Thursday, October 13, 2011
Currently Reading... Just Finished.
So I know I just did one of these, but I’m celebrating my new (temporary) library card! I actually got two of the books I wanted!
Currently Reading:Dragon Tears, Dean Koontz.
This is some random book my boyfriend had, and it’s really not a fantasy at all despite the name. But it is strange enough so far; I’m only 50 pages in so I can’t say what this book will be like. Koontz certainly has an interesting way of describing things.
Currently Reading:Dragon Tears, Dean Koontz.
This is some random book my boyfriend had, and it’s really not a fantasy at all despite the name. But it is strange enough so far; I’m only 50 pages in so I can’t say what this book will be like. Koontz certainly has an interesting way of describing things.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson.
Finally I have the third in the series to read!! I wasn’t expecting there to be even more characters to be introduced to, but hey, there you go. The one thing you have to remember about these books: the intrigue always goes deeper.
Finally I have the third in the series to read!! I wasn’t expecting there to be even more characters to be introduced to, but hey, there you go. The one thing you have to remember about these books: the intrigue always goes deeper.
Kushiel’s Chosen, Jacqueline Carey.
I swear I’ve read this once before but for the life of me I can’t remember the plot or anything. It’s been so long that I just plain forget. I know Phedre goes off on more crazy adventures and that’s good enough to get me interested.
I swear I’ve read this once before but for the life of me I can’t remember the plot or anything. It’s been so long that I just plain forget. I know Phedre goes off on more crazy adventures and that’s good enough to get me interested.
Now and always, I love recommendations, does anyone have any?
Just finished... Currently Reading...
Can anyone tell that I have too much free time on my hands lately?
Just Finished:Dragon Tears, Dean Koontz.
Now, Koontz is a NY Times best-seller kind of writer, which I honestly don’t pay an ounce of attention to. It was published in 1993, so it’s obviously been a while since it was on any sort of list. But honestly, it was probably just the right book for the time. If I could sum up this book I would say “fantasy elements used by the author to make a statement about the bizarre nature of the 90s.” Order vs. chaos, making sense of nonsensical violence; the themes of this book. A good quotation from the book (no spoilers, if you care) is thus: “That’s what’s wrong with the world these days. Jesus, the exactly what’s wrong! nobody want to be responsible for anything. Everybody wants a license to be and do any damn thing, nobody wants to pay the bill.” Remember when that woman sued McDonald’s because the coffee was too hot? It’s that sort of nonsense that Koontz is commenting on. Well. Perhaps the more violent kind of nonsense, like the mother dropping her baby down a garbage chute so she could go to her birthday party. This book is nothing if not brutal.
Now, Koontz is a NY Times best-seller kind of writer, which I honestly don’t pay an ounce of attention to. It was published in 1993, so it’s obviously been a while since it was on any sort of list. But honestly, it was probably just the right book for the time. If I could sum up this book I would say “fantasy elements used by the author to make a statement about the bizarre nature of the 90s.” Order vs. chaos, making sense of nonsensical violence; the themes of this book. A good quotation from the book (no spoilers, if you care) is thus: “That’s what’s wrong with the world these days. Jesus, the exactly what’s wrong! nobody want to be responsible for anything. Everybody wants a license to be and do any damn thing, nobody wants to pay the bill.” Remember when that woman sued McDonald’s because the coffee was too hot? It’s that sort of nonsense that Koontz is commenting on. Well. Perhaps the more violent kind of nonsense, like the mother dropping her baby down a garbage chute so she could go to her birthday party. This book is nothing if not brutal.
Currently Reading:Heroic Fantasy, various; eds. Page & Reinhardt.
Oh man this book has the cheesiest of cheesy covers.
Oh man this book has the cheesiest of cheesy covers.
Am I right? And look how cheap it was when it was released in 1979! Wait, no, my version was even cheaper - $1.95! I got it over the summer in a 3for$1 deal, even cheaper! And so, short stories, probably terrible, fun silly read - or so I expected. Thus far one story has stood out to me: Sand sister, by Andre Norton (Alice Mary Norton.) It’s the first in the book, and rightly so. It pulled me right in. In fact, I’m going to look up Norton’s other work and read that!
Moral of this review? You should really truly never ever judge a book by it’s cover.
Moral of this review? You should really truly never ever judge a book by it’s cover.
Kushiel’s Chosen, Jaqueline Carey.
It took me a little while to get back into this book, and I put the blame on two things: that I’ve read it before and the recap factor. I’ve read Kushiel’s Dart. I hate recaps. But once I skimmed my way to the actual meat of this story I was all over it like butter on toast. I do enjoy her books. Yes, they look like romance novels, and yes, they have sexy parts, but the intrigue and politics are good. I’m one of those people who has trouble keeping track of an extensive cast of characters (i.e. Martin’s style) so having a little list at the back or front helps me out a great deal. And maps. I’m a sucker for maps. It’s a Big Fat Book too, which means I actually get to read the same book for more than three days. But anyhow: I recommend it. Politics, sexytimes, well developed world setting, fabulous description without being overbearing (i.e. Tolkien.)
It took me a little while to get back into this book, and I put the blame on two things: that I’ve read it before and the recap factor. I’ve read Kushiel’s Dart. I hate recaps. But once I skimmed my way to the actual meat of this story I was all over it like butter on toast. I do enjoy her books. Yes, they look like romance novels, and yes, they have sexy parts, but the intrigue and politics are good. I’m one of those people who has trouble keeping track of an extensive cast of characters (i.e. Martin’s style) so having a little list at the back or front helps me out a great deal. And maps. I’m a sucker for maps. It’s a Big Fat Book too, which means I actually get to read the same book for more than three days. But anyhow: I recommend it. Politics, sexytimes, well developed world setting, fabulous description without being overbearing (i.e. Tolkien.)
As always, I ask: any recommendations for me?
Currently Reading... Just finished...
Just Finished:Lord Foul’s Bane, Stephen R. Donalson.
Okay I finally finished this damn book! Result? Still unsure! Probably one of the only books I am unable to solidly say if I liked or disliked it. It has all the elements of a decent fantasy, a decent plotline, but it just… I’ve never hated a main character quite so much. He’s just an asshole. I would recommend it to someone else, if only to see what someone else thinks; but I would be honest about it, I wouldn’t just say “Hey read this awesome book!” I’m undecided again as to whether I want the sequel(s) or not. Maybe once I get my library card? We’ll see.
Okay I finally finished this damn book! Result? Still unsure! Probably one of the only books I am unable to solidly say if I liked or disliked it. It has all the elements of a decent fantasy, a decent plotline, but it just… I’ve never hated a main character quite so much. He’s just an asshole. I would recommend it to someone else, if only to see what someone else thinks; but I would be honest about it, I wouldn’t just say “Hey read this awesome book!” I’m undecided again as to whether I want the sequel(s) or not. Maybe once I get my library card? We’ll see.
Alcoholica Esoterica, Ian Lendler.
“A collection of useful and useless information as it relates to the history and consumption of all manner of booze.” Pretty accurate statement. It gives you another view of events of history as they relate to alcohol, which I had a lot of fun with. It’s probably not the most available book, since my boyfriend bought it in an airport about 6 or 7 years ago. A fun book if you can get your hands on it though!
“A collection of useful and useless information as it relates to the history and consumption of all manner of booze.” Pretty accurate statement. It gives you another view of events of history as they relate to alcohol, which I had a lot of fun with. It’s probably not the most available book, since my boyfriend bought it in an airport about 6 or 7 years ago. A fun book if you can get your hands on it though!
Hart’s Hope, Orson Scott Card.
