The awesomeness of my weekend...

I hung out with DC, of course.
Friday, after he picked me up from school, we went to Kingsport to a curiosity shop owned by his friends, Tod and Dagny, which he has been promising to take me to for some time. I bought a journal and a pair of earrings and DC bought me a gorgeous pair of sterling silver and blue quartz earrings that are supposed to cleanse my aura ^_^. They’re gorgeous, I don’t care if my aura is dirty lol.
We then headed to downtown Johnson City where we hung out at DC’s friend Brandy has a café, which, my boss, littlestpenguin has told me about before but I never made the connection (I’m bad about that). He just said hi and looked around. Brandy invited us to her Halloween party this Friday (it’s supposed to be 21+ but I am loved and can come if I want as long as I’m not drinking big-girl drinks lol).
We then met up with William and went to eat at Russos where my beloved Kristie works. Sadly she could not wait on our table since she had a wedding party to wait on. I feel bad for the waitress that got us because we were more rambunctious than the ten students form ETSU nearby. (This is mostly due to the fact that William had to be a smart ass about how hot he wanted his Jambalaya and was dying from the heat…and needs a girlfriend to vent his “frustrations” with.)
After eating (DC and mine together was $50 O.O but that’s cause he ordered 2 bears, and 2 meals lol) we checked out what was going on at the Hideaway then moved on to the Acoustic Coffeehouse, which, sadly, was also hosting a wedding party so it was pretty lame (good coffee though).
So DC and I headed to his house where he built a fire up and we cuddled and roasted marshmallows and were disgustingly cute ^_^ and me wearing my gorgeous earrings of course!

Saturday…DC made me a big breakfast of biscuits and gravy and eggs and sausage and apple butter…mmm…then he napped for about 4 hours O.o while I did some laundry and watched Autumn in New York (I cry every time I watch that stupid movie). After he woke up around 4:30 we got ready and went back to Brandy’s café ( I think it’s called something Treasures…bah my memory sucks, I just call it Brandy’s). There we had some terrific coffee and DC and I each had our cards read by June (the co-owner).
My tarot reading consisted of looking at different things as far as school and career are concerned instead of having a one track mind; mending my relationship with my mother; an unexpected event (The Tower) coming but with my stable emotions and intellect (The Empress in my corner) I should get through it. June hated to give me bad news, I could tell she felt really bad for it and kept saying if I ever need any help t feel free to ask. She also said DC and I were really good for each other and that he will help me emotionally and I should help him to focus more on himself instead of spreading himself thin helping those around him.
After that (at around 8:30) we headed back to DC’s where he made pork ribs, mac n cheese, and fried potatoes (one of my favorites).

Sunday was a day of cleaning, realizing I had spent too much money over the weekend, and sleeping.

The Prolepsis Project

I’m so excited
(I’m over my stomach flu first of all, finally)
My project proposal for my composition class has been approved!
I’ll be writing a 10-12 page essay (with 10-20 sources) on Steampunk!
If you are interested in my project check out the blog and the forum
www.steamgirl-prolepsis.blogspot.com
www.prolepsis.proboards.com

Steampunk and School do not mix

A lot going on lately.
School is insane. An important essay and a test Thursday, Midterm grades coming out (gulp), and I’ve been given the next Essay assignment which is 10-12 pages AND I have to have audience interaction!
Essay 3 will be on Steampunk: fashion, art, and subculture. My audience interaction will be a forum and a blog (I’ll be trying to contact a few of the movers and shakers of the movement and get them to post if I can). My goal? Writers Forum at the end of the year. I want to dress up as my steampunk character Professor Almira Humphries and give a sort of dissertation on Steampunk.
For now…
I’m dealing with a stomach virus that my roomie and I both are suffering from (ew) as well as some idiotic high school drama going on with some people I thought were friends…(le sigh).

My Steampunk RP forum Victoriental Anachronism
http://voanachronism.proboards.com
Join Join Join!

Also: I’ve been working on my photography, most of its natural stuff from the park and the river with a little of Granny’s garden in there and of course a few pics of DC. They’ll be on my deviant art DecemberNocte.deviantart.com
Alright I have to get back to 17th C poetry and the French Revolution…Bleh

What a Weekend...coming down from the high

What a weekend!
I attended Dancing in the Dark’s Villain Ball Friday night and was able to finally go to sleep Saturday night at ten. Yea…I’m a little sleep deprived.
The Villain ball was pretty awesome. I had meant to dress as Mrs. Lovett of Sweeny Todd but cannot find my skirt that I needed so I just went as myself, which is scary enough I suppose. At the ball there were a lot of villain’s I didn’t recognize (including a few form Adult Swim tv shows). One of the DJs came as a failed suicide bomber (giggle giggle).
Everything went great aside from a few bad elements that stumbled in from the neighboring hip-hop night next door and a few from our own group that many of us could have been happier without.
The after-party was less than wonderful. It was supposed to be invite only for those of us that are friends so that we could catch up (since four of us have been away for months) and see Revrin’s new house (which is AMAZING). However, Revrin in a drunken slip invited everybody at the Ball…uh oh. There were at least thirty cars at the house (and that’s with car pooling) and the basement areas were packed for the most part. Many of us were unhappy but we dealt with it and were able to have a good time.
Revrin’s land lady is awesome for not being aggravated by us.

Aside form that the weekend went on when I got back to DC’s house at 8am. We hung out, me reading Fellowship of the Ring and working on a research paper on the Tuatha De Danann and DC playing guitar. Sunday was spent napping mostly, and playing Cute Knight (an addiction…).
It’s really hard to go back to the mundane after a weekend like I had. School and work are a little strange, especially when I’m loopy from lack of sleep. My friends keep telling me to nap…instead I’m updating on here and working on my new Myspace account (had too much unwanted stuff on the old one as well as an e-mail account I can no longer log into). Sleep…who needs sleep when I have caffeine?

I'll Be Teaching!!!!

I’ll be TEACHING! Gasp, I know, who let me have that much power?!
Ok, here’s what’s going on. Next semester I’ll be teaching a House Course on Jane Austen going over four of her novels (Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Lady Susan) along with some biographical info that I’m getting off a few sites online.

I’m so excited to be teaching and teaching something I’m enthusiastic about. Already I have a lot of people on the campus wanting to take the class so I hope I can get the Hopwood or Welshimer room of the Library to use for the classroom (aside form taking everyone outside on really pretty days once spring hits).

