Wish List

I updated all my amazon lists, and added one called "Christmas" which has some of the things I want the most on it. I don't particularly need books... I already have plenty, plus I can generally get them for pretty darn cheap at work. But there are a few novel related things I want very very much, and those are on that list. Also anything about the middle ages or fairy tales or Rumpelstiltskin in particular, including novel-length retellings, would be helpful. But don't get me Women in the Middle Ages or Life in a Medieval Castle or Spinning Straw into Gold or The Crimson Thread -- I already have those. I'll also want things on gypsies and on slavery for another book, just not Bury Me Standing or a book called Gypsies by Bart McDowell. Again, I have those. In general I want things to make my life more sane and productive... But I'll admit, there are some pretty intriguing things on those lists, especially the default list, which mostly has books I haven't read yet on it. As always, check my comments on an item before you buy it.

Writing When You Don't Know Where You're Going

It's more efficient than one would expect. See, as I try to figure out why certain characters are doing certain things, my main character thinks about and vocalizes the different options. A lot of this may have to be cut later on, but it's writing that I would be doing no matter what, since I think more clearly in writing. I would either write about it in notes, before the draft; or like this, in the draft. But doing it this way, I get a little bit of usable prose at the same time. What's not to like? Well, it does feel a bit like pulling teeth. But there can always be frustration in planning and hammering out plot.

I'm at 10,589 words now. Go me.

Also, I love the fact that I have both Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars and The Tasha Tudor Book of Fairy Tales sitting in a pile on my desk for the sake of flavor text. I like quotes at the beginnings of chapters. And a Suetonius-Tasha Tudor combo? Perfect. Evidently. Although I'll admit I'd prefer an annotated original Grimms' Fairy Tales... I'm going to have to get that... I have read the original "Rumpelstiltskin," I just don't own it. Which would come in handy. Ooh, birthday present, anyone? Speaking of which, I don't feel comfortable donating to NaNoWriMo this year, since John and I are at one of our worst financial positions yet (which is saying something), and my spending affects him, too. But I would love it if other people would donate to them for my birthday. They deserve it. They are awesome, and they need it.

My birthday...

...is coming up. It's the day after Veteran's Day, the 12th. For my birthday I would like our debts paid off, money for rent, energy and discipline for job searching (or better yet, for the perfect job to just fall in my lap), and no more depression ever. Failing that, if you really want to give me a present... well, click on my "wish list" label, and those old posts are pretty much still accurate. You can ignore the links that don't work (a couple of the makeup ones, I think), and the oldest post is outdated, but they're good other than that. And I now have a Wii, which affects the possible videogames. I also no longer want the Flylady water bottle or feather duster, as I have those already. If you get me the timer, I want the one that can vibrate. As far as books are concerned, really I'd like a gift certificate to my own store -- that's the best deal for used books, between no shipping and my employee discount. Yep...

Mary Kay

When I made that first wish list post I said that my Mary Kay person, Jenn Snell, would know what was in my shopping cart type thing. Well, that was wrong, since the page doesn't save what's in your cart from one session to another. So, I guess I'll provide some links to what I want. (Even though I'm guessing you guys will be giving me books or something anyway. It'll be here for my own convenience later. Yeah.) If you do get me any of this stuff, please get it from Jenn.

Let's see... powder, concealer, eye color, cleanser, moisturizer, the day and night solutions, sunblock, shaving cream, and a hand scrub thing. Fun, fun, fun.

P.P.S.

Oh, and a gift certificate to Kohl's. I need clothes way more than I need more books to read, and I'd enjoy them too.

P.S.

And I just made myself a Videogame list. It's all pretty theoretical though, since it would require getting the consoles, and I don't care enough to want them that bad. So I just created a new list, but you can ignore it. (=

Christmas List

This is for family to use, not friends. You guys don't have to get me anything (unlike family, ha!). I don't have money to get gifts for friends this year, sorry...

Of course, this is probably too late to be of any use since I think most of my family who read this have already gotten me something, but whatever. There's a chance.

First, my amazon lists. Be sure to read the comments of anything you're thinking of getting, there are a few things on there I don't actually want as I have them listed because they're hardback still or whatnot. 'Course, some of those may have been added long enough ago that the paperback actually is available now... Anywho. The default list, made up almost entirely of books I haven't read that looked interesting or I know I really really want. The list of Books I've Read, not as exciting but mostly books I'd really like to own because they're awesome. The six items I want concerning Foreign Language, pretty self-explanatory. Movies & Shows (not comprehensive, but a few I thought of), Music (I'd love just about anything off this), and Nonfiction (not as exciting for me, but it's all on this list for a reason, i.e. I'm pretty darn sure I want to read it and will like it quite a bit).

There you have it. Who knew someone could be this verbose about a Christmas list? If anyone can, it's me. Ooh, and Andrea...

I also want stuff from the Flyshop, like the calendar, feather duster (the longer one), timer, wallet, water bottle, and maybe the Office in a Bag. Those need to be ordered by tomorrow to get here in time for Christmas, just like amazon (I know, I'm pathetic). Things from Mary Kay, you can contact my MK person through that link and she can tell you what's in my shopping cart type thing (no wish list on that site). Um, I want stuff from Spice Traders & Teas, especially Ginger Orange Peach tea, as I've run out of that. I think that's it, besides Archery equipment -- you can contact the teacher at Biola about that, I don't know where to get stuff like that.

Oh, and if you're wondering what to get John, give him money. He wants to buy a computer.

Guy Gavriel Kay. And Music.

I've added another link -- Guy Gavriel Kay's website. My next post will probably be a review of his books Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors (a duology entitled The Sarantine Mosaic).

For now there isn't much to say. I'm still working for Jeff technically, although I haven't done much recently. I've been working for Mom more than Jeff in the last week; mowing lawns, picking up Melanie, washing dishes. I got over the Evil Sickness of Death rather quickly, so that's good. Because I've been doing a lot of driving recently I've also been listening to a lot of music -- tapes and the radio, since that's what my car can play (a vast improvement from my last car, which couldn't play anything). I've enjoyed the original cast recording of "Into the Woods" quite a bit -- I got it for about a $1 at Savers, and it's been more than worth it. I want to see a video of it now, so I can understand the second half better. I've heard it's depressing, but I don't care. Agony and Agony Reprise are my favorite songs...

Oh, and if anyone feels like giving me a random present, how about this CD? I've heard the second song on it played three times on classical stations on the radio now, and they don't normally repeat songs much. It's Faure's Pavane, but for classical guitar and orchestra. It's so beautiful! Oh, and you could also give me The Book of Secrets...