Villains · and · Varlets

Had a great week at Hanley Inc. today. The Big H and I watched some propaganda films today, something called Your Baby Can Read. The boss lady was totally into it. I was bored after the first five minutes. Then I remembered that I already can read, so I flipped through some magazines and said "Elephant!" every now and then. She seemed to accept my minimal participation. Afterward, we switched to cable and watched Rosemary's Baby. When Mia Farrow finally saw her demon baby and screamed, "What have you done to his eyes?" Hanley laughed loudly and kicked her feet over and over with joy. It's now my goal to have that be her first complete sentence.

For the past month there have been a series of product testers at Hanley Inc. I'm not sure from where they were recruited, but they're all small with limited vocabularies, so I'm guessing Alaska or Iowa. The first product tester--I'll refer to him as Christopher, since that's his name--has been around the longest and has an inordinate interest in all things video game. He's done extensive research in the field of Triscuits and Cheerios. Unfortunately, Hanley Inc. hasn't sunk its teeth into that market yet. The company is barely seven months old. It has no teeth. However, Christopher has proved very effective in making the boss lady laugh, which is time well spent, in my opinion. Another product tester, Skylar (I think that's how her name is spelled.), barely lasted a week at Hanley Inc. She was extremely capable and wise beyond her years, as most women are, but she was very chatty. When she wasn't talking she was watching television. I learned a lot about those Jonas boys while she was around. The last product tester, Baylor, arrived last Tuesday and left today. After his stint at Hanley Inc. he's off to space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, which can only mean he's a smartypants. I don't think he got much work done. He and Christopher played a lot of Halo most of the time. Apparently these people are all related to the boss lady in one way or another, which explains how they got their jobs.

Speaking of the boss lady, she grabbed my nipple today and twisted it while she was drinking her lunch. Now I can say I was sexually harassed at work by a baby.

I'm used to a lot of social interaction at the office, which will be suddenly scaled down to Mr. Grumpy, the guy who works the cash at the cafe, and YOU! Don't leave me lonely, my precious flist!

Now... to start writing. After I watch Torchwood, and then I have to take the dogs out. Tomorrow is a whole whack of RWA meetings. Maybe Sunday? Yeah, writing full-time, here I come. ;-D

I work a lot.

But my life is pleasant enough, I don't complain. My family and circle of friends are precious to me; we talk, we laugh, we cry, we make food, we play board games. They introduce me to new music and endless opportunities to study human nature. They challenge me out of my thought patterns. I like that.

I've managed to write and actually finish a short story for my writing group. It is quite an achievement for me to finish something. It is fanfic, I guess, two characters are based on characters in the movie Prophecy.

( One Evening at the Library )

Current Location:	home
Current Mood:	contemplative

I am still not sleeping well, which is bothersome, but I'm reaching that not-so-happy medium where I can cope with it. The first few sleepless nights just slay me. I believe there is a special corner of Hell where you're trying to sleep and every time you glance at the clock, hours have gone by and you have to be up soon. But once I hit about a week or so of it, I get into a kind of groove, where I zone out, lie down, and let my mind wander. It's not as good as sleep by a long shot, but it keeps me going, and often I write stories in my head, or at least flesh out ideas. On that front, the insomnia has been fantastic. I can't remember the last time I felt this good about my creative output.

Regardless, I'll attempt napping on Sunday. If napping doesn't work, then it'll be time for Valerian Root and Feverfew Leaf tea (which tastes not-so-fantastic, but sure helps me sleep). And if the tea fails, and I'm still like this at the end of next week, I'll suck it up and go visit the doctor, which is always a blast, and usually involves pills stronger than I'd like to take.

I have, however, managed to listen to seven hours of REMEMBERING THE BONES by Frances Itani this week, when I should have been sleeping.

Current Mood:

awake

In addition, I will be chairing both of the Comic Art Working Group's sessions. John Lent, Temple University professor and editor of International Journal of Comic Art, cannot be in attendance and asked me to do the ceremonial duties in his stead. So if you were hoping to meet one of the foremost experts in this subfield in Mexico City next week, you'll be getting the (perhaps disappointing) consolation prize--me. Sorry folks! Obviously, you can consider the paper that he was to present removed from the program.

If you're going to be there, drop me a line! And feel free to spread word of the conference to interested parties, as well. ^_~

Photo Friday, Number 24. Theme: Eyes.

Lloyd.

If you haven't seen Children of Earth yet (which airs later this month on Space) and don't want to be spoiled, stay away from Twitter altogether.

Now I know exactly what's coming and in which episode, just from the name given to a #hashtag. And because it's a #hashtag (a way of organizing information since Twitter is more or less a big database), that means it'll be re-tweeted and re-tweeted... Damn.

I took a few photos of Jackson today, but they didn't turn out so well. But this one isn't that horrendous. Anyway, this is Jackson. He's a big pup. I think he's a brindle great dane mix. Not sure about that, though. The only thing I really know about him is that he was found running the streets of Houston. He can't be more than a year or two old. He's very sweet and loves to play. I have a large Kong that I bought years ago for River that no dog has ever played with. Which is crazy when you think about all the dogs that have been in and out of The Compound. Jackson loves it. He's been running around with it all night. Occasionally he'll stop by and drop it in my lap, leaving a misleading wet mark on my crotch. Thanks, Jackson! He's an excellent Frisbee dog. He knows how to sit and lay down, but it doesn't last long because he wants to be rewarded NOW PLEASE!

If you're in Houston and want to meet Jackson, please go to the Scout's Honor Web site and fill out an adoption application. And here's another photo. I had to retouch it a bit. (I borrowed a photo from you, Rio. Thanks!)

"Mrs. James R. Harris of 4212 Pennydale Dr. and thousands of mothers across the nation find that "it's that time again." It is time for school to start and with school comes the task of buying items for the return to the classroom. Mrs. Harris is shown here buying shoes for her children, Alex, 12, Connie, 11, and Mark, 6, at a shoe store on High Point Road."

I'd find that witty line in Andrew Holleran's Dancer From the Dance about how many times a well bred woman ought to appear in the papers, but I've misplaced my copy. It's probably buried under a pile of my-- as illustrated and as ever-- fashionable clothing.

From what I've gathered from a number of reviews Bruno attempts to lampoon homophobia by pushing the buttons of straight - predominantly lower working class - men. To this end, he throws himself at them half-dressed or naked and catalogs their revulsion. These reactions strike me less as products of homophobia than exercises in good taste. (He doesn't present the most appealing queer character one could imagine). I mean if Joan Rivers, wearing a thong and pasties, threw herself at a bunch of truckers and they fled, crying foul, it wouldn't mean they were gay or misogynistic. It would just mean their eyes worked.

Hmmm... maybe I'll just wait for cable.