First-Person Narrator

Also, a Poll

2008-08-19T06:35:16Z

I'm going to be depositing some checks tomorrow or the next day, and I'll have a teensy bit of money that I can spend on something self-indulgent. BUT WHAT?

View Poll: #1244372

A Nice Hot Bath

2008-08-19T06:18:26Z

I've been consistently overdoing it at the keyboard (woo new job!), and then doing a lot of lifting and bending and standing around during the whole moving process. I've had srs muscle fatigue for like two weeks, now. I was so exhausted and worn out by it all this afternoon that I took a nap, and when I woke up my muscles had all seized to the point where I had to roll out of bed because I couldn't sit up.

So I think yet another hot bath is in order!

I do baths for muscle-easing purposes, itchy-skin-easing purposes and also because they're mentally relaxing. I like to bathe with bath oils or a milk-bath bubble bath, preferably in vanilla or citrus scents. I don't do candles or music, usually - just a paperback book or, if I'm really not feeling well, sometimes I'll set up a laptop so that I can watch a favorite DVD. I like to have water or soda to drink while I'm soaking. Bath water should be, in my opinion, nearly scalding.

I've noticed that Jameson is all about a bath with nothing in the water, though he also seems to like a lavender bubble bath that I bought and then didn't use up (because it makes me sneeze). He likes to watch cartoons in the tub. My mom is a big fan of bath salts with heavy, herbal smells. She washes her hair when she takes a bath, which I don't really like to do - I'd much rather use the bath just for soaking, and wash my hair when I take a shower.

I'm not really going anywhere with this. Just thinking about how people say that "a nice hot bath" will make someone feel better, or relax, etc., but how that phrase can mean lots of different things.

I think I'm going to go with the vanilla-scented, paperback-reading variety in a little bit.

Things to Read

2008-08-17T21:38:16Z

The August issue of Cerise is live, so go forth and check out Fight Like a Girl! We had some really great submissions for this issue, including a start to a new series of academic-flavored articles. Huzzah!

September's theme is "The Socially Conscious Gamer," and for October we're planning a special crossover teamup thing with Girl-Wonder. Get thee to the submissions page for details.

In sillier reading, Belle and Claire are back at Reading by Moonslight after a brief hiatus, posting reader fanart and reviewing "Crystal Starbeam and the Heart Sword of Jamerica."

Notes

2008-08-17T01:58:13Z

Since I'm unpacking boxes (some of which have been packed for over a year now) and putting together office furniture and all that, I thought I'd take the opportunity to organize my papers a little better and put all of my scrawled-on-notebook-paper notes into appropriate files (such as "WisCon panel notes" and "poetry drafts" and "interesting doodles made while in anthropology courses"). While I was shuffling through all these bits of paper, deciding what to keep and what to discard, I saw several things that made me chuckle in the various WisCon papers.

1) Something like 25% of all of my WisCon panel notes have Karen's handwriting on them somewhere. Sometimes she's written an on-topic observation about the discussion. More often, she's responding to something snide that I wrote. I should probably destroy the evidence of my own poor behavior. But instead, I am labeling and filing it!

2) I should go ahead and introduce myself to people that I'm impressed by right away, instead of waiting a year or two. I've got "OMG I JUST SAW CAROLINE STEVERMER" written down, and then in the notebook from the next year, I have "CAROLINE STEVERMER TOLD ME HER LJ NAME." See? Cool people will be friends with me if I am brave enough to actually talk to them! ...But I will not stop being a fangirly dork, apparently. (seriously, my margin notes about various people I developed brain crushes on at the first WisCon I went to crack me up in light of how many of them are on my flist, now. "Jed Hartman = clever [underlined repeatedly] guy!!!" is one of my favorites for sheer, enthusiastic geekery. Jed, if you read this, please don't stop thinking I'm cool, okay?)

3) It's probably good that That Guy ended up backing out of the writer's workshop, after all, because my critique was way meaner than I remembered. Though I think "dream sequence on page ten is not [again with the multiple underlining] as interesting as you think it is" might be good advice for pretty much every writer.

The conclusions I draw from all of this are that I am, indeed, a massive geek, and also that I probably underline things too much.

Stay Away from Tucson Management

2008-08-15T22:22:58Z

Since Tucson Management, Inc., took over the management of Bellevue Towers shortly after Jameson and I moved in there, we've had nothing but trouble with them. I got stuck in the elevator for hours in October, just before my wedding, and the most I got in response was a patronizing phone conversation (days later) wherein I was called "honey" and told that it wasn't that no one was responding to the emergency alarm button, it was that it's not connected to anything.

