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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
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copperbadge
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WELL THAT WAS AN AFTERNOON.
My family arrived at my place and I told them, and this was my mistake, "You're going to have to go down the street, turn around, and pull up to my place so we can unload."
They got stuck in the snow at the end of the street.
Three inches of snow.
In a four wheel drive pickup.
I MIGHT HAVE LOLED. And then spent forty minutes helping push them out.
Anyway, we got my new hideous chair and my bookshelf up to my apartment, took the rest of my stuff to storage, dropped off the U-Haul trailer, and made our way downtown to the hotel. It took us two trips to get all the luggage to the hotel room, because everything my parents brought is in tote bags. Apparently they've sworn off luggage? I don't even know.
But we are here in the hotel now, safe and warm and awaiting room service. We were upgraded, which rocks the house; it means that the room I'm sharing with Emmy is just a room, but if we go next door my parents have a PALATIAL SUITE we can all hang out in.
And, obvs, the internet works.
I'm so glad we have no more moving to do.
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Monday, December 21st, 2009
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copperbadge
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I kept meaning to make an LJ entry today, and then things kept happening in my brain, you don't even want to know. So instead, you get a list!
1. While my knee is healing rapidly (I'm a good healer, to make up for tripping on NOTHING, ALL THE TIME) I've had to shorten my gait, so it takes me like, five minutes longer to get EVERYWHERE. This is improving my balance however.
2. The slow-walking thing is why I'm glad that the mailman came to see me today and took the last of my Christmas mailings, because omg I did not want to walk to the post office.
3. Which in turn means I can get a cab home. Ooooooh. And clean the kitchen in preparation for The Arrival Of My Family.
3a. Five bucks says that the first thing Emmy says to me when she sees the collage I made of images you guys sent me is, "Why is there a naked man with a frying pan in the corner?"
I'm going to just have to tell her "Art is its own explanation" or something equally ridiculous because I often ask myself the same question, and have yet to find an answer beyond "It was there."
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sarahtales
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So as the year draws to a close, I thought I might talk about the television I have watched during it, and hear about other people's television. I have noticed that my year's viewing has a common theme - one of my favourite themes. Sensible Girls, and the Romantic Boys Who Love Them.
One thing I watched was the second season of Merlin. I have written up my thoughts on season one Merlin here.
MERLIN SEASON TWO
ARTHUR: My new contract states I must be shirtless at least once an episode.
GWEN: Now I am going to be a love interest, I am looking extremely foxy in several new gowns. I am never shirtless, because this is the BBC.
MERLIN: Nobody fed me over the summer, and I am feeling weak.
MORGANA: Nobody gave me any lines for the upcoming season, and I am feeling evil.
( Merlin Season Two, continued )
Since I am devoted to L.J. Smith, who at sixteen was my Twilight, I was certain to watch The Vampire Diaries. I saw the pilot at Comic Con, and was hugely delighted to see that the hero and heroine wrote their sad, sad diaries sadly in sync.
Then I saw more, and I have been most excellently pleased by it!
( Vampire Diaries so far )
My flatmates and I bought the box set of Bones and watched it together, drinking cups of hot chocolate with ice-cream in them.
SARAH: I dunno. I love Partners Who Fight Crime an awful lot, but I'm just not sure I can take FBI Agent Angel.
DR BRENNAN: I am a lady who would rather poke around in human soup with bones floating in it than think about her feelings! Also I enjoy casual relationships and am bad at being charming.
FBI AGENT ANGEL: I am pretty good at being charming, and I am in touch with my feelings. I am not as smart as you but I am totally comfortable with not being a crazy genius!
DR BRENNAN AND FBI AGENT ANGEL: Together we goofily fight crime.
SARAH: The truest loves are found through goofily fighting crime. NEXT BOX SET PLEASE.
In summary, I love Sensible Girls and the Romantic Boys Who Love Them. I also love things that are kind of ridiculous. What kind of thing do you love?
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Sunday, December 20th, 2009
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copperbadge
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So, my parents and sister are driving cross-country to Chicago for the next two days, in order to bring me the stuff I left in storage with them when I moved here. They're also bringing me The Best Chair Ever, which my mother acquired sometime in the 70's. It has bright-orange nubbly upholstery, and is almost unbearably comfortable. I am very excited to own a hideous comfortable chair.
