So...

It's almost March. That would probably be a good time to officially declare my intention to participate in the story siren's Debut Author Challenge for 2011.

I'll be reading at least twelve debut books during this year, and I'll review them here.

So consider this my notice of intent to review. I'll update this post with names and titles and dates when I have a brain left.

Edit:

So here's the list of titles I pulled off to look for.

1. XVI, by Julia Karr
2. Across The Universe, by Beth Revis.
3. Girl Saves Boy, by Steph Bowe
4. The Liar Society, by Lisa Roeker and Laura Roeker
5. Kat, Incorrigible, by Stephanie Burgis
6. Possession, by Elana Johnson
7. Memento Nora, by Angie Smibert
8. Divergent, by Veronica Roth
9. Wither, by Lauren DeStephano
10. Entangled, by Cat Clarke
11. Anna Dressed In Blood, by Kendare Blake
12. The Near Witch, by Victoria Schwab
13. Blood Magic, by Tessa Gratton
14. Wildfire, by Karsten Knight
15. The Iron Thorn, by Caitlin Kittredge
16. Possess, by Gretchen McNeil
17. The Girl of Fire and Thorns, by Rae Carson
18. Vanished, by Sheela Chari
19. Enclave, by Ann Aguirre
20. Future Imperfect, by K Ryer Breese
21. Deathless, by Catherynne M Valente
22. Hourglass, by Myra McEntire
23. Don't Expect Magic, by Kathy McCullough
24. Forgotten, by Cat Patrick
25. The Faerie Ring, by Kiki Hamilton
26. Dark Mirror, by M. J. Putney

But realistically, I probably won't get to all of those. Let's just say those are the titles I'll be looking out for as the year progresses. :D

Moments that are awkward in writing #57

When your beta readers inform you that those characters whose interaction you based on your platonic relationship with your guy friends is full of sexual tension.

Well that's just lovely.

Today was my day off, and as is becoming tradition, I went up to MUN to see if they would let me study there. Last time I went to bother people it was very successful, as I was admitted to first year. ^_^ This time I went to see if I could get my first year of Augustine transferred in, so I could start into second year. And let's just say the results this time were not so phenomenal...

*sigh*

Basically to go to appeal I have to present EVERYTHING I did in that year, as well as letters from every university that has a transfer credit agreement with Augustine, saying that they accept credits from Augustine. (I wonder if I should just photocopy my acceptance letter from St. FX, no I think I already pitched it, darn it.) And the prospect of all that paperwork is just TIRING, especially because the person I talked to today was NOT friendly or at all customer-service-oriented, and she started off everything, (after making me wait for 15 or so minutes,) with telling me that MUN doesn't accept transfer credit from  private colleges.

I'd like to take a moment to point out that this was one of the first questions I asked back in the day, in October, when I wanted to know if it was worth the agony of applying and wrestling with the necessary paperwork. The person I talked to said "sure, we just start looking at the transfer after the acceptance is in."

And then today, (Five minutes ago through my MUNmail), I get THIS lovely email.

Good morning, Jasmine:

Congratulations on your admission to Memorial University for the 2011
Fall Semester.

This is to inform you that Augustine College is not an accredited
Institution by Memorial's standards and we are therefore unable to offer
you transfer credit at this time.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

Rhonda Nash
Office of the Registrar
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL
A1C 5S7

P. 709-864-4424 * F. 709-864-4893

AUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH. DARN YOUR INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND MARKETING DEPARTMENT AND LYING TO ME AND DARN YOU.

---

I was going to talk about the rest of my day but that letter just soured me. So instead have a picture of Fort Amherst, which I went out to;

And a sign.

---

So now we're at this. 

P.S. Comments are REALLY, REALLY welcome. I feel like I need commentary on this.

A week ago I was less than 40 feet away from a Stradivarius.

Intermission Double Basses!

I went to the NSO's Masterworks show, where as a James Ehnes was guesting, playing a 3 hundred year old violin.

Suffice it to say that I now understand the fuss about virtuoso violinists. And violins. At the end of Meditation From The Opera Thais, (Jules Massenet), everyone was silent. I could actually hear people inhale together before they applauded.

And speaking of applause, it went on so long and enthusiastically that we got two encores. Both just amazing. Now I remember why I wanted to play violin in the first place. :P

There was so MUCH applause, in fact, that my hands were numb. And I didn't notice that I'd banged my hand against the seat until I looked down and saw this.

Ow?

So we went to Tim Hortons and I ordered a double double and a band aid. Really. :D

See? Double Double. :D

Then my computer broke, which is why this post is so late, but that's a story for another post.

BE EXCELLENT.