50bookchallenge, 15000pages

Book #41 -- O. R. Melling, The Summer King, 359 pages.

The second book in The Chronicles of Faerie, and perhaps even better than the first. A few of the characters from the first book appeared in cameo roles, but in general, it would work as a standalone book as well. Melling's books have an incredible depth of emotion running through them, and despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that they deal with the interactions between the human world and Faerie, the events she narrates are imbued with a desperate sense of reality and significance. None of her characters are immune from great pain and loss, and everyone *doesn't* make it safely back home. Nonetheless, the endings are generally hopeful, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Progress toward goals: 161/365 = 44.1%

Books: 41/50 = 82%

Pages: 13797/15000 = 92.0%

2007 Book List

cross-posted to 15000pages, 50bookchallenge, and gwynraven

Time for me to beg again

I am once again begging for contributions to my retold fairy tale book project. Send me a book, and I'll add your name to the acknowledgements when I get my book published.

My wishlist is here:

Many of these books can be purchased used for under $1 plus a few bucks shipping so I'm not asking anyone to spend large amounts of money. I'd definitely appreciate any help you can give.

Daily post

Sleep: 1am to 3:30am, 4:30am to 7am, 8am to 9:30am, 10am to 11:15am

Pain: 7

Weather: cloudy, 95F, 47% humidity, high 95F

Daily BPAL: KHAJURAHO
Description: honey, date palm, tuberose, davana blossom, amber, white sandalwood, vanilla bean, Damask rose, and champaca flower.
In bottle: honey, sandalwood, and amber, with an afterscent of vanilla and rose.
On me: honey and sandalwood, with an undertone of amber and an afterscent of vanilla and rose. Nice warm scent.

Daily Tarot: not bothering

Reading:
Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City by Jed Horne
Boudica Britannia by Miranda Aldhouse-Green
Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy by Sir Isaac Newton
Folktales Retold: A Critical Overview of Stories Updated for Children by Amie A. Doughty
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett

Ouch!

Damn pain. I hate pain. Pain sucks.

Sitting for six hours straight at the reference desk does *not* my back a happy camper make.

It occurred to me the other day, when I was watching reruns of House, M.D., that there are those for whom the various characters' attempts to wean House off his Vicodin actually make sense. The concerns about practicing medicine 'under the influence' and all that seem like valid concerns to these people. That is because these people are normal. They assume that when House is popping 'happy pills' by the handful he's just really good at hiding the 'happy' effects. I'm here to tell you that that isn't the case. When you've been on strong painkillers like that for a long time, they cease to be 'happy pills'.

Currently I'm on Percocet. I've been on Vicodin before. It is not unusual for me to pop a pill right before getting in the car and driving somewhere, and whereas for a normal person, that would be a monumentally stupid thing to do, for me it's just a matter of course. Because they don't affect me like that any more. Vicodin, Percocet, whathaveyou have no more affect on my ability to operate heavy machinery than ibuprofen would for a normal person. That is to say, I don't feel it at all. If I'm lucky, the pain muffles a bit. That's it.

That's rather a scary thought.

Penny Postcards!

Canal Street at night, New Orleans.

It actually still looks like that too, just more cars.






However, Baton Rouge no longer looks like this. Many more buildings, far fewer trees.