State of the Blog

Those very attentive souls will have noticed some changes to the bar on the right hand side of the blog. I have had some complaints about how the calendar appeared on the blog and that it was difficult to see the events. Thus, I have just made a link to another web site that just shows the calendar.

Beyond that, there is a new bar that shows some news items that I have found interesting. The most recent items that I share in Google Reader will show up in that bar. Items may range from the most recent space news, to art sales, to whatever.

Finally, I am once again keeping a list of books I have finished either reading or listening to in 2008. You can keep track of my progress throughout the year. Last year I fell off from updating the list, I hope to do better this year. Currently I am in the middle of reading the following books (yes all at the same time), so PLEASE, no spoilers:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (started in 2007)
  
• The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
• The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanly Robinson (started in 2007)
• The China Road by Rob Gifford (audio)

And probably some others that I have forgotten and will have to start over.

Quick Update

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I have been a bit flooded recently. The NASA Academy selection process is well underway, and I am busy coordinating over 50 people across the country along with several other time sensitive projects.

The news on my friend Joe isn't great. Please send him your prayers and good thoughts. He has a very difficult fight ahead of him.

As may be evidenced by the fact that I am talking about my workload, my health has been improving. With the new medicine, my coughing is much better... but it got worse before it got better. Very early Saturday morning I almost ended up in the hospital. We avoided the trip when I finally drifted off to sleep after coughing for about 4 hours incessantly. With all that coughing, I now have a pulled muscles in my sides.

Last night I was having a bit of trouble sleeping so I finished "The Bonesetter's Daughter" by Amy Tan. I really liked it. In some ways, it was two different stories, but weaved together well.

This weekend will be spent getting caught up on all the homework that has been languishing since I have been sick.

Stay warm, and if you are somewhere where there is snow... throw a snowball at someone you love.

Mao

I finished the biography of Mao yesterday. The audiobook is around 30 hours long and is the most disturbing book I have ever read. Currently I am finishing up "The Bonesetter's Daughter" by Amy Tan when I can't sleep. After I finish that, I will be reading mostly school books for the foreseeable future.

Hack, Hack, Hack

Still coughing, over and over and over. Last night I finished my "I am exhausted but I can't sleep so I will read this book for a bit." It was Storm Front by Jim Butcher. The first Harry Dresden book. I liked it a lot.

Tonight I am up late working on some NASA Academy work that needs to get done. It drives me crazy, but I am often most alert between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM. It is obnoxious when you want to have anything approaching a "normal job" or a "normal life". It also doesn't work well when your husband wakes up at 6:00 AM.

Oddly enough... I am starting to feel worse... so I am going to bed.

Migraines Suck

I have the worst migraine I have had in months, so this will be short. Thinking back, I have had this one for two days now, it just exploded today.

Last night, before the headache got bad, I finished the 4 Obsessions book. What am I reading now? Nothing because I have a stupid migraine.

Book Things

The weekend was reasonably productive, but not in all the ways I would like. I am still recovering from the Bronchitis. In an effort to start putting the house in a bit of order, I am starting to box up the books. As I put the books into boxes, I am logging them in LibraryThing. Over the weekend I added 673 books, and have barely scratched the surface. Most of the books in the library now are paperbacks, manga, and role playing books. My rough prediction is that there will be >6000 books before I am finished.... I need more boxes.... a lot of boxes. And before you ask, they will be coming out of the boxes once we start to get the house more organized.

You can track the progress of the library at: http://www.librarything.com/profile/scifilaura

To control my OCD, I am limiting myself to only adding books on the weekend... otherwise I am not going to get the other stuff done.

Beyond this new project, on top of Flickr, and taking pictures, and coughing, and everything I get obsessed about... I need to finish my homework from last semester. I was unable to complete my work due to health problems. I have 5 assignments to complete. That is my focus this week.

Last night, in a little bit of insomnia... and a lot of book addiction... I finished "The Looking Glass Wars" by Frank Beddor in the early hours of the morning. That is the second time this book has kept me up late. It is also interesting to note, I read it in 2 "sittings".

It was a good book, very well written, but the ending was too much a set up for the other books in the trilogy. Now I have to wait about a year for more. :(

In the spirit of working towards getting my homework completed, and getting in the mindset for next semester, I am now reading:
"The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable" by Patrick Lencioni

It is a short book, so I should be finished soon.

In the column to the right, I am tracking the books I have finished reading in 2007. We'll see how long it gets before 2008. Question for you, should I track audio books?

Happy 2007

Welcome to 2007!

2006 was an interesting year. I learned a lot of things about myself in 2006, and one of those things is that I need a better way to share my experiences with my family and friends. This year, I plan on using this Blog to share my adventures.

2007 has the potential to be much more interesting. I look forward to sharing those adventures with you.

My favorite wish for New Years and every day:
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't to forget make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." ~ Neil Gaiman

Here are a few things about myself, and more will follow.

Currently Reading:
The Looking Glass Wars

Currently Listening:
Mao: The Unknown Story

Pets:
Cats: Phobos, Deimos, Cassini, Pandora, Oberon
Fish
Worms