Aderin is where I live now.

So I'm writing a fantasy novel. I haven't really started writing it yet, but I've got a lot of the prep work done. It's taken quite a few days of almost non-stop work, but here's what I have so far:

• I've invented a world. It's called Aderin. Six races live on it. The elves live on Evinthal.
• I have a map for it. It's pretty.
• I have 16 characters so far, though most of them are not as developed as I'd like.
• I have the basic outline for both the main plot and the secondary plot.
• I've sorted out all the races and their general abilities.
• I have the family histories of my main characters.

There's still a million things I have to do, though. Finish the characters, finalize what life is like in their world, connect the smaller story ideas to the main one, and so on. I also have to plan out the end, because I plan to write more than one book. Also, I have to figure out how politics, commerce, education, medicine, laws, food, history, ans so many other things work for each race. And there's seven races. And come up with a few words in each of their languages, so I can use them throughout the story. And I need to come up with some creatures, both magical and non-magical.

And that's all before I start writing the actual story.

It's gonna take quite a bit of research. So much that I'm actually thinking of going to a library. The Internet is great and all, but I'd like a few more specialized books. I need to look into the middle ages, since I'm basing a lot of everyday life on it. I need a book on the medicinal uses of plants, since I'm definitely using that a lot. Also, medieval weapons are important, so I should look into those.

So far, the hardest has been coming up with names for my characters. You have no idea how hard it is to come up with names that don't sound like Mark or Steve. They have to be interesting sounding and not as common. Place names are also a pain in the ass. Holy shit, it's crazy to come up with names for cities, lakes, mountains, and forests. Thank god for websites and fantasy name generators!! Also, thank god that Nelson and Jack play fantasy games and suggested some names.

Funny enough, the map was the easiest. I just kinda took a paper and drew randomly. They I looked at it and just improved parts. Then I labeled it. It's not perfect or even set in stone yet, but working on it was definitely interesting.

I'm not even really sure if this book is gonna go anywhere. I may just write it and no one ever reads it. Maybe I type it and I never print it. But the way I figure it, I'm wasting my time doing nothing all day. So if this is a waste of time, at least I haven't wasted any more time than I would have if I wasn't writing it. And this way, at least I'm keeping busy and doing something interesting. Hopefully something will come of it.

Anyways, I'm off to read some more fan fiction and then work on my world some more. Seriously, I have so many ideas for it that I've been barely sleeping, just writing and researching and editing for it. It's pretty insane. I haven't even had time to talk to anyone, I've been so single-minded. I figured this was a good way to take a quick break from my story and update everyone at once so they don't think I've died. Well, everyone who reads this. I'm not sure who does, but if you do, now you know why I don't call.

Feel free to let me know if you have any ideas you want me to use, or some great character you want to see in it. Or maybe some names?? I'd appreciate those. Lots of those. Or if you feel you are an expert on the middle ages, magic, fantasy, or writing. I'm also looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, get some feedback, read what I write and let me know what they think. So if you fit that, feel free to volunteer your services.

And here is a question to ponder: if some elves have been twisted into something evil, and have been this way for thousands of years now, are they considered a different race?? And can they but rebel and be good, or are they doomed to be evil until they die??

Also, I'm currently obsessed with a Black Eyed Peas song, "I Gotta Feeling," and a Beyonce song, "Halo." Yes, I know, hell has frozen over. I'm as shocked as you are.

Okay, off now. Bye bye.

~Susana

So how do I get more hours in my day??

So I'm now five weeks away from the end of the first semester. And I'm glad. I'm tired. I want to sleep. I like school, and I like work, but sleep sounds so good. I def don't get enough of it.

So school is good. I'm doing okay, as far as I know. We haven't gotten any midterm grades, which is weird. I'd like to know how I'm really doing. I think I'm goign to be picking the business side. I like the creative side, but what Kasia said is so true. You can't really learn the creative side, you just know it. But you can def learn the business side. So regardless of what I go into later, this way, I'd have the option to do either one.

I'm being made full-time at work. Starting next week, I will have 40 hours every week. Prolly more the closer we get to Christmas. School ends on Dec 12 anyways, so I'm free to work whenever after that. Hopefully I'll be able to work all those hours and go to school and not crash. I'm kinda worried I won't be, but I'm still doing okay right now, so maybe it's possible. Plus, I get a 40% discount now :D

So yeah, I like the people at work. It's nice to meet some new people. One of the girls is coming downtown with us on sat to do a real life Where's Waldo search, and I might be going to a club in Burlington with one of the other girls on friday night. So I'm happy with that.

