I'm so sorry that it has been so long since I have been here. >.<
Unfortunately, with my full-time job and my various health issues, I really haven't had much time.

For those of you who don't know, Lucretia Aleron is (one of) my pen name(s), and that blog has at least been updated more recently (though I probably shouldn't call four months ago recently).
Still, here's my life in a nut shell right now.

Health
The things I mentioned in my last post here:
~The burn has scarred over, so it's quite lovely.
~The tingling in my fingers is carpel tunnel, and it's not fun.

Now, that said, I also have some groovy neuropathic pain that makes my life tons and tons of fun, as well as arthritis, cysts on my feet, and a new issue that will be the most fun I've had without lubricant, I'm sure.

My health, though below par, is steady and I am getting back to my writings.

Fanfiction
Though my passion for my stories does not fail, it is a sad fact that I've had little time to write on these. I praise you all for your patience with me, though. 
None of my stories (in progress) are dead or stopped. I just haven't had the time to write them and post.

Original Fiction
Though I am playing around with quite a few of these, only two or three see any real progress right now and that's just sad, considering. I got my second novella rejection in late February, but it really hasn't hurt my spirits too badly, considering. I'll have to see what open calls are up today and see what else I can work toward in the hopes of being published. I'm not giving up on that.

Work
Well, I had two jobs for a while there, though I'm back down to the original one. Let me tell you, the grass is not always greener. I am currently looking for a job that involves less time on my feet, but prospects are slim.

Personal Things
I went out drinking last Friday with a few friends and it was the most fun I've had in ages. Dear Shiva, I need to do that again with them soon!
Lost my cell phone last week, so I'll have to get a new one soon. Whoever has my phone right now has been texting my sister. Keep it classy.
Got my anime fix with season one of Blood +. It might just inspire a re-write for "As You Wish". Too soon to tell, though.

Love and all those wonderful things, from your friendly neighborhood sinner!

~Sins~

I'm sorry to have been absent for so long, my dear ones. 

First off, my foot has healed up after two or three weeks of physical therapy. I had managed to strain my tendon most of the way up my calf, so it took a  bit of work.

Then, a few weeks later, I attempted to give myself a nice concussion at work. I just rang my bell pretty hard --no concussion.

This past week, I dropped a hot pan on my arm, so I have a very pretty burn that makes my life difficult.

I also have noticed some tingling, stiffness, and pain in two of my fingers. Yay.

That's the health update so far.

I've barely had time to do much more than work and sleep. We've been pretty... swamped at work recently, so I have about six hours of overtime this week assuming I go in for all my scheduled shifts and don't stay over any longer or get called in for another emergency. I'm working six days a week and there's not been much else getting done, aside from doctors' appointments, food runs, putting gas in the car... and some very rare shopping.

I have been working on an awesome present for one friend --and then promptly suffered through my own birthday. I don't know how I feel about being 22. I'll let you know in a few months, haha.

I've been rereading some of my own fictions and I'm smoking Newports in the hope it will inspire something for "You can have Chemistry in Chemistry but Please don't have Biology in Biology". So far, nothing, but I'm quite hopeful!
I've reorganized some of my papers and drafted notecards for all of my fanfictions-in-progress and ideas. It's a very full little thingy, I should caution. 

Anyway, this is your friendly neighborhood sinner signing off for now! 

Love you all, darlings!
~Sins~

My hours were up to 32 last week --so I have a pretty drastic cut this week. I'll enjoy four hour shifts again, though. It means I don't have to come home and immediately pass out, at least.

I've got a second recheck on my foot tomorrow. The stained tendons aren't healing, or I'm hurting them again. Something has to give --better pain management, more preventative measures... something! This is getting ridiculous!

Life seems to be going straight to hell right now. Call me when it's over >.<

Third chapter up for my Heroic Age piece called "Collision Course"!
The new chapter won't get posted on my ff.net until I get around to in tomorrow....

As ever,
Your most diligent sinner,
~Sins~

I believe I mentioned in my last post that I was having some trouble with my feet.

The nurse practitioner I saw got stuck on the lumps on my feet --which are ganglion cysts, by the way.
So once I got past the very-freaked-out-and-intend-to-stay-that-way portion of things, I actually got a second opinion on the problem this about a week ago.

My doctor says my pain is from my tendon. I've strained or damaged it in some fashion --which I admit makes more sense than the pain being from the cysts I've had for several years. So anti-inflammatories and recheck as needed.

So now that I'm pretty sure death isn't imminent, I'm calmer.

I tore a hole in my leg (and my favorite work pants) on a piece of rusty machinery, so I needed a tetanus booster. That was a big barrel of fun. Well, actually, the man who administered the shot did it more painlessly than I've ever experienced before, so I can't complain on that one.
Well, except for the "moderate" reaction: swelling and pain at the injection site. At least that's mostly subsided now...

I'm running here and there and everywhere, it seems. If it's not work, it's shopping or walking or laundry or chores or anything else you can imagine.

I'm always tired, no matter what I do... and it's concerning. I mean, there's a history of several conditions in my family and one of the warning signs for many of them is fatigue.

Guess a recheck for my foot will give me an oppertunity to bring it up, right?

Alright! Now, for good news:
            I've posted the third chapter for "Passionate", my Xenosaga fanfiction!

For those of you who've read it... you're probably going, Finally she gets off her lazy ass!
Especially since it was last updated over a year ago.

Whatever. You're welcome! And, as always, it's here first --it won't be on ff.net until I get around to posting it tomorrow after work.

With no further ado, I now present to you my bed time.

