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I told Wales I was depressed on Saturday and not up to brunch. So, Wales decided to send me something to cheer me up. It arrived today.
In came in a white box which stated "Forever Love". And inside was...
( another view of it behind the cut )
A perpetual flower. If you can't see the photos? My apologies. It's basically the flower from Beauty and the Beast - or that's what it reminds me of at any rate, complete with glass case (although I think it's plastic and it doesn't come off of the flower, it's sealed in there. And it may light up - although not sure why it needs too? Kind of sparkly on its own.)
Funky, right. It's a forever rose under glass, and when the light hits it? It sparkles. Also apparently you can put batteries in it, and it lights up or something? I don't know - didn't come with instructions or anything, just a blank card that said Best Wishes.
I put it in my window. It is cheery.
***
Thought about describing my commute - but I don't want to remember it. After debarking the train at Atlantic Avenue Terminal, I climbed a staircase that smelled of urine, with an empty cup at the top, and liquid trickling down it. This city really needs to address its homeless problem.
( the homeless situation )
***
Books
* Starter Villain by John Scalzi as read by Will Wheaton It's about a divorced down-on-his-luck substitute teacher (Charlie) living in his parents house with two cats, that inherits his uncle's business. One problem? His uncle is a villain. Oh, and that's not all? His uncle dabbled in various types of highly illegal genetic research - so apparently he has highly intelligent cats running his intelligence and spying on his nephew. The cats living with Charlie - have been collecting intelligence on him for his nephew. And, he employs genetically enhanced dolphins to main security and also collect intelligence. But the dolphins are about to go on strike in protest of bad working conditions.
It's amusing, to say the least.
Scalzi seems to write tongue-in-cheek satiric sci-fi, or at least that's what I've read or listened to - to date. Red Shirts and The Kaiju Preservation Society. I've not tried Old Man's War.
I like his writing style, and Andy Weir's. They kind of are similar, except Weir is more hard science fiction and Scalzi is more playful.
* Yellowface by R. F. Kuang - well, it does an excellent take down of the cancel culture on Twitter in regards to the publishing industry, I'll give it that. The publishing industry (in case you were unaware) is highly dependent on social media platforms like Twitter and Bluesky and Instagram to market its wares. Mainly Twitter and Bluesky. And like all marketing platforms - it's designed to make the most negative marketing go viral. ( Read more... )
Anyhow, this is not a good book to read before bed. Instead of putting me to sleep? It had me raging and yelling at it. I was ranting at the book.
Not conducive to sleep at all.
* Magic Tides by the husband & wife writing team Illona Andrews - the magic series basically ruined me in regards to all urban fantasy.
I like a specific writing style - which is heavy dialogue, banter, and snark. Also causal or conversational writing style. Formal writing style or classical will annoy me in this genre. It's why I can't read the Toby fairy series - the dialogue is too formal, they all sound like they are in Elizabethan England, and just no.
Writing style is an important factor in choosing a book. I honestly think it alone can make or break certain books for me, and I'm guessing others?
( Read more... )
Off to bed.
In came in a white box which stated "Forever Love". And inside was...
( another view of it behind the cut )
A perpetual flower. If you can't see the photos? My apologies. It's basically the flower from Beauty and the Beast - or that's what it reminds me of at any rate, complete with glass case (although I think it's plastic and it doesn't come off of the flower, it's sealed in there. And it may light up - although not sure why it needs too? Kind of sparkly on its own.)
Funky, right. It's a forever rose under glass, and when the light hits it? It sparkles. Also apparently you can put batteries in it, and it lights up or something? I don't know - didn't come with instructions or anything, just a blank card that said Best Wishes.
I put it in my window. It is cheery.
***
Thought about describing my commute - but I don't want to remember it. After debarking the train at Atlantic Avenue Terminal, I climbed a staircase that smelled of urine, with an empty cup at the top, and liquid trickling down it. This city really needs to address its homeless problem.
( the homeless situation )
***
Books
* Starter Villain by John Scalzi as read by Will Wheaton It's about a divorced down-on-his-luck substitute teacher (Charlie) living in his parents house with two cats, that inherits his uncle's business. One problem? His uncle is a villain. Oh, and that's not all? His uncle dabbled in various types of highly illegal genetic research - so apparently he has highly intelligent cats running his intelligence and spying on his nephew. The cats living with Charlie - have been collecting intelligence on him for his nephew. And, he employs genetically enhanced dolphins to main security and also collect intelligence. But the dolphins are about to go on strike in protest of bad working conditions.
It's amusing, to say the least.
Scalzi seems to write tongue-in-cheek satiric sci-fi, or at least that's what I've read or listened to - to date. Red Shirts and The Kaiju Preservation Society. I've not tried Old Man's War.
I like his writing style, and Andy Weir's. They kind of are similar, except Weir is more hard science fiction and Scalzi is more playful.
* Yellowface by R. F. Kuang - well, it does an excellent take down of the cancel culture on Twitter in regards to the publishing industry, I'll give it that. The publishing industry (in case you were unaware) is highly dependent on social media platforms like Twitter and Bluesky and Instagram to market its wares. Mainly Twitter and Bluesky. And like all marketing platforms - it's designed to make the most negative marketing go viral. ( Read more... )
Anyhow, this is not a good book to read before bed. Instead of putting me to sleep? It had me raging and yelling at it. I was ranting at the book.
Not conducive to sleep at all.
* Magic Tides by the husband & wife writing team Illona Andrews - the magic series basically ruined me in regards to all urban fantasy.
I like a specific writing style - which is heavy dialogue, banter, and snark. Also causal or conversational writing style. Formal writing style or classical will annoy me in this genre. It's why I can't read the Toby fairy series - the dialogue is too formal, they all sound like they are in Elizabethan England, and just no.
Writing style is an important factor in choosing a book. I honestly think it alone can make or break certain books for me, and I'm guessing others?
( Read more... )
Off to bed.