Updates and Junk

[mercy_angel_09]

So this meme is still accepting fandom requests. So far I've done it for tactics, Tales of Symphonia and Harry Potter. But I have many more fandoms (and many more friends!) that I would love to hear from.

Now that the big pimp post is done, I'm plugging away on NaNo. I'm roughly a day and a half to two days ahead, and I don't even think I've hit the half way mark in the book. I'll hopefully do a more coherent post about the status of my book over at penismighter, along with an official word count meter.

In other news I found out that my dad is going to be in state for Christmas, which a bunch of stress and heart ache I don't want or need, but am going to have deal with anyway. So I guess I just have to pull on my big girl panties and deal.

Other things I've been up to include looking into Masters of Library and Information Studies and volunteering with the Kadelec Neurology spring fundraiser at travellyr's request. It's not like I have anything else to do, and this is the kind of stuff I actually enjoy doing. The MLIS should give me more employment options, especially since I can do document control and record keeping wherever my husband ends up working. And if it get a true MLIS, I could even become a school librarian at a later point. Not quite the same as being a teacher, but close enough that I would still have employment satisfaction.

There is a slight problem with looking into MLIS programs.

1) They need to be online, as I don't live in a college town, and the higher education facilities where I live do not offer anything related to MLIS.

2) I'd really prefer not to have to travel, or if I do have to travel, not very far.

3) The cost should be decent, not an arm, a leg, and my first born child or equal to how much my husband makes in a year.

So far, Alabama meets two of those three requirements, but I'd be required to fly to Tuscaloosa at least once during my time in the program. I'd love to visit Alabama, but I don't know if I'd actually have time for that or if I'd just be doing school stuff. Also, not looking forward to getting X-rayed or poked and prodded. I think I'd feel the need to ask the TSA agent out to dinner after, or at least to drinks.

The University of North Texas is another viable option, and while they're about $10K more expensive than Alabama, I wouldn't actually have to go to Denton or Dallas. I could get away with a nine day conference in Utah, which could actually work because 1) I technically don't have to fly to Utah and 2) my husband has family in Utah we could theoretically visit while we're down there. I just don't know if I'm up to staying in a hotel for over a week. .-.

I should also still be looking for a job, but my skill set makes that a bit more difficult than I would like. I can do secretarial work, of course, but around here they're looking for specific skills with certain programs or a certain amount of previous experience or certification or heaven forbid all three. It's frustrating and irritating, especially since WSU has revived its Education program, but only for already certified teachers looking to keep current with state requirements and the like.

Head meet wall.

At any rate I need lunch and I should probably make tea. I woke up all congested this morning with a scratchy throat which means one of two things. I am either trying to adjust to the change of seasons or I'm coming down with a cold. I think after lunch I'll take some Zicam to be safe and then make some honey lemon tea. And then buckle down and write some more, even if I did find all of Slayers and Slayers NEXT online. Legally. And would much rather watch that instead of write. (To be fair, I am ahead in the word counts, it's not like I have to write today but that doesn't change the fact that I would like to.)

Comments

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

*squees* My alma mater!!!

If you want to know anything about UA, please ask. The school has a good faculty and my degree actually came from the same subcollege (Communication and Information Sciences.) I haven't done the distance education program, but it's one of the oldest out there - even when I attended school. You'd definitely get a chance to visit, and Alabama is one of the prettiest campuses in the nation.

You like Slayers too? I didn't realize it (or we mentioned it in the friending meme and I clearly had a Gourry moment), that's awesome! Slayers is actually my top fandom. Funimation also has the 2008/2009 series Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution-R online both dubbed and subbed as well, and they're fantastic.

[mercy-angel-09.livejournal.com]

Hee! Okay, that's awesome. Alabama looks like it would be amazing and it would look really good to have my masters from there. And while I would have to visit campus just once (not exactly sure on the when, though), I figured it wouldn't be that bad. I just don't particularly care for flying unless I absolutely have to. And there are a couple of programs that don't require campus visits. But as to cost, Alabama was ridiculously reasonable, unless I missed the the notice saying that online courses charged out of state tuition, and I have no idea how much that would bring the cost to. -_-;;

As to Slayers, I was introduced to the series years ago at a sleepover. We actually stuck my friend travellyr under a blanket and muted the TV and asked her to sing the opening theme. She did it perfectly. I got through all of Slayers and half of NEXT but I really should go back to the beginning and watch it all again. I did get the OVA's off of Netflix, though. I'm not heavy duty into the fandom, but that's mostly because I'm not overly familiar with it beyond what I know from my friends. This is not to say that I won't cheerfully throw myself into it once I know more.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I'd give the admissions office a call, because I think there is an out-of-state charge. I'm not at home, or I'd look at the site as well. Even though flying is a definite pain, the visit is worth it.

