Second Wind

The end of the semester is nigh, and I'm feeling strangely revitalized even though I am TIRED. I think that tiny Thanksgiving break was good for me.

I'm looking at two papers and a group presentation in one class, two papers in another, one paper in my third class, and a group presentation and two papers in my fourth class. No big! It can be done. It will be done.

Now if only I could get my 14 year old client to come to school...

Happy Thanksgiving

Huzzah food, thankful cakes.

Breaking Dawn

Saw the last movie of The Twilight "Saga" last night with Michele. The best part? The audience's reactions. This movie was hella dull til the fight scene at the end. Some of the changes they made- I felt meh about. It was fun fluff, though, and they did a nice character montage at the end that I wish they had done with Harry. Otherwise, I leave the theater happy to be done with it, thankful for the memories, and for the trailers. Ha!

Words Are Wind

Finished reading Dances with Dragons on Sunday night. I feel empty. One of my favorite characters may have been killed. It feels like my soul has been killed. The worst part is not knowing when the next part of the story will arrive. Winter is coming and my stores are empty. I'm going on just on fire and blood.

Happy Birthday, redux

Got together with Steph to do a belated birthday celebration. We ended up at Gemini's Diner, my dear old haunt, where I once again enjoyed a chicken salad triple decker on wheat, no pickles. SO good! Still the best chicken salad in town (even on their off days.)

After, we walked to Steph's car to find an actual pie shop. A pie shop! Most of them mini pies, with sweet pies and savory pies. We of course did a healthy bit if Sweeney Todd singing afterward.

Yes, I'm old, but that just means more celebrations!

Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Meal

Got together with some of Mi Cariño's closest friends to celebrate a pre-thanksgiving. It was a potluck, but since mi Cariño cooked I called it a free meal for me.
We had a delicious light salad made by Becky, Mac'n'Cheese made by Michele, Turkey Chili made by Genovieve, butternut squash soup with croutons made by Ryan, and cornbread and pumpkin chocolate muffins (not pictured) made by mi Cariño -assisted by me.
After, we sat around just talking and enjoying each other, with a quick round of Taboo before making our way back home.

Errand Sunday

Spent most of today cleaning and running errands with Mi Cariño. Did manage to take a break and have some Belgian Waffles with pumpkin spread and Nutella. Can't say I was crazy about that combo, but it was okay.

This Is Microphone Three...

Went to see Free Style Love Supreme last night. Pretty decent show, even though I only understand a quarter of what they say. I can't think as fast as they do!

A Feast For Crows

The Fourth book on the Song of Ice and Fire series has been finished. I can't say I enjoyed this one as much as the previous three. The first two so far remain my favorites.

A shorter book than its predecessor, A Feast For Crows moves slowly. It concentrates on the characters on King's Landing and much other minor characters, in my opinion. There's a lot of Brienne, a lot of Jaime and Cersei, a lot of Samwell, a smattering of Arya and Alayna (Sansa) and lots of learning of what happens to others through these characters. Most definitely not enough Arya for my liking, and then the bit of Arya there was left her BLIND in the middle of the book, never to appear again.

It's my understanding that A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons were meant to be one very long novel, that was simply to long to publish. Martin chose to separate the novels "thematically" rather than cronologically. That'll be interesting when reading A Dance with Dragons.

I don't know why so much emphasis on Brienne of Tarth. I feel that she is inconsequential to the series. I'm not sure I care what happens to Cersei. Or to Jaime, at this point.

You see, I think Martin finally started to suffer from "big BOOK syndrome." Let me explain: big BOOK Syndrome happens when an author gets free range as to what to write. The fandom likes and loves the big BOOKS and so the author is encouraged to provide as much detail as possible.
Even when that detail is not relevant to the story. Coming up with a shorter book is a disappointment to the fandom and the author. J.K. Rowling shortly suffered from this syndrome, but was able to get back to her senses somewhat after Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix.

Don't get me wrong, I love me the big BOOKS too - when what I'm reading is relevant and awesome. When I'm able to skip swatches of description and still be able to follow the story, and still am able to guess where things are going, well... then you need a good editor.

This book gets three stars instead of the previous 3, which all got four, mostly for the stated above reasons. If I don't feel the NEED to read every line, then I'm just reading for plot, and then, well, I might as well wait for the movie. (or TV Show.)