... almost there...

I have an Estore, a list price and an ISBN. What I'm missing is a website and a book that's actually for sale. But it's almost there. Almost.

I am so excited. I'm trying not to let myself get too much more excited, because that way leads to severe disapointment, if things, for some reason, don't pan out.

I need a credit card so I can order my proof copy. That's my goal for the end of this weekend, actually, but the sooner, the better.

I think that's it for Aigaion news. Now onto some other news, before I have to run for lunch...

MY COUSIN IS IN LABOUR! She's five weeks early, and I know so little about babies that I'm not sure how big of a deal this is... but I have heard of babies being born two or three months premature and doing just fine. Still no word yet on whether it's a boy or a girl. I'm just going to recheck facebook now, and see if there's any more news.

White

A white poppy means peace.

So white is like our hands:

Unsoiled by the war we never had to fight.

And a flower’s always peaceful.

Peaceful like the dead.

The friend I didn’t bury,

The foe I didn’t kill,

And all those people I didn’t watch die.

But peace is not for the dead alone;

We live in peace, we breathe it.

I like my poppies red,

Like the blood I’ve never had to spill

Randomness

I am so sleepy. I'm not sure why, but I am.

In news: My roommate, Jazz, who has become my good friend, has gone back home to Ontario. I now have a room to myself (which everyone keeps pointing out in an effort to cheer me up), but I'd rather have Jazz back. Also, my friend Rolly left yesterday. This place is becoming depressing. I'm trying not to even think about Christmas.

I finally submitted Aigaion Girl for publication. I have to wait a couple of days for them to make sure my files are all good, then I can order my proof copy and then, then, it will be for sale on Amazon, and I'll be a happy camper. Now I just need a bloody website.

Oh, while I'm not thinking about Christmas, I'm almost done writing my Christmas cards. I even got Christmas stamps, with sparkly little trees on them. The guy at the post office gave me a dirty look when I asked for two packs of xmas trees instead of one pack of trees and one Virgin Mary. Seriously, butt out, post office man. Besides, the trees match my envelopes. Also, I bought gift tags, which I have to write out and mail home for the presents that are already there.

I think that's it. Winter here set in around Halloween (I made a snowman named Frankensnow. I'll put up pictures when the Interweb isn't ass) and has not gone anywhere since. I almost want to go tobogganing, but not really.

Oh, that does remind me of one more thing, actually - my shopping trip. I bought really nice winter boots that are good up to -45, some crocs with furry lining (I know: barf!) to wear in the kitchen, the aforementioned Christmas tags, a case of Dr. Pepper and a copy of The Rock, which I've been trying to find on DVD for my brother for probably close to 10 years, and I managed to pick up in a grocery store in the middle of bloddy nowhere. Ugh.

Now that's it. Exciting stuff, I know.

Aigaion, Yet Again

Well, and other stuff too.

I've been going through the final (gruelling) edits of Aigaion Girl for the past couple days. I've also been laying it out as I go so that I don't still have a ridiculous amount of layout work to contend with after I finish edits. Other than the fact that I've become (even more of) an antisocial hermit who has trouble remembering to eat and bathe, I'm having a fair bit of fun.

Mephie is being held together with tape and love, but he's doing very well and I'm proud of him.

I really like the way this book is looking. Really a lot. It manages to look cute but not girly, modern but not unprofessional. I'm quite pleased with myself - and, since I ate my dinner again tonight and am about to shower, I get a gold star.

In other news, my sister had some headshots taken to give to her modelling agency. They're pretty darn good, though I have no idea if they're what the agency is looking for or not. I guess we'll find out. I'm actually thinking that I might (after making use of the gym here for the months between now and May) go to the same agency and see if they've got anything for me. It couldn't hurt, and anyway, then I'd have an excuse to get a bunch of professional pictures taken and not seem totally vain ;)

What else? I'm no longer a housekeeper. There's a whole story there which I won't get into. I now work in the kitchen (well, the hotel is shut down at the moment, which is where I got the time to do the extreme amount of editing I've been doing) as a dishwasher. The su chef is really nice, as is the head chef, so apart from dirty looks from the randomly angry australian chef, I think everything is going to work out fine.

Um, I have a cousin who has H1N1. I guess it's making its rounds. Scary stuff.

Canada's Economic Action Plan is an effing joke.

I think that's close to it. I really need to shower, so I can get up early(ish) tomorrow and get to work.

Some Stuffs

#1: My computer is temporarily fixed! Not that many people knew it was broken, of course, because I couldn't get online to tell anyone I couldn't get online. Ronnie, who is one of my supervisors at work, took it the night before yesterday, and brought it to me last night, having fixed it with duct tape. He is officially my hero.

#2: Because Mephie was on the fritz, my edits on Aigaion Girl had pretty much come to a standstill. I had the day off work today, so I decided to spend some time editing. I was sad for a while, because I'd forgotten my computer was fixed, but then I remembered that it was, and I just finished going back through A/G and changing all of the Canadian spellings to American (the main character is from Philly; I thought it would be weird if she spelled colour c-o-l-o-u-r). Now I'm checking grammatical things and then I think (*knock on wood*) I shall be done (*knock on wood again*).

#3: Room inspection again today. I think we did fine. Whatever.

#4: My computer, my MP3 player and my camera all broke last week. So far, just Mephistopheles has been fixed. The camera is dead for sure, but I'm not sure about my MP3. I was thinking about climbing Burges this week, but I'm definitely not going to without my camera; it would be far too depressing.

#5: I sent a lot of letters home the day before yesterday. I got a post card from my brother and sister-in-law, and it got me in a writing mood. I'm looking forward to sending Christmas cards this year, because there's actually a slight chance I'll get some back.

That's the update for now.

Ugh, but also not Ugh

Updates:

Life in BC is... interesting. My job is a job; it has its pros and cons, like every other. Of course, one of the big pros is location. I can't promise a picture (one of the cons is the craptastic internet access), but it is absolutely beautiful here. Burges, the mountain that I look at every morning when I leave for work, is ginormous and very, very pretty. I looooves it.

I forgot what else I was going to say.

Oh. Right. Aigaion Girl. Edits are coming along nicely. I should be working on them tonight, but I'm sleepy (I had a seizure in my sleep) and there's a birthday party in res tonight, which I guess I'm going to for a bit.

There's probably more, but I'm sooo sleepy. And I miss Clayton.

This Cheers Me Up

Ha ha! On a whim I decided to check my fictionpress traffic. I haven't posted anything since I finished Aigaion Girl, so I was expecting my numbers to be kind of cruddy, but they were actually okay - and I got a new country.

Slovakia is a middle-European country that has been around for ages. It became independent for the second time in 1993 and is doing quite well for itself.

I've got a million to do today, or I would write more. This place does look very interesting. More to follow, eventually.

I Got a Job!

I move to B.C. on Friday.

Royal LePage

Ookie.

So.

