Things that you forget and then remember...
1. Laundry etiquette. How long does one wait before putting their neighbor's laundry on top of the dryer so that they can get some wash done?
2. When was the last time you actually had to go into a bank? I forgot my pin number today when I stood at the counter, asking for my three rolls of quarters. I'm hoping I won't have to go back for awhile.
3. How young nineteen year old boys are.
4. In the fall, how everything seems romanticized and nothing seems real.
Things that I wish...
1. I wish I were braver. That I could be that person who steps up and fixes things. That I could say the things that I want to say, that I could look you in the eye.
2. I wish I were stronger. That I could be that person who seems to always have it together and that can hold up other people. That I could be strong enough to be braver.
3. I wish that time would slow down and let things happen.
4. I wish I were able to do the thing you want me to do and that I knew what that was.
But for now, I'll settle for a glass of wine, some music and the sounds of this old house, with secrets to share and with places to tuck new secrets. I'll probably try at least two more times to keep the cat off the cupboard and then I will probably give up and go to bed. Because lately, I am an insomniac and wake in the wee hours of the morning, wondering what time it is, only to discover that it has been only two hours since I crawled into bed. So tonight, I'll probably read a little, falling asleep when I least expect it.
leaves rain down in an unexpected hailstorm outside the window. looking twice, a realization that the leaves are translucent, colored, soft. they are not hard, unyielding or icy. looking again, they are floating, wind-torn and tired.
Quote of the day:
“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” - Raymond Lindquist
10.20.2008
10.07.2008
keep breathing
Tonight I curled up in my big purple chair with books, quilts, cider and cats. It was a delicious feeling, except for when I awoke to discover it was 9:30 and I'd not read much of anything that I needed to for class.
So now, I will open the window, let the cool fall air in, wake up and read. I wonder, as we approach the middle of the tenth month of this year, as always where the time has gone. So I keep breathing, and wait for tomorrow, when I will be in a different state of mind and when the sun will shine.
Two quotes that beg for posting that I stumbled upon while looking for something else. The first, I send to my sister, reminding her that you can't help who you fall in love with. The second, a Swedish proverb, is too true for words.
"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over." - Anonymous
“Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.” - Swedish Proverb
So now, I will open the window, let the cool fall air in, wake up and read. I wonder, as we approach the middle of the tenth month of this year, as always where the time has gone. So I keep breathing, and wait for tomorrow, when I will be in a different state of mind and when the sun will shine.
Two quotes that beg for posting that I stumbled upon while looking for something else. The first, I send to my sister, reminding her that you can't help who you fall in love with. The second, a Swedish proverb, is too true for words.
"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over." - Anonymous
“Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.” - Swedish Proverb
10.06.2008
you're the reason I've run out
I don't have anything particularly exciting to share tonight, except for some things that I feel the need to share with someone else.
Tonight is one of the nights that I'm having a "I live alone...boo..." nights. Because in this fallish weather, I wish for good conversations, stew and hot apple cider. So in an attempt to remedy that, I decided that I was going to go and get some cider. And an ink cartridge because I ran out.
You know how you go to Target for one thing and end up buying like eight? That was me tonight with the cider and the ink cartridge, candy for the dish at work, shampoo because I'm almost out and then nail polish remover because the Oriental Red on my toes is starting to look a little more...faded. But the thing that is interesting about this is really the thought process. These were all things that I probably intended to buy at one time or another. Not really things I need, but things that were on my list to get. And how, when I went for a 74 HP Black Printer Cartridge and apple cider, did I arrive at shampoo, candy and nail polish remover? Do they plan the stores so that you have to go by things that might align? Because apple cider and nail polish remover don't really scream similar to me.
I drove up to New Brighton today to get cat food at the vet and since I went right after work, I took my old route, before the bridge collapsed. It was definitely an odd sensation, seeing as how not only was there virtually no traffic, but the world just seemed different. Probably because I no longer live in that part of the metro, don't drive that way as much and because life in general has come full circle. And, I am AMAZED at how much cheaper gas was up there - $2.99! If I hadn't just filled up, I would have been all over it. Does living in the city really make that much of a difference? Apparently so.
Ever since I finally plugged in my old Aiwa stereo in the dining room, I've been on a classical music kick. And tonight, one of my favorite things happened. They played a piece on the radio that not only did I know without looking up or waiting to hear what it was, but that I'd played in orchestra. It's fun to be able to name the composer and the piece - and yes, I know I'm a huge dork for saying that. But it makes me smile. And because I love piano music.
A tidbit from the Star Tribune today - the MN Wild have a mascot. Meet Nordy.
Lastly, on Lexington, there is a sign that says:
Piano
"FOR SALE"
with the phone number
Why, can you tell me, does the "for sale" need to be in quotation marks? Any thoughts, Rach?
I should take a photo of it to post here for you all to see.
Wishing you all good conversations, hot cider moments and warm quilts.
Quote o' the day:
"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion."
- Sir Francis Bacon, "Of Beauty"
English author, courtier, & philosopher (1561 - 1626)
Tonight is one of the nights that I'm having a "I live alone...boo..." nights. Because in this fallish weather, I wish for good conversations, stew and hot apple cider. So in an attempt to remedy that, I decided that I was going to go and get some cider. And an ink cartridge because I ran out.
You know how you go to Target for one thing and end up buying like eight? That was me tonight with the cider and the ink cartridge, candy for the dish at work, shampoo because I'm almost out and then nail polish remover because the Oriental Red on my toes is starting to look a little more...faded. But the thing that is interesting about this is really the thought process. These were all things that I probably intended to buy at one time or another. Not really things I need, but things that were on my list to get. And how, when I went for a 74 HP Black Printer Cartridge and apple cider, did I arrive at shampoo, candy and nail polish remover? Do they plan the stores so that you have to go by things that might align? Because apple cider and nail polish remover don't really scream similar to me.
I drove up to New Brighton today to get cat food at the vet and since I went right after work, I took my old route, before the bridge collapsed. It was definitely an odd sensation, seeing as how not only was there virtually no traffic, but the world just seemed different. Probably because I no longer live in that part of the metro, don't drive that way as much and because life in general has come full circle. And, I am AMAZED at how much cheaper gas was up there - $2.99! If I hadn't just filled up, I would have been all over it. Does living in the city really make that much of a difference? Apparently so.
Ever since I finally plugged in my old Aiwa stereo in the dining room, I've been on a classical music kick. And tonight, one of my favorite things happened. They played a piece on the radio that not only did I know without looking up or waiting to hear what it was, but that I'd played in orchestra. It's fun to be able to name the composer and the piece - and yes, I know I'm a huge dork for saying that. But it makes me smile. And because I love piano music.
A tidbit from the Star Tribune today - the MN Wild have a mascot. Meet Nordy.
Lastly, on Lexington, there is a sign that says:
Piano
"FOR SALE"
with the phone number
Why, can you tell me, does the "for sale" need to be in quotation marks? Any thoughts, Rach?
I should take a photo of it to post here for you all to see.
Wishing you all good conversations, hot cider moments and warm quilts.
Quote o' the day:
"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion."
- Sir Francis Bacon, "Of Beauty"
English author, courtier, & philosopher (1561 - 1626)
9.29.2008
a seeming void becomes a solid ground
I've been missing all of you and slowly getting into the groove of the newness of life as it is now. There is no earthly way possible to recapture the last few months, so I am not going to attempt to do so. Only to say that I'm slowly adjusting to this thing that is living alone and each day, I feel more sure of myself and the decision that I made, seemingly in a rash moment. It feels like letting go and there have been multiple reasons to do precisely that over the last two months.
But instead of lingering on the last two months and explaining away the night, I want to share a few things with you all, friends. First of all, this is truly a fall night and all one can do is heat up a cup of hot apple cider and curl up with a good book and a blanket. It's wonderful. This time of year is one of my favorites and probably is due to the fact that I should have been born in the fall. I am in awe of the color of the sumac, water that dips and moves with the landing of each goose heading for warmer climes, the brightness of the sun falling through falling leaves and even these gray days when you don't mind lingering with a friend in the coolness. And it occurs to me that in the midst of this economic crisis we are in, perhaps there is nothing better than inviting friends over for a cup of cider and playing cards. Cooking is one of the things that make me sane, so let's cook a big pot of soup and truly enjoy the company of others. This, I believe, is one of life's simple pleasures, take from it what you will.
