So Today Was My Birthday

I had spent my entire weekend at Geek.kon, so I was already there when I woke up. My friends and I signed up for a Tea Party where we had to solve a mystery. The Tea Party was on an airship with a time engine. The Time Engine broke so the airship can only go back in time and not forward and the professor who created and manned the airship disappeared into the time stream. So it was up to us, the guests, to figure out where and when the professor landed. I take pride in the fact that I was the one who guessed correctly.

What made it better was my having my sonic screwdriver on me. People asked why I couldn't fix the engine with that, and I said it didn't work on gears. Even so, I felt like the Doctor. And the family sitting next to me agreed. It was a good way to start the morning.

Then we went to the boffer room, where we got to hit people with foam weapons. Hitting people with foam weapons = all sorts of fun. Enough said.

Earlier in the weekend, my friends and I were oogling Tasty Peach Studios. I had my eye on three pairs of earrings but could only buy one. My friends bought the other two as presents for me.

Aren't they all sorts of adorable?

Other cool things at the con involved my playing Mega Man II in the game room. Mega Man is the video game of my childhood, so it was all sorts of nostalgic (and an excellent distraction for my friends to sneak away to buy said presents). Then there was a concert by I Fight Dragons which was fun. This was cut short by our need to return to campus.

Upon arrival to my room, I found several things. The first was my Computer Actual, with printing capabilities and a DVD drive and a really big screen and kind of in need of a new keyboard. But I love it even though the webcam is glitching. I didn't realize how much of a luxury a  large screen is until I was using a Netbook for a long time. Mom and Dad also sent along an antique tea set from Japan they got as a gift when they got married. You could call this a form of regifting, but I think after so many years it becomes a moot point. Either way, I had half a pot of green tea as I read for creative writing after dinner. It was good tea in a good pot. And now I have to host a tea party.

My roommates also gave me a few presents. I love my roommates. And I love my friends. But most of all, I love my family. We know each other so well.

My Semester this Spring

Started classes at Madison this week.  Also started work.  My weeks so far include leaving the house at 8am and coming home past 8pm.  Which makes for long days, but there's quite a bit of downtime in there.  Of course, with the semester just starting out, I'm using the downtime to do other things, like run errands and compare book prices and such.  For those interested, here's what my academic schedule includes:

Introduction to Production

Communication Arts 355

- Two lectures and two labs per week

- Light Journal (1 min, 16mm, black and white)

- Found Storyboard (approx 12 frames, photographed or drawn)

- Observational Documentary (5 min, digital, color)

American Literature

English 217

- two power lectures and a discussion per week

- 2 written responses (1-2 pages each)

- 2 papers

- midterm and final

American Film After 1970

Communication Arts 552

- two papers

- midterm and final

Intermediate Fiction Workshop

English 301

- 2 short stories (10 page and 15 page minimum)

- critique letters to peers

- reading responses

I'm most looking forward to the Production class and the Fiction Workshop class, mostly because they're hands on crafts and I like doing stuff instead of just learning about stuff.  But American Literature should keep be busy on the reading front and American Film should keep me occupied in terms of films.  We're going to be watching some awesome movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner and even The Hurt Locker.  That one I'm excited about.

And of course, my extra curriculars!

Working Title

Student Creative Writing Workshop

- weekly critiques

- weekly Inspiration Trips

WUD Publications Committee

Student Union committee involvement

I've been in Working Title for a while, and I intend to get more involved in PubCom (what we call it).  Working Title is a sub-section of PubCom.  A little more than a year ago, I was informed about a FlashFiction website PubCom was hosting.  I did submit something to this site, but I never really got a response from them.  So my plan is to revive this site and give students on campus more opportunities to get their work published.  I also wouldn't mind backing raising awareness about Illuminations and Souvenirs.  I may have some qualms against Illuminations, but they're still a good opportunity for students.  

