I did not update yesterday.
That does not mean I did not try to update yesterday; but, between trying to finish a Flash presentation and work and… well… life, the idea of writing an updated and actually publishing it was a little more than I could handle.
However, today marks the last day of classes for this semester and barring any tragedies (etc.) I anticipate that I will be a graduate this time next year.
This does not mean that I don’t have things that still need doing. Oh, there are things that still need doing. Like, I have to study for the final for the dreaded science class. I still have to put together and turn in a packet of material for my professional communications class along with creating a seven minute presentation for that class. All of these equals more enjoyment than any one individual need have in his or her life.
HOWEVER, with all of that said, Erin finishes her last class here in a little while, she is showing her movie iLove that she wrote and directed (I was the cinematographer, her brother and a girl from our ward acted in it… as did my computer (according to the credits)). I am hoping that goes well for her. She has a final, pretty much, for each class she is taking. And she still needs to focus on and finish the online class she is taking, but it would appear that her life is moving in the right direction for her to start a Master’s Degree in the near future.
Along with all that, I have been learning some rudimentary information/knowledge of Adobe Flash. I have to say, that is a relatively fun program to learn and use. At least, I have had some fun with it. As I figure out more and learn more, the program seems to come to life (for me). Currently, I have an abbreviated version of the Flash animation I will have as a part of the final, turned in, project; however, I want to have images floating, moving really, across the background… and as I’ve thought about this, I think it would be interesting and nice to have colors change as they float across the background. With that said, I may go and find some examples of changing backgrounds online and see if I can implement them into In Order to Write.
To answer any lingering questions, no, I’ve not updated on Alicia Grey progress. The reason: I wrote in excess of 10,000 words on Saturday and only 200-ish of those were for Alicia. I had two other classes that needed my attention and they got it. With that stated, I am planning on ammeding my deadline to meet what I think is reasonable (and the end of this year… and the beginning of next year… and the new semester) and will update that site with the new goal.
Further, I have started (and need to finish) an entry on one of the books I’ve read of late The Blue-Haired Bombshell by John Zakour. That will be done over at In Order to Write. If I get the guts up, I may make a request of someone and report on what the request was and the outcome of the request. I haven’t decided yet.
Jordan is in his first full week of answering phones. During his 8 hour shift, yesterday, he took a whopping number of calls. More than I normally did during 8 hour shifts. When I left, his number was at 53. That was cool. I knew Jordan would be an asset, and when he asked (me) questions they were the right questions to be asking (I hope my answers were the right ones to be giving), which leads me to believe that boy is going to fit in at the company very nicely.
I think I can stop worry (a little) now.
Well, for the most part, much of Christmas shopping has been done… at least, for those whom I plan to buy presents for. In truth, Erin and I have some more shopping to do for odds and ends and other sundry items; but the outcome is that we are moving (advancing) at a nice clip. I share this because I finished buying some people (on my life) their presents. Of course, in the process of that, I also purchased a stack of books.
The books are:
The Golden Compass by Philp Pullman
Frogs and French Kisses by Sarah Mlynowski
and Bras and Broomsticks also by Sarah Mlynowski
I am currently enjoying The Golden Compass and hope to see the movie based off of the book in the very near future. Had I had my druthers and it wasn’t snowing and Erin had been feeling better, we would’ve seen it last week. We may splurge, a little, and see it as a matinee sometime this week. With that, the book is very enjoyable.
I read, a few years ago, Frogs and French Kisses and thought Erin would like it after she is done with her finals and the stress of end-o-semester. She wanted to start reading it yesterday. I was excited enough about the purchase I let slip that I had some secret books in the house (I have shelves and shelves and shelves and shelves of books for those that don’t know… and we are planning on adding at least one more shelf in the next month or so) that Erin went searching for them.
I gave her a clue. I said, “Look for the two books that don’t belong on the shelf they are sitting on.” And off she went.
After a few minutes of searching, she came up with the books. I’d placed them, surreptitiously, on the fairy tale and mythology shelf where my Hans Christian Andersen and Grimm’s books belonged, as well as others… and though they didn’t “fit” in with the topic of what was there, I thought they looked nice and blended in unless you knew what that shelf was for.
Anyway, they are now sitting on a tall stack of books on the same shelf in the office.
Outside of all that, not been a lot interesting going on. Pretty much waking up, going to school or trying to complete projects around the house, going to work, then coming home spending a few minutes (awake) with Erin before we go to bed and then sleeping to start it all over again the next day. Erin pointed out, the other day, that our lives are about to go off in radically opposite directions as she is done with BYU and I still have another year left. What fun, what fun.
Changing tracks, and then I am done, I noted some time ago that my all time favorite author, and someone who has (although never directly) been an important part of my life and especially my writing life, Robert Jordan passed away. At that time, a community of fantasy fans mourned the loss of, perhaps, the most influential fantasy writer, hands down, in the genre since Tolkein. However, whether or not his series would be completed (The Wheel of Time) was never in question.
Since RJ announced that he had a disease that, at best, granted him about 5 years to live, I guessed he was grooming people to take over for him. My thoughts were toward his cousin/brother Wilson, I also considered that Harriet, his wife, might also lead the charge; however, as his widow and the person in charge of that series, Harriet has chosen author Brandon Sanderson to take over the reigns and finish the series.
I don’t know what kind of a writer Sanderson is. I have heard good things about his fiction and his fantasy writing (not knowing his name, his books have a good reputation). I am excited and a little fearful of this finish, but I also know that with Harriet running the show, with RJ’s notes, and with an established author who started reading the series at the same time I did, I think the last book, The Memory of Light, is probably in good hands.
John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West
Real Heroes Fly