Rob is all moved in now and the new futon arrived today!  So now we're able to sleep up to three guests in our apartment!  Which is yay for when my parents come to visit next year.  All that's left now is unpacking.  A lot, of unpacking.  There were so many boxes that I couldn't unpack until his stuff got here. 

He'll probably be done with his stuff by the weekend, I doubt I'll have even started.  Motivating myself to do it after work is going to be no easy thing.  Normally, I'd be tired.  But our department is still behind from my bosses absence when she got sick that the workload these days is tremendous.  Additionally this daylight savings is throwing me for a loop.  It full night by the time I leave work.  At least last week there was a sliver of light when I got home.  The very last thing I want to do is unpack. Mostly I just want to sleep.  I really hope my body adjusts soon.  There's work to do!  And curtains to make.  Hehe!  Gave Krystal some advice with her sewing machine earlier and now I'm itching to get mine out again.

Lots of changes to my 43 Things in the last few weeks.  Finally completed my 20th goal in 2009 when we moved.  I'm feeling pretty good about myself for that.  Decided not to do NaNo and have already forgotten to keep up with NaBloPo.  If I complete one of the few new short stories I have in the works and hit the 10,000 word mark on something I'll call the year a success.  

Oh and I decided upon a theme for the christmas tree this year that I'm super excited by.  I've been working on learning a few origami patterns in the past month or so.  So I think I might pick up some nice papers and keep all my practice attempts for ornaments so all this paper doesn't go to waste.  I'm getting quite good at paper cranes and tulips!  The lotus blossoms are my nemesis however.  I may just stick with a general crane theme if I can't pull off the floral designs that 'm trying to learn. 

I had a great weekend, but not the weekend I had planned.  Instead of happy hour I ran home to start reading a very special book which I managed to pick up in advance.  Finished at about one this afternoon and then went for a walk in the park.  The weather was gorgeous today, mid to low 60's.  It's been so cold. and windy lately that today was a welcomed change.  Also I happened upon the park on a day when a big Central Park costume contest was going on.  It was too cute.  I saw a little asian boy dressed up like Megaman as he squared off against his dad.

The leaves are all changing colors.  I swear this only started happening three days ago.  It's amazing how quick it's happening.  I feel like the transition is much faster this year than it was last year.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the dramatic drop in temperature we were hit with some weeks ago.  Hmm.

On a sadder note, I walked by the Everglades today for the first time since late July and saw the damage from the August 18th storm that ripped through here.  The Everglades were one of my favorite places in the park.  They were this set of secluded clearings that were loosely attached to one another.  It was really quite and peaceful and a great place for a nap.  Well the thunderstorm that came through  felled a ton of trees.  Honestly it looks like we may have been hit by a down burst.  (Light, can't believe I still have to worry about tornadoes up north.)

The work crews weren't around today so I was able to jump the fence and explore. They've cleared the debris and laid the new surveyors marks.  It looks like they're going to use this to change the landscape of the Everglades.  It doesn't look like they'll be separate clearings anymore, but a more open meadow type spread.  Not sure how I'll feel about that. 

Okay so, my Mac is dead in the water at the moment as are my hopes for attempting NaNoWriMo again this year as all my planning and story starts are on there.  So I'm switching gears, going to look at targeting National Blog Posting Month during the month of November and -hopefully- I still be able to crank out 10,000 ideas and one or two new short stories during the month as well.

I'm trying to start adding consequences to my goals in an effort to spur on productivity.  If I don't have 10,000 words written by December 1, I'm supposed to give up 20 of my books.  Which while sad, should be just crushing enough but not a devastating loss.  The great thing about working in Publishing is that there is always a fresh stream of books flowing in.  I did however just get rid of forty books I didn't care for, so what's left are books that I actually have some emotional attachment to.  

I've had a good year thus far.  When Rob moves in on October 30th, I'll be able to check off having completed 20 goals in 2009.  But lately I've been feeling this anxiety that I'm not working towards anything hard enough.  Maybe it's just because I'm not holding down a full-time job AND school anymore that I feel so lazy lately. XD  Pretty sure things will be better in 2010.  I've got a basic game plan for the year which I'll talk about in December, but I just can't do anything until January.  

It would be fun to actually win a NaBloPo to cap off 2009.  Is anyone planning on doing it in November?  Like NaNo it helps to have a support group.  I know you've attempted it before, Sarah.  Whatcha say chica?

 I think I overuse this title far too much, but ah well.  So folks, as promised here is the scoop, I have moved.  Granted you probably already gathered that.  NY peeps do not fear, I wouldn't dream of leaving the city just yet.  What happened was this:

First I called my agent with a question about my lease.  I've already made mention that Rob and I were looking at moving in together once my lease ran out on my place.  My agent asks if I would be interested in upgrading because there are a couple of units open in my buildings and the landlord would probably cut me a bargain since the rental market is so bad now.  I figured that it couldn't hurt to look.  

