Look What Was Found in a Crawl Space (Patreon)

My very own karakasa obake. Well, my third. I have two blue ones that a cool old man gave me when I was hiking down a mountain one day. But that's another story. This one's very bug eaten and creaky, but cute! I wonder if he was the one turning on the motion sensor light in the middle of the night this past week. 

I hope so. 

Aaaaan...life went sideways again. 

Richard and I quit the English school. We had put in our notice to work through February, but Inappropriate Boss crossed the line again and really this just keeps happening. It's like he's testing to see what he can get away with. Lots of feelings. I'm not sure if anyone wants to hear about this drama. If so, I don't mind talking about it. I've been trying to do a lot behind the scenes, lots of footwork and uncomfortable conversations with social workers and police. But laws are different and cultures are different and, like I said, long story. Yeah, doing this in my own language would be hard enough...

The good news is I'm officially out of work and have lots of time to work on podcasty and Patreony things and writerly things. Also, empty and put away boxes (still). I went from feeling very unmoored for a few days to seeing some kind of shore. A not-to-distant shore where I do mostly what I long with all my heart to do: write, study, podcast, research, and write some more (and make ginger bugs and homemade ginger beer!). 

I'm working on the next podcast. It's going to be creepy-cool and a tiny bit personal experience for my birfday. 

We're also working on a recipe. Actually, we have lots of idea that you have suggested and they're all in the cue. First one might possibly be kara-age, except I did my first attempt last night (not my usual recipe, but one slightly altered after reading loads of recipes in Japanese), yeah, it almost turned out okay. Except the gas burner automatically turns off when it thinks you're cooking too hot and the oil went cool too fast and ... what's worse that soggy kara-age? Well, a lot of things. But that was pretty eyu. 

Thinking of more Behind the Curtain topics as well. Man, I love time! 

Okay. Off to collect my belongings from the school. They are graciously giving us an hour when Icky Boss won't be there, because honestly I'm a little afraid of him. He's built like a brick sh#thouse and does lots of passive aggressive crazy-like things when he's mad at me (for telling him to stop touching children), like he'll start slapping his hands together really hard and loud and suddenly and go "Mosquito! Mosquito!" ...when there are no mosquitos. 

Yup. 

I'm glad I have cool kids like you to keep me sane. 

XO,

terrie