I might have a problem called “unable to resist Mr. Card’s writing.” It’s a stand-alone, which seems to be somewhat unusual for him. An older one, it was copyrighted 1983, which is before I was even born, so there’s that. How can I describe this book? Hard without giving something away. Hm, well, it doesn’t have a solid point of view, it shifts from chapter to chapter, and it’s unclear at the beginning who is intended to be the main character. It has a very specific style, makes me think of an old high literature, with very little of anyone’s inner monologue until you get to the main character. If you’ve read Orson Scott Card before you’ll be able to get into the book pretty easily. I read it in two or three days, it’s only 261 pages - but worth a read, very interesting.
I might have a problem called “unable to resist Mr. Card’s writing.” It’s a stand-alone, which seems to be somewhat unusual for him. An older one, it was copyrighted 1983, which is before I was even born, so there’s that. How can I describe this book? Hard without giving something away. Hm, well, it doesn’t have a solid point of view, it shifts from chapter to chapter, and it’s unclear at the beginning who is intended to be the main character. It has a very specific style, makes me think of an old high literature, with very little of anyone’s inner monologue until you get to the main character. If you’ve read Orson Scott Card before you’ll be able to get into the book pretty easily. I read it in two or three days, it’s only 261 pages - but worth a read, very interesting.
Currently Reading:
The Memory of Earth, Orson Scott Card.
…remember how I mentioned that problem I have? Yeah, it’s here again. So, Homecoming Volume I. I’m trying to finish it now, started reading it over the summer and put it down I don’t remember why. Card always has the most interesting concepts for worlds as a backdrop for his stories. Here on Harmony, there is no war; it is prevented by the Oversoul, which is actually a satellite put up by humans to regulate themselves so they wouldn’t destroy the planet. Interesting concept, no? Questions of religion and faith, free will, mental blocks and intelligence… I’ll definitely be getting the sequel when I get my library card up here.
The Memory of Earth, Orson Scott Card.
…remember how I mentioned that problem I have? Yeah, it’s here again. So, Homecoming Volume I. I’m trying to finish it now, started reading it over the summer and put it down I don’t remember why. Card always has the most interesting concepts for worlds as a backdrop for his stories. Here on Harmony, there is no war; it is prevented by the Oversoul, which is actually a satellite put up by humans to regulate themselves so they wouldn’t destroy the planet. Interesting concept, no? Questions of religion and faith, free will, mental blocks and intelligence… I’ll definitely be getting the sequel when I get my library card up here.
Wishlist:Something new I’m adding to the end here! Sequels I want to read and new books I’ve been recommended. (aka things I’ll get when I’ve got my library card.)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson.
Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindquist.
Shadowrise, Tad Williams.
Kushiel’s Chosen, Jacqueline Carey.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson.
Let the Right One In, John Ajvide Lindquist.
Shadowrise, Tad Williams.
Kushiel’s Chosen, Jacqueline Carey.
Recommendations, anyone?
Just Finished... Currently Reading...
Just Finished:
The Harp of Imach Thyssel by Patricia C. Wrede
I bought it because it was 3 for $1.00 deal with two others (as yet unread.) It looks like a cheap cliche sort of fantasy and I thought what the hell, shits n giggles right? Well… it’s actually not that bad. Once you get past the invented-names-with-too-many-vowels that I expected from this book, you see there is a decent plot. It is indeed cliche, but somehow I still liked it. It had the potential to be much deeper… and it might just be that I read too fast, or that the book is only 234 pages when I’m been reading 700+ pagers for a while now, but the story is rushed a bit. Certain things could have been better, but for a book that cost $2.95 in 1985, it’s good. I also doubt anyone has heard of it much for that reason too.
I bought it because it was 3 for $1.00 deal with two others (as yet unread.) It looks like a cheap cliche sort of fantasy and I thought what the hell, shits n giggles right? Well… it’s actually not that bad. Once you get past the invented-names-with-too-many-vowels that I expected from this book, you see there is a decent plot. It is indeed cliche, but somehow I still liked it. It had the potential to be much deeper… and it might just be that I read too fast, or that the book is only 234 pages when I’m been reading 700+ pagers for a while now, but the story is rushed a bit. Certain things could have been better, but for a book that cost $2.95 in 1985, it’s good. I also doubt anyone has heard of it much for that reason too.
Currently reading:Lord Foul’s Bane, by Stephen R. Donaldson
Yeah okay I’m giving this book another chance. I almost gave up on it again after a part that very much offended the feminist part of me, but I had to know what happened. The fact that I’m nearly halfway through this book and the main character still refuses to believe that The Land is real and he’s not dreaming is… amazing? Annoying? I’m not sure. The world fascinates me but I currently hate the main character Thomas. He’s just a complete and utter asshole. I’m keeping with this book a little longer but I doubt I’ll be trying to find the next book in the series.
Yeah okay I’m giving this book another chance. I almost gave up on it again after a part that very much offended the feminist part of me, but I had to know what happened. The fact that I’m nearly halfway through this book and the main character still refuses to believe that The Land is real and he’s not dreaming is… amazing? Annoying? I’m not sure. The world fascinates me but I currently hate the main character Thomas. He’s just a complete and utter asshole. I’m keeping with this book a little longer but I doubt I’ll be trying to find the next book in the series.
God Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert
I actually started reading this before I moved two weeks ago, but it’s pretty heavy reading so I’ve been on a pause. That and it’s quite jarring to have such a time jump and find Leto II so different. I trust in Mr. Herbert though so I’ll pick it up again eventually.
I actually started reading this before I moved two weeks ago, but it’s pretty heavy reading so I’ve been on a pause. That and it’s quite jarring to have such a time jump and find Leto II so different. I trust in Mr. Herbert though so I’ll pick it up again eventually.
Next Up:The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
Third in the series, I don’t have the time or money to devote to finding it right now. But I must know how it ends! Argh, cliffhangers kill me!
Third in the series, I don’t have the time or money to devote to finding it right now. But I must know how it ends! Argh, cliffhangers kill me!
Let the Right One in by John Ajvide Lindquist
I’m sure many have heard of one or both of the movies (American or Swedish) but how many have read the book? I haven’t, but I’ve seen the Swedish movie, and I’m intrigued. I want to go deeper; the movie was short on dialogue and completely lacking internal monologue. I wants it.
I’m sure many have heard of one or both of the movies (American or Swedish) but how many have read the book? I haven’t, but I’ve seen the Swedish movie, and I’m intrigued. I want to go deeper; the movie was short on dialogue and completely lacking internal monologue. I wants it.
Brightest Day by DC
Okay I know DC just rebooted and everything but I was super interested in what they were doing with that… I have a good number of the single issues but you can really only find variants right now, or just get the graphic novel - but again I don’t have the cash to do that. When I do though, graphic novel is probably the way I’ll go.
Okay I know DC just rebooted and everything but I was super interested in what they were doing with that… I have a good number of the single issues but you can really only find variants right now, or just get the graphic novel - but again I don’t have the cash to do that. When I do though, graphic novel is probably the way I’ll go.
Revival!
Right! So I have a new purpose with this. Books! All the Books!
I'm going to back-post all of the BookyBloggy things I've done on Tumblr, to here. Oldest to newest, go!
And then maybe I'll make a list of all the books that I own and recommend to others? Maybe.
I'm going to back-post all of the BookyBloggy things I've done on Tumblr, to here. Oldest to newest, go!
And then maybe I'll make a list of all the books that I own and recommend to others? Maybe.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
A Historic Sunday night
It all started as I was innocently watching an episode of Castle when Boyfriend called me on the phone to tell me that Osama Bin Laden is dead.
