Sorry.

Major almost-two-months blogging failure.

The rest of Advent went well. The Christmas market not as fun this year as last.

January has been tear-my-hair-out crazy-busy. Lots of work to do, hardly a minute to myself. (For example: I had four meetings on Tuesday of this week, and worked straight through from 9:30am-11pm). Still, somehow I'm enjoying it. Minus the number of nights I've only gotten seven hours of sleep. Which includes tonight.

For your reading pleasure:

Crown of Dust by Mary Volmer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is incredible, mesmerizing, magnificent.



In the late 19th century, a young man arrives in Emaline's town of Motherlode, a small mining start-up near the grass valley. Alex, the young man, is running from a past he doesn't want to remember, and hiding a secret that could ruin his life, and take his freedom. For Alex is not a young man, but a young woman. The story is about Emaline and Alex, and all the other inhabitants of Motherlode, with their many desires, ambitions, dreams, cares, and problems. The setting is a poor town with plenty of water in the creek and enough gold to keep the miners panning, but not much else. A town with an unfinished church, and a wild but mostly decent population.



The story is told through the viewpoints of many of the inhabitants. It is told in the present tense, which is something I just encountered (for the first time?) recently. It takes some getting used to, but it adds a completely different flavor to the story and the plot. It makes the dust and the rain of the town and the cares and hopes of the protagonists more immediate, and separates memories (told in the past tense) from the current storyline.



The writing is more calm than fast-paced, but the book still achieves an un-put-downable quality (there is still action aplenty). The characters are top-notch, wonderful, realistic creations that drive the plot and truly make the story fascinating. Near the beginning of the second half, I started to get a little impatient, and maybe didn't do justice to some of the non-Alex-related happenings. At first I was a little concerned that Alex might have forgotten his origins as a young woman, but she still narrates the story from a young woman's point of view, even though she admits it is easy to think of herself as a young man.



Final word: The ending is So. Good. Sogood.



View all my reviews

November Resolutions.

I've been neglecting this blog. I feel vaguely guilty, but only vaguely, because I don't actually have time for concentrated guilt. If you've been waiting for a post, my sincerest apologies.

I know most people write down their resolutions on New Year's Eve (or Day), but as I've never really felt a connection with that "holiday", I decided a couple of years back that resolutions were better made during periods of change in my life. So, I made resolutions in February, after I quit my job and applied to grad school. And I made new resolutions when I got to grad school. And now, I'm going to re-do them again, because I'm burning out, and I need a new perspective like tuna need deep water.

I'm not alone, either - a lot of my fellow second years are also struggling with motivation, workload, expectations, and the bleak career future. Lots of us are also struggling to juggle the other brightly colored balls labeled "student jobs" and "volunteering." So. Here are my resolutions, which should last throughout the rest of the academic year, and maybe beyond, but I sort of expect to be making new ones as I furiously hunt for a career-related job after graduation.

1. Grad school does not equal life. This also falls under Keeping Perspective. I will work toward an even work-life balance that includes twice-weekly exercise (soccer and swimming, for now), solitude, recreation with friends, eight hours of sleep, time outside, and household chores, in addition to schoolwork and volunteering responsibilities.

2. I will eat healthily, and at home. For many reasons, most importantly a shortage of disposable funds, and health and comfort.

3. I will get out more. I have a habit of staying home, but that never leads to adventures. I require time outdoors and in the company of others in order to be happy.

4. I used to work only when I could focus 100% on the work I was doing. Meaning, if I was hopping on and off Facebook, Gmail, and Google Reader, I wasn't working efficiently, and I might as well take a break and come back to the work later. This works when I don't have more work than I do focus, which is sometimes the case, but does wonders when I have time for focused work and relaxed breaks.

5. Do you find that music alters your mood? I do. Sometimes, I think it makes focusing more challenging. Thus, I will try to listen only to productivity-enhancing music, such as classical music, when I am working. The latest Florence + the Machine album is reserved for strictly non-working hours.

6. I will prioritize my responsibilities to other people, over responsibilities to classes and assignments.

7. I will spend less time in front of my computer. 

The underlying foundation for all these resolutions? I only have this one life to live.

No sign of little elves.

One month later, and I realize how dismally I've failed in my goals. The first, the experimental advent calendar, got to be too much halfway through December. Next year I'll have to scale it down. Maybe I'll listen to one Christmas song per day, or write one Christmas memory each day...

Random thought: My new favorite song is Nil Na La by Solas.

My other failed goal, is to practice writing. That's ultimately one of the reasons I started this blog, and one month without writing anything is a poor showing. "That's alright, nobody's perfect."

