'Twas the night before Christmas

And all through the house
The only thing stirring was the computer mouse.

The stockings were scattered hither and there
And I was desperately hoping no one would be here.

The cat was all snuggled up in his bed
With visions of kibbles going 'round in his head.

And Hubby in his boxers and I in my shirt
Were gaming away and feeling quite pert.

When out in the yard there arose such a clatter
I jumped from my chair to see what was a matter.

Away to the door I ran like the Flash
Yanked open the sucker and gave my foot a good bash.

The moon reflected off the tarp like Canadian snow
Which gave off a good glare to see what was below.

When, what to my disbelieving eyes should appear
But one lazy old tom gorging on leftover beer.

I wandered back in the house with aplomb
And I muttered about tossing some f-bombs.

I shreiked in fright scaring hubby a bit
Realizing that I'd forgotten St. Nick.

You see, he was coming and the house was a mess
It seemed that my life was destined for stress.

I scoured and cleaned, washing dishes like mad
Hoping hubby would jump up and help just a tad.

He was gaming away, lost in the WarCraft
And I told my mom this and she totally laughed,"

You know the young man is oblivious to
Any cleaning or house chores that you need to do."

I continued my mission, making everything neat
And definitely taking time for a treat.

Finally the house was well scoured and cleaned
And I passed out on the couch, listening to the clicking.

The next morning the stockings were stuffed clear up full
And the tree was finally found under the packages and yanked out with a good pull.

We picked up the papers, hauling out the trash with shear might
and at the bottom of the pile a note was located that made everything all right.

"Merry Christmas to all and To All A GOOD NIGHT."

Christmas Season is Hell in Retail

Druid 44% Combativeness, 60% Sneakiness, 82% Intellect, 58% Spirituality

Sneaky, cunning, and spiritual: You are a Druid! Druids work with nature to cast their spells and favor balance over extremes. They're shapeshifters, capable of taking the forms of natural creatures. While they don't always deal well with people, they do have animal companions to come to their aid. You are probably intelligent, spiritual, and more than a little deceptive. Fortunately, your lack of violent tendencies means you are also likely to be level-headed.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Combativeness You scored higher than 99% on Sneakiness You scored higher than 99% on Intellect You scored higher than 99% on Spirituality

Link: The RPG Class Test written by MFlowers on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

50 Sci Fi novels

50 Significant SF/F Novels
This is a list of the 50 most significant science fiction/fantasy novels, 1953-2002, according to the Science Fiction Book Club. Bold the ones you've read, strike-out the ones you hated, italicize those you started but never finished and put an asterisk beside the ones you loved.


* 1. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

*2. The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov

*3. Dune, Frank Herbert

4. Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein

5. A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin

6. Neuromancer, William Gibson

7. Childhood's End, Arthur C. Clarke

8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick

*9. The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley

10. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

11. The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe

12. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller, Jr.

*13. The Caves of Steel, Isaac Asimov

14. Children of the Atom, Wilmar Shiras

15. Cities in Flight, James Blish

*16. The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett

17. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison

18. Deathbird Stories, Harlan Ellison

19. The Demolished Man, Alfred Bester

20. Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany

*21. Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey

22. Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card

23. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Stephen R.
Donaldson

24. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman

25. Gateway, Frederik Pohl

*26. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling

*27. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

28. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson

*29. Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice

30. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin

31. Little, Big, John Crowley

32. Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny

33. The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick

34. Mission of Gravity, Hal Clement

35. More Than Human, Theodore Sturgeon

36. The Rediscovery of Man, Cordwainer Smith

37. On the Beach, Nevil Shute

38. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke

39. Ringworld, Larry Niven

40. Rogue Moon, Algis Budrys

41. The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien

42. Slaughterhouse-5, Kurt Vonnegut

43. Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson

44. Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner

45. The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester

46. Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein

47. Stormbringer, Michael Moorcock

48. The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks

49. Timescape, Gregory Benford

50. To Your Scattered Bodies Go, Philip Jose Farmer

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause.