I brought up CNN right away, just able to hold back an "I don't believe you" as I read the headline. I refreshed Facebook and fifteen status updates told me the exact same thing. Bin Laden is dead. A Facebook friend had a link to live feed that would be showing Obama speech, so I brought it up, still in disbelief. The President confirmed what what already abuzz: Bin Laden dead; we found him in Abbattabad, Pakistan in his compound and killed him, we've got his body. I don't even want to comment on rhetoric. I want no negativity in this moment, this symbolic moment for America. It comes at a time when we very much need it. For legitimacy, for hope... Watching the live feed of the crowd at the White House is incredible. Chanting "U-S-A" and "Yes we did!" and singing "Na na na, hey, hey, hey, Goo-oodbye!" and cheering and clapping... it's such a display of unbridled joy and national pride I can't help but be caught up in it! Flags flicking back and forth madly, arms flailing about, camera flashes like fireworks... Not one minute after Obama concluded his speech I heard a firecracker and WOOO just nearby my apartment. I've heard a vuvuzela and a few cheers here too, even though it's after midnight on Sunday when everyone is passed out recovering from their weekend of partying.
Even though I know tomorrow will bring back the pessimism that Americans are so good at, I'm glad we have this time tonight to just be joyful that we finally did something right. I don't want analysis right now, repercussions, fears, cynicism... Just happiness. I was in 8th grade, just 14 when all of this started, I've spent almost half my life with this man's name associated with evil, death and fear. I wonder if the troops overseas are seeing this, what they're doing and feeling right now. And there is, of course, my Mom sleeping through it all in the other room, visiting for the night. I woke her up to tell her after Boyfriend called, and she was amazed for the two seconds she was awake. I wonder if she'll remember come morning and want to use my computer to find out all about it.
Oh and a new chant of "Fuck O-sa-ma!" started up for a minute, followed by more U-S-A. Heh. I'm all for peace and love, but sometimes a symbolic death is exactly what you need. Call me callous if you will, but it's nice to see people united AND happy for once.
I brought up CNN right away, just able to hold back an "I don't believe you" as I read the headline. I refreshed Facebook and fifteen status updates told me the exact same thing. Bin Laden is dead. A Facebook friend had a link to live feed that would be showing Obama speech, so I brought it up, still in disbelief. The President confirmed what what already abuzz: Bin Laden dead; we found him in Abbattabad, Pakistan in his compound and killed him, we've got his body. I don't even want to comment on rhetoric. I want no negativity in this moment, this symbolic moment for America. It comes at a time when we very much need it. For legitimacy, for hope... Watching the live feed of the crowd at the White House is incredible. Chanting "U-S-A" and "Yes we did!" and singing "Na na na, hey, hey, hey, Goo-oodbye!" and cheering and clapping... it's such a display of unbridled joy and national pride I can't help but be caught up in it! Flags flicking back and forth madly, arms flailing about, camera flashes like fireworks... Not one minute after Obama concluded his speech I heard a firecracker and WOOO just nearby my apartment. I've heard a vuvuzela and a few cheers here too, even though it's after midnight on Sunday when everyone is passed out recovering from their weekend of partying.
Even though I know tomorrow will bring back the pessimism that Americans are so good at, I'm glad we have this time tonight to just be joyful that we finally did something right. I don't want analysis right now, repercussions, fears, cynicism... Just happiness. I was in 8th grade, just 14 when all of this started, I've spent almost half my life with this man's name associated with evil, death and fear. I wonder if the troops overseas are seeing this, what they're doing and feeling right now. And there is, of course, my Mom sleeping through it all in the other room, visiting for the night. I woke her up to tell her after Boyfriend called, and she was amazed for the two seconds she was awake. I wonder if she'll remember come morning and want to use my computer to find out all about it.
Oh and a new chant of "Fuck O-sa-ma!" started up for a minute, followed by more U-S-A. Heh. I'm all for peace and love, but sometimes a symbolic death is exactly what you need. Call me callous if you will, but it's nice to see people united AND happy for once.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Anxiety is my best friend
It's happening again. I decide to skip class to work on this resume and cover letter for applying to Latin private school teaching jobs and... I panic. Overwhelmingly drowning in self doubt and fear. Every time! Every time I try to work on this I freak. That's why I've procrastinated so badly. I thought I had helped myself by recognizing this fear last time... doesn't change the fact that I didn't finish it then and I just freaked too much to write more than one sentence. I need to finish this today or I may never finish it. Why.... why am I incapable of this?
I also need to go to the grocery store and do laundry. Mundane life, I am not made for you.
I also need to go to the grocery store and do laundry. Mundane life, I am not made for you.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Brief rambling update to no one. Okay maybe not brief.
HolycrapI'mgraduating. In June. Everything is happening in June! Graduation, Boyfriend moves in with me, Ragnarok, possible full-time status at work, "real life".... I've already been taking care of my shit like real life is here though. It'll just get that much more scary once I don't have school as an excuse for why I don't have a real job. It'll be interesting to see how Boyfriend and I get along once we must deal with each other on a day to day basis. After nearly three years long distance... can we actually live together? Hell, we haven't even ever lived in the same city before. He's never lived on his own. I don't doubt he'll be fine but I expect some random unforeseen trouble. He's never declined to help out with dishes or other mundane crap when he's around, so, I take that as a good sign. I think in all honesty I'll be the one who has more trouble adjusting. I will have lived on my own from mid-March to the beginning of June. I'm sure I've already developed strange habits. I'm trying to keep up with dishes the way he already said he wants to, keep things picked up and not have random clothes hanging about in the living room or whatnot... I do struggle with that last bit tho. There are currently two pairs of pants and a shirt in here. I know his actual physical stuff won't take up much space. He doesn't own much, definitely nowhere near the amount of crap I have. He's just got a very small number of books and DVDs, some clothes, and his computer. Not bringing any furniture, no sentimental trinkets and crap like I have. (Which I know I need to get rid of it's just a long and painful process and I can only do so much at one time as they lose their sentimental value or I lose steam with cleaning and I swear to whatever god there may be that if he tries to speed up that process I will give him so much shit for it.)
Plus I have no idea where we'll be come September. The sublet is done at the end of August so we need to spend the summer job and apartment hunting. That's where the real-life scary thing begins. The uncertainty. I think I can only handle it because I don't handle it - I avoid thinking about it as much as possible in order to avoid a panic attack. Which I know I can have, since I've had one before. I don't think things will ever get that over whelming again, but it is still terrifying to remember. Gripping the edge of my dorm desk crying, and gasping for air, totally unable to control my breathing. I had to spend ten minutes just trying to get my shit together. That was the point in time I was about to change schools, my parents were getting divorced, I was involved with an asshole from six states away, and I thought my Grandfather was dying (I had just gotten off the phone with my mom who said I needed to come that weekend or asap to see him one more time.) Things have worked out quite well since then. I mean, it's taken a few years, but things are sorted out better. I don't have to deal with my Dad's freakouts over my Mom, that asshole is far in the past, I love my new school, I very much love my boyfriend now, and Grandpa is... well he's okay, but he's almost 93 so that's about as much as I can say for the guy. Doesn't do much these days, never really had any hobbies outside of work so he just... sleeps, mostly. That's another thing I try desperately, desperately to avoid thinking about. I'm the youngest grandkid. There are eight great-grandkids now. He. is. old. It's near his time to pass. It still crushes my heart and chokes me and blinds me with these stupid wet things in my eyes. I've been to a lot of funerals. But I was so young. I didn't understand, I didn't grasp it, hadn't been alive long enough, hadn't been around the people enough. Now? Now if anyone were to leave my life like that I would be beyond crushed. Knowing that my Grandpa will soon be leaving us doesn't and won't make it any easier to endure. I miss him already. He has a small stroke, and he hasn't been quite the same since. He doesn't tell stories anymore. I miss that more than anything. He is a good man. Was in the army band during WWII, barely avoided being shipped overseas, met my grandmother. Oh those old pictures of them... she was so lovely. I wish I had really known her. She was already slipping into Alzheimer's by the time I was aware enough to begin to understand that she was a person. It's hard when you live in a different state. Even if you drive over there fairly often it's still not the same. These previous deaths did not affect me so much because in truth I did not know them. My uncle, my aunt, paternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, any great-grandparent... I was too young and too far away to have known any of them properly. So knowing this, I have made more of an effort to see my grandfather. But now, it's so difficult, I... I can't even sustain a conversation. I can't hear me half the time, and I feel like even when he does there isn't much more to say. How can I tell him about my life, when he can't hear me, let alone begin to understand when I try to explain the concept of Dagorhir? I can't ask him about his life much either. He still has some trouble recalling words, from the stroke, and seems lost in his own sentences sometimes. He will be the first person I will truly lose and it terrifies me. There is no being ready for that. Even writing this the stupid water in my eyes threatens to take over completely, to lose myself in the streaming world of pain and loss, when he is not yet gone. It's one of the moments when I feel so much I cannot handle it. Even now as the wet recedes from my eyes my throat remains tight. There is some much written, filmed, etc about loss, but in reality... it's such an isolated world to be in. You become the center of your own universe filled only with your pain and longing, surfacing only to make a brave face for the world which truly exists.
