I'm baaack.

"What are you?!"
The young hunter stumbled back, gaze locked on the shadow hovering over his friends, now quite dead. The four friends had left early that morning to go hunting, and had just killed a gorgeous stag, when they were suddenly ambushed. That was only a few minutes before, and now his friends were dead. His wide, hazel eyes stared in horror as the vicious red glare of the attacker turned on him.
"A demon!"
He turned and got to his feet as quickly as he could to try and make a run for it, but it was futile. In a matter of seconds, the creature was upon him, throwing him to the ground. As he rolled onto his back to try to defend himself, the creature was drawn into the light. Again his eyes grew wide, but this time not out of fear, but out of shock.
"You're..you're a child! A girl!"
Sure enough, staring back at him, however viciously, was a young girl, eyes bright red, with long, dirty-blonde hair. His shock didn't phase the girl, as an ash-coloured hand slammed his head into the ground, holding his face tightly. She bared her teeth as she growled, a sound that seemed unearthly, one that he had grown up knowing as his mortal enemy. She was Drow. Or at least part. Her knee ground painfully into his stomach, holding him to the ground as her other hand reached to her belt for her knife.
So, he thought to himself, this is the end? How his father would scorn him for dying so pathetically. His eyes shut tight as she raised the knife, determined not to beg for his life like his friends had.
Suddenly, there'd be a woosh and a light thud, but it wouldn't be from the knife, as the young man realized when he was still breathing a few seconds later.
"Rhini, enough."
He opened his eyes to look up at the young girl, who's eyes seemed to lose their viciousness at the sound of the new voice. She sat up on him, pulling her hand away as she turned her face towards the voice, knife returning to her belt.
"But they killed Kiara..."
Her voice was so soft, even innocent, and so filled with sadness, that it made the young man want to cry, overwhelmed by the sense of guilt, though he wasn't sure what for.
"That is the way, little one."
He turned his gaze towards the voice, having forgotten someone else had arrived. He would see a tall man, who actually looked to be only a little older than himself, but with large black wings that curled down around his sides. The inside of the wings seemed to glisten with brilliant colours, though they didn't seem to cast any light, as the man was still shrouded in darkness. His pale skin seemed white against the shadows, wings, and black robes that hung from his hips. His hair was long and a bit curly, as dark as his wings.
The winged man would lower to one knee, opening his arms to the young girl. "Come here." His voice was calm, caring, though it sounded a little tired, and even despaired. He got the feeling this man had tried to get here before the girl had killed his friends.
The young girl, apparently Rhini, would slowly stand up off of him. She would give a whimper that made his heart ache, able to see a few tears fall down her cheeks as she ran to the winged man. "But they killed him, Guardian!" She fell into the man's arms, engulphed by the man's arms and wings in a protective and loving barrier.
"Hush...it will be alright." The man would look through the opening between his wings. His eyes were cold and seemed even blacker than the emptiest part of the night sky on a new moon. That gaze fell on the young man, who still lay on the ground in shock, staring back. In a voice far more disturbing than his voice towards Rhini, Guardian would speak to him. "Take the stag. His death will not be a waste. And take your friends. Then you are to tell your people never to enter this wood, else they will suffer the same fate of your friends."
A chill ran down his spine and he scrambled to his feet. "Y-yes sir.." He went to retrieve the horses, who, though spooked, had stayed nearby. When he returned, the pair would be gone.

Merry Christmas!