Too bad the boys are all young, though. We need to hire some pretty 26 or 28 year olds. That'd be good. Stop with this jailbait thing already!!

So Halloween was this weekend, and it was pretty good. We went to a club called Bar 244. It claimed that it was going to play 90's music, but it lied. It also claimed that the drinks would be $3, but it lied. But still, it was fun. We should def go out every Halloween. Costumes are awesome!! Ou cabdriver was also pretty good, I thought he was drunk. He got us through downtown Toronto in like 5 minutes. We thought we were gonna die, but we didn't, so I guess he's not bad. We should have gotten his number, so we could call him next time we need him!!

Yurt camping is next weekend!! It's finally happening!! we tried last year, but it didn't work and it was already booked and we had Sal's bday anyways. So this year we aimed for a weekend we knew wasn't going to have a bday on it, and we booked it way back in August. So hopefully it'll be fun and we won't freeze to death.

So yeah, the Christmas Dinner event is already set up on facebook. I'm pretty sure most people are coming. We have 12 people coming so far, and I think it may go up a little more. I'm gonna draw the Secret Santa names in about two or three weeks.

For New Year's, we're planning to go to the Liberty Grand. They have a buffet dinner first, and then the big party. They sell out every year, so it should be good. 5000 people!! So far it's me, Kasia, Tom, and Ela. I don't know if anyone else will come, but really, I don't care. We're going, and we're gonna have a good time.

Anyways, off to get ready for work now.

And I think I want to plan a trip. I was just thinking about how a year ago today I was coming back from Vegas. So I want to go somwhere. It doesn't have to be far, or even expensive. Maybe Ottawa?? Quebec City?? New York?? Ooh, New York. I've never been. Okay, that's the next plan!!

Right, off to work. Bye bye.
Susana

Week seven...halfway!!!!

So I just saw that I lost five pounds. I guess that's good, but sadly, it's not being done in a healthy way. It's more just because I have no time to eat and I'm working like crazy and lifting heavy stuff and doing work. On the plus side, I have been eating a little more healthy. The reason for that isn't really that I've been trying to eat better, it's more that buying fast food is an expense that I currently can't afford. I normally buy food once a week, and it's usually at Extreme Pita or at the mexican restaurant called Chorizo (which is super good).

I did splurge at Moxie's last week, but that was only 'cause I went to see Ann. Which was great, 'cause I hadn't seen her in so long.

Anyways, back to weight. So I'm trying to find a way to fit the gym into my life, but I'm not sure how to or if it would be too much. I mean, when my day is already long enough (leave home at 7:30, come home at around 11), I don't know if I want to add more work to that. But technically on tuesdays, wednesdays, and thursdays I could go to the gym at school. Even if it's just for half an hour or an hour. But will that be too much?? Maybe I'll try next week, see how that goes.

Also, I should prolly eat more regularly, even if it's just some fruit or a yogurt or something.

So anyways, on to non-weight issues. So school is going okay. I've been doing okay with the schoolwork, but it's gotten a little harder since now it's quite involved and requires a lot more time. I mean, I've gotten a lot of pretty good marks (I even got perfect on a few tests and assignments), but last week, I'm pretty sure I failed my marketing midterm. I didn't really get to study, 'cause I was working.

But overall, I'm doing okay with it. And I really like it. I think I may go into the business side of it instead of creative, though. But I don't know yet, 'cause I like the creative part of it too. Well, I still have a semester and a half to decide.

I have to create a typeface for next monday. Anyone have any ideas???

Work is good too. I work a crazy amount of hours. Well, it's crazy to work 40 hours considering I'm part time. But I like the people, so it's not so bad. And now we have tons of seasonal people working, so we shouldn't get out too late.

So I still don't know what to do for Halloween. I'm torn between actually going somewhere, and just staying home at watching horror movies. Ela's all for the staying in. Money is a factor, though, and since Jarx's bday is the weekend before, I may just have to settle for staying home.

So one thing I now love is my PVR. It records all my shows. And then on friday or saturday morning, I sit down and have a mini-marathon of shows. Usually I watch Gossip Girl, 90210, Heroes, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, Law & Order SVU, CSI, and Grey's Anatomy. And I think I may start watching Fringe. I'm all set to watch the first episode on friday, so if I like it, I'll keep watching. If not, oh, well.

But we'll see how that goes. And I think it's bedtime for me now. I was gonna go into how Thanksgiving was, since we had ppl over, but maybe next time.

Nighty night.