Goals Update 4

I nearly forgot to do this post. The past two weeks really flew by for me. Hell, this year is going really quickly for me. Anyway, onto the goals.

1. Finish my degree. Nearly caught up now, aside from writing stuff. I'm really hoping I can finish everything. I'm so tired of doing work, and frustrated because no matter how much I do there's still a huge pile waiting. I'm thinking I may have to sacrifice quality on a few of the assignments, and take a bit of a lower grade, just so I can get through it all and back on track. And I have to come up with a research paper topic. If anyone's got suggestions, please pass them on to me. I've got to have one this week. >_< style="font-style: italic;">how though.

15. Start buying less stuff, and finish what I do have lying around the house. Okay, so I bought, um, a dozen books since the last time I posted. I had some Amazon credit to spend, and I went to Patty's. Bad combination. Nine of the books were to replace stuff that I used to have but either fell apart or disappeared over the years. Two of the others are continuing series that I've already read, and then I picked up Watchmen. And I only actually spent about 12 dollars. Overall, that's not too bad, I don't think.

Also, I've been watching a lot of movies. I put them on while I'm doing work, so I've gotten through at least a dozen. I finished a few more books as well, though I haven't had time for many games. I'm off to a good start on this goal.

16. Another new goal. This list is getting out of hand. >_>

Anyway, this is only a temporary one, something to do over the next two weeks. I want to do at least one book recommendation/review video for Jade, like I discussed in my last post. Hopefully I can do two or three, but it depends on how well I do, and how much time I have since I'll be away for DO. Depending on how those go and how good/bad they turn out to be, I might continue with them.

Ideas wanted!

Okay, so Jade and her friend Jules have started up this video blog, and forums to go with it. The site is here, and the forums here, if any of you are interested in checking it out. There's only one vlog up so far, but they're aiming to update weekly.

At any rate, I'm contemplating filming a book review or two every week as well, and having Jade and Jules edit them into the show. Or I suppose I could always just do them separately. I'm a bit nervous about doing these on video, as I've no idea what I am going to say. But I figure I'll give it a shot. Hell, if I don't keep up with the videos I may at least write out some reviews.

This is where you come in. I need ideas for books to discuss. I read a lot and have loads I could choose from, but I'd like to know what people want to hear about. What genres are you most interested in? Are there any specific books that you'd like to know about? Even if I haven't read it already I'm willing to go check it out at the library, so pretty much anything goes. The only exceptions to this are manga and graphic novels. Can't really get those at the library, though I might be able to find them at Patty's or borrow them from a friend. So make the suggestions if you'd like, but no promises on those.

So, yeah. I'm not sure how many people actually read this, but if you do, let me know what you think. Post a comment on here (preferably), or catch me on MSN if you'd rather do that. Thanks!

I think I read too much

If there is such a thing as too much reading, anyway. I had a conversation with a friend the other day, and I was saying how it was taking me forever (just under three months) to finish A Feast for Crows, by George R.R. Martin. Even though the book is fairly long at about 1,000 pages, that's a hell of a long time for me to take to read anything. Especially something I enjoy as much as Martin's books. At any rate, my friend started laughing, and I asked why, to which he replied, "And since you started Feast, how many other books have you read?" Back in October, I started keeping track of everything I read in a journal, so I checked, and it's been 35.

As if that wasn't enough under normal circumstances, keep in mind this was through half of Nanowrimo, finals, family visiting, holidays, five classes with insane workloads this semester thus far, and being sick in the hospital for days. I'm almost afraid to see how many books I'd get through if I actually had a lot of free time, and not just an hour here and there.

I've got hundreds of books in this room. I've never even read um...over 100 of them, last I checked. Plus, I consistently have about five people who lend me books. I have a shelf of books that aren't even mine. And yet, apparently I don't have enough. I still make regular bookstore trips, and I still come away from each one with at least one new book, usually more.

Actually, I'll let some of the evidence speak for itself. This is an excerpt from a conversation I had with Chris earlier.