As for Slayers for me, I've been a huge fan since 2005. I was late to the game there as well. I became a huge Lina/Gourry and still write copious amounts of fic for the series. And, yes, I have driven down the road singing the theme at the top of my lungs with the windows rolled down. ^_~ The series has so much to it, but I've never felt overwhelmed. For a real treat, try to get ahold of the novels the series was based on. The first eight were translated into English. It's a fandom that's also brought me a lot of joy (I met my husband and the coauthor of Namesake through it.)

[mercy-angel-09.livejournal.com]

I was sixteen when I was first introduced to the Slayers fandom...so ten years ago? I really did enjoy it (and like all of my friends hopelessly ship Lina and Gourry), even producing a few fanworks. (I have a fan art from years ago of Gourry sitting in a tub, a bottle Pantiene Pro-V sitting next to it and a Teeny of Lina trapped in a bubble, that I did for a friend a couple of years ago - she posted it on her wall, right by her bed. However, she's moved a couple of times since I did it so I have no idea where it is now.) Of course my good friends travellyr and irksnapple are cheerfully encouraging me to watch moar Slayers because they're always looking to convert people to the fandom. Yesterday I Tweeted that I wanted to watch Slayers instead of write for NaNo - Irk replied that it was a very good idea to watch Slayers instead of write and that I should follow my heart as I guides me true. But then again, I don't know if I trust Irk's opinion - I once watched her argue with a baseboard about the rules of a drinking contest, totally sloshed on tequila.

Alabama is still an option, but I'm not going to keep it as the only option. The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is also a viable option (that doesn't require travel!) and if Alabama really has out of state tuition for the online classes, then the cost will probably be about the same. But I'll probably apply to both and see what happens.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

Oh yes!! I was wondering what happened with irksnapple, but I see she's on Twitter now. I'll have to follow her. ^_^

I'm completely sober, but I also squeed over Christmas trees in Target like a little kid tonight, so I'm not sure how serious you should take me either. ^_~ But, I too am all for converting people to the fandom! I don't participate in NaNo because of the copious amounts of fic that I need to finish. That piece of fan art sounds adorable. My current big piece is set after the novels ended, but sadly Namesake has eaten up the free time. I need to poke myself into writing again.

(By the way, what's your Twitter handle? Mine's MegsLeigh, which is the same as my AIM.)

Hmm ... now I want to start watching Slayers from the beginning rather than watch more Bones ...

As for the schools, I think seeing who will accept you is the best tactic to take at this moment. For me, if I want my master's, going to school in-state is nearly as expensive as going to school out-of-state. Hurray for Pennsylvania. -_-

[mercy-angel-09.livejournal.com]

You're talking to the person who was happily squeeing over EVERYTHING Christmas at Walmart, Target, and every other store I've ended up at in the last couple of weeks trying to take care of birthdays. Often whining at my husband until he agreed to go look with me. XD

Irk's been doing great; I don't see her very often though. Also, she's not active on LJ now that she has Tumblr and Twitter to keep everyone up to date about what she's been doing. Though she's in Portland and it only takes about four hours to go see her and former roommate Char (and her co-author and co-artist on The Peacock King), I never really have a reason to go down there. I haven't seen them since Char got married almost a year ago. But they're coming up to visit between Christmas and New Years, and I'm pretty excited about that.

I do have copious amounts of fic from darn near every fandom I participate in that I need to finish, but my original stories need some luv, too, so I use NaNo to get those written. (I have about 500 words to still get for today's word count.)

I figure I'll do a "shotgun scatter" application process and just see what comes out of it. Alabama only has 40 slots which means it'll probably be pretty competitive. Another one of my LJ friends was accepted into the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee which could prove interesting if I go there, because we'd probably be taking classes together. I think the other good option was the University of North Texas.

Also, between Slayers and Bones, both are good choices. X3

And! My Twitter handle is, quite predictably, mercy_angel_09. Like it is here, on ff.net, deviantART, a variable on AIM, on MSN Messenger...um...yeah, everywhere. ^^ I find it's a good way to keep track of me. A link to it is under the "Fun Places To Waste Your Time" header.