Editing. It's coming. It's slow, but it's coming. I'm working of WiliamGodwinizing Moloch, which is taking some doing, but I think is turning out fairly well. I'm almost 45% of the way through editing Moloch. Then I just have... well, every single other character... but I don't think they'll be anywhere near as hard to do, in some ways. I thought Moloch would be the easiest, initially, because I'm changing the way he speaks, not the way he thinks... but changing the way he speaks actually is harder, I think, because I have to do it pretty much one word at a time. Anyway, there's nothing much wrong with the way everyone else thinks, except that their thought processes are too similar, apparently. So I just have to clean that up. I want to be done by the end of the month 'cause I want August to be left for actual content. I think that's realistic. I'm buying myself a copy of this book for my birthday. I don't even care.

Also, I'm pretty much done the cover art. I might rewrite the synopsis, and I'm hoping to find an impartial reviewer, so I can have a quote on the back from someone who's not among my fictionpress readers, just to lend a little more credibility to the thing. Anyway, I'm fairly psyched.

What else. I nearly punched my brother in the head last night because he called me the C word. I showed remarkable restraint, and am kind of wishing I hadn't.

Now, as promised, some reviewiness.
I read Jingo after The Fifth Elephant because I liked the synopsis for Elephant better, but since they're both Terry Pratchett books, they were both amazing, and I probably should have read them in order, just because.

Anyway, Jingo was, as is to be expected, pretty amazing. It had a lot of Vimes, a lot of Carrot and a lot of Vetinary, and you can't go wrong with the three of them. It's a blatant attack of racisim and its causes, as well as media spin and almost everything that's wrong with the modern world, while at the same time, managing to make it acceptable to notice and discuss the differences of various cultures.

Seriously, if you don't read Pratchett, start now. Start yesterday. He's managed to surpass Heinlein as my favourite author, and Good Omens, his colaberation with Neil Gaiman, has almost usurped the throne of my number one favourite (still, barely, Pride and Prejudice). He's beyond amazing.

I've mentioned before that I'm a bigger fan of Pratchett's newer stuff, and Equal Rites is only his third novel. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed it. It was printed in 1987 and has a lot to do with women's rights and other social issues but, as is always the case with Pratchett, the issues are adressed sideways, so you're paying attention to the story, not the message behind it.

The story follows Esk, a young girl, on her journey to become the first female wizard. Wizards in Pratchett's universe are not only chauvanists, but misogynists as well... and everybody, it seems, is of the opinion that there is men's work and women's work, except, of course, Esk, who is too young to understand why this would be the case, and spends a large portion of the book asking really inconvenient questions like, "Why?"

Another good one, anyway. I'm not as huge a fan of Granny Weatherwax and the Ramtops as I am of Vimes and Anhk Morpork, but there you go. Can't have everything, and this was a nice diversion from the big city.

And now... I'm out of Pratchett!!!!! :( Most of the stuff in the house was my sister's and is now packed away in storage or at her boyfriend's house; everything that is still in the house, I've read. I suppose I could reread it, but I want something new. I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out of Pratchett for real... I think I'll just die.

Well, this has been fun, but I suppose I should get back to editing now. I have to clean the kitchen tonight, work out, edit some more and pack up for tomorrow, for I'm off to spend the week with my friend Sarah, which should be super fun.

General Smith Allen

You know what? I think from now on it's safe to assume I don't have a job, because when I do have a job, I'll likely have a huge post about how amazing it is to be employed (and how I'm okay with turning 35).

In the meantime.

I'm starting to freak out about Aigaion Girl. I just realized that I have a month and a half to finish editing it if I want it to be ready for the fall, and I really, really want it to be ready for the fall. Like, a lot. So much so that I actually misused 'like' in writing and am not going back to fix it. A. Lot. As well as editing it, I have to format it, design a cover for it and convert it into PDF. Okay, so the last part will take two seconds, but the formatting is likely to take approximately forever, and I'm scared that I'll screw it up somehow. For right now, the big thing is editing. I'm almost done editing one of my main characters. I have two and a half more main, three secondary and one background character to edit (it's written from the individual perspectives of a bunch of people), which I really want to get done by the end of this month, because then the actual story-edits start. Yeah, I'm freaking out just a tiny bit.

Also, I've noticed that when I'm... oh, how to put this delicately... when I'm being visited by my least-favourite aunt, I find that I'm more forgiving of asshole men who do not, under any circumstances, deserve anything from me, much less my forgiveness. I get all soft and feminine, and I think things that are absolutely ridiculous, like that said men might have a snowball's chance in Hell of ever winning back my affection. Obviously, this is beyond insane, and I put it down to hormones, because really. I mean, come on.

My back is killing me. I hate this desk.

I have no idea who General Smith Allen is, if indeed he is anybody. I typed in the word general, and the Smith Allen just flowed along after it. Whatever. I do the same thing when I draw. Every couple of pages in all of my sketch books is a drawing surrounded by weird little things I don't remember writing. An alarming number of them say things like: I hate my life and kill me, but a lot of them just say things that are completely and totally messed up and make absolutely no sense. A couple of them are scrawled sideways as if I had my eyes closed at the time, and warn about the perrils of trying to write in your sleep.

Anywho.

I miss people. I miss Claytron and I miss Morgan and I miss Dr. Allard who taught my Romanticism class, and Mr. Root, who taught Writer's Craft.

I think I should go. This is starting to read like I'm drunk and I'm not. Next up, reviews of whatever Terry Pratchett books I've read since my last review. Jingo and Equal Rites and probably one other one, but I can't recall for sure.

More About Jobs

Still haven't found one. Ugh.

I did apply for one today, though, at what looks like one of the best places in the world to work... or at least, one of the prettiest.


Well, technically, several of the prettiest. I applied for a position in housekeeping, but didn't specify which resort I wanted to work at, because I can't really afford to be picky. I want to work at the one here^ because, apart from the fact that it's absolutely gorgeous, I've had a dream about it. I know, somewhere is my dream journal and in it is the description of this place. I shall have to dig that up, because that's kinda cool.

It seems like everyone is looking for a job right now, which I guess is why there are so few. It's not like I'm being picky. There are some places I can't work (ie icecream shops), and a very few places I won't (there's a factory hiring in town... I tried to break the foreman's wrist some years back. Long story), but by and large, I'll work anywhere but nowhere wants to hire me.

But I did read an article that said a lot of places out west are hard up for employees, so that's where I'll look, I guess. I haven't checked the job bank for local jobs yet today... I guess I'll do that now, and see how that goes. Then, possibly, I will sleep for four hundred years. I have been so tired lately.

La, la, la

I totally forget what I was going to blog about.
Oh, right.

I´m done editing that one character, at least until I´ve edited the others, at which point I will likely start the process over again. So far I´m fairly happy with how it´s going. I´m staying at my brother´s place and going to the beach tomorrow, so I didn´t bring my laptop with me, which means I´m going just a little bit crazy, but that´s okay.

No job yet, but that´s not much of a surprise. I didn´t check the job bank today because my resume is on Mephistopheles and I can´t really do anything from hear anyway.

Also, I finished reading The Fifth Elephant, yet another of Terry Pratchett´s works of unadulterated brilliance. I love the Discworld books with Vimes in them; he is one of my absolute favourites. He and Vetinari and Detritus are all pretty well tied, and they´re all in this one, which is great. And Carrot. I love Captain Carrot. I´ll probably be reading Jingo as soon as I get home.

I want my story to be published now. I want people reading it now. I know I´ll have readers, when I do get it published. I know people will buy it - I just wish they were buying it right now, this second, no waiting. Ah well. You can´t always get what you want.