"Can't we stay up just a little longer, mom?" Zelda tugged at Rhia's hand, eyes wide and innocent.
Rhia pulled her hand free, frowning lightly. "The sooner you go to bed, the sooner it'll be morning, and Christmas."
"But Haru and I are almost done with the puzzle..."
"Daah zadeeba!" The little tyke held up one of the puzzle pieces, turning and grinning up at Rhayvin.
Rhia let out a bit of a sigh in defeat, patting Zelda's head. "Okay, okay. You two can finish the puzzle. But then it's straight to bed, understand?"
"Sure!" Zelda plopped back down beside Haru, lifting him up and sitting him in her lap. Rhia watched, shaking her head a little. She was getting soft. But they were so cute...
"Ho ho ho!"
Rhia turned quickly towards the back door where the sound had come from, hand lifted up over her face. "Oh, no..."
The kids gasped and were at once on their feet, Zelda the first to screech, "Saaaantaaa!" At once, the two raced over to the back door, where, sure enough, was Santa. Or some equivelant of him. Rhia highly doubted Santa had black skin*.
"Well, hello, kiddies! Have we been good this year?"
"Yes!"
"Aadah!"
Rhia snickered behind her hand. They really were adorable. Rhayvin would move over to her side, arms folded over his chest.
"Is that who I think it is?"
She nodded, watching as "Santa" handed a present to Zelda, then Haru. They at once ran back into the livingroom, plopping down on the floor to open the presents. Rhia and Rhayvin would take that opportunity to head over to Santa. Rhia leaned closer to him.
"What are you doing here, Jason?"
"Ho ho ho! Handing out presents, of course, Rhini!" On cue, he would hold up his hand, a small wrapped box sitting on the palm.
She would blush some, not having expected that, then took the gift. "Th-thank-you, Ja-"
"Tsk. It's Santa," he interrupted, smiling cheerfully behind the cotton beard.
Rhia grinned, kissing his cheek. "Thanks, Santa."
"And for you, Rhayvin," Jason said, as he pulled another gift from his bag, handing it to him. Rhayvin would take it, looking rather amused by Jason's antics.
"And where's the grouch?"
Rhia chuckled, motioning to the hall. "In his room with Becca."
Jason arched a brow at that. "I guess I shouldn't ask if he's been naughty-"
"Jason!" Rhia would push him towards the hall, giving a rough shove. "Just get."
Rhayvin snickered while he opened his gift. As the paper fell away, his lips would curl into quite the grin, holding up the pair of axes. "Now this will be fun."
Rhia gave a faint roll of her eyes out of amusement, then opened her own gift. She gasped, almost dropping it, though luckily she managed to hold on to it. "How beautiful..." She held it up for Rhayvin to see, since her reaction had made him rather curious. Fitting right in the core of her palm was the figure of a bird of paradise, compiled out of various jewels, held together by what looked like gold, melted and used like glue, then allowed to harden again to hold the shape. Her gaze lifted towards the hallway, faint smile on her lips. "Thank-you, cousin.."

*Not referring to african americans, but to Drow. Black in the literal form.

Delay

Sorry it's been a while. A couple of days ago, I woke up with a pretty nasty stomach virus that put me in the emergency room for three hours. Now, I was actually feeling better while I was there, but they gave me this stuff called neptopril, I think, that was supposed to help the nausea. And, yes, it did help the nausea, but it also knocked me out pretty well. I could hardly sit up, let alone stand, and the doctor had trouble waking me when he came back to discharge me. So, basically, I came home, slept for twelve hours, woke up and reassured a friend of mine I was alright, then slept for another eleven hours, after which I was rather out of it and not good for anything all day. But, this morning I'm feeling pretty much as good as new, minus the bruising from the i.v. But anyway. I figure I owe you all a little something. So here goes nothing.