Long time no post...again...

So I have to admit that the more that I hear about a friend of mine’s wedding the more I want to get married myself. It will be about two more years before I can marry DC (however, if it were up to him we’d be at the courthouse right now signing papers). I already know what I want, pretty much in detail and Kathy, my future-mother-in-law thinks I’m a nut but is happy for me and very supportive of DC and I.
The finny thing is I am not to the only one in this situation. The wedding planner and best friend of the friend I mentioned before is thinking about getting married too and she, like me, is going to have to wait at least two more years.
Blah I think waiting can be deadly.

So It has been a long time since I’ve posted I know, forgive me.
I’ve been busy with school and boyfriend and work.

Lately I’ve been working in the college library archives creating Today in (College Name Here) History and typing up letters from 1910. I love my job. Its perfect for a geeky introvert. My boss gives me my assignment (preferably not running books from the basement to the second floor and back) and we talk about DragonCon, web comics, and other such matters. Mostly it’s quiet and I’m surrounded by books and the musty smell of old paper while I decipher the handwriting of the college’s founding fathers. Love it!

The Presidential Election has hit another height since I last posted. Welcome the VPs into the media frenzy. It gets to the point where I reach apathy and want to throw a rock at the TV. I mean, really, there isn’t a politician who isn’t crooked and won’t say whatever they feel will get them elected. I don’t trust either candidate at all and that ont top of the fact that people’s votes don’t count is why I am not voting. Perhaps this year will be Nadar’s chance?

Update of School Life

Life at school is hectic and busy.
So far classes are alright excepting a few small things that I hope won’t become problems (especially in my math class; blech).

HORNETS ARE EVIL
A hornet flew into DC’s truck and attacked me yesterday. I got stung twice (on the ear and on the thigh) and as our friend Tim said “I’ve never seen her cuss so much.” Poor DC took very good care of me and petted on me until the double dose of Benedryl started working then left me on the couch to watch Sense and Sensibility (YAY Emma Thompson!) while he and Tim hung out in the kitchen.

RAVE
We of course all know Jane Austen is one of the most amazing writers ever. Northanger Abby is my favorite so far because I can definitely relate with Christina Morland (and her overactive imagination). Now I’m reading Sense and Sensibility and loving it a great deal. The movie was great with such amazing actos as Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant (who could say no to that?!).

Confused. Is Rhianna trying to become the black female Marilyn Manson? Can anyone explain her (sorta) new video to me?

Back At School

I’m sorry to have been negligent of my blog for so long. I’ve started back at school like I’m many of you have or have children who have. So far so good. I get to spend a bunch of time wit DC and have a great roommate/suitemates. My classes are mostly core requirements but I’m trying to be enthusiastic about them. Still getting used to the cafeteria food, I’ve come to be very grateful to DC’s cooking or requests to go to a restaurant.
So that was the overview of my letters home…

Eastern Tennessee has to be one of the most beautiful places in America. I’m not one for landscapes usually or farmland, etc, etc. However, I could look at the mountains here forever. From DC’s kitchen window while I sit on the sofa and read I can see perfectly spotted cows grazing on a gold and green hill and the background is a hazy blue-gray of mountains and sky. I just sat and stared for a while until DC’s mom interrupted my musings to ask what I found so interesting in the kitchen. My little college campus is settled in a nest of low mountains with each cluster of buildings on a hill looking like little churches or beacons. In all it’s very picturesque. I revel in the simple beauty and know why I was consumed with homesickness for my three months at my parents’ house.

Jane Austen

As I have mentioned I am reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen for a second time and have purchased the movie when I saw it on sale. I’ve decided that I do not think Kiera Knightly is not who I would have chosen as Elizabeth Bennet. I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head who might be better but preferably someone who seemed more intelligent and less pretty, for Elizabeth was meant to be seen that way.

Two Jane Austen Blogs have caught my attention: Jane Austen Addict and Jane Austen Today. Be sure to check them out.

What Austen book I will read next I haven’t decided yet. Perhaps someone could point me in the right direction. I’m thinking Emma but I hear Mansfield Park is wonderful too…

Book Review

Sorry I haven’t posted in a few days but as I’ve said, my family is dealing with a bit of drama that encourages me in my belief that if we had a reality tv show or some sort of sit com based onus we’d make millions.

Review
I’ve just finished Sisterchicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn. It’s number seven in the Sisterchicks series and, though I have no intention to read the rest of the series, this book was marvelous. Two best friends, Kellie and Liz, who are in the “autumn of their years”, are taken to Europe by a cunning little old woman, Opal. They go through many adventures: pancake races, crazy cabbies with illegal tours, tea at the Ritz, and being questions as a terrorist by the police. There are tons of allusions to British literature in this book which is exciting to literary addicts like myself.
This book has made me so excited about being able to see London next year. (For those of you not in the know, I’ll be going on a 28 day tour of Europe next year). In the British theme I am now working on A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith.

Update

I’ll be dealing with a lot of personal stuff for the next few days so expect sparse blogging.
Tomorrow I will probably be hanging out with a bud of mine to distress a little bit and show her around the city; more on that when I get in tomorrow night.

Turns out my Grandmother does not like tea so the tea gift basket is a no go. She says she’s a coffee and water girl…whatever that means…So now I’m in search of another gift idea…maybe being out and about tomorrow will aid my process.

The Problem with Gifts...

Quote
If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing.
-- Kingsley Amis

Reading
Ruby by Francesca Lia Block and Carmen Staton (for the second time)
A Walk With Jane Austen by Lori Smith (and I keep referring back ot Pride and Prejudice)
Sister Chicks Go Brit by Robin Jones Gunn
Romancing Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson
Adam Bede by George Eliot
…yea I have a full plate…

Love! Crafty Gal’s Organizer Journal. This little organizer is by Journals For Life ™ and they are so cute. Journals For Life also makes an Academic, Professional’s, Mom’s Plan-It, Get Fit! Diet and Exercise, and Project: Domestic Bliss Organizer Journals. Crafty Gal’s Organizer Journal has five sections: Crafty Notes, Supplies, Inspiration, Planning, and Viola! I love its cute cover and nifty sections as well as a “IF Found Please Return to (Name and contact info here)” section in the front. Definitely check these out.

