I Know...

So, I've been away for a while.  Not really away, just away from blogging.  Busy and stuff.

I got a job.  It's a good job and I like it, even if it's not the kind of job I ever imagined myself doing.  The perks are excellent and the people are wonderful.  Our department's Christmas party was Friday.  I had my first (and second (and come to that, possibly 3rd, though I can't remember for sure)) Jagerbomb, 2 G&Ts and a glass of champagne.  With the exception of the second G&T, which a coworker bought for me, these drinks were all free, paid for by the company.  It was great to see everyone let loose, even if some of them let a little looser than they should.

I sadly did not finish my NaNoWriMo story, Quicksand in November.  I made it to about 21,000 words and couldn't manage any more.  This whole working full time thing has gotten harder since I was doing it last.  I honestly think that's just the weather, though, because I work until 6:00 and right now that means I'm there until after dark.

I sold enough shirts to get the Reactionary Motors one for my Dad for Christmas.  My dreams of having the Bitch, Please one for myself have been put on hold, but such is life.

I was just about to write about our plans to visit Slovakia over Christmas, and I realize now that I've totally neglected to say anything at all about Prague, which was wonderful and will get a whole blog post shortly.

Also, somewhere in the confusion of November and December, our flatmate, whose Internet we used and paid toward, left and the Internet was disconnected (we'd recently given him £30 to it - not impressed)

My Slovak is not improving as quickly as I'd hoped.  Need to get working on that.

I think that's all for now.  I'll post about Prague soon, and try to keep a little bit more updatey in the meantime.

Books and Other Stuff

In a couple of minutes, I'll have to start my night audit, but until that happens...

I made an account on LibraryThing tonight and merrily went about cataloguing all the books in my library - only to discover that I can't remember what books I own. At least not all of them. The other thing I discovered is that I own a lot of Heinlein, more than any other author. It's weird because as much as I like his work, he's maybe my second or third favourite author. Also, I'm not a huge science fiction fan in general.

This has got me thinking about my travel plans and my mini library, and how, for the time being, I will have to pack it up and store it - which isn't a huge deal; it's just that I have to find somewhere to store it, where it will be safe from water and extreme temperatures and my Dad*. My parents have been storing so much of my stuff for so long, I hate to ask them to hold onto anything, but if I follow my plan of reducing my possessions to 6 Rubbermaid containers, maybe they won't mind so much.

I still haven't made a list of the stories I want to focus on. I need to do that ASAP, because until I do, I'm just going to be writing little bits and pieces of everything and not getting anything done. Ugh.

I have a million lists to write (and more importantly, execute) and I have no idea where to start. I'm too bloody excited to focus on anything for more than a few minutes and it seems like whenever I say to myself "You're going to do it right now", something else comes up. IE: I could start making lists at this very moment, and would be making myself, but I have to start my paperwork for the night audit. I'm not complaining, exactly. I'm too happy to complain about much of anything - I'm more just thinking out loud (there needs to be a term for when you're doing this with text. Thinking out text or typing out loud or something).

Anyway, night audit time. Then, post night audit, list making time.

*My Dad loves to read, but he and I have a different philosophy on the value of books. He seems to think that their only value is in being read, so as long as you can continue to read them, everything's good. I agree that books are meant to be read, but I think when they're not being read, they should be on a shelf somewhere, rather than propped open on a nightstand, with a the front cover bent back in the bathroom or on the floor beside the bed.

A Happy Christmas to You

This picture creeps me out for a few reasons, not the least of which being that the birds in it seem to each have four legs. I thought it was fitting for the last in my miniseries of Creepy Holiday Art from Yesteryear.

Anywhom, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I woke up at 5:30 in the morning, bursting with excitement, and, because I couldn't wait any more, opened my stocking. My cousin texted my sister and I at twenty to seven, so since Rhiannon was awake anyway after that, we opened our presents while it was still dark out. I texted out my Merry Xmas message, figuring that it would be late enough in Ontario - and not remembering that not everyone I know is in that time zone. I think I woke a few people up.

Now I'm crazy tired and don't really want to bake pies, but want to eat pies later.

I got a lot of cool stuff, which I want to list, and might, when I am not so ass-tired.

I finished Siddhartha on the 23rd and loved it.

Now I'm going to cut this short, because I work tonight and need to make pies... and really want to sleep. A lot.

Another Post Called :)

My surprise came today! Actually, I'm going to keep this post fairly short because my surprise was a book* and I'd like to get back to reading it.

It came wrapped in wonderful book-covered paper, with a wonderful note from a wonderful man. I may overdose on wonderful by the end of the day :)

The book is Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. The simplest way I can describe it is to say it's about the title character's quest for enlightenment/Nirvana/inner peace - but really, you should read it for yourself, because I can't really do it justice. Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

I'm a little under half-way done and, as I've said, would like to get back to reading it, so this is where I cut my post short. My advice, dear reader, is, if you haven't already, go and track down a copy and start reading it as soon as possible.

Also, I read one of those lists that they put up on MSN occasionally a few days ago. This one was What Not to Buy Your Man for Christmas or something equally lame, and it recommended against giving books as gifts. Such a load of crap. I think books are among the best gifts a person can get - this one especially.