Denise says: I DO need a bookstore trip! >_>
Denise says: wanna know what's funny
Denise says: I said how I know I had more stuff I wanted to look for, didnt' i?
Denise says: that's after writing down a dozen books >_>
Christian says: ...
Christian says: ................................
Denise says: OH I remembered one
Denise says: *cough*
Denise says: To be fair, I don't expect to find most of them
Denise says: And it's all completing various series
Denise says: Except that one book you told me
Christian says: but of you do youll buy them
Christian says: XD
Denise says: no
Christian says: if*
Denise says: I will get 2 probably
Denise says: I still get four off amazon >_>
Christian says: XD
Denise says: Okay well
Denise says: If I find older editions or dollar books I might get like 4
Denise says: but if they're regular $4 ones just two >_>
Denise says: Pretty much, I wanna spend about 10 bucks, if that
Denise says: Would I get 10 $1 books? Probably >_>
*Christian nods emphatically on webcam*
Denise says: yeah you're right
Christian says: YAY
Denise says: There's not usually anything I'm dying to have in those...but they're a dollar
Denise says: Right, I have issues

I was going to actually talk about some of the books I've been reading in this post, but I've already been working on it for a while and it's good enough. I'll make sure to start posting more often what I think about various books I read. For now, I need to be heading off. I'm leaving soon, to go to...you guessed it.

The bookstore.

It's been a boring week

Hmm, been nearly a week since my last post, and for once I don't really have anything to say. Not much has happened. I've been working on school a lot. I'm hoping to be caught up with taxes and accounting by Monday. That would leave me with only two classes to go, and I can take my time with my writing course. The only thing that's really important for that is coming up with topic ideas for my research paper. I'm drawing a total blank there. But if I manage to do all of that, and keep up the productivity through next week, I should be good to go with everything. That includes DO. So, here's hoping!

Actually, my tax professor emailed me today, because he's concerned about me catching up, haha. He doesn't realize that it'll be a breeze to catch up on the next unit, as I won't have loads of work for five classes to be concerned with. I'll be back on a normal schedule, instead of trying to fit a month's worth of work into a couple of weeks.

Went to the Neurosonic/Puddle of Mudd show with Danielle this past Sunday. It was awesome. That's all I have to say about it really. Due to a mix-up with the guest list, we got in for free. Got to meet the Neuro guys and got some stuff signed and a few pictures. Some of them are up on MySpace, and the rest will be shortly, if you're interested in seeing them.

That seems to be about it for the week. I was supposed to go out with Shelly at the beginning of the week, to Patty's and out for a couple of drinks. She caught the flu though, so we rescheduled for Saturday. Hopefully nothing comes up for either of us; I definitely need a bookstore trip.

Oh yeah. Speaking of drinking. I had a doctor's appointment Tuesday afternoon, and found out I'm not allowed to touch alcohol for the next 4-6 months (preferably 6). Apparently alcohol agitates your pancreas. Since I've been having issues with it for so long, they want to make sure it's fully recovered and not permanently damaged before I go putting stress on it again. While this makes sense, it still sucks. I don't drink often anymore, but I'd already made plans to drink a bit at DO, and on St. Patty's Day. Those are definitely out though, as they're less than two months from my surgery. I'll also have to be really careful if I want to drink when (if) I go to Ireland. My doctor said I could drink a bit since it'll be about four months by that point, but I can't drink multiple days in a row and if I feel the slightest bit of pain I need to stop completely. But at least I'll be able to have my Guinness.

It won't be that bad, I suppose. I'm just hoping that it all turns out alright. Last thing I need is to find out my pancreas or some other organ is permanently messed up because of stupid doctors misdiagnosing me for years!

Goals Update 3

Time for another goal update, I suppose. Two weeks seems to be a good time frame for these.

1. Finish my degree. Still working on it. I'm determined not to drop anything, despite how far behind I am. By the next time I update these goals though I should be entirely caught up, with the possible exception of a few small writing assignments.

2. Continue my education. Mom has to check if I can get any discounts on tuition for her school. Other than that everything in this area is out. Pitt doesn't have my program, SVC is too expensive, Cal and IUP are too far away unless I want to take only one course at a time, which would take forever. If I end up living and working closer to Pittsburgh there are a number of other schools I could attend, so I'm considering that.

3. Finish my Nano novel. Wrote a few pages. It's not much, but it's more than I've done since November. At least I've started again.

4. Nano 2008. Far too busy to even think of this one at the moment.

5. Play the flute and piano. Mom hasn't gotten back to me on the keyboard. I hope she does soon. I could buy myself a new one in a few months if I had to, but I'd rather use the perfectly good one I have at her house. Haven't played my flute at all. I still need to find or buy some sheet music.