There was something else. Oh, BEACH. We were supposed to be doing other stuff this weekend, including camping, but alas, that fell through. So now we´re spending tomorrow at the beach, which will rock, but isn´t quite camping. I wish there was somewhere we could stop on the way and pick up a set of Morning Play. Morning Play is just amazing.

There was one other thing. Right. Party. I´m sort of ambivalent about going. For reasons that don´t really warrant blogging about, I´m sort of afraid it´s going to be horribly, horribly awkward. Maybe it won´t. Maybe everything will go swimingly... and anyway, I´ve gone to every single one of these things for six years; I´m not going to suddenly stop because of the potential for awkwardness... God knows if that would have stopped me from doing anything, it certainly wouldn´t be a worry now.

I think that covers the update of my life. It´s amazing to me how with no job, hardly any friends that I see regularly and next to nothing going on in my life, I manage to find so much to blog about. It´s a gift, really. I ought to be going now, I suppose. I want to head to the nearby convenience store and see if they have... I have no idea. I don´t really want anything, to be honest. I just feel like spending money and eating, because they seem like the things to do.

Okay, seriously, I need to stop writing this now. Apart from the fact that I´m not conveying any useful information, I´m probably scaring the Hell out of anyone who´s read this far. Sorry, gentle reader. See you soon for another update on my bizzare life.

PS, the Post Secrets from last Sunday were pretty good. I´m looking forward to Sunday´s, thatś for sure.

Gimmie a break, gimmie a break, break my off a piece of that KIT-KAT BAR

I've been editing today, and now I feel like taking a break. I'm about 4/5ths of the way through my second editing of one of the characters from Aigaion. It's written in first person from the perspectives of a bunch of characters, so I'm editing one character at a time, so I can stick to one voice. So far, I think it's working pretty well.

I'm having fun with him, because I get to use a thesaurus pretty well constantly, to maintain his weird, old-fashioned, slightly backward way of talking. I love using big, random words that no one has ever heard of and not having it feel unnatural or pretentious, because it fits the story.

This is one of my main characters, and I feel like he needs more page-time, but I don't think he's going to get it. The story could stand to be fleshed out a little bit, but the fleshing out is more in information than events, so it's only going to happen where I can slip it in unnoticed.

Agg, I am SO sleepy. I did get to work out today ♥, so I'm in a fairly good mood.

Hopefully, I'll get my stuff out of random dude's* barn soon, so I'll actually have summer clothes, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to wear my green sundress to Conor's party. Conor is a friend of my brother's who's lived across the street since before we lived in our house, his party is an anual BBQ that I've attended every year for six years, and my green sundress is one that I've owned since I was 12 and almost fit in again. Just to clear that all up.

I have to go home soon and clean the kitchen, but I'm trying not to let that bum me out. Plus, I'm super damn hungry, but hopefully, I can make/ buy something within the next hour or so.

I think that covers everything. I don't really feel like finishing this editing right now, so I guess I'll leave it for tomorrow (or later tonight?). I have to buy some sort of folder to keep all this stuff straight in.

Damn it; now I want a Kit-Kat

*Random dude is the son of a man who was friends with my grandfather, as well as the neighbourhood dowser and the person everyone in the area went to if they wanted a good deal on kitchen appliances. He was cool. I've never met Random Dude.

... and now for some whining

Whoever called yesterday about the job (I may not have mentioned this. They called the office and refused to leave a message) never called back... probably they found someone else.

Also, I can't apply for EI, because I wasn't actually having it deducted for my last job. Technically, I was a private contractor. You would think that I would have been making a lot more money if I didn't have any deductions, but I guess not.

I was supposed to do 'a couple of hours' of work today. I agreed because I'm desperate for the money.. but it ended up being four hours and now it's too dark to work out. This makes either four or five days in a row that I haven't worked out, due to random events.

I want hot water. I want my cell phone back. I want my apartment back. I want my life back. This sucks complete ass, and is, as ever, a result of me not following my gut instinct, way the hell back in October, when I should have said to hell with it and gotten another easy, meaningless job.

I told you this was going to be a whiney post.

EI

Ugh. It looks like I might have to file for employment insurance. I don't really see a way around it, if I can't find a job, and I have been looking. My brother, who quit is job and started looking after me found a job, one I can't work at, but still, you'd think I'd have found something by now. There are a lot of temp agencies in this city, and along with everywhere else, I've sent applications to them, too.

Apparently, there was one phone call for me at the office yesterday, but the caller refused to leave a message, so I have no idea whether it was to do with a job or not.

On the bright side, if I get EI, Murphy's law dictates that I will find a job right after I get my first cheque, but the paper work of cancelling will take too long, I'll get another cheque, and wind up being charged with fraud--but I will have found another job, and that will definitely be a plus.

I seriously didn't think it would come to this, but I guess it has. Oh well, at least I'm not living off the food bank... yet.

Rain, Rain

It's pouring out. Today was supposed to be my run-around-the-city-and-hand-out-resumes day, but instead it turned into my sit-in-my-house-and-finish-my-book day, which was a lot more fun, even if not so productive.

I just finished another one of Terry Pratchett's books, Monstrous Regiment. It may just be my favourite one of his books to date... maybe.

It follows Polly Perks on her journey through the army, which, of course, starts with her cutting off her hair, disguising herself as a man and joining up. I don't want to say more than that, 'cause I don't want to give it away, but it has everything you'd expect from one of Pratchett's novels: humour, hilarity and an uncompromising view of humanity.

Also, it means I'm up to three books this year, all of them Pratchett's.

In other news, I started something new. It began as a stray thought, which I planned on turning into a short story for Devereaux Court, and turned into a scene which I plan to be the opening for my next novel. The other things I'd started will likely have to wait, because this really does feel like my next big project. Of course, I'm going to spend the next two months editing Aigaion Gir, so I probably won't have much time for writing, but you never know. I can write down bits and pieces, and maybe a novel will be born.

I'm kind of bummed now, because I have nothing to read and sort-of nothing to write. Also, there were next to no new jobs on the job bank site, and the only one I was even remotely qualified for was at a place that I've already worked, where I'd really rather not work again, and where they're not terribly likely to want to hire me, if I'm honest.

Ah well. Not much to do for the moment, I guess. Laundry and stuff, but not much that will help me advance in the grand scheme of things, anyway. I guess that's it. Go read Monstrous Regiment, if you haven't already.

Celeron M

Sometimes, when I can't think of a title for my blog posts, I just pick something out of the room at random.

Okay, so first: Books.
I am very sorry (and a little bit horrified) to say that I've only read two books this year. That's right, two. The year is half-over and I've only read two books. And I read them in about three weeks.

Book #1 was Terry Pratchett's Nation, which his only non-Discworld book I've read (I'm not counting Good Omens, 'cause that was a collaborative effort with Neil Gaiman). It's absolutely amazing.

It's darker than most of his Discworld stuff, but I think that's because it's new, and Pratchett's work seems to get progressively darker - which is fine, because I've always loved that kind of unabashed cynicism. I think that's what drew me to him in the first place. I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'm not going to tell you what it's about, except that it's kind of about the end of the world, at least, the end of a world, which for the people living there is the same thing.