So I think I have settled the dilemma on what to get my step dad’s mother for Christmas. This has been a problem since my mother met her mother-in-law. My Grandma is somewhat intimidating and a little high minded so a bad gift could get a really starch and stoic response, thus making my mother very upset for months, even years later.
So I’ve taken it upon myself, as beloved granddaughter, to find a gift. At first I was set on our store’s Grandmother’s Bible but my step dad and I think this is really only for new grandmothers so that idea was shot down sorta quick. Now I’ve got it, a tea gift basket! They’re cute, quaint, and proper.
So I set out on my search for the perfect basket. I knew I wanted one with a teapot and that I ought to get a tea that I enjoyed as well (I’m not a fan of Earl Grey or English breakfast tea) for fear that she would want me to share a cup of her gift and I would either have to gulp down a cup of something I hate or admit that I can’t stant the gift I’ve given. Here’s the one I think I’ll get. I love Irish Breakfast tea and it has a tea pot as well as an assortment of treats. The down side: I don’t know if I like clotted cream and it has scone mix (I’m not sure giving her a chore of baking is a good idea). Tell me what you all think.

Crazy Blog Post

Post I made at Lazy Blogger’s Post Generator [ here ]

Crikey! I just twigged that I have not updated this since last month... You would not believe the fairy dust I have to clean up. Seriously!.I am overwhelmed with feeding the little people, being distracted by the shiny, just generally being a Darling to every Lost Boy that crosses my path, my day seems to be a litany of stuff and giggles from the light through yonder window breaks to midnight. I am totally loving it, dudes. life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.I make a solemn vow I will write something that makes sense soon. Go with God, good friends. This is for my ever faithful, devoted public..

Boutiques and Raves with a mild Rant

Knitting is Knotty…
So I’m told. Today I visited Magpie Yarn [ here ] in downtown Lexington and now really wanna learn how to crochet or knit or something with the amazing collection they have there. Who cannot love soft, beautifully colored balls of yarn? I’m just sayin’…
I’m definitely not the domestic type but I’m definitely not going to pass up anything that could possibly be pretty and promise me some awesome accessories so knitting, I’ll give it a chance.
When checking the shop out I met a very pleasant woman, who I never got the name of but I’m guessing its Jane Homeyer, the owner. (If not, tell me your name hun, I think you’re amazing). The shop holds classes and she says that the shop welcomes those who just want to come in and sit and knit for a while (how homey can ya get?).
BTW the site is easy to navigate, and I for one will not even take the time to learn how to use a site if I have to (lazy I know).

Magpie Yarn is right there in a square of amazing boutiques such as Out of the Box featuring funky jewelry, art, and very cool clothes. There’s also The Black Market, another boutique with great shoes, books on the craziest stuff and art, mini Buddha candles, etc, etc.
Also check out Sqecial Media. Sqecial has the largest boutique like store I’ve ever seen in this region. They have boks (old and new), clothes, wall hangings, candles, incense, jewelry, and just rows and rows of stuff! I was able to get my hands on Francesca Lia Block’s Hangman and Ruby today (YAYAYAYAY!) as well as a bumper sticker for my laptop that says Faith:verb which I certainly think is awesome.
Downer to boutiques: Incense induced headache/dizziness.

Rave
Handmade paper! So today, looking around boutiques and all I ran into a lot of different handmade products, including journals (my addiction). Reading about handmade paper was super interesting too. Apparently the stuff is made from Lokta, a plant that regenerates way faster than trees (6 years I think) and is way easier on the environment that way. So cool ya? Plus handmade paper looks great and feels really nifty.

Rant
Starbucks. So they want to help the environment?
1) Why aren’t they using Fair Trade Coffee?
2) Why don’t they have recycling bins in their stores?
3) Why are they using paper towels in their bathrooms instead of hand dryers?
I mean, really?

Rant

Un-Christian
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/nov/03/a-momentous-shift/I found this article through Stumble and was like, “oh hey, we sell that book.” After reading the article I’m reminded yet again why I’m aggravated by people, both Christian and non-christian alike. Everyone is judgmental, even the hippie-I’m all for everyone to be happy people. Jesus, Ghandi, Buddha, and so many really cool peeps said a lot of stuff about love and a lot of stuff about how to live but they all were down on the judging others thing. Everyone should look at themselves before they tell someone else how to run their lives and try to be an example not a dictator (Hitler’s bad ok). Sure, if you see someone looking for some guidance give ‘em a hand don’t cram a bible or a torah or a whatever down their throats. Sheesh. BTW this book sounds pretty cool…I’m just sayin’.

Today...boring title i know

My friend K is heading to LA! Next week she’s going through the next stage of Hollywood’s Best New Talent. There will be a song part then two monologues, comedy and tragedy. She’s super excited and so am I, for her. My prayers are with you K!!!

JUST got my hands on Lisa Samson’s third Hollywood book!!!! Romancing Holllywood Nobody promises to be an amazing ride with Scottish hotties (I miss my beloved DC) and new adventures.
Publishers Weekly says
“One of the most powerful voices in Christian Fiction.”
I say one of the most powerful voices in fiction! Anyone can get in on this great story not just Christian readers who frequent Family Christian Stores and Lifeway.
I’ll be sure to get my review up asap!

IZZE
So I’m going into RITE Aid to get my mom some cigs and a 3Muskateers when I’m looking at the drinks area (parched form work) and there are these nifty bottles of soda promising real fruit and it has a cutie flower on the front. I bought the bright orange one and tried it. IZZE’s Sparkling Clementine drink is awesome! It’s real fruit without preservatives or caffeine! It’s sorta like an Italian soda and it comes in Blackberry, Pomegranate, Clementine, and other fruity flavors. Check it out!

SerendipiTea has the cutest lil site! The front page looks like a collage of vintage tea stuff and it totally made me love it immediately. The company is also a sponsor for many organizations like The New York Women’s Foundation, Fair Trade Certified, and Co-op America. How cool is that? Check out the site when you can, each section has it’s own really cool lay out.

Coffee Coffee Coffee

So I’m a big fan of coffee, though I have had to switch to tea after bouts of ulcers and kidney issues but I still haven’t fully abandoned my first love. I mean, who could turn their back on lattes, mochas, machiattos, etc.
In tribute to this love I have found some great sites and places to share with you.

First lets get this out of the way
Starbucks
Yes I drink Starbucks, I like Starbucks, and Yes I know it costs a lot.