Captain Jack Sparrow		83%
Batman, the Dark Knight		83%
Maximus		71%
William Wallace		58%
The Terminator		58%
James Bond, Agent 007		54%
Indiana Jones		50%
Lara Croft		50%
El Zorro		46%
Neo, the "One"		42%
The Amazing Spider-Man		42%

Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com

Oh look, a quiz

Proteus 33% Extroversion, 46% Intuition, 72% Emotiveness, 23% Perceptiveness

Changing your shape to suit your situation, you are most like Proteus. More than anything else, you need to be wanted. You have a very strong work ethic, and are very adaptable, but are often unappreciated. You develop very strong personal loyalties, and will often maintain these personal relationships at a great expense to yourself. Convention and conformity are very important to you, and you find deviations from either to be very inappropriate. You tend not to burden those around you with your own problems. Famous people like you: Mother Theresa, Jimmy Carter

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Extroversion You scored higher than 99% on Intuition You scored higher than 99% on Emotiveness You scored higher than 99% on Perceptiveness

Link: The Greek Mythology Personality Test written by Aleph_Nine on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

I Have Enjoyed the Day

I have celebrated my birthday this week. I have spent time at the county fair. I will have worked (by the end of the week) my butt off. So far, life is good.

Oh, and there is nothing more entertaining when you've got the time to stare than to watch old metal heads try to rock out. *Giggle*

What D&D Character Are You?

I Am A: Chaotic Good GnomeBard Ranger


Alignment:
Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.


Race:
Gnomes are also short, like dwarves, but much skinnier. They have no beards, and are very inclined towards technology, although they have been known to dabble in magic, too. They tend to be fun-loving and fond of jokes and humor. Some gnomes live underground, and some live in cities and villages. They are very tolerant of other races, and are generally well-liked, though occasionally considered frivolous.


Primary Class:
Bards are the entertainers. They sing, dance, and play instruments to make other people happy, and, frequently, make money. They also tend to dabble in magic a bit.


Secondary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.


Deity:
Finder Wyvernspur is the Chaotic Neutral god of the cycle of life and the transformation of art, although he leans heavily towards Good. He is also known as the Nameless Bard. Followers of Finder believe that everything must change in order to grow and thrive. Their preferred weapon is the bastard sword.


Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy ofNeppyMan (e-mail)


Detailed Results:

Alignment:
Lawful Good ----- XXXX (4)
Neutral Good ---- XXXXXX (6)
Chaotic Good ---- XXXXXXX (7)
Lawful Neutral -- XX (2)
True Neutral ---- XX (2)
Chaotic Neutral - (-1)
Lawful Evil ----- (-1)
Neutral Evil ---- (-1)
Chaotic Evil ---- XX (2)

Race:
Human ---- (-2)
Half-Elf - XXXX (4)
Elf ------ XXXXX (5)
Halfling - (-4)
Dwarf ---- (0)
Half-Orc - (-2)
Gnome ---- XXXXXX (6)

Class:
Fighter - (-3)
Ranger -- XXXXXX (6)
Paladin - (-3)
Cleric -- (-2)
Mage ---- (-1)
Druid --- XX (2)
Thief --- (-2)
Bard ---- XXXXXXX (7)
Monk ---- (-2)

Heat Wave

I've noticed that there isn't a gradual build up into summer around here. It's a week of humidity at 75 degrees and then POW! it's a hundred or higher from then on.

In protest we put up the pool.

I received my first sunburn of the summer.

And it was very nice.

Trains

You're the Ghost Train!

You often feel that you're the subject of songs, legends, and
even myths. But are you really feeling something real or is this just an
overactive imagination? Is something really calling to you in the great
beyond or do you just really like Halloween? Only you can answer this
question, howling through the darkness as you have been known to do. Maybe
you've spent too much time in philosophy classes, but you're not even really
sure that you exist. This is only part of the reason that you tend to scare
other people.


Take the Trains and Railroads Quiz
at RMI Miniature Railroads.

Viva le France

You're France!

Most people think you're snobby, but it's really just that
you're better than everyone else. At least you're more loyal to the real
language, the fine arts, and the fine wines than anyone else. You aren't
worth beans in a fight, unless you're really short, but you're so good at other
things that it usually doesn't matter. Some of your finest works were
intended to be short-term projects.


Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

College?

You're the University of Chicago!

A bit stuffy and pretentious, you definitely think you're
superior to most of those around you. At the same time, you live in a terrible
part of town and have even gone through a rather large Goth phase. Instead of
trying to resolve these conflicts in a social setting, you prefer to hole up on
your own and study the roots of the issues. Your basement is rather unsafe, and
in your backyard you have a little gravestone marked "Fun".