What I had not anticipated is that my parents would not pack things with which to entertain each other while they are on the road (I have no doubt Emmy is glued to her headphones and hopefully struggling through the last of The Great Gatsby for school). As the dog -- who they're bringing along, apparently in a padded box mounted on the dashboard -- is asleep, mum's primary source of entertainment is texting me.
I love them. I just have to remind myself sometimes.
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Saturday, December 19th, 2009
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sickle_girl
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I was tagged by  Derrewyn to do this taggy thing in DA But I don't like tagging, and have no one to tag so if you want (and it is FUUUUUUN) tag yourself!
Try to write down the first word that come to your mind (no cheating!)
1- A for: Actress
2- B for: Beauty
3- C for: Changes
4- D for: Deadline
5- E for: Eternal
6- F for: Fight
7- G for: Gorgeous
8- H for: Heaven
9- I for: I
10- J for: Joke
11- K for: Kindness
12- L for: Laughter
13- M for: Mesmer
14- N for: NOW
15- O for: Obsession
16- P for: Play
17- Q for: question
18- R for: Rain
19- S for: Stage
20- T for: Tears
21- U for: Universe
22- V for: Voltaire
23- W for: Wonderful
24- X for: X-box
25- Y for: you
26- Z for: Zone
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you sleep with a plushie? No
2. Do you play any musical instrument? No, I don’t have musical talent.
3. Do you suck your thumb? No o.o
4. Do you read something everyday? Yes!!
5. Do you have any pet? yes
6. Tattoos? No.
7. Piercings? No.
8.Do you like your own handwriting? only when I can understand it.
9. Have you ever stolen something? No.
10. Use to sing in the shower? No, I can't stand my voice.
11. Do you believe in Life after Death? I like to believe that there is something beyond this.
12. Do you believe in Astrology? Yes. The stars know stuff about us.
13. Do you believe in miracles? Sometimes wonderful things happen.
14. Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? yes but had never experienced anything. They just avoid me.
15. Do you bite your nails? never
16. Do you know how to touch your nose with your tongue? no
17. Do you love your parents? of course, they are wonderful ♥
FOR LOVE YOU WOULD DO..:
18.Move to another country? Yes.
19.Change your look? I fall in love with things rather than people, so maybe I would change my look if I discover some wonderful way of looking I like. If the person I am in love with opens to me a door of new looks and I can get to take what I want. But changing my look because someone else want me, no way in hell. Or you love me for who I am or you don't love me.
20.Change your religious beliefs? Pretty much like the previous one.
21.Renounce your dreams? No. I can change a lot of things, but I can never stop being me.
22.Lie to your friends or family? People do strange things for love. I have never loved someone enough to do that.
23.Leave your friends/family behind? No.
24.Accept his/her friends? Accept he has some strange friends, ok. But the acceptance, they have to earn it. 25.To have plastic surgery? no, my body has many defects but it is mine. HAVE YOU EVER...
26.Smoked? No.
27.Induced your vomit? No. At least that brushing your tongue because doctors says so and accidentally introducing myself to gag counts.
28.Cried for someone's death? yes
29.Lied? No (but it could be a lie)
30.Refused someone? yes
31.Done something you regret? Yes, but then again I believe that all the mistakes and regrets are still part of who I am now and I can't imagine other reality than this.
32.A day: Friday
33. A month: June
34. A number: 3
35: A drink: fruit milkshakes
36: A colour: pink
37: A sound: rain
38: An animal: Wolf
39: A feeling: JOY
40: Pain: No, thank you.
41: A body part: eyes
42: A language: Human
43: Two words: Hug me
44: Four words: we are wonderfully insane. ABOUT YOU:
45.Status: single.
46.Are you in love? no.
47.Do you hate someone: no.
48.Have you loved someone so deeply to cry? No.
49.A current adventure? Life
50.Have you killed someone? no, that I recall.
51.Have you wished someone's death? no
52.Do you usually drink? I dislike Alcohol. (Its taste and what it can make to people)
ABOUT THE FUTURE:
53.Do you see yourself working? Yes And Having fun while doing so.
54.Your dream? Having always something new to do and have fun with it.
55.A wish? Have a decent voice.
56.A Job? Creating.