Book #2 was another Pratchett masterpiece, a much earlier Discworld book called Reaper Man. That copy has been in my family's house for years, and for years I didn't read it because I was terrified of the picture of Death on the front (not the same cover art as shown right - I couldn't find a picture of the book jacket ours used to have). When I was maybe 11, I tried to read The Colour of Magic and couldn't finish it, and then didn't read any Pratchett for ages. Reaper Man is pretty amazing, but I have to say that in parts, it seemed like Pratchett forgot his readers weren't in his head with him, so I found some parts confusing.

Mainly, I loved the story of Death essentially being fired, and going to live and work on a farm. It was all good, but that particular thread was just too amazing, and I found myself constantly wanting to run and give him a hug.

As with every other Terry Pratchett book I've read, I'd heartily recomend it to anyone who wants something funny, thoughful, thought-provoking and generally amazing to read.

Second: I still have no job. It's not that I haven't been applying, because I have. Maybe my applying hasn't been as rigorous as it could be - I've spent most of every day for the past few months writing my book (now finished!!!!!), working out and drinking tea. It may seem like wasting time, I guess, but c'mon - I wrote a bloody book and dropped at least two sizes. That has to count for something.

But still, I think the main problem is that there just aren't that many jobs available. I mean, if I had a car or a college and/or university education, there are plenty of jobs I could get... but no one seems to even be looking for people, and if they are, they want educated people. Why you need college-trained secretaries and forklift operators, I'll never know.

I think that's it. Edits on Aigaion Girl aren't going to start until July, 'cause I'm giving my brain some away-time from that story for the moment, as hard as that is. I feel like I should be writing but I went through all 26 of my pending stories the other day and I couldn't find anything that I felt like writing at the moment. Maybe I'll start something new.

Right now I'm off to go back through the job bank and see what's available. Monday, I'll have to plaster the city with resumes - which would be a lot easier to do if all of my summer clothes (and nice shoes) weren't sitting in some guys barn - another long story. Yes, I know I look like a hobo and I know I'm wearing flipflops/my youngest brother's handmedown running shoes, but seriously, take my resume, then call me at my mom's office, 'cause the home phone's been cut off and I can't get my cell phone hooked up until I get paid for work I did in January... Hire me.
Somehow, I don't see that working as well as I need it to.

Ah well. I'm grumbling again, and I really didn't mean this to be a grumbly post. But seriously, I should never have stayed in town for the summer. I should have just said screw it, despite the serious lack of job and money, and just gone wandering in May like I planned to. Ugh.

XD

I never see that as a face. As I mentioned on Devereaux Court, I always just see an X and a D, and in my mind it's a short form for eXciteD. Kind of like how I look at the big E of the Internet Explorer button, and think of it as the Everyone button... because the Internet connects you to everyone.

The reason I'm so eXciteD is simple: I finished my book. I had a very fun day today, the majority of which was spent floating down the river on a hot pink air mattress. I came home, had a two-hour nap, then got up and started writing... and continued writing for nearly four hours, at the end of which, I'd finished Aigaion Girl.

I'll post it on FictionPress tomorrow. Right now, I'm just going to enjoy the happiness that is going to sleep, because two hours is not enough to make up for being woken up by the police hammering on your door (a long story, which I'm graciously making interesting by the omission of any of the pertinant details), plus two or three hours of walking, plus four hours of writing. I is sleepified.

:P

I still have no job. That kind of sucks.

I still haven't finished the last chapter of Aigaion Girl. That really sucks.

I know, I'm whining. I really shouldn't be, but I'm just so... stuck. Not just stuck with my writing, but stuck with everything. I'm in the uber-rutt. The uber-rutt of life.

Okay, so the picture has nothing to do with anything, well, kinda. It's Apple from Aigaion Girl, but it really doesn't have to do with the rutt... but I felt like I could use a picture, so I picked one at random.

Ummm... yeah, I don't know what else. Jammy has moved to Nova Scotia for the summer, which leaves me all alone in b dot. Well, not alone, actually, but close to. The number of friends I see on a regular basis is definitely dwindling. I think I spelled that wrong, but what can you do?

I'm rambling, so I think I'm going to end this post here. I have to work out tonight, and hopefully I'll actually get some writing done tonight... le ugh.

Skipping

I got fired from my non-paying job. I have special talents.

Also, yesterday I got some money that the company owes me for work I did in January, so I was able to buy flip-flops (no more ugly-ass handmedown running shoes for me) and a shirt that I'd wanted forever that was finally on sale and a Bowie shirt, which is cool, even though it's a Diamond Dogs shirt, 'cause it doesn't say Diamond Dogs anywhere on it.

I also bought a skipping rope because I read that doing three minutes of intense cardio before working out helps you burn fat. It kind of sucks, because I can't actually skip. When I was in Brownies, kids made fun of me for not being able to skip. I don't know, I guess I just thought I'd be able to do it now or something.

I think that's it. I'm super tired now. I kinda want to go eat a chocolate bar and have a nap, but I think that might defeat the purpose of my crazy workoutness.

Stuff

I saw (the?) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past today. It was cute, in a I'm-glad-I-didn't-pay-to-see-it kind of way. It was basically like all other goofy romantic comedies. I'm still not sure why it came out in the summer, though, 'cause it was clearly designed to be a Christmas movie.

I also saw Juno for the first time tonight. It's pretty cool. I have new respect for Jason Bateman's acting abilities. The man has mad skills.

I'm up to 52000+ words in Aigaion Girl, which is pretty sweet, but the last chapter is coming sloooooooooowly. I may have grandchildren by the time I'm done.

Also, because I'm a retard, I started something new. Well, I started it a while ago, but before I only had characters, and now I actually have the almost-starting of a plot. Go me.

I think that's it. My weekend wraps up tomorrow, which is sad, but it's been a good weekend, and I'm looking forward to getting back to my daily workouts and... well, nothing else, really, but I miss my puppy.

Stuck

Ugh. I'm 50,874 words into what I'm fairly certain is the longest (possibly the second-longest?) book I've ever written, I'm writing the last chapter and I'm stuck. I was on a bit of a roll earlier tonight, but I'm staying with my brother and his girlfriend for the weekend, so it would be kind of rude to say, "yeah, have friends over. I'll sit in the kitchen like a hermit and ignore you all", so I stopped writing. I'm kind of wishing I hadn't.

I just don't know what to do. I have no idea how to get myself unstuck, but I really, really have to. I haven't posted a new chapter in too long, and that's counting the chapter from Death's perspective,which, really, isn't necessary for the advancement of the story at all. Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I wonder if my brother will mind if I watch an episode of friends. Then, perhaps, I'll be able to get my mind in gear. Ugh.

Yawn, Stretch... SLEEP

Let me see.

Worked out with Rhiannon yesterday, and took Loki for his long walk. Oh, that was the other thing I did...

I finished the thing I was working on for my cousin. The thing that REALLY NEEDED TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY... the thing that was the cause for a 45+ minute conference call, during which website guy interrupted every possible chance he got, with something irrelevant to what we were working on, or something we were going to be discussing later. I finished that yesterday. It looks really good (if I do say so myself). I emailed it to my cousin and website guy at 4:30, half an hour before I said it would be done. I still haven't heard anything back from either of them, or gotten any indication that they even received it.