The apartment was an average sized NYC 1 BR and double the space I was living in then.  Oh! And there are THREE closets. AND it was only 200 dollars more than I was paying for my studio then +  a park side view of Central Park!  This seemed like a no brainer, but there was one catch...I had to move by the first weekend in October.  Somehow, I managed it and only thanks to Rob rushing up at the last minute to give me a hand.  Everything that could have gone wrong that weekend went wrong just about.  And in the middle of it, my old apartment flooded and I lost a bunch of stuff.  Mostly important papers which isn't so much of a loss in actuality, but the archivist in me cried to see them go.  

I'm no where near finished unpacking.  This is a busy time in the seasonal publishing cycle for our house usually, but the big release of the next WoT book has only added to the excitement and work that needs to be done.  At night though I've sort of just been laying around not wanting to do anything.  I still have about two and a half weeks before it all has to be done.  That'll be when Rob moves in.  Squee!  Exciting times!  I can't wait to post pictures of our new place once he's all moved in and it's finally set up.  There are a bunch of household things we still need to get too.  And hopefully they'll be enough left for a new TV. *hope, hope, hope*

Anyway that's the update, may actually go and attempt to tackle a few boxes tonight.

I have five days to move!  Aaaaaaah. Detail TK.

Forgive the brievity of this post, this really is a good thing that's happening. :)

 Has it really been over a month since I posted last? Sorry guys.  Been so busy lately.   I love having summer hours but the work load will be much more manageable once we get back to the usual Monday-Friday.  I just can't stay on task on half-day fridays.  It's the cupcakes; it's got to be the cupcakes.  A sugar rush would explain why I'm bouncing off the walls of my cube.  

You should however follow my book blog on wordpres: <a href="http://bookbark.wordpress.com">The Book Bark</a>.  I'm so much better about posting there and hey if you're in to writing or sci-fi fantasy check it out.  I've been getting a decent amount of hits lately.  It's pretty exciting.   Twitter is a great way to keep up with the updates to the blog if you don't use an RSS reader, not sure you all have that one: twitter.com/thebookbark.  It really streamlines things.  

My seasonal allergies have kicked in prematurely.  I'm a Fall-like sinus hell at the moment and it sucks.  It's totally throwing off my grove.  I actually started back to work on a few of my writing projects this week.  One YA short story which I can only describe as nerd fiction and an adult piece featuring teenage protagonists that could potentially grow into a short novella.  The second piece is really interesting because the appeal of the story to me as the writer is the character and architectural designs I intend for the story.  Description is my greatest weakness.  I'm working on two posts for the book bark right now that will hopefully pub on wednesday and friday where I  will hopefully go into this a little more.  It has been a welcomed change though to have an idea that I can -see- vividly in my mind from the earliest stages of concept creation.  I may even have a title already!  I never have titles.  I suck at titles.  

Getting ready for vacation next week.  Rooming with one of the editors and going to Dragon*Con!  Woohooo!  I am so excited. And then I get to huggle family, cuddle Ber, and huggle-cuddle-snuggle Cookie.  It's all about the uggle.  Cannot wait!  OMG!  *bounce bounce*  Also all the cool people I'm gonna see  at D*C.  Viv will also been in town with Jason whom I've met only briefly, once.  He seemed pretty cool.  And Byron is gonna be there whom I haven't seen if forevaaaah!  And Alex and Sarah and Anna and Cat!  Squeeeee!  Bring on the reunions!  I will not have a costume which is regrettable, but there's no room in my tiny ass luggage and I need convention wear and Forsyth wear.  

House is a mess.  Lost my phone.  Found and reactivated my old phone but now I have no phone numbers.  Met up with Bridget and explored a pretty neat, elevated park in the Greenwich area.  My grandma almost got eaten by a bear.  There's a giant Gundam outside Tokyo and that's all I got.  If you want me to expound on any of this, just ask.

Now wait, I lie.   I want to give a shout out to a very special person who is recently employed:  CONGRATS BER!  We shall party like it's AWA 14 again.  (Back in the days when AWA was still a decent con. XD)

Just got back from an all too brief trip down to see Rob. The weather was beautiful, aside from the black stain that was the Transformers movie, it was a great weekend.