Therapeutic, this writing is. It lets me experience the emotions without being consumed by them.
Times like this I wonder how much my writing is being influenced by my reading of Latin and translation of Latin poetry. It's such a different way of communicating from what I experience on a daily basis. My turn of phrase has become strange. And not just from Latin, but everything I read. I pick up words like mollify, erudite, or lurking. Then I use them in real life situations and it just throws people off. I think it is more acceptable to use these words in written form, but not verbal. We expect more from a book. And I wonder how I would be as a writer... undisciplined, writing in fits and bursts, I know that much from this blog here. If it were my profession... how would I handle that? Probably burn out quickly.
Instead I am striving for a different profession: teaching high school Latin. Hell if I know whether it's a good idea or not, but I think it's something I could potentially be good at. So I'm giving it a go. Applying for some private school jobs, in various states. If I don't get one, I think I'll go back to get my masters in Education. Either way I want to continue taking some Latin classes for myself. Wherever I end up. Maybe just auditing classes? I don't know how that works. But it's easier to focus on Latin if you have someone else to motivate you, like a teacher or a friend to translate with you. It's more than difficult to try and translate something on your own. Too much room for error, in my perfectionist opinion.
I think I've exhausted this creative burst. It is time for night to cover my eyes in sleep.
Plus I have no idea where we'll be come September. The sublet is done at the end of August so we need to spend the summer job and apartment hunting. That's where the real-life scary thing begins. The uncertainty. I think I can only handle it because I don't handle it - I avoid thinking about it as much as possible in order to avoid a panic attack. Which I know I can have, since I've had one before. I don't think things will ever get that over whelming again, but it is still terrifying to remember. Gripping the edge of my dorm desk crying, and gasping for air, totally unable to control my breathing. I had to spend ten minutes just trying to get my shit together. That was the point in time I was about to change schools, my parents were getting divorced, I was involved with an asshole from six states away, and I thought my Grandfather was dying (I had just gotten off the phone with my mom who said I needed to come that weekend or asap to see him one more time.) Things have worked out quite well since then. I mean, it's taken a few years, but things are sorted out better. I don't have to deal with my Dad's freakouts over my Mom, that asshole is far in the past, I love my new school, I very much love my boyfriend now, and Grandpa is... well he's okay, but he's almost 93 so that's about as much as I can say for the guy. Doesn't do much these days, never really had any hobbies outside of work so he just... sleeps, mostly. That's another thing I try desperately, desperately to avoid thinking about. I'm the youngest grandkid. There are eight great-grandkids now. He. is. old. It's near his time to pass. It still crushes my heart and chokes me and blinds me with these stupid wet things in my eyes. I've been to a lot of funerals. But I was so young. I didn't understand, I didn't grasp it, hadn't been alive long enough, hadn't been around the people enough. Now? Now if anyone were to leave my life like that I would be beyond crushed. Knowing that my Grandpa will soon be leaving us doesn't and won't make it any easier to endure. I miss him already. He has a small stroke, and he hasn't been quite the same since. He doesn't tell stories anymore. I miss that more than anything. He is a good man. Was in the army band during WWII, barely avoided being shipped overseas, met my grandmother. Oh those old pictures of them... she was so lovely. I wish I had really known her. She was already slipping into Alzheimer's by the time I was aware enough to begin to understand that she was a person. It's hard when you live in a different state. Even if you drive over there fairly often it's still not the same. These previous deaths did not affect me so much because in truth I did not know them. My uncle, my aunt, paternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, any great-grandparent... I was too young and too far away to have known any of them properly. So knowing this, I have made more of an effort to see my grandfather. But now, it's so difficult, I... I can't even sustain a conversation. I can't hear me half the time, and I feel like even when he does there isn't much more to say. How can I tell him about my life, when he can't hear me, let alone begin to understand when I try to explain the concept of Dagorhir? I can't ask him about his life much either. He still has some trouble recalling words, from the stroke, and seems lost in his own sentences sometimes. He will be the first person I will truly lose and it terrifies me. There is no being ready for that. Even writing this the stupid water in my eyes threatens to take over completely, to lose myself in the streaming world of pain and loss, when he is not yet gone. It's one of the moments when I feel so much I cannot handle it. Even now as the wet recedes from my eyes my throat remains tight. There is some much written, filmed, etc about loss, but in reality... it's such an isolated world to be in. You become the center of your own universe filled only with your pain and longing, surfacing only to make a brave face for the world which truly exists.
Therapeutic, this writing is. It lets me experience the emotions without being consumed by them.
Times like this I wonder how much my writing is being influenced by my reading of Latin and translation of Latin poetry. It's such a different way of communicating from what I experience on a daily basis. My turn of phrase has become strange. And not just from Latin, but everything I read. I pick up words like mollify, erudite, or lurking. Then I use them in real life situations and it just throws people off. I think it is more acceptable to use these words in written form, but not verbal. We expect more from a book. And I wonder how I would be as a writer... undisciplined, writing in fits and bursts, I know that much from this blog here. If it were my profession... how would I handle that? Probably burn out quickly.
Instead I am striving for a different profession: teaching high school Latin. Hell if I know whether it's a good idea or not, but I think it's something I could potentially be good at. So I'm giving it a go. Applying for some private school jobs, in various states. If I don't get one, I think I'll go back to get my masters in Education. Either way I want to continue taking some Latin classes for myself. Wherever I end up. Maybe just auditing classes? I don't know how that works. But it's easier to focus on Latin if you have someone else to motivate you, like a teacher or a friend to translate with you. It's more than difficult to try and translate something on your own. Too much room for error, in my perfectionist opinion.
I think I've exhausted this creative burst. It is time for night to cover my eyes in sleep.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Dragoons
Finally, at Ragnarok XV I beat it. It took me over the course of three years to do it. Every time there would be three different people as the dragon, so I would never know what to expect. I've been part of the dragon for others too. Ematai, Tari, and Dorian are the dragon here. It's florintine as the teeth and claws, red sword as the tail, and sword+board for the heart. (Add second florintine user, javelin wielder, and replace red with a glaive for the adult dragon.) It can be a very tough test of your skills as a sword+boarder, or you can cheese it with a glaive, which pretty much no one does. The three as the dragon must move as one. If one person of the dragon gets a leg chopped off, the dragon must pivot on that person. Same if one of the three dies.