Take the University Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Book Quiz

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared
to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do
understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once
brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in
the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you
additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Now That I'm Here

I can't think of anything I want to write. Let me contemplate....

Sorry that blogger was having a brain fart - I couldn't really access anything for 3 days.

Oh, I know, Music.

Have you ever noticed how productive you are when music is playing? What about different kinds? Soundtracks, country, blues, alternative, goth. Every one of them puts me in a different frame of mind. Or maybe takes me out of a frame of mind. I do know it's darned difficult to write mellow and light when I'm listening to LOTR's orc/ogres theme and I can't get too worked up when the hobbit number has a showing. The elven bits get my fingers moving but the actually fellowship keeps them moving.

When I'm mad I end up housecleaning to B.B. King or Rob Zombie. Once my mood lightens up I find things like Garbage or The Dresden Dolls keep me moving. Country keeps me awake in the car usually as does Tom Petty. Soundtracks are my splurge zone though. I love a soundtrack for any number of reasons and usually they cover whatever emotional zone I'm in. The other nice thing? Many times if the soundtrack is good I can remember the scene in the movie where it was playing.

Right now? I know it is the mines of moria "A walk in the dark". Excuse me, the tracks actually called "A Journey in the Dark" I think I'm going now because the bridge scene always stirs me up.

"All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music." - Walter Pater

Books - The More the Merrier

Meh - Barbara Taylor Bradford / Unexpected Blessings

Whohoo! - Naomi Novik / The Black Powder War

To Be Read - Steve Alten / The Loch

Websites That Have Sucked Me In:

Paperback Writer

and

Destress Toy of the Day:

Music - Dresden Dolls

Every Day

Stream of conciousness? I don't know that I can handle that kind of post. I like to have all my answers all thought out and "ducks all in a row." It is hard because I want to write. Really write. I want to have a novel in my hands that I wrote. I don't know that its possible.

Well, it could be if I stopped doubting myself. Sometimes I have to wonder if it is possible that my background caused this writer's block. Something about being the oldest child, the most responsible. The one who Had To Take The Important (Practical) classes. Maybe my imagination just needs stretching.

I wish I could just let go, but when the day job doesn't pay enough and the landlord is setting unreasonable time limits, and the money isn't stretching far enough - well, my mind doesn't want to daydream. It wants to worry. *Sigh*

"Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death but to inspire yourself to life." - Adele Brookman

"So Much To Read, So Little Time"

How to deal with someone who insists you need to read someone's books that, quite truly, you'd never touch (10 foot pole optional)?

Do you just baldly state you don't read that "crap"? I can see that going over real well with the friends or the little old ladies.

Do you lie and say you have? Nothing like being asked about such-and-such a character and try to fib your way out of that one.

My favorite? I've just got so many books on my to read stack, I haven't had the time to pick up a new author. It is polite and leads the fevrent fangirl or fanboy to believe you are seriously interested.

"Good manners are the technique of expressing consideration for the feelings of others." - Alice Duer Miller

Time Off

I'm all for a little time off. Even my regular days off. I'd just like them better if they weren't split up throughout the week. Two days off IN A ROW would make me all kinds of happy right now.

Anyway, new blogness for consumption : Paperback Writer

It is all good.

Do Something!

Ah, dear Internet, how I've neglected you. Truth to tell darling, I've been busy with other pressing business. I've found that my One True Love has been wasting away from my lack of affection and I have been striving to correct that oversight.

(In other words, I've been reading. And having a wonderful Anniversary (9 years now!) with my hubby this weekend. Oh, and helping assorted family members with moving various heavy furniture items.)

But you've been so patient and wonderful and here I am! Ready to relive all my daily anxieties and frustrations for you. My ups and my downs. It will be fantastic! I've missed you so much and I'm glad to be back, lit by your magical glow.

Author is feeling whimsical and amused today.

All the Things I Have Read...

In the last two weeks. Sorry I've been gone so long, I needed a break from the world so I retreated to my imagination. Anyway, it seems my imagination needed some quality reading time. I ended up reading around eight books this week and I think I've finally finished my marathon run.

Monday Mourning, Murder List, Talk to The Hand, R is for Ricochet, Shadow of Sagnami, Druid's Sword, Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness. There is another one wriggling around trying to get me to remember its name, but for the moment this list will have to do.

I think I'll go start a series I've got the whole set around so I have something else to occupy my time until work tomorrow.