After that, they left a threatening note on our door while we were on our honeymoon claiming that we hadn't paid our rent (we had. Mysteriously, the check disappeared). Threatening notes are their communication method of choice. Both of our phone numbers are in their files, but they never call.

The next time they failed to call was super-fun, because what they did instead was send a registered letter despite being fully aware that we could not receive it because a) the tenant call buttons do not (and have never, so far as I can tell) work and b) they had closed the office in the ground floor of our building months earlier, so there was no one there to sign for anything. The registered letter was about us supposedly not paying our rent again. Again, we had, but the check "mysteriously" went missing. We went to court because Tucson Management insisted that we should pay their lawyer fees despite the fact that it wasn't our error, where my father was screamed at by Kathy (I believe her full name is Kathleen Lile) in the hall outside the courtroom loudly enough that we could all hear her. In the end we didn't have to pay their fees: yay justice. An extra-fun part of that was that Kathy claimed to have no knowledge of any problems with their elevators when my father was trying to head off her random tangents about how Jameson and I are horrible, unreliable, scheming and cheating tenants (bullshit, by the way, in case anyone is wondering!).

We've been careful to get receipts for our rent checks, which we've had to drop off in person at great inconvenience, since then. Yes, we didn't have to pay their lawyer's fees, but we did have to take half a day off to go to court, and neither of us wanted to deal with that again.

The most recent fun is that we're trying to move out. And they have a problem with this. So instead of, like, calling us, they've been calling our friends who live in the same building. Way to go, Tucson Management! Y'all are awesome, friendly, and total paragons of professionalism!

Jameson went into their office today to try to deal with that as well as some other outstanding issues we've had with them, and Kathy refused to speak with him because she had a phone call to make, saying she'd slip the papers he requested under our door (again with the professionalism!). He waited around in the apartment for a while, then attempted to get Kathy to sign a piece of paper saying that he'd asked for certain documents and hadn't yet received them. And she went apeshit. She screamed, refused to sign anything, refused to accept the original letter for her files (though she did take a copy), and accused Jameson of harassment. Because, you know, he tried to talk to her a second time instead of meekly waiting in the apartment for her to get around to putting something under the door.

I dunno how this is all gonna work out in the end, but I am so glad to be getting out of that place. Tucson Management is unprofessional, exploitative, dishonest and horrific to try to do business with. I can't believe they've been around since 1995, as their website claims.

Sweet, Sweet Electricity

2008-08-15T13:59:53Z

So our power went out the night before last, during this hardcore rainstorm that also knocked tree limbs from our neighbor's tree down onto our roof hard enough to make sawdust fall out from between the beams (directly onto all of our electronics, naturally). Jimmy and I got out the candles mom and dad had given us as a housewarming gift and spent an hour or so chatting by candlelight before trying to make the best of it by getting to bed at a reasonable hour. It was kind've unpleasant in the dark and the heat with a huge storm outside, but it also felt a little bit like an adventure!

...And then we didn't get power back for eighteen hours.

GIP

2008-08-11T04:39:51Z

One of my favorite shows right now is Phineas and Ferb, this bizarre Disney Channel offering revolving around a pair of step-brothers who do highly improbable things every day during summer vacation. In every episode, there's a subplot involving their pet platypus, Perry, who is actually a secret agent, and Perry's nemesis, Dr. Doofenschmirtz. In keeping with my general pattern of unreasonable fondness for villains (particularly villains who aren't very good at villainy), Heinz Doofenschmirtz is by far my favorite character on the show.

And in one episode, it is revealed that he wears a night guard when he sleeps! Just! Like! Me!

I must have an icon, I thought. And lo, I created one!

And just in time, too, because this weekend has been non-stop hectic over-the-top activity, and I can feel my jaw clenching when I am awake.

...So how's everyone else doing?

My Garden Can Kill You!

2008-08-08T05:44:13Z

I'm still getting to know my new backyard. On the critter front, we've got bats, toads, woodpeckers, mockingbirds and quail hanging around the yard. And while we were digging holes for trees and generally tossing soil around this afternoon, Jameson and I uncovered some gigantic, creepy-looking grub things. I think they are probably figeater beatle larvae. Neat.

