Bit of Ivory

So Jen and I are sitting in my newly-cleaned room (gasp!) and having a fic-writing party. It’s going to be great fun. She’ll work on chapter 7 of Retrospection, I’ll work on Albus. We can bounce ideas off each other, read out portions that have been written, and just basically have a good time. Pretty soon we’re going to get pizza.

It’s almost like we’re roommates again.

Thus, great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,
Fool, said my muse to me, look in thy heart and write.

Albus has been started. As in I have the first five paragraphs written.

Thank you, Sir Philip Sidney.

Lois and Clark is the corniest show ever. So that’s why I spend the entire episode grinning like a maniac, right?

Writing sample paper is revised. It’s funny, because the paper I ended up using is not the one I originally planned. In fact, it didn’t even come to my mind when I thought about which one I wanted to send. But as I was browsing through my old papers this one struck me. The writing is perhaps not my absolute best, but it’s certainly not bad. And it has excellent research, which is specifically mentioned in the e-mail I got reminding me to send a sample. They wanted something that shows my ability to do “graduate level research.” The funniest thing is that I wrote this paper BEFORE I worked in the library and learned all the neat tricks for doing research. Go figure.

Statement of Intent is done. In fact, it’s all ready to be sent in just as soon as I hear from my letter of recommendation people. I have to list all three, and I don’t know who’s doing the third one yet. Still waiting to hear from my first choice.

I have another lead on a job. Fellytone is awesome! We’ll see if anything comes of it.

Ecclesiastical Endorsement: Check.
Statement of Intent: Halfway done. Still worxing.
Letters of Recommendation: Still waiting to hear. Eeeek!
Writing Sample: PIXED but not revised.

In other news, the SECRET PROJEX is complete! You see, BAX when Mary GrandPre came to SLC, we had her sign a copy of OotP for both Arabella and Zsenya. On Saturday at the Summit all the Utah SQers signed a card with Lilac’s b-day filk on it, everyone chipped in on the cost of the BOOX and the shipping, and I Express Mailed them to A&Z, hoping that it would get there in time for the birthday itself. Of course, neither one of them were home when the Post Office tried to deliver it, but Arabella got her book yesterday, and Zsenya got it today. Both loved it, so hooray!

I got called into work today. Becki, our supervisor, had an upset stomach. Since I wasn’t planning on working, a lot of things got disrupted. I didn’t make it into the chiropractor to lift weights (although I’m going to do the Strong Women Stay Slim weight lifting program instead), I didn’t get the rest of my room clean (will have to do that tomorrow), and I didn’t get to worx on my statement of intent, which is why it’s still only half done. I also didn’t get to eat lunch, and did my best not to overeat at dinner, so right now I’m hungry again.

My mom found my Jane Austen set! All of Jane Austen’s complete novels in ten pocket-sized volumes (S&S, P&P, Mansfield Park and Emma are in two volumes, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey are in one). And each volume has its own place-marking ribbon! These things are going to get used, I can tell you that.

I had a job interview today– over the phone. Fellytone from SQ told me about a job at her workplace, and told her boss about me. I sent in my resume and had a chat with her boss. Should know by Friday.

Yet another reason why SQ is a wonderful, wonderful place.

Part I of the SECRET PROJEX is complete. Part II is still in progress. Here’s hoping I can tell you about it soon.

We watch a lot of TNT and The Hallmark Channel around here. Law and Order and M*A*S*H* reruns, right? The problem with these two channels is that they don’t play enough of a variety of commercials. For instance, right now they’re both playing ads for the TNT original movie “The Goodbye Girl”, which doesn’t air until the 16th, at least once a commercial break. It’s incredibly annoying. The first time I saw an ad for it I thought I might give it a whirl. Now I’m so sick of the commercials I don’t even want to see the movie.

I’ve been working on my grad school application today. Contacted one more person about a letter of recommendation, reminded another who had promised to write one, called and scheduled an appointment for an interview with my bishop for my ecclesiasticl endorsement, and worxed on my personal statement of intent. Now I just need to PIX and revise one of my research papers for a writing sample, finish said statement of intent and submit my application (it’s the only thing that’s incomplete), pay the $50 fee, and follow up with all my letters of rec. people until they get them in. And I have until next Thursday! Whoot!

Can’t believe I’m actually applying for grad school. Never thought I’d do this.

I just had a thought. Remember that dream I had a little while ago, where Sweeney Agonistes came to Wahleecon and we ended up hanging around in a downtown mall with Andy Serkis and Orlando Bloom?

The Borders that Andy Serkis is going to be signing at? In that mall.

O.o.O. Do I have an inner eye?

Okay, that title has nothing to do with anything. If you can tell me where it’s from, though, ten points to the appropriate house.

Yesterday was busy but FUN. The day started out with a lovely SQ Summit at Buca di Beppo. I probably ate too much, but since I didn’t end up eating dinner I don’t think I’ll suffer too muchly. Got to meet several SQers that I haven’t met before, and saw a few that I have. The SECRET PROJEX went really well, too. Got it sent off. I’ll be able to tell everyone about it on Monday, hopefully. If everything goes according to plan.