"Do you have to keep following me around like this?" Toryn was rather fed up by now. This pesky little girl had been tagging along for days now, insisting she was going to help him, when so far all she'd done was get in the way. Sure, she was cute, but she was rather over-enthusiastic about things. He hadn't caught a rabbit in too long, and the nuts and berries she was bringing him were starting to sit wrong with him.
"Well it's certainly better than you traipsing around through my wood on your own."
She had referred to the forest as her wood ever since she so rudely woke him up from his nap under a weeping willow. "It's not -your- forest, Rhia. And I'm certainly capable of navigating a spruce forest like this without your 'help'."
She gave a gasp and hurried around in front of him, forcing him to stop. "It's not spruce! I was giving the little guys a chance to grow!"
His eye twitched some, dropping the reins of his horse which he'd been leading in order to grab her shoulders. He shook her a bit. "What are you talking about??"
She shrugged out of his grasp, pouting at him. God, she was cute. "I planted this forest. I made sure all the trees were spread out so that when their children start to grow up, they have plenty of sunshine."
"Rhia, elves planted these forests thousands of years ago. You aren't older than me, and I'm not even five hundred yet!"
"I am too older than you!"
"No, you're not!"
"Yes I am!"
"Nuh-uh!"
"Uh-huh!"
He opened his mouth to deny her words again, but only stopped himself, letting out a loud sigh. "What am I doing?" He picked up his horse's reins again and pushed past Rhia.
"Where are you going? Hey! I AM older than you! That means you have to listen to me!" She ran along behind him even after he mounted his horse and urged him into a trot.
"No, it doesn't! You're crazy, Rhia! Just leave me alone!"
"But!" Her eyes widened behind his back and she leapt up into the trees. There, she was far quicker than on the ground, and was within moments alongside him. "Toryn!" She leapt from the tree, one hand pulled back to the bow resting on her shoulders. As she landed on the horse's neck - which he was none too pleased about, but didn't complain - her free hand would raise to catch an arrow that had been aimed for Toryn's throat. In one swift motion, she turned around to face the way the arrow had come, drew the arrow into her bow, and fired. A moment after the twang, there'd be a thud, followed by a louder one as someone fell from a tree a few dozen yards ahead and landed in a heap on the ground.
Toryn's eyes were huge as he stared at Rhia. "How did-" But his words would stop as Rhia turned to look at him. Her curious eyes had grown quite serious, and she suddenly seemed plenty older than he would ever be.
"I am older than you, Toryn. And I will help you get through my forest."
"You're...an ancient..."

Too Far.

"Please, don't do this!"
"And why shouldn't I?" the prince asked, narrowed eyes focused on Rhia.
The chains were tight around her neck and wrists, holding her firmly to the dungeon wall. She couldn't get away even if her magick had been inside of her. She curled her hands into nervous fists, a tear gliding down her cheek. "Because.. Tobias...Tobias, I still love you!"
The room would go silent. The prince's eyes widened slightly, staring at Rhia as if in shock. Across the room, Arcane and White would be staring at Rhia with their mouths hanging open. She couldn't be serious, could she?
Tobias didn't seem to think so. His shocked stare twisted into a snarl as he unsheathed his sword. "Enough of your mind games! I will not forget what you've done, you vile creature!" He drew back his sword, raged eyes locked on to Rhia's.
She sucked in a breath quickly as he stepped forward, the breath exhaled in a terrible scream as the prince drove home the sword, through her stomach and clear into the stone wall behind her. As she desperately tried to pull in another breath, Tobias leaned in close.
"Rot in this dungeon, Rhiannon. Then may your soul rot in Hell." He spat in her face, jerking the sword to push it farther in, thus bringing another scream from her. The sound of her scream caused him to grin. Then, without a word, he turned and calmly left the dungeon.

Remember Seth?

"Hello, Logan."
The young prince would look up quickly, turning around to try and see where the voice had come from. His eyes would focus on a dark corner of his chambers. From the shadows, a boy of about sixteen would step forward. His skin seemed as pale as moonlight, and his hair, which hung down over his face, gave a stark contrast of jet black.
"Wh-who are you?" he stuttered as he stumbled back.
"I hear you've grown quite fond of Rhiannon." The boy continued forward, his boots silent on the stone floor, cape draped over his left shoulder, a trick often used in those times to hide one's sword.
"Rh-Rhiannon? Are..are you a friend of Rhia's..?" The prince's heart began to pound as his step was halted by one of his bedposts. This boy had to be younger than himself. He was a bit shorter, too. Why was he so terrified? Was it because he'd gotten in without alerting any of the guards? Or was it something...else.
"Friend? Sometimes..." The boy's step didn't slow as he approached Logan, and as he came closer, the light would reach his eyes. And those eyes would give Logan a real reason to tremble. They weren't the mysterious red that had caught Logan's eye about Rhia, but rather a dangerous crystal blue. A blue that held secrets, and hatred. The boy finally came to a stop uncomfortably close to Logan, looking him dead in the eye.
"Wh-what is it you want?"
"I want..." The boy's right hand lifted, though he would stop when he saw the glove. An amused look would come into his eye as he lifted the hand, taking one of the fingertips of the glove in his teeth and delicately pull it off. The skin of his hand was just as pale and disturbing as his face. He took the extra time to slip the glove into his pocket, all the while making the poor prince squirm. As the boy looked back up at Logan, he would speak in a casual, airy tone. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes..." His voice dropped back down to that rather sultry tone, "I want..." His hand would lift again, only this time, ice cold fingertips would touch Logan's face.
The prince would freeze up, breath caught in his throat as he stared with wide eyes at the boy. He tried to press himself further back into the bedpost as the boy stepped even closer to him, one foot sliding between his.
"..you..." His face came awfully close to Logan's, the prince able to feel his breath on his lips. His breath smelled like death - and not just in a rank way, but actual death, as though he lived, breathed, and spoke it - and it made Logan's stomach turn.
As the boy pressed up against him, Logan would suddenly feel something sharp press against his stomach. It caused him to shudder and tilt his head to look down. A cruel-looking knife would be pressed against his stomach, the tip just breaking the skin through his shirt.
The boy's lips would come up against Logan's ear, whispering, though the message rang through loud and clear.
"..to stay away from my mother."
With that, and a cold gust of wind that came in through the window, the mysterious boy would be gone.

