A very very extremely wonderful, happy, fabulous and fantastic birthday to the incomparable…….

[insert drumroll here]

Estrella30!!!!!!11!1

Nan, you’ve made my life richer and way more sparkly. You always make my day brighter and your joy in fandom is beyond compare. I am richer for knowing you.

::twirls you like mad::

I made this birthday icon in your honor, because oooooh, shiny!

Much love and many many hugs.

After a couple of insane work days, I came back from lunch to find a great big box from my sis. Knowing it was early b’day pressies from birki_lib, I immediately had to open it. (Yah, no delayed gratification here!)

First thing I found: A note, written on a note paper from a pad I’d made for her (designed, had printed) about 10 years ago. It read:

Eep!! Delayed gratification. So, I pull open the rest of the box, because I know she’s wrapped everything and call her.

PRESSIES!!

Serenity and Doctor Who!

http://www.locusmag.com/2006/News/08_HugoCampbellWinners.html

Serenity took home the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation: Long Form
Doctor Who: The Empty Child & The Doctor Dances for Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form

If you expected Emmy wins, well, there’s that whole no TV thing, I honestly have no clue who won those. ::g::

I discovered that somehow, I’ve managed to lose my TV remote – not a huge thing, but the easiest way to say, lower the volume when I plug in a DVD, because the actual buttons on the TV itself leave a lot to be desired. It’s an oldish model, nigh on 6ish, still in good condition, but when I bought it, just after moving here, I was broke and bought the cheapest of the cheap. It’s a 20″ RCA with no bells and definitely no whistles. I probably need to upgrade the TV, but in the meantime, a trip to Best Buy is in order so I can get a universal remote.

Since I haven’t actually been in the market for a decent TV, you all have any suggestions for a model/brand that isn’t horrifically expensive? And by that I mean in the $200-$300 range. I’d really like one with component video/audio input, so I can hook up my DVD player without the little Radio Shack adapter box thingy. Also, since my apartment is so small, I need something in the 24″ – 27″ range. Suggestions welcome! (computers, I know. TVs, not so much)

I’d hoped to do some DVD organizing this weekend, as I picked up some more of the nifty wire-mesh DVD storage boxes at Target. Not enough yet for my entire collection, but enough to move most of the DVDs off the big gray plastic Rubbermaid shelves and hopefully, put them in some sort of order. Instead, I was utterly lazy and did nothing of productive value. I really do need to move them, so I can rearrange the books and maybe *find* a few that have gone missing. Not permanently, because I know I didn’t give them away in the book purge, but just misplaced. There’s no real rhyme or reason to the piles, and I hope to get there soon. Can you tell the Sun’s moved into Virgo? I get this way around my birthday every year – time to organize, purge, put things in order. I’m hoping it lasts. ::g::

Okay, not earth-shattering, but hey, for me, it’s a start. ::g::

I’ve been increasingly dissatisfied with Comcast and its offerings. Broadband is fine, no problems, but at $50 plus taxes a month, it was always one of the “yoikes, expensive but worth it” bills. That is, until I found out that Verizon DSL was now offering the 3 MB service for $29.95/month. Uh, d’oh! As Tom says in All Over the Guy, “Do the math.” Plus, Verizon now offers a phone plan with free long distance in the U.S., plus all the bennies (caller ID, voice mail, etc. etc. etc.) – $39.95 a month. I did the math, and if I canceled Vonage and Comcast, and got the Verizon services, I’d be ahead. Plus, the Verizon phone line is a traditional land line that doesn’t depend on electricity or the broadband. So if cable or electricty goes out – which seems to happen in my building, I still have a phone, even if my mobile isn’t charged up.

As hard to cancel as AOHell

(subject line stolen without shame from bheerfan in a YIM convo)

In the “OMGWTF” of the SG1 cancellation, saner heads in the TV industry have posted lovely articles, such as this one by Matt Roush, TV Guide’s champion of the SF/F programming. I don’t know Matt, but he & I often agree about programming, shows and the overall industry.

I like his take on the whole show cancellation – he’s right. As unfortunate as this is, it’s had a good long run. Let’s help them go out in style by watching the rest of the season and support good SF/F programming on TV.

Don’t forget, SciFi will be airing The Dresden Files starting in January!

Work is…well, work. Busy as usual, a bit stressful. ‘Nuff said there.

I just discovered a tasty and healthful treat – no, really, I did. Kashi Granola bars, pumpkin spice flavor. Picked up a box at Target yesterday and they are tasty! Just had one as a snack. Normally, I only eat things like this out of guilt or a need to feel that I’m not ignoring healthy foods. But this, I like in spite of the healthy.

and OMG, OZ!! Season 6 is finally being released on DVD. Release date, 9/5 – the day AFTER my birthday. In any case, I will be ordering.

ETA: oh yeah, for you Prison Break watchers, here’s a great photo. (Not that I *wouldn’t* watch the show, it’s that I haven’t, yet. So I don’t want to start on S2…yes, and I was late to Oz, too, so there, viggofest.

Prison Break ads on street

SG1′s 200th ep was probably one of the best hours I’ve spent watching TV in a long time.

Here there be spoilers.

Just realized I’ve not posted in a while. Time flies when you’re, well, busy.

Of the WAY good, my publisher just signed a contract to produce mass market titles (SF/F) with Dorchester Publishing, home of Hard Case Crimes which was co-created by naominovik‘s hubby, Charles. Yeah, the publishing world is really a SMALL SMALL place. I squeed with joy when I read this, because I met some of the Dorchester folks at BEA and they were fabulous people!

Also heard that my parents, my sis and BIL plan to visit for Thanksgiving. They are planning/plotting now and I hope that it works out. I won’t have extra time off, and can’t really afford to go to Texas, but it will be fun to have them here.

Really looking forward to viewing the newly posted vids that you all have been squeeing about, but must go home first. Really wish I could have joined in the VVC fun, but alas, this is a con that I’m unlikely to make in any year. The timing is just bad for me.

In any case, it’s fun reading the con reports and getting to experience it vicariously.

Plans for the rest of the week:
Work
Season 4 of Footballers Wives
Going to see my buddy Laura Lippman at Borders Bailey’s Crossroads on Weds. (so sad that we live so close and yet, I don’t see her except for at her book signings or other events)

Thanks to all of you that posted so many lovely comments about my whinge last week. My energy levels are still iffy, but I’m feeling more hopeful. Work is busy and a bit stressful, but I’m keeping my head above water. I’ve got a follow up appointment on Friday with the blood sucker…ahem, hematologist. We’ll see what he says then.

Here’s hoping the rest of the summer (what’s left of it!) goes smoothly.

Wow – so many August birthdays and so little time!!

Most excellent natal day wishes to:

arallara
wickedwords
janissa11

Hope you all have/had/are having a wonderful birthday!

Also, happy graduation to birki_lib, a.k.a. my darling sis! A long time in the making, but finally, w00t!! I still remember you talking about becoming a librarian as early as elementary school.

Psst….on another note, I still have one Vox invite left. First to respond with e-mail addy gets it.

Hope everyone’s Friday is fabulous. I’ve got a lot on my plate today at work, so I hope it goes well. Then, yay!! Weekend!

Well, mostly it’s my own ass that’s getting kicked. RL has been a bit of a trial recently, thus the dearth of postings for so long.

Details details

Although I haven’t posted much recently, I had to take the opportunity to wish a most happy and fabulous birthday to the incomparable bethbethbeth.

Hope you have a fantastic and special birthday, sweetie! You totally deserve it.