34. The Science of Discworld III: Darwin's Watch. Terry Pratchett, Jack Cohen, Ian Stewart.

OMG I fucking hate math. Seriously, I couldn't grasp 99% of what was said on the subject. My eyes just started spinning. It made finishing this REALLY hard.

I got two really interesting things from this book: one, the source of Aleph Zero's name. Two, why women's bodies don't (usually) spontaneously abort fetuses.

But. Eyes, spinning.

I love Ridcully, though. And Rincewind is growing on me, in the presence of other, stable(?) characters.

35. Fragile Things. Neil Gaiman.

There is one incident in a short story (Feeders and Eaters) that just so deeply disturbed me that I am actually still really uncomfortable just thinking about it.

True story: you can do with people what damn well like, and I'm okay with the chicken and the sheep, and maybe even a chihuahua, but please, please, please leave the cat out of it.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed it (hardly a surprise)... especially A Study in Emerald, The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch, Keepsakes and Treasures, and The Monarch of the Glen.

36. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. Robin McKinley.

I finished this in 2.5 hours. It didn't really add much in terms of content, I think, but I thought it was beautifully written and a fairly solid retelling. (I also didn't realize when I first came across it that it was YA, for some reason, but that's neither here nor there.)

Thank you, roseneko! :D

37. 100%. Paul Pope.

I waffled over whether or not to include this on my list, as it is a comic, but I decided: Watchmen counted, and I fucking hated it; I liked this, and it was about the same length (if not density), so - yes. I count it.

It is weird and a little bit wonderful. I'm not sure what else I can really say about it. I'm not sure if I loved it, but I had a pretty strong emotional reaction to parts (even to the point of quotage!). So, yes.

----

Aaaaaaaaaaand I am 3 weeks behind. Yes. How is this happening? :( And I've been ultra-lax with Fanart100 too (okay, so one every day and a half isn't going to happen - but seriously, nothing for almost a month?)

Currently working on: Grave Peril (OMG Dresden Files! I finally found you~), Something Wicked This Way Comes. Looking for my copy of The Night Garden (...where did it GO? Rage).

I am seriously contemplating using the strength of the Canadian vs. the US dollar to go on a massive Amazon.com shopping spree.

I mean, seriously. Oadenol's Codex is up for $16.49, vs. the $26 at the FLGS, and $18.25 at Amazon.ca. Hell - that makes it the almost the same price to ship from the States.

I am ludicrously desirous of Exalted books that I will probably not read.

( Memes )

Careers I'm supposedly suited for:

1. Costume Designer [Fair Match]
2. Technical Writer [Fair Match]
3. Translator [Fair Match]
4. Addictions Counselor [Fair Match]
5. Rehabilitation Counselor [Good Match]
6. Mediator [Good Match]
7. Anthropologist [Fair Match]
8. Website Designer [Fair Match]
9. Illustrator [Good Match]
10. Special Effects Technician [Fair Match]

( More below the cut... )

From gharbad, I'll ask you five questions if you post here. Post them in your own LJ so that I can get MOAR!

1. What's your goal in life?

Right now? My goal is to get a goal. My last goal seems to be... not unsatisfying, exactly, but I feel completely unequipped to write what I want to write. And I know it's just a matter of sitting down and writing, but when I get there I just stare at the screen and it's AWFUL. I'm struggling even to come up with RP characters or situations. And it's not even the inner critic shutting me down. It's the mental equivalent of staring at a blank wall for HOURS ON END. I think I need to find something that I really want to fulfil as a goal, and go for that. The problem is I'm having a bitch of a time coming up with anything.

Beyond that, my current goal is to get a job.

2. What is your favourite roleplaying rules set?

New World of Darkness, hands above ANYTHING else. Most of the new White Wolf is great. I still can't wrap my head around Exalted 2e combat, but I think that's a lack of familiarity. Scion looks fantastic, I LOVE Requiem, and if I could ever get a Mage or Werewolf game to last longer than a couple of months, I bet you I'd love them too.

3. What do you wish you could do better?

Self-motivate. I've discovered I'm awful at making myself do things, even if I want to do them. See also: getting music lessons, writing, learning to cook, improve my artistic ability... and so on, and so on. I'm a terrible procrastinator and have a hard time making myself DO SHIT.

4. What is your favourite 80s media?

As in, favorite item from any media? Or just general media? I'll probably go with The Last Unicorn for the first, and general media, music.

5. Who do you admire in life?

-Serena, because 1) I wish I was marginally that talented artistically/motivated/strong/beautiful, and 2) because dude, she's awesome.
-My mom (dude, I know, cheese), because, see again: strong.
-Tanya Huff, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman, because I totally want to be them. All of them. At once.

Not, mind you, my update for 50books (I do have one, I'm just slow).

( Book Habits Meme )

ALEXMEGAMI:

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Let You Know - Hoobastank
Elegant - Econoline Crush
X Dream - Myuji (X/1999 Opening Theme)
Mansion on the Hill - Alabama 3
Elysium - Anabolic Frolic
Give a Reason - Slayers (Slayers NEXT Opening Theme)
Ariel - October Project
Miam Maikan - Florent Vollant
I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major-General - Gilbert and Sullivan

Hypothetical nookie is the best kind!

Or at least the funniest.

In other news, meme!

If you want one, fill this out for me on your blog: ( Text of the meme! )

Dear Serena,
I adore you! You have a nice... well, everything, really. You make me giggle no matter what I am doing. I would play with your hair every day if I could. (So pretty!) You should tie me up and ravish me (please). Someday I will make you stop being so self-deprecating! You + me = bestest friendests in the wholest widest worldest. If I saw you now I'd glomp you. Remember that time when EVER? I would build a life-sized sandcastle, entirely with tweezers, just for you. If I could sing you any song it would be Moonlight Densetsu. Totally.
We could snuggle under the stars.

Love,
Alex

(P.S. Boys are dumb, love me instead. ;)