I love the whole world.. no place I'd rather be..

Have spent most of the time fiddling with this new iPad finding free books to download, including Bronte and Austen novels that I have read over and over. Maybe 2012 will be the year I *finally* read something by Dickens, given that I finally found out there an underlying theme in his writing of the socio-economic conditions of Victorian England.

http://www.openculture.com/2011/12/fill_your_new_kindle_ipad_iphone_with_free_ebooks_movies_audio_books_courses_more.html

which means I'll probably be plundering this site.

any apps you'd like to recommend? I'm always looking for new Shiny Things, including that app that Xeni from BoingBoing showed off for Rachel back when the iPad first came out (which I'd really like to find.

*in case you're not familiar with the shortened terms, that's my biological dad I'm referring to, the 'wfw' referring to my favorite twitter handle from ages ago. it just stuck in my brain.

I have finally found a non-Starbucks coffee/tea shop that I feel comfortable sitting in for hours, with or without company. They have cute mugs with different kinds of cocoa (spicy, rather sweet, with/without whipped cream), the best kind of cookie I have ever tasted (s'more!). It's a good place to sketch, think, knit (squishy couches and chairs!) and best of all, it's not too far from campus.

Making it a ritual to end a week of classes with a cup of cocoa/tea there, then a stop at one of the two branches of the city library. I'll get plenty of rows knit this way, I think.

And on another somewhat related note, I have a good feeling that I'll be returning to this post at least once a week for awhile, and when I get into a nasty rut I'll shove myself toward this part of the Internets.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html

This is now part of the slowly growing lists of 'Distracting Things to Do and Read and Make when Tea needs to be distracted.'

And One more thing: Three Days Until NaNoWriMo! and I have the seeds of an idea. And I think it's going in either a SciFi/Fantasy route or I'll be reattempting/twisting the Commune idea. those characters are chattering quite a bit.

He was born two days before my 21st birthday. Even after chewing on my mouse, knitting project, and bottle of acne medicine. I just can't.

It just hits me how much of a baby he still is, if that makes it less irrational? Oh yeah, I'm still correcting him and attempting to teach commands, but yeah.

In not-puppy news, it is all shirozora's fault that I'm attempting to draw Keith in an Iron Man costume, smirking/flirting with a Captain America costumed!Anderson. and writing Steve/Tony in my head.

Stepdad has this tradition of getting a new golden retriever when one dies, because he keeps them in twos and likes them to keep each other company. I have no beef with this, they're usually sweet dogs.

so imagine my surprise when he shows me this puppy and one just like it and says 'we'll be getting this kind of dog, if the application goes through.'

and then to have the immediate reaction of 'I thought I was a cat person, now I *really* want this puppy.'

the name 'Quasar' may have to go though.

I seem to swinging wildly from "what the fuck am I doing?" to "I know exactly what I want to do."

both are alright as long as I can eventually think it through. Both prompt me to pursue researching, endlessly learning things. Which is good if I want to write, right?

you get all the brownie points if you understand this post.

Once upon a time, a man climbed to the top of the tallest mountain and found the closest star. He asked the star why it had come so close when the view was better from higher up. The star told him about gods who lived high up, and how they had lost sight of what it meant to live.
( Read more... )

I seem to possess the ability to fixate on old works-in-progress that I'm sure no one is interested in reading, while prompts left for me recently lay ignored in some corner of my brain.

also I need to not fixate on twitter trends. bad for my health.

Is it weird I like listening to the Harry Potter books more than reading them?

There are actually several series I've read over and over I prefer listening to than reading quietly. Something about the magic of having someone read a good story out-loud makes it more enjoyable, especially if the author gives voices to the memorable characters that match up with that particular character (ex: a high, cold tone for the villain, a booming voice for giants and tall characters).

It doesn't hurt that it helps me keep my hands busy, I have a pair that tends to fidget, tug hair until it hurts, etc. So while someone weaves a story and breathes life to wonderful words, I can clean, sketch, brew tea, bake, etc.

I'd like to hear from you, my circle, on the subject of audiobooks. or tell me about your favorite memories of discovering a book series on your own or from someone reading it to you?

This is the part of summer where I *really* hate being female-bodied. Really really really hate it. And that's not including the cat-calls and stares and creepers when I decide to show bare arms & wear a tanktop. Heaven-fucking forbid the world knows I'm a DD. just one of the perks of not being a girl, as my brain is happy to point out when I'm sweltering under a t-shirt & bra.

And people wonder why I'm the person in the group without a tan at summer's end.

Goddamnit Keith, I hope you say something soon on twitter because a short burst of a send-off without pre-warning is just a fucking- ARGHHH

I'm more angry than sad, but the sad of 'I don't have Oddball to bring Sportscenter catchphrases and stupid puns' to look forward to after a long day of whatever way that day was filled? that sad will come later I think.

fuck. fuck. FUCK.