((By the way, thanks for the comment, Mai Mai. It really made my day ^^))

A Different Kind of Story

"She's all yours, General," the older Captain would say as he motioned to a young girl.
She couldn't have been older than five, and she hardly looked her best. Her head was bandaged, only a little big of hair left that poked through them near the front. Her whole upper body was in bandages, along with her hands, not wearing anything over them as it was much too painful. The pants she was wearing looked about three sizes too big, no belt on base small enough for her, so a bit of rope had been used. Her sad eyes were focused on the floor; she looked very much defeated, and not at all appreciative of just having her life saved. The General suspected he knew why.
He lowered to one knee and opened his arms to her, saying in a quiet voice, "Come here, child. I'll take care of you."
She slowly looked up at him, and he could see that the good doctor hadn't left her eyes alone, either, as the light shimmered off of them. They were a pale red, a reaction to the enhancements, as they'd once been brown. She studied him, and he could almost feel her weighing the possibilities. Then, hesitantly, she would step forward. Another step, and another, before she sank against his chest, sore little hands clutching his arms.
He smiled faintly and closed his arms carefully around her, so he didn't hurt her tired and troubled body. Once she pulled away, he stood up again and looked over at the Captain. He felt the girl wrap her arms around his leg, and was relieved that she was taking to him. "You know I don't approve of this. But I will take care of her."
The Captain grinned slyly and shrugged his shoulders. "You haven't much choice, Awada. If you had refused, the Ambassador would have surely gotten you discharged. Dishonorably. Good day, General."

Okay.

I've finished my job, though the temp agency says they have another one I might be able to start next wednesday. Until then, I'm going to be working my butt off on the books. I want to get a couple more writing samples up here. It's been a while since the last one, mostly because nothing has been coming to me. I'm also going to be working hard on getting updated character pictures drawn up, as well as character sheets I'll post here, since the scanner will be here at this house by the second week of January. My figure drawing has gotten much better recently, so my next batch of pictures should be quite good. I know I've heard that people find it helpful to see pictures of the characters from my eyes, rather than trying to picture them themselves. That's why I really want to do my own cover art, so the whole world can see the characters through my eyes. I also really want to have illustrations in the books, like older fantasy novels used to have - a character or setting drawing at the beginning of each chapter, or a bunch stuck together in the middle. There are certain places, or poses, or things like that that are very particular in my mind, and would want everyone else to be able to see them the same way. Not to mention it would help assure accuracy if my books ever become movies. I don't really know when I'll be getting back to writing the actual book. And I'm still debating whether or not to post any of it up here. If that's what it takes to keep people's interest, then I'll probably do it. Megatokyo has proven you can have the entire product online and still sell millions of hard copies in stores. But I would really like to have most of it all a surprise within the books, which is also why it's difficult for me to post writing samples. I'll get really great ones, but as I'm typing them, I realize an important plot point is given away that would make other parts of the story not so surprising or emotional. But, considering I've already got people interested just from reading what I have here, I'm keeping my hopes high. Hopefully by this time next year, the first book will be going through the publishing phase or already on the shelf.