It's part of the ranking system of the Legion of the Dragoons. It made me officially a Black Legion! There are other elements to go up in rank too... But the ranks aren't as important as the brotherhood feeling. We've got each others' backs. Hell, I went to Bishop's and Rowan's weddings. Probably Nichtmar's, and Rune & Tari's too, soon. They're an excellent bunch of guys and gals. That's Dragoon camp from last Ragnarok in the background.
I miss those guys so bad. I can't wait for Olympics in Indy in April.
http://www.mittelmarch.com/olympics.htm
Oh yeah, btw, Dag is awesome and I've missed it so much.
www.dagorhir.com
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Ramblin'
So hanging out in the hipster cafe/bar near my new place is quite interesting. Atmosphere, this place has. Got a guy with a sweet-looking acoustic here, gay guy straight-up dressed as a chick playing a tetris-like game on the NES, the only employee here appears to be asleep, and a number of people on computers (I'm one of them.) I love this place because it's full of books, cushy chairs, paintings, and pretty friendly people thus far (tetris-playing guy was super friendly.) It also helps it's a one-minute walk from home. Feels like hanging out at somebody's house, not a coffee bar. And a guy just pulled out his Mac. It's so hipster here! But I like it, strangely. My Boyfriend would hate it. Has said as much. I've got hipster friends though so I don't care so much.
It's so weird to not be living with anyone right now. Moved in over the weekend with Boyfriend, so night before last was my first on my own in the new place. I had a pretty hard time falling asleep. A bit of road noise, emptiness feeling, and thunder from the storm kept waking me up. Last night was a bit better. God I love the place though. Big and wonderful for a one bedroom! Boyfriend is right, it's too bad we only have it for six months. Ah but I can't wait until June - I graduate, he moves in, "real life" begins. I feel like I've been on the verge of real life for ages. Since I've been working the entire time I've been in college, not really having the "college experience" you see in movies... I think very few people do. More and more people live with their parents and work, hardly spending time on campus. ...it is the largest University in the country though so I guess a lot of trends are visible here, such as the bros, hipsters, etc. Anyways. I'm not sure how the next couple months will be. Last quarter at school. Moving up on the short ladder at my ice cream job (more responsibility with no pay increase yet.) Truly, honestly, living in my own place! I wonder how well my Boyfriend and I will live together. So much uncertainty, but so much hope. One of us will get The Real Job and we'll move to... wherever that might be. I'm not sure that I'd want to move up north from here. I really do love my city. AND I finally did find something that Boyfriend loves. This sub place you go to when drunk, to get more beer and ANYTHING on a sub. Like, Chicken fingers + mozzarella sticks + french fries + sauce. Freaking fabulous drunk food. I'm so happy he finally has something to tell his buddies about back home.
I think I'll end my ramble on that up note.
It's so weird to not be living with anyone right now. Moved in over the weekend with Boyfriend, so night before last was my first on my own in the new place. I had a pretty hard time falling asleep. A bit of road noise, emptiness feeling, and thunder from the storm kept waking me up. Last night was a bit better. God I love the place though. Big and wonderful for a one bedroom! Boyfriend is right, it's too bad we only have it for six months. Ah but I can't wait until June - I graduate, he moves in, "real life" begins. I feel like I've been on the verge of real life for ages. Since I've been working the entire time I've been in college, not really having the "college experience" you see in movies... I think very few people do. More and more people live with their parents and work, hardly spending time on campus. ...it is the largest University in the country though so I guess a lot of trends are visible here, such as the bros, hipsters, etc. Anyways. I'm not sure how the next couple months will be. Last quarter at school. Moving up on the short ladder at my ice cream job (more responsibility with no pay increase yet.) Truly, honestly, living in my own place! I wonder how well my Boyfriend and I will live together. So much uncertainty, but so much hope. One of us will get The Real Job and we'll move to... wherever that might be. I'm not sure that I'd want to move up north from here. I really do love my city. AND I finally did find something that Boyfriend loves. This sub place you go to when drunk, to get more beer and ANYTHING on a sub. Like, Chicken fingers + mozzarella sticks + french fries + sauce. Freaking fabulous drunk food. I'm so happy he finally has something to tell his buddies about back home.
I think I'll end my ramble on that up note.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
And so, a few months later, I give it another try.
But this is what always happens. I get fired up about something, get into it, do it for a while and.... it fades out of my conscious mind. Especially journal/diary things. It's kinda as if, I get excited, thinking that some potential future generation will find my diary and be amazed! I think I've had that idea ever since we learned about Anne Frank's diary in elementary school. I still find half-filled journals or 30 pages of writing that abruptly stops or just turns into a sketchbook. God I have so many sketchbooks, and I don't even draw anymore. I don't know, maybe it's all part of that ADD thing. Eh, it's also partly because it just got shunted down my priority list till it wasn't even on it anymore, since it's my Senior Year of college and all. Just three more months and I'm done with school. Like Properly done. Woah. Exciting adventures await! And terrifying job applications! That is one thing I've been working on; applying to a placement service to try to get a Latin teaching job in a private school. We'll see what comes of it; I still need to write a cover letter before I send it off. I'm moving at the end of this week, again, into a one-bedroom place. But my Boyfriend is moving in with me in June! It's all happening so fast now. And I got a minor promotion at work, no pay raise yet as that comes with the next level up, but I'm going to get that too in a couple months before I'm out of college. So that's good.
I originally meant to write this about Dungeons and Dragons, since that's what was on my brain in the first place, but then I got all caught up in the guilt of "Wow I haven't posted since January."
So be warned, massive amounts of dork you may not understand follow here.
And here's that DND:
So I'm in two different DnD groups right now, and both are excellent. One is 4.0, the other is 3.5. Now, hardcore DnD folks tend to rant about why their edition of choice is "the best." Whatever. I don't do that. I like them both, they are good for different reasons. If you want to be specific about combat and like supreme specialization and are good at maths, then 3.5 is the one for you. If you want to focus on your story, roleplaying, and more "talky" characters, or say "I just want to hit it" when your turn comes 'round in combat, then 4.0 is for you. They're just simply different systems for playing in the same universe. Whine about it all you want, I like them for different reasons.
Anyways. The Tuesday group is the 4.0 game, and the DM is an old friend of mine. We've had a rotating bunch of people but it's always me, him, and two other girls at least. We've had three other guys and two other girls join and drop out of the group for various reasons, and restarted the whole game at one point. But my half-orc barbarian Agga Kneesbreaker is still probably my all-time favorite character. Most of the time she'd be all "HUURRRR, I have axe. I hit things." but every once in a while, I'd see a good plan, and Agga would be all "Hey, hey, let's pretend it's a holiday and get all the goblins and the bugbear drunk, then we can go kill the bugbear in its sleep and steal the spider-gem and - " at which point I stop as everyone stares going "Agga says what?" me: "Uhhh.... get drunk?" everybody else: "No, it's a good plan, just, it's from Agga. What." and then we'd go with the plan, giggling about how Agga randomly was smart for two minutes. It's a good group.
The 3.5 weekend group (we've just moved from Sundays to Saturdays) is HUGE. Most of the time. It's not really consistent who is there from session to session, but it's always fun. Sometimes we have eight players, sometimes four. It all depends on who can make it. I think we actually have like two different games going at the same time with that group. One that's in the Underdark with all Dwarf characters led by Chris, and one that's free-play led by Woz. Both are excellent. Chris is one of those guys that's been playing for more than a decade and has an intimidating amount of knowledge, books, maps, and minis. Woz hasn't been playing quite as long but is pretty much the same. So that was intimidating at first, when Chris was all "I made 8 different characters to choose from in my spare time; do we need a paladin? I haven't played a paladin in a while." But then I realized he's just as big a nerd as the rest of us and extremely friendly, funny, and helpful.