Transformers 2 sucked hard, no matter how much I want it to be otherwise. T_T That was the only summer blockbuster I was even interested in. Bah. Now to be straight, I do not have childhood memories of this franchise like Rob does. We both kind of knew that it wasn't going to be a good movie for the hardcore fans so I was prepared for that, and for some hand holding and sympathies. I really liked the first movie, like -a lot-. And so even if I didn't get all the fan inside references and disappointments, I walked out feeling like I had seen a great movie at least. The writing though in Revenge of the Fallen was just baaaaad.  I was visibly cringing at every chunky exchange of dialog, predictable story development, and boring attempt at humor.   And though I'm still not what you would call a Transformers nerd, I know enough to understand some of the fan complaints.  Poor Soundwave.

I learned how to play Frisbee this weekend!  I am feeling pretty damn proud of myself for it too, not sure why.  It was so nice to be outside for any length of time.  It was raining in NYC again today and will continue to do so until friday. *sigh*  I miss the sun, and the grass, and Rob's hammock.  T_T  Can I go back to Maryland now?

Work is at least exciting right now.  Kicking off the new season of books this week, woohoo.  I anticipate being mega-stressed next week though.  My boss leaves for Comic Con SD the following week, so lots to get done in preparation.  There are also so many chores and odd appointments to see to around the house.  I just have too many video games/books/movies/rpgs distracting me right now to be as productive as I need to be right now.  Still in vacation mode. 

 Our dear alma mater, to you we sing our praise
Your grey stone and mortar, give strength till our dying day
And like the petrel feet near the ocean, we'll fly through wind and rain
Oh Oglethorpe, you're here to remind us Nesscite Cedere.

Been singing this: All. Morning. Long.

Just finished watching a Bridge to Terabithia and must admit, I was rather dissapointed.  I was bored!  I couldn't believe it.  This is one of my favorite children's books of all time.  Bah.  I think one of the problems was that I could have re-read the book faster than watching the movie, and while the movie's imaginings of Terabithia were good they weren't my imagings.  Ergo, the experience was missing and that was part of the charm.  The movie also just didn't...inspire me to go out and build a fort.  I I'd have liked to see more of the building of Terabithia like the final bridge scene.  Leslie and Jess shuffled things around that they picked up but you really didn't get to see the process of how they fixed up the fort. 

The ending however was spectacular and so uncomfortable knowing the ending.  That entire time that Jesse is in the museum...oh god.  It was awful to watch.

Other than that I've been really busy this weekend and got so much done.  But best of all was the weather!  It was 86 degrees today!  I can't believe it, specially since it was in the thirties last week.  Rob once told me a joke by some commedian.  "New York only has two seasons:  Bawls Winter and Bawls Summer."  So true.  It will be 100 degrees before we know it.  The T-storms which were supposed to come through held off long enough to have a fantastic day.  Got dinner at a street fair on Broadway.  I may turn this into a sunday ritual if it returns next weekend.  I got a greek wrap and some lemonade for three dollars.  I could have gotten pad thai for two dollars too at the end of the day when the vendors are trying to clean out in the last half hour.  I figure I should enjoy before swine flu paranoia makes me too crazy to enjoy it.

Slowly, I'm also making headway on my thesis and for the first time feel like I can see the ending coming.  I really need ink though so that I can start my edits which is such a hassle.  I guarantee I will go to at least three stores tomorrow before I find the right cartridges in stock.  

. 

So I generally ignored twitter until about a month ago.  It's been such the marketing buzz word for months that I broke down and decided I was going to finally get with the program and ingratiate myself into this bizarre Twitter culture out there.  The plan, however, was -not- to get addicted to the damn thing. But alas! For not!

Authors love the shit out of Twitter and fans seem to love the shit out of the authors that do.  I'm not sure though.  I haven't started following anyone I didn't already know in person.  It seems a little weird and stalker-ish to be so a part of their daily lives, openly at least.  It's a great way to disseminate information and the speed at which news travels across it is startling and amazing.  Shit, the Guardian moved exclusively to twitter over print though I'm still undecided over how I feel about that.  Anyway back to my addiction:

In short, I'm boned.  I really don't need another internet distraction.  I must say though, I really like my Twitter page.  I put way more effort in selecting out those images than was necessary and the Japan-o-nerd inside joke built into it.  For the rest of you who won't get it, the small red-head is Tetsunosuke from the anime Peacemaker Kurogane.  He is a member of the Shinsengumi who were the elite army of the shogunate who fought against the Imperialists during the Meiji revolution -- which is considered to be the final days of the samurai.  My avatar, however, is of Kenshin Himura a fictional Imperialist from the anime Rurouni Kenshin said to be the best and most skilled assassin of those dark days.  He looks pissed off, no?  And glaring right at Tesunosuke.  Hehehe.  72 hours later I am still -so- amused.  

Anyway, I know kolautumn and ofacheshiregrin are on Twitter.  Does anyone else have an account?  Or is there anyone whom I can talk into obtaining one. :)