Other things to share that you can take or leave:
1. Paul Newman, as you know, passed away on Saturday. Sally Field has this to say about him, "Sometimes God makes perfect people and Paul Newman was one of them." If only there were more people we could say that about.
2. Nick Coleman offers this sage advice on the election year and baseball. It will make you smile.
3. I made these roasted brussel sprouts tonight and they were every bit as delicious as the photo shows. And for those of you that don't like brussel sprouts - come on over and I will make a believer out of you.
4. We've assembled 50 of this years rock, paper, scissors, and they are beautiful. I can't believe that the fruits of our labor turned out quite as good as they did. I can't wait to unveil it to the world.
5. And just so that I have an even five, today they were talking about the soundtrack for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on The Composer's Datebook and it was amazing. It is beautiful, haunting and fits this fallish weather just perfectly, I think.
And to close with a quote, here is one from Erskine Caldwell that was in the Trib today that I couldn't resist.
"Oh, I used to read the Sears and Roebuck catalogue, every year when it came out. But I learned early in life that you can be a reader or a writer. I decided to be a writer." - Erskine Caldwell (1903-87), American author
But instead of lingering on the last two months and explaining away the night, I want to share a few things with you all, friends. First of all, this is truly a fall night and all one can do is heat up a cup of hot apple cider and curl up with a good book and a blanket. It's wonderful. This time of year is one of my favorites and probably is due to the fact that I should have been born in the fall. I am in awe of the color of the sumac, water that dips and moves with the landing of each goose heading for warmer climes, the brightness of the sun falling through falling leaves and even these gray days when you don't mind lingering with a friend in the coolness. And it occurs to me that in the midst of this economic crisis we are in, perhaps there is nothing better than inviting friends over for a cup of cider and playing cards. Cooking is one of the things that make me sane, so let's cook a big pot of soup and truly enjoy the company of others. This, I believe, is one of life's simple pleasures, take from it what you will.
Other things to share that you can take or leave:
1. Paul Newman, as you know, passed away on Saturday. Sally Field has this to say about him, "Sometimes God makes perfect people and Paul Newman was one of them." If only there were more people we could say that about.
2. Nick Coleman offers this sage advice on the election year and baseball. It will make you smile.
3. I made these roasted brussel sprouts tonight and they were every bit as delicious as the photo shows. And for those of you that don't like brussel sprouts - come on over and I will make a believer out of you.
4. We've assembled 50 of this years rock, paper, scissors, and they are beautiful. I can't believe that the fruits of our labor turned out quite as good as they did. I can't wait to unveil it to the world.
5. And just so that I have an even five, today they were talking about the soundtrack for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on The Composer's Datebook and it was amazing. It is beautiful, haunting and fits this fallish weather just perfectly, I think.
And to close with a quote, here is one from Erskine Caldwell that was in the Trib today that I couldn't resist.
"Oh, I used to read the Sears and Roebuck catalogue, every year when it came out. But I learned early in life that you can be a reader or a writer. I decided to be a writer." - Erskine Caldwell (1903-87), American author
9.24.2008
this is the way I need to wake
More to come, since I think writing to you, friends, helps keep me sane.
But, this quotation begged me to post it.
"A poem is never finished, only abandoned." - Paul Valery
But, this quotation begged me to post it.
"A poem is never finished, only abandoned." - Paul Valery
8.06.2008
the more things change...
Because this is too good to pass up...
Batman and G.W. Bush.
The moving commences tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Quote o' the day:
"The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself." - Oscar Wilde
Batman and G.W. Bush.
The moving commences tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Quote o' the day:
"The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself." - Oscar Wilde
8.05.2008
it's too late
I know, I know. I've been kind of MIA for the last couple of weeks and will probably be so for awhile until things settle down.
But, in the mean time, this quote from Hubert H. Humphrey begs for posting.
"In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are. They are, in very important respects, what they seem to be."
Have a wonderful week, kids.
But, in the mean time, this quote from Hubert H. Humphrey begs for posting.
"In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are. They are, in very important respects, what they seem to be."
Have a wonderful week, kids.
7.20.2008
this is not what I had planned
Today's horoscope was such a good reminder that I feel the need to post it here so that we can all be reminded of the different ways people express feelings and to stop being so judgmental all the time.
"It hurts when your heart is wide open and others just can't match the intensity of your love. For this reason, you may feel that it's safer today to demonstrate your ability to be emotionally detached than it is to show how much you truly care. Unfortunately, this will only allow those in your life to shut down even more. When you recognize that each person expresses love in a unique manner, you'll be able to graciously accept what is currently being offered without further judgment."
I'm done dogsitting and even though I did enjoy my brief stint with the dog, I'm happy to be back at my house where all is quiet, even at 4:30 in the morning and where I know how to find everything in my kitchen. Only a few more weeks here and then it will be off to the new place.
And now for my Sunday paper recommendations:
Quote o' the day:
"The things we know best are the things we haven't been taught." - Marquis de Vauvenargues
"It hurts when your heart is wide open and others just can't match the intensity of your love. For this reason, you may feel that it's safer today to demonstrate your ability to be emotionally detached than it is to show how much you truly care. Unfortunately, this will only allow those in your life to shut down even more. When you recognize that each person expresses love in a unique manner, you'll be able to graciously accept what is currently being offered without further judgment."
I'm done dogsitting and even though I did enjoy my brief stint with the dog, I'm happy to be back at my house where all is quiet, even at 4:30 in the morning and where I know how to find everything in my kitchen. Only a few more weeks here and then it will be off to the new place.
And now for my Sunday paper recommendations:
- Excellent commentary on global warming can be found here.
- If anyone wants to go to Sommerfest this Thursday night to see Sibelius, I'm in. It's one of the best and even though I've seen it already, I'd definitely go again!
- This story about a 26 year old woman who is hiking from Mexico to Canada sort of makes me wonder what I've done for the last four years. I could have been doing something awesome like this...
- And last but not least, The Hold Steady make the front page of the Variety section.
Quote o' the day:
"The things we know best are the things we haven't been taught." - Marquis de Vauvenargues
7.11.2008
Books books and more books.
I never fill these things out, but I feel somewhat compelled after both Abbi and Rachel did, so here goes. Direct any snarky comments elsewhere, but feel free to share this with others. Books are love!
If you post this somewhere else, this is how you are supposed to do it!
1) Bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read or have started but haven't finished.
3) Mark in a different color the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your blog so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them ;-)
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (my dad used to read this to me as a kid - I loved it!)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (Isn't this technically a part of the Chronicles of Narnia??)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Which did you like better, this or Angels and Demons?)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (This took me 100 Years of Solitude to read...)
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt (This is creepy good!!)
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding (Really?)
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
I've read just over half of these...what about you? Happy weekend, kids!
Quote o' the day:
"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand." - Frank Herbert
If you post this somewhere else, this is how you are supposed to do it!
1) Bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read or have started but haven't finished.
3) Mark in a different color the books you LOVE.
4) Reprint this list in your blog so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them ;-)
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (my dad used to read this to me as a kid - I loved it!)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (Isn't this technically a part of the Chronicles of Narnia??)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Which did you like better, this or Angels and Demons?)
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (This took me 100 Years of Solitude to read...)
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt (This is creepy good!!)
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding (Really?)
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
I've read just over half of these...what about you? Happy weekend, kids!
Quote o' the day:
"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand." - Frank Herbert
7.07.2008
can't you feel the pull?
Do you think, that amidst all of the political madness that is going on, we are actually making progress? I read all of the articles in the newspapers, about John McCain attempting to learn to speak better (I know some people that could give him some tips), Garrison Keillor telling John McCain to be careful who he consorts with, Bush is a lame duck that the whole G8 group wants out and all sorts of other things.
But are we making progress?
Anyone care to weigh in?
Quote o' the day:
"Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose." -Evan Esar
But are we making progress?
Anyone care to weigh in?
Quote o' the day:
"Character is what you have left when you've lost everything you can lose." -Evan Esar
6.19.2008
don't hide the broken parts that I need to see
I don't have much to say today, other than that I think this crazy week has finally caught up with me. I'm exhausted!
But, this quote today needed to be posted. So, without further ado...
Quote o' the day:
"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward." - Kurt Vonnegut (on a side note, how did I totally miss that Kurt Vonnegut died? Did I just forget? Or did I miss it?!)
But, this quote today needed to be posted. So, without further ado...
Quote o' the day:
"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward." - Kurt Vonnegut (on a side note, how did I totally miss that Kurt Vonnegut died? Did I just forget? Or did I miss it?!)
