...which most of y'all probably know, since I post in other people's journals as a commenter far more than on my own.

I really hate talking about myself. :D

I still have the "YATTA!" job, and it's busy as all heck, but it's really a great company to work for. Still married, still in Seattle, haven't killed the roommate or the husband yet so that's all good.

And there's the update for 2008! See y'all next year!

So today I officially signed the acceptance-of-offer letter for a new job, one that pays almost twice as much as I've ever made in my life -- and more importantly, one that I am passionate and terribly enthusiastic about pursuing.

I'm still a little unclear on how much I'm able to disclose about the position exactly -- but generally speaking it's an online tech company with gaming/entertainment/communication interests, and I'm working for their global accounts, which means particularly working with companies in Brazil and South Korea.

So yeah, I'm crazy excited, I start on Monday, and if you really want to know what I'm doing, drop me an email and I'll pass along what I can. :) And for those who read the previous entry, this is actually a different, better job with the same company -- they liked me so much that they basically promoted me before I was even hired. It's full time and I'll be working out of an office at least part of the time, and probably travelling some too.   Yay!

(No, I am not a spy.)

The JET Program: Teaching English in Japan - A Beginner's Guide

 My first article, now published on Associated Content. Check it out, leave me comments, whatever - I'd really appreciate it! :)

* Dr. J. B. Cranfill's Chronicle A Story of Life In Texas -- 1916. A rare and candid biography of a Baptist preacher/cattle driver/newspaper man from the late 1800s in Texas, chock full of regional history and anecdotes. Particularly interesting to collectors of Texas memorabilia and historians. Plus, it's actually pretty funny. The opening paragraphs:

"I KNOW very little of my forefathers or foremothers. That I am descended from Adam, I have never had a doubt. Where the genealogical tree branched out and where the line of kinship diverged, I do not know. I am pretty sure that I am also descended from Noah and his bunch. There is Noah to deny it.

(Pun no. 1) Whether from Shem, Ham or Japheth, I will not pretend to even suggest, but until I became a vegetarian I was partial to ham. However, I feel that I am a descendent of Japheth, but there is a family resemblance between my folks and Japheth's folks."

...heaven help us if the entire 600 page book is full of puns like these. Whew.

* Aurora Leigh; A Poem In Nine Books, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1883. When I was in the 5th grade, I was out sick with the chicken pox for two weeks and one of the books my teacher sent home for me to read was a biography of another invalid, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I absolutely loved the biography - so when I came upon this copy of Aurora Leigh, I pounced. It's just -beautiful-. I'll put larger pictures of the cover up under the LJ Cut so as not to spam, but man. Pretty pretty book entirely regardless of the contents.

* Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, translated by John Anster; 1890. Another copy that I picked up primarily because I was in love with the binding. This one and Aurora Leigh above, I believe, are what they call publisher's bindings -- made with as much attention paid to the lavish cover as to the book within. This one isn't in quite as good condition as AL, primarily because the cover's cloth has taken some more wear and tear, but it's still beautiful. Both Faust and Aurora Leigh have all gilt-edged pages, too.

So, as part of my "find ways to occupy my time", I picked up a load of books for sale from Craigslist. They were by and large religious books, theological commentaries, and the like. Some of the more interesting finds:

* The Holy Bible, blue leather with gilt embossing, 1856
* "The Life of David Livingstone", 1888 (paperback - and amazingly well-preserved)
* Spiritual Sayings, Khalil Gibran - 1962, (leather and gilt)
* Leander Hall; or, The investigation of religious truth,: Comprehending the origin and nature of the church of Christ, with its laws and ordinances, embraced ... a web of romance, from the loom of real life, Ambie White (a woman!) from 1865

...and I haven't even scratched the surface. The kitchen is still full of books and I've got days of cataloging left to do. Woo!

Not bad for $75. :)

Well, I'm not exactly surprised. :)

Getting married today! The weather is fine and we have cupcakes. Now, if I can just keep Brent from accidentally killing himself before the ceremony... :)

Here's a soon-to-be ad shot for the tank top pictured -- it came out looking a bit more sultry than I'd originally planned, but I think it works! (For the record, the avatar shape is mine, as is the tank top; the other clothes, jewelry, hair and skin paint is by other content creators.) :)

1.)Q. Can you cook?
1.)A.

2.)Q. What was your dream growing up?
2.)A.

In the style of: Decembrists Titles

1. Are you male or female? Bandit Queen

2. Describe yourself: Shiny

3. How do some people feel about you? "I Was Meant for the Stage"

4. How do you feel about yourself? The Infanta

5. Describe your girlfriend/boyfriend/interest:  "Of Angels and Angles"

6. Where would you rather be? The Kingdom of Spain

7. Describe what you want to be: "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect"

8. Describe how you live: "Cocoon"

9. Describe how you love: "A Cautionary Song"

10. Share a few words of wisdom: "The Mariner's Revenge Song"