For plants, we have two mature mesquite trees, one of which is carrying a parasitic mistletoe. Dunno what I want to do about that - first impulse is to cut off the affected limb, but I know that even though mistletoe is a parasite, sometimes it can be beneficial. I shall ponder. We also have a grapefruit and an orange, courtesy of my dad. Jimmy and I will get those planted tomorrow, I think.

And also, we have nightshade. Yep, really. If you eat my yard, you will regret it.

It's not, like, deadly nightshade. It is the less-toxic silverleaf nightshade. You still shouldn't be eating it.

Ideas?

2008-08-07T22:13:55Z

So I have this bookshelf that I stole from my parents forever ago. I think it was originally my grandfather's, actually. Anyhow, it had some scratches and dings on the top of it before I ever got a hold of it, but then in my foolish youth (we're talking pre-teens, here), I put a fish tank on top of it. And then it leaked. And I've never really fixed it.

So here's what the shelf looks like on top:

I'd like to have it in the living room. The details on the front are really pretty, and I like that it's a piece with some history for my family. So I want to fix up the top, but I don't really know what to do. I'm guessing that staining it would be the right course, and probably stripping the existing stain first? I'm hoping that one of you has done something like this before and can point me in the right direction for my research. Anyone?

Headboard + Bed

2008-08-07T05:22:24Z

Here's a picture of the painted headboard I did in our bedroom with the bed in place:

I added a silky silver curtain for some light control and also DRAMUH. I think it looks pretty freaking cool.

In other house news, we got the hot water situation sorted. Yay for baths!

Dangit.

2008-08-06T23:05:22Z

Annnd as soon as I get my computer up and running and get started on all my delayed work, there's a severe storm warning for my area and I gots to turn off the electronics. Bah!

Settling In

2008-08-06T21:20:15Z

Some things that are awesome about our new house:

We have toads in the backyard! Also, there are many quail and some bats around. Neato!

The bedroom looks awesome, and is very relaxing.

It's a house! And it's ours!

Some things that are not awesome about our new house:

It took until, like, just now to get the internet working.

We can't seem to get hot water in the shower.

It's really hard to find curtains and such for the weird-sized windows, and then it's even harder to hang them, since our little drill can't go through brick.

Ah well. We'll sort it all out eventually!

Status Update

2008-08-06T00:13:24Z

A general message to everyone I know on the internets:

I'm so sorry I'm running late on ___! Moving has taken way more time than I thought it would, and my internet is spotty, and my good computer - the one with everything important on it (that I was not bright enough to back-up on my thumb drive... *headdesk*) - is in a box. I am Flaky McFlakypants. I will do better as soon as I can!

Levels Are Pretty Awesome

2008-08-01T05:13:47Z

I'm almost done with the painting in the master bedroom, so I want to show off:

I got this fancypants idea from HGTV about painting a "headboard" on a wall instead of having a real one which seemed good for us because a) we don't have one at present, b) the bedroom is pretty small, so maybe not having one is smrt, and c) there's this conveniently placed window, so it'll look pretty awesome!

SO ANYWAY, Mom and Jimmy and I painted on this pale green wall color, and then today I did the dark green headboard and the soft gray trim around the other window and along the baseboard. And then I stepped back and was like... huh. Slytherin colors.

I know that this is a natural consequence of Jameson's favorite color being green and mine being gray, but it surprises me every time.

And the Renovations Continue

2008-07-31T06:07:35Z

Mom's big accomplishments today included stepping in paint less often and painting most of the new bedroom by herself, including the bits that are out of reach for both of us, since she isn't as scared to get up on ladders as I am (yeah, yeah. I know my phobias are silly).

Jameson's big accomplishment was installing a super-rad ceiling fan (this one, which did not come cheap but was totally worth it for the glee that it inspires in Jimmy) in place of the hideous white monstrosity that was in the living room before.

My big accomplishment was sitting down hard right on top of part of the old ceiling fan! You guys, I have one helluva bruise, let me tell you.

So if you see me sometime soon and I'm leaning conspicuously to the left whilst sitting, that's why.