6.18.2008
what I want is not to want what isn't mine
Today was amazing. The sun shone hotter and brighter than it may have all summer thus yet and I drove fast, blaring Collective Soul, frantically wishing I could turn back time and do the things I've longed to do.
But as it stands, the present is a pretty good place to be. Kate and I met to discuss design for rock, paper, scissors tonight and I think we've come up with a pretty amazing design. It's always affirming to be around people that know you in a different light than the rest of your friends because those people see qualities and parts of you that aren't always visible. We all need reminding of those things that don't come out as often as they should. And I think most writers will agree, it's always wonderful to be in the company of another wordsmith who doesn't expect you to be amazing with language, grammar or any of that. But to be in the company of one who truly understands the beauty in a moment, however fleeting it may be, and who understands that beauty is not lost simply because you can't express something the most eloquent way or even at all. It is a gift, it's unique and I hope that everyone has someone in their life that understands that...because we need it to survive and to be happy.
So another suggestion for you, friends. Grab a hold of those tiny moments that may seem like nothing - a glance, a conversation, a moment stilled only by silence when your heart is beating so loudly that you are sure that everyone can hear it. Take those moments as mementos of your life and guard them. Because in times when you are not quite sure that you can continue being the person you are, you can recall them and suddenly, things don't seem so bad.
On a side note - does anyone happen to know of a good recording of Smetana's Moldau? It's been on my mind lately and I feel like a good listen to a fantastic recording will ease that missing piece of my soul's current status. What do you suppose that means?
It's late and I'm running on pure adrenaline and sleeplessness, so I'd best close my eyes. Happy Wednesday, friends.
Quote o' the day:
"On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time." - George Orwell
But as it stands, the present is a pretty good place to be. Kate and I met to discuss design for rock, paper, scissors tonight and I think we've come up with a pretty amazing design. It's always affirming to be around people that know you in a different light than the rest of your friends because those people see qualities and parts of you that aren't always visible. We all need reminding of those things that don't come out as often as they should. And I think most writers will agree, it's always wonderful to be in the company of another wordsmith who doesn't expect you to be amazing with language, grammar or any of that. But to be in the company of one who truly understands the beauty in a moment, however fleeting it may be, and who understands that beauty is not lost simply because you can't express something the most eloquent way or even at all. It is a gift, it's unique and I hope that everyone has someone in their life that understands that...because we need it to survive and to be happy.
So another suggestion for you, friends. Grab a hold of those tiny moments that may seem like nothing - a glance, a conversation, a moment stilled only by silence when your heart is beating so loudly that you are sure that everyone can hear it. Take those moments as mementos of your life and guard them. Because in times when you are not quite sure that you can continue being the person you are, you can recall them and suddenly, things don't seem so bad.
On a side note - does anyone happen to know of a good recording of Smetana's Moldau? It's been on my mind lately and I feel like a good listen to a fantastic recording will ease that missing piece of my soul's current status. What do you suppose that means?
It's late and I'm running on pure adrenaline and sleeplessness, so I'd best close my eyes. Happy Wednesday, friends.
Quote o' the day:
"On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time." - George Orwell
it's you who is closest
I may write more later (I'm on a roll), but here's a fun article for those of you that are familiar with Abbott and Costello's bit 'Who's on First?'
Sometimes, the Chronicle of Higher Education has good stuff!
Sometimes, the Chronicle of Higher Education has good stuff!
6.17.2008
I am giving up on half empty glasses
I feel like I need to fill you all in on the last few days, but that would take weeks. So, in a nutshell, I've got an apartment. It's perfect. Perfectly me. I can imagine myself living there, I can imagine myself writing, cooking, laughing and loving in this apartment and can't wait to have a space that is my own and where I can find the parts of myself that I've given up for various reasons over the last eight or so years. Where I can tuck away the parts of myself that I'm not proud of. There was no small amount of tears shed between my sister and I and my entire family can't quite believe that I did something so impulsive as choosing to live in the first place I came to. Come to think of it, I can't really either. But it's fantastic...photos to come!
The last three weeks, continuing forward to the next couple of weeks are pretty crazy, but I've kind of come to accept this and am just rolling with it. So what if I don't get quite as much sleep as I anticipated... there will be time to sleep once all this fun and work is done. Emphasis on the word FUN. There is much fun to be had this summer and I can't wait.
I have been, for the last couple of weeks, going gluten free. Aside from paying way close attention to what I eat and what's good and what's not (a benefit, in my mind), I've lost seven pounds already! I did get my test results back from the celiac test and my levels have risen from 28 to 35 in the last year. So, it looks like this will be a permanent thing, though I didn't really plan it to be. It's not as hard as I thought it would be, however, so that's good.
A few suggestions, as I haven't made many lately.
If you are in the cities, try and get in to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Guthrie. It was fantastic - extremely well done for a play that's kind of crazy already.
This article, Of Marriage and Mountain Climbing, about the similarities of marriage and rock-climbing is wonderful. I may not be married and may not be remotely close to or even ready for it, but when I get to that point, this is what I think should be the essence of a good marriage and Barreca hits it right on the head.
That’s what love is: the wish to go on talking.
So, for all my dear married friends, I wish that for you, along with the good memories that come with that person. Because, the best thing in the world is to wake up and know that the person you want to talk to and see the most in the world is right next to you.
And the last suggestion I have for you, take a few minutes, sometime, and listen to some jazz. It's amazing how the rhythm, music and underlying feeling can cheer you up, calm you down and if you're in a sad mood, mourn right along with you. Watch the moon rise, drink a glass of wine or some beer and listen to some jazz. Your heart will thank you for it.
Quote o' the day:
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities." - Aldous Huxley
The last three weeks, continuing forward to the next couple of weeks are pretty crazy, but I've kind of come to accept this and am just rolling with it. So what if I don't get quite as much sleep as I anticipated... there will be time to sleep once all this fun and work is done. Emphasis on the word FUN. There is much fun to be had this summer and I can't wait.
I have been, for the last couple of weeks, going gluten free. Aside from paying way close attention to what I eat and what's good and what's not (a benefit, in my mind), I've lost seven pounds already! I did get my test results back from the celiac test and my levels have risen from 28 to 35 in the last year. So, it looks like this will be a permanent thing, though I didn't really plan it to be. It's not as hard as I thought it would be, however, so that's good.
A few suggestions, as I haven't made many lately.
If you are in the cities, try and get in to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Guthrie. It was fantastic - extremely well done for a play that's kind of crazy already.
This article, Of Marriage and Mountain Climbing, about the similarities of marriage and rock-climbing is wonderful. I may not be married and may not be remotely close to or even ready for it, but when I get to that point, this is what I think should be the essence of a good marriage and Barreca hits it right on the head.
That’s what love is: the wish to go on talking.
So, for all my dear married friends, I wish that for you, along with the good memories that come with that person. Because, the best thing in the world is to wake up and know that the person you want to talk to and see the most in the world is right next to you.
And the last suggestion I have for you, take a few minutes, sometime, and listen to some jazz. It's amazing how the rhythm, music and underlying feeling can cheer you up, calm you down and if you're in a sad mood, mourn right along with you. Watch the moon rise, drink a glass of wine or some beer and listen to some jazz. Your heart will thank you for it.
Quote o' the day:
"Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities." - Aldous Huxley
6.11.2008
the lonely is such delicate things
Garrison Keillor wrote in his column last Sunday about finding the joy in life. He says:
Joy has the power to sweep misery away. This is true. Nobody "gets over" anything, there is no closure, hearts stay broken for a long time. Love is a tumult and it's a wonder anyone survives it. But you look out the window and imagine joy is waiting for you somewhere..."
Isn't that the truth? I felt the need to share that, because on this rainy day, when I am tired out, stressed out and wishing for a highway to drive way from it all, I know that even though the last two weeks have been nothing short of hellish at work, next week, it will be sunny again and I will be glad to be where I am. So, to combat the compelling urge I have to quit my life as I know it today, I sit and drink red wine and eat dark chocolate. They're supposed to be good for your heart, right? My heart can use some cheering right now.
The last week has been tumultuous in so many ways - not only has there been a lot of stuff going on at work, but I've gained a roommate, lost a roommate, lost two roommates and decided that it's a good thing for me to move out on my own. So at the end of the summer, friends, I will be finding my own apartment and setting up a space that is mine. I'm excited, but it's bittersweet. The end of an era. I will no longer have my sister around to keep me company and share silly things with. But I know that we'll probably still end up spending a lot of time together. I feel lucky to have had the chance to live with her because if we hadn't, we probably wouldn't be as close as we are now. And instead of living with Sarah, as planned, she'll have her own place and that's good for her and probably good for our friendship.
