today’s word is: mill

Saturday is Bridge Day!

Today’s word is: oldest

io9 today has a list of The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels to Cheer You the Frak Up which, of course, made me want to compile my own list.

I don’t agree with everything on there–I tend to find the DEATH books in Discworld more cheerful than the Watch books, and I’ll take the Hobbit over TLOTR any day, but all in all it’s a pretty good list, that I mostly agree with.

These the books that I pick up, time and again, when I’m depressed or anxious and need to escape (in no particular order):

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agness Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – this is possibly one of my all-time favorite books.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein – The Hobbit has always been comfort reading for me. The Lord of the Rings much less so.

The Phoenix Guards & Five Hundred Years After and Jhereg by Steven Brust – Same world, same author, but completely different feels. I love them both equally, even though they are very different books.

Thieves’ World edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey – In tone, I can’t think of anything LESS cheerful than Thieves’ World, but when I read them, they take me completely away from myself.

Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner – I love and adore this story. I own it in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The Belgariad by David Eddings – I think it’s because, even now, I can still lose myself completely in the story.

And then I have Sean Russell and Guy Gavriel Kay. They write books that draw me out of myself and into whatever world they have created. For Sean Russell, I’d say my favorites are The Initiate Brother & Gatherer of Clouds, but with Guy Gavriel Kay, I simply can’t pick. Anything of his I read is going to pull me deeply into the world he has crafted.

And lastly, almost anything by Charles de Lint. He has a lot of anthologies, and I’m a huge fan of short stories, but there’s something else about his writing–even though many of his stories can be dark, I still finish the stories with a tremendous sense of hope.

It finally feels like fall! Leaves are changing! Temperatures are cool! I love this time of year!

Today’s word is: scarf

Another week, another emergency dental appointment: this week’s word is: nightmare

Today’s word is for my Monday 7am emergency dentist appointment: ache

(also: ouch!)

My goal for this Wednesday is to have a nice, calm day where I accomplish stuff.

On that note, today’s word is: delusional

As previously noted, I’ve been feeling sad and melancholy recently. So, this week’s word association is going to be a one-time thing.

This week, I want you to name someone, and then say one kind thing about them. Doesn’t matter who that person is, and you can come back multiple times if you want. If the person is online and I should know ’em, then link to them.

I just need some kindness in my life, and I’m counting on y’all to come up with some.

Here’s the first, to get your started:

Michael = patient

What kind of writer are you?

You’re a Ernest Hemingway. You chose clear and unflashy words that get right to the point. Other writers known for this style are George Orwell and Raymond Carver. Try your hand at a six-word memoir, consider a career in journalism, and maintain an active Twitter account.

Sounds about right.

Ricky Martin the Metal Chicken traveled with us on our vacation.

No, really.

(more…)

Today’s word is: walking

A Hobbit’s Guide to Walking.

I’m totally doing it. Who’s with me?

It’s really not that bad, tho you’re not going to do it quickly. For comparison:

I’ve gone 970 miles since I got my fitbit. (This includes all steps, which I don’t think will count.)

Since 2005, for WVU’s Walk 100 Miles program (March to June) I’ve gone 1504 miles (logging only active miles, not just walking around the house).

So I’m totally doing this! Who’s with me?!

ADDENDUM the First:
I’m only going to count active miles, which means, only when I’m deliberately walking. For me, this will be my lunchtime walk, walking home, hikes, and walks around town. Steps taken around the house and at work will NOT count, (unless I’m walking more than half a mile, such as walking to a meeting on a different campus.)

ADDENDUM the Second:
I downloaded the file for keeping track of where you are.

ADDENDUM the Third:
More data points!

This week’s word is: jumping

Whine whine whine whine.

Today’s word is: ice cube