These past few days have been nice. I’ve allowed myself to goof off in order to recover from doing the basement. I’ve just been talking to friends and playing stupid games on the computer. But I think I’m finally getting bored with doing nothing and I’m about ready for another big project. I’m not sure which project that should be, though. If The N writes back and says, “Congratulations, we’ve come to save the day!” then that’ll solve my project problem and all will be well in the world. Then I can get to work on something really important.
But, in between now and when/if someone picks up my travel show project, I’m thinking of writing an English textbook for the Daily Prophet. There’s been an upsurge in really inane errors in the columns and I’d like to be able to tell everyone to just go read my little textbook. That’d solve everyone’s problems and make my job as editor a whole heckuva lot easier. It’s just the little things, like misuse of they’re and their, or your and you’re. They really bug me, but it’s hard to explain that over and over again in emails. Sure, it’s my job as a tutor, but I think a textbook would be a lot easier and more efficient. Now it’s just a matter of writing it. I’m not too worried about it – if I can handle an HTML textbook I can handle a refresher course in English. I think I may use William Strunk’s The Elements of Style as a base, but set it more for the use of a Daily Prophet columnist. Just pick and choose a few of his rules that are imperative, but put my own spin on them.
Can I do that legally? I think so. I won’t be quoting whole passages, just referring to his work, and telling the kids to go get their own copies for easier reference in the future. It’s the perfect little guide, every writer should have one on hand.
So, while I was goofing off earlier, waiting for a game to load, I noticed the little jar of nail polish that I got the other day while I was at Hot Topic. It was only 50 cents; I figured I’d use it for a costume one day or something, cause it’s such a lovely shade of red. The game was taking forever, and it was calling to me. I pulled it open and I painted my nails. Now I feel silly. I hardly ever paint my nails! I don’t think I’ve had them done in a year, maybe more. So now I have deep red fingernails and I’m not sure how I feel about it. 🙂