I've not done any writing yet, nor have I started The Artist's Way. I should, at this very moment, be working on work because I'm presenting at work tomorrow morning and I am procrastinating in the worst way. Writing birthday cards to an ex and lamenting the fact that I have tons of address labels I won't be able to use aren't exactly constructive uses of my time. But my nervousness about tomorrow cannot be abated and thinking about it only seems to make it worse. So perhaps I will end up winging it, or else after this wine is gone, I'll feel relaxed enough to get this done. The thing that is hardest, and what I knew would be hardest about being in the position I'm in is that I have so many friends at work that I can't share the misery with. I don't know how to elaborate on that statement, but I think that you will understand, friends.
In an effort to be cheery on what seems to be a non-cheery day for me, I will say that when I went to get our father's day present for my dad, not only was there a meter available right in front of the store in the middle of a rain deluge, but it had 50 minutes left on it. Which just kind of made my whole day better. Random acts of kindness are the best, even when unintentional. I put two quarters in before I left.
I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow afternoon when I will be done with this blasted presentation that everyone seems to make such a big deal out of and when I can go play Tchaikovsky's 1812 Symphony in rehearsal and get it all out of my system. I may take a half day on Friday to do a few things for me (like get a headlight fixed...), but we shall see how the rest of the week goes.
Is anyone else amazed that it is already June 12 tomorrow? I know I am. I'm in awe of how fast everything seems to be going and can't seem to recall a time when things were slower and simpler. When a smile was just a smile and when work was not responsibility.
Quote o' the day:
"That's the secret to life... replace one worry with another..." -Charles M. Schulz
Joy has the power to sweep misery away. This is true. Nobody "gets over" anything, there is no closure, hearts stay broken for a long time. Love is a tumult and it's a wonder anyone survives it. But you look out the window and imagine joy is waiting for you somewhere..."
Isn't that the truth? I felt the need to share that, because on this rainy day, when I am tired out, stressed out and wishing for a highway to drive way from it all, I know that even though the last two weeks have been nothing short of hellish at work, next week, it will be sunny again and I will be glad to be where I am. So, to combat the compelling urge I have to quit my life as I know it today, I sit and drink red wine and eat dark chocolate. They're supposed to be good for your heart, right? My heart can use some cheering right now.
The last week has been tumultuous in so many ways - not only has there been a lot of stuff going on at work, but I've gained a roommate, lost a roommate, lost two roommates and decided that it's a good thing for me to move out on my own. So at the end of the summer, friends, I will be finding my own apartment and setting up a space that is mine. I'm excited, but it's bittersweet. The end of an era. I will no longer have my sister around to keep me company and share silly things with. But I know that we'll probably still end up spending a lot of time together. I feel lucky to have had the chance to live with her because if we hadn't, we probably wouldn't be as close as we are now. And instead of living with Sarah, as planned, she'll have her own place and that's good for her and probably good for our friendship.
I've not done any writing yet, nor have I started The Artist's Way. I should, at this very moment, be working on work because I'm presenting at work tomorrow morning and I am procrastinating in the worst way. Writing birthday cards to an ex and lamenting the fact that I have tons of address labels I won't be able to use aren't exactly constructive uses of my time. But my nervousness about tomorrow cannot be abated and thinking about it only seems to make it worse. So perhaps I will end up winging it, or else after this wine is gone, I'll feel relaxed enough to get this done. The thing that is hardest, and what I knew would be hardest about being in the position I'm in is that I have so many friends at work that I can't share the misery with. I don't know how to elaborate on that statement, but I think that you will understand, friends.
In an effort to be cheery on what seems to be a non-cheery day for me, I will say that when I went to get our father's day present for my dad, not only was there a meter available right in front of the store in the middle of a rain deluge, but it had 50 minutes left on it. Which just kind of made my whole day better. Random acts of kindness are the best, even when unintentional. I put two quarters in before I left.
I am anxiously awaiting tomorrow afternoon when I will be done with this blasted presentation that everyone seems to make such a big deal out of and when I can go play Tchaikovsky's 1812 Symphony in rehearsal and get it all out of my system. I may take a half day on Friday to do a few things for me (like get a headlight fixed...), but we shall see how the rest of the week goes.
Is anyone else amazed that it is already June 12 tomorrow? I know I am. I'm in awe of how fast everything seems to be going and can't seem to recall a time when things were slower and simpler. When a smile was just a smile and when work was not responsibility.
Quote o' the day:
"That's the secret to life... replace one worry with another..." -Charles M. Schulz
5.20.2008
I've learned to listen through silence
Welcome back friends.
I haven't written anything here for a two and a half months. I haven't really written anything for that matter. So I've decided, from Marta's suggestion, to do Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Apparently it is 12 weeks long and that should take me all summer. Anyone want to join me?
Many exciting and not exciting things have happened in the last two months, so I'll spare you all the boring details, except that I went to Denver and had a surprising realization. I'm not the same person I was in high school! Not really that surprising, but a good thing to notice, all the same.
According to my sister, the environmentalist, we're at least ten days behind our normal schedule of the seasons. Which means many things, such as loons congregating on Lake Harriet, birds that came back too early having nothing to eat, a slushy fishing opener and spring buds that are just now starting to pop out. Along our street, there's a park that looks pretty crappy until it starts to green up. The ice rink is a gigantic puddle of mud and insects, until one day, there's a beautiful field of dandelions. My dad always taught me to pick the heads off these pesty flowers until there were none left. That said - there's nothing, to me, at this moment, more beautiful than a bright yellow patch of dandelions in the cool spring morning with mists rising off of them. Standing outside on a cloudy evening, wishing for a glass of water and feeling those drops of rain hit your head and bare toes makes me yearn for summer all the more.
I want to be able to swim in our cul de sac that doesn't exist anymore and I want seasons to be definable again. Is that too much to ask?
Drop me a note and let me know how all of you are doing, ok? I miss you all.
Quote o' the day:
"I would rather be a coward than brave because people hurt you when you are brave." - E.M. Forster
I haven't written anything here for a two and a half months. I haven't really written anything for that matter. So I've decided, from Marta's suggestion, to do Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Apparently it is 12 weeks long and that should take me all summer. Anyone want to join me?
Many exciting and not exciting things have happened in the last two months, so I'll spare you all the boring details, except that I went to Denver and had a surprising realization. I'm not the same person I was in high school! Not really that surprising, but a good thing to notice, all the same.
According to my sister, the environmentalist, we're at least ten days behind our normal schedule of the seasons. Which means many things, such as loons congregating on Lake Harriet, birds that came back too early having nothing to eat, a slushy fishing opener and spring buds that are just now starting to pop out. Along our street, there's a park that looks pretty crappy until it starts to green up. The ice rink is a gigantic puddle of mud and insects, until one day, there's a beautiful field of dandelions. My dad always taught me to pick the heads off these pesty flowers until there were none left. That said - there's nothing, to me, at this moment, more beautiful than a bright yellow patch of dandelions in the cool spring morning with mists rising off of them. Standing outside on a cloudy evening, wishing for a glass of water and feeling those drops of rain hit your head and bare toes makes me yearn for summer all the more.
I want to be able to swim in our cul de sac that doesn't exist anymore and I want seasons to be definable again. Is that too much to ask?
Drop me a note and let me know how all of you are doing, ok? I miss you all.
Quote o' the day:
"I would rather be a coward than brave because people hurt you when you are brave." - E.M. Forster
3.06.2008
I'll be the one to break my heart
A few random things about this week.
My left blinker cuts into my radio every time I use it. It either didn't bother me before, or else I just didn't notice it. It's extremely annoying.
Today, I had meeting with my financial 'guy' and in the course of our meeting, we were discussing work, etc., and it was amazing. Amazing because even though I have days, weeks, even, where I wonder what the hell I'm doing with work and wonder if I'm even any good at it, and wonder sometimes, if I even like it - but during that hour, I realized that I do like my job. I may not know exactly what I'm doing, but I'm happy with where I am. I love spending time with my friends and my family and that generally, I don't 'want' anything else right at this moment. (This is sounding eerily like something I wrote awhile ago, sorry to be repetitive, but this seems to be a topic lately!)