Now tag youself ♥ (mood, not really super happy but seeing Dianna smiling makes me happy xD)
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copperbadge
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I've been wrangling this post over and over in my head for about a month now, perhaps a little longer, and it's still just plain messy, so I'm going to plow through and see what I can make of it.
At the start of November, a friend of mine died. Her husband's wishes are that there be no memorial post, so I'm not going to talk about who; if you knew her, you've heard by now, and if you don't know who, then you needn't worry.
K and I met via the Whofandom earlier this year, while I was working on Nameless, and we shared an interest in digital publishing and its effect on the wider world. Not to make this all about me -- though grieving usually is about the survivors -- but she was instrumental in opening my eyes to some things about writing, and my writing in particular, that I hadn't considered.
She sent me an essay on Nameless that she'd been working on, examining the use of geography and space in the novel. It was a brilliant piece of work standalone, but it brought home to me the fact that this story wasn't just being read by the Cafe or talked about it amongst people I knew. It was out there, in the world, and people were reading it and forming opinions that had nothing to do with what I thought or felt. People were analyzing what I did and finding things in the writing I hadn't consciously put there, but which were there anyway -- the same way I did in school with books I read and plays I worked on. To be the subject of that focus is at once thrilling and frightening, but endlessly educational.
She made me feel -- as the VOYA review and many people have done since, but with her, it was the first time -- like a Real Published Writer.
I've since learned through a mutual friend (to whom I am indebted for maintaining communication when K's eyesight failed her, and sharing in the mourning) that she had a wide array of literary interests and that I was in extremely respectable company under her eye. I'm glad to have known her and the thoughts she had on my work. She had notes on The Dead Isle too, which I expect to have in due time, when the sorting and sifting and other work is done. I'm very much looking forward to hearing what she said about it.
Um, there's no real point to this post, really, except to say that K did this thing for me, and was a friend. I want to put out there in the world that I miss her, I wish I'd known her better, and I wish I'd known her longer. Grief is natural and fades, and I'm okay; but I wanted to say it, so that it's there.
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copperbadge
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Things what I have done today:
Cleaned the bedroom and living room
Vacuumed the bedroom and living room (technically the Roomba did this)
Made reservations for the whole family to see Sherlock Holmes on Christmas Day, followed by fancy dinner downtown
(That last one is remarkably difficult. Most restaurants aren't open, and those that are have a Prix-Fixe menu that's a little out of our league, or serve food that one of us won't eat. I finally triumphed, however!)
Things what I must yet do:
WRAP CHRISTMAS PRESENT OMG
Mail two cards
Clean and vacuum the kitchen
Clean the fridge
Cook rice
I cannot wait till my family arrives, in part because they are bringing me A RICE COOKER. \o/
Now I venture out into the snow, to mail a card and buy a hamburger. :D
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sickle_girl
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Because, yes, accidents do happen and it seems this year my family is running to win an award or something. Let's start with one of the scariest moment.
1- Constructions and 1.30 mts holes in the ground and my dad just falling in one. 20 minutes waiting the ambulance, which equeal to pretty much years when you see your dad bleeding, in the head. He is okay now but still it was awful.
2- My brother reminding us all that accident between car and motorcycle usually doesn't end up well to the one driving the smallest vehicle. Now, a month and a day later, he is ok. As ok as you can be when they put metalic thingies inside your leg because of fractures and such.
3 Today, my grandmother fell and broke her hip. Yeah. I don't to much, only that they have to operate her and that someone has to keep besides her, because she will try to get out of the bed, since well, she is quite lost about time and space orientation.
Also this mean my dad's sister will show up. She is, a... let's just say that she acts all superior, thinking the others are there for her and hasn't spent a cent in her own mother. My mom used to tell her, to well, my aunt, that she should spend more time with her mother before the illness which is not exactly Alzheirmer, took all of her. But guess she was too good for that.
Besides owning a large amount of money to my dad (can not understand how they can be related, I mean, my dad is all ♥), she has pointed out once -to me - that my father should have stayed with his ex cheating wife because she is more classy than my mom. Which means pretty much that yes, I shouldn't have been born.
But my dad being his older brother feels bad for her. Alone, 50 years old, no kids, boyfriend, friends I guess. (Almost let my jaw hit the floor when I found out that one of the nicest persons ever had been friend with my aunt).
