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Christmas!

~ JP Marshman ~ Leave a comment

Merry belated Christmas, blogosphere! I hope your holidays were festive and filled with fun and family and alliterations.

What did everyone get? Tell me about your day :3

Me, I got exactly what I wanted. The Sex and the City collector’s box set, which includes all six seasons of the show and both movies.

Neat skyline of New York going on there, too.

I also got a onesie. Didn’t ask for it, but now wearing anything more complicated than a blue fleece single PJ with a butt flap seems like far too much work.

Glorious, yes?

So my Christmas was good. I got what I wanted and I spent time with family I haven’t seen in a while. And I gorged on foooooods.

Next post we’ll be back on track with the hairventures.

Judging a book by its cover

~ JP Marshman ~ 2 Comments

Of course there is the old adage about trying not to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes we’re guilty of just that. And I do mean literally judging a book by its cover, not some thoughtful thing about inner beauty and crap.

When I started reading the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, prompted by my love for the HBO series True Blood, I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I couldn’t believe the editors and publishers of these books, which aren’t terrible to read, actually looked at them and said, “Yes, this is exactly what will sell these urban fantasy novels.”

Why. Just, why.

Continue reading →

A writing contest and general update

~ JP Marshman ~ 2 Comments

The most lovely and delightful Elisa Nuckle pointed me in the direction of a Fantasy writing contest by Fantasy Faction. The rules are easy to work with, and there’s still a lot of time left if one reading is interested in entering. The winners get published in a fantasy anthology, so this is kind of a big deal.

I was at a loss for what to do, then it slapped me in the face when I was leaving for work after Elisa told me about it. A few months ago, I’d got an idea for a story with a polytheistic religion, a god for basically everything, and the consequences of their actions in the lives of mortals. I posted the first chunk on the ol’ blog here a while back (deleted because of the whole writing contest thing). So since it didn’t go anywhere as a full-length novel, I figured I’d use it for this. The word cap is 8000, and I’m almost at 7000 and near the end. I’m pleased with it so far, so here’s to hoping!

I’m also about to hit one of the major milestones of Changeling. Following a glorious battle involving swords, arrows, magic and dragons, a cease-fire will be called and shit will go dooooown.

Has anyone else heard of this contest and is joining? What’s your story about? And did anyone else catch the glory that was the Game of Thrones season 2 finale last night? I cried twice – once for Tyrion and Shae, and once for Dany’s nostalgic adventures in the Hall of the Undying.

I have nothing to post, but I should post something

~ JP Marshman ~ 2 Comments

Did anyone else shit brix throughout all of this Sunday’s Game of Thrones episode? I’m always on the fence with the Lannisters. I’ve always liked Tyrion, and I think I’m getting to really like Tywin, due to his jovial interactions with Arya, but I’m never sure if I like or hate Cersei and Jaime. But this episode was one in which I liked both. Cersei actually showed her heart when talking to Sansa and Tyrion; Jaime proved he was a man of honour, despite taking a stab at poor Ned when he did.

But the end. The end. Theon Greyjoy needs a swift kick in the rear. I’m not sure if I can hate him more, the little shit. I suppose we’ll find out on Sunday.

Ugh. Frustrating. And the end of the True Blood rerun I caught was a cliffhanger, too. HBO is making me suffer; but they know I’ll just keep coming back.

Steam had a midweek sale this week that I got wholly into. I don’t usually check out the sales except for Sims 3 Pets expansion, because I am not buying that for $40 regular, but this time was an exception. They had Plants vs Zombie GOTY edition for 75% off. It was just over two bucks. Who am I to resist? That has got to be the most addicting game ever.

I also have writer’s block, in a sense. I know where I want to go in Changeling and OtK, but I keep getting distracted by, you guessed it, video games. My Bosmer assassin in Skyrim is getting all my attention, having now surpassed by Nord warrior in levels and skill. It’s hard to get things done when there’s Skyrim to be had. I also amped up a bunch of mods: a blood spatter mod, which puts gallons of blood spilling about after attacks and death, a Hobbit Hole mod that is exactly what it sounds like, and more killcam shots. Oh, and a real-light mod, which makes everything darker and rather spookier. I love mods. The Skyrim Steam workshop is a beautiful thing. Never has a mod been so easy to download.

I’m having a difficult time concentrating on anything lately. Maybe I’ll write a short story and put ‘er up here, just to change things up. We’ll see!

Here, have a Scottish fold to brighten your day.

My Sundays are booked solid

~ JP Marshman ~ 2 Comments

I don’t normally watch a lot of tv. I’ll keep it on while I’m in the living room on my computer, even though I’ll usually be listening to music, only because I’m like an old person in that I like the company. Or a dog in that I like the movement. It’s nice.

