Hello, everyone!

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

I've been having such fun with this meme! I was hoping to find some Breyer horse collectors here, but so far I haven't found any. However, I have found several wishes I can fulfill, including a couple that I can make!

Well, here's my list!



1. Career advice: What can I do with a Masters in Biology? in English? I'm not interested in teaching. I'm thinking either publishing, or zoo work -- have any experience with either? I don't have anyone I know in either profession, so if you'd be willing to email with me and talk about whichever you have experience with (or even hook me up to talk with a relative/friend who has experience in) these fields, I'd love you forever.

2. To lose thirty pounds. And have it STAY off. So I guess what I'm really wishing for is, willpower. That, or a better metabolism.

3. Tourist-type shirts from Arizona (i.e., the sort you see in airport stores or tourist traps that say "Arizona" or "Phoenix" or "Scenic Old Tuscon" or whatever on them). New and shiny, or old and beat-up! (Any sizes--if they are new/nice, I will wear them; if they are old, they'll go toward my quilt project.)

4. A good fantasy novel, or a recommendation. I like used books. :) I read very fast, and sometimes it feels like I've gone through everything worth reading (though surely I haven't!) and there's nothing left. However, my resources are pretty slim (my college town has one bookstore, which is going out of business), so I know there must be a lot of good fantasy out there that I've just never encountered!

5. Donations to your local charity. (Food bank, women's shelter, church service, literacy program, animal shelter--you choose!) If possible, donate your time as well as, or in lieu of, your money. There's just no substitute for personal involvement.

6. To stop biting my nails!

7. Gryphon (griffin, griffon, etc.) items--jewelry, stamps, postcards, anything. Particularly any stuffed/plush gryphons! But really, anything gryphon is great!

8. A paperback British edition of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I've wanted one forever (well, since the hardback came out!) but the dollar-to-pound rate is so high I can't afford any on Ebay (particularly, the shipping costs, since sometimes they do go for good prices), and they're almost never available for American currency.

9. A Windstone Editions Scratching Dragon in White for $100 or less. It's the very last one I need to complete my collection, and they went and retired it and all the prices have shot sky-high whenever I'm even able to find one. Sigh. Talk about wild dreaming.

10. For everyone who reads this to join the donation brigade! Bookmark the following sites, and visit them once a day:

The Animal Rescue Site
The Breast Cancer Site
The Child Health Site
The Hunger Site
The Literacy Site
The Rainforest Site
and
Poverty Fighters.

Because every click helps!


At least one of these everyone can do!

Comments

[liz85.livejournal.com]

Number 6 - Do you want to be nail-biting quitting buddies?

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

Sure. :) I can recommend at least one nasty-tasting-stuff brand that works to a degree. I had some other brand that didn't work at all (tasted mildly unpleasant, but faded soon), but now I've got this stuff called NO BITE (has those words in a little red stop sign) that works pretty well--when I remember to apply it. Thing is, I forget to apply it, or I just gnaw right through it because I've got a drink close by to kill the taste.

So, what all have you tried? :)

[livingindenial.livejournal.com]

*pouts*

There's nothing I can really help you with on your wishes (except maybe number 10).

Damn! I was hoping I could do something for you!!!

And as for the losing weight thing...my only idea for that is to make yourself up lots of snacks that you can pick at constantly, but that are healthy for you - like if you freeze grapes, they take longer to eat and are a snack (so you can constantly chew on something when you get the urge to have a packet of chips or something).

And take up an activity - like belly dancing or something. Something that will be fun that you'll forget is also exercise!

;)

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm on Weight Watchers and it's helping, but I seem to have hit a plateau. A BIG part of the problem is that I'm up at college right now--cafeteria food, very limited fridge space, and no food prep capability (no kitchen), not to mention spending more time writing papers than exercising (and the current weather is beastly, and will be till May...)

Cold grapes wouldn't work, alas, since cold foods make my teeth hurt--but I do have some little carrots, which help. :)

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

Number 10 is good. Number ten is possibly the most important thing on there. :)

I miss riding--I used to ride horses, and that was a good bit of exercise, but what with college I've fallen out of the habit, sadly. Once I graduate, though, I'll definitely look around for some kind of activity... and hey, volunteering at the shelter is weather-dependent, but it *is* good exercise! (How many dogs can be walked in two hours?) :)

[magelette.livejournal.com]

As an English major who'll have an MA in English in about three weeks: have you considered tech writing? There's not a lot of publishing unless you're in NYC, though I do have a friend who works as an editor on a computer magazine. I can ask her for more info for you. But tech writing is always something that people need, especially because the notes that you generally need to translate into actual English are written by people who don't understand how to write English.

Not that I'm pushing tech writing because I'm a tech writer or anything. *g* If you have a background in science, that's even better, because they want techy type people to write techy type manuals, etc. I do marketing writing, because that's all my literary brain is good for.

As for fantasy recs, have you read: David Eddings? Guy Gavriel Kay (The Fionivar Tapestry)? Robin McKinley (anything, especially "Blue Sword" and "Hero and the Crown")? "The Last Unicorn" by Peter S. Beagle? I've read a lot of high fantasy and epic, so if you need more concrete recs, let me know. :)

[raynala.livejournal.com]

The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series is a great read. It's by Laurell K. Hamilton. =)
The Mask and the Sorceress by Dennis Jones is also a good book.

=)

!!

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

OhmygoshIloveyou! Email on its way!

# 4

[fannishnej.livejournal.com]

Have you read Melanie Rawn? She writes high fantasy with one of the most original magic concepts ever, and really cool dragons.

Re: # 4

[eringryffin.livejournal.com]

I read the first three (ended with Sunrunner's Fire, I think), but I sorta lost focus after that--what's the next book? :)

Re: # 4

[fannishnej.livejournal.com]

The next trilogy in that universe is Dragon Star. It consists of Stronghold, The Dragon Token, and Skybowl.

Her other universe is The Exiles. The books are The Ruins of Ambrai, The Mageborn Traitor, and The Captal's Tower (which may not be available yet).

[wonderlandkat.livejournal.com]

I really liked Tam Lin by Pamela Dean and Sunshine which is the Robin McKinley book.

as for losing weight, I reccommend (if you aren't already) trying to increase the amount of walking you have to do in your life-living 15 minutes walk away from class and trying to make it a 10 minute walk has done a ton.

That or move. I lost 5 lbs while moving (help lots of friends move and get good karma besides?)

[waitnforheavn.livejournal.com]

I've got number one! Just give me a ring when ya get home and you can meet my next door neighbor.