I'm in dire need of some good stories to read. I've read plnunn's "The Devil's Own" and it's very cool, but unfinished... ;__;

I'd really love some more Advent Children FFs, or post AC FFs, preferably with lots of angst and drama and action (not necessarily of the smex kind). But I'm not finding anything good.

So, any recs?

*puppy eyes look*

^____^

I'm selling a whole bunch of doujinshis on Ebay. Right now most of the listings are GW doujinshis, but there's more to come in the next few days. (I still have at least 15 or so GW doujins to post...)

You can find the listing here. Shipping is cheaper if you combine orders... :)

I'll be crossposting this to various coms, so don't be surprised if you see this a few times. If you have questions on any of the doujinshis, don't hesitate to ask me. :)

I'm getting old. I remember when Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett were at the height of their careers...

And now they're both gone.

Michael Jackson is dead...

Farah Fawcett dies of cancer

Both tragic in completely different ways.

*sigh*

So, having given myself three days off last week to recuperate - three days which I spent reading, puttering about the garden, and watching piles of DVDs - I've returned to the terrible world of ... TAXES!

>.<

I *hate* doing my taxes.

Because I have a business, I have to do both the private *and* the business taxes in detail. Which means I take my bank statements, and the *huge* pile of accumulated receipts and printouts, and try to match them up. Each line in the bank statement has to be backed with a receipt and an explanation of where this goes, or why it was booked. You'd think that in the age of computers you wouldn't need all this paper anymore, but no, the Internal Revenue Department wants to see it *all*. >.< And Gods help you if you can't explain an expenditure.

So I'm sitting here with four binders, a big box of small receipts, and a mobile file holder on my desk, working my way through line after line of bank statement. I'm only halfway through the private account.

*THEN* comes the fun part: the business account. *headdesk*

I *hatehatehate* taxes... >.>

Hi Flist.

Yes, I'm still alive.

Sort of.

I think.

At least, it feels like it.

( A somewhat lengthy update on life in general... )

And you can pet my pink one ^___^

I present...

( Large picture behind the cut! )

I just got an email from the Shop where I picked up my GW T-Shirt.

They have them back online for pre-oder. They usually sell out *really* fast, so if you want one, go here:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/goods/goods_detail.html?KEY=NEOGDS-7288

and order.

The shop is safe (I've ordered lots of times from them) and they offer various shipping possibilities. They also just lowered their shipping rates. :)

It's finally starting to feel and look like spring. We had sun yesterday! To be honest, I've almost forgotten what *sun* looks like. >.> We've had so many weeks and weeks of gray, cold, cloudy weather, with sleet, rain, snow, and other unpleasantries, that I've more or less forgotten what a sunny day can be like. A sunny *warm* day. *sigh*

At least, things are happening.

Today, my still-husband moved most of his furniture out of his room into his new appartment.

He's still got quite a bit of stuff here - mostly, because his new place is very small, and right underneath the roof (not really an attic apartment, but something like it), with the ceiling sloping down really low, so he can't put anything up along the walls. But still, he took most of the larger pieces with him and the rest will be moved bit by bit. I made up a box of food-stuff for him, adding some pots and pans, because he was *definitely* going to forget about the fact that he has to cook his own food now! ^___^

We still have to do all the paperwork and agreements and money things, but since we're not separating in anger, that's something we'll take care of bit by bit. I want to rent out the two free rooms here in the house soon, but for the moment, I'm going to enjoy the quiet and the solitude. Until Cilli comes home on Monday, that is... ^^ She's got spring break right now, but she's spending the weekend at her friend's house in Austria, to go skiing. It'll be the last chance for this winter season, so it's a good thing she's got the time. I hope she's having fun... I'll know tonight. :)

Also, we finally have a date for the first hearing on my still-husband's case against the insurance company. It's in May, so we'll be gearing up for that soon. So far, the insurance company is denying everything and saying that they won't compromise. We'll see...

Business-wise, I've come to realize that selling via Amazon.de was a good choice. Once I've got the next print-run of the mangas that are selling best, I'll be also placing the books with the large distributors here. So I'm hoping to have things moving upward this year - finally. Keep your fingers crossed!

