of shopping and stories [and a mouse]

I have always had a hard time with spending money on myself. This stems from several things, one of which is the fear that I won't spend it wisely - something I'm dealing with this week. I generally don't buy clothing online because I have an obsessive need to try things on before I buy them, being of a somewhat irregular build in height and shoulder width. But I had some designated "Emily" money set aside [a practice both endorsed and enforced by my wonderful husband who I'm sure is both confused and amused at the miserly manner in which I parse these dollars out] and I found some really great deals on jeans and shirts - both of which I'm seriously in need of for the coming seasons - so I took the plunge and purchased several items. Online. Without being able to try to them on and only vague, crappy sizing charts navigated via guesswork to rely on. The purchased articles should begin arriving sometime next week and until then I am prey to the mutant love-child of anticipation and anxiety. I've changed my mind about how I would spend one million dollars. After paying off debt, putting a down-payment on a house, and throwing a big chunk in savings I would hire someone to design and create all my clothes for the rest of my life so I never have to go shopping again.

I got some super exciting news regarding one of my short stories this morning and I've been debating all day about who to share it with. I really want to talk about it here but, while I don't think talking about it would change anything, I'm feeling super superstitious so I'm going to hold my peace but know that something is coming! 'Cause, ya know, I'm only so good at not talking about something, haha. Woo-hoo! As a side-note: Impostor Syndrome is a real thing and booooy it doesn't waste any time.

 Next on the list of things I'm excited about but can't really talk about: I've gotten the list of short stories and poems that my group is in charge of editing for the spec.fic. journal I'm working with. I did a legitimate kermit-flail when I saw that we've been assigned my favorite piece from reading night. I will fight someone to edit stories like this one, especially after spending a total of eight hours wading through huge piles of sadly mediocre and downright poorly written submissions to find the ones worth publishing. I have seen the slush pile, my friends. Trust me, you do not want to end up there. [Read: get an agent not: stop writing, never write anything again ever. Please keep writing - we need your stories:)]

In parting today I would first like to apologize for the overall lack of content lately. Secondly, I would like to share this picture of a tiny mouse on a dandelion with you:

he's so tiny!

I'm pretty sure this is the most content looking animal I have ever seen and I want to know what his story is, don't you?