Also, last night, while Rhiannon and I were *finally* making the pie we've been planning to get to all week, I bit my tongue. Really, bloody hard. I couldn't talk for a huge chunk of the night. I can talk now, but it hurts like hell, and I kind of sound like a semi-deaf person who can lip read but isn't sure how English words are supposed to sound.

Today we went to take pictures of our work out path, so we could put them in our little work out books, and record what we've been doing. I'm sorely tempted to put my before and current (not quite after) pictures up on here, but I won't, because I'm only wearing underclothes in them and somehow, the idea of putting half-naked pictures of myself on the Internet doesn't really seem like the best on ever. I do look damn good, though, and it is a big change.

I worked a lot of Aigaion Girl today, too. I wrote a chapterette from the perspective of Death, which went over fairly well, and now I'm 730 odd words into the final chapter. I really wish I just had the energy to sit down and finish it.

I suppose I should run. I had pizza at sevenish, but I'm pretty hungry and I could use something cold and fizzy for my poor punctured tongue. Since no interwebz at home, I'll have to actually shut my lappy down to do that.

So here I go. Wish me luck.

50,000 words!

I made it to 50,000 words!!!!!! Of course, I didn't do it in a month, like you're supposed to for NaNoWriMo, but I did it. 50,000. Eat it, naysayers.

HOUSE

Oh my effing god! I just watched the season finale. HOLY HELL, IT WAS AMAZING. I wanna watch season six now. Now, now, now, now, now! EEEEEEEEk!

House

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^_^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:{D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!XDXDXDXDXD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huddy ftw!

Mmm, River

First, Spooey came back last night! She's been gone for a couple of weeks, so I've been working out with my dad or (far more often) alone. I had planned on going to bed early, but I stayed up until 3:00ish talking with her, then Vic. made it home, right after I climbed into bed.

Last night I did go to the casino with my mum. I started with $10, went up to $33, got greedy and kept playing, and ended up with $23. Still a win. We're going back tonight, because my mum didn't know how to work the slot machines properly, so she was only betting on one line last night, so she lost by a lot. Anyway, it was fun, which is the important thing.

Today Spooey and I got up late and went to work out. Since it was later than usual, it was hotter than usual, and I said something about how I wanted to swim in the river, and she said her bathing suit was at home - and the next thing we knew, we were planning a swimming trip to the river, which we went on as soon as we were done working out. Our lame younger siblings wouldn't come with us, because the idea of swimming in the river was just too gross for them, despite the fact that that's where everyone in the city gets their drinking water.

At some point, we decided to swim across the river (it's a big effing river), and part way out we realized that there was nothing under us except for spongey green algie stuff, which smelled gross if you touched it, so we had to keep swimming all the way across without stopping. By the time we got to the other side, I was laughing so hard that I had started to drool. It was hot.

Now I am so effing hungry I could die. I might, actually, if I don't get some food in me. I have to get cleaned up anyway (I still smell a little like river), and clean the kitchen (which there will be a rant about soon, no doubt), so I suppose I could eat somewhere in there as well. Mmm, eating.

Okay, I think that's it.

Motivational Ruffles, and All That's In Between

'Evening, Blogees.

I came into the office today to work on the identity guide for my cousin's business (I'm on my laptop, as my work station still has no Internet). Since I last mentioned said business, the logo has been redesigned by the website guy, aka, the bane of my existence. He's not really the bane of my existence; he's just a guy who went to college and assumes that this means he knows more about everything than us sad, uneducated people, who got our experience by designing magazine ads. At my cousin's request, I emailed him with what I have done so far for the identity guide (which he insists is absolutely vital), and asked if there was anything I needed to add before converting my svgs into one pdf. He responded with a fairly rude email, saying I had disregarded his instructions, and that a whole bunch of things I had included didn't need to be in there (these are things that every other visual identity guide in the world seems to have), and not to finalize anything until everyone had had a chance to look at it. I replied (and copied the reply to my cousin) as politely as I could, and asked a bunch of questions - basically, if I'm not supposed to do X, then what should I be doing instead? My cousin just wrote me back and told me she would let me get pointers from him. UGH. Whatever. I'm not dealing with it until tomorrow.

My mum and I walked to the store, got a bag of chips (I usually don't eat chips. God knows what we were thinking), and came back to the office to eat them. On the back of the bag, there was a story that started with:

At the age of 10, I lived with my family in the Fisher Housing Projects in Detroit, Michigan. By today's standards, we were considered poor.

It goes on for four paragraphs about this random kid stealing peaches from someone's backyard, then another two paragraphs about how he learned his lesson, and why self-control is great, and things to remember to help you demonstrate self control in everyday life. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone or something.

Last night, my mum and I watched the first three episodes of Dollhouse. She's completely addicted, just like I knew she would be.

A few months ago, at my brother's request, I brought V for Vendetta home from the office (I keep my movies at the office, to prevent the exact thing that ended up happening). He didn't watch it that night, but my mum and I and one of my other brothers did. The next night, that brother and the youngest one asked if they could borrow it, and I said yes, if they put it back on my shelf when they were done. Because I'm an idiot, I didn't check to see that they had put it back until last night, when my youngest brother asked if he could watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico. He insists that since both of them watched V, it isn't his fault that it didn't get put back. The other one insists that he watched the movie with my mother and I, after the youngest one watched it, so it's my fault if it didn't get put back. This is especially annoying, because this is the second copy of that movie that I've loaned out, only to have it disappear on me. My first copy is currently residing on my friend's uncle's shelf - unless, of course, he decided to lend it to someone else.

Tonight, I'm going to the casino with my mummy. I have $10 that I can spend, which I'll split into two $5 bills. Hopefully, if I go with my mum, the guard won't feel the need to ask me my middle name and have me spell it, while glaring at me and making it obvious that he thinks my ID is either fake or not my own. I should probably go work out now, since afterward, I have to heat my bathwater, clean up and get changed. Thank God it's not hair-wash day.

I didn't work out yesterday because I didn't feel like it. That's a dangerous habit to get into, especially because that makes it the third day in four weeks that I've missed, and this time, there was no good reason for it. I should work twice as hard, but I probably won't.

I think that's everything. I think. Oh, 5:55, time to make a wish. Alright. That's done with.

I missed one thing. I've started working on the final chapter of Aigaion Girl. As happy as I am to have nearly completed my... fourth book (likely the first one that will ever be published), it's a little bittersweet - and I feel an inordinate amount of pressure to get the ending perfect. I've been looking forward to writing this ending, but now I'm terrified that my readers are going to hate it. Eeek.

Okay, I really do think that's it. And I really do have to go work out. Right.

I.N. Out.

XD!!!

My cousin's having a baby!!!!! It's scheduled to arrive sometime around Christmas. This is baby #2 for her and her husband, and number 1 is absolutely adorable. Ooh, exciting!

Seven Years Ago Today...

Wow, I'm old. Seven years ago today, for the first time ever, I got flowers from a guy. A week later, he asked me out. Five months later, we broke up. We're still good friends. He bought me roses for our three-month anniversary, and no one's gotten me flowers since. This isn't a pity me post; actually, quite the opposite. I was in A&P the other day, looking at their flowers, and thinking of the time of year and for the life of me, I couldn't stop smiling. It's nice to have good memories like that, ones that will make you smile nearly a decade later.