Webpage

Okay, so I've just recently found out that news about this blog is going to be quickly spreading. So, I'm going to do some research and see about getting my own web domain, so things are easier to navigate through, I can post pictures and what not, plus I'll be able to advertise on different websites. If this happens, I'll put the link to the page here on the blog, transferring all the necessary posts there, at least for a few months, then delete the blog altogether since everyone should know by then to go to the new site, which will probably just be kolarenychronicles.com
You'll all have to bear with me with it, as I'm still fighting to keep a job going, and keeping my reins pulled in with spending. There's so much I want or need, such as a new car - my current one is only getting about 220 miles to a ten-gallon tank and has over 130k miles on it...not to mention the boatload of money it takes to get to a certain someone, since the city is not a major one, so it costs about three hundred extra to get from a major airport to the airport there, not to mention the motel expenses. At least my friend will be driving me around and I don't have to rent a car. Though that's only twelve bucks a day depending on which agency I use. But, of course, you have your anime, manga, games. PS3 will be coming out not nearly soon enough for probably the same amount the XBox 360 is running now (around 700 bucks with all the necessities). I hope it won't be that expensive. That's a hell of a lot @-@ But if FFVII is redone for the PS3, it will certainly become a necessity... I'm just glad Kingdom Hearts 2 will be for the PS2...
But I'm getting off track as usual. Keeping up a website shouldn't be too bad, though I'll be needing a lot of help from my more computer-literate friends with html encoding and stuff. Since...I know..nothing... ::cough:: Anywho. Just thought I'd say a little something for today since I was here trying to change the way the site is set up. I've been told it's a pain in the ass to get from one post to the next, and I quite agree. You end up having to read it in the wrong direction or else do a lot of backing up and finding the right links. Though, if you just open up the archives, you get that whole month's list of posts and you can read them that way... I think they're in chronological order then from earliest to latest. Oh well. All will be more organized with my own website.
Oh, and if you're one of the people who has mentioned to a certain someone else that they'd like to see pictures, do post a comment and leave your email address and which character you'd like to see. I know my gallery got deleted. Once I get a scanner up and running at the new house, I'll gladly email pictures.

Random stuff.

I'm starting to get a clearer picture of just what these books are going to be. I've realized they'll be a lot less fantasy than I had originally suspected, and much more historical and religious fiction, depending on which book you're looking at. So many historical names will be showcased or actually make appearances. So many actual events will be used. And so much of the storyline will be laced with religious mythology. The only fantastic thing about the series will be that Rhia's an elf with magick, and the elfen part of her only exists so that she transcends time and can be the familiar face throughout the series. Science fiction plays a role with Rebecca O'Donnel being made into a cyborg in her novel, and with Liam and the Hunters, though the truth about all of that will remain with me for now. Science fiction joins the post-apocolyptic genre with the two novels I have planned for after Doomsday. Other than that, there is little I'll be using that isn't historically accurate (hopefully) or common belief. Elves, dragons, gryphons, and other creatures of those days are only going to be common during the first few novels before Rhia encounters humans and the series takes it's turn into the real storyline. After that, gryphons will be no more, dragons and elves will have all but been erased in the great War before Mesopotamia became a civilization, and what's left of them will either be departing the world of humans, living in secrecy, or disguised as humans. Sure, there will be a few vampires or wearwolves here and there, but those are creatures commonly interacting with humans in the world of fiction, not set apart in worlds like Middle Earth. This series will have a mixture of everything. Fantasy; science, historical, and religious fiction; but most importantly, Rhia's (therefore my) analysis of God, the nature of how this world and the others (Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory) are governed, and, of course, humans. I also hope to have at least one part of the series appeal to each kind of person. If one of the books isn't someone's taste, maybe they'll pick up the next and find it just to their liking. Perhaps they'll like mystery more than fantasy, and so would prefer one of the novels in which Rhia is in search of Seth, or when Kalvin is in search of Lain. Maybe they'd rather read something light-hearted, and so would enjoy the book I plan to write about when Rhia journeys with Jason on the Obsidian Seas and the trouble one Drow and his little cousin can wreak from port to port. Or maybe the reader is young, maybe a child. I hope to some day write a small graphic novel series about the adventures Rhini (young Rhia) had as a child in the Underground before she was exiled. They could read about her angsts growing up as a motherless, and at times it seemed, fatherless princess, being taught the ways of royalty by a cousin that would much rather help her learn how to make mischief than peace with their neighbors. I do hope to make this a very broad series that cannot be confined to one genre. Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Narnia were fantasy. Left Behind was post-apocolyptic religious fiction. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was Science Fiction. All of this is obvious. But what of the Kolareny Chronicles? It won't be so easy to group the series into one genre. Each book individually, perhaps. But not the entire series. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the bookstores decide.