So if I were to offer any excuses for not writing, they would be grad school applications, krav maga, job-hunting and job stress. February 1 will see me with finished applications and no job. Absurdly, I'm quite happy about that. Perhaps I'll even write more.

I took my favorite boots to the cobbler today to have them re-heeled. They're Italian, and I've been walking on the wooden heel for months now, ever since the rubber layer rubbed away on the brick and pavement sidewalks of DC. The shop is this little whitewashed closet on the corner. One side is covered in rows of boots and leather shoes and military issue, and the little stool where the cobbler works can be seen through the big picture window facing the street. The other side holds a dry cleaners. No sign of little elves. Happily re-heeling is "greener" than throwing them away and replacing them. Cheaper, too. The heels are going to cost me $16.95, which I figure is a good deal, since the wood needs replacing as well. I hope they get polished.

Maths

Today I discovered, yet again, while working on scrap paper that I keep around to re-purpose before throwing it in the recycling bin, that I still can't do math. I forget that I'm supposed to multiply and add instead. The simplest addition problems slip quickly into mire, and don't add up. Proportions don't even out. And let's not even discuss geometry.

That's okay, you might say. In life, math equals not such a hugely important skill. Plus, if it's wrong once, you can always redo it, or have someone check it.

I take the GRE tomorrow morning. Gulp.

Excuses, Excuses

Okay, a short confession. I haven't been writing recently because I've been unmotivated (surprise), but also because I've been trying desperately to focus on studying for that evil test, the GRE. So far, have had mixed results.

I have plans, but this is not the venue to mention them -except maybe the one where I win the lottery at 100+ million dollars...

To briefly update: The ghost ship was fun. One of my friends, very easily scared, had an excellent time, and made it more fun for me, going through with her. Everyone Metroed, so I guess that's green. Halloween night itself was one of the biggest nights I've had in a long time... there's something about having a DD (thanks J) that provides an excuse for drinking too much. Next time I think I'll offer to drive! The best highlights: "bloody" stumps of finger cookies with almonds for fingernails, flipping every cup on the first try, and the awesome deejaying of my friend.

Since then, my life has consisted of Emergency Margaritas, too much math, and getting beat up and returning the favor in my self-defense class. The first and last of which help keep me sane.

Hello, Newsies! What's New?

Ten points if you can reference that quote.

So I've been real lazy lately, which is why my last post was posted exactly two weeks ago. So here's a little update:

1. I needed new sheets, because my bamboo fiber/organic cotton ones are falling apart on me. This time, I did not buy organic. Or even sustainable. Nope, I went for the sale items.

2. HAPPY OBAMA!!! I didn't venture into DC because I hate crowds and cold weather, but saw an amazing inauguration and inauguration speech via television. Obama struck a very inspirational note, and I especially appreciated his appeal to the people, to get involved and take part in the fugure of change - change we can believe in.

3. It's still too, too cold. I've been spending far too much time indoors to avoid freezing. I must think of other alternatives.

4. The Caps, though playing a great game in my opinion, which I state as a new hockey fan, still learning the more detailed aspects of the game, gave up the game on a bad turnover followed by a very unwise penalty. Of course, I'm not attaching any blame - nobody's perfect, and if one was, one would be boring in the extreme.

5. The green in my life has not been a very bright, opaque shade of green lately. It's been more o a foggy, translucent green. Although, I have managed to keep all my houseplants alive and most of them healthy. I also still don't own a car, so I walk and take public transportation... but there have been no new efforts of late. Aside from #6, I suppose.

6. Lately I have taken to eating healthier, which includes doing my best to not ingest pesticides, and to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, and "superfruits" such as goji berries (not my favorite, though I'm sure they'd be alright in trail mix) and guava (no luck on that yet as Harris Teeter doesn't stock them).

In Search of Wool Slacks

After searching through three thrift and consignment shops for a nice pair of wool slacks that actually fit me, have resigned myself to the realisation that I need to buy them new. Have come woefully close to finding just the right pair, and have failed each time.

Shopped at the largest Goodwill I have ever been in, where I tried on several things and ended up with one... for a whopping $5. Gotta love thrift stores for economic wardrobe-updating. Unless one is looking for a nice pair of wool slacks.

Off to the January sales soon... no doubt to spend too much money on more new clothes...

...

Never claimed to perfectly adhere to the Ideals of Green.

Welcome 2009!!

Happy New Year!

I had a great time last night, but must confess I didn't have fun as green-ly as I could have. What with the weather (Chicago/St Andrews style winds and cold, cold temperatures), high heels and a nice dress, I opted not to walk much - and took taxis instead. I did Metro in to the city, and shared my taxi with others, but in warmer weather I hope to walk/Metro more. Unless I forget to invest in lower-heeled shoes. Which could happen.