I know we all wish we were maybe a little more this or a little more that. We wish we weren't single or we wish we'd waited to get married and have kids. We might wish we had more of this or more of that. And I'm no different with regards to those things, but it was nice to be reminded that if I did die tomorrow, I pretty much have lived the way that I've wanted to. Sure, I've still got things I want to do, but I think that no matter what age you die, you still have things you want to do.
My sister and I have been watching "Six Feet Under" and I do admit to being skeptical to it at first, but I'm completely hooked now and I think that's maybe why I've been so introspective lately. That and the fact that my class demands that I think that way. At any rate, if you've not watched it, put it on your Netflix!
Back to work.
Quote o' the day:
"To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult; our human loneliness is cause enough. But it is a hard quest worth making to find a comrade through whose steady presence one becomes steadily the person one desires to be." -Anna Louise Strong (1885 November 24–1970 March 29, American Journalist)
My left blinker cuts into my radio every time I use it. It either didn't bother me before, or else I just didn't notice it. It's extremely annoying.
Today, I had meeting with my financial 'guy' and in the course of our meeting, we were discussing work, etc., and it was amazing. Amazing because even though I have days, weeks, even, where I wonder what the hell I'm doing with work and wonder if I'm even any good at it, and wonder sometimes, if I even like it - but during that hour, I realized that I do like my job. I may not know exactly what I'm doing, but I'm happy with where I am. I love spending time with my friends and my family and that generally, I don't 'want' anything else right at this moment. (This is sounding eerily like something I wrote awhile ago, sorry to be repetitive, but this seems to be a topic lately!)
I know we all wish we were maybe a little more this or a little more that. We wish we weren't single or we wish we'd waited to get married and have kids. We might wish we had more of this or more of that. And I'm no different with regards to those things, but it was nice to be reminded that if I did die tomorrow, I pretty much have lived the way that I've wanted to. Sure, I've still got things I want to do, but I think that no matter what age you die, you still have things you want to do.
My sister and I have been watching "Six Feet Under" and I do admit to being skeptical to it at first, but I'm completely hooked now and I think that's maybe why I've been so introspective lately. That and the fact that my class demands that I think that way. At any rate, if you've not watched it, put it on your Netflix!
Back to work.
Quote o' the day:
"To fall in love is easy, even to remain in it is not difficult; our human loneliness is cause enough. But it is a hard quest worth making to find a comrade through whose steady presence one becomes steadily the person one desires to be." -Anna Louise Strong (1885 November 24–1970 March 29, American Journalist)
3.03.2008
when you get sober, will you get kinder?
I am in a quarrel. I'm in a quarrel with Minnesota. Specifically, winter in Minnesota. I'm sure you will all remind me of how much I loved the snow back in November, but now, I'm done. I'm tired of walking gingerly around in parking lots, at the sign of any icy patch. I'm tired of shrink-wrap on my windows, cold feet and scraping off my window in the morning. I'm tired of the snowbank that surrounds the car that my neighbors won't move, and subsequently, I slide around on, trying to get into my car. I'm tired of melting and freezing, salt on my car and salt on my shoes and pant hems. I want to wear springy clothes and sandals and be outside. Winter is officially over in my mind, so Minnesota better catch up.
I also think that Monday nights are bad nights to go to the grocery store. No bananas and no Grape Nuts! Plus tons of U of MN students. Does anyone know what tangelos taste like?
Happy Monday and 3rd of March, kids.
Quote o' the day:
"There are three reasons for becoming a writer: the first is that you need the money; the second that you have something to say that you think the world should know; the third is that you can't think what to do with the long winter evenings." - Quentin Crisp (English Author, 1908-1999)
I also think that Monday nights are bad nights to go to the grocery store. No bananas and no Grape Nuts! Plus tons of U of MN students. Does anyone know what tangelos taste like?
Happy Monday and 3rd of March, kids.
Quote o' the day:
"There are three reasons for becoming a writer: the first is that you need the money; the second that you have something to say that you think the world should know; the third is that you can't think what to do with the long winter evenings." - Quentin Crisp (English Author, 1908-1999)
2.29.2008
there comes a song with the dawn
We wait. We are a culture of waiting. The next big thing, the next phase in our life. The next person to be with, and the next idea to grab onto. But we are an impatient culture. We want that life, that thing, that person or place to be here and now, right now. How do we convince ourselves that what we have right now, this minute, is what we need, what we want and what we are supposed to have?
I don't think we can. I think the best we can do is slow down, look people in the eyes and tell them what we mean to tell them. Not what we think they want to hear, what we want to hear or what we think we should say, but what we mean to say.
I am constantly amazed by my friends. You are all wonderful people - strong, resilient and beautiful, so much so that I can't imagine wanting anything more than the here and now, because that's where all of you are.
There comes a song, with the dawn and it is one of hope and patience that maybe someday, we will have all of those things that we are waiting for. And if we don't get them, perhaps, they are not things that we were meant to have.
"What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness." - Leo Tolstoy
I don't think we can. I think the best we can do is slow down, look people in the eyes and tell them what we mean to tell them. Not what we think they want to hear, what we want to hear or what we think we should say, but what we mean to say.
I am constantly amazed by my friends. You are all wonderful people - strong, resilient and beautiful, so much so that I can't imagine wanting anything more than the here and now, because that's where all of you are.
There comes a song, with the dawn and it is one of hope and patience that maybe someday, we will have all of those things that we are waiting for. And if we don't get them, perhaps, they are not things that we were meant to have.
"What a strange illusion it is to suppose that beauty is goodness." - Leo Tolstoy
2.25.2008
sing it if you understand
I wanted to write. I wanted to write about about truth and beauty and life. I wanted to shake the core of someone and make them believe things that they might not have believed.
I still do, but instead I feel stretched. Stretched to the limit of what I understand and believe this world to be. I thought I was one person but it's amazing how things change. How the things we want, the life we want to live and how we might obtain that, changes. You think you want one thing and that drastically changes, even in the course of a year.
Stretched to find that balance between work, friends, school and myself. We had to attend a session on our personality types for work last week and though the woman that ran it was completely obnoxious, she did have some good things to say. One of them being that in order to be the person we want to be, we need to take time for ourselves. Sometimes, we forget to do that and then we wonder why we're so tired, or cranky or annoyed with life in general.
And on that note - you'll find me posting some of my writings for class here. Because it's nice to know that even if it sucks, someone will read it. And they may not understand it or even want to, but they'll read it. Because I need to find time and energy to get back to why I decided to go to school in the first place. Anyone have a good coffee shop that I could go to that will not be distracting?
And for those of you that requested to know what some of our writing assignments are - think about the things you take for granted and why you do that. Write about that as it pertains to your landscape and surroundings or as it pertains to people.
Quote o' the day:
"Life is a long lesson in humility." - James M. Barrie
I still do, but instead I feel stretched. Stretched to the limit of what I understand and believe this world to be. I thought I was one person but it's amazing how things change. How the things we want, the life we want to live and how we might obtain that, changes. You think you want one thing and that drastically changes, even in the course of a year.
Stretched to find that balance between work, friends, school and myself. We had to attend a session on our personality types for work last week and though the woman that ran it was completely obnoxious, she did have some good things to say. One of them being that in order to be the person we want to be, we need to take time for ourselves. Sometimes, we forget to do that and then we wonder why we're so tired, or cranky or annoyed with life in general.
And on that note - you'll find me posting some of my writings for class here. Because it's nice to know that even if it sucks, someone will read it. And they may not understand it or even want to, but they'll read it. Because I need to find time and energy to get back to why I decided to go to school in the first place. Anyone have a good coffee shop that I could go to that will not be distracting?
And for those of you that requested to know what some of our writing assignments are - think about the things you take for granted and why you do that. Write about that as it pertains to your landscape and surroundings or as it pertains to people.
Quote o' the day:
"Life is a long lesson in humility." - James M. Barrie
2.20.2008
and tell me, where is the faith?
I feel like it's not fair that tonight, after I've already written about the moon, there was a lunar eclipse. At any rate, it was extremely cool to watch and funny that they were playing songs on the radio about eclipsing. (NOT Total Eclipse of the Heart, the Current has better taste than that.)
I did end up going to the yoga class tonight and found that I need to go more often. Because I used to be able to do some of those things a lot more easily. And then, when I was running on the treadmill, I got distracted by trying to change the song on my iPod and fell off. Completely embarrassing, but now I understand why they are trying to get teen drivers to not use iPods in the car. You can get wrapped up in that and not even notice that you might be driving off the road (or falling off the treadmill, in my case).