Psalm 22

(This may very well make an appearance at the end of the series, while Rhia is alone on Earth. Putting it here so I don't forget it.)

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why so far from my call for help, from my cries of anguish?
My God, I call by day, but you do not answer; by night, but I have no relief.
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the glory of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted and you rescued them.
To you they cried out and they escaped; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm, hardly human, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me; they curl their lips and jeer; they shake their heads at me:
"You relied on the LORD--let him deliver you; if he loves you, let him rescue you."
Yet you drew me forth from the womb, made me safe at my mother's breast.
Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since birth you are my God.
Do not stay far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.
Many bulls surround me; fierce bulls of Bashan encircle me.
They open their mouths against me, lions that rend and roar.
Like water my life drains away; all my bones grow soft. My heart has become like wax, it melts away within me.
As dry as a potsherd is my throat; my tongue sticks to my palate; you lay me in the dust of death.
Many dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. So wasted are my hands and feet
that I can count all my bones. They stare at me and gloat;
they divide my garments among them; for my clothing they cast lots.
But you, LORD, do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me.
Deliver me from the sword, my forlorn life from the teeth of the dog.
Save me from the lion's mouth, my poor life from the horns of wild bulls.
Then I will proclaim your name to the assembly; in the community I will praise you:
"You who fear the LORD, give praise! All descendants of Jacob, give honor; show reverence, all descendants of Israel!
For God has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch, Did not turn away from me, but heard me when I cried out.
I will offer praise in the great assembly; my vows I will fulfill before those who fear him.
The poor will eat their fill; those who seek the LORD will offer praise. May your hearts enjoy life forever!"
All the ends of the earth will worship and turn to the LORD; All the families of nations will bow low before you.
For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations.
All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage.
And I will live for the LORD; my descendants will serve you.
The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance you have brought.

(Will also be using this phrase:)

Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? (Mk 15:34)

Holiday Rush

Okay, so maybe it isn't just the holidays that are making me freak out a little. I have a lot on my plate right now, and it's becoming very difficult to juggle it all while still being lazy. Not only do I constantly have these books to think about, but I've got an art school that's going to kick me out in June if I don't finish the course by then, I've got a jobhunt that is just plain stressful (Though I did finally get a job, even if it only lasts for two weeks), gifts I want to buy for people but can't yet afford, a sweetheart to try and see hopefully before the new year, and a stack of video games that are calling to me to play them. What am I supposed to do? @-@ Prioritizing is one thing, but sticking to those priorities is another. I sit and think "I really, really need to finish the next art lesson and send it in", then glance to my right and see my tv and PS2 and remember the game I haven't played in a long time or haven't gotten to play yet. It doesn't help that I've got digital cable, and got hooked on playing computer yahtzee. ::sighs lightly:: The good news is that my rp is nearing the very end. Down to the last fifty or so years of Earth's existance. Luckily he and I have agreed to go back to Rhia's younger years and continue playing. That should give me a little insight on how Rhia, Romeo, and whoever else exists in the time we jump to acted and dealt with things.

As you might be able to imagine, having so many characters makes directing a storyline very delicate work. It has begun to get very tedious in trying to have all of the characters accounted for and where they're supposed to be or will need to be as I work out the storyline in my head. I have to do it in my head, because when I start writing it down, I just get confused and forget things, so I'm saving that until the last possible moment. Oh well.. I'm going to unwind with a little gaming, then probably catch a nap. I start that new job in the morning. Early in the morning. It's forty-five minutes away, and I have to get there at ten to eight. At least it's only packaging gifts and UPSing them for a pharmaceutical company. Easy, mindless, and it pays ten bucks an hour. Not bad for Christmas cash.