The first taxi ride involved much hilarity - we called two, and got them after some confusion ... but there were nine of us. Which made the second cab awkwardly full. Our driver, a character, muttered about getting into trouble for having four people squished uncomfortably into the back seat, and asked one of us to duck down. So three of us took turns, the guy maintaining that it would give the game away to have one guy in the back, then just girls, and then a guy again when he traded ducking positions with one of us girls. I laughed so hard I cried, and most likely smudged my oh-so-carefully-applied mascara.

New Year's Day I plan to spend home, watching plenty of sports on TV (two hockey games and soccer and the Rose Bowl!!) Maybe I'll walk to the grocery store, and maybe I'll starve... In all, a greener day in the transportation department.

Post 55: Wherein the Author Finds She Has Too Many Books, and Resolves to Walk to the Library Instead

As usual this holiday season I've received at least one gift card to Barnes and Noble, a present that is always welcome, no matter how many times I receive it. I will always use a gift card on books. Most people who know me, know this.

My dilemma this year is as follows: I live in a tiny room, with only one bookshelf and one wall shelf. Although in my childhood room my books overflowed the bookshelves, I had four of them. And more space for overflow, such as windowsills, a window seat, and a very large desk. (NB: I have many many more books than I will ever need!) I occasionally bring even more books to my apartment from my childhood home, but have to start moving them the other way or my room will be positively overrun by books! Furthermore, I have decided (finally) to start cleaning out my room in my mom's house. So I need to stop buying books. Seriously. Being not only a reader but a bibliophile and a pack rat complicates this goal.

So how do I spend this gift money without buying more books? DVDs are a good alternative. There are even a few I want. Though I shouldn't start stocking up on DVDs, either.

Instead of buying books, I'm going to attempt to borrow more from the library. Even if it does mean I have to spend even more time outside in the cold, walking to and fro. Walking is good, it's healthy. So is fresh air. Which I will be telling myself every time I go.

Doesn't solve my gift-card/too-much-stuff problem, but it might prevent me from buying all the books I'd like to read, and I can focus my attention and money on buying the books I really will read more than once, and will really love. Some of the books I've taken off my old shelves this holiday have made me wonder why in the world I had to have them years ago. Others, old friends, read at least half a dozen times, will hopefully be with me until I settle down, wherever/whenever that happens.

Randomly, I don't think I've mentioned that I was completely impressed by Simeon Varlamov's first two games between the pipes in the NHL - and am looking forward to seeing him in net again soon! What a talented young man.

Going Green at Wolf Trap, With the Backstreet Boys!!

I realize this makes me uncool in the extreme, but I definitely enjoyed myself last night at the Backstreet Boys concert.

Before you laugh so hard your drink exits through your nose, however, let me just point out that the concert was sold out, and attended by people of varying ages. And too many teenie-boppers in too-short dresses. But nevermind.

Girlicious started off the evening with hip hop beats that 'featured' stars like Sean Kingston (they made a recording, so he was there digitally, at least). For the uninitiated, Girlicious was created by the Pussycat Dolls. Essentially the same band, with maybe one fewer member and ten fewer years on them.

Then we waited, and waited.... and waited. Finally the house lights went down, the stage lights went up, and a voice announced... the Backstreet Boys! I still can't believe I actually attended their concert. To start, it was sort of a joke. "Ha ha, wouldn't it be funny if..."

Much to my surprise, they are (still) very good performers. They even opened with a blow-up boxing rink, where they did their uniform dance moves and pretended to battle. The dancing did not disappoint. Same stuff they used to do 10 (15?) years ago. Of course, they sang the classics (I'm sure everyone knows what they are ;), and plenty of songs I hadn't heard before (I wasn't that big a fan as a pre-teen). They all have their own solo thing going on now, so they sang some songs individually - AJ's had to be my favorite. At one point, he even came out wearing a Run DMC t-shirt, which I found particularly interesting. Some of his dance moves ought to be checked out on YouTube, if there are any videos up.

Throughout the whole concert there was much screaming, clapping, arm-waving, and singing, as there should be at any pop concert worth its speakers. And, to finish the night off on an especially good note, we left before the traffic got so bad we would have had to spend an hour in the parking lot. All in all, a very good, if late, night.

I feel I should also mention that Wolf Trap's concessions stands have gone green, with all biodegradable plastics and glass and plastic recycling. If you don't mind that they're made out of corn that people all over the world could be eating, go ahead and waste your money buying food in plastic containers at Wolf Trap. Though it is more fun to bring your own picnic (drinks and food allowed into the park).

Confession #1

I threw out a yoghurt cup today.

I could have used it to hold flowers in a too-large pot.