Ahahaha. Ha!

I let Bossman Prime install a copy of Spore Creature Creator onto his computer. He loads it up. First thing he does? Grabs the biggest, freakiest bird beak he can find, and puts two of them on his creature's ass.

I used to love the sunrise.

Then I got old.

Ohman. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have fifty pages of novel notes to sort through and update. It's amazing what writing 100 pages of a book will do to your clarity regarding what is happening in the universe. Right now, in between chapters 11 and 12, I could tell you off the top of my head what every single character is doing. (Seamus is working with the refugees, but how is that a surprise? Perhaps Elene should make them cupcakes. Those two are going to have to battle it out for "who's the nicest person on the planet" award. -.-;)

Matt has moved back in, and we are in the process of attempting to put the house back together while we also foster two reptiles for The Muses while we wait for the RCC to do his or her requisite invaspection. I'm pleased to have someone else to cook for, and I think he's just happy to have a home. I keep having to remind myself to stop wandering around naked, though. Because of this, my morning routine has become a bit more complicated than it used to be:

1) Wake up.
2) Turn on computer.
3) Pants?
3a) If pants, then 5.
3b) If no pants, then 4.
4) Find pants. Ohgod, where did they go I walked in here wearing them.
5) Make tea.
6) Trip over cat.

It used to just be wake up, trip over cat, turn on computer, make tea. Pants make everything needlessly complicated.

Ugh.

Plan: Spend day face-deep in computer. Fix boot issue.

1) Started with the BIOS.
That, uh....actually seemed to have worked. If not, it's time to fuck about with the RAM.

Screw you, Maker's Mark.

Oh God.

We've really spruced the office up.

EEEEEEE.

Shameless Self Promotion

And on my own personal blog, no less. Go figure.

As my book (I feel weird calling it that) has gotten longer, and people have given me more and more amazing feedback, I've been giving more and more thought to protecting my story.

Maddo being totally paranoid helps.

Today I had one of my epiphanies and made a private, invitation-only blog to host the chapters at. This way they can stay together in an easily-viewable format, and if it gets stolen I have a short list of people to torment and murder by fire.

Also, now I can put the glossary up without making everything all confusing!




In short, now is your chance to get on the list if you ever have any interest in reading. Those of you who I know read it have been sent an e-mail, but if you've not gotten one, leave your e-mail here or IM it to me and I will give you sign-in directions. Hell, I'd sign up just to see how damn awesome the layout is. That's the best layout I've done in six years of blogging.

Testimonials from those who read it and like it are also welcome so people know I'm not completely off my rocker. Just sayin.

Ugh.

One week later, and I feel almost normal, but I am not sure a single round of antibiotics is going to fix this.

Just proof I am not dead.

Yergh.

ER Saturday. Severe kidney infection, not allowed to move for next two days. Have done nothing but sleep. Am bored of sleeping.

A: Filter

I have this problem where I open my mouth and words come out. Is there anything that can fix that?

Decontextualized Words of Wisdom

"The caged squirrel cannot stash his nuts."
"Like he'd want to stash his nuts with you."
"Well, of course not! Do I LOOK like a knothole?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"The answer is no. Obviously."

It's like...

Bahahahha.

Wednesday I was handed a stack of A papers with glowing comments written all over: "Terrific! Thoughtful! Honest! Clever!"

I huffed them. :D

In retrospect this is obvious.

Note to self: There is nothing wrong with buying lube, or deciding to hide how faded the couch cushions are. But when you buy lube with a slipcover, be prepared for odd looks.

Fine, Maddo. Here I go.

*sporfle*

Grave shifts are all about the productivity.

<--And I am a fucking GENIUS.

In which my new car tells Tim and his poorly-timed elitist comments to suck a fuck

I have a new car. Finally, after six weeks of wheel-lessness, I have a new car. It is a fully-loaded 2008 Toyota Yaris. Behold:

This car has fewer than seventy miles on it, a better sound system than I was expecting, and a ridiculous amount of room for a compact car. It gets 29-35MPG, which is comparable to my Saturn SL2. And I made them drive it to me same-day from three cities over.

My initial impressions:
1) Pretty.
2) OMG what if I get hit!
3) Ooo, what does this button do?
4) ...Brr.

Igny was a whiner. She'd do what I wanted her to if I coddled her and pushed her just the right way, but she made it clear she didn't like it. Compared to her, this new car (which is male), is positively feral. I push a pedal, and it actually responds. It likes to drive.

I'm bouncing a few names around for him, and I think I have a good idea, but I want to make sure before I make anything final.

Why do I do this to myself?

Want: Prius, at just under 25k. Blue. Hatchback.
Have: 5k for downpayment, job. Loan money.

---

Budget
Rent: 367.50 (Will be covered by Student Loan money
for next 12 months, along with credit card bills.)
Phone: 96.00
(70.00 supplied by Fam. So, if lose internet, $45.00. Phone is now free.)
Internet: 50.00
Utilities: ~40.00
Rats: ~30.00
TOTAL: ~120

Income
Work: ~800/mo (after taxes, not including money from Concert
Hall)
Unc: 300/mo for car payment.

This means I have about $680/mo unaccounted for, with plenty of wiggle room from second job. Factoring in food, that means I can still afford car insurance payments on my own. Am guaranteed to have job after grad school, so security isn't an issue.

Which means if I wanted, I could afford a Prius.

Fucking fuck.

::edit::
Of course, this is all hypothetical.

oooh!

Mt. Rainier volunteer seed collectors needed

Volunteers will be needed in August and September to help collect plant seeds at Mt. Rainier National Park. Due to the heavy snowpack, the flowering season is delayed, shortened and for some species maybe even nonexistent this year. The work will need to be done quickly to collect as many seeds as possible before the snow starts falling again, to help with resotration work in flood-damaged areas of the park. If you are interested in participating, contact Anine Smith at anine_smith@nps.gov.

---

That sounds like a ton of fun! :D (Maybe if I get my new car tomorrow I can...)

I am a scientist.