shana

Writing progress...

2009-11-09T17:31:15Z

Well, so far I've managed an average page a day on my thing. I decided I really need to do first person, though, so that should make it easier to do; camera-eye is not an easy thing for me.

So far I've got one ninja attack/swordfight and some magic; cats and chocolate have been mentioned.

The spies and airships have yet to appear, and I don't know whether a plot will happen.

I'm not going to try to do a page today; I'll be at work until 9, but I should be able to catch up and get ahead of things later in the week; I have Veteran's Day off and took Thursday and Friday as vacation days.

slrose @ 2009-11-02T18:01:00

2009-11-02T23:02:57Z

View Poll: #1479976

slrose @ 2009-10-31T09:57:00

2009-10-31T13:57:58Z

Happy birthday redrose999!

slrose @ 2009-10-21T09:53:00

2009-10-21T13:52:59Z

Happy birthday to Ursula K. Le Guin!

slrose @ 2009-10-16T19:43:00

2009-10-16T23:51:47Z

Today is the kind of gray, clammy day that I think of as November.

I'm toying around with a story idea; I may play with it during the next few weeks while people are working on NaNoWriMo. I'm not going to try to do anything that substantial; if I can average a page a day I'll be more than happy.

My sinuses are not happy. I am going to go to bed early with Zenna Henderson for comfort reading, as my brain is not up to beta reading today. I hope tomorrow will be better. It's interesting that I decided to reread it before I went to Tor.com and discovered Jo Walton had done so last week.

slrose @ 2009-09-26T19:55:00

2009-09-27T00:12:26Z

A few days ago, someone linked to this Victorian virtual paper doll http://www.orbitbooks.net/soulless/

The tagline for the book ("SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking") sounded intriguing, and there was a copy of it in our library system, so I put in a request for it.

It came and I read it. It was a lot of fun; I like comedies of manners. I've ordered a copy of my own and friended gailcarriger, the author.

If you're looking for a dark and angsty book, this isn't the one you're looking for. But if you want an intelligent and competent heroine who doesn't hesitate to take action when she feels it is called for, even if it isn't quite what her mother would approve of, this is a lot of fun.

61 years ago...

2009-08-24T20:46:48Z

... at a judge's office in Philadelphia, my parents got married. They then went to Atlantic City for their honeymoon.

Initially his parents were appalled that my father was marrying a shiksa, but once they met her they loved my mother.

That's why my grandfather forged a religious marriage certificate for them.

We celebrated yesterday, with takeout from the Cheesecake Factory, my parents and brother and I.

Stressful day

2009-07-14T02:08:18Z

I had my physical this morning. No real problem. Then, after I left, the front bumper fell off my car. At least it waited until I was able to pull off the road into a parking lot before it did so.

It's sort of springy, so I was able to put it into the backseat of my car and headed for our service station. First calling work to warn them I might be late and my family to tell them what was up.

My brother got there at the same time I did; and told me they'd agreed to let me have the other car to go to work. So after I dropped him off at home, I went to lunch and to work.

They had it fixed not too long after I started work. So I arranged to take an early lunch break, picked up my brother at home and collected my car. They charged me for an hour of labor and a few dollars for parts. I was back to work in a hour.

Work was busy. We're going to be short handed for the next two weeks.

I need to unwind enough to sleep, as I have to be back at work in less than eleven hours.

slrose @ 2009-06-19T21:53:00

2009-06-20T01:56:13Z

Power outages are a pain.

We lost power for about an hour. Our whole apartment complex, and the ones we can see from our windows.

I used the light from my laptop screen to find the battery powered lamp, and once I had that I tracked down flashlights and candles. I was just about to go to bed early when the power came back.

Now I'll go to bed.

I've lost weight

2009-06-13T20:33:39Z

I'm not sure how much, because I haven't been weighing myself regularly.

But I was noticing that the sleeves of the red silk shirt I use as a pajama top were falling over my wrist and getting in the way if I didn't push them up. And I'd had to tighten my bra straps.

So I looked. I've lost in my upper arms. Also in my hips and thighs, but I wear petite-length pants, so I didn't notice. But the t-shirt that used to be snug around the hips now falls loosely. And my face is thinner. I still have a double chin, but now my cheeks don't look fat.

And it's been completely painless. I haven't been dieting, but I have been watching what I eat and trying to keep track of calories. I haven't been depriving myself.

