Procrastinating in the library...Update Time!

So, it would seem that I can only go so long without updating my blog. I often wonder if there isn't something inherently narcissitic (or alternatively pathetic) in the whole blogging process. Don't get me wrong. I love it. I vent and gush...and it soothes me for some reason. But sometimes I feel like I put my thoughts out in cyberspace just to see if anyone is listening. Of course, these musings could all be part of a dissertation-addled brain left too long in isolation...

Right now I'm killing time in the library before I have to hold a film screening for my students tonight and the lure of the computer pulled me away from the chapter I'm currently revising. Thus, without further ado, here's an update on the world of Sparks:

1. Sudden revelation--I love Peaches! I just got her latest album and it's constantly making me get up out of my computer chair to get down funky-style. I totally dig the fact that she is so unabashedly kinky and has no qualms about flaunting her sexuality in her music. She is, by turns, incredibly funny (her lyrics often make me titter with amusement) and very sexy (her music makes me think about bump-n-grinding with a hawt young thang). I highly recommend the new album, Impeach my Bush. Check out, in particular, "Tent in your Pants," "Slippery Dick," "Rock it Hardcore," and "Boys Wanna be Her."
   
2. I'm doing fan-girl cartwheels over the fact that Lynn Flewelling has been contracted to write two, count 'em two, new Nightrunner novels! Seriously, I was squealing with delight when I read her blog and she mentioned this. She's apparently started writing the first one already. I will be counting down the days until it hits the shelves, which alas probably won't be for another year or more. :(
3. AWESOME NEWS! My dissertation Chair emailed me this week to let me know that a BIG NAME SCHOOL I sent a job application to has contacted her and my other committee members requesting official letters of recommendation. This means that I have, at the very least, seemingly made it past the first eliminations in the huge slush pile of applicants. The fact that this school is also my #1 ideal job on the long list of places I'm applying makes me giddy. Of course, now my hopes are up--which could be bad. If they don't want to interview me I won't be able to help but feel major depression... So for now I'm holding onto my optimism for all it's worth! I will definitely update on this if I hear anything promising. The search committee has claimed that they will be finalizing a short-list of candidates by early November. (Fingers crossed!)
4. I've just started watching a new anime series, Tactics, which has been giving me great enjoyment. It has a slashy feel, but isn't officialy a Boys' Love narrative. I've also decided I just love the Japanese name "Haruka." It really rolls nicely off the tongue. (I'm thinking I need to use this as a character name in a story someday.) The problem now is that I want to start reading the manga that this anime is based on...
5. Speaking of which--on certain days I feel like I am single-handedly providing economic support for the US manga industry. Especially the yaoi manga industry. I spend way too many of my hard earned ducets purchasing one graphic novel after another. It doesn't help that most manga are heavily serialized, so they run multiple volumes long. I can't even list the number of series I'm following at this point. Seriously...it makes me look way geekier than I am. (sight) I know I'm bitching about this (cuz it's hella expensive!) but I really do love that manga is making a big splash in the US. I enjoy the art form way more than American comics, although I do like my fair share of those as well. But manga is just a lot more...fun? Wacky? Queer? Just super cool all around.
   
6. One of my tried and true sources for manga, especially yaoi, is Akadot Retail. I can't gush enough about these people (ladies mostly I believe). They are prompt and incredibly curteous and kind. Every order I receive comes with a hand-written message of thanks, and recently I even got a cool little manga sketch! They are super-sweet, so if you're in the market for manga please send more business their way. And if you place an order over $100, the shipping is free! (And yes, I have made use of this before...)
7. More on the manga front--OMG! Some HUGELY anticipated series have been optioned by the big name publishers recently. High up on this list, and coming to stores in the near future: Ayano Yamane's Crimson Spell (soooo HOT! seriously, I'm already drooling over this), You Higuri's Gakuen Heaven (super cute anime, but the manga is apparently much sexier), Duo Brand's White Guardian (I have a copy of the Japanese version of this one...I love the girly dudes with long, long hair), and Tarako Kotobuki's Sex Pistols (which oddly enough is being renamed "Love Pistols"...WTF?). But anyway--yay for yaoi!
8. I am officially a Veronica Mars groupie now. I Netflixed the first two seasons and barely blinked for like two days while I sped through them. Now I'm watching the third season with alarmingly religious devotion.
   
9. I have, sadly, hit a weight-loss plateau. This could be in part due to the fact that I haven't been going to the gym as regularly as I was. But the other day the scale was telling me that I might be creeping up from my original losses. ARGH! So, back to the gym with me. It's just so fucking hard to coordinate my schedule to get there. And I don't have a car...and...excuses are lame, I know. Does anyone have excellent motivation techniques or suggestions for me? I really need them right now.
10. I really want to go on vacation. I want to do some international traveling again. Sadly, lack of funds makes this nigh on impossible at present even though I would be able to make the time in between semesters. These days I console myself by looking at lots of blogs and websites about travel. :(

Well, I think that's it for the update at present. I'm sure I'll be back before too long. The lure of the blog is just too much for me.