Last year at this time, I wrote something along the lines of "Kiss off, 2006! You sucked!" I had promised myself that 2007 had to be better. And so it was.
2007 was sort of a rebuilding year. And that was fine by me. It wasn't the year of Broken Hearts like Miss J thought (although I did put a number of slashes on that post-it, most of them in hindsight complete knobs) or the year of Awesome Money or anything like that. It was filled with stress, career changes, some sadness at losing a roommate (2 blocks have never felt so far!), and educational challenges.
2008, I feel, is going to be huge for me. Just look at those round orbs! '08 will be great! (OK that was lame I know.)
Some quick resolutions:
Travel more.
This morning, we all sat around reading our horoscopes for the new year and while Virgos are going to have a year of BIG LOVE, Taurus-like people should be prepared to greet some foreign soil. Which is A-OK by me. I'm all ABOUT that. I'm hoping it's the soil of the UK and Ireland, so I can finally get this jonesing, which has been plaguing me for months, sorted. Of course, the problem with going to the UK is that I seriously might not come back.
Work at keeping in touch with loved ones.
Too many fantastic friends and family members fell by the wayside this year as I got all wrapped up in myself and my activities. Leading to far too many conversations of "I haven't talked to you in FOREVER!" and "I've missed you so much!"
Be more fabulous.
This means accepting myself for who I am and embracing it. It could also mean acquiring some elbow-length satin gloves and perhaps standing around fireplaces with dashing young men named Reginald and dramatically throwing crystal flutes of champagne into the fire after a few sips. I'll leave it up for interpretation.
Hope you guys have a brilliant new year. Catch you in '08!
Well, I did it. Not only did I do it, I completed the project a full month ahead of schedule. My goal was to read 50 books this year, and somehow I did it. Don't ask me how, what with school breaking my brain this fall and watching all that Doctor Who. Nevertheless, I managed to read 50 books in less than 52 weeks. Here's a rundown:
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory I read this book based on the recommendation from one of the numerous bloggers I read and having read Philippa Gregory's The Queen's Fool last year. I recently found out that the book is going to be made into a movie, so I'm curious how that will turn out.
Diary by Chuck Palahniuk (reread) Oh, Chuck. How I love you. And how well you hold up to multiple readings.
You're the One That I Want: A Gossip Girl Novel by Cecily von Ziegesar I...uh...OK, you know what? I never said it had to be a high class book or anything. Sometimes a girl needs to read fluff about snobby New York brats, their fabulous clothing, and sophisticated bitchery.
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris Oh god. Remember how I made an ASS out of myself when I met David Sedaris in October? Good times, y'all, good times.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood Hot damn, is Margret Atwood a good writer. I can't decide if this book or The Handmaid's Tale is my favorite by her. One thing I will say, is that Cat's Eye perfectly captures how vicious and rotten girls are to one another.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Witchcraft in Literature) OK, so Justine objected to Renee and I using books that we had to read for school in this project. Renee and I both essentially told her to kiss off. Tough. It's a book and it counts.
Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book compiled by Frank Warren
The Witch by Thomas Middleton (Witchcraft in Literature) Christ. Tolkien couldn't follow the plot of this play, there are so many ridiculous threads and characters.
The Witch of Edmonton by William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford (Witchcraft in Literature)
The Portable Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker Becky bought this for me and I devoured it in a weekend. I wish I was witty and clever and lived in the 1920s so I could be apart of the Algonquin Round Table.
Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman April Witch by Ray Bradbury (Witchcraft in Literature -- short stories, together I'm counting them as a "book") Ehhhh, a bit iffy here. I'm bending the rules with my definition of "book." But if you have a problem with it, I did some extra credit (see bottom of list).
Night by Elie Wiesel (Reread, for Creative Nonfiction) I forgot how devastating this book is in its simplicity. Killed me.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller (Witchcraft in Literature)
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (Reread) "It was really cool getting to meet you!" I hate myself.
The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike (Witchcraft in Literature) Dear Mr. Updike: You don't understand women at all. Still an interesting read though.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
Kathy's Story: A Childhood Hell Inside the Magdalen Laundries by Kathy O'Beirne Number 472 on the List of Bones I Have to Pick With The Catholic Church
Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue (Witchcraft in Literature) I really really loved this one. Got me all interested in reading other works by Donoghue.
Charm School Book One: Magical Witch Girl Bunny by Elizabeth Watasin (Witchcraft in Literature) Graphic novels totally count.
Harry Potter and The Prisioner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Reread, Witchcraft in Literature) JESUS. I got a little burned out on Harry Potter, having to read it for school. I had thought that it would be all fun, and that I wouldn't have to reread for class. But then I became discussion leader for the books and I had to and read them in a completely different light. Truthfully, it was kind of hard.
Girl With A One-Track Mind by Abby Lee Pure smut. Awesome.
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown So, disappointed by the lying antics of James Frey? Read this -- it's non-fiction, well written, AND 100% true.
The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Reread)
Drawing Down the Moon by Margo Adler I am well on my way to becoming a Pagan! I would like to point out that this book was impossible for me to read in a linear fashion. I have no idea why.
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits by Emma Donoghue
Touchy Subjects by Emma Donoghue I've become quite the fan. Donoghue is one of my new favorite writers.
Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth (Irish Novel)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Irish Novel) I couldn't help but think of the KitH and Monty Python sketches while reading this.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling Aww. The end of an era, you guys.
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce (Irish Novel) I had a deal with my Dad: If I had to read Joyce during the summer, so did he. He agreed. We shook hands and everything. Guess which one of us welched on the deal?
