Vampire Night at the UWG

So a few days after I posted my observations on writing vampires (and dragons), I sat down to read the round of manuscripts for the upcoming Untitled Writers Group meeting.  Guess what kind of stories showed up?

It was weird.  I scribbled my own thoughts on writing vampire stories because I was working on one and it made me remember what Marion Bradley told me about them.  And then we got two vampire stories, one from Cindy and one from Sarah.  Ironically, the one person in the UWG who is working on a vampire book hadn't submitted a piece of it this time around.

But wait--there's more.  My vampire story is told from the point of view of a mortal woman who runs her own business and whose younger brother was turned into a vampire.  Sarah's piece, the one we critiqued tonight, is told from the point of view of a mortal woman who runs her own business and whose younger brother was turned into a vampire.  Sarah and I did not talk to each other about our vampire writing--I didn't even know she was writing about vampires, and she hadn't read my story yet--but there it was!  The similarities do end there; our stories are wildly different.  But the verisimilitude within the group is seriously spooky.

Spring Cleaning 2

Finished with the kitchen today.  Hooked the boys into most of it.  Cleaned out the rest of the cupboards, went through all the food cans to make sure nothing had expired.  Cleaned the refrigerator and freezer.  Mopped the floor.  It took all morning and most of the afternoon!  Man.

The Kindle Has Landed

I have a Kindle 2 now.

 

See, I get a small stipend from MSU for having a student teacher.  Instead of giving the money straight to me (like EMU does), however, the university gives it to the school, which puts it into a fund that I spend money from.

 

Here's where I ran into stupid bureaucracy crap.  I want a document projector for my classroom, but it costs more than the stipend.  I would prefer to keep the money in my account and save it until I get enough money to buy one later.  But the district said, "No, you have to spend the money by May, or it'll be absorbed into the general fund."  In other words, use it or lose it.

 

This is seriously stupid.  First of all IT'S MY MONEY.  Second, instead of encouraging thrift and savings, it pushes fast spending.  Buy something even if you don't need it so your funding isn't reduced.

 

There wasn't anything I needed right this moment, and despite the fact that I knew I'd need stuff later, I still had to spend the money NOW NOW NOW.

 

So fine.  I ordered a Kindle.  I'd sort of wanted one.  Now I can see if having one is worth it without having to risk paying for it out of my household budget.

 

It arrived today.  Off to plug it in . . .