Today's going to be a busy day. I have a final at 10am for my Old Testament class, which includes getting my class notebook graded. Too bad my notebook sucks! Then I have a presentation in Nuerobiology at 1:30. Between them I have to whip out a lab report for my last NBio lab! Then I have to study for my Personality final tomorrow and work on my paper for my Learning & Behavior class as well! Oh, and I'm going to try and sell back a bunch of my books today! Everyone, cross your fingers! I need them to pay me as much as possible! I really, really, really need the money!

In less than an hour I have my GChem final, and boy am I nervous! I am pulling a C+ in this class so far, and I just want to do well enough on the final to keep that grade! Then I come home and have to do a take-home final for Neurobiology and put together a presentation for that final. I have to study for my Into. to the Old Testament final and finish putting together my notebook for that class as well! Blech!

So, I was watching Alice on the SciFi channel tonight, and I realized just how yummy I think Andrew Lee Potts is! I love him in Primeval (even bought the first season when i was over in London and wrestled with my computer until it conceded and played the disk)!

So, after the show was over I browsed around on the web and...I have a new desktop wallpaper now!

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on your part).

Wow! This past week has seen a real dent made in this list! I'm struggling with the litter box goal, mainly because I suck at getting up at a decent time! Also, I need to really get to work on the body fat goal. That one kind of has a short deadline (I need to have it done by the end of April)!

This coming week might not be as productive due to finals, but the next couple weeks after that I have off. I'm hoping to get a lot done over my break!

( Complete list under here! )

Yes, it's been a very, very long time since I've done an update! Some of you may be wondering why these pictures are such good quality when I have mentioned several time my picture-taking issues. The answer: these pictures were taken back in July, before I went to Europe. I just haven't gotten around to posting the update! Thus, the next update is likely to have much poorer quality images. :-(

Follow the link for craziness and babies!

Today's review is on the first book in L. Ron Hubbard's Mission: Earth series. It is titled, The Invader's Plan.

Synopsis:

The Mission:Earth series is told by one of the main characters, Soltan Gris as he is confessing to the leader of his government, in the hopes that he will not be tortured and executed. The first book details how the Voltarian government finds out that a planet designated Blito P-3 (locally known as Earth) is on the verge of destroying itself. A mission is proposed that involves infiltrating the society and leaking technological advances that will enable the population to preserve the planet until it comes time for the Voltarians to invade it. Soltan Gris is the officer placed in charge of the mission, but he has secret orders from his boss to ensure that the mission is a failure, while maintaining the ruse that everything is going as planned. Gris has to deal with the agent he must ensure fails, one Jettero Heller, and Jet's new girlfriend, the violent Countess Krak. This first book covers everything up until they leave Voltar to begin the journey to Earth!

Review:This book is a masterpiece of science fiction! You will alternate between identifying with and feeling sorry for Soltan Gris, and thinking that he's a jerk and hoping that he will fail in his mission. For the action lover, there is plenty of action despite the fact that this book is essentially setting up the background for the rest of the series! I can't wait to read the next one!

Hi! This is a series of rowhouses that I did for a challenge on pixel_trade! There are interior pictures and links under the cut. Each of the residential houses is available in both a furnished and an unfurnished version!



You can see everything and download the lots here!

I think I'm coming down with something! I have an awful sore throat and just generally feel like, blech!

On a happier note, I should get a few Sims things posted tonight!

So, I was watching Sanctuary tonight and they showed the obligatory commercial for next week's episode...and Michael Shanks will be guest starring! I am so excited! I can't wait to see if they throw in any oblique references to SG-1!

So, finals week is next week, but I took one this morning. I'm pretty sure I aced it, too. Then again, it was in one of the classes I actually enjoyed going to! Next week is going to be killer, though! I have a class binder, 2 5-6 page papers, and 4 more finals. Three of my finals are tests and one is a take-home thing with a presentation during finals time! I want to crawl in a nice, dark hole and pull it in behind me!

I ache all over. I had no idea that pulling weeds was such hard work! I weeded all of my flowerbeds yesterday (a daunting chore since they never did have flowers in them, and so the weeds had taken over)! Towards the end I was putting a bag of weeds into the trash bin. Our bin has a top that you flip up. Because of where it is, it only flips part way up, not up and over. So, I had it flipped up and leaning against the house. I threw the bag in and the went to readjust it so that it fell into the empty space. Just then the lid fell and slammed into my glasses, right where they cross my nose. I now have a big gash across my nose and my whole nose is very sore and hurts whenever I touch my face at all!

