First off, for those in the Manhattan area, as announced, I will be reading at KGB Bar this Wednesday evening (November 19th) at some point between 7 and 9 p.m. (EST). I know I'm reading second, but I have not yet decided what I'm reading. Check out the KGB website for maps, directions, etc. It's a marvelous bar, which I last visited in May 2001. If you can make it, I urge you to do so. Benjamin Parzybok will read before me. KGB is located at 85 E. 4th Street. Sonya (sovay) will be accompanying me and Spooky, as it seems I need at least two handlers these days, if I am to venture out into the wide, wide world. We'll be heading back to Providence shortly after the reading. I think I have meetings with my agent and editor before the reading, but I need to check on that today.

I'm in an especially wicked mood this morning. Which is to say, I find myself wanting to corrupt something. Corruption for the sake of corruption, for whatever satisfaction the act of corruption brings. Just about anything would do. Maybe the writing will satisfy...maybe.

A good writing day yesterday. I'm not sure that I'd claim that "The Collier's Venus (1893)" is now on an even keel. But I did 1,209 words on the story yesterday, and I think I at least see how to get to THE END. As Sonya has pointed out to me, the story retraces some of the territory I covered when I wrote "In the Waterworks (1889)," though the parallel wasn't exactly intentional. It's just sort of worked out that way. Mostly, I was relieved that the writing proceeded with very little resistance yesterday. Four Valium, a Klonopin, coffee, and Red Bull made it all relatively painless. I can only hope it goes as well today, since tomorrow has to be spent pulling myself together for Wednesday. I fear I actually have to visit a mall. Something to wear, a warm hat, new shoes (you should see the state of my old Converse All Stars; we're talking duct-tape time), and, later in the day, I have an appointment to make the grey in my hair go away again.

Last night, we watched the first three episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I was pleasantly surprised. I figured, at the very least, the series would need several eps to build momentum and find it's footing. Nope. It hit the ground running, literally. And, hey, Summer Glau as an android. What the hell more do I need? I had my doubts about Lena Headey, and yeah, she's no Linda Hamilton, but I think she's doing okay. Thomas Dekker is a bit on the bland side, but then I was never very interested in John, and this is a story about Sarah, after all. We're looking forward to the next disc.

WoW has taken a turn for the weird(er). Spooky and I both needed to create "mules," that is, characters who exist primarily to hold loot and provide extra bank slots. I created a blood-elf paladin named Hanifah (another name recycled from the old Dune rp) and a human priest named Celebriän (yes, Celebriän; so sue me). But the lure of quick leveling and a curiosity about other races and classes has led to my turning them both into full-fledged characters. I've played Hanifah to Lvl. 11, already, and Celebriän is at Lvl. 9. And I think I've discovered that blood elf/paladin is my very favorite flavor combination so far. Perfect for soloing. Poor Celebriän, though. I don't know what the people at Blizzard were thinking when they designed the human avatars. Maybe they have the same disdain for humans that I do. The poor girl runs (or, rather, galumphs, while slouching) like Bigfoot in the Patterson-Gimlin film (1967). I mean, really. It's just fucking sad. And "priest" is probably the least playable class I've encountered so far. The whole cloth armor thing is unpardonably silly, so far as I'm concerned. Blizzard could have at least provided a reasonable "in-world" explanation for why priests and mages and warlocks can't wear better armor (if they have, I've missed it), or let them wear something decent. Even Shaharrazad, who has now reached Lvl. 34, is still pretty useless, despite her fancy magick and minions, unless she has Suraa (a paladin) backing her up. Oh, and I've discovered a whole backstory uniting Hanifah and Shah. They're sisters. Shah is the older, and, at an early age, when both were beginning to show magical abilities, Shaharrazad "accidentally" placed a curse on herself and her sister. Having parted company, if they ever again meet face to face, one has to die. Shah is deeply resentful of the "good" sister. I'm sorry. I can't help myself. This stuff just comes.

Okay, a long, long day ahead of me, so...here we go.