Things that made my day today:
1. I made every light on Park Avenue on my way home from work today. That NEVER happens.
2. Apparently, the VP was extremely happy with the way our session went yesterday. That means I did something right.
3. My hair froze on the way out of the gym. I've never had that happen to me before. It was kind of entertaining.
On a random tangent, how fun would it be to work at MPR? I started looking at their job website today, even though I have no intention of leaving where I am until I'm a) vested and b) done with school. Which, as I discovered yesterday, if things go as planned - I won't be done until I am 30. This makes me want to vomit a little bit.
I think, since I am deliciously tired from my yoga and running, I am going to finish my lemon zinger tea and crawl into my bed. A writing assignment for you all: write about a tree or body of water that holds special significance to you. (And please SHARE!)
Quote o' the day:
"It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information." - Oscar Wilde
I did end up going to the yoga class tonight and found that I need to go more often. Because I used to be able to do some of those things a lot more easily. And then, when I was running on the treadmill, I got distracted by trying to change the song on my iPod and fell off. Completely embarrassing, but now I understand why they are trying to get teen drivers to not use iPods in the car. You can get wrapped up in that and not even notice that you might be driving off the road (or falling off the treadmill, in my case).
Things that made my day today:
1. I made every light on Park Avenue on my way home from work today. That NEVER happens.
2. Apparently, the VP was extremely happy with the way our session went yesterday. That means I did something right.
3. My hair froze on the way out of the gym. I've never had that happen to me before. It was kind of entertaining.
On a random tangent, how fun would it be to work at MPR? I started looking at their job website today, even though I have no intention of leaving where I am until I'm a) vested and b) done with school. Which, as I discovered yesterday, if things go as planned - I won't be done until I am 30. This makes me want to vomit a little bit.
I think, since I am deliciously tired from my yoga and running, I am going to finish my lemon zinger tea and crawl into my bed. A writing assignment for you all: write about a tree or body of water that holds special significance to you. (And please SHARE!)
Quote o' the day:
"It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information." - Oscar Wilde
2.19.2008
you move on because you’ve come here to do that
Moon is hazy with cold, icy crystals hang in the air like forgotten ghosts. Wind blows through layers of clothing and swirls of snow pattern pavement like webs. This same moon, hangs just under frame of an unlit streetlight, creating illusion that instead of dim orange light, whole world could be illuminated from this light. Haze of blowing snow creates softness in the coldness, to telephone wires and an old Exxon station on the corner.
Quote o' the day:
"Moonlight is sculpture." - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Quote o' the day:
"Moonlight is sculpture." - Nathaniel Hawthorne
2.18.2008
you know, it’s nothing new
And I forgot the quote. I hate it when I do that.
Quote o' the day (about trees, what did you expect?):
"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Quote o' the day (about trees, what did you expect?):
"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." - Robert Louis Stevenson
if I held my straight edge I’d be fine
When I was about 10 years old, one of my favorite things to do was to help my dad in his garden. I would dig up weeds, plant bean seeds, transplant seedlings that had grown in the dark of our basement with the help of fluorescent lights that I would run down stairs, turn off and then feel my way back through the cool darkness of our basement, and I would help collect the crops that we'd gotten at the end of each growing season. I loved listening to my dad tell me about the various plants and the way that he gardened. My favorite part of all of it was simply that I got to spend time with him. We'd chat with our neighbor who was a wise old retired plumber that loved his yard and garden more than anything. He'd give my dad advice and my dad would give him advice. It's such a simple thing, growing plants - simple, therapeutic and when you're done, you have something to show for it. A flower bed, vegetables, apples, a tree - a pretty landscape.
Where is this coming from - you might ask? In class tonight we talked a lot about ownership of nature and landscape and how we make patterns, we create things that nature might not have, and, is that a bad thing?
That year that I turned 10, I found a maple sapling in the black dirt in the back corner of our lot. I was ridiculously excited about it and made my dad let me plant it and take care of it. It was 'my' tree. Eventually, despite the fact that I truly think my dad thought it would die (probably the only reason he let me do it), we planted that tree in our front yard. It's weathered a few strong storms, it's trunk is split and it perpetually leans towards the street instead of standing tall and straight like the ash trees that line the street, but it's taller and bigger than ever before.
It now provides shade where I'm sure my dad would prefer there not be shade and at the same time, he always comments on the way it shades the front of the house, making leafy patterns of the fading afternoon sunlight. It filters that light that comes into the living room, dancing from the piano, to the couch, to the spot where he inevitably falls asleep doing the crossword puzzle. Now the tree is referred to as 'julia's tree' and sometimes, that's not necessarily a good thing. But, regardless of whether I took any ownership of it after finding it (amongst what I'm sure were millions of small trees), it is my tree. It stands there, a reminder of those hot summer afternoons when I would help my dad in the garden and then in the fall, though it's not straight and majestic, not perfectly uniform in color like the sugar maple in the backyard, it's stunning. And though I can't take credit for it growing, I do feel ownership in the sense that it belongs to me. And, I suppose, I to it.
Where is this coming from - you might ask? In class tonight we talked a lot about ownership of nature and landscape and how we make patterns, we create things that nature might not have, and, is that a bad thing?
That year that I turned 10, I found a maple sapling in the black dirt in the back corner of our lot. I was ridiculously excited about it and made my dad let me plant it and take care of it. It was 'my' tree. Eventually, despite the fact that I truly think my dad thought it would die (probably the only reason he let me do it), we planted that tree in our front yard. It's weathered a few strong storms, it's trunk is split and it perpetually leans towards the street instead of standing tall and straight like the ash trees that line the street, but it's taller and bigger than ever before.
It now provides shade where I'm sure my dad would prefer there not be shade and at the same time, he always comments on the way it shades the front of the house, making leafy patterns of the fading afternoon sunlight. It filters that light that comes into the living room, dancing from the piano, to the couch, to the spot where he inevitably falls asleep doing the crossword puzzle. Now the tree is referred to as 'julia's tree' and sometimes, that's not necessarily a good thing. But, regardless of whether I took any ownership of it after finding it (amongst what I'm sure were millions of small trees), it is my tree. It stands there, a reminder of those hot summer afternoons when I would help my dad in the garden and then in the fall, though it's not straight and majestic, not perfectly uniform in color like the sugar maple in the backyard, it's stunning. And though I can't take credit for it growing, I do feel ownership in the sense that it belongs to me. And, I suppose, I to it.
2.17.2008
everything has its plan
Sunday night and instead of relaxing and doing the crossword puzzle like I had hoped, I'm reading frantically before orchestra about "Landscape and Memory," hoping that I get out early so that I can get ready for this massively big week I've got. My only respite, hopefully, will be a yoga class on Wednesday night.
As I was driving home today, I nearly got rear-ended. And the funny thing is, I sat there and braced myself for this woman in a huge SUV with a zebra striped steering wheel to hit me from behind. I watched in my rearview mirror as she stopped, millimeters from my bumper. Why, I wondered, didn't I move away?
Sometimes, I think, we're all such masochists that we can't move away from things, even though we know we are too close for comfort and that we will get hurt. You wait for it. You brace yourself for the moment when it will hit and something new will happen. It's usually not a good idea, and you know it, going in, but you do it anyway. Because it's exciting and thrilling and maybe even a little bit scary.
And what about the moments when you get so close and then, voila, something good happens? But instead of savoring it, you run. You run like hell. You get scared and need to get out. You start hyperventilating, you become a person you never thought you'd be and you run.
Maybe, instead of running, we need to take those tiny steps. Tiny steps towards healing ourselves and move on with whatever we were running from. Use the memories that have soured us against life and make them work in our favor. I'd like to think that there are moments when we change and subsequently, things around us change - in our favor. All because of one small, encouraging step in the right direction.
Quote o' the day:
"To the dull mind nature is leaden. To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light." Ralph Waldo Emerson
As I was driving home today, I nearly got rear-ended. And the funny thing is, I sat there and braced myself for this woman in a huge SUV with a zebra striped steering wheel to hit me from behind. I watched in my rearview mirror as she stopped, millimeters from my bumper. Why, I wondered, didn't I move away?
Sometimes, I think, we're all such masochists that we can't move away from things, even though we know we are too close for comfort and that we will get hurt. You wait for it. You brace yourself for the moment when it will hit and something new will happen. It's usually not a good idea, and you know it, going in, but you do it anyway. Because it's exciting and thrilling and maybe even a little bit scary.