My computer is dying. First it got a yellow line through the screen. Now it's added a magenta line. This is not good. I just hope it makes it through until I get my money next semester! I did not need this! Not at all! Especially since this weekend the truck broke down (needs new injectors) and my bed frame broke (we are now sleeping on a waterbed sans frame!

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on your part).

I have started quite a few of the tasks on my list! I also crossed two of them off! I'm particularly pleased that I managed to get the 'Win NaNoWriMo 2009' crossed off!

( Complete list under here! )

I am so excited right now! I just submitted my NaNo novel! I actually made it! I won!

Thanksgiving break apparently equals a lot of reading! This review is of the book On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony (one of my favourite authors)!

Back Blurb:

Shooting Death was a mistake, as Zane soon discovered. For the man who killed the Incarnation of Death was immediately forced to assume the vacant position! Thereafter, he must speed over the world, riding his pale horse, and ending the lives of others.

Zane was forced to accept his unwelcome task, despite the rules that seemed woefully unfair. But then he found himself being drawn into an evil plot of Satan. Already the Prince of Evil was forging a trap in which Zane must act to destroy Luna, the woman he loved.

He could see only one possible way to defeat the Father of Lies. It was unthinkable -- but he had no other solution!

Review:

Piers Anthony has been one of my favourite authors for a long time, and this book does not disappoint! Anthony provides the reader with a unique view on both death and on the concepts of sin and goodness. It's a captivating book that i enjoy reading and re-reading!

Today's book review is on The Masterharper of Pern written by Anne McCaffrey.

Back Blurb:

In a time when the deadly scourge Thread has not fallen on Pern for centuries -- and many dare to hope that Thread will never fall again -- a boy is born to Harper Hall. A musical prodigy who has the ability to speak with the dragons, he is called Robinton, and he is destined to become one of the most famous and beloved leaders Pern has ever known.

It is a perilous time for the harpers who sing of Thread -- they are being turned away from holds, derided, attacked, even beaten. In this climate of unrest, Robinton will come into his own. But despite the tragedies that beset his own life, he continues to believe in music and in the dragons, and he determined to save his beloved Pern from itself -- so that the dragonriders can be ready to fly against the dreaded Thread when at last it returns...

Review:

This is a wonderfully written book that gives an excellent look into the events before the original Pern trilogy. It is also an excellent chance to get to know the MasterHarper of Pern better than in McCaffrey's previous books. If you have never read her Pern novels, I recommend reading the original trilogy before embarking on this one.

So, I have made it to 33,857 words. I'm so close, and yet I find myself doing stupid little things to waste time. I know that what I write doesn't have to be perfect. I can always go back and rewrite whatever I don't like. Yet, I still seem to be putting off writing using every excuse I can think of! Maybe I'll try pulling an all-nighter tonight. Who knows, maybe I can even finish the whole thing (or at least, 50,000 words of it) tonight! Wish me luck!

Hey! Here's the second book review. This is for a book called Could it be Magic? and the author is Melanie Rose. I picked up this book at Sainsbury's in London. There was one just a few blocks from the place I was staying in Kensal Green and the books there were very reasonably priced!

Back Blurb:
When Jessica Taylor is struck by lightning whilst walking her dog, she ahs no idea how dramatically her life is going to change...

Lucky to survive, Jessica wakes up in hospital - but as someone else. Apparently she's now Lauren Richardson, wife and mother of four young children. No one will believe her story - she can hardly believe it herself.

Later that night, Jessica wakes again - as herself. She quickly works out that when Lauren sleeps, she wakes up as Jessica. This plays havoc with her job as well as her blossoming relationship with Dan Brennan, the handsome stranger who saved her that fateful day.

Jessica is desperate to get back to life as she knows it - but instead she must learn to cope with Lauren's demanding children and even more demanding husband.

Yet as Jessica uncovers more about the woman in whose designer shoes she now stands, she unearths some secrets - secrets which may tear the family apart...

Review:
This is one the best books I have read in a long time! It's a lot of fun, and you really sympathize with the character. Plus, the ending is very satisfying, and full of unexpected twists and turns! I definitely recommend reading this book, and I plan on hunting down more of the author's work if I can!

So, yesterday my husband told me I was taking the day off. He let me sleep in and I woke up to my favourite breakfast in bed! He took care of the kids while I played around on my computer all day! He made dinner for me (grilled tilapia and cheesy cauliflower) and didn't complain at all when I wanted to watch Firefly episodes on the good tv! He totally pampered me! It was awesome! (He even did the dishes!)