Painting

2008-07-29T05:50:59Z

I went to Home Depot today with Mom, and I bought paint, drop cloths, etc. and we started painting walls in my house! Jimmy and I picked four colors we like that we think go well together: a soft gray, a sagey green, a darker green and a slatey blue. The walls in the kitchen/dining area and living room area will be gray, as will the office. Our bedroom will be in the sagey green, and the guest bedroom will be blue. We'll be using the greens and blues as accent colors throughout (blue cabinets in the kitchen, etc.). Mom and I started in the office, and I think it looks very nice so far. Mom's worried that the gray might feel "too dark" if we paint so many rooms mostly in that shade, but I'm willing to risk it rather than have plain white walls.

Well, anyway. I would love to write an interesting post about my interesting day, but painting four walls gray and making fun of my mom when she stepped in paint was about it.

Two Dolls Done

2008-07-28T18:49:13Z

For queenitsy and poisonivory, a couple of teen pop stars who save the world!

The big thing on queenitsy's list that I wasn't able to manage was a pair of wire-rimmed glasses for Bethany. I gave her some prescription sunglasses for now, instead, but I was careful when choosing outfits for both these dolls to make it easy to undress them and swap out their accessories if you two ever want to put them in different clothes and/or find a better pair of glasses.

Home Ownership is Awesome

2008-07-27T01:03:55Z

I can has a house!

My favorite part of home ownership and the moving-in process so far is that I've said, "hey, can we go to Target today?" every day for the past three, and every single time Jameson has responded in the affirmative.

My passion for bright-colored storage ottomans and clever closet organizers may be a little bit unhealthy.

Betwixt the Dilemmas of Dashington Station

2008-07-19T10:05:30Z

Claire and Belle have done it again! Check out their latest masterpiece: Betwixt the Dilemmas of Dashington Station.

Or don't, if you don't enjoy cheesy romance, euphemismania and choose-your-own-adventure stories!

I? Am a Geek.

2008-07-08T08:23:09Z

The July issue of Cerise is up. That's me and Mom on the cover! We look a little alike, huh?

If you read nothing else in this issue, check out Mara Poulsen's article about developing games for Xbox Live. Really interesting stuff.

Next month's theme is thus:

Fight Like a Girl

Violence of one kind or another is a common feature of many games, and a matter of some concern to the non-gaming population. Is it all just harmless fantasy fun, or are there lines that shouldn’t be crossed? What’s so enjoyable about fighting in games?

And what about gendered violence in gaming? Female fighters are often fetishized in a way their male counterparts aren’t, and women and girl characters are often victims of sexualized violence. What does all this mean for gaming and for gamers?

If you’re interested in topics relating to violence, fighting and sexuality in gaming, be sure to submit your work for this issue.

IRONICALLY (or not), my gaming group and I totally failed at violence tonight at our scheduled D&D game. We talked about mental illness stigma for a while, and then went to the closest drugstore to purchase hair dye and nail polish, and all became redheads (with varying degrees of success. Heather kept insisting that her hair wouldn't actually go red, since the dye is too puny to penetrate her Mighty Afro-Puff, but this was lies. Hers came out the reddest of all). My hair is auburn, my nails are a delightful shade of green called "Big Money Frost," and I am content.

Another Review at Reading by Moonslight

2008-07-06T19:01:33Z

The cast at Reading by Moonslight have another review up. Webmistress Niki actually liked this one!

Furniture Thoughts

2008-07-04T07:46:39Z

As I am shortly to become a homeowner (omgscary), I have started thinking about furniture I might like to have, and plants that I would like to put in the backyard, and such. One thing I have wanted for as long as I can remember is a hammock. I've just always thought that a hammock in a shady place would be the best thing evar - it's in my mind as a thing that would make a house "real."

My dad says that he always figured he'd know he was a "real" homeowner if he had a guest house, which makes about as much sense as my hammock fixation. Happily, the hammock will be far less expensive!

But anyway, it's interesting to think about. Do any of you have a weird requirement for turning your living space into a "real" home?

I Has a Dental Splint!

2008-07-02T06:02:56Z

I brought home my mouth guard today.

Take that, nighttime jaw-clenching!

Reading by Moonslight Strikes Again

2008-07-02T03:15:52Z

Behold! Reading by Moonslight hath a feed: bymoonslight

Also, Claire and Belle (and Niki!) have reviewed a work by Laurell K. Hamilton. What more could one desire?

Riadorfian Reviews

2008-06-29T22:08:08Z

I know that some of you have, inexplicably, enjoyed Under the Moons of Riadorf and the other tales from the Dorgian Galaxy. If you just can't get enough of Claire and Belle, you may be pleased to know that they now have their very own blog, Reading by Moonslight. Huzzah!