Still alive and no volcano eruption yet....

[amalthia]

For the last week I've been waiting and waiting some more for this volcano to erupt...though we are not actually prepared. I think we have some soda bottles...and some food but honestly we're running low and grocery shopping I think is going to happen tomorrow. But if the volcano erupts tonight we're told it's not safe to drive and I'll probably have to duct tape our windows to keep the ash out of our apartment so we don't breath it in.

Today, I took the cats to the vet for their vaccinations. And then I read. And read some more. In fact I did not read a single chapter out of my textbook. Didn't look up library locations in my area, do any research on the library profile I have to write, or even login to my UNT account to see what's happening for my class. I'm not sure what's going on with me but I don't think I've felt this apathetic in a very long time.

I didn't even add stories to the Ebook Library though I've been preparing all these lovely long HP stories from really good authors for the last two weeks. :(

But I'm thinking maybe it's not such a bad thing to have a day off to just read again. I had 82 tabs opened on my Firefox browser full of stories that are from my favorite authors and new authors (but where highly recommended to me by my favorite reccers) and well it was kind of nice to read fan fiction. At my new job they monitor Internet usage which as you can imagine can be a real downer that and I have technically 3 bosses...so I'm always doing something and when I'm not I don't know when the new something will come up.

Over this last week I've also been playing with a new feature in my favorite free program Calibre it can now convert documents into Mobi format which for me is kind of nice because I always felt a bit guilty that I could add LRF files (which are compatible with the Sony PRS line but not the Kindle or Cybook or iLiad readers) So now I can easily create mobi formatted stories that look almost like my LRF versions. The new feature is still in beta so it's still a bit buggy.

The one good thing lately is that I've started to learn how to play a game called Go. My husband and I are attending the Anchorage Go Club meetup at the Barnes and Nobles on Thursday nights and I'm learning a lot and apparently I'm not totally hopeless though I continue to lose and don't quite understand all the strategies yet. However, this game appeals to me because it seems like there is no wrong way to play and I don't see myself ever getting bored because this game can go so many different directions. I also like that everyone has been very friendly and patient with teaching me and my husband how to play. I'm also tempted to get the Hikaru No Go manga formatted into a cbr file and convert it into LRF so I can finally read the manga. I'm interested in seeing how it's different from the anime.

Right now I feel like I have too many balls in the air and I'm realizing that I may have to place some limits on what type of fan fiction I'm going to read so I don't get to 82 tabs again. In the past I'd read pretty much anything regardless of length or gen/het/slash type of information. But with limited time and school starting up I think I'm already reverting back to reading selectively and I think Merlin is my new fandom because I'm much more interested in reading new Merlin stories than SGA or SPN. But to be fair I've read over 2000 SGA and SPN fics....I think at a certain point burnout is almost inevitable.

Comments

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Don't worry too much about the volcano ... there's some volcano or other going off every few years up here. :D A few years ago, one of my co-workers got stuck in Kodiak for a few days because one of the volcanos on the Alaska Peninsula erupted and grounded all the flights into and out of Anchorage. It's sort of annoying and a little bit freaky, but not particularly dangerous as long as you're not extremely close to the volcano (like ... actually on it). None of the volcanic eruptions that I remember from my childhood, including Redoubt in 1989, had much of an effect on our daily routines. Worst-case scenario, you might not be able to drive for a day or two, to avoid damaging your car engine until the main part of the ash cloud clears out of the area.

[amalthia]

Well not driving for a day or two I can live with. :) it'll be nice to not have to go to work so I can do schoolwork instead.

I think I'm just worried about my computer stuff. At work they handed out information on what to do if the ash does land on Anchorage and the lists were huge!

I'm also a bit of a hypochondriac?

[aerynvala.livejournal.com]

ooh, I didn't realize you were close to the volcano *hugs*

and you know, the volcano being all on the verge may be part of what's messing with you. That kind of underground pressure can set up electromagnetic emissions that can fuck with animals and people.

