Year of the Horse; February 18 2026

Happy Year of the Horse, everybody! I’m a member of the horse zodiac, so I’m hoping that’s a sign something big will happen this year. Preferably a decent book deal.

We’re not off to the strongest start, though. We’re in the midst of a sleet storm that has a good portion of the city shut down, and I’m having a wicked bad pain day. It’s lucky for me that this week is Reading Week – no university classes – and I’ve been allowed to relax these past couple of days, avoid going outside in this mess.

As important as university is to me right now, I’m also really missing writing. I’ve had a concept brewing that I’d really like to write about, and I did cave and start writing the first few pages, but the result has me wondering if I’m falling too far behind in… well, every area?

I’m not doing as well in my classes this semester, I think. It’s more of a feeling than anything, like I’m just not really grasping everything I’m meant to be, but I do know for a fact that I’m behind in my academic reading. I want to feel recharged enough to spend Thursday and Friday catching up, but as I mentioned, I also really want to write, right now.

It’s just rough. I feel a bit like I’m stagnating, even though I know that’s not true. I’m not sure what more I can do, so I may just be stuck waiting for outside factors to change.

Here’s hoping.