Just makes me cringe when a family member says I look so much like her...
Also she says I have to thank God for having my dad's pale skin instead of my mother's one. And just like that thousands of things that makes you wonder why does she spend holidays alone.
Hope my dad doesn't decide to bring her home. I really hope he remember how things went the last time she brought her here on Christmas.
And really it is tiring, just tiring and nobody is dead but there are health issue /health problems and family problems and I would like to end this year in a much happier way than this.
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hadesphoenix
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I admit it, I still sometimes read in the HP fandom and I have no defense for that. ^^
Stronger Than Hope
Author: Alaunatar
Pairing: Harry, Snape - gen
Summary: AU after OoTP, a few HBP details. An obsessed, grieving Harry has decided on a dangerous way to defeat Voldemort. Snape is paying closer attention than before, but his contempt for Harry blinds him. Eventual Snape as Harry's guardian story.
Rating/Warnings: M - suicidal themes, general darkness, Snape being an utter bastard, mildly dark Harry.
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
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copperbadge
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OH AND I saw the episode of House everyone said I had to see, the one that was all about Wilson.
( Three Things! )
3a. I have to say this outside of cut, because really, Wilson? Really?
"She hurt my friend. She should be punished."
Dear House and Wilson: It's okay to be hurt if a woman rejects you, and it's okay to be hurt if she's dating someone you consider a friend. It's even okay to be hurt if she's your friend and rejected your other friend.
You know what it's not okay to do? Punish her for not loving you.
Creeps.
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sarahtales
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I would be remiss in my author-ly duties if I did not point out to you that I was asked to do a Christmas post on some of my favourite things in one of my favourite book blogs, and that post is here.
I show myself to be a person of pretty low moral character, willing to commit murder for Megan Whalen Turner and everything.
I also talk about some of my favourite books of the past year and some in the year to come, and discuss the issue of reading books by people you know, which is something that happens more and more often when you do the writer thing.
You meet people! As for instance this small interlude in a cafe the summer before last.
CASSIE: Hi everyone, Sarah's turned up again, oh cupcakes. Sarah, have you met Maureen Johnson?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
CASSIE: Do you need me to open that bottle for you?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
MAUREEN: Um. Hi.
SARAH: *hearts in eyes*
MAUREEN: How're you doing?
SARAH: YOU DAZZLE ME.
I like Maureen's books a lot, okay? As you can see from this small bit of conversation, I am always super smooth when I meet awesome people. (There is one Famous and Acclaimed Author I hit in the head with a breakfast pastry. But I will never reveal which one! NEVER.)
But anyway, yes, reading books by people you know - scary, yet reassuring, sometimes like having a conversation with your friend. Sometimes like being DAZZLED by your friend! It is complicated.
Speaking of conversations with one's friends, I was having an interesting one with Justine Larbalestier yesterday.
Now we all know about fictional couples who we want to get together in books. (Mary and Colin from The Secret Garden got married when they grew up. Yes they did. It is a truth! A truth of my heart.)
But what about fictional couples who get together and who we don't believe in? Who you look at together and go 'Nah... it'll never last.' I've got to say, for me Jane Eyre and Rochester, they are going to break up. (Well, probably not given the time they were in, but I don't think they're going to be happy. Because they have a lot of chemistry, but Rochester is a crazy liar, y'all.)
ROCHESTER: Gosh, I have a crazy wife hidden in the attic who occasionally breaks out and sets fires. And I'd like to bigamously marry my governess. You know what this situation needs?
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: MORE COMPLICATIONS! I think I'll have a house party and have a fake engagement to a third lady. AS WELL as the secret crazy wife. And the bigamous marriage.
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: You're RIGHT! I'm not giving this a hundred per cent! What if I dress up as a gypsy woman and tell fake fortunes?
I'm just saying, Jane will come home one day and Rochester will have sold the children to pirates.
Justine believes in even fewer couples than I do. Which fictional couples do you guys think are doomed never to last?
It has been in some respects a tough year (though in other respects a truly marvellous and spiffy and amazing year) so I admit I have had a few thoughts about ringing in the changes in some sort of new and excellent way. So I have this page open which lists awesome cheap flights at all times. But, you know, I secretly knew that I was going to be home for New Year's because I hadn't made any proper plans yet.
