I have left this entry open on my desktop all day in the hopes I would actually fill it out. So, a few things about life right now:
1. I have discovered the glorious thing that is Time Machine on Mac OS X Leopard. It's not only the life-saving device it claims to be, it has the added bonus of inducing vertigo via a storm of white pixels that move around on a cosmos background like those little white flakes in a snowglobe. It actually does make you feel like you're going back in time. I've only done a couple of backups, so I could only rifle through one or two windows and not much has changed. I can't wait until I can look back on an endless horizon of my endeavors and think, "Wow, look how my desktop has changed!"
2. It is my first year in my new apartment and as such I had planned on a Christmas tree, setting up my Christmas village, and draping the place in such obnoxious, sparkly, mossy, cranberry...ey, Clause-ey goodness that my cat would be scared. Instead, I'm finishing a book. So, there's still a sheet over my living room window; I still haven't sold my futon or extra air conditioning unit, and I have dragged out a couple of lousy window hangings, a fiber optic Santa from the 26th century, and some candles that smell like mistletoe and pine. Christmas' best showing is in the 600 orders of Jingle Spells that have yet to be shipped out, which are ALL IN MY LIVING ROOM.
3. Sometimes the writing is good, sometimes it's very good, sometimes it's bad, and sometimes it's nonexistent. Sometimes the thing I'm writing intimidates me and I walk away instead of kicking it in the gut. I should kick it in the gut. I think I'll kick it in the gut tonight.
4. You should really watch all the videos on this account, especially this one. The channel belongs to the actor who plays Nathan Petrelli on Heroes, and is full of the kind of backstage tomfoolery you'd expect behind the curtains at a high school play. Except, these are professional actors who look like they are nothing more than completely surprised and thrilled to find themselves on set, in first class on an airplane, being chased by paparazzi in Paris, and at the Emmy awards. Awesome and fun stuff.
5. I reread His Dark Materials, on tubes and in cabs and on planes and more. And I can't wait for the movie. My favorite line about the movie comes from Philip Pullman: The movie isn't perfect, but then neither is the book: if you want perfection, go and read a haiku. He's right, his books aren't perfect - but they are marvelous. And don't even say it: I was a Christian before I read them, and am a Christian after I read them. The only way these books can shake your faith is if your faith is easily shaken. They are a marvelous telling of a very old story.
6. If you call and I don't call back you until January, please do not be offended.
7. I really enjoy working in sweatpants. It's a miracle.
Thank you so much for the links to Adrian's videos. They were a delight to watch. Makes me want to go out and buy a camera.
I'm so gonna buy an external hard drive now so I can use Time Machine and get all the cool effects :D Been on my mac for a week now and I keep trying out all the fun stuff! YAY leopard!
And WOOT His Dark Materials! The movies out here today but work is getting in the way of me seeing it right now so I'll have to wait. Make sure you post your thoughts if you do see it :D
Good luck with the book!
Andy
I am just starting Book III of HDM. I'm a Catholic School teacher and I find this story fasinating! I also can't get enough of Jingle Spells! Wish I could work in sweatpants!
OSX Leopard is so awesome. Time Machine is glorious. I'm so excited for you and your book, hopefully you're not stressing out too much...I know there are a ton of people behind you on it and it'll get a ton of support! If we don't hear from you again before the holidays, have a great Christmas.
Good luck on the book. Sorry if I'm adding to your stress, one of those CDs in your living room is mine :o) Have a Happy Christmas!!!
Melissa, you updated again! =) Yay! I'm reading Pullman's series for the first time. Yes, I do realize I am quite late to the game, but I'm happy I'm reading them nonetheless. =) I got it back in 1999 and for some odd reason I never read it even though I'm sure I would've liked it then. Well, I have dug it up and I am reading it now. Great so far! =) The movie is going be great I'm sure! It looks amazing just in a movie goers perspective. I completely agree with you on the whole Christianity thing, even if I'm not religious at all.
And you go kick it in the gut Melissa! You can do it! You go kick Grogsnot's butt!!! Good luck on the book anyhow! =)
Helena
Hey Melissa,
Wow, you're juggling lots of balls right now. I hope you enjoy the holidays as much as you can.
Just wanted to say that I'm rereading the HDM trilogy right now myself and am enjoying probably 3 times more than I did the first time. It is a wonderful story...so much mythology underneath it. I live in South Carolina, a deeply religious part of the country. I'm about to bill New Line for PR services b/c I've spent so much time correcting all of the misinformation out there about these books.
Good luck, and have a wonderful holiday!
jan
ps: just think what your life will be like this time next year: a new book on the shelves w/ YOUR name on it. cool beyond words....
Hey Melissa,
Wow, you're juggling lots of balls right now. I hope you enjoy the holidays as much as you can.
Just wanted to say that I'm rereading the HDM trilogy right now myself and am enjoying probably 3 times more than I did the first time. It is a wonderful story...so much mythology underneath it. I live in South Carolina, a deeply religious part of the country. I'm about to bill New Line for PR services b/c I've spent so much time correcting all of the misinformation out there about these books.
Good luck, and have a wonderful holiday!
jan
ps: just think what your life will be like this time next year: a new book on the shelves w/ YOUR name on it. cool beyond words....
Nearly done with HDM. Reading the omnibus with my husband was not as easy as we thought it would be. We picked it up because of the podcast suggestions. Looking forward to the movie.
Looking forward to your book too. Will it be out in time for the seventh movie (just kidding).
I'm reading His Dark Materials for the first time thanks to all your plugging of it on Pottercast. I'm almost done with The Subtle Knife and I'm loving the series so far! Are you looking forward to the movie? I'm seeing it tomorrow. Can't wait!
Melissa, I love what you said about Phillip Pullman's books. My friends are pretty religious, (one is an evangelical, one is a mormon, and one is a regular catholic.) and they have gotten the e-mail that is going around about how they shouldn't go see the movie because it is so evil and horrible and such. They belived the e-mail too, only becuase they don't know about the series. I tried to explain it to them, but they didn't understand. What you said is perfect. "The only way these books can shake your faith is if your faith is easily shaken." I myself am a practicing roman catholic, and I have loved these books ever since I read them in elementary school. It still astounds me how dangerous ignorance can be.
Gabrielle
I love Adrian Pasdar's videos too. But why is there even an issue of His Dark Materials shaking your faith? Non-christians read or watch things with strong Christian themes without becoming Christians. Phillip Pullman's books shouldn't be perceived as something that could have such a "negative" effect. It's not like anyone's worried about the Chronicles of Narnia creating a sudden faith in God.