I still need to increase my activity level; I'd like to have better endurance by the time Worldcon comes around.

slrose @ 2009-05-29T14:24:00

2009-05-29T18:34:25Z

I went to BEA at Javits Center this morning.

The last time it was in New York, the library sent a full contingent there. This time, no mention was made of it.

I had already taken this week as vacation time, so I decided to go. My time, my money. I did volunteer to drop business cards for some of the other people, though.

Last time there were LOTS of 'drop your business card here to win' things. This year, not so many. I dropped the most appropriate cards for each one, and left a few cards at other booths.

I did a once-over of the main show floor, then decided I was too tired to go down to the other hall where the children's stuff and other stuff was. I just took the tote bags I had collected and went home.

I now have a good supply of bags for grocery shopping, as well as book bags.

The best bags were definitely the McGraw Hill one (big, red, sturdy, with zippers) and the one from Chronicle Books (blue, nice pattern, waterproof, folds into a pocket.)

I'm definitely going to the chiropractor when she gets back from lunch.

Tomorrow we have relatives visiting, and Sunday's my father's birthday.

slrose @ 2009-05-16T16:15:00

2009-05-16T20:23:53Z

I still have a Dreamwidth invitation if anyone wants one.

Tree pollen is still bad, but at least the stuff that I'm most allergic to (birch and beech) washed away in the storms last week.

I am now up to half a brain -- enough to want to work on game stuff, but not enough to actually, you know, write anything good. I have the idea of what I want to say, but the words aren't working.

I'm going to try to limit my computer time this weekend. I'll be offline when the thunderstorms go through. (While I can still use the laptop, we take down the network in storms. Just in case.) But my back has been bothering me. If I can get it feeling better, tomorrow I'll go visit with the twins and their parents. But right now a 75 mile drive doesn't sound appealing.

slrose @ 2009-05-01T18:22:00

2009-05-01T22:27:19Z

I apologize to anyone I owe email or tags to; allergies have eaten my brain. I'll try to get caught up this weekend; feel free to nag me by email. I'm not deliberately ignoring you, but I may have forgotten stuff.

I don't intend to do anything with my Dreamwidth account at the moment, other than claim my name, but I have some invitation codes if anyone wants one.

slrose @ 2009-03-31T20:34:00

2009-04-01T00:50:51Z

I know it was a discussion on lj -- probably a month or two ago -- that led me to reserve Michelle Sagara's Cast in Shadow. I had to wait for it -- only one copy in the county.

I don't know how long it's been since a new book has gripped me and made me get the whole series. And read it twice. I've been reading favorite authors and re-reading old favorites for months, but Cast in Shadow gripped me and I had to finish it. Fortunately it was Friday when I got the next two, so it didn't matter that I stayed up until two reading. I bought the fourth one yesterday, and I'm just about finished my second run through it.

I'm running a low-grade fever; I don't have any other definite symptoms, though. I think this is what my mother had this weekend. At least I can sleep late tomorrow; my boss asked me to take the late shift for her.

Better...

2009-03-26T00:57:32Z

I'm feeling better, but I'm going to be careful about what I eat for a couple of days.

It was busy at work today, but I made it through the day.

I'm tired, though. I'm going to try to get to bed early and hope tomorrow will be better.

Sick

2009-03-24T18:58:50Z

Stomach bug. Left work early, managed to get home safely.

Low grade fever, chills. So far the chicken soup I had a little while ago is staying down.

Going back to bed. Don't worry if you don't hear from me for a bit.

Lunacon

2009-03-21T02:13:31Z

This woman had an awesome steampunk wheelchair. I asked her if there were pictures, and she told me: http://steampunktinman.livejournal.com/

Lunacon...

2009-03-20T02:00:43Z

...starts tomorrow.

It's my local con, a twenty minute drive -- which is good because I have a lot to do tomorrow; packing, errands, chiropractor and getting my hair done.

But once we get to the hotel, there should be a little time to relax and recover before the running around starts. I will be checking email whenever I go back to the room; I'm hoping that maybe there will be a game update or tag...

I'm going to try to make the lj meet and greet. I'll try to be there when it starts, and cut out if it gets too crowded for me. I reallly don't like being in a mob of people. I'm not sure what the technical term for it is.

Time to get ready for bed, because tomorrow is going to be busy.

Five years ago today...

2009-03-18T19:18:37Z

...I picked up my new car, my first.