Coffee Education
Coffee Research
Everything you ever wanted to know about coffee and then some. This site has information about buying coffee, coffee defects, the making of coffee, and where coffee comes from. With over 300 pages of facts you’ll never loose at coffee trivial pursuit…good idea for a game in my opinion.

Baxter’s Coffee
Site
Located in three areas around Somerset, KY Baxter’s Coffee has that down home feel of a simple treasure with a bug business style that rivals Starbucks. Baxter’s has a great variety of coffees and teas as well as smoothies, blitzes, sandwiches, and soups. If you’re ever in the area check the place out.

A place with more opinions and facts about coffee than me?
Check out Coffee GeekMuch like Coffee Research, Coffee Geek has tons of information about coffee except with some stuff that the common person who isn’t buying international coffee can use. The site also includes How To’s.

Decor Designs Books

Top Design
September third
YAY so excited. I loved Season 1 and got so many design ideas.

Speaking of design ideas
Tiana made the cutest Parisian bedroom with all kinds of amazing details [ here ].
I love these rooms and ideas; makes me want to gut and redo my room all over again even though I just did it in Roman theme last summer…
I do get to design a dorm room with my new roommate this year ^_^ Red and Black will be our themed colors I think with lots of Emily Strange lol.

Quote
Love is a canvas furnished by Natureand embroidered by imagination
Voltaire.
I found this quote on a site filled with quotes on love { here }

Reading
Life, Libby, and the Pursuit of Happiness by Hope Lyda
Adam Bede by George EliotI still haven’t really found a book that I can fall into yet, and probably wont until I can get my hands on Book 3 of the Hollywood Nobody series…or a great book falls into my lap. Lets hope eh?

Coffin Jewelry Box DIY

Picture Here

I'm sorry if my instructions are incoherent. I've never been good at explaining things but it all makes sence in my head.Also, the above coffin jewelry box is a little messy. I'll post a prettier one soon.If you are using Super Glue make sure that the room is ventilated. I didn't and I was a little dizzy after a while.
Materials
Cardboard (mine's from a cereal box)
Printer paper
Scissors
Tape (duct or wrapping tape)
Super Glue/Art Tacky
Paper clips
Fabric (mine was scrap from my cousin's halloween costume)
Gems, lace, etc as decoration (i used quartz b/c it was lying around)

1. Cun a coffin shape from some printer paper. Mine was 5 inches long, 3 inches at the wides, 1 inch at the shortest width. Make sure its symmetrical. If you need to fold the paper down the middle once you cut it out. This will be your stencil.
2. Use the stencil to draw the coffin onto the cardboard. Measure out 1 and 1/2 inch out on all sides and creat a rectancle from each side of the coffin shape. This will be your coffin base.Use the sencil again on the cardboard and measure out 1/2 ince rectangles on all sides. This will be your lid.
3. Cut out the cardboard coffin shapes (DO NOT CUT THE RECTANGLES OFF THE COFFIN SHAPE). Fold along the boarders of the rectangles and coffin shape and tape each corner together a couple of times for stability.
4. Cut the fabric into a coffin shape large enough to cover the coffin base, sides and fold in. Then glue the bottom of the base to the center of this fabric (careful if you're using super glue, i got it all over my fingers >.<)
5. Once the bottom dries fold in the fabric (good gift wrapping skills come in handy here) and glue alogn the insides one side at a time. Once the fabric of one side is down use the paper clips to hold it until dry. Repeat.
6. Do the same with the lid only do not glue the top of the lid to the fabric as the glue shows through a little. Instead glue the fabric to the inside of the lid only. Use small paper clips to hold here.
7. Use stencil to cut out fabric for the inside bottom of the base and inside of the lid. Glue.
8. Decorate once dry.
Tell me if you need more of an explaination.

Cars, Diners, and Pollution

1948 Ford Convertible [ check it out ]
I have found my dream car.
Last night I went with my parents to a car show in Georgetown, KY. My dad frequents theses to sell Chrome insurance for antique and exotic cars. After eating at the amazing Sam’s Diner (where guys that look like bikers and girls that look like teeny boppers in tees serve amazing home cooking) we walked around to check out the show. This is where I saw my dream car. A 1948 Ford convertible in a chocolatey red-brown with a cream colored interior. It couldn’t have been better with whipped cream and a cherry on top. It’s perfectly wonderful.

Speaking of Diner…
Sam’s Diner is amazing. Very home-town good food with so many interesting characters I couldn’t help but get into a writing mood. The head chef looks like he’s part of a biker gang and the owner is sorta burley himself. We sat at the bar, the best seats in the place in my opinion. The head waitress asked us to watch the boys in the back and tell her if they were slacking.
While sitting there, looking around the décor, I decided I want a kitchen decorated like a diner with metal antique signs, diner counter tops with funky stools, and all. I think it would be awesome.

Rant
Pollution
Ok, so we hear all the time about how selfish, horrible Americans created Global Warming and all that jazz because we waste and pollute. This week’s Weekly has an article on China’s pollution. A few facts: Beijing has 40% more smog than Los Angelas (you can even taste grit when you breathe in the air; many Olympians have pulled out, feeling their health was more important than competing), China produces a 3rd of the worlds garbage (only 10% of which is recycled), a majority of China’s rivers are polluted, and 20% of Chinese babies have defects due to pollution.
I’m not saying America shouldn’t do it’s best to try and make our world a cleaner place. The world and it’s care is in the hands of all people. We should be encouraging others to do their best to do what they can.

4:30 AM Review

4:30 AM
I just finished Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson. Why at 4:30 in the blessed AM? I woke up at 3:30 without any reason and was wide-awake. I hat e it when it happens but I get a lot done at this time without parents or other parts of my brain to bother me, however, I get hungry real quick and there’s no way I can fix food without waking the rest of the house.
So…

Hollywood Nobody Book 2
Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson is just as awesome as the first book if not more. I am usually frustrated with sequels, feeling like there are too many flashbacks or explanations from the first book or that the characters are so unalike it could be a totally different book all together.
Finding Hollywood Nobody has none of the usual sequel let downs. Scotty is still Scotty (gotta love girls with boy names) and her adventures in Texas are no less exciting than those on the coast. This time Scotty learns a lot about prayer and it is all very realistic, as opposed to the idea of her just getting saved and everything goes great like so many Christian books out there. There are a lot of surprises in book 2 and I expect more to come in Book 3: Romancing Hollywood Nobody.
Lisa Samson has one of the greatest series ever in her wonderful head and I am so happy to have found these books (and to be from the same hometown as where she’s thinking this stuff up, how awesome is that?!).
I’m telling you if you haven’t picked up on these books yet you are totally missing out!!!