I think the best part about DnD with both groups is that we don't take ourselves seriously. We relax, are willing to just dick around and joke, no rules lawyers in either group. It's a game! It's fun! That's what it's all about. It's being geeky and social at the same time. That's why I'm so glad that DnD has continued. Even when I don't have time in life for anything else geeky, due to work and school, I make time for DnD. It's an excuse to see my friends every week, and gives us something more to do than watch a movie or whatever. (You can only watch so many movies before you just want to freaking talk to someone.) Plus I just love dice; what's not to like? Pretty sure I'm just going to ask for dice for my birthday this year from my friends. I'd love to have a full rainbow like Woz and Chris. You wouldn't think about it directly, but that means buying yellow dice - and yellow dice always look sort of weird, awkward, or sinister to me. I don't know. It's a thing. But orange dice, yeah, those are pretty cool. But gotta love young, teenage me: my first set of seven dice was... glow in the dark. Hah! Do you know how useless they are? The numbers weren't even painted on! And of course I've lost my d12 of that set, probably due to my cat or moving too many times. The other dice I bought at that time were all d10s, because my high school friends and I just played the whitewolf system. Very different, by the way, from any d20 system. I've got usable dice now though. Flat, opaque green, grey, black, and blue. Those are mine. And Boyfriend gave me his old set, red flecked with black with blue numbering. Those dice carried him through YEARS of DnD campaigning, even saving this character's alignment and life by rolling a natural 20 once.
Right, perhaps enough rambling for one day.
But this is what always happens. I get fired up about something, get into it, do it for a while and.... it fades out of my conscious mind. Especially journal/diary things. It's kinda as if, I get excited, thinking that some potential future generation will find my diary and be amazed! I think I've had that idea ever since we learned about Anne Frank's diary in elementary school. I still find half-filled journals or 30 pages of writing that abruptly stops or just turns into a sketchbook. God I have so many sketchbooks, and I don't even draw anymore. I don't know, maybe it's all part of that ADD thing. Eh, it's also partly because it just got shunted down my priority list till it wasn't even on it anymore, since it's my Senior Year of college and all. Just three more months and I'm done with school. Like Properly done. Woah. Exciting adventures await! And terrifying job applications! That is one thing I've been working on; applying to a placement service to try to get a Latin teaching job in a private school. We'll see what comes of it; I still need to write a cover letter before I send it off. I'm moving at the end of this week, again, into a one-bedroom place. But my Boyfriend is moving in with me in June! It's all happening so fast now. And I got a minor promotion at work, no pay raise yet as that comes with the next level up, but I'm going to get that too in a couple months before I'm out of college. So that's good.
I originally meant to write this about Dungeons and Dragons, since that's what was on my brain in the first place, but then I got all caught up in the guilt of "Wow I haven't posted since January."
So be warned, massive amounts of dork you may not understand follow here.
And here's that DND:
So I'm in two different DnD groups right now, and both are excellent. One is 4.0, the other is 3.5. Now, hardcore DnD folks tend to rant about why their edition of choice is "the best." Whatever. I don't do that. I like them both, they are good for different reasons. If you want to be specific about combat and like supreme specialization and are good at maths, then 3.5 is the one for you. If you want to focus on your story, roleplaying, and more "talky" characters, or say "I just want to hit it" when your turn comes 'round in combat, then 4.0 is for you. They're just simply different systems for playing in the same universe. Whine about it all you want, I like them for different reasons.
Anyways. The Tuesday group is the 4.0 game, and the DM is an old friend of mine. We've had a rotating bunch of people but it's always me, him, and two other girls at least. We've had three other guys and two other girls join and drop out of the group for various reasons, and restarted the whole game at one point. But my half-orc barbarian Agga Kneesbreaker is still probably my all-time favorite character. Most of the time she'd be all "HUURRRR, I have axe. I hit things." but every once in a while, I'd see a good plan, and Agga would be all "Hey, hey, let's pretend it's a holiday and get all the goblins and the bugbear drunk, then we can go kill the bugbear in its sleep and steal the spider-gem and - " at which point I stop as everyone stares going "Agga says what?" me: "Uhhh.... get drunk?" everybody else: "No, it's a good plan, just, it's from Agga. What." and then we'd go with the plan, giggling about how Agga randomly was smart for two minutes. It's a good group.
The 3.5 weekend group (we've just moved from Sundays to Saturdays) is HUGE. Most of the time. It's not really consistent who is there from session to session, but it's always fun. Sometimes we have eight players, sometimes four. It all depends on who can make it. I think we actually have like two different games going at the same time with that group. One that's in the Underdark with all Dwarf characters led by Chris, and one that's free-play led by Woz. Both are excellent. Chris is one of those guys that's been playing for more than a decade and has an intimidating amount of knowledge, books, maps, and minis. Woz hasn't been playing quite as long but is pretty much the same. So that was intimidating at first, when Chris was all "I made 8 different characters to choose from in my spare time; do we need a paladin? I haven't played a paladin in a while." But then I realized he's just as big a nerd as the rest of us and extremely friendly, funny, and helpful.
I think the best part about DnD with both groups is that we don't take ourselves seriously. We relax, are willing to just dick around and joke, no rules lawyers in either group. It's a game! It's fun! That's what it's all about. It's being geeky and social at the same time. That's why I'm so glad that DnD has continued. Even when I don't have time in life for anything else geeky, due to work and school, I make time for DnD. It's an excuse to see my friends every week, and gives us something more to do than watch a movie or whatever. (You can only watch so many movies before you just want to freaking talk to someone.) Plus I just love dice; what's not to like? Pretty sure I'm just going to ask for dice for my birthday this year from my friends. I'd love to have a full rainbow like Woz and Chris. You wouldn't think about it directly, but that means buying yellow dice - and yellow dice always look sort of weird, awkward, or sinister to me. I don't know. It's a thing. But orange dice, yeah, those are pretty cool. But gotta love young, teenage me: my first set of seven dice was... glow in the dark. Hah! Do you know how useless they are? The numbers weren't even painted on! And of course I've lost my d12 of that set, probably due to my cat or moving too many times. The other dice I bought at that time were all d10s, because my high school friends and I just played the whitewolf system. Very different, by the way, from any d20 system. I've got usable dice now though. Flat, opaque green, grey, black, and blue. Those are mine. And Boyfriend gave me his old set, red flecked with black with blue numbering. Those dice carried him through YEARS of DnD campaigning, even saving this character's alignment and life by rolling a natural 20 once.
Right, perhaps enough rambling for one day.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Er, hello 2011
So, um, I'm not one for poetry. I don't read it. Except maybe when it's in another language, and then, that makes it a tad difficult. Well not with Latin because I can read Latin, mostly. But I'm not a fan of English-language poetry or poets. And I often feel poetry is egotistical and silly... which may have something to do with the fact that this thing I found on my computer was titled "my shitty poetry." Meaning I have no illusions about this at all. But this blog needs something and I feel like perhaps I do want to write. Write what? who knows. But starting with an edited version of a 3-year-old poem might be okay. I have to some day stop self-depreciating and try something. Even if it sucks. I'll learn to accept criticism on writing as I would a school paper.
p.s. I like Pablo Neruda and Catullus.
p.s. I like Pablo Neruda and Catullus.
I want
to be romantic
to write poetry and inspire it
have a muse and to be a muse
to be admired and appreciated
I want to be painted and drawn
And feel it's right, not egotistical to want these
I want you to want me!