Then yesterday I saw amazingly inexpensive flights to Boston. But I didn't really plan to go. I planned to consult with sensible friends.
PLANNED CONVERSATION!
SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: No, that seems unwise.
SARAH: You are right, what was I thinking? I am such a ninnyhammer.
ACTUAL CONVERSATION!
SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: Yes, good idea!
SARAH: Can I come see you as well?
HOLLY: Yes, I am very valiant and can put up with you! Bring a mask.
SARAH: ... Why?
HOLLY: I cannot reveal that at this time.
SARAH: WOW I SEEM TO BE ACTUALLY GOING TO BOSTON? I wonder what I will do there! Perhaps I will have an adventure?
I think I will have an adventure, you guys.
I have never been to Boston before! I am going to take notes on it for Secret Reasons. Can you, oh wise internet, tell me awesome things to do in Boston?
So my lovely people, I hope you are having an awesome run-up to Christmas! I also hope you will tell me awesome things to do in Boston, tell me about fictional couples you think are doomed, and most of all that you will like the Extra Christmas Bonus Excerpt of Demon's Covenant in my BookSmugglers post. (Oh, Nick. Of all the tall dark heroes in the world, you have the distinction of being the least charming of them all...)
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copperbadge
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So I totally didin't realise NCIS was new this week. Which is why Sam's Three Things are BELATED.
Spoilers for Episode 7.10, ( Faith )
3a. Okay normally I would mention how I absolutely DID NOT tear up at the end, with McGee and the Most Adorable Child Ever, but instead I have to say this: I watched the latest episode of Merlin last night as well, The Fires Of We're Not Nazguls, Really, We're Not, and the first ten minutes were the most awesome ten minutes of Merlin ever, followed by the most ridiculously stupid forty minutes ever (okay not the most ridiculously stupid of Merlin, though, that would be the fucking troll episodes).
OMG YOU GUYS DID YOU SEE MERLIN THROW HIM HIS SWORD THAT WAS TOTALLY BADASS AND THEN HE DRESSED MERLIN'S WOUNDS WITH HIS OWN. CLOTHES. AHAHAHA.
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Thursday, December 17th, 2009
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copperbadge
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I'm at R's for Wheel and he was telling me about meeting...A BLOGGER. And totally blowing his shot with her.
R: so she's a model AND a blogger. And we wre getting along really well. But I think I know when it went wrong.
Sam: When is that?
R: Well, she said she loves 90's music, and she kept talking about it. So I just said...Well, you could blog about it.
Sam: *Lols forever*
R: Do you think she took that the wrong way?
One of the people on Wheel, a submarine officer, introduced himself as an Underwater Nuclear Christian Warrior. We might have laughed a LOT.
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sickle_girl
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Streisand sayed it, Lea repeated it. Maybe my life is my parade. And the schedules, well they are a mess, we are completely delayed and theme changes and changes and keeps changing. And this parade needs improvement, but it is mine and I love it. And yes, I have to do some serious work with it.
Games and Obligation
Words. Leviathan dare, deadline December 20th. And since the same there is a Con I have to figure it all out by saturday
. Words. So many Glee related stuff.
Glee. Secret Santa. December 24th. DAMN
Glee. Icons, I want to make Icons. And the songs xD, I have to draw inspired in their voices. Lol to
" I bust the windows out your car You know I did it 'cause I left my mark Wrote my initials with the crowbar And then I drove off into the dark".
Just awesome. But seriously, Maybe this time, Defying Gravity, Don't rain on my Parade. Wonderful choice of songs ♥.
And let's end with a Sue Sylvester quote, shall we?
" Well, I'll tell you my secret, western Ohio. Sue Sylvester's not afraid to shake things up. You know, I'm tired of hearing people complain, "I'm riddled with this disease!" or "I was in that tsunami!" To them, I say "Shake it up a bit! Get out of your box! Even if that box happens to be where you're living." I'll often yell at homeless people. "Hey, how's that homelessness working out for ya? Give not being homeless a try, huh?"
"You know something, Ohio? It's not easy breaking out of your comfort zone. People will tear you down, tell you you shouldn't have bothered in the first place, but let me tell you something. There's not much of a difference between a stadium full of cheering fans and an angry crowd screaming abuse at you. They're both just making a lot of noise. How you take it is up to you. Convince yourself they're cheering for you. You do that, and someday, they will! ♥
Love and Glee
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
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copperbadge
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AHAHAHAHAHAA I THOUGHT I WAS GOING INSANE.