It may not be a professional publisher, but at least it's getting student work out there.  And it's also something to put on a resume that you were published somewhere that gets views.  Of course, that will involve an entire campus-wide marketing campaign and asking professors and TAs to promote the site.  But I can talk to some people in the English department, I'm sure they'll be on my side.

And, of course, I have a job.  It fits somewhere between all of this.  Actually, it's the reason I'm getting home so late in the evening.  At least in the middle of the week.  I don't work Fridays to Mondays, so that's four days off for other things, like homework and writing.  I'm trying to see the positive of that but these past two days have been long and hard.  I wanted to make homemade stir fry last night, but that's going to have to wait until tomorrow.  I can wait.  I'll make myself.

Semester Goals:

- Write more short stories to create a repertoire to submit to various online magazines and publishing companies.

- Direct a lot of time to academic studies

Writers Write and I Quietly Panic

John Scalzi over at the Whatever blog posted an article today that I wholeheartedly agree with.  I have no further comments on the matter because he pretty much sums them up in the entire body of the article.

Now, I would address my own problems of procrastination, but I'm going to make the excuse that I'm about to depart for the other side of the world in a few days and sort of panicking in a very quiet making-paper-cranes-and-watching-documentaries-on-the-universe sort of way.  (Interesting documentaries too; there was one about time travel).

Bookworm Questionnaire

1. Favorite childhood book?

I didn't really read much as a child, but I remember particularly liking The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.

2. What are you reading right now?

There are several books.  There is a large collection of Ray Bradbury stories that I'm reading whenever I run out of things to read.  Otherwise, I'm dividing my time between Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, The Last Colony by Johns Scalzi (not my choice, I left it in Madison last weekend), and Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

Y: The Last Man vol. 5.  That is currently my only hold.

4. Bad book habit?

I'm guilty of looking ahead to see how many chapters are in a book.  Depending on how into the book I am, I'll read the first sentence of each chapter in backwards order until I get to my current spot in the book.  Horrible thing to do, really.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Summer Knight by Jim Butcher, 2061: Odyssey Three by Arthur C. Clark, and Y: The Last Man vols. 3 and 4.  All are due to go back to the library shortly because all but Y were just sitting in my room.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

No.  I'm interested in renting one to try it out, but I haven't seen any services that do that yet.  I don't have an opinion until I try it out because I'm interested.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Ha.  Usually, it's one at a time.  But my current predicament is contradicting this statement.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

No.  I still read when I can, write when I can.  Now I can write random things to the public.  Hello, Public.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

Probably Mainstream by Jay Lake.  I couldn't finish it because I couldn't get a sense of story from the main character.  Couldn't establish myself in this strange clock-punk world.  We also had to read Robinson Crusoe for my British Literature before 1750 class.  

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

Truthfully, my sense of time is askew.  The question asked "this year" and I could only think as far back as last May when summer started.  So I don't have an answer for you.  Instead, I'll just say Old Man's War by John Scalzi because I like the humor and the universe.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

I guess not very often.  There was one time where a friend recommended a romance book because she thought I would like it.  I did, but I thought the sex was kind of pointless.  Hence why I don't read romance often.  And I guess Harry Dresden is a bit out of my comfort zone being a mystery.  Anything for school is a bit out of my comfort zone as well.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

If there's adventure and action with a science fiction twist, it'll tickle my fancy.  I'm also prone to reading about leading ladies in medieval-esque worlds such as Tamora Pierce's Tortall series and Kristin Cashore's Graceling.  If I'm the one that stumbled across it and found it intriguing, I'll consider it in my comfort zone.  And if I'm intrigued and hear good things about it, I'll also read it on my own too.

13. Can you read on the bus?

Yes and no.  When the bus is accelerating and going at a constant speed, yes.  When it's braking, no.  I don't usually read on the bus anyway.  Why read when I can people watch?

14. Favorite place to read?

The living room couch in my parents' house.  Also my papasan chair, my bed, and anyplace else that will allow me to recline and has good lighting.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

Please give it back at a reasonable time.  If you don't, I'll bug you forever and a day.  

