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Puzzle-Piece Furniture

Well, I'm still insanely and upsettingly exhausted. I have a feeling that isn't going to change for a while.
Yesterday morning I was up--I kid you not--at two. In the morning. Twointhemorning.
And I didn't go back to sleep.
My lovely friend had emailed me the formatted version of The Skeleton Friend, so early yesterday morning, I put it up on Amazon. And that was it. It was official. I wrote a book, and now you can buy it and read it and it's a real thing. It's something I actually did. Not just something I would talk about doing for years, not just something I would dream about at night while I waited for sleep--nope; it's a real goddamn thing. A real thing that I did. I just--honestly, I cannot. I cannot believe it. I wrote a book. And you can go read the book I wrote! 
It's so crazy. I don't even know what to say about it, anymore. It's just fucking crazy.
So, yesterday I was up well before the crack of dawn. I took Zoscha to the dog park as early as I could, coffee in tow, and we played for a good, long while under the fall of a light, sprinkling rain. I really love playing with the dog in the rain. There is something insanely captivating about hot, steamy breath billowing out into the cool air, getting chopped up by the falling rain. I was definitely made for the Pacific Northwest.
After the park, I went to Ikea for the first time ever. I've purchased items from there before, but never lived in a city where one was so easily accessible, so I always had to have my puzzle-piece furniture delivered. Not yesterday! Yesterday, I experienced Ikea. And almost killed myself trying to finagle the box onto the flat cart all by myself. I managed it, but I'm honestly surprised I didn't bloody my nose or black an eye. I bought a desk! I needed one; I haven't had one in a year! I know, a writer without a desk. Up until yesterday, I did all of my writing at coffee shops and diners, but no more! Now I can write from the comfort of my own home with my dog at my feet and as much coffee as I can make.
Speaking of coffee--to ensure that I can never leave home again, I bought myself an espresso machine with my tax return. I will literally spend the rest of existence in my house.
So, I set everything up. I have boxes for receipts and plenty of space to work from home. And, the best part is, since I did all of this to set up a home office, I think I can write all of that off for my taxes next year. Or, at least, a portion. That will be helpful because next year will be the first year I will file as self-employed along with my W2 job. Meaning, next year's taxes are going to be a bitch. I have, up until this tax year, had a fairly easy time with my taxes. Yet again, I say, "no more!"
So many changes. So little sleep.
But, all of it is well worth it. I have three goals for this year:
- Write Book Two: The Skeleton Girls
- Publish a short story a month on Kindle and submit others to magazines.
- Save enough to live for a whole year, so that I can take some time off and really focus on being a writer next year. (If it doesn't work out--Mom--I can always go back to scrubbing. But, I will tell you, my motivation to do this is skyrocketing. I am just, honestly, made for this and not for standing in an OR for twelve hours on my feet watching other people do surgery and handing them instruments every now and then. I am not saying what I do isn't important, because it is very important and very necessary. What I am saying is, I am bored and feeling little passion for the OR these days. I am a writer, I always have been, it's just taken me a while to remember that.)
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