Think I am the most beautiful, never want for another,
but see I am more than my body.
Tell me I am Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena
Tell me I am the only woman in the world,
Who draws your attention so
Tell me how I reflect these goddesses
Artemis, pure
Aphrodite, sensual
Athena, fierce and wise.
Tell of how you would lay tribute at my feet,
were I a statue, smoothed from white marble
your sweet voice raised in song
And deny me nothing!
Even as I am high on the pedestal,
let me be low on the ground;
deny me not my humanity.
Let me love the earth and walk on it,
As I am born from earth and water.
Sculpted from earth and water
Clay hardened by flames
and cooled by the zephyrs
Let me be everything at once
All elements as one, as it is to be human
Let me be wrathful and miserable
Let me be joyous, let me cry and smile
Deny me nothing.
As I fly high, let me remember the ground I tread on;
For I am a woman,
and my nature is many-faced.
Let me be strong and let me be weak.
Let me have the two-sided coin that is life.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
sneeze-teased
This might sound weird, but do you ever get sneeze-teased like I do? It's when you feel that tickle or itch that tells you, hey, time to sneeze and get rid of this shit... but the sneeze never happens. You're left with this strange tingling itching sensation in your nose and you know you've already made it apparent you need to sneeze or have a heart attack by making a face similar to this:
And then you become highly embarrassed and try to pretend it never happened but end up wigging out over the strange feeling in your nose.
It's almost like being denied an orgasm or something.
For me this is compounded by the fact that I have extremely loud and violent sneezes. I've had a whole room full of people turn and stare at me as my brains return from feeling like they were shoved into my eyeballs to their proper place. Even stifled, my sneezes try to explode my brains out my ears. Last week I was sneeze-teased all damn day and it drove me insane. Even blowing my nose didn't help.
A friend of mine has it worse though. She sneezes like a cat; short and in rapid succession. And she always sneezes at least three times in a row. Once she sneezed something like 10 times in a row. This is terrifying if you happen to be driving with her, you know, since you can't see shit when you sneeze. The idea of someone having their eyes closed for that long on a curved highway at 65 mph is mildly terrifying.
At least I don't sneeze from parmesan cheese like my Dad does.
 |
| Classy, no? How's that for a first photo of me? |
It's almost like being denied an orgasm or something.
For me this is compounded by the fact that I have extremely loud and violent sneezes. I've had a whole room full of people turn and stare at me as my brains return from feeling like they were shoved into my eyeballs to their proper place. Even stifled, my sneezes try to explode my brains out my ears. Last week I was sneeze-teased all damn day and it drove me insane. Even blowing my nose didn't help.
A friend of mine has it worse though. She sneezes like a cat; short and in rapid succession. And she always sneezes at least three times in a row. Once she sneezed something like 10 times in a row. This is terrifying if you happen to be driving with her, you know, since you can't see shit when you sneeze. The idea of someone having their eyes closed for that long on a curved highway at 65 mph is mildly terrifying.
At least I don't sneeze from parmesan cheese like my Dad does.
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Princess Bride Drinking Game
So I mentioned that we played the The Princess Bride Drinking Game over Thanksgiving break. These are the Rules:
Drink when:
1. Anyone says "True Love."
2. Wesley says "As you wish."
3. Vinzinni says "Inconceivable!"
4. Fezzik rhymes.
5. Inigo says "Hello, my name is Inigio Montoya..."
Drink when:
1. Anyone says "True Love."
2. Wesley says "As you wish."
3. Vinzinni says "Inconceivable!"
4. Fezzik rhymes.
5. Inigo says "Hello, my name is Inigio Montoya..."
6. Scene cuts back to the boy and Grandfather.
7. The Six-Fingered Man is mentioned.
8. The Dread Pirate Roberts is mentioned.
9. Any time Wesley defeats a new foe. (i.e. Inigo, Fezzik, fire swamp things.)
Please do note that I counted the times they say "True love" and it's fifteen. Don't ever play this with liquor, you'll die. Or at least vomit everywhere.
By the way, this is my favorite movie EVAR. I will watch it anytime, but especially if I'm feeling down. Cheers me right up!
I also have a couple other games... to Labyrinth and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (the latter you can really only enjoy if you play the game to anyhow - Willie's character is unbearable!) While playing The Temple of Doom one I drunkenly invented a new rule on top of the others called "BEEFCAKE! HARRISON FORD NOT OLD RULE." which is exactly how I wrote it down. My favorite in the Labyrinth game is one we didn't even realize we were missing until 1/2 way through: drink when you see the owl. You'd be drinking through all the credits at the beginning! We were very glad, sitting there with our wine, that we did not use that rule. There's also an Epic sounding game I haven't convinced anyone to play yet: Lord of the Rings. (weighted for the Fellowship movie.) So many prompts. Would be so good. Especially with extended edition! I generally find that around 7-9 prompts is quite enough for the average movie. Especially for one like Indiana Jones.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The time Boyfriend's cousin reminded me of Miss Crazy-Pants.
So for Thanksgiving I was invited to go "Up North" with Boyfriend's family. For starters, I thought this meant driving the 3 1/2 to 4 hours to Boyfriend's house, then another 2 or so north. Oh, so, so, wrong. It was another four from Boyfriend's house, not two. So that means around... eight hours of driving in one day. Literally in the car all day. Luckily I was not driving for the second half. I showed up at Boyfriend's house, went pee, loaded up Boyfriend's brother's car, and was on the road again in 15 minutes. Then we began an joke that would run through the whole trip. Boyfriend's parents had been all nerves, apparently. Parents said 1:30, so He'd told me to get there by 1:30, so I planned accordingly. But the parents? "Oh, when is Sam getting here?" and "Have you talked to Sam yet?" and "Where is Sam?" all the way up to the point where I walked in the door at 1:30 on the dot. No shit, on the dot. Boyfriend had responded "I said 1:30 Mom!" Every time they asked. Thus, any quiet moment or to make some silly point during the trip they'd say "When's Sam getting here?" to much giggling.
Anyways. Up North we went. And I mean UP NORTH - it was like we drove into winter. Snow on the ground when back home it had been 60 degrees the day before. Plus another two inches the first night. Oh and there's a Ski place up there called "Nub's Nob" which we couldn't resist for all kinds of jokes. So much fun.Boyfriend's Aunt has a condo up there and a neighbor let "us kids" stay in their rental condo, with the result of much videogaming and imbibing. Much Call of Duty zombie map, Waterfall, movies, Outburst, and Heroes of Might and Magic III. Four days of vacation bliss. Mostly.
The last night we were there, Friday night, it went as normal until 3am when Boyfriend, Cousin 1 and I were playing the drinking game to The Princess Bride. (Rules later.) It was around 3am that Cousin 2 came back from the other condo, drunk as a skunk and loud. Cousin 2 has been to Iraq as a soldier. This has resulted, as can be expected, some crazy-pants trouble, aka PTSD, which is Legit. War, PTSD, makes sense. What didn't make sense was how much he channeled Miss Crazy-Pants. You have to understand that it was 3am, we were all under various influences. This just made me that much more unprepared to deal with the SUDDEN INFLUX OF CRAZY in the condo. Cousin 2 made with the repetitive over-share, telling us exactly why he was so messed up because of a certain horrible thing that happened in the War. Then it was with the questions. That's the most horrible part of Miss Crazy-Pants type of crazy, because no matter what you say, it's not right. You can't dodge, they're insistent. Even when you say exactly what he/she wants to hear, it's not enough. The crazy train keeps rolling. Even if you repeat what they want to hear. I tried to dodge. Mistake! Sitting next to Boyfriend, I ended up cowering against him because Cousin 2 was leaning over me, invading my personal space (which is actually somewhat hard to do) and loudly asking me his questions. Far, far too much for my substance-addled brain and emotions to handle. Cousin 1 got him to back off by distracting him and I fled so fast to Boyfriend's and my room. Then Cousins 1 and 2 (brothers) stayed up until 5am talking, wrestling, boxing? and generally being loud.