I decided that Domino's Pizza was not a healthy option in my life, so about two months back I stopped ordering it. Which really means I stopped eating pizza, mostly, because local pizza places are either too expensive or too shit (yes, shittier than Domino's, I know that takes effort) and Domino's is the only chain place that delivers to my area.
The night before I went traveling I decided, well, I can have one once in a while, and I ordered a Domino's pizza.
It tasted awful.
I thought, great. I've weaned myself off the one pizza I used to tolerate. Now I don't even like Domino's. The sauce is gross and what's up with the garlic salt on the crust?
THEN I SAW THIS. Dominos refomulated their entire pizza recipe.
They say it's only available in Ann Arbor, but it's definitely available at my local Domino's too, and it is foul. The sauce in particular is offputting (red pepper kick, not so much, too sweet, oh yes), and the garlic salt on the crust just tastes of grease.
BUT AT LEAST I'M NOT CRAZY.
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copperbadge
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I got my bloodwork back from my doctor yesterday, but I'd already posted a bunch so I didn't want to spam. I am reasonably healthy for someone who falls down a lot, though I am Vitamin D deficient (Vitamin D-ficient!) so she gave me a prescription. Let's recount the pills I now take on a daily basis:
4 Calcium (2 morning, 2 evening)
4 Naproxen Sodium (2 morning, 2 evening)
1 Vitamin D (evening)
1/2 - 1 Vicodin (evening as needed)
These are all prescribed by my doctors and in the correct doses, mind you. Finally my body is beginning to match my 83-year-old personality. All I need now is a cane and a pair of high-waisted trousers.
The doctor also thinks I should pre-emptively lean towards The Mediterranean Diet to keep up heart health since my family has a History. This particular dietary structure recommends a lot of bread, rice, potatoes, fruit, legumes, and nuts, and fish as the primary meat. This suits me to the ground and means I can eat a lot of sushi guilt-free.
I'm just going to politely ignore the bit about eating a shit-ton of vegetables, and buy more carrots.
Man they want me to eat a lot of olive oil though. How do you get that much olive oil in your system? There's only so much you can dunk in it, and I like hummus but it gets old fast.
Maybe I should just do a shot of it every now and then. I could call it the Greasy Martini. "It's a shot of olive oil...with an olive in it. Shaken, not stirred."
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
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hadesphoenix
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| Subject: | dude. |
| Time: | 8:32 pm. |
| Mood: |  tired. | | Music: | Yoko Kanno - "I Can't Be Cool". |
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I got into the Masters program for Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh. I'm so smug and pleased you have no idea. <3
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copperbadge
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MUM SENT ME GROCERIES.
I love her. She knows of my passion for bagelfuls!
(I would like to say that while I love brie, the "brie log" is ill-concieved. Too much rind. It's not bad, and it's convenient for cracker snacking, but you're better off buying a wheel.)
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copperbadge
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In the insanity of this morning, and of learning how to make ebooks (my curve is steep!) I almost forgot to tell the best story of my day.
Yesterday we got a flyer about a special deal that a few downtown hotels are offering to employees of downtown businesses. It was a little bit vague on the details, so I called the central number and asked a few questions. The woman I spoke to was SO PLEASED I was going to spread the word that she took down my name, company, and email address.
Cue an hour later, a rep from the hotel company shows up at the office and brings me a bag of candy and a GIFT CERTIFICATE for a free night's stay at one of the hotels, as a thank-you.
IT'S STAYCATION TIME.
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copperbadge
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I am upright! And coherent!
Okay, semi-coherent. But coherent enough to complete all my work tasks with a minimum of bewildered weeping.
Actually I have some very exciting stuff to share with you this morning.
First, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) 51stcenturyfox gave me a lovely early Christmas present -- www.extribulum.com. It's my very own domain name! Which is good 'cause damned if I know how to set stuff like that up. :D
Right now it redirects to my Lulu storefront, but I hope to badass up a website sooner or later. Thank you very much, Foxy! (She also wrote me a lovely poem about it.)
