent my junior year in Marburg, Germany. I sought my roots, subconsciously.

My grandfather tells a story about going to his father's friend's house as a child, in an immigrant German community in Pennsylvania, and smelling the sauerkraut fermenting in the man's basement. I do not have these stories.

My stories are different. My stories are of an absent father, and a mother who tried to support two children on a secretary's salary. Of the federal free lunch program and asking grandparents for money to get new clothes. Of going to college despite parental lack of interest and succeeding.

Writur!
I am a writer, as yet unpublished, except under a pseudonym. Ask, and I might tell you where you can find my story.

Did I add you, and you don't know me?
Don't worry; I don't bite. I probably saw a post you wrote linked on metafandom and thought it was cool. Or you're a famous person who I think writes good (though I don't *think* there are any of those over here yet.) I definitely don't expect you to subscribe back (though, of course, I don't mind if you do!)

Can I add you?
If I have an adding policy, it is this: If you want to subscribe to my journal, feel free. This is the internet, after all. If I know you or think you're interesting, I might subscribe back. I'll grant access to people I know and trust. That's one difference between here and LJ that I like a lot.