friends

[

Tags

abenteuer, leben, stadt

]

Today's Highlights:

Walking 45 minutes to a "nearby" coffehouse only to find the electricity was out on that side of town.
Handing some mail to a letter-carrier through the window of his van. Saved me a trip.
Consulting a bus schedule and finding that the nearest bus stop to the house is a further 30 minute walk away.
Walking to the bus stop anyway.
The bus I took downtown smelled like hot dog mustard and the cologne counter at Sears.
Finding the head library again.
Taking the bus back and seeing lots of urban decay and unpleasantness.
The bus I took back home smelled like sweat and rotting teeth. I think I liked the first bus better.
Getting started reading Evelyn Waugh's Men At Arms.
Accompanying my roommates to an interest meeting for all the Veterinarian Clubs on campus. Free pizza!
And I still don't have to go to work tomorrow!

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[Aug. 27th, 2008|08:55 am]

It is raining cats and dogs here right now. Okay: not real animals. But we've gotten about three inches since I woke up this morning, no joke. Not that I can really see my rain gauge. It's raining too hard.

If I didn't have a baby that needs constant supervision and entertaining, it would be a GREAT day to stay in bed and read. I'm especially in the mood because I am in the middle of a REALLY good book, which I honestly feel is, like, calling me all day long, but I can only get to it in bits and spurts. It's the newest by Jennifer Belle, called Little Stalker, and because it's been awhile since I've read her work, I'd forgotten how great an author she is. Her style is COMPLETELY unique, which I think is probably the highest compliment you can pay a writer these days. If you haven't read her other books, Going Down and High Maintenance, I highly recommend them as well.

Now it's thundering. Good gracious, what's next? An ark?

In related news (to books, not arks) I did an interview the other day where I was asked what I thought of the label "chick lit" and how it's applied to my books. It's an interesting question. The truth is, I feel like the label "chick lit" is kind of lazy. It's a way of grouping any book about a woman which has NOT been classified by the Powers That Be as Literary into one incredibly vast category. Personally, I love books about women, Literary and not, and I've read enough to them to know that one word cannot possibly define everything that is out there. Is Jennifer Weiner
the same as Meg Cabot who is the same as Suzanne Finnamore who is the same as Jennifer Belle? No, no, no and no. It's like saying that all YA books are the same because they are about teenagers. I think, personally, that it's up to you as a reader to define what a book is to you. It's different for everyone. Which is a great thing, and really what reading is all about, anyway.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. Mostly because I think rain is coming through my door onto my floor. Uh-oh....

Have a good day, everyone!

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Episode DLXXX: Dizzy Chip

[Aug. 26th, 2008|09:32 am]

[	Tags	\|	leben, stadt	]
[	Current Music	\|	The Dishwasher	]

Guess where I'm writing from?

It's really rainy today, so I won't be able to take the bicycle out and explore the greenway like I wanted to, but that just means that I can stay home and do a lot of UNPACKING instead! Whoo! (groan)

To answer your question: No, I haven't gone to see the Sunsphere yet; I'll get around to it as soon as it stops raining.

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[Aug. 25th, 2008|08:56 am]

My baby had a fever for much of the weekend---we think from teething, although we're not entirely certain---so I spent a lot of it worrying, feeling her forehead, and not getting much sleep. Now she's feeling MUCH better, and I feel like I've been hit by a truck. Multiple times. But oh, well. At least it's Monday!

On a related note, I guess, with her first birthday coming up soon, I have to stop calling her a baby? But she's not yet walking, so she's not a toddler. Is there something in between? Or are you a baby as long as people still refer to your age in months? I've known people who say, "Oh, he's twenty-two months," but really, that involves too much in-your-head math. I feel like once you hit eighteen months, you're one and a half. So I guess I still have six more of babyhood. Which is a good thing, because I'm not yet ready to have her leave it. Yet.

Also this weekend, I continued my obsession with Season One of Project Runway, which we are watching on DVD. My husband missed it the first time around, so while he knows who won, he doesn't know much else, so there is a sense of suspense, at least for one of us. For me, it's all about Austin Scarlett. I should probably be embarrassed to admit that I have been loving him SO much that I actually went to his website and sent him a gushing email. But there it is. I got a very nice autoresponse in return, which is just fine---I understand about autoresponses!---but I wonder if maybe he WILL read what I said, at some point, and maybe it'll make him feel good. Although he is so fabulous he probably ALWAYS feels good. I mean, he's Austin Scarlett!

Finally, we are now down to one week and one day to go until the premiere of the new 90210. I am trying to avoid a lot of the hype, if only because I worry if I get TOO sucked in, I'll be disappointed by the final product. I mean, how can it possibly live up to all these years of waiting? Plus there's the fact that Tori Spelling is now not appearing, which is kind of a bummer. But iImust admit, this little promo kind of has me intrigued:

Oh, who am I kidding. There's no WAY I won't be disappointed. But I'll still be there, right on time with Courtney beside me. The only thing that would make it MORE perfect? Austin Scarlett. Oh, sigh...
Have a great day, everyone!

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Episode DLXXIX: Bits O' Whimsy

[Aug. 23rd, 2008|02:34 pm]

[	Tags	\|	kunst	]
[	Current Music	\|	Refused - "New Noise"	]

File under ( Random Drawing I did a while ago that I just now rediscovered while cleaning out my room. )

Episode DLXXVIII: Persistence of Memory

[Aug. 23rd, 2008|01:18 pm]

[	Tags	\|	träume	]
[	Current Music	\|	Ratatat - "Mirando"	]

I had a dream a while ago; it's been a few weeks, and I don't really remember it all that well. I did manage, however, to scribble out a few key words to help me remember it later. And it's true, I kind-of remember it, but a lot of detail has (obviously) been lost. Anyway, here's what I scribbled down. See if you can make any sense of it:

mall
toy store
legos—playmobil
sacrifice for children
richard marrying Sandra Day-O'Connor
plant monsters?
zombies?
entrances?
snowing in mall?
caution tape?

[Aug. 21st, 2008|03:39 pm]

The Friday Five! (