Nearly a decade. God, I'm old.

I do kind of have to wonder where all the useful, gentlemanly gentlemen have gotten to, though. I haven't seen many of them around for... oh, about six and a half years.

Still no news on the job front; I'm going to have to do another round of resumeing, I think. Ugh.

I thought today was going to be a productive day, but I feel so unproductive. I still don't have Internet in the office (my wifi works fine :), which is fine for right now, but really needs to be fixed soon. I don't feel like working out, which is unusual and smelly, because I really do have to work out every day. Spooey's been out of town for two weeks now, so I've been going alone, which is gross and not really safe. About all I can do is change the time I go at every day, and hope the people that always seem to be on my route aren't going to turn into psycho stalkers. Muh-lah.

I did do one productive thing today, though. I fixed the squeak on the door that leads into the front room. As you may or may not be aware, I sleep in the corner of my parents' living room, right next to the front room, which has had, for the past eight years, a door that squeaks horrendously loudly every time it is opened. I've been there since February. Since the beginning of May, when I actually started sleeping through most nights, that door has been waking me up at all hours, and driving me crazy. This morning when it woke me up, I decided that I would make it my personal mission to see to it that it never squeaked again. That was actually fairly easy to achieve, since my dad left the WD-40 (the best-smelling substance on the face of the earth!) sitting on his jigsaw, so all I had to do was go into the basement, get it, and spray it on the door hinges. Nonetheless, I feel like I have the right to be proud of my fix-it prowess, because I fixed something that hasn't even been looked at it the last eight years - and because I'm a girl and I know what WD-40 is.

Now, I suppose, I must go and work out. I really, really don't wanna. On the bright side, I have about a million outfits that I couldn't wear until last week, and about a million more that I'll be able to wear by the end of the summer.

Mlah

My office got moved today. I okayed the move last night because, well, I hardly have any work to do here, and I'm free to come in and use the Internet access and my work computer and whatever else I want, pretty well whenever I want... so if I need to be in the front room to do so, then whatever.

The white panels with the holes in them that I was sure had been sold/given (/thrown) away were actually hiding in one of the closets and now make up one and a half walls of the cubicle that my desk now resides in - which is right by the front door. Also, I don't have Internet or a phone hooked up yet, but it's on its way.

Also, since me saying I'd be fine in the front room, apparently it's become necessary that another work station be added to the room, so we'll soon be back to doing the pac man thing to get in and out of the individual offices.

I shouldn't really complain. My only real problem with my new office is the fact that the entrance is a little narrower than a standard door, and people already have a habit of standing in it to talk to me... which would be fine if I was't agoraphobic and didn't nearly have an anxiety attack every time I was blocked in.

Ugh. I am not a happy camper.

It's Not Technically Its Own Country, But...

Macau is one of the two 'special administrative regions' of China, the other one being Hong Kong. It was the first and last European colony in China, and until 1999 was administered by the Portugese. It's also one of the richest cities in the world. Once again, I'm not really sure how I made it through the last twenty two years without knowing this place existed.

I have a reader there, and from the looks of things, they read almost all of Aigaion Girl in less than a day.

I Forget.

I completely forget what I was going to post about. I applied for a bunch of jobs today. The insane rainstorm kept me from applying at the two jobs that required an in-person application, 'cause I thought it might reduce my chances slightly if I showed up looking like a drowned rat.

Also, when I worked out today, all of the equipment was soaking wet, so I had to dry it with my sweater, which was lovely. I really need new shoes. It's bad when they leak normally, but today it was just ridiculous. Despite all that, my workout was fun, and a lot easier than it used to be... I think I need to step up my game a little.

Devereaux Court is doing well, with six members and climbing.

Now I just have the rest of my cousin's identity guide to design, because, for reasons I am now a little confused about, I told her it wouldn't be a problem for me to have it done for tomorrow. Yep, I am insane.

I think that really is it for me.

Devereaux Court & Stuff

So, Devereaux Court is doing pretty well. I spent a good chunk of yesterday learning how to split the sidebar into two columns, which I did manage to do. Then I stayed up late writing posting guidelines and stuff.

This evening, I messaged some writers I know and asked them if they would be interested in joining. So far, I've had two takers, which brings our number to four, with several invites still open. I have to say, I'm reasonably excited about this.

I worked out today, obviously. Yesterday I really pushed myself, and I'm sorry to say that I didn't do the same today. It was unbelievably hot and muggy, but that's sort of a lame excuse. Maybe I'll do better tomorrow.

Tonight, I plan to watch House, work on Aigaion Girl and probably teach my dad how to do some basic photo manipulation.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

I know, I know.

You're probably wondering what I know. Well, I started another blog.

See, I know, I know.

It's not just for me, though, because I don't really need another blog. It's actually something I've been thinking about doing for a while, and just got around to doing because - well, I guess because I was sick today and didn't have the energy to do a whole lot else. It's called Devereaux Court, after the famous coffee house locale, and it's going (supposed) to be a forum for writers to get together and chat about whatever they feel like chatting/posting about - probably it will include story bits, random articles and maybe discussions, as well as questions anyone feels like asking other writers, whathaveyou.

Also, it'll be better written than this. I think I'm running a fever at the moment, so that's my excuse.

Le Yawn

I'm off to bed in a minute, but a couple of quick things first.

I've just put up the second/third last chapter of Aigaion Girl, which is über exciting. I cannot wait to get editing so I can self-publish and have people reading my book. I'm a little worried about how my extended family is going to react, but what can you do?

Also, I'm listening to Absolute Beginners, which is the sweetest song ever. Also, in the video I'm watching, David bowie has the exact same hair as me. That's a little creepy.

My workouts are starting to pay off a bit; I'm finding most of my exercises way easier, and I can tie my shoes without bending my knees, so yay for me.

I'm sure there was something else I was going to blog about, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. I want to go to the beach, but somehow I don't think that's it. Anyway, I'm off to bed.

Revamp

So, as you can see, I've redone my blog... again.

I'm pretty pleased with myself, actually, since I magaed to get both a stationary background and translucent floating text boxes. As much as I liked my blog the way it was, it felt like it needed some updating.

I've also updated my travel blog, So, Journey, with the help of The Cutest Blog on the Block, and their lovely free backgrounds(this one with the birdies is all me).

Also, I'm thinking of starting a community writing blog, just a bunch of writers hanging around, talking about writing, and bouncing ideas off each other. Might be kinda cool.

The Short Long Weekend

I have no idea what I did for the first two days of the long weekend... other than work out, but I do that every day.

Today, I did lots of fun things.

I went out for breakfast with my parents, which was yummy.

I read and answered reviews for Aigaion Girl, which I had a lot of. This is because I put in my last set of author's notes that I plan on self-publishing, so as well as my regular number of reviews, I had bonus ones, with people assuring me they will buy it when it comes out. Also, I gave A/G to Jammy to read.

I entered another photography contest (the first one I entered was a few days ago). Over all, I think the pictures are pretty good. I don't know what I'm up against, though, so it's hard to say whether or not I have a shot.

