So a person emailed me today asking for more chapters of the novel!!! Can you believe it?! How exciting!

I know it doesn’t seem like much– one person across the vastness of the internet emails me and I get this giddy? But it is important to me. Writing is hard. To quote Marian Keyes: “Another question that I’m often asked is if there’s any downside to being a writer. Three words: the crippling insecurity.” Amen, sister. A person who I don’t know saying to me “I like it” is very very helpful and motivating. :-))

Matt just said the breakfast is ready. Later.

I’m so tired. It’s 12:30am and I need to go to bed.

But I wanted to update this real quick. So, a couple of people emailed me today with links to add to the manga translations links page. One fellow sent me a couple of links to Hanazakari no Kimitachi E translations. While looking at the sites to verify the translations, I read about the manga. It seems like just the kind of manga that I really like. So then I went surfing for scanlations. I found chapters 2 thru 5. Well, that just wouldn’t do. I needed to start with Chapter 1. So I read a post on the HanaKimi mailing list that you could find the first 18 chapters on #MangaProject on DALnet.

Well, I had heard about people downloading anime, manga, and mp3s from IRC. I haven’t played with IRC in 5 years, and I didn’t find it very enjoyable “back in the day.” I’m not much of an internet chatter.

But this is manga we’re talking about. Sacrifices have to be made.

So I downloaded mIRC, wrestled with the Identd thingie, and fell into the deep end. I flailed around, struggling to get my head above water. Leeching… fserves… !list… @find…. Aahhhhh!!!!!

Where is this strange place I have landed?! I see some familiar landmarks but mostly things are foreign.

To quote Murtaugh: “I’m too old for this shit.”

I have to learn the rules all over again every five years. Future shock in all its glory. I read some IRC help pages, but this will take some research. I’ll continue the researching tomorrow.

This sounds like the end of the adventure, doesn’t it? Well, I decided to wade deeper into the anime/manga waters of the internet. While reading one of the several FAQs written in cryptic IRC geek language, I ran across a link to anime radio stations on Live365. I had never heard of Live365. Apparently, anyone can start their own little internet radio station. It is very very cool.

I love the internet.