If I don't turn on my air conditioner, the temperature in my apartment soars up to 90 degrees. I've been trying to hold out (still proud that my electricty bill last month was $15) but I don't think I can anymore. There's a certain limit to cheapness and comfort. I set my thermostat at 76 degrees, but it hasn't been able to go below 79.

I have been try to keep heat output to a minimum. Haven't watched much stuff since the projector raises the room's temperature by a few degrees. I've been reading mostly under my little flourescent light that has little heat output. But it's still hot.

Title: シュガ～のちっちゃな宝石箱 (Sugar's Small Jewel Box)
Original Creator: 蒼はるか (Haruka Aoi)
Character Design: コゲどんぼ (Koge-Donbo)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 163pp., w/furigana
Volume: 1/1
Original Serialization: Monthly Dragon Junior 12/01, 3/02-6/02
First Printing: 6/1/02
Rating: 3/4

This book contains several unrelated stories with the characters from Sugar. It's along the same lines as other anthology comics where each chapter is drawn by a different artist. However, according to the publication page, these chapters were published in the monthly magazines, so maybe they're semi-official? Anyhow, there are two chapters by BH SNOW+CLINIC, the artist for the 3 book series. There's also a chapter by Haruak Aoi, but it's basically a bunch of screenshots from the anime.

The stories for each chapter are nice. I don't think it has anything to do with the plot (besides the anime chapter), but they're fun to read. In my opinion, the artwork from each of the different artists were superb. While each had his/her individual style, they all stayed very consistent with the original character designs.

As bonuses, there are three colored pages drawn by different artists and several pages in the page with comments from each of the illustrators.

Title: シュガ～ (Sugar) Vol. 3
Artist/Author: BH SNOW+CLINIC
Original Creator: 蒼はるか (Haruka Aoi)
Character Design: コゲどんぼ (Koge-Donbo)
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 161pp., w/furigana
Volume: 3/3
Original Serialization: Monthly Dragon Junior 6/02-10/02
First Printing: 12/1/02
Rating: 4/4

Even in it's manga form, Sugar is waay too sweet. Being the last book in the series, it tied up the story quite nicely. I don't know how the anime turned out, but maybe it's time to break the shrinkwrap and watch it. Anyhow, good stuff.

Bonuses include a color page, a mini-comic at the end, and a letter from Haruka Aoi.

10. お母さんのきらめき (Mother's "Twinkles"): After finding her mother's music, she goes to the music shop to play the tune. Paul, inspired by the water-like tune, tells her to go to the river and she'll certainly find her "Twinkles." Saga asks her grandma and is told that her mother used to play around by the river. She goes there and finds an old man who also confirms the story about her mother. After discovering the twinkling pond that leads to the river, she comes back to find that Sugar's flower is rejuvenated.

11. 自分らしく (Being Myself): Saga has a dream about Sugar leaving and wakes up to find Sugar sitting by the flower, which as started wilting again. The music doesn't do anything anymore. The old head fairy arrives and tells them that they need to find the "Twinkle" in each other. At school, Phil suggests their study group travel outside of Germany to gather info for their report. Saga hears them mention Alps and snow and thinks it's a great opportunity to find Sugar and her "Twinkles."

12. アルプスの悲劇 (Tragedy in the Alps): Sugar is awfully tired, but she doesn't want to let Saga know because she'll worry. Most of the parents of the other students in the group don't want them to go on this expedition, but they go anyway. However, things don't go as planned as they take the wrong train and get lost. As they're wandering around, blame gets put on Saga for misguiding them. And not having seen any "Twinkles," Sugar turns into an egg.

13. 本当のきらめき (True "Twinkles"): They camp out and apologize to Saga. They each explain how they snuck out of their houses just to be here. With every story, Saga feels a little better because she realizes they can sympathize with her family troubles, even though they have parents. She tells them about Sugar and asks for their help in finding "Twinkles." It starts to snow and...

14. Suger baby love: Yes, that's how they spelled it. So Sugar re-hatches. They all go home to worried parents. Soon after, Sugar leaves to show how her flower has turned out. But before that, Saga gives her a kiss. The Sugar meets the head fairy, he tells her that they should be leaving back to their homeland. Sugar asks to say goodbye to Saga but she's told that Saga can no longer see her. So as parting gift, she summons some snow for the town.