Sick, Plans, Books

We might be moving into a new nest at the end of March or early April. While we really like our current apartment, its cost east up a not-insignificant part of Tene's paycheck, and we've been thinking it might be nice to find somewhere either less expensive, or possibly get a 3-bedroom and move in with a roommate (perhaps friend Bancus). We're still uncertain, but it's something we've been thinking about because our lease is going to be over soon and rent will be increasing slightly.

Lately I have been spending my time being sick with the cold-I-just-cannot-shake. Which has been extremely annoying, to say the least. I've been sick, to some extent, for three weeks now; and every time I've been so sure that I was on the mend and going to feel completely better in a couple of days , I've ended up sick in bed within the next two days. It's mostly cold/flu symptoms - but I've also had nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and some pretty horrible headaches. My jaw, also, is still pretty painful, and I hope to find out what's wrong with it in the next week (my most recent appointment was cancelled, since the dentist hadn't received information from one of my previous dentists yet). Currently I'm a black box - to both myself and to the dentist.

On the up side (or potential downside), being sick has given me a lot of idle time - which I've been using to look up all sorts of arts and crafts on the internet. I have so many things that I want to make! I want to make Tene a blanket for his birthday, and myself a blanket (our current ones, made by Tene's mother, are both reaching their last days). I also want to make myself a different blanket to take with me to lay on in parks and the like - as I hope to get out more this spring/summer than I have in the past. And a blanket or two to keep in my car.

I'm suspecting that I might end up being a quilter of some sort (I could see myself very much enjoying this), and I keep imagining us ending up with a room filled with blankets.

I've also started reading more - I fully updated my Goodreads list (removed something like 150 books from the "To Read" list), and I've set a goal to read 24 books this year. Right now I'm working on Anna Karenina, by Tolstoy. I have vague memories of seeing Anna Karenina as a ballet when I was younger. All I can really remember is the ending. So far the book has held my attention, which is good. Many classics don't.

Books I'm Interested In

The other night I was taken over to Barnes and Nobel by my friends Ima and Steffy. Ima bought me a book that looks like it will be useful in my fantasy writing, and another that looks interesting from a personal perspective. He also bought a book for Tene which might end up useful in my writing as well.

Taking me to any bookstore ends up being a bad idea, because I looooove books. A lot. Look at my Goodreads list and you'll see that I'm not joking about this. I seriously love books. I hope to get a Kindle for Christmas so that I can save space on my shelves.

And, just in case I wasn't clear: I love books. I love bookstores. When I have no money I should not be allowed anywhere near a bookstore.

So, Ima and Steffy took me to Barnes and Nobel and bought me books. While I was there I looked at a whole bunch of books, and wrote down the ones that looked interesting to me. Many of these dealt with books about writing, which brings me to why this is relevant to Truth In Lies!

These are books I would like to eventually get my greedy little hands on:

Thinking Write by Kelly L. Stone
List Price: $16.95

Why I want it: Well, it sounds cool. This is one of those "psychology of writing" type books. I've parts of (and own) two others, Write and its sequel The Write Type, both by Karen Peterson. Also it has exercises, which I can always use to help jump-start my writing a little.

Overall it sounds a little new-age-ish, but I'm willing to at least give it a shot. If it ends up being too newage I can simply pass it on or throw it out.

The Daily Writer by Fred White
List Price: $17.99

Why I want it: Because it's one of those daily things, honestly. I guess part of me is hoping that if I start a routine of writing every day - even if it starts with a silly book full of motivations, exercises, and other such things.

I would hope that it would also have decent advice for dealing with the age old enemy of all writers everywhere - writer's block. But really, I suspect that something like this would be the best way for me to get into a daily writing habit, and not lose that habit because of one bad day when I can't think of anything to write (since the idea is that you do one exercise a day and all ... )

The Constant Art of Being A Writer by N. M. Kelby
List Price: $17.99

Why I want it: From the descriptions it seems like a nice well-rounded all-around book about the actual process of writing. Which, being an amateur writer and all, I could use all the help I can get in those fields.