6. Write every day. I'm doing a lot of writing for classes, does that count? Yeah, I didn't think so. Other than the little bit I've worked on Nano though, and updating this, I haven't written. Not too worried about it with the couple of weeks I've had. I'll get better with it as I catch up in classes and have more time.

7. Update this blog, etc. I've been updating this a lot, but that's about it. I wrote in my journal once, but this blog is the only thing I've made time for regularly. Good enough for me considering how much I have to do.

8. Let other people read my writing. I let a friend read a few bits of my Nano novel, finally. And Shel asked me if she could read when I'm done. Since I said yes, I'll have no choice. She'll just bug me until I hand it to her. ^_^

9. Exercise three days a week (for now). I'm not sure I am cleared to do that yet. My doctors told me "a couple of weeks" of no exercise, which would have been through yesterday. I'll pick my exercise program back up next week. I'm actually looking forward to it; I'm tired of the forced inactivity. It makes me feel too lethargic.

10. Read at least 52 books. I think I'm already at twelve for this month? I can't remember off the top of my head how many I had in January but I'm at 24 for the year so far. I've been spending so much time recuperating in bed that I've read a lot. I'm thinking of upping the number for this goal, but I'm not sure to what. I'll decide by my next update.

11. Take some trips. I'll know about DO next week. No one has mentioned Otakon, still. I'll have to talk to the people who were going and see if they are even interested anymore. But, there is a good possibility I'm going to get to go to Ireland for a week or two right after I graduate. I've been discussing it with my family a lot lately, and they seem to be leaning towards getting me a plane ticket for a graduation gift. Since I have a place to stay, it could work. I'm going to submit an application for a passport in the next month.

12. Learn languages. Listened to a couple of the Japanese podcasts and learned a few basic words. That's all I've had time for.

13. Physical therapy for my hand. Forgot about it entirely the first week after surgery, but picked it up again the past 5-6 days. I'm starting to get annoyed with it and wish it would just work, but I'll stick with it.

14. Time management. This is going alright, I suppose. I'm slowly getting through work, so I must be doing something right. I've a long way to go yet, but at least I've improved.

15. Hurray, new goal! I don't know how much time I can actually devote to this, so it's kind of vague. I have loads of books, movies, and games just lying around, that I've never gotten around to. I never finish anything. So the goal is two parts really. First, buy even less than I do now. I should save my money, and there's no point in buying a lot of new stuff when I have so much to get through. Buying the occasional game or replacing some old books is one thing, but no more buying just because I have some money or feel like it.

Second, start actually using some of my spare time to finish whatever I can. Books, games, DVDs...anything else I've missed. I'm not getting any more specific than that; I can't really say "I'm going to finish X number of movies" or whatever, but I can work on finishing what I have, and what I've borrowed from people. Then I won't feel so silly buying a game or movie, because I won't have dozens (or hundreds, if we're talking books) at home that I've never touched.

This entry took me entirely too long to do, but I was busy doing work, and I couldn't get that last goal to sound right (it still doesn't, but it's better than it was). I did get a lot done though, and I'm hoping to get more finished before I go to bed. There's a club show tomorrow night in Pittsburgh I would like to go to, if I have enough done to justify taking the entire night off. So, back to work!

Holy SHIT

I just got the mail. I Love This Guy, the fourth Least I Could Do book, came today. <3 style="font-style: italic;">ten thousand dollars worth of bills. That's just today.

I hate the heathcare industry with a passion that words can't even express. >_<

Relieved

"Glad you are back. Listen--don't push!!! Start the semester at this point now. Worry about the stuff that you missed later after you have recovered more fully. Don't stress. I will not assess any penalties for the late work regardless of when you turn it in. Fair enough? Get better and best wishes."

Taken from an email I received this morning, from my writing professor. He is officially my hero. I missed a ton of assignments for that class and was wondering how in the world I could catch up. But now I can concentrate on my other classes, and fit writing assignments in as I can. Thank goodness, I didn't want to try and make up a couple dozen discussion board posts, two essays, and who knows how many readings in just a week or two! That would be hell even without any other work.

I should also finish my Quickbooks course this evening. Finally, my schoolwork is starting to look somewhat manageable. I still have a lot to do for two of my classes and it will be rough, but for the first time I feel as if I might actually catch up over the next few weeks.