And what about the moments when you get so close and then, voila, something good happens? But instead of savoring it, you run. You run like hell. You get scared and need to get out. You start hyperventilating, you become a person you never thought you'd be and you run.
Maybe, instead of running, we need to take those tiny steps. Tiny steps towards healing ourselves and move on with whatever we were running from. Use the memories that have soured us against life and make them work in our favor. I'd like to think that there are moments when we change and subsequently, things around us change - in our favor. All because of one small, encouraging step in the right direction.
Quote o' the day:
"To the dull mind nature is leaden. To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light." Ralph Waldo Emerson
2.12.2008
am I making all the right moves
For the men in my life who will appreciate this.
Eric Ringham's commentary in the Star Tribune this past Sunday was about how we've gone by the wayside of that "old" style. No more barbershops, or haberdasheries, no more fedora hats and silver cigar cases. Ok, so he doesn't mention all of those things specifically, but it's extremely well-written, which is why, I suspect, he writes for the Trib and I do not.
Short on Style - please read it - even if you are not male and can't appreciate great writing, because if nothing else, it's humorous.
Quote o' the day (do I detect a theme?):
“Things are never so bad they can't be made worse.” - Humphrey Bogart
Eric Ringham's commentary in the Star Tribune this past Sunday was about how we've gone by the wayside of that "old" style. No more barbershops, or haberdasheries, no more fedora hats and silver cigar cases. Ok, so he doesn't mention all of those things specifically, but it's extremely well-written, which is why, I suspect, he writes for the Trib and I do not.
Short on Style - please read it - even if you are not male and can't appreciate great writing, because if nothing else, it's humorous.
Quote o' the day (do I detect a theme?):
“Things are never so bad they can't be made worse.” - Humphrey Bogart
2.11.2008
same maze of love and fear
Coffee before/during class always seems like a good idea. And it never is.
Today I had a lot of things that I wanted to accomplish. But then I got caught up in last minute discussions about billboard art and slogans and my whole day seemed to be gone. Tomorrow, I have a million meetings, one of which is off campus and I didn't know that until today. I am slightly aggravated by it all.
But enough complaining. Class tonight was good, as per usual and I have decided that I have a goal for my class. It makes me feel like I have a purpose going forth in the semester and that's a good thing to have.
And here is a website for you all to check out - because it's pretty cool: http://writersrisingup.com/.
Just keep breathing and maybe you'll make it through the week.
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened." -Sir Winston Churchill
Today I had a lot of things that I wanted to accomplish. But then I got caught up in last minute discussions about billboard art and slogans and my whole day seemed to be gone. Tomorrow, I have a million meetings, one of which is off campus and I didn't know that until today. I am slightly aggravated by it all.
But enough complaining. Class tonight was good, as per usual and I have decided that I have a goal for my class. It makes me feel like I have a purpose going forth in the semester and that's a good thing to have.
And here is a website for you all to check out - because it's pretty cool: http://writersrisingup.com/.
Just keep breathing and maybe you'll make it through the week.
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened." -Sir Winston Churchill
2.10.2008
I give up, I let you win
And here we are friends! I have, once again, a Monday night class. And it is Sunday at 10:20 and I can't seem to get myself writing the things that i should be writing. Instead, I am listening to music, feeling still a little embarrassed that one of the bass players in our orchestra has now busted me twice singing at the top of my lungs at a stoplight on the way home. Apparently, we live by each other.
I'm also cursing myself and the stupidity that said it was a good idea to go full force at the gym yesterday and then sit all day today reading for class, because needless to say, I'm kind of sore. But I guess in the grand scheme of things, that isn't so bad. But I do think that the fact that I'm sore is good. I had every intention of doing some yoga today, but then it was ridiculously cold outside and my sister and I ended up hibernating in our pj's all day with hot tea. She watched Six Feet Under while I read and tried to block out the noise of the wind, the TV and the cats. It's amazing to me how such small things can be such great distractions.
At any rate, a couple of things to note. My parents invited me over for dinner tonight before orchestra and as a result, I got free dinner, some fruit soup that I shall have for lunch tomorrow, some muffins, coffee and a chocolate bar from their fair trade shop at church and a cookbook that is all about making desserts. My dad has caught on to the fact that I am, without question, my father's daughter and cook when I am stressed and love to make sweet things, especially cakes. Cooking is an extremely soothing past time, I recommend it.
I also am recommending the book A Very Long Engagement. I am willing to bet that some of you have seen the movie with French subtitles and the actress Audrey Tatou, but haven't read the book. It is phenomenal, without question. I know, you're all saying that I say that about every book - but really. If you enjoy historical novels, you will enjoy it.
As for musical recommendations, I recently have been listening to Grieg violin sonatas while I read and they are also amazing. So yes. If you like classical music - check it out!
And now, I'm going to write about landscape and memory as it pertains to my dead. Because that is the best thing I can write about right now.
Quote o' the day:
"After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on -- have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear -- what remains? Nature remains." - William Wadsworth.
I'm also cursing myself and the stupidity that said it was a good idea to go full force at the gym yesterday and then sit all day today reading for class, because needless to say, I'm kind of sore. But I guess in the grand scheme of things, that isn't so bad. But I do think that the fact that I'm sore is good. I had every intention of doing some yoga today, but then it was ridiculously cold outside and my sister and I ended up hibernating in our pj's all day with hot tea. She watched Six Feet Under while I read and tried to block out the noise of the wind, the TV and the cats. It's amazing to me how such small things can be such great distractions.
At any rate, a couple of things to note. My parents invited me over for dinner tonight before orchestra and as a result, I got free dinner, some fruit soup that I shall have for lunch tomorrow, some muffins, coffee and a chocolate bar from their fair trade shop at church and a cookbook that is all about making desserts. My dad has caught on to the fact that I am, without question, my father's daughter and cook when I am stressed and love to make sweet things, especially cakes. Cooking is an extremely soothing past time, I recommend it.
I also am recommending the book A Very Long Engagement. I am willing to bet that some of you have seen the movie with French subtitles and the actress Audrey Tatou, but haven't read the book. It is phenomenal, without question. I know, you're all saying that I say that about every book - but really. If you enjoy historical novels, you will enjoy it.
As for musical recommendations, I recently have been listening to Grieg violin sonatas while I read and they are also amazing. So yes. If you like classical music - check it out!
And now, I'm going to write about landscape and memory as it pertains to my dead. Because that is the best thing I can write about right now.
Quote o' the day:
"After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on -- have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear -- what remains? Nature remains." - William Wadsworth.
2.09.2008
sooner or later, one of us must know
It is eight below and the wind is so strong that I feel I can actually use the words, "the wind is howling" and not have it be a complete cliche. We are under a winter wind chill weather advisory for another hour and the wind shakes my window panes and I feel that my room is actually colder than usual because of it.
The landscape of Minnesota winters is difficult now, and though I remember it being difficult as a child, I also remember it being more fun. I used to love shoveling and making tunnels in the large piles of snow that lined our driveway. I remember when we'd have days that school was canceled because of wind chill and we'd make hot chocolate and popcorn and watch movies. My dad would be home from school, we'd play games and do puzzles. I loved those days and tonight, one of the coldest nights that we've had in awhile, I was out and about and eventually decided that I needed to get home. And how as an adult, these kinds of days are not as fun, shoveling is a chore and we don't like to embrace the time that we have at home. In fact, there are days that we fight it - at least I do.
So here I am, thinking rather introspectively about everything as a result of my class and aided by the fact that it is cold out and I have the house to myself. The only sound besides the wind and the cats chasing around the house, is the Writer's Almanac podcast and Mr. Keillor himself reading it. I guess if you have to have background noise and need some company, he's really not a bad person to have around.
And that brings me to my actual point of writing this. My class is called Landscape and Memory and very much is about remembering and making yourself remember things as they relate to the landscape, etc. But I've gotten of on a tangent with that and am thinking about how we choose to not remember things. And how we do that because we repress things that painful. And subsequently, how pain and remembering pain imprisons us in so many ways. We get stuck because of one thing - one small thing that has forever influenced the kind of person we are.
And that interests me. Because sometimes, that builds up and we become difficult for others to read and even difficult for ourselves to understand.
Now it's time for me to hit the hay, since today I joined Lifetime and was a little overzealous with the exercising and I know that tomorrow, I will definitely pay for it.
Hope that you are all staying warm and that the wind, instead of keeping you awake, is lulling you to sleep.
Quote 'o the day:
"Not that I want to teach you to compartmentalize, but it's worked really well for me." -DK, on our first night of class.