And, if you visit www.extribulum.com (link your friends! :D) you will notice that Nameless is now listed twice -- once at the top of the page and once at the bottom. This is because shezan poked me into action and Lulu provided the means to create an ePub file of Nameless. Yep -- you can now download Nameless, the e-book, and load it into the ePub reader of your choice.
Because a lot of people who have bought the book or downloaded the PDF would like it as an ePub, it seems a bit unfair to charge for it right off. The ebook will be free until the end of the month, at which point I'll raise the price to $3 (about $1.80 of that is profit; for some reason you can give the thing away, but if you charge for it Lulu takes a fair-sized chunk).
You guys will have to let me know how it looks, 'cause the Calibri e-reader's kind of buggy and tends to make random sentences disappear until you resize the screen, at which point it makes other random sentences disappear. :D
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sarahtales
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You will have to excuse me, you guys. It feels weird and awesome to have a cover for The Demon's Covenant to show you all. The new book, my brain is rejoicing. I get to have more than one! (My brain can be a little slow.)
Anyway, so: this is the UK cover for The Demon's Covenant. And I love eeet.
My publishers are so good, y'all. Because they are very kind to me, and because my UK covers are drawn and not photographic, I kept emailing them and saying 'Oh, could we have - could we change - could we fix-' and now I have this cover and they did not hire ninja assassins to come kill me with poison darts even once.
The title is going to be SILVER and it's going to be even more beautiful when it is REAL but for now - look, there's my girl! And I love it. I hope you love it too!
( The Demon's Covenant UK Cover )
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Monday, December 14th, 2009
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copperbadge
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I am home from the clinic! (for those of you reading on IJ and JF mirrors, I have a sprained/possibly torn MCL. No breaks!)
I'm to ice and elevate today. I got a prescription for vicodin and didn't check it before I filled it -- holy crap he gave me 30 500-mg tablets. So I'm taking half-tablets, which should be more than enough.
You can tell I was a little bit high when I filled the prescription. I bought vicodin, Calcium tablets (I was almost out), a spare Ace bandage, a toothbrush, two Snickers bars, and a jar of jam. I don't even remember buying the jar of jam.
I can't recommend Michigan Avenue Immediate Care highly enough, for those in Chicago who don't have a doctor or need to see a doctor NOW but don't want to go to the ER. I was seen within half an hour, they charge on a sliding scale so you can generally get fairly cheap medical care if you don't have insurance, and they have really nice doctors.
I did have to do the Walk Of Shame in my pyjamas, but that's why I wore pyjamas instead of just jeans, so I didn't have to keep taking off my pants; I could just wear my pjs and roll up the cuff. Undressing and taking off my shoes are the hardest thing right now.
I am going to go sit down forever.
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copperbadge
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Me to doc: can I put my pants back on?
Doc: let me wrap your knee and then you can pants it up!
I like this guy :D
Final diagnosis: Sprain of the MCL, I get an ace bandage, some PT stuff to do, and some vicodin. No fractures! I'm in a taxi on the way home.
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copperbadge
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Michigan Avenue Immediate Care are my favourite place I wish I didn't have to visit. Since the last time I was here they have installed free wifi for patients, and they offer free snacks (oranges, granola bars, etc) at the intake desk.
Leg still hurts this morning, but at least it's no worse. Other bruises are making themselves known. My doctor is going to look at me ( wearing loose pjs under my jeans, for modesty's sake) and lol his ass off. I wouldn't blame him one bit.
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Sunday, December 13th, 2009
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copperbadge
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I AM HOME. The shuttle took FOREVER because he decided to drive up Halsted. WHY? WHY NOT!
I am sitting in bed with my leg up on a pillow and an ice pack on it. Is anyone shocked I keep ice packs in the freezer for moments like this? Me neither.
The full story is, this morning I was going to walk my hosts' dog, because he loves me best and despite fearing the rain might actually pee if I walk him in it. So I was standing on the steps to their mud-room, and my host said, very clearly, "Be careful! The tile is slippery!"
"I will be extra-super-careful," I said, or words to that effect, and then put my foot down on the tile and tumbled headfirst to the ground.
I tried. I really did.
