irrelevant (and sometimes questionable) ramblings

Reading: Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Listening to: unintelligible hushed murmur of the TV in the living room
Working on: revisions and brainstorming

The clock’s ticking again. I’m brain-dead with exhaustion, and the pillow is calling me. I look at the calendar, and days just seem to be flying past, don’t they? I have trouble grasping the fact that April 1st has arrived. That means it’s only six or so more weeks until the big day.

Holy shit.

This weekend will be a power-shop for a maid’s dress, but after that, it’ll be time to tackle remaining items on the To-Do list. Some of you know that I’ve done this wee jaunt down the aisle once before. This time, however, things feel much more…complicated. Perhaps it’s just me, but it seems there’s so much more to do.

I can also probably blame my poor ageing brain, too. I’ve probably forgotten much of the former chaos.

I feel so anxious about getting the new life started. I suppose I shouldn’t be worried — it’ll start soon enough. But also, once all of this chaos is done, I can turn my attention back to putting words down on-screen. It’ll be nice to get into a “normal” routine again…

So a little birdie has told me that I am going to some “pretentious” Goth club Friday evening, for a friend-of-a-friend’s birthday.

Kool. I’m down with that. I haven’t had my ears bleed thanks to deafening music in ages.

But the most frightening question is, what in hell do I wear??

Last time I went clubbing in general, I was two sizes smaller. And those clothes were more for dance clubs than anything else. On top of all that, I don’t even know what’s de rigeur nowadays on the Goth scene. Anyone? Bueller??

I suppose I could do a quick thrift-store run to see what I can find, but with all the other expenses right now, I’m not up for too much extra expenditure. Yanno?

Huh. Anyway. I guess I’ll come up with something. That’s what I get for tending to dress trampy versus anything else…

Hehehe.

I have discovered the penultimate method of getting a solid night’s sleep:

Run yourself entirely ragged–both physically and emotionally–for several days straight (weeks are even better) so that you can no longer even keep your eyes open and are forced to prop your lids up with toothpicks, a la Fred Flintstone. Force yourself to remain awake, sitting at your computer doing things that seem highly important at the time (but could very easily be postponed to later). Then, terribly late in the evening, collapse headlong into your bed.

Near-instant sleep is practically guaranteed–as long as you can keep thoughts of wedding plans and house-shopping from entering your brain.

Easy-peasy!

Not.

And good luck trying to wake up early the next day. Snooze-button use is guaranteed.

I wonder if I can sneak in a nap today…

I can’t find wedding jewelry for myself.

I have hunted the local jewelry stores ad nauseum. I have surfed eBay until my eyes have started rolling backwards into my head (and I’m just a tad leery about buying something I can’t examine in person. I can’t judge how large the stones or crystals are, if there’s nothing to compare them to in the picture!). I have even scoured Michael’s, thinking I could damn well make my own jewelry if I had to. Of course, they don’t have the types of materials I want.

WHY IS THIS SO BLOODY HARD?!? It’s only jewelry for God’s sake!

*bangs head on keyboard*

My headache and I are going to bed. Wake me when something good happens.

Thursday morning I’m going to go shopping and try and pick up some of the other things on the wedding To-Buy list.

I’m going to come home by noon, eat some lunch, and park my sweet patootie in this desk chair and finish my revisions. I am emailing them off by end of day tomorrow.

Or else.

This is my public declaration. I’ll let you know how things go.

(No, not the show. Sorry to disappoint.)

Days left in day-job contract: 16 (!?!)
Days until wedding: 53
Things left on To-Do list: a zillion (give or take a couple)
Pounds still to lose: $&@#$!%$#
Money to be spent: waaaaaay too freakin’ much
Houses to view: at least four more next week
Boxes to be packed: all of them
Revisions to finish: 15%

Well. Some of those things are just entirely too depressing. I think I’ll go to bed now and continue reading the book that is slowly becoming more interesting. (I read two chapters last night!)

So I picked Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden off my shelf last night.

I read the “foreword” and the first chapter.

At this point, I could easily take it or leave it. However, to the book’s credit, it’s just been backstory up until now — outlining Chiyo’s childhood life — so we haven’t even come close to beginning her journey to become geisha. I will continue some more tonight to see if it will take hold of me in a more serious fashion.

But at least I did start something new.

For quite some time now, when I’ve read in bed at night, I’ve found myself turning to the same tried-and-trues as usual. Books I’ve read many times over. The ones that I know will deliver. The ones with slightly creased covers, and pages worn soft by repeated turning. In general, I don’t have a problem with this strategy. It works for me. I know what I’m getting when I open the cover.

Some nights, though, when I’m between regulars (books, that is, you perverts…), I stare at my To Be Read pile and wonder if maybe, perhaps, I should pick one of those untried gems this time around. Give something different a chance. But then I immediately question the expenditure of energy required in the pursuit of something new.

Unfair as it may be to their authors, I dislike those first pages of a book where I’m trying to settle in to this new world where everything is strange and unfamiliar, and I feel as though I’m stumbling around, trying to find my feet before accidentally, uncontrollably toppling overboard. It takes me a while to adapt, a while to become friends with the characters and to decide whether or not I really do like them.

I do realize, however, that in almost every single case, this wariness is unwarranted. I’ve spent my fair share of nights up much later than intended, simply in order to read a few more pages before turning out the light.

But it’s that “getting to know you” phase that’s so hard to transcend.

Maybe it’s time to take a chance. Maybe one of those TBR books should finally get a turn. I think tonight I’ll actually pick one of those titles off the shelf and just start reading. Give the first five pages a chance and see what happens.

And just maybe I’ll make some new friends in the process. It’s definitely worth a shot. I’ll let you know what happens.

Ellora’s Cave currently has all of the older Cavemen anthologies on sale!

If you want to try out what EC has to offer, or just haven’t had a chance to pick up the anthology I’m in, now’s your chance!

Here’s the link to the print version, now only $5.99 and here’s the link to the e-book version, now only $6.99!

From what I understand, the sale isn’t going to last long, so act fast!

(Pretty please? I have a wedding and a house to pay for… Thank you!!! )

The worst thing about “watching what one eats” is those pesky hunger pangs.

I don’t know whether I want to snack right now because I’m legitimately hungry, or because I’m just used to snacking in the evening.

*sigh*

I think I’ll just go to bed and try to ignore it.

Damned food.