An Ice Blue Saturn L-300.

It's paid for now; I'm just waiting for the paper confirmation that it's MINE, ALL MINE from GMAC.

Home...

2009-03-13T00:31:34Z

... and after 10 hours away from a computer it's amazing how much I have to catch up on.

My new computer arrived yesterday, and I have begun to download the stuff I want to put on it. (Ye gods the patches on NWN2 are HUUGE! I hope the game is worth the trouble.)

Today I went down to NJ to visit Suzanne and the twins. The babies were intent on eating, with short play breaks. She'd nurse one while I gave a bottle to the other. I left a little earlier than I'd planned, but the babies were both asleep, so I told Sue to take a nap while she could.

Dave said hello when he got in, then went to bed. The babies had kept them up most of the night.

They've gotten bigger and heavier and wigglier; they can almost hold their heads up by themselves now. It won't be too much longer before they won't stay where they're put.

I'm going to try to catch up on lj and usenet and go to bed. The new computer can wait.

slrose @ 2009-03-06T19:09:00

2009-03-07T00:20:56Z

We started the day at work with training in the new computerized interlibrary loan system. We had the hour before the library opened, during which we went over the book procedures, then we had to leave the computer room and three of us adjourned upstairs to our office to go over the procedure for articles. That took about another half hour.

Then I spent two hours creating forms to give the patrons, so that they will have all the correct information, and writing up the procedure in a simple fashion. I emailed the procedure write up to the teacher, she made one clarification, and I passed out copies to my boss, the branch manager, and the other departments.

Alas, I have reluctantly decided I'm not quite well enough to go visit the babies this weekend. I have next Thursday off, because I'm working Saturday, so I'll go see them then.

Also, for those who haven't heard from other sources, Marilee is in the hospital; her friend Steve has set up a forum here: http://tenuousnet.myfastforum.org/forum1.php with information and updates.

slrose @ 2009-03-05T13:30:00

2009-03-05T18:44:18Z

It looks like I got the antibiotic either just in time or a bit late; I was wondering why everyone was complaining about the cold at work yesterday when I was feeling warm. When I got home I realized I was running a low-grade fever. (Over 99 F counts as low-grade fever for me; I know it's in the normal range for some people but I run low.)

I registered for BEA; the last time it was in New York the library sent people to it, this year it is highly unlikely they'll spend the money. The dates fall in my already-requested vacation time, so I'll just go on my own nickel. I should pick up enough tote bags to make it cost-effective.

I am a bear of very little brain today; fortunately I can function well enough to work since I'm on the late shift.

I will be checking lj regularly even though I only have brains for fluff.

Better today

2009-03-04T19:17:19Z

Well, the antibiotic hasn't actually kicked in yet, but my colleague with the broken hip was back today!

Patrons were commenting on my cheerful smile this morning, because I was so glad she was back. We had pizza for lunch.

Those on my f-list who are into fandoms might want to look at this: http://community.livejournal.com/springfluff and either make or fulfill a request.

Snow day

2009-03-02T21:29:40Z

Well, they closed the library. I got the call from my boss at ten this morning. Before that, they'd announced a delayed opening -- for one pm, the time I normally start on Mondays. But they were sensible, at last. We've got somewhere between eight and twelve inches of snow, and they were reporting hundreds of accidents on the roads.

My colleague with the broke hip was planning to start back today; I hope she waits a few more days, now, even though we miss her.

We've been staying in, napping and resting and answering phone calls. I'm feeling rotten, but I always do during storms. I'll call the doctor tomorrow about my sinus infection.

My big laptop has been glitching for a while, and I've been using George (my Eee) more of the time. So I ordered a replacement for the big laptop. Not quite as big, but this one will be able to run Neverwinter Nights 2, which the old one can't.

Storm coming...

2009-03-01T16:30:20Z

Well, at least the real snow storm isn't coming until after my brother leaves. He's catching an earlier train than he'd plannned, and that's the only time I plan to leave the house today. I'd rather I drove than my dad, in this weather.

At least it is going to be heavy enough that they should close the library tomorrow. The conservative estimate is six inches, the worst is fourteen, total, from the storm.

I'm definitely feeling 'under the weather'. I can't tell you how long it took me to realize that there was no point in making plans for getting stuff done on stormy days; I'm going to feel rotten until the storm passes. I don't know how this is going to combine with my sinus infection, but I doubt it will be fun.