The weather just turned cold again, in time for Thanksgiving. We had highs in the lower to mid-70s last week up until yesterday, and it was driving me nuts. It's almost the end of November, fer chrissakes! But we got a nice cold snap last night, and we'll only be in the lower-50s today. Unlike Alan, we don't yet have six inches of snow, but at least the temps are appropriate for this time of the year again. I saw my breath upon leaving my apartment this morning. Plus, now I get to wear my slick slate grey sueded v-neck that looks really good on me, reinforcing my semi-metrosexual image (I like to dress nicely and look good, though I've only ever had one professional massage, and never to my knowledge had a manicure).

Been a busy little monkey lately. The end of the semester approacheth, and my work load doth increase exponentially. I spent much of this past Saturday at D.H. Hill Library, doing research for my E.A. Poe paper, and have decided to go with Poe's use of "twinning" in order for the main characters of several stories to suppress some aspect of themselves. I think it'll be a decent paper; now I just need to write it. I rented Finding Nemo (for fun) and Ghost World (for class). Sunday night, I was up until 1 a.m. finishing my revision of "Don't Blink" to turn in to Dr K tonight, and it's in the best shape yet. John said this type of story is what Gordon van Gelder is really looking for, though I think I may send it to Argosy first. I sent out two stories yesterday, to The 3rd Alternative and Say...Why Aren't We Crying? After reading Richard B's latest story (not work safe), I think I may have a market for my naughty story, though they don't pay.

Finished Jeff V's City of Saints and Madmen last night and smacked myself for not buying it sooner. This is just an absolutely phenomenal book. For those of you who don't know, the book is a sort-of short story collection, with straight-forward novellas, a heavily annotated early history of Ambergris (the City in question), a metafictional account of the author trapped by his own creation, and a giant appendix which takes up the last half of the book, replete with letters, short stories, pamphlets about squid and mushrooms, a bibliography and a glossary. The book is beautifully illustrated throughout, and feels very much like a "found object". It employs a postmodern playfulness (I've already recommended it to my pomo professor), and is exquisitely written. Christmas is coming up, and this should be at the top of your list.

Guh. I can't believe I'm at work. Since my class was cancelled this morning, I decided to get in some more hours, though even after some delicious coffee (brewed at home), I'm still having trouble staying awake. I won't be going to the aiport tonight to pick up my grandmother since I'll be in class, though I will be picking up my little sis tomorrow night. Thanksgiving should be a good one this year, with my parents' house filled with family. Gobble gobble.

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Now Reading:
Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Stories Out to Publishers:
4

Books Read This Year:
55

Zines/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
35