At Swim, Two Birds by Flann O'Brien (Irish Novel) Crazy, Post-modern, deconstructionist book. I hated it whilst reading it (my kingdom for a quotation mark!), but loved it given a few days distance. The book sticks with you and months later I find myself pondering passages.
The Commitments by Roddy Doyle (Irish Novel) Book is WAY better than the movie.
At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O'Neil (Irish Novel)
In the Forest by Edna O'Brien (Irish Novel)
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Ant Farm by Simon Rich
Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill
Only in Your Dreams: A Gossip Girl Novel by Cecily von Ziegesar They made a TV show out of it. So it can't be all bad.
Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle
The Know-it-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become The Smartest Man in the World by A.J. Jacobs From a recommendation by Charlie McCormick
Pope Joan by Donna Cross
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman Gee, thanks Stephanie. Because I needed ANOTHER dorky obsession.
His Dark Materials: The Subtle Knife by Phillip Pullman
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud Based on a recommendation from Mikey Likes It and indirectly for my Visual Literacy Class.
EXTRA CREDIT The Alphabet Versus The Goddess by Leonard Shlain (for Visual Literacy) His Dark Materials: The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman Doctor Who: The Sick Building by Paul Magrs That Huge Honkin' Compilation of Philosophy I had to read for Critical Theory Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella
You guys, I'm pooped. And curiously, on the lookout for new reads. Start recommendin'. 2008 is just around the corner.
It's that magic hour. Late Christmas Eve, full from dinner, post vigil mass. We're about to head off to see some of our oldest friends, but before we go, we're just hanging quietly in the house. The tree is lit and decorated. Everyone is relaxed and quiet. But the air is full of anticipation and possibility.
I hope wherever you are and whatever you celebrate you are with loved ones and are merry tonight.
A story about how a jackhole of a mechanic tried to convince me it would cost $800 to repair my busted car, when in fact it only cost $121 when I took it to my regular mechanic. So to everyone: I would like to hereby endorse RRR Automotive in Malvern for being awesome and not scamming me out of $700 right before Christmas. And also don't go to the Great Valley Sunoco. Because they will SWINDLE your ass.
How it is seemingly impossible for me to convince Jim, Stephanie, and Renee W. that I am capable of any of the following: attitude (but I did the finger wave and head bob!), anger, meanness, or lying. True, by the end of the dinner I had promised to make Jim cookies and revealed embarrassing stories about pudding wrestling, but STILL. I really really promise that I can be just as cold, cynical and black-hearted as the rest of the population. It's just that when I'm with Jim, Stephanie, and Renee W. I don't want to be. So they only see my good side.
How Stephanie and I are made of WIN. We had ourselves a Whosmas this week and presented each other with rocking Whovian gifts. I am now in possession of a rocking WhoScarf as well as action figures that I have delighted in arranging in slashy poses. Because I am twelve. Stephanie and I are seriously considering catching a flight to London on Tuesday so we can watch Voyage of the Damned. Because that's going to take FOREVER to get to the States for reasons that I can't even comprehend, and we need to invest in learning how BitTorrent works like right now so we can get our Whofix.
How I've been a bit of a movie fiend lately. Recently viewed: No Country for Old Men, The Golden Compass, and Sweeney Todd. All good, all worth the price of admission. The Golden Compass you should read before you see though, as it will enhance your viewing considerably. If you want to develop bizarre crushes for psycho killers (and you will, oh yes, you will) than No Country for Old Men is for you. And Sweeney Todd is just gloriously bloody and ridiculous and disgusting, and fantastic because it's a musical about killing people and grinding them into food. And also: Cameo by Anthony Head. Next on the list is Juno and Atonement. Looking forward to 2008 and The Dark Knight since Heath Ledger as the Joker looks nothing short of deranged and I say yes.
How our Christmas tree (which Mike totally picked out, I blame him entirely) attacked me and Kelly while we were trying to put lights on it. The thing fell over on us no less than three times, leading to Kelly and I covered in sap and eventually lying under the tree trying hack off an errant branch with a serrated bread knife.
I foolishly thought that I would be able to relax this week since school is over, but instead it's been all OmigodItsChristmas panic!
P.S. — Show Renee some love. Girlfriend just finished her thesis, and she is awesome. Unfortunately, I was late to her reading since my car decided to behave like a jackhole. Still, she killed. Way to rock it.
I decided to pop out briefly for lunch today, since I had a free salad coming to me from Salad Stop. 88.5 WXPN is my default radio station when I'm not listening to my iPod, and as I was pulling out of my parking spot, I heard this tiny little voice talking and it sounded so familiar. "Who is this?" I asked myself, "I know this person!"
Helen Leicht continued the interview and facts came out one by one: From Pittsburgh, went to school in Baltimore, majored in Jazz guitar. "NO WAY!" I said as it clicked into place. And then the clincher: Used to work at The Point.
"EEEE! I know this girl!" It was Nicole Reynolds. Back before we had Montana Mike, we had Old Roommate. Nicole, who is about the sweetest, shyest, most unassuming girl ever, dated Old Roommate for ages and practically lived in our apartment in Ardmore. Towards the end of the Old Roommate reign, things were tense and Kelly and I had more than one conversation where we wished we could trade Old Roommate in for Nicole, who was much easier to live with.
Anyway, Nicole is now achieving some success with her music and rightly so. She used to spend hours in Old Roommate's room fiddling with her guitar. Girl's quite talented. She's playing on Thursday night at World Cafe for Musicians on Call, a community outreach that brings live music to the bedsides of the sick at local hospitals (told you she was sweet). She also has a CD release party soon at the Tin Angel. So you should go, is what I'm saying.
