LIBRARY UPDATE

Am making very good progress on converting the front of my bedroom from the craft graveyard it has been for the past 2 years into a library and dedicated writing space. Can get to the windows, moved a bookcase, created the 'to be read' shelf, bookends from eBay just paid for. Writing desk is still in its box in the hallway, as I want to get more of the room structured before assembling it.

Decided on the medium/65cm exercise ball as my chair instead of the larger/75cm one. The writing desk has a keyboard tray, tastefully disguised as a regular drawer, although I'm not sure it will be low enough. Almost all "desks" are around 30", and I need the keyboard at around 25-26". May have to lower the desk or raise me, not sure which yet.

Took 2 feverfew today since they are still taunting us with rain and the barometer is bouncing around. I try to only take them when I feel a headache coming on, but am thinking of just taking 2 a day as a preventative. The ONLY reason I made it through last week, and especially the previous 2.5 weeks was because of this stuff, as Advil and caffeine seem to have completely lost their effectiveness, and I don't have anything prescription to take more than once without nasty horrible side effects.

WORK WEEK

Had functional specs due, so this week was nothing but work and the occasional 4400 ep. Did a 10 hour day on Wednesday, and then 11 hours today. It's sad to think the best years of my life are spent in 200 page Word documents.

On the other hand, the physical therapy that my neurologist prescribed is helping my neck and shoulder quite a bit. Sleeping with the bodybag pillow to keep my shoulder from collapsing in is also a good thing. And then there's the infamous head board that is strapped to the back of my chair at work to keep the draft off me.

Ah, yes, to be back from vacation ... :P

CREATIVE DAY

Met Ellington Hawke at the 1/2 Price again for hours of creative talk. He's got a brilliant idea I can't talk about, but wish I could be the Director of Swag for. ;) Couple of worldbuilding conversations as well, his and mine. And I've finally found someone else who gets nightmares when they sleep on their back. Thought it was just me.

Taking 2 feverfew a day and so far, other than a bit of a stuffy nose, no side effects. I think I've found my miracle migraine cure [crossed fingers].

FEVERFEW

Finally had time today to go by a GNC when they were open and get some Feverfew. Read about it as a possible migraine fix in an online forum. Took one, and the evening was much better. If this works long-term, it will make my life happy again, as I've had a migraine for the past 2 weeks now. :(

PRODUCTIVE

1. Met with Ellington at the mega half-Price books to help him unload his car and catch-up. Talked through a late breakfast and lunch. Was able to help him out with a name, and he may have time to do some font treatments for (yet another) CafePress idea I have.

2. Started cleaning-up the front area to make into my library. Need that done before November and NaNoWriMo which I have decided to do this year. So I want a dedicated place to write. Should also loose some weight since I will likely put it on by dedicating myself to another 2 hours on my butt in front of the computer in addition to the 9-10 hours spent being in front of the computer for the day job. I have the first line, and am doing some world-building since it applies to other novel ideas, but am seriously trying not to write anything for that particular story in advance of the November 1st start date.

Pretty good for the first day with only 1/2 a headache ...

WEEK OF PAIN

So as a nifty "welcome back to Texas" there's impending bad weather and I've had migraines all week. I only use the Zomig nasal spray when I *really* need to be all there (like a client meeting), since I get side effects if I use it again within 3 days . So I've been getting by on Advil, caffeine, and HeadOn. Exhausted from concentrating at work, I basically come home, have dinner, and go to bed.

This is not what I want my life to be.

DAY OFF

Having gotten in at 5:30 am this morning, I slept until noon. Decided I should probably eat something and fell asleep for another hour. Made the decision to get up and followed through by getting out of bed. Fruit and mac nuts was all I really wanted. Did bank errand for sibling, started a load of laundry, read (it is after all, my last day of vacation ;).

Dinner of Pizza Guy with boyfriend. Very glad to be home.

BC - DAY 18

Last day. Pack in morning. Lunch in Kelowna at Quizno's, then early to airport to pick up sibling's friend. I can't check in until 4:30 pm, so we leave the airport to try De Dutch, but they closed half an hour ago. End up at a Starbuck's in a Safeway. Then back to airport to drop me off. Check-in, security - where I get hauled out for the baggage drug test again (happens every time as I get flagged as going to America). Sit and read. Shop local store, get silver magnet ring as omiagi. Full little prop plane. More reading. Land in Seattle. Get luggage. Go through customs. Hand off luggage. Dinner. Fireworks shopping (*love* that store!). Over to gate. Read. Get on plane at 11:30 pm. Big snoring guy next to me, so I (guess what) read. In exit aisle with no window seat, which makes for extra foot room since my bag can be off to the side and still accessible under the seat in front of me. My seat doesn't lean back, which is a literal pain, but the big guy snagged me a pillow, and I snagged a blanket, so it worked out. Arrive at DFW at 5:35 am to be picked up by my wonderful boyfriend. Dropped off at home on his way to work. Sleep.