When I do watch tv, it’s because Seinfeld reruns are on, or American Dad, Family Guy, Futurama, the Dating Guy, etc. I like stupid tv, as is painfully obvious.

But recently, my mother and I watched the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones straight through twice, and when we realized season two was starting we panicked. We didn’t have HBO, know anyone close to who had HBO, and we couldn’t wait to stream or buy season 2. So, an hour before it started, we subscribed to HBO. desperation, amirite?

Season 5 of Mad Men started a few weeks ago as well. We watched it at 7, then GoT at 8, and all was well.

I really really really really really enjoy history and historical fiction; this is exemplified by my adoration of the Borgia reign in Italy at the beginning of the Renaissance. Cesare Borgia is one of my favourite historical figures, up there with Napoleon Bonaparte. So I recently downloaded the first season of the Borgias tv show (and the most beautiful French Canadian actor Francois Arnaud plays Cesare, so this is like a historical hard-on for me) and finished watching just in time for season 2 to start.

Now, my Sundays are booked. Nobody gets me on Sundays until good-tv-season is over. The Borgias at 7, GoT at 8, and Mad Men at 9 – otherwise the Borgias and Mad Men would coincide.

Cesare Borgia, Jon Snow, Don Draper. Can Sundays get any better?

The answer is no.

A resounding no.

Despite being a cardinal with a pope for a father, Cesare goes out of his way to give bedroom eyes to his sister, and pick up chicks like nobody's business.

/rant

~ JP Marshman ~ 2 Comments

Anybody who thinks working at a bookstore is slack should be shot in the shins. Why?  Because that’s how I feel right now, after a week straight of working. It’s Saturday, and my last day off was Saturday. My next day off is Thursday. I’m not impressed. Know what we do all day? Stand. Walk. Talk to people. Stand more. Walk more. We don’t get a chance to sit and give our poor bodies a rest until our break, and even then it feels like it goes by too quickly, and isn’t enough to really help at all. My whole body is in pain. My shins, knees and heels from standing and walking all day, every day, and my back from poor sleep and irregular habits, and the usual – a heavy front. Fuck boobs. They’re heavy. I was in so much pain today and last night I wanted to cry. I’m not going to whine to my manager though, because I am apparently literally the only one who can cover shifts. Everyone else either specified they can only work part time, or are going to school. Because I made myself available, and because I’m not going to school right away, I am scheduled for every fucking day. I was supposed to have last Thursday off, but a new girl randomly stopped showing up and I had to cover her shift. I’m exhausted D:

To add to it, coworkers are still having midterms, and Christmas is coming up, and I’m going to be pushed even further. I’m notorious for getting really sick and staying really sick, and it’s a miracle I haven’t been yet, but if I keep getting overworked like this, I’m going to be down for the count for a least a week or two. I already feel like I’m getting clogged up. This sucks. Don’t ever get a job.

It doesn’t help that I’m too tired to properly write, and one of my coworkers, though she’s nice enough, has catastrophic body odour. I fucking choked on it last night. Why don’t people know how to bathe!?

I am really pissed off right now, in case you can’t tell.

If I had more energy, I could devote more time to writing, or to Skyrim, or to watching the Borgias, now that I’ve been informed it’s on Netflix. Francois Arnaud plays Cesare, who I have a total historical figure crush on, despite him being the villain of Ass Creed: Brotherhood, and after reading a book where he’s a total creep, and the fact that, I dunno, he fucked his sister? It helps that Francois Arnaud is gorgeous. And Canadian. Yes, that helps.

Watch the Tudors. It’s worth it.

I need HBO, or someone with an in. I missed half of season 4 of True Blood, and I really want to watch Game of Thrones. Somebody halp!

I’m cold. My extremities are starting to go numb. I love living in the great white north fuck that, I live in Canada’s only desert but even though there’s no snow yet, it’s cold as balls, and for some reason we aren’t allowed to turn up the heat, due to my mother being a thermometer nazi.

On deviantART, an Elder Scrolls poem I wrote in five minutes has over 700 views. It’s second only to the first chapter of my super dumb and cliched vampire story, due to dA not supporting writers. I wrote it as a song for a skooma-addicted character to sing while high, laughed at it afterwards, posted it on dA, and wut? It’s popular. I mean, I like it, but honestly… read something I give a major fuck about.

Jesus Christ on a cracker, I think I’m done. My mother needs to gtfo the tv so I can watch the Borgias on Netflix and ogle Francois Arnaud, and forget for the next few hours that I have to fucking work in the morning.

This is cranky Jessica, by the way. She’s been elusive lately, but physical pain pisses her right off.

Okay. /endrant