So my real question is not wtf is wrong with Cousin 2 - because it's easy to infer PTSD - but more... wtf is wrong with Dad's girlfriend that she acts like someone with PTSD??
Aside from that one night of Mister Crazy-Pants I had a lovely time hanging out with Boyfriend's family and eating delicious food. I'd go back again even risking a little crazy.
Anyways. Up North we went. And I mean UP NORTH - it was like we drove into winter. Snow on the ground when back home it had been 60 degrees the day before. Plus another two inches the first night. Oh and there's a Ski place up there called "Nub's Nob" which we couldn't resist for all kinds of jokes. So much fun.Boyfriend's Aunt has a condo up there and a neighbor let "us kids" stay in their rental condo, with the result of much videogaming and imbibing. Much Call of Duty zombie map, Waterfall, movies, Outburst, and Heroes of Might and Magic III. Four days of vacation bliss. Mostly.
The last night we were there, Friday night, it went as normal until 3am when Boyfriend, Cousin 1 and I were playing the drinking game to The Princess Bride. (Rules later.) It was around 3am that Cousin 2 came back from the other condo, drunk as a skunk and loud. Cousin 2 has been to Iraq as a soldier. This has resulted, as can be expected, some crazy-pants trouble, aka PTSD, which is Legit. War, PTSD, makes sense. What didn't make sense was how much he channeled Miss Crazy-Pants. You have to understand that it was 3am, we were all under various influences. This just made me that much more unprepared to deal with the SUDDEN INFLUX OF CRAZY in the condo. Cousin 2 made with the repetitive over-share, telling us exactly why he was so messed up because of a certain horrible thing that happened in the War. Then it was with the questions. That's the most horrible part of Miss Crazy-Pants type of crazy, because no matter what you say, it's not right. You can't dodge, they're insistent. Even when you say exactly what he/she wants to hear, it's not enough. The crazy train keeps rolling. Even if you repeat what they want to hear. I tried to dodge. Mistake! Sitting next to Boyfriend, I ended up cowering against him because Cousin 2 was leaning over me, invading my personal space (which is actually somewhat hard to do) and loudly asking me his questions. Far, far too much for my substance-addled brain and emotions to handle. Cousin 1 got him to back off by distracting him and I fled so fast to Boyfriend's and my room. Then Cousins 1 and 2 (brothers) stayed up until 5am talking, wrestling, boxing? and generally being loud.
So my real question is not wtf is wrong with Cousin 2 - because it's easy to infer PTSD - but more... wtf is wrong with Dad's girlfriend that she acts like someone with PTSD??
Aside from that one night of Mister Crazy-Pants I had a lovely time hanging out with Boyfriend's family and eating delicious food. I'd go back again even risking a little crazy.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The time I lost a bird in my house.
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| This is said bird. |
A few weeks ago my roommate and his fiancée came inside and we're chatting normally, then he asks out of the blue for "a tupperware we don't use anymore" and I am immediately suspicious. I had no idea how right I was to be so. I gave him one we'd lost the lid to and he marched outside for some unknown reason. That reason was to bring a stunned wild bird into the kitchen.
If that's not a bad idea I don't know what is.
Since the bird didn't resist him picking it up and generally wasn't moving, we just put a paper plate over it with something heavy on it and let it warm up and gather it's senses. Then Roommate and fiancée go to Kroger for something or other, leaving me with the bird on the counter, blinking at me.
Of course, what do I do? Decide it should have some bread. What should happen when I lift the top? EXPLOSION OF BIRD AT MY FACE. I, of course, screamed and lost sight of the bird after it smacked into the wall and fell somewhere. I spent the next 5-10 minutes looking for the god-damned bird all over my apartment. Even upstairs. Because, you know, birds can fly. No success. Finally I opened the door hoping it would see the light and go for it. I was right. When on my next round of frantic "oh god there is a bird in my house" searching I moved the door, it flapped up again and landed on the screen door. Screaming a little again, I slowly opened the screen door and shoo-ed it out - it promptly flew right across the lawn straight into the neighbor's window and fell into a bush. What the hell. When Roommate and fiancée returned and I told them the story, he said something to the effect of "fuck it, that bird is suicidal. Darwin."
Psh. And he wouldn't let me bring the poor friendly cute cat in the house but he'll bring in a crazed suicidal bird? Where, I ask you, is the fairness in that?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Why I don't visit my Dad much.
Today was supposed to be a normal day. I visited Dad after visiting a friend of mine but.... Miss Crazy-Pants girlfriend exploded. Completely. I had Dad that page of photos and she just totally lost it. She was drunk at 3:30pm when I got there! She saw the photo page and just BURST into tears, sobbing and weeping, it was absurd. Weird happy-sad crying out of nowhere. It didn’t end there either.... just, oh my god, that visit right there, that bizarre uncontrollable unreasonable crazy, was one of the biggest factors in just needing to move out so desperately. So glad I live in this apartment and not with Miss Crazy-Pants now. Also I left there with a plant. I’m still trying to figure out that part – though I have no recollection of this, the spider plant was apparently once mine? All I know is that I’ve got one now. The other highlight of this visit was just before I left, when she said she had something to ask me before I went. Which was “Do I have your permission?” natural confused question followed: “For what?” Response: “To still be with your Dad, do I have your permission?” .... what. “You don’t need my permission, that’s between the two of you, I don’t have a say in this.” Her: “Yes. Yes.” I mistakenly though she was agreeing for a moment. “Yes I do need it! Do I have your permission?” When she gets like this it’s best to just go with the flow, because any attempts to reason with this weepy insistent beast will simply furth Oka y, yes, if that’s what you need, it’s fine, you can have it.” But somehow this seemed to be the wrong answer also! Tears filled her eyes and ind
All of that, plus the cigarette smoke, is the Primary reason I do not visit my Dad as often as I should.
Green Lantern Cake!
So we tried to surprise our friend for his birthday but then he ruined his own surprise party by inviting people out for drinks. Asshole. Anyways we all hung out and I made him a cake:
It's a fun-fetti cake-in-a-box under there. It was going to be a Spiderman cake, but then I didn't have any food coloring but I had leftover green... so Green Lantern yaaaaay! He's a comic book fan all around and DC is doing slightly better things these days than Spiderman anyways so.... I made the lines for the symbol with chopsticks and the lid of the icing tub. I felt pretty good about it.
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| In brightest day, in darkest night... |
And then he drunkenly fingered the cake
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| See the fun-fetti? |
And then we call ate cake with spoons stolen from the ice cream place after three people bought milkshakes right before they closed and a good time was had by all.
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| Observe decimated cake. |
And then I ate cake for the rest of the week.
The End.
The End.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Just so anyone can see how horribly tacky my Dad's Crazy-ass girlfriend is, I have photo graphic evidence:
So, yeah, she also has a cow obsession. And is overly patriotic in a bad way. It made me realize that yes, there is indeed a market for all that tacky crap you see in gift shops around the world. It's just one of those things you look at, shudder, and run away from quickly. Clearly the mind that would collect so many cows cannot be sane.
Not pictured: the cow objects in the kitchen, such as the paper-towel holder and Giant 3-foot-tall Cow Centerpiece.
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| The horrors inflicted upon this poor bookshelf! |
Not pictured: the cow objects in the kitchen, such as the paper-towel holder and Giant 3-foot-tall Cow Centerpiece.
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