*I've been in suspense about this surprise for what seems like ever. My one and only guess about what it could possibly be was this book. So glad I was right.

Some News(ish) in No Particular Order

Sninpo. Sounds like an evil clown.

I'm currently reading Terry Pratchett's The Truth, which is about news and is very good, and I'll be posting a review of as soon as I've finished it.

I took my dog (who is now lying behind me, looking sad) for an extra-long walk last night, and it was cold so my back was tensed and it still hurts.

I'm working on two new(ish) stories, 200 Pages and one which has yet to be named (currently known as: The one with the rock in). I think they both have major potential.

I need some money so I can order a new proof copy of Aigaion Girl with the new revisions, but I won't get paid until next week, which means I'm probably looking at well over a month before A/G is available for sale :(

I effing hate my job. I'm going to have to find a new one soon, I think. Basically, I get paid to bother people in the middle of dinner and try to sell them things they don't want. At the moment, I'm consolling myself by taking people off the list when they say they're absolutely not interested (we're supposed to put them on a list to be called back next year) and simply saying "thanks for your time" when people tell me they're too busy to talk to me. As a result, I'm not doing anywhere near as well as my co-workers, but then, I can look at myself in the mirror every day without wanting to throw up, so there you go. Apparently, next month, we're going to start working 6 days a week. Yeah, I think not.

I'm starving, but since the wonderful spontaneous lactose intolerance began, I've had the number of things that I can eat radically cut back, and there's pretty close to nothing in the house that I can actually eat right now without getting sick (Did anyone know that KD uses real cheese? I certainly didn't). Well, I think there might be some beef broth, but I'm not sure if that counts.

I think that wraps up this post. I've got some stuff to type out for the notes on the story with the rock in, and then I'm going to go to the store and see if I can't find something edible.

Also, I need to check if I still have an English Grammar and Usage Book. I know mine went missing, but I can't remember if I replaced it...

At Risk of Sounding Like a 5 Year Old

I hate my job. I hate everything about my job (by the way, I got a new job). I am a telemarketer selling lawn care, which means my profession is annoying people during their dinner. At the end of every day, I get a stern look from my boss which suggests that whatever I've done, it's not good enough. I'm dreading going back tomorrow.

Also, today has pretty much sucked. The reason I'm working my awful job is that I can't get anything else. My entire family is broke. As a result, what I've eaten today is 1 pancake (bad idea, because I shouldn't have dairy), 1 potatoe, 1/4 of a can of salmon and one chocolate bar. I'm stuck at my mother's office, because I was stupid enough to come in here today (I spent ALL DAY yesterday working for free for my gran, which I don't mind doing, 'cause she deserves it), figuring I could get some of my own stuff done. I did get a lot of my own stuff done, but over the course of the day, my office has been disassembled, because, apparently, my dividers don't need to be held up by anything; we're just going to wedge them between my desk and the filing cabinet on the other side. Yeah, that won't look stupid at all.

Then, around 7:00pm, my mum had to run to take my dad to see my grandma, because my grandma isn't well and was convinced she lived somewhere other than where she does. My mum was gone a couple of hours (I should mention that this office is pretty much in the middle of nowhere) and now that she's back, they're probably going to be another two hours rearranging the office furniture.

I call this the game of How retarded can we make our office look? We're going for a new record, I think.

Okay, I think I'm done whining.

In other news, I've finished my edits to Aigaion Girl a second time, but I need to change the cover art slightly (I adjusted the margins at the suggestion of my family and ended up with an extra 8-10 pages), which I'll have to do from the computer at home... which means I have to download Inkscape, but that's not a huge deal.

Also, I posted an article on Devereaux Court and worked out the content for my website.

... 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.

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.

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.

Beware the Savage Jaw

Welcome to my very first book review of 2009. Today I will be reviewing the first 10 pages (or 35%) of George Orwell's 1984 Adapted for Children by Kade Johnston.

First, I would like to say that I am utterly astounded - and I mean that honestly. I have never read anything like this. I'm somewhat ambivalent on the question of whether or not I want to read anything like this again, because on the one hand, it provided me with a good deal of entertainment, and on the other, there is something to be said for the uniqueness of the experience of reading (even part of) this book.

I guess I can't really call this a book review, because I honestly cannot find the words to say everything I want to about this book. Instead, I'm going to post my favourite chapters (clicking on them should make them big enough to read) and let you all read it for yourselves. Trust me, it will make your head spin.

Really, you have to marvel at the sheer gutsiness of adapting a book like 1984 for children. It's just such an unusual concept. I wonder if, based on how well 1984 turned out, the author will adapt any other books for kids. The Handmaid's Tale, for example, or Who Has Seen the Wind. You could do a whole series.

(I love that Johnston includes little explanatory aids, like pyramid charts.)

I think chapter six is my favourite, but explaining why is far beyond my capabilities. I've included it, so you can read it (and love it) for yourselves.

I wish I could say more, but, again, I'm at a loss for words. I hope you have enjoyed my review of George Orwell's 1984 Adapted for Children as thoroughly as I enjoyed reading what I could of the book itself.

PS, V:18 H:20