Your Most Diligent Sinner,
~Sins~

I've really gotten bored with the way this site has appeared for so long now...
So I decided to change a few things.

As you might have noticed, the url has not changed --only the site name and some aesthetics.

• "Praying For Love in a Lap-Dance" has be separated into readable chapters!
  

• "Moves Like Jaegerjaquez" (the sequel to "Praying For Love in A Lap-Dance") is finally available for your reading pleasure through the site.

• As is obvious, we have a brand-new theme for the site --this one is a lot more modifiable than the last few, so as a result, I may keep it a bit longer.

• The site name, which was "A Voice in the Darkness" has become "A Most Diligent Sinner". The previous title was nice enough, but I think this one has more punch. Those of you that have found me through other sites might recognize the line: I frequently use it as a sign-off line.

• Also, you guys get the brand new chapter of "Possession" 30 minutes before anyone else! Because I love you just that much ;)

I look forward to seeing all of you around!

Your most diligent sinner,
~Sins~

PS: HAPPY EASTER; ENJOY CHAPTER 6 OF POSSESSION AS WELL!

In case you hadn't realized it or I didn't make you aware (which is more likely), I am actually employed. I'm actually coming up on my second month!

Unfortunately, my computer chord shorted, the new one I ordered didn't fit, and I have to wait until my next payday to buy one. If I can shove anyone else off the desktop, I get a few moments a day. The rest I do from my phone.

I am still writing and working and drawing, but unfortunately for me, I don't have time to type and edit and post.  It makes life interesting --especially when my tratorous muses inspire me when I have no time to write or no time to share anything.

I'm getting back to one of my original pieces, a hetero called "Strings" that involves a sex-symbol musicain and a cellist. It's been rather fun to play in and write for.

I'm also reworking my pet supernatural setting and setting rules and pinning down races and things. It can be tedioius but I find it rewarding --especially when I can see how all of the stories and starts fit together.

My third major project right now is my novella, "Bibliophile". I have actually outlined my plot, written more scenes, and come to a better understanding of my characters. Connected to that story is the YA story I want to write called "Dream Guy". As I understand more about Reid and Saxon and Carson, I'm coming to understand more about Gypsy and her best friend, too...

Anyway! I wanted to let you guys know I'm not dead and I'm still working!

Latter, my doves.
~Sins~

PS: I really want to write the next chapters for a few of my fan-fics, too! We'll have to see how my muses respond to my prodding!

PSS: I bought "Whiskey & Wry" by Rhys Ford and I devoured it! If you're looking for an awesome read, give her Sinners series a shot!

So here I sit, with someone else's stuffed penguin in my lap as  try to come up with the perfect opening line for a fairytale.

Well, that's not all I'm doing, really. It's just a part of it. So what in the heck am I talking about?

I'm getting to that!

I know that the title is somewhat cliche-tastic, but I can be a bit corny at times.
All bad holiday puns aside...


My family always takes time to count our blessings this time of year, and I hope you guys do too! We often forget the many good things we have had throughout the year...

Well, I haven't been on here in a while, I guess?

So, in case anyone cares, I've been working on some things!

• My out-of-season Valentine's fic!
  It's called "I Hate Valentine's Day" and it is actually based on two pieces of art --this piece written by ShadowHaloedAngel and this piece written by Phoneix-Faerie
  I believe I told Phoneix-Faerie that I wanted to write a piece to go with the set around... two years ago? (I don't think I ever mentioned it to ShadowHaloedAngel at all >.< ) Anyway, I've finally actually worked on it. So far, what I have done is posted on ff.net (here!), but when it is complete, I will post it here, as well!
  If you choose to read it, please read the others first (reading order is the order their linked to above), but also note that I sort of... started in an odd place? It makes sense, but it's not quite where I would have predicted starting it, myself...
  
  
• My first hetero story in... God, let's not even go there, 'kay?
  It's looking to turn into a bit of a thriller or a zombie tale. I'm not sure yet, haha.
  It's been a bit since I've really developed a new setting (I got so stuck in Mystic and RFed.) that it's being a bit of a challenge...
  
  
• What might (hopefully) be my first published m/m romance?
  So far, it's gone through two names already. Most recently, I've settled on "Music of Our Own".
  One of the publishers I stalk follow is having open submissions for an anthology, and this story should fit the criteria, since I really doubt I'll go over 12,000 words... Of course, then it has to impress the editor in charge of the project, but hopefully I'll finish with enough time to work out all the kinks.
  I intend to work with a different pen-name than I normally do, but that might change along the way... I'll let y'all know?
  
  
• My reading list?
  There's... oh, 10 library books lost in my room (not really lost, lol). I'm working through them slowly, since I really want to work on other things... Still, I can't not finish "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint Exupery!
  The novels are definitely on hold, but I also can't ignore the draw of "Tao Te Ching" (translated by Sam Hamill) because only a poet can leave the mystery in the mystics...
  And there's the book of poetry... I'm almost done with that one, at least!
  My book on writing... probably should finish reading it before I finish a piece I hope to publish, huh...?
  And my reference books... well, they're eclectic but appropriate in their own way!
  
  
• My challenge!
  Well, the compositions for it? It'll be a bit before you actually see another from me, I'm afraid everything is pushing my work on that aside for now...
  

It's actually the most recent in a streak of computer troubles.

I actually lost everything, aside from what I could download from the interwebs not more than two weeks ago...'

I had to install a new OS --then reinstall it at least twice more.

Still, computer trouble can't keep me down long before I get inventive and make the damn thing work!

Speaking of which, I got another issue that I'm going to have to fix before it drives me insane >.<