I’ll be traveling today, going to see my grandma for a while, so don’t expect my normal multiple posts, at least not until tonight. Hope to come back to some commenting (please?).
Much LoveFaustina

Fun Stuff

Yesterday was a great and yet hectic day.
My mother and I like to have our days together where we usually frequent Barnes and Nobles where we get some coffee and roam the store looking for books to sit and do some free reading. However, yesterday this did not happen.
After a doctors visit that lasted from 9:30am to noon (most of it waiting) we met up with my step-dad for lunch at Johnny Carinos. Let me just say the Bowtie Fiesta is amazing but what isn’t amazing when coated with an asiago cheese sauce? After lunch we got my passport ($125!!! For what? A booklet mad eof cardboard and a really bad picture of me?) That passport better be really cool looking when I get it in 8 weeks.
After the errands were run Mom and I hit the Goodwill in the swanky area of town. I found a Nintendo shirt that’s never been worn, a pair of jeans that fit ok, a rose print top that is too tight in the chest turns out but has some great fabric, and an Anime boy shirt that’s gonna become my new pj top ^_^ since it can fit two of me.
We also hit Gordmans since they were having a sale. I got 3 bubble-gum bright color tops, a pair of black jeans with leather trim that are too cute, and a hot brown leather jacket that looks like it could have been worn by a female Dean Winchester (from Supernatural).

That’s enough about my shopping extravaganza. Good news about the doc? I lost nearly 18 pounds! I’m so excited. My goal is to get back into my old clothes, and my beautiful size 8 jeans I got at Rave 2 years ago.

Project Runway
So, yes I’m a Project Runway addict, along with Top Chef, Gilmore Girls, No Reservations, 30 Min Meals…well you get the point. I hardly get to watch TV when I’m at school so summer time is my time to really get into my shows.
Even though I can’t imagine these new guys can trump my favorite Season 3 I can’t help but love a few of the contestants.
Suede is awesome, who can’t love that blue Mohawk!? Plus he seems super sweet and has some great style, I mean he did just win the Green competition.
My other beloved is Kenley. She looks like se stepped out of The Great Gatsby with that classy look of hers which she definitely puts into her clothes. I can’t help but think of Sweet P from Season 4 a lil and think it would be cool to throw them together and see what they would create. What do you think?
Stella, oh dear, Stella. I love leather and I love her style so I’m excited to see what she’ll create. Blayne, the idiot with the stupid name and even worse designs, really she be quiet even though Stella was cool enough to take his words with a laugh.
I’m so excited about this season ^_^

Malan’s words on the Green competition are great. He has great expectations for Daniel, the loser of the competition. He also suggests that Suede should have used a more environmentally friendly tulle in a cotton or even a silk gazaar. Pretty good idea, but still Suede’s dress was oh so cute! (squee!)

Vintage Popcorn

Popcorn is an anti-depressant! Popcorn and whole grains have tryptophan in them, which combat sarotonin that makes you feel down. So the next time you come home feeling a lil down pop a bag of popcorn and veg out!

Quote
“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.”
Benjamin Franklin in Toronto Globe

Check out Tiana’s blog [ The Vintage Dresser ] it has lots of cute vintage DIY stuff with a ton of pictures. I wish I was as nifty at sewing, but I’m learning. I love her apron, makes me think of Alice in Wonderland. Besides, who can’t love people from Washington state? I lived in Tacoma for a few years and I loved it, can’t wait to go back and hang in the rainy, coffee addicted land that is Seattle for a few weeks.

Cutest Bedroom ever!
I’ve never seen a bedroom more cute than this outside a doll house. The frills and cuteness is perfectly wonderful without being over-the-top. Check it out! Pretty Petals' Bedroom

Heading out for a day on the town tomorrow, depending on how things go there may not be a post till Friday.
Love and Peace.Faustina.

Excited

Rave
Just discovered a new band, Inhabited! The cover of LOVE reminded me a ton of a modern day Blondie with the pseudo-hippie chick on the cover and the bold LOVE in 80’s font-style. The songs are very Garbage meets Gwen Stefani meets Christian Rock. I’m Lovin LOVE! Check it out when you can!

I’ve become one of the many going onto Bluefly [ here ] and attempting to win the $10,000 shopping spree. My goal is a pair of Jimmy Choos patent black flat boots that are oh-so-cute and I could never afford them, even on bluefly, without the shopping spree. It’s eating my soul!
I’m just sayin’!

Check out the Post Punk Kitchen! [ here ] They have tons of vegan/vegeterian recipes, a cool web layout, and a THEME SONG! Too cool as far as I’m concerned and I’m dying to try out their vegan ginger ice cream and their chocolate bomb pudding cake (who can not want something with the words chocolate and bomb in it?). Tell me what you all think.

She Who Eats [ blog here ] has some great blog posts and great pics of food. Check her out and tell her Faustina sent you.

So I just found out that Lisa Samson, author of Hollywood Nobody Series live in my hometown (that’s Home1 for those of you keeping track)! So excited!

Computer Rant and Rave

My laptop is finicky, but, thankfully, not nearly as finicky as the store computers where I work. My laptop is really just high maintenance, which I, as a high maintenance gal, cannot fault it for. Regularly I have to restart so long as I want to listen to my music and avoid problems saving my Word documents. It’s an ACER TravelMate, meaning it’s neither top-of-the-line nor cute but I’ve done what I can putting stickers from Gloomth fashion, Underworld movie premiere, ChristianGoth.com, Dancing in the Dark (the club night DC helps run), and a Jesus Freaks logo that I grabbed at work. My parents aren’t a big fan of stickers on something they paid 200 dollars for, much like they don’t like bumper stickers on cars, but after I explained the miracle of a hairdryer on adhesive they lightened up.
The computers at work are another story entirely, making me appreciate my laptop all the more. The system we have not only is horribly dinosaur-ugly but it’s major finicky. If I don’t put in a title or name just perfectly the system gives me nothing and makes me start all over again, taking up a bunch of time that a back button could save and making customers frustrated with me (pouts).
My beloved laptop, which I am thinking of naming Elaine (nerdy I know), is finicky but understands me. If I put in an artist’s name wrong my system will still take me to some options that I might have meant and offer a back button so I don’t have to start all over again.
There’s something poetic about an understanding machine. There’s nothing poetic about work computers who are about as understanding as a receptionist at a free health clinic handing out paperwork then handing it back without a word if you spell February wrong and making you do the work all over again.