On the personal front, I'm still on the diet. Haven't reached my goal yet, but I'm seeing progress.

On the other hand, since I've decided to start playing Devil May Cry 4 (PC), I'm not getting much exercise - except for my fingers, that is... ;) So maybe I should try to put a time-limit on that? I'm *such* a gamer... *sigh* It's not just that I love to play, it's the challenge, the wanting to get to the next level (or mission, in this case) and the story. I want to know what comes next - just like reading a good book! :) So instead of going to bed at a proper time, I play... >.<

Have to finish my taxes. >.<

Looking forward to framing and mounting the great GW painting that kracken did for me. ^^ If you haven't seen it yet, you can oogle it here.

Going to make tea now...

moar funny pictures

He just makes me laugh, everytime I look at this. ^^

And yes, he *did* make it out on his own...

...that re-arranging my office would be a good thing to do...

>.<

Why is it that once you start, the work explodes exponentially? I *only* wanted to move my desk around a bit. Right?

Wrong.

Now I've moved four shelves, built one new one (IKEA), moved books, paper, file folders, CDs, filing trays, stacks of paper, more file folders, magazine holders and Puntino (a cat).

And it's looking like the aftermath of a herd of caribou tromping through here - it's missing only the piles of doodoo...

I've decided to severely cut down on filing trays (what *do* you call those plastic things that you can stack and use as inboxes, or outboxes, or just to gather lots of paper in?). Because you know what happens when you have lots of them? You accumulate paper. Lots of paper. Instead of putting it all where it belongs right away, you stack it in those lovely, coloured trays. Where the papers sit, and have babies, and grow into monstrous *stacks* of paper!

So. Eliminating most filing trays.

Trying to file all the receipts (that I need for the taxes next year) properly *this* year - month by month. Rather than waiting until the year is over and doing it all at once.

For today, I'm done.

There's still lots to sort through and file and put away properly. But not tonight. I'm tired.

On the other hand, I think it's going to look good, once it's done.

^_____^

^___^

Remember this entry, way back in January? I'd talked about the diet I was going on.

Well, two months later, I've lost 6 kg (around 14 1/2 pounds) and am seeing the "8" in front of the number for the first time in years. ^_____^ So I now weigh around 197 1/2 pounds, instead of 212!

Yes, I still have a bit to go, but I'm really very pleased with myself! And it's still no problem to continue. The switch in my mind has stayed on the right side, despite book fairs and conventions, dinner invitations and the occasional take-out. I always choose what to eat very carefully, so that I don't fall back into bad habits.

I feel much better about myself! Removed all the large-size jeans and pants from my closet. I'm giving them away to charity, to make sure that I don't "grow into them" again...

I know I promised recipes. I have them here, but the conversions are taking time. And I've been down with a really bad cold for the last week or so (brought it with me from the Leipzig book fair. >.< ), so I really haven't felt like doing anything except whatever absolutely *needed* to be done.

I'll get better, never fear! ;)

Sorry, my dear Flist, that I've been so quiet recently.

However, we (my publishing company) is gearing up for the big event next week - the yearly Leipzig Book Fair! So much to do, so little time!

Lots of things to get packed, and printed, and organized, and picked up, and, and, and... And somewhere in between there I should have finished my taxes... *gulp*

So while I've been reading, I haven't had a chance to do much posting or commenting. Everything is well, though, no calamities at the moment. Just lots of work!

*HUGS* Flist.

^__^

Talked to my mother today on the phone. Nothing special, just the regular "how are you, how's things?" etc call that I make once or twice a week.

After commiserating with her about her cat (older brother to Puntino, the cat in my icon, by the way), I told her about the new series of pictures that I'd uploaded to DA.

And then...

...she said something totally incredible...

...she complimented me.

>.>

<.<

Has the sky fallen?

Has the earth moved?

Has the world ended?

My mother. Complimenting me on my photos. Telling me that I've got a good eye for composition and that the photos I've uploaded are really good.

O.O

Excuse me, while I go have a heart attack now...

