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August wrap-up
Okay, so.

In August, I continued working at the Franklin Teen Center, with a major twist.  As I'd feared/expected since I started helping the Youth Coordinator, Tracy, there in July, the library was unable to find a replacement for her in time for her departure, so I was left to take over and run the center in the interim.  I was happy enough to do so, even though it was much harder keeping the youth who use the room in line on my own.  So, for the past four weeks, that's what I've been doing.  It's been a lot of fun, as I've gotten to play out a fair bit of my desire to create puzzles and challenges and organize games--the part of me that wants to be a challenge designer for a reality game show got a workout these last four weeks.  The youths who use the Teen Center (mostly 10-16 years old) were treated to several movie days (after which I tried to hold discussion, with limited success), contests (two Jeopardy games, and a weekly installment of a game I invented called Simon's Revenge), several attempts at the party game Werewolf, and plenty of board games and video games, including occasional games I chose to feature, along with a few events organized by the library (workshops on making puppets and masks, for two), and the toys the center offered, many of which I brought.  The center also has five computers, a bunch of books, art supplies, and sitting space.  These were some lucky kids this summer.

I enjoyed the opportunity, but I'm glad to have it over with.  The new Youth Specialist was scheduled to begin this week, but an unexpected circumstance means she'll have to start next week, instead.  Meanwhile, starting next week, I'll be the Lead Tutor for Franklin's Homework Hub system, which means more hours than last year, and more money per hour.  Most of my extra duties are things I was doing anyway, and I'll still get to spend some time in the Teen Center.  I'll be continuing to run Simon's Revenge, or other games like it, every Thursday afternoon.  I'm excited.

On August 3rd and 4th, in accordance with the deadline I'd set myself for the writer's group meeting on the 4th, I submitted four stories to various markets.  It felt like a great triumph, since often going through the motions of a submission is harder for me than the other stages of writing.  Since then, three of them have been rejected (with notes that suggest they were near misses), and I've done basically no writing.  I let the goal of making two more submissions by the following group meeting pass by, so now I'm once again doubled down, set to make four by the next one.  Should be a piece of cake, and yet.  Blah happens.

Because my work over the summer was all on contract, I had to invoice for payment, and I'm still waiting to get paid for the first part of it.  It should arrive any day now, but may not until the 21st or so.  As a result I've had to borrow money and have been feeling squeezed...well, generally a little nervous.  Plus, I caught a cold over two weeks ago and the sniffly aspect of it is still lingering.  Bother that.

My online roleplaying has been quiet, but the main two plots I'm in have been progressing, and a couple more promising possibilities are opening up.  I also read a novel set in 1940s Nigeria called The Joys of Motherhood, which was insightful and delightfully educational.  Bee Movie was made of fale.  I'm watching Big Brother and I've started watching the new series America's Toughest Jobs.

Game parties have been pretty okay.  The online Diplomacy game I'm in continues, although two players have dropped out and several times players have missed turns.  I'm two-thirds caring now.  I went in August to the first birthday of baby Miklos, Brust grandchild, and to Matt and Emily's place for dinner, at which we used a gift box of ingredients they gave me a year and a half ago to make chai milk tea.  I did not attend any Fringe Festival shows.  I did get around to playing the second minigolf course at the Walker Art Institute, Walker on the Green, with cari_rose  and crytel , and we were delighted to get a free pass inside for filling out a little survey.  We checked out the Richard Prince et al exhibit.