BC - DAY 17

Mascot Mine Tour on my own. Terrific world-building & species research, and I thought up a new book for that world on the ride up there. Didn't think of much other than not trying to trip on the way down the 528 stairs. Going back up the 528 stairs was alike a turtle race, passing and being passed by the same couple on the various platforms/landings and patches of shade.

BC - DAY 16

Slept in, and it was nice. A few false starts, then out of the house for a road trip to the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Center in Osoyoos. *Very* cool place, with great exhibits, a self-guided trail walk that took a lot of work to set-up and is beautifully maintained, a "sweat lodge" theatre, and a full theatre-theatre. Picked up some Courage and Determination pocket spirits.

Lunch in town at a place I assumed would be sandwiches and ended up being oriental. Migraine back in a bad way. Sibling wanted to check out the outlet mall, so we took 97 south. Turns out to be a duty-free show in a 1-way parking lot, so we ended up crossing the border and coming back in again.

She dropped me off at home so I could go lie down and went pie-parts shopping. A talk with Tonbo and then a nap, although still woke up with a headache. Left-overs for dinner with a Major ep, then caught up on the blog before bed.

Really want to see Mascot Mine tomorrow, but it's my last day and am not sure what my head will feel like. May just take it easy. There's always next year ...

BC - DAY 15

Early Giant Head trip with dog. More good ideas regarding worldbuilding.

Sibling was up, so we had breakfast outside and then it was time for a mid-morning nap. I got up around 10:30 am, but she was still asleep, so I did an errand run to the local office supply place in Penticton. Helped out the apple crisps guy with finding a label package, and then home ... and she's still asleep, which is understandable, given the jetlag coming from Mongolia. Woke her up for lunch, then we went to Summerland for an errand and to cruise Main street, which shuts down around 4 - 5 pm, so not much cruising actually happened. IGA stop, then back home for dinner (chicken & tortellini).

She wanted to see some Firefly, so I showed her "The Train Job", which she got fairly involved in. Talked to boyfriend a bit, then bed. Very tired.

BC - DAY 14

Kayaking in the morning. Snuck out and did a loop around pinky and then went close to shore to see what the dog was doing. Apparently, if I stay in view and head straight out from the bay, she won't run through the neighbors' yards after me. So I can head across the lake, just up and down the shore. Did another lap around pinky and then headed in.

Walking tour of downtown Penticton. The used book store is awesome, the new one, a little sparse. Found a January 2004 GQ for $1 for a Bloomie at the office. Picked up some other omiyagi and then back home in case the sibling called about missing her plane. No phone call, so I headed out to the Penticton airport. Picked her up just fine, although until I actually saw her, I had no idea how long her hair would be.

Quiet dinner, presents review, and bed.

BC - DAY 13

Took Sweetie up to Giant Head at 7 am. We did the first shortcut and then I decided to walk back down the road. About a 45 minute guilt-reducing walk. :P

My headaches are (mostly) gone. Pressure is steady, so as long as it doesn't start bouncing around like it has for the past few days, I think I'm out the other end of the weather tunnel. Yay!

Mid-morning nap, then off to town for errands. Found some great Rooibos tea at the local weekly market, picked up 2 more snowballs, visited the butcher, the baker, but didn't need any candlesticks. Also popped into the local "general" store which is books and magazines and games of chance tickets. And fruit. Tis the season that no matter what else your store may sell, there is also fruit. At least it seems that way to this tourist. Picked up a Canadian press book and was on my way out when I noticed what looked like a spaceship on the cover of a magazine. Turns out it was the Serenity movie tie-book (River cover). I'm 99% sure I have this cover, but decided to help the store out, as they will never sell it. It's already over a year old and had 1/4 inch of dust to prove it. But I'll take Serenity (and serenity) anywhere I can find it. ;)

Lunch and a mid-afternoon nap. Talk with boyfriend. Thank goodness for Vonage and free calls to Canada. Reading, watched some eps of Major. Takehito Koyasu is the voice actor for the father and he's just awesome (also played Touga of Utena fame, among many other roles). Finished the 7 Lively Sins. Has some good points in it, at least for my slightly uptight personality. ;)

- - - - -

http://www.armory.com/tests/anime.html

"You answered "yes" to 87 of 200 questions, making you 56.5% otaku pure (43.5% otaku corrupt). Your Weirdness Factor (AKA Uniqueness Factor) is 23%, based on a comparison of your test results with 91823 other submissions for this test."

Somehow I feel disappointed ...