A couple of days ago, the DH asked what I'd like for my birthday. Easy: a new pair of paddock boots. Mine are old and worn out, and though there's a little life left in them yet, I've been coveting a pair of Ariats for a while.

However...

I just blew my paddock boot budget on research material. Oops. It was a hard decision, but our local library just doesn't have the material I need for the type of research I want to do (I openly admit I'm a research snob), and after working through some of the issues I'm having with SUN, I knew that I had to have a deeper understanding of some of the currents I'm working with to really do justice to the story.

So, winging their way towards me are some lovely new expensive texts.

And no paddock boots. *sniff*

Oh, and also? I think I just figured out the element in SUN that was missing - except, in doing so, I might have just placed an impossible task in front of myself. Well, if one isn't pushing boundaries, what is one doing? I dunno. But I have to admit I'm feeling daunted - guess it's time to see what my writerly self is made of.