James and I headed to Starbucks and he bought me a frozen drink, which was tasty, despite the fact that the girl behind the counter didn't know what skim milk was, and ended up giving us splenda syrup.

After Starbucks, we walked to Natalie's house, where she wasn't, and called her, and found out she wasn't there.

Then I showed James my work out route, and the bat-cave bridge (it's a little bridge that looks like the bat cave, if that wasn't clear). Somewhere during our wandering, we saw a group of people in period clothes playing minigolf. They're my heroes.

We went to Timmie's, then to the casino, 'cause we were supposed to go to the casino last time James was in town, but we forgot. The casino rocks, by the way. I'd never been in there before, so it was quite the experience. They IDed us at the door, which was to be expected, then the guy caught me completely off guard when he asked me what my middle name was. My middle name is actually Athena, but I haven't gone by my first name since I was eight weeks old, so it took me a minute to realize that Athena is actually my middle name. Once I said 'Athena', he looked at me some more, then asked me to spell it. When that was over with, we went inside, and James got ten dollars to split between the two of us. While we were playing the slots, I took a picture of James, and this female security guard came out of nowhere within about two seconds, and told us we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. She was very appologetic, but we had to delete the picture we'd taken, which kinda sucks. Hence the less-than-flattering picture that was taken by the sign out front. We were probably at the casino for an hour or more, and in that time, managed to not only not lose, but also, to get ahead by $9ish, so that covered Starbucks, which is pretty cool.

We walked back to my house, then to my Mummy's office, to print Aigaion Girl and print out some wallet-sized copies of the above picture, then came back to my house, ate pizza and played Pick Two (best game ever).

Loki and I walked James most of the way home, then turned around and walked back. Then I uploaded some pictures to Facebook, and now I'm writing this. Basically, I packed my whole long weekend into today.

Also, as a totally random aside, I was writing Aigaion Girl yesterday or the day before and trying to find music that had to do with the apocalypse or end-of-the-world type stuff, and I came across Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire. I've always liked the song, but I'd never actually listened to the words. I left a comment to that effect on the YouTube video (also mentioning that I thought the song was oddly suited to our current global climate), and someone gave my comment thumbs down, because they thought I was talking about global warming. God, people make me sad... but go listen to the song, 'cause it's good, and it is appropriate today, possibly even moreso than it was when it was written.

I think that's it for today.

And Another One

I've discovered yet another new country. I realize this kind of makes me sound like some kind of explorer, running around and poking my flag into things, but actually, I haven't left my own country in over a year (with the exception of a brief trip to the US to pick up postage stamps). So, when I say I discovered a country, what I really mean is that I found out about it.

The Republic of Mauritius was entirely foreign to me (see what I did there?) until today. Everyone has heard about Dodos and how they were hunted into extinction within 80 years of the Europeans discovering them, which kind of makes me wonder why I never knew that the island of Mauritius (one of the many islands in the Republic) was the only place they ever lived.

It kind of makes me want to become a geography teacher, so I can force students to learn things about the world they live in - instead of allowing them to dick around colouring in maps with pencil crayons for a credit.

Anywho, this has been another country brought to you by my lovely readers at FictionPress, who never seem to stop supplying me with things to learn and share.

Quite Possibly The Best Thing That's Ever Happened

(Patrick Swayze Chippendale Centaur Tattoo)

Movies were Better in Black & White

I've come to the conclusion that, by and large, romantic comedies were better in black and white. Before bright colours and special effects, movies had to rely entirely on the talent of the the cast and crew to gain popularity and to earn money. Dialogue had to be quick and witty in order to keep the audience's attention, and the physical comedy - not necessarily slapstick - had to be near-constant.

Recently, I've been thinking about making a list of my 100 favourite movies, and which movies I would want to include, and through the magic of YouTube, have added a few to the running.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer would never make it as a modern film; the storyline is much too racey. This is especially interesting, because the actual content of the film wouldn't even warrant a PG rating today.

Cary Grant plays an attractive painter, who gives a speech at a high school about his views on America. A young girl in the audience (18-year old Shirley Temple) sees him and immediately falls in love.

Here comes the bit that would never make it past today's censors: through a series of unlikely but hillarious events, Grant's character is sentenced to become the beau of Temple's. The rest of the movie is spent exploring the aftermath of their forced courtship.

While a similar romantic situation might appear in a contemporary film, something tells me that 43-year-old Grant's on screen romance with 18-year-old Temple would more likely be the subject of a dark, dramatic movie, rather than one of a family-friendly film.

Personally, I think the movie is absolutely brilliant and - apart from the really creepy uncle - am in love with the characters.

Bringing Up Baby is actually what got me started on this old movie kick to begin with. I watched Arsenic and Old Lace about a million times when I was a kid, so I've always been in love with Cary Grant. I went searching for other things he's been in, and through a series of random clips and fanvids, found my way to Bringing up Baby.

The premis of this movie is so ridiculous that it doesn't bear explaining, but everything that happens in it, from beginning to end, is so screamingly funny that I happily watched it a second time within 24 hours of the first.

I have to say that I will never understand how or why people became so obsessed with Audrey Hepburn while Katharine was around. Katharine was much prettier and infinitely more talented than Audrey could ever hope to be - and her chemistry with Cary Grant in this film (and the two others of their's I've seen) is absolutely perfect.


By now, it might have become obvious that all the movies I'm listing star Cary Grant. If you're wondering, this is because I'm obsessed with Cary Grant and have been watching a lot of his movies lately. He is easily the best actor of his time (in my opinion), and one of the best in the history of cinema. I plan on marrying his straigh reincarnation, just as soon as I've found him.

Holiday is a great movie, and from what I've seen, fairly progressive for its time.

Grant's character, a self-made man, has fallen in love with the daughter of a wealthy banker, and together with her siblings, they are trying to convince her father to allow them to marry.

Unlike a lot of movies that were coming out back then (and actually, unlike a lot of movies in general), Holiday seriously bucks the status quo, suggesting that people should question the things they have always taken for granted - in this case, the reasons people work, and what should be sacrificed in order to maintain a marriage.

One of my favourite characters is the banker's son. He has a severe drinking problem, but rather than making his constant drunkenness the subject of humour or scorn, the film almost refuses to address it. He's a drunk, irresponsible, a pushover - and a good person who loves his family. Everything I love about this film can be summed up by watching the brother. I can't put it in better words; you'll have to watch the movie.

The Philadelphia Story is another semi-serious romantic comedy, which I tend to enjoy.

This is yet another movie in that turns the typical romantic comedy on its head. It deals with alcoholism, infidelity, and a bunch of other things. And unlike most modern-day romantic comedies, there isn't a good character vs. bad character thing going on here. Both Grant and Stewart's characters are good, honest men, and Hepburn's attraction to both of them is completely understandable.

This is the first film I've ever seen James Stewart in. He is brilliant in this movie. I actually found myself rooting for his character, which, considering how Grant-obsessed I am, is quite an achievement.

I suppose that's it for my Grant-centric romantic comedy edition of why black and white movies rock. It's kind of sad, though, knowing that I'll run out of new old movies one day. In the meantime, though, I'll enjoy them - probably a lot more than the modern ones.