Hm... I just can't find anything that I really like at the moment. ;__; Too many autumn and winter themes... And even though it still *is* winter, it's sunny and somewhat warmer outside, so I wanted something a little more spring-like.

Oh well, this one isn't bad. It's called "My Way", and that sort of spoke to me, too. :)

... to my new camera. ^^

Whenever I go somewhere that's not shopping or just regular old 'have to take care of this' stuff, I take my camera with me. And then I wander around in a daze, looking for pictures to happen. ^^ And I find so many, that I'm going to have my memory card full in no time. I have to figure out how to delete all the stuff that I have on there - after downloading it, of course.

I still have lots to learn about taking pictures. And about the camera. It's still thinking *for* me, instead of letting me do my own thing, and I hate that. Have to work my way through the manual, so I know how to turn all those options *off*. ^^

But... if you want to look (you don't have to... ^^), there's more stuff up at my Deviantart Account. ^^

*want to take more pictures, instead of working... * ^^

So, a while back, merula31 did this meme where she wrote 10 microfics.

And there was this one:

Assassin fic: “So,” Heero flipped the picture over and studied the target. “This Duo Maxwell- how do you want him to die?”

which just wouldn't let me go.

So I thought I'd feed merula31's plot bunny a bit more and commissioned a picture from t_shirt1x2, illustrating a non-existent scene in the non-existent fic...

So here it is: clicky clicky

I absolutely *love* how it came out! *Hugs* t_shirt1x2

Remember that family dinner I went to last Saturday?

Well, here are the pics to go with it...

( Beware - *very* image heavy... :) )

Thank you, merith, for your New Year's card! It made me feel already *much* more productive and active today. ^^

So, inspired by laurazel, I looked up my sign:

Personality

Occupying the 2nd position on the Chinese Zodiac, Oxen possess such character traits as dependability, strength and determination. Oxen are tolerant individuals who believe that the road to success involves hard work and scrupulous behavior; they don’t believe in taking shortcuts. They characterize those who don’t work hard as lazy individuals not worthy of respect.

 

Oxen are capable of trusting others and will listen to their opinions with an open mind. However, Oxen prefer making decisions that are based on their own research. Oxen favor strong, life-long alliances to casual acquaintances.

 

Home is where Oxen go to seek comfort, occasionally watching television or reading. They prefer the rural outdoors and spend the majority of their“home” time working in the garden or caring for the yard.

Health

Oxen are strong individuals who overall are healthy and live long, fulfilled lives. However, they tend to work too much, rarely allowing themselves enough time to relax. Oxen could benefit from incorporating more non-work-related activity into their lives.

Career

Oxen prefer work that is routine. They take a methodological approach to their tasks and excel in jobs that are specialized. Oxen possess a keen eye for detail and an admirable work ethic. They are more productive when allowed to work alone. Good career choices for oxen include:interior designer, painter, carpenter, quarry worker, archaeologist,horticulturist, mechanic, engineer, draftsman, banker, broker, real estate agent and army officer.

Relationships

Oxen aren’t very sociable and rarely participate in group activities. They abhor small talk and won’t waste their time flirting. They will search long and hard for the perfect partner as change makes them uncomfortable. Whether due to an ox’s tendency to be overbearing or tendency to place blame on others, relationships with Oxen don’t always work out. When Oxen realize that partnerships involve two people and two points of view, satisfying matches are possible.

Oxen and the 5 elements

Metal Ox – Years 1901 and 1961

Like metal, these Oxen are amazingly strong. They’re extremely hard-working individuals who will do whatever is necessary to achieve their goals.They’re trustworthy, dependable individuals who are not likely to show emotion. They have difficulty interpreting the feelings of others. 

Driving into Munich today, along with my daughter and my still-husband, to go have dinner with my father. Since he's living in Berlin, we don't get to see each other very often anymore. So when he said that he'll be in Munich this weekend, I seized the opportunity and suggested a family get-together.

So this evening we'll all be meeting in a nice Italian restaurant: my father, my mother, my mother's current husband, my brother, my daughter, my still-husband and I. It's a truly rare occasion! I look forward to it. ^^