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Only if I REALLY like a passage.  Otherwise, I'm totally against it.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

Not yet.  I've been tempted to go back and edit a few grammar mistakes I've caught though.

18. Not even with text books?

I buy those pre-highlighted.  I'm sneaky like that.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

It is currently English because I can understand it.  But I would also like to read aloud French even though I can't understand it.  And I LOVE listening to Japanese.  I think it's such a beautiful language.

20. What makes you love a book?

I couldn't tell you.  I love American Gods by Neil Gaiman because of the subtle ways of storytelling, but I also love 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clark.  Then there's the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi.  I wanna say . . . characters.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

How awed I feel about it after reading it.  I satisfied I feel about it afterwards.  Whether I think a certain person will like it or not.  Something like that.

22. Favorite genre?

Adventure/science fiction

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you didn't?)

Steampunk.  Gotta read more of that some day.

24. Favorite biography?

I haven't read one of those out of Wikipedia since elementary school.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Maybe.  I have a I Hope You Dance book in my room that I re-read whenever I feel like it.

26. Favorite cookbook?

Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child only because I like the movie so much.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

I can appreciate the art and intricacies of Paradise Lost (John Milton).  It takes a ton of not-thinking to do that.  I feel sorry for his daughters.  Furthermore, I enjoy the discussions and the arguments that can be made from this single epic.  I also like how the words are woven and how certain things are made to be eye-catching.  Despite all this awesomeness, I can't stand the damn thing.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman.  

28. Favorite reading snack?

Crunchy finger-snacks like popcorn or crackers or chips.  Anything that requires one hand to eat.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I don't read critics.  I find their views distort my views and I don't like that.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

I prefer people didn't.  But if I'm so mad at a book that I have to publicly rat it out to strangers, it must be a pretty bad book.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

Japanese.  It's so pretty.  And I'm a quiet fan of Japanese literature.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

Paradise Lost by John Milton.  Seriously.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

35. Favorite Poet?

Lee Young-Li.  We had to read one of his books in Creative Writing 300 last semester.  It was gorgeous.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

2-3 depending on what they are. A bit more if I'm reading a graphic novel in installments.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?

Once in a while.  It's more common than I think, I guess.

38. Favorite fictional character?

39. Favorite fictional villain?

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

Anthologies.  I'm also a quiet fan of anthologies.  They're short and simple and one sitting is all they need.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.

I actually don't keep track of this.  I read when I read.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

Mainstream by Jay Lake.  I think I mentioned this before.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

The television.  I don't like the TV being on when I'm reading in the same room.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

I don't pay attention to these.  I like judging a film by it's quality as a film and not as a book-turned-film.  I can write a whole blog post about this.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

See previous answer.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

Maybe $30.  It could have been $50 when I was in high school.  

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

I've never heard of people doing this until this questionnaire.  But it sounds like it ruins the book before you read.  Is that how critics read so they can take in more in one reading?

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Lack of connection, personal schedule, slow-moving developments, annoying characters, or any combination of these.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

They are currently in boxes sorted between "hardcover" and "softcover" and "manga and comics".  When I get them to my shelving unit in Madison, they will be organized by author's last name.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

I prefer to rent them, myself.  Libraries are awesome.  But when I buy a book, I buy it for keeps or as a gift.  

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Obvious romance books.  Twilight (even though it's in aforementioned boxes).  

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Mainstream.  I keep coming back to that, don't I.  It was my most recent disappointment, that's why.  But there's this one part in there that I don't understand, and it's too gross to really write about here.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

In a small way, both American Gods by Neil Gaiman and 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clark I expected to not like.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

Mainstream.  Seriously?  Clock-punk?  It's almost as intriguing as steampunk!  Also, Pendragon: the Quillan Games by D.J. MacHale.  I hated Bobby in that one.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

Harry Potter and Ray Bradbury short stories.  They're my backups whenever I need something to read.  Also, the Immortals quartet by Tamora Pierce.  It's my favorite of hers.