*hugs*

[amalthia]

You know I think I'm going to hang onto this reason for my spastic emotions for the last week. :)

[tarlanx]

I think Merlin is my new fandom because I'm much more interested in reading new Merlin stories than SGA or SPN. But to be fair I've read over 2000 SGA and SPN fics....I think at a certain point burnout is almost inevitable.

Yeah... I can understand that - I've read a few thousand SGA stories and I still have at least another 1000 on my PDA to read when I have free time (and no internet connection)! I've upped my work hours so that gives me even less time (need the money) :(

My work monitors internet access too - right down to email accounts - so I don't even open up my personal email anymore! Instead, I took one of those mobile internet (and get a free mini-laptop) deals and log on at lunchtime. Keeps me from getting overloaded on days when I get only a hour of free time at home all day!

It does get a little depressing when I look at my massive TO DO lists just for fandom alone (writing, artwork, TV shows I want to see, website updates) - I'm spreading myself far too thin so I'm so glad I've not got caught up in a new fandom yet! Plus I need to make good on some promises too! I've pretty much restricted my reading in SGA to Rodney (slash and the occasional GEN fic where Rodney has a major role). Otherwise, I'd never have a hope of playing catch-up. Also I try to read small fics as they are posted so I don't have to add them to the growing list :(

Yeah... burnout is inevitable at the pace I'm going too!

[amalthia]

The thing is I wouldn't mind not having private internet access if I didn't have hours of time where nothing is happening. You know? That's the part about work that sucks. You're still stuck there when there is nothing going on.

I'm going to have to narrow down my to-do lists myself. Just not enough time in the day.

Hugs

[tarlanx]

I have the same problem... I cannot do part of my job until I've been trained - but they slashed the training budget so I'm still waiting to be trained up *sigh* Like you, I have days when I am bored senseless, and the accompanying frustration of knowing I have so many things on my TO DO list that I could have been getting on with if I'd been at home!

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

to be fair I've read over 2000 SGA and SPN fics....

Do you keep track of everything you read? If so, how do you do it. I end up rereading stuff because I'd forgotten that I read it.

[amalthia]

I use delicious tags and tag what I've read. I've only been using the site for a year or two...but I've been getting around to tagging what I've already read as well. :)

http://delicious.com/amothea

I also sometimes forget if I've read a story. I have a toread tag for stuff I'd like to read as well...though not sure how successful that is turning out.

[daybright.livejournal.com]

how close are you to Redoubt?

[amalthia]

about 100 miles away. Basically depending on which direction the wind blows we don't hvae to worry about it or the ash will get dumped on Anchorage.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I agree with the other poster: the volcano is probably messing with your moods on many levels, just like it's messing with the cats.

As for SGA, I'm reading 50/50 SGA/Merlin right now. I'm a little worried that by the time I finish Out Of Bounds no one will be interested in reading it. School and WG are taking up so much time. It's just iiiinnnnching forward.

[amalthia]

I know I'm looking forward to read Out of Bounds. :) So that's one person who is interested.

And yes I know what you mean about school. Tonight I had a panic attack in regards to my own school work and mostly I can't help but feel frustrated about the assignments because they feel like bullshit make busy work but not really teaching me anything I don't already know and I'd much rather spend my free time doing something else. I'm not sure how you manage because I know your school workload is more intense than what I have at the moment.

[gottis-chan.livejournal.com]

/Random Passer by person here~

hey, remember me? It's Gottis aka Rosey, aka the person who co-wrote Sworn to Protect with you, years back~ ^^ I just wanted to say hi. ♥

[amalthia]

I remember you! :) its been forever since I've heard from you though. hi back. :)

going to add you to my friend's list so hopefully we don't lose track of each other though I am spending a lot less time online nowadays.

[gottis-chan.livejournal.com]

Yay! You remembered! ^___^ *adds you back* How've you been? And hi hihi hihihi~ ♥♥♥

Yeah, same here. But yes, please, we have to try and keep in touch! ♥