I'm sure the fall sounded worse than it was, considering I took a hall table with me and nearly took the dog out in the process. I'm sure I traumatised the poor dog, and probably my hosts as well. I felt ok at the time, so I picked myself up, walked the dog, carried my bag to the car, and went to the airport. I got on the plane, got a seat where I could elevate my leg, asked the flight attendant for an ice pack (btw, Southwest flight attendants are the coolest MacGyvers ever) and spent the entire two-hour flight elevating and icing in fifteen-minute increments.
When it came time to get off the plane, my knee felt...funny. And then it hurt. So I caught a shuttle home, yay door-to-door service, and put in a sick-call to work via email for tomorrow. I'd go to the ER tonight but I'd just sit there in uncomfortable dirty chairs for hours on end, when I could get a good night's sleep and go to the nice Immediate Care clinic tomorrow morning. I trust them more; they're the ones who had me see a specialist for my wrist after sending me off with a splint, when they didn't even have to call me again.
Dad Lucky thinks that it's either a really bad sprain or a fracture in the head of the tibia.
If my leg is broken again I'm going to laugh and weep simultaneously, just to scare the Immediate Care people. My New Year's Resolution was not to break any bones in 2010.
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copperbadge
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I am safe in Chicago once more, and waiting for my airport shuttle ride home. I'd take the El but I'm having trouble using my left leg. Stoooooory of my liiiiiife...
Ow.
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copperbadge
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It wouldn't be an ADVENTUR without peril, and I can't visit any city without falling down in it.
I'll tell the whole thing later but the short version is that I am fine, if rather sore. I'm at my gate waiting to fly out in about 90mins, so I am officially homeward bound. Keep safe out there in internets land!
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copperbadge
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Omg bruuuunch
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sarahtales
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So I worry about presents.
I used to worry about presents so much that I had to get them out of the way early. In the July sales, you would see little Sarah with her bowl haircut, solemnly shopping for Christmas presents. Had I waited for winter, I would have gone into a spiral of agony and self-doubt.
Much taller Sarah with much longer hair, i.e. me of the present day, does not have the organisational skills or the storage space to shop for Christmas presents in July. But I do generally spend November and December making anxious calls.
SARAH: Why can't you just tell me what you want! Anything! I'll buy you anything!
MY LITTLE BROTHER SAUL: Oh. Hmm. I'll have a... Well now. Okay. Give me a moment. Maybe-
SARAH: Yes? YES?
SAUL: Maybe I'll have to call you back.
MY LITTLE SISTER GENEVIEVE: But I've told you what I want. I keep telling you what I want.
SARAH: No, you haven't.
GENEVIEVE: I want a Team Jacob hoodie.
SARAH: I don't know why I keep forgetting that.
GENEVIEVE: If it's because you're Team Edward, you are NOT WELCOME HOME this Christmas.
My sister the ingrate aside, I had a much more important present to give out this year.
Obviously, all those who have read my book are my most favourite people in the world. This only makes sense. My most favourite people in the world deserve presents. Also very logical!
However I cannot find them all and ask for their addresses. So clearly a story present, then.
But! I worried to myself. When would be a good time to give them the story present? Obviously not on Christmas Day, as people would have better things to do than reading internet presents, like unwrapping their real presents and going 'A titanium suit of armour with inbuilt time-travel device! Awesome!' So I asked twitter, and they seemed to feel the thirteenth was a good day.
Today is the thirteenth.
So, this is a present for those who have already read The Demon's Lexicon: it is set eleven years before the book, but there are hints of things to come. So if someone hasn't read the book and hates spoilers, probably best to avoid. If one doesn't mind them and is minded to try the story (with a view to later reading The Demon's Lexicon and thus achieving the status of one of my most favourite people in the world) then they may go right ahead!
Should you guys like it, spread it 'round: I would like everyone who might enjoy it to read it, so my present reaches all those who want it.
And in Christmas and Demon's Lexicon news, people in the UK might be interested to know there is a Demon's Lexicon fan meet-up in London going on. I won't be there, but I will be sending presents!
For now, though, this present is for everyone.
And it comes with an illustration: the illustration is done by Entropy_Incarnate and not specifically for this story, but it does show the main characters as kids and thus I feel is appropriate!
( Tiny Baby Cuteness! With Knives )
This one's for my most favourite people in the world. I very much hope you enjoy it.
Nick's First Word: A Christmas Story.
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cheerful.
hungry.
happy.
grumpy.
sad.
cold.
amused.
okay.
sick.