After Buca I had to go to WUX, for the last time in the foreseeable future. Is rather sad, actually.

After WUX I went to a 10:30 showing of Pride and Prejudice with Sirusnutter and Sannalim, and Sannalim’s sisters. Still love that show. I recognize its flaws, but the good stuff makes up for the occasional bad acting and the amateurish editing in spots. Orlando Seale is still hot as heck. I love some of the small things they do– like when Jane and Elizabeth go running in the park, and Elizabeth is drenched in sweat and out of breath while Jane is cool and comfortable and perfect. The “Pink Bible” is written by Louisa Hurst. Lizzy lives on Longbourn Avenue, the restaurant she meets Darcy at is called Rosings, and Mary belongs to the Netherfield Bowling Team.

Today we had a mid-summer meal in January. Dad stood out on the back porch in 35 degree weather and barbequed steak. Mom made homemade lemonade. It tasted delicious, but it’s rather funny to top that meal off with candy cane pudding (basically marshmallows, whipped cream, walnuts, and ground-up candy canes. It’s a family tradition).

So how did we get so lucky? Andy Serkis is coming to Salt Lake on Jan. 14th, to sign his book at Borders. I already promised Sweeney Agonistes to get her his autograph. Mary GrandPre and Andy Serkis in less than 6 months? Wow.

Whoo! I love a new year– starting fresh, full of possibilities. And this promises to be a good year.

I spent last night about like I thought I would– ended up watching several Perry Mason episodes and Edward Scissorhands, which was on TV. We got sick of the commercials, though, and popped in the DVD instead. Also read Susan Cooper. As the new year turned, I was halfway through The Dark is Rising, vaguely listening to the Perry Mason episode that my folks were watching.

Curse you, Sweeney Agonistes. I was up until 2 finishing The Dark is Rising. Have now finished Greewitch, and have started The Grey King. I expect to be finished with the series by tonight.

The wind is blowing. Hard. Has been all day. Our creaky old house has been getting a workout. Rather an inauspicious start to the new year, eh?

I thought I’d write my new year’s resolutions in public– make it that much harder to forget that I made them. So here we go:

1) Excercise more. Ideal would be cardio/aerobic 3 times a week, alternating with strength training at the chiropractor.

2) Eat more healthily. Hopefully this and the above resolution will combine to a weight loss of approximately 30 lbs. by Wahleecon.

3) Complete and fully post my Albus fic.

4) Remove the things in my life that are keeping me from a closer relationship with God, and work to become a better person.

I think that’s quite enough to be getting on with.

Most likely, anyway.

I think it’s been a good year overall. There were bad spots, of course, but the good spots more than made up for them.

I’m not doing much tonight. We were going to go see a movie, but no one much feels like it, and I’m not in the mood to go dancing (sorry Jen). Will probably end up watching some sappy movie here at home with my family. Either that or reading Over Sea, Under Stone for the first time, which I’m sure will make Sweeney Agonistes happy. Stopped at Barnes and Noble to buy the rest of the series, since I know I’m going to want it.

Am not working at all next week. *sigh* Time for another job search. I hate job searching.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Didn’t get half of the stuff done I wanted to do, but had a good day nonetheless. Jen and I decided to go shopping. We were going to get a crepe at European Connection, but to our eternal sadness we discovered that the closest location to us is now closed. Stupid bad economy. Will now have to go farther to get white hot chocolate. Or must buy my own Ghiradelli white chocolate syrup so I can make it at home. Anyway, we ended up at Panda Express instead. I didn’t *really* mind the change, although that white hot chocolate is still calling to me. We saw our old bishop while we were there, though. I ended up spending too much money at Bath and Body Works because it’s their semiannual sale and I just couldn’t pass up $5 bottles of lotion, etc.

We just finished watching Sense and Sensibility on TCM. Good show. Is fun to see how many actors in the show are now in Harry Potter. We kept going “Now, in this scene we have Cornelius Fudge, The Fat Lady, Madam Pomfrey, Professor Snape, AND Professor Trelawney!”

It snowed a bit more today. It’s going to take a long time for what we’ve already got to melt, and the trees in our neighborhood may never recover. It’s so sad to drive by so many fallen branches. We’ve got a fire going right now and we’re all cozy. May make some hazelnut cocoa shortly. My poor grandparents have been without power for three days. They’re up at my uncle’s house right now, having used up most of their firewood. Didn’t do them any good to call the power company, either. They said “we can’t verify that your power isn’t on.” Ummmm, that’s why they’re calling. Do you think they’d call you because they *do* have power?

Oh, yikes. Just changed the channel to PBS and it’s the 1940 Pride and Prejudice. The one during which I threw pillows at the TV. *shudder*

Luckily, fam is about to start Seabiscuit. Bye!