Another Day, Another Chapter, Another Country

I posted another chapter of Aigaion Girl on FictionPress last night. It wasn't the strongest chapter ever, but I seem to be getting decent reviews. Anyway, it boosted my numbers for today.

And I discovered that I have a reader in Estonia - which meant that I had to look up Estonia, to find out what and where it is. It sounds like a very interesting place, one that has been around for ever (at least since 8500 BC), and one that I would very much like to visit.

One of these days, I'm going to have to do a post or two about these countries I'm discovering, not about the fact that I'm discovering them, but about them, themselves.

Until then, I'll just have to keep writing.

Logo Designs

Today, my cousin and I got together over Skype and designed the logo for hew new business. She is very pleased with it and I am very pleased with it, which makes me, oddly enough, very pleased.

I'd love to know why everyone can't work like this. Now, it could be because we grew up together and are therefore on the same wave-length, but I think it's more likely that we were both just raised well by are parents, and so manage to be honest, thoughtful and courteous, without being hurtful or being push-overs. If everyone who needed stuff designed could just sit down for a few hours (it took us just under three), even online, and say "yeah, I don't like that font" or "this is good, but could you make the green look a little less like pea soup?", or whatever was on their mind, my life (and their's) would be a lot easier.

Anyway, it's been a fairly productive day, so I'm feeling pretty good. Once everything is in place, and I have permission, I'll put a copy of said logo up (actually, there's a good chance I'll link to her site, because her business is really cool) for your viewing pleasure.

I think that's it for now... a long rant about Facebook is likely to follow.

There are two other videos to this little adventure, but I decided just to post this one, for now.

Geography

Almost every day, I log on to FictionPress, just to check how many readers I have for each story, from each country, things like that. I'm always excited when my numbers go up, even a little bit, but I find it extra-thrilling to learn I have readers in a country where I haven't before.



Even better than that, though, is finding out I have a new reader in a country I didn't even know existed (I blame our crappy educational system for my complete lack of knowledge in the field of global geography).

I've learnt about four new countries this year: The United Arab Emirates, The Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands (which I'm not 100% certain is technically its own country), Slovenia and Moldova.

As ridiculous as it is that I hadn't heard of these places, I'm kind of glad I hadn't. It gives a little bit of wonder back to the world.

Little Grey Rabbit

I've just spent the better part of forever trying to locate a picture from Grey Rabbit and the Circus, one of my all-time favourite books as a child (I failed, but found a picture from another of Grey Rabbit's adventures). When I was little, I didn't realize there was a whole series of Little Grey Rabbit books; I thought that Grey Rabbit and Hare and Hedgehog and Fuzzypeg and the others were one-time characters, who had one little adventure involving a circus, and that was it. And yet, the image of Fuzzypeg standing in his bright yellow kitchen were burned in my mind forever.

Here's to the books that stay with us.

I Have Writer's Block

It sucks.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I just watched all of this on YouTube, and I must say, it's nothing short of amazing.

I recognized Neil Patrick Harris as soon as I saw him, but only in a vague kind of isn't he that guy from that thing? kind of way. Now I feel oddly compelled to find and watch everything he's ever been in.

I found out about Dr. Horrible from Vicky, 'cause I've been on a Nathan Fillion kick for the past couple of days (his new show, Castle, is great), and she told me there was something with him singing in it, so I went digging. I'm so glad I did.

I don't know what it is about Joss Whedon's stuff, but whenever I see something of his, I have this horrible urge to copy it, and pretend the idea was mine. I don't, of course, because not only would it be obvious that I stole it, but that's also kind of a shit thing to do to someone, even if they never found out about it. I think it's that his ideas are so good, I just really, really wish I'd thought of them first.

I suppose I should try to go to sleep now. I made myself go to bed at quarter to four, and ended up tossing and turning until twenty five to five. Now it's five thirty, and I'm still not tired. Nonetheless, sleep is kind of important and I don't want to spend all day tomorrow unconscious and/or crazy tired. So, I guess now is the time to say goodnight. Goodnight.

My Official Website

Is still non-existant. Now, apart from my usual problems with sucking at html, I'm also not sure what I want it to look like... at all.

My problem, I think, is that I'm too many different people. Or, rather, I don't fit in a box. I don't have one set style or one set of colours that best represents me, and I want my website to represent me - or at least my writing.

I know I want something that will appeal to both children and adults, that is creepy, but not Tim Burton creepy, because I also write stuff that is humerous social comentary, and trying to advertise that on a site that's all big moons and gnarly trees and glowing eyes might not work out so well. I want something that is easy to look at, easy to read and easy to navigate - and at least kind of goes with this blog, so I don't have to redo this, as soon as I'm done with that.

I've been restless lately, and that doesn't help. I guess what I have to do is come up with an idea and stick to it, regardless of the fact that I'll probably change my mind before I'm finished the layout.

My Incision is Too Deformed

Rhiannon and I were going to watch the X-files. Rhiannon went off to get the dvd and came back with seasons 2, 3, 5 and six, so I could "make an informed decision". Then I noticed she had the new movie and then said, "Oh, now my incision is too deformed." I'm great like that.

Goals

So my February goal of getting more readers on FictionPress each day than I had on the one previous didn't work out so well. Don't get me wrong - I'm still very pleased with my February numbers, but I could have done better.

My March goal, which I hadn't got around to posting yet, was to get over a hundred hits in a single day, which, apparently, I did on Wednesday, so go me.

Also, I'm kind of wondering why I have more readers in Singapore, the UK and Norway than I do in Canada. I'm not complaining, I just find it a little odd. Also, it's 5:30 in the morning and I already have one hit for today. It just makes me so happy ♥~♥

I also put up a new chapter of Aigaion Girl today, which makes me happy. I'd been having trouble getting motivated for that one, so it's nice to finally have it done, and I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Unless they have an IQ, women should write Bodice Rippers

So, I came up with my new story - or at least a character from it. I decided I wanted it to be a mystery, so, as a true product of the 20th century, I typed how to write a mystery novel into a Google search. One of the first things that came up was this:

Well, an offshoot of it. This guy (the site uses a lot of "we"s, but I highly doubt there is more than one person running this thing) is an unprofessional tool, who probably (here's hoping) hasn't been published in anything, ever. The page I actually came to is a guide for aspiring mystery novelists, and it stopped me in my tracks. It starts like this:

Want to make a million fast? Write a mystery thriller and but in order be able to do that, first, study the work of the best writers. Take you a week or two. NOTE: Women don't need to read this article unless you have an IQ of 180 like Sue Grafton.

Honestly, I don't know why things like this bother me; you don't need an IQ of 180 to realize that the man writing this article is a moron who nobody in their right mind would take seriously. But really, come on.

The article goes on to say that "unless they have an IQ, women should write Bodice Rippers or Historical novels from a woman's P.O.V." Um, it could just be me (I am only a woman after all), but I was under the impression that all people have an IQ. Even Mr. Chauvinist "Writer" has an IQ, although I would be very surprised to learn that it was within even twenty points of mine.

Anywhom, that's my angry rant for today. I feel like I should say more, but really, what else is there? The guy is an idiot, but barely worth the words I've already wasted on him. Here's hoping he steps on a rusty nail and gets tetanus.