Threadbangers and Lip Balm with some Music and Books for Spice

RAVE
"World's Best Lip Balm" and I agree! Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer is amazing. I am not a lip gloss wearer but since this glistens like gloss but wears like lipstick I was willing to give it a try. I bought Champagne since I wasn't looking for a lot of color and love it, buying more even today. The color is great, the balm moisturizes and there is even a tingle of peppermint oil that makes my friends and I smile every time we put it on.

Quote
some people are like slinkies, perfectly useless, but pushing them down the stairs makes you smile~Unknown.

Music
I grabbed a CD today, The Lonely Hearts’ album Paper Tapes. Cool album cover with neat-o vintage font caught my eye initially then the fact that they had a song called Mermaid. I dunno why it is but I’m a sucker for songs titles Mermaid or having to do with Mermaids. Having said this I only know of one other song having to do with mermaids and it’s by Jimmy Hendrix. So far the CD is sorta soft-core alternative with the vocals of Coldplay. I haven’t decided if I like it yet.

Books
Discovered Melody Carlson’s new book today; A Not-So Simple Life, book one of Diary of a Teenage Girl series. I know I know, it sounds a lil Lifetime/Family Channel but after reading the back and page one where I was informed that this bi-racial daughter of an 80’s star making a come back and a swank shop-aholic just finds out she had an aunt and the aunt dies, I was sorta hooked. I love dysfunct, I crave it just as much as Lisa Samson’s Scotty (Hollywood Nobody) craves and thrives on the normal. Speaking of my beloved Nobody! I just got my hands on Finding Hollywood Nobody today and outside of blogging and talking to DC (who I am missing like mad) I am reading it voraciously. Thank you God for putting me in Family Christian Stores when these babies were being stocked!

RAVE
I found a great lil How-To video through StumbleUpon [ here ]. How would you like to learn how to make a Sweeney Todd Dress with cheap?! I know I would! I’m so trying this out! Plus, the group that puts these videos together are called Threadbanger, how cute/cool is that!?

Rants and Reviews and Shoes

Russian Sci-fi
Night Watch and Day Watch are probably some of the best sci-fi/fantasy movies out there! Sure it’s in Russian but the people who did the subtitles were geniuses, letting letters fall away or dissolve into bloody streaks or float away like ghosts. The story makes me think of a combination of Holly Black’s fairy books, the movie Johnny Pneumonic, and David Sosnowski’s Vamped. I recommend these movies whole-heartedly and for those of you Netflix users, you can watch both of them online.

I love shoes. I love my black widow boots made of black overlapping leather. I love my high heeled Mary-Janes and my flat leather and rubber Mary-Janes. I love my black ballerina flats and my black and silver strappy heels. I love my Black and white polka-dotted flip-flops and my American Flag platform flip-flops. I love my femme army boots and my soft leather chunk-heel boots. I love my black tennies and my kitty-cat skull skater flats. I love my black fuzzy house shoes. And of course I love my babies, a pair of black peep-toe pumps with a hounds-tooth heel that is soooo cute!
Along with my love of shoes I love funky pictures of shoes.
Here is a blog that features shoe pictures that I Stumbled Upon today.

Rant
What is the big deal with the Twilight Series? The writing style is that of a third grader, the girl (Bella) is a ditsy idiot after the first book, and the actor is not nearly what I think of when I read how beautiful the main guy (Edward) is. On Facebook Pieces of Flair is filled with love for Edward and the admittance that obsession with a fictional character is odd but no one cares (I personally think this very weird).
I have friends that love this series and I respect unhealthy love for books but good books, not badly written teen romance.

Random Thoughts on a Tuesday Morning

Facebook
How many people are actually friends with all of their Facebook friends or MySpace friends for that matter? I know that many of my friends on Facebook are really people I know through a class on campus or through other friends. Going though my friends list and deleting people that I don’t talk to (which I recommend should be done at least once a year) I was surprised at how many people I can’t remember ever actually having spoken to. I have better relationships with cranky customers from last week than the people I see daily on campus sometimes. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

Rave
Barlow Girl [ official website ] is a totally awesome band. For those of you not in the know Barlow Girl is a trio of sisters with a rocky/pop sound that makes me think of a Christian Bangles. Their self-titled debut CD has a song on it called Clothes (talking about how clothes today are ridiculously immodest, a fact on which I agree) that I recommend every girl out their listen to. The newest CD, How Can We Be Silent is just as great as the girl album. Their song Million Voices has the vocal melody and blend that I love along with a rock background that makes me want to jam real loud.
Currently, the girls on festival tours. If they’re near you totally check them out.

I tried reading I Heart Bloomberg by Molly Carlson but I was too aggravated by all the Gucci and Prada talk that I got annoyed. I might try again later but I doubt it (I tend to be stubborn with scorned books). You might like to try it though, it’s a special fiction feature at Family Christian Stores right now.

I have an idea for a new reality show. I think camera men should show the behind the scenes of presidential elections; follow the candidates around, show the day-to-day of their publicists and all that jazz. I really think people would watch it and it would help you to decide on which idiot you want to vote for.

Rant
I think it’s a lil weird for people to post pics and stuff of their kids on blogs. Don’t they realize that there are sick-o predators out there that love that stuff? Don’t they watch Law & Order: SVU? Or the NEWS!?
Not nearly as bad as the parents that let their ten and twelve year olds run around dressed in hoochy-shorts with cute on the butt and enough make-up to put the Barbie-dolls of the world to shame. What is wrong with these people!?