The landscape of Minnesota winters is difficult now, and though I remember it being difficult as a child, I also remember it being more fun. I used to love shoveling and making tunnels in the large piles of snow that lined our driveway. I remember when we'd have days that school was canceled because of wind chill and we'd make hot chocolate and popcorn and watch movies. My dad would be home from school, we'd play games and do puzzles. I loved those days and tonight, one of the coldest nights that we've had in awhile, I was out and about and eventually decided that I needed to get home. And how as an adult, these kinds of days are not as fun, shoveling is a chore and we don't like to embrace the time that we have at home. In fact, there are days that we fight it - at least I do.
So here I am, thinking rather introspectively about everything as a result of my class and aided by the fact that it is cold out and I have the house to myself. The only sound besides the wind and the cats chasing around the house, is the Writer's Almanac podcast and Mr. Keillor himself reading it. I guess if you have to have background noise and need some company, he's really not a bad person to have around.
And that brings me to my actual point of writing this. My class is called Landscape and Memory and very much is about remembering and making yourself remember things as they relate to the landscape, etc. But I've gotten of on a tangent with that and am thinking about how we choose to not remember things. And how we do that because we repress things that painful. And subsequently, how pain and remembering pain imprisons us in so many ways. We get stuck because of one thing - one small thing that has forever influenced the kind of person we are.
And that interests me. Because sometimes, that builds up and we become difficult for others to read and even difficult for ourselves to understand.
Now it's time for me to hit the hay, since today I joined Lifetime and was a little overzealous with the exercising and I know that tomorrow, I will definitely pay for it.
Hope that you are all staying warm and that the wind, instead of keeping you awake, is lulling you to sleep.
Quote 'o the day:
"Not that I want to teach you to compartmentalize, but it's worked really well for me." -DK, on our first night of class.
1.31.2008
you want it two ways, are you in or out?
Sarah said the other day that she wished things were like they were when they were simple.
I concur.
I just bought my books for class and I think it's going to be really interesting and amazing. We shall see if I'm right.
I'm off to finish my book, but wanted to say that.
Quote o' the day:
"The simplest things are often the truest." - Richard Bach, (American Writer, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', b.1936)
I concur.
I just bought my books for class and I think it's going to be really interesting and amazing. We shall see if I'm right.
I'm off to finish my book, but wanted to say that.
Quote o' the day:
"The simplest things are often the truest." - Richard Bach, (American Writer, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull', b.1936)
1.30.2008
silent all these years
Bet you can't guess where that lyric came from (Lisa).
I feel like I need to qualify the statement about not being pregnant. That really should have gone right after the fainting at work statement. Number one, I fainted because I had blood taken earlier that day and had to be carted off in an ambulance to Abbott (apparently I was convulsing?). Number two, I paid enough to buy like 25 EPT tests for what they charged me to tell me I was not pregnant, even though I gave them three reasons why I could not possibly be pregnant at this time in my life. So that is what that was all about. Just so you are all aware. Not pregnant in any way, shape or form, and not even worried about it.
And then, this is from the book I'm currently reading and it's amazing:
"I lie down again with my back in the pine needles, and it feels good to breathe the ice-cold air. I look up between the tree trunks to the sky, which is completely clear and full of stars, and it slowly turns around, the whole world turns slowly around and is a huge, empty space. Silence is everywhere, and there is nothing between me and the stars, and when I try to think of something, I think of nothing. I close my eyes and smile to my self." - In the Wake, Per Petterson
Please read it. And read Out Stealing Horses, also by him, and is equally amazing. Have a cup of coffee and think of Norway while you read it and you shan't be sorry.
Off to clean my stuff up so that the cleaning lady doesn't clean it up for me.
Quote o' the day:
"Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long." - Leonard Bernstein, US composer & conductor (1918 - 1990)
I feel like I need to qualify the statement about not being pregnant. That really should have gone right after the fainting at work statement. Number one, I fainted because I had blood taken earlier that day and had to be carted off in an ambulance to Abbott (apparently I was convulsing?). Number two, I paid enough to buy like 25 EPT tests for what they charged me to tell me I was not pregnant, even though I gave them three reasons why I could not possibly be pregnant at this time in my life. So that is what that was all about. Just so you are all aware. Not pregnant in any way, shape or form, and not even worried about it.
And then, this is from the book I'm currently reading and it's amazing:
"I lie down again with my back in the pine needles, and it feels good to breathe the ice-cold air. I look up between the tree trunks to the sky, which is completely clear and full of stars, and it slowly turns around, the whole world turns slowly around and is a huge, empty space. Silence is everywhere, and there is nothing between me and the stars, and when I try to think of something, I think of nothing. I close my eyes and smile to my self." - In the Wake, Per Petterson
Please read it. And read Out Stealing Horses, also by him, and is equally amazing. Have a cup of coffee and think of Norway while you read it and you shan't be sorry.
Off to clean my stuff up so that the cleaning lady doesn't clean it up for me.
Quote o' the day:
"Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long." - Leonard Bernstein, US composer & conductor (1918 - 1990)
1.28.2008
today I’m sinking lower than the sun does on a Sunday
What's the song? Your move, friends.
I haven't posted in a long time. I've not felt like writing. I've been busy with work and post holiday celebrations. In the last month, I have: fainted at work, made a new friend, been told I am not pregnant (really, I was worried for a minute!), felt extremely happy, felt extremely low. Gotten drunk on a Thursday night because of a small thing that should not have upset me. Felt like I can't do my job, felt too young, too incompetent and felt pretty kick ass all at the same time. I made meatloaf that rivals my grandma's, broken a few dishes and spilled too many things to count. I have also made a complete fool out of myself and been without a voice for almost a week. And I have seen three of the best picture nominations and one in the animated category (Persepolis - if you haven't seen it, check it out - it's really interesting!).
It's amazing that January is almost over. I'm glad, because that means we are so much closer to spring and that means that my vacation starts over (in June) and that I will start my new class. Monday night classes are generally not that fun, but we shall see. The prof is amazing and I'm feeling rejuvenated just thinking about it.
So there you have it. Bring on the leap year - I'm ready for it!
Quote o' the day (really, it should be the quote for this month):
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Dorothy Nevill
I haven't posted in a long time. I've not felt like writing. I've been busy with work and post holiday celebrations. In the last month, I have: fainted at work, made a new friend, been told I am not pregnant (really, I was worried for a minute!), felt extremely happy, felt extremely low. Gotten drunk on a Thursday night because of a small thing that should not have upset me. Felt like I can't do my job, felt too young, too incompetent and felt pretty kick ass all at the same time. I made meatloaf that rivals my grandma's, broken a few dishes and spilled too many things to count. I have also made a complete fool out of myself and been without a voice for almost a week. And I have seen three of the best picture nominations and one in the animated category (Persepolis - if you haven't seen it, check it out - it's really interesting!).
It's amazing that January is almost over. I'm glad, because that means we are so much closer to spring and that means that my vacation starts over (in June) and that I will start my new class. Monday night classes are generally not that fun, but we shall see. The prof is amazing and I'm feeling rejuvenated just thinking about it.
So there you have it. Bring on the leap year - I'm ready for it!
Quote o' the day (really, it should be the quote for this month):
"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment." - Dorothy Nevill
1.06.2008
I know more than I knew before
It's been quite a while since I've written anything, friends and I don't have that much to say. There are entertaining stories a plenty from Christmas, New Year's, etc., but I don't have time to tell you them all right now. Another time - or else, if you want to know, ask. :)
But, I did want to say that I wish for you all a very happy 2008. I've had several people tell me that they've got a good feeling about this upcoming year and I would say for once, I actually have to agree. In 2008, I will not be so defeatist and believe more in good things, good moments, and good people.
If you care to share a resolution (you don't need to share the private ones that you hope no one ever finds out about), feel free. I like knowing what other people resolve. Because, we all "get by with a little help from our friends."
Quote o' the day:
"We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it."
- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
British juvenile author (1916 - 1990)
But, I did want to say that I wish for you all a very happy 2008. I've had several people tell me that they've got a good feeling about this upcoming year and I would say for once, I actually have to agree. In 2008, I will not be so defeatist and believe more in good things, good moments, and good people.
If you care to share a resolution (you don't need to share the private ones that you hope no one ever finds out about), feel free. I like knowing what other people resolve. Because, we all "get by with a little help from our friends."
Quote o' the day:
"We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it."
- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
British juvenile author (1916 - 1990)
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