"All words are pegs to hang ideas on." - Henry Ward Beecher

Books For My Pleasure...

Finished "Throne of Jade" and I can't wait for number three, "Black Powder War." This series is a fast and fun read. I also like what she's done with the ideas of dragons and riders. Fascinating.

Also finished my reread of Anne McCaffrey and I remember why I liked these so much. I read them when I was younger, junior high - high school, when my reading tastes were more . . . immature. The story is there and the characters, but it is almost like an outline. I want someone to come along and fill in all the details. Everything just seems to move too fast. Still, a good light read, which is what I needed after all the cleaning and cleaning and cleaning.

3. R is for Ricochet - Sue Grafton

4. Dragonquest - Anne McCaffrey (I hate to only read one of a series.)

Starting a 50 Book Challenge For My Amusement

I saw this pop up on several blogs and I figured since I do read profusely, why not?

1. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

2. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

I've really enjoyed Mrs. Novik's "His Majesty's Dragon" and I'm really looking forward to reading the 2nd book in this series.

Dragonflight is a re-read for me but since I haven't picked this up in ages I thought it'd be nice to visit where I'm getting my Final Fantasy Character names from. : )

I'll jump back by on how TofJ was in a few days.

Messing Around on Colors Yet Again

I realized I had not explained my current profile photo. Google "Laughing Man". I thought it oddly appropriate since I'm not terribly keen on letting the world know who I am and where I'm at. It's always nice to have a little anonymity. I'd rather not be "Dooced" for talking about my numbskull job and I'd rather not have an audience of people I know reading about how life and everything peeves me some days.

Anyway, back to the blog colors and maybe getting fancy one day. I think that is the best estimate on when I'll have graphics in the background. One day. As soon as I actually sit down and plow through the programs that'll help me figure it out and the books and the sites....yada yada yada. The red is nice enough for now. Besides, messing with my template colors gives me something other to cuss at than the landlord or work. Isn't that exciting?

"To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer." - Anonymous (Farmer's Alamanac for 1978

More Quizzy tastic ness

What Subversive Alternative Paradigm Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

True Alternative 90% Mystic 75% Otherkin 70% Magician 55% White Lighter 45% Discordian 45% Aimless Eclectic 35% Spiritualist 35% What Subversive Alternative Paradigm Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as True Alternative. You are a True Alternative! Labels do not suit you well, particularly as you tend to strike your own path and to grow purely via experience. No armchair quarterbacking for you! Originality and creation are your specialities, and sometimes you can even articulate what the hell just happened. Someday you may find yourself drawing the maps for other people... lots of other people.

What Subversive Alternative Paradigm Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

Fae? Hmph.

What type of Fae are you?

Frustration

I just haven't been in a writing kind of mood, at least not since I got a tax notice from the state about how they are going to garnish wages. Oh bugger. So I've been stressing trying to make sure that I can swing it and cover everything else too. I think I've got it figured out but thats not concrete.

I also was messing around on myspace and found one of the gals that I used to work with. I'm not surprised by what she's done with it, but I definitely have the feeling that others will be. This should be interesting.

X-Files Season 5

I've just spent the last two days catching up on my tv shows of the past. I'm watching 'The End' which is the season finale for Five. I like. I like lots.

Late Nites and Long Stories

I'm forever and always staying up late at night. I just don't get tired until one or two in the morning. I've been fairly productive tonite, I created a myspace.com account so that I can hook up with my sisters. Hooha. And I've decided I hate html code even if I do "get it." It's still frustrating and time consuming to deal with. I've also explored photobucket and have found the joy and wonder of pictures. So, enjoy my new profile picture. (hehe)

Crayons

I haven't been feeling very well for the past two days. It's that not-quite-sick-muddled-brain feeling so I've been coloring in my coloring books with my industrial box o' crayons. I have to say nothing is quite like making pictures come to life and you don't have to have great manual dexterity to do it. Just me, my crayon stuff and a big cup of juice. Life is good.

"Art has something to do with the achievement of stillness in the midst of chaos. A stillness which characterizes prayer, too, and the eye of the storm....an arrest of attention in the midst of distraction." - Saul Bellow

Ant Farm

I watch them crawl.
Under the door and across the floor.
Over the washer ...Look! theres some more.

Up the cabinets to the sink,
I'm not quite sure what to think.
There's nothing there,
I've checked it out
But yet they move all about.

The little buggers, they just won't leave
I'm not quite sure what they think to acheive.
I think they just want to drive me bats,
They think its fun (the little rats!)

I scrub and I scower,
they've even driven me to cleaning the shower.
But yet they keep coming and wandering around,
like kitty litter covering the ground.

One of these days I'll go on a spree,
killing them madly and laughing with glee.
Just right now I'm in despair,
I can't get rid of them - it's JUST NOT FAIR.

Death To All Ants! It is my war cry.
Death To All Ants! Die, Die, DIE!

MediEvil

My hubby bought me MediEvil for PSP. w00t! It's actually very fun and with a little help from GameFAQs I'm making progress. I'd be pretty sunk if I didn't have a guide to hold my hand throughout many of the games I play. Well, except FFXI. That one doesn't really need guides, just good friends.

My Eyeballs Might Just Implode

Or explode. I've been playing on the computer all day and keeping track of Mr. Wheaton's poker progess. GO WIL!

In other exciting fun-filled news I worked in the yard. Write it down on the calendar because that happens like once a month. I guess since the landlord has decided to put the places she owns on the market (with no notice) I might as well make the jungle look like you can walk through it. The grass may look even but I know the ground has holes deep enough to swallow the UPS delivery guy whole should he roam off the path from the gate to the door. I have a sneaking suspicion the yard has gobbled up more than one small animal who dared trespass in the wild unknown.

There's also nothing like getting paid and being completely broke at the same time. Every once in a while it'd be great to know there was a little left over but at least the lights are still on and the house is still warm.

"Money talks, but all it ever says is goodbye." - American saying

The Elements of Style

I finally found a copy of "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. It is a bit of a boring read on the front section - well, it wouldn't be if I knew my grammar. I would really like to write, but I read these books and realize how little I understand. It discourages me.

"Language is the dress of thought." - Samuel Johnson

Mommy blogging?

I don't understand the "Mommy Blogger" bashers. In fact I'm not sure I really understand the phrase "Mommy Blogging." I read Dooce on a regular basis. To me she is a wonderful, sarcastic, intelligent woman who seems to be married to a fantastic man and they have a daughter whom they love very much. Mrs. Armstrong doesn't come across to me as a mommy-blogger, just a lady who wants to share whats going on in her life.

Why would spending more than a sentence on a person with whom you are sharing the majority of your time loving and teaching be considered over the top mommy - ism? Mrs. Kennedy of Fussy.org is also a fantastic writer of the everyday and ordinary. And she writes in such a way that the ordinary makes me feel how she was feeling, makes me laugh or want to cry. These ladies to me are good writers. Good bloggers. Wives, mothers, and all around great gals.

Labels don't suit. They are not right. But if these ladies want to stand up and claim "Mommy blogger" then go for it. Make it positive.

"To be nobody-but-myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you like everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." - e. e. cummimgs

Interesting things Happening in the Book World

Terry Brooks has something coming out in late August and it looks to be a prequel of Shannara. Harry Turtledove has several books coming out this year in 4-5 months intervals. Raymond Feist has a new Riftwar Trilogy starting up in April and Anne Bishop has Sebastian coming out in February. Sara Douglass looks to be starting up a new series along the Tencendor lines - old characters and new places. (w00t!)

Out of Sci Fi for a second, it also looks like Janet Evanovich will have a new Plum novel in June. I've never laughed so hard at any other book, they are fantastic.

I enjoy my books and I'm glad to see that there's a bunch of stuff coming out by the people I enjoy.

X-Men Legends 2

Psp version is what I received for christmas and it's pretty alright. At least, I'm enjoying it so far. My only irritation is the fact that some of the areas are just to damn dark for me to navigate in easily. Not dissing the game there, could just be me too so who knows? Other than that, I've really enjoyed fighting my way through Acts 1 & 2 and if I didn't need to snowshovel a path throught the laundry, I'd probably be playing it now.

I am Finally done...

I have officially given out all the gifts, covered all the bases, sent all the cards. It's done. I picked up my new Tolkien calendar for the year and of course, Winnie the Pooh. Happy New Year everyone. I got paid time and a half for today and it was a productive day (which makes me happy). I've reached a creative stumbling point with my writing and have decided to scratch what I've got for now and go with something new and different to see if I can get the ole' mind churning again. Oh, and I got Battlestar Galactica Season 2 for Christmas! WOOT!