Reviews

Hollywood Nobody Review
Hollywood Nobody is right up there with Francesca Lia Block books for me (not quite as high up there as Crime and Punishment but very, very few books make that rating in my opinion).
The plot is hooking without being too thrilling (I don’t like thrillers, they’re too much like realistic-horror and who needs that). Very much like Rachel Cohn’s Gingerbread or Sarra Manning’s Guitar Girl in that Lisa Samson can really get into a teen girl’s head without being too teeny-bopper. I also love her writing style. She uses media styles like blogs, e-mail, and texts to partition the book passages written in 1st person-point-o’-view (which I have a really hard time writing in when writing fiction so kudos to Lisa). What’s so great about her media usage? It’s not nearly as confusing and sci-fi as M.T. Anderson’s Feed (that book made my head hurt with the lack of dialogue and who exactly is talking where? Good story idea though in general).
Check out Lisa Samson’s site [ here ] and e-mail her for her newsletter (instructions on the site) as well as a newsletter on Micah (that’s right the one form the bible).

Rant/Pout
So I’m going though insomnia nad heartburn that gives me a better understand of what a vamp feels like with a wooden stake hammers into their chests, so expect randomness posted. Drinking a cola to try and help the heart burn but so far it just makes my cavities ache…I really need to see a dentist but that will have to wait till I have the monies. It’s been a long time since I’ve had cola of any sort…stuff is kinda gross once you quit the addiction. Too sweet, too carmely, too gooey after taste. Oh well.

Brenda Walton Studios [ here ] produces some of the cutest journals in the world and they can be bought at Family Christian Stores. Each journal has some cutsie decorations on the front and a theme (Friendship, Love, Family, Gardening, etc). The Decoration isn’t at all tacky (I have a hate for sequins in my bones). Each journal page is headed or footed by a quote form a great author or well known person. I totally recommend for those diary/journal lovers out there like me.

I’m now staring on I Heart Bloomberg by Melody Carlson. A book about four women thrown together in a swanky house that can only help me be reminded of my New Orleans Garden District Gray Victorian Dream Home, what’s not to love? Will give you my review when I finish reading.

Tea and Troops

So I just cooked a tea back in the microwave because I forgot to put water in the mug…
There are tons of tea sites online, just like there are tons of site for almost anything you can think of online. A few of my favorite sites are RariTeas, Celestial Seasonings, and Eastern Tea.
Tea is amazingly wonderful. Not only do different teas do different things for your body in many helpful ways but every part of the world has it’s own variety of tea. It’s the United Nations of beverages I suppose.
The very act of making and pouring tea in Japan is an art form. The tea ceremony is explained at Eastern Tea and Wikipedia has a great little page on it [ wiki ].

I was first interesting in the temae (Temae: Japanese Tea Ceremony in Romanji) through the book The Teahouse Fires by Ellis Avery. The book is not only a really good read but it’s an insightful piece on life at the beginning of the Meiji period in Japan written by (GASP!) a white woman.
Ellis Avery is so cool because not only is she a really good author but went to New York and Japan to study Temae for 5 years. The books cons? Some sex and homosexuality (an act not looks down upon or looked upon at all in many Asian cultures as long as it’s between women, I guess it keeps the men form worrying that their wives will get prego by another guy) so beware of this offends you.

Other good Asian historical fiction
Memoirs of a Geisha by Aurthur Golden (though I do have reason to believe the work is all plagiarized and that Geishas never have sex as a sort of step into womanhood like some sort of sick bat mizpah )
The Language of the Thread by Gail Tsukiyama (haven’t finished it yet but so far so good).
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (amazing story and very insightful view on foot binding which really helped out in my Medieval Chinese History class).

Back to Tea
I hate Earl Grey tea. I’m not sure as to my specific distaste of it but the flavor and the smell make me pucker. My favorite right now is Chai. Love it and love the whole sticking it to the man in that when Chai was first popular only Indian male royalty could drink it. In Uzbekistan there are Chai houses where only men can go to enjoy a midday rest with a delicious beverage while women work. It makes me happy to be a free American woman but it also makes me want to hit Middle-Eastern men in the head sometimes.
I’m so proud of those men and women overseas fighting for the rights of other people and for those people that are on mission trips and relief trips to bring freedom and aid to each person they reach.
There are even some amazing people over there fighting for the rights of women to not only vote but to move around without having to be covered head to toe and see eye to eye with their male counterparts. It will take some doing surely but hopefully once the generations of these freedom fighting females’ children rise up they will see what is right.

Speaking of the TroopsFamily Christian Stores are teaming up with Tyndale publishers with Operation Worship “100,000 Bibles in 100 days.” When going into an FCS check out the counter and see those nifty little camo bibles. You can purchase either a bible or a plate card for $4.99 and on the plate card or the plate card inside the bible write a not of encouragement for one of our troops. If you purchase a plate card FCS sends it to Tyndale which will sew it into one of the camo bibles and no shipping is charged to you. If purchasing a bible you will have to send it out on your own to the address inside the front or back cover (can’t remember). Church groups wanting to get in on this can purchase a case of bibles with a 25% discount. If you think your church might be interested go into FCS and ask for some info to take back to your church, they’ll give you 2 stapled sheets with all the info you need.

Nothing But Raves

RAVE
It’s DC and Me’s 8 month Anniversary. Sure there’s some of you out there that say big deal, 8 months. The thing is, I’ve never had a relationship last past 6 months and my average a year before I met DC was 2 weeks. Until DC I would dump a guy as soon as he uttered the words ‘I love you’ and feast on a guilt sundae with a cherry on top for a week then date another guy; a vicious cycle. When I met DC I had given up on dating for dating’s sake. I prayed and gave it to God, then four months of contentment passed and I met DC. Turns out we were actually going to a lot of the same places (Celtic Festivals and the same club [where he happened to dj and help run the goth night because he is the coolest!]). I knew that I was meant to meet him at the time I did because if I had met him four months before he would have been another boyfriend, not DC love of my life.

Quote
Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem,by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer:Don't excite love, don't stir it up,until the time is ripe-and you're ready.Song of Songs 3:5

Enough of the gush.

Has anyone gotten into The Message? It’s a new(er) style of bible out there that I spurned far too quickly. I grabbed a hot pink copy that is oh-so-cute and nifty. I wanted it because the Book of Ruth started out with Once upon a time which is totally appropriate for such a biblical Cinderella story.
The Message is a paraphrase bible that goes back and studies the text’s meaning and puts it in simple format. I personally love it because it’s not in 2 columns which makes for better reading (especially for those of us that hate non-fiction and love the easy reading and interesting hooks of fiction novels).
The creator of The Message, Eugene H. Peterson is totally cool for coming up with this new way to read the Good News without the newspaper bore.
So far I’ve only read Ruth and Song of Songs but they were great in this format.
I wouldn’t use The Message for a Bible study course but as a Devo (which The Message as it’s own Devo called SOLO) or just for Bible reading, total recommendation from Faustina.

Music
The up and coming Third Day CD Revelation is coming out on the 29th. Don’t wait until then to get your copy. Head on over to your local Family Christian Bookstore and pre-buy your copy for 11.97! Not only is it cheaper than the regular price but for every Revelation CD that’s bought Third Day producers are sending their CD Wherever You Are over seas to active duty troops for encouragement! How Awesome is that!?

So, found out a few months ago that there is no hope for Devil May Care [ here ] to get back together. Aleah X and David Angstrom are divorced and David is with a new girl. Not sure as to the cause of this but the other band members are sorta backing David in this, making us wonder what did Aleah do? Poor girl, I’m making no judgments until I get the whole story, which could be another year, or whenever I get the news from my beloved sources in Atlanta. Until then I’ll listen to my antiquing Delicate CD with all the love of a big fan.

Speaking of fandom
My co-worker, K, is trying out for American Idol tomorrow. I wish her the best of luck and all my prayers. She’s a great singer and uber pretty so I’m not sure what will be said if she doesn’t get in since I can find no flaws. She’s super gutsy to take the chance (again, she went to Atlanta to try out last year). Love ya K!

American Idol is one thing I’ll never keep up with but I know so many people that do religiously. I think it’s great that people are getting the chance to succeed not only here but allover the world. The UK have had an idol show for a while now too and are all bonkers over their hosts and idols just as much as us yanks.

Dua:Two

StumbleUpon [ here ] is my newest online addiction. Well, not all that new really. I knew about it for a while but it wasn’t until my mom heard about it from a friend that Home1 was suddenly taken over by the little Stumble button. The site offers a toolbar for your computer and whenever you’re bored or just procrastinating like me click the Stumble button and it takes you to a random site. Great huh?

News
It is through Stumble that I’ve come across a great post in ForeverFun’s blog [ here ]. Nat-2, a company in Munich, has come out with a 2-in-1 shoe! And let me tell you they are all too awesome and cute! [Linkage: funforever post and Nat-2 ] The only sad thing is that it looks like they’re only sold over seas but I’ll keep you posted if I hear any rumors in the US.

Quote
“I don't like small birds. They hop around so merrily outside my window, looking so innocent. but I know that secretly, they're watching my every move and plotting to beat me over the head with a large steel pipe and take my shoe.”
Jack Handy

Una:One

I don’t remember the last time I was this grumpy and tired.
I work at a nearby Christian store that sells loads of books, CDs, DVDs, t-shirts, figurines and what my boss likes to call “Jesus Junk” which means the rinky-dink crap like Jesus Picks, plastic rings, gel pens, and bookmarks among other things. The job is good with good pay. I work with a bunch of girls/women, each with their own quirks and personalities. We did have one guy working with us, who was uber tall (reminding me of my German-warrior of an art teacher in high school) but he left this past week.
The con to working there is the utter lack of air conditioning in the front. We have windows making up the entire front wall as well as a set of large double doors so what little air we actually get near the front is gone in the sun and the humidity streaming in with the customers.
Today the heat was felt pretty hard as we work on turn-arounds for this month [turn-arounds: changing displays for the new sales which involves painstaking searched for signage and carrying loads of books.] The customers could feel it too, making them as grumpy as I was.

Good Books to check out:
Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson
(reading it now and am impressed by the nifty quirky-ness of the main character. It has a sequel called Finding Hollywood Nobody and is by the same author that wrote Bella, a book that turned into a strange movie that I couldn’t really get into but know some other people that really love it.)

We’re currently selling this new diet craze book called 1st Place 4 Health. I grabbed the brochure for my mom who is constantly trying different ways to loose weight but still hasn’t actually done anything at all. The end cap [end cap: shelving on the side of the isel where big sales are put] for this sale drove me mad last night because, as I was searching for the books to go on it (which were nowhere to be found though the computer put of the good argument that we had at least 6 of each book) I found out that everything I needed was boxed up in boxes from the warehouse and had not been stocked yet (UBER SIGH OF AGGRIVATION HERE). The books are supposed to help people (women specifically) loose weight with God-based principles (or that’s what I got from the brief scan of the brochure I did).

Speaking of diets
Trying the yogurt deal to help regulate (gross subject I know so I won’t go into it) but so far so good. Been getting apple slices and yogurt at the subway near work for my break along with my 32 oz of Raspberry tea that I have a bad habit of downing in a matter of a few minutes then having to run to the bathroom at work every ten minutes. The yogurt with the apples isn’t that bad even though the yogurt looks gray in the warehouse-style lighting of the back storage/break room.
The guys at Subway are interesting. There’s a Brit who has a great accent and good manners though he isn’t much to look at, a guy who pretty much knows my two orders by heart and knows that if I stand at one end of the counter I want my meatball sub and if I stand at the other I want my apples and yogurt, and then there’s the ick-dude that is always teasing and hits on me which makes me very uncomfortable. There should be a no-flirting law passed for work places sometimes I think. Hopefully the come-ons with stop when my beloved and I get our couple-rings.

COUPLE RINGS EXCITEMENT
DC (DC: man of my life, joy of creation, and abso-fab-erific cutie pie in the sky ^_^) and I have decided on a set of rings from a site he found, which are cheaper than the stupid looking ones at Wally World [Wally World: Wal-Mart; aka. Bane of my existence]. They (the rings) are titanium and a little concave along the band. Inside we’re getting engraved aevitas amo (forever love). I can’t wait to get them. We’re ordering when I get back at Home2 [Home2: where DC and School are; 5 hours away from Home1 where my parents live].

Quote of the day:
It is too constricting to say that you must always think outside the box; whether you are thinking inside or outside the box, you are still letting the box dictate your thoughts, are you not? What you are not acknowledgingis the honest fact that “the box” itself is figmentary, illusory. And as long as one continues to act in reaction to this perceived set of dictates, one cannot be truly original in thought.— Erica Amelia Smith, An Address as tothe Nature of the “Proper” Uses of Technology

News:
Not much to go on today except I think my house is cultivating a new species of bug…stupid flying thing scared me half out of my wits this morning…not that anyone cares. My mother has found out that the Potato is actually indigenous to South America and yet the only starches I see in my Latin-American food are rice and flour tortillas…