Lord of Light, and signs and wishes

[la_belle_laide]

A few weeks ago, someone in a small critique group in which I take part pointed out similarities between Qualia and the works of Roger Zelazny. Not in an "OMG you are just as fantastic as established and legendary writers!" sort of way, but more like, "You've got a similar premise." Which, I had no idea. But yeah, wannabe gods in a scientific world. Mine's more along the lines of steampunk, but still.

Anyway, I decided it would be in my interest to look into this Lord Of Light book , because I'd never even heard of it. Now I'm so glad I did.

It took me about fifty pages, actually. At first I thought the writing was way too formal for my taste, and kept wondering, "Is he kidding?" After a while, I realized that there was actually quite a handful of humor in his narrative. Then I went back and reread the first bits with different eyes.

I'm not even a quarter of the way through the book and already it's become the one that I think about at school. I semi-sorta thought about Dragon Tattoo and Played With Fire (haven't read Nest yet,) but honestly the Millennium trilogy drags for me in some spots. If it wasn't so violently feminist in theme, I might have given up on it after the first book. But once you get into them, they are page turners. Easily-satirized page-turners, but nonetheless.

Right, getting back to Lord of Light. Okay, awesome premise, wish I'd thought of that, oh wait I kind of did, wish I could write it as vividly. (Maybe with some more polishing?) A very sly book in some ways, which amuses me.

But whatever man, you all know me: I get fictional crushes up the wazoo. How can you not fall in love with Siddhartha/ Buddha/ Sam / the Lord of Light? Dude, what a fun character. I suddenly can't wait to go to bed and read some more.

There's one more weird thing I want to mention. A few nights ago, I had a dream about my Dad. Which I do frequently, but this one stood out. He was wearing his favorite shirt: one with horizontal blue and white stripes or a particular color blue. In the dream I kept looking all over for him, and finally I spotted his shirt. I kept telling everyone, "He's right there! Can't you see him! Look, that's his blue and white shirt." I couldn't hear what he was saying, but eventually I could read his lips. He was talking about some sort of christmas gift I'd given him. I woke up (crying my stupid face off) and thinking, "I have to remember to look for that blue and white striped shirt. It's important!"

Then last night in Kung Fu, I was working out with CC when I saw someone come to the door. Our school has all these signs up on the glass door and windows, so you can only see bits and pieces of people as they go by. And lurking outside of the door was the horizontal blue and white striped shirt. I must have had to pick my jaw off the floor. CC was like, "What? What's up?"

"Nothing," I said. "Someone's hanging around outside."

It's sort of an inside joke that I get weirded out when random people come into the school so I joked, "If that guy comes in, I'm gonna bark at him."

We had a bit of a laugh and then the guy did come in. It was the Gold Dragon.

We chatted for a while after class. I had left him a message to tell him about the pool collapsing, the neighbors wanting money, etc. and said if he felt like going to the beach or whatever he should hit me up. "Anytime you want," he says, "Whatever you wanna do. Yeah, let's do something next week. Wow. You really seem to have the worst luck. You're cursed, you know that? I hope it's not contagious. You have to break this spell or something. Hey, something's gonna go right. You know what you should do? You should play the lottery. Play Sweet Million or Mega Millions or something. Maybe your luck will change."

I dunno, man, I'm stupid and I totally believe in signs. Dad's blue and white shirt, a suggestion to play the lottery? I'm on it.

Actually, to tell the truth, I played it a few weeks ago, too. I know it's ridiculous and I could use that dollar for something I need, like lunch or half a gallon of gas or whatever. But, I mean, someone wins, right? It does happen.

Well, I think it's worth a shot or two, maybe.

It occurs to me how I, and everyone I have ever met, gradually downgrade our standards whenever whenever the subject of winning money comes up. "WOW, the Mega Millions! What would you do with all that money? I can think of a few things! But actually, I'd be happy with like, three million. To tell you the truth though, I could get by with one million. Really I just want to keep my house and pay my bills. I sure wouldn't cry if I won thirty thousand. Shoot, even a few hundred would be nice right about now. What the hell, I'd be glad if I found twenty bucks on the street. Has anyone got a dollar I could borrow?"

I wonder if I do that with everything. I'll bet I do and I don't even realize it.

Wow, this post started out being about Lord of Light and my new fictional crush and look at where it went.

Health and peace.

Three million dollars.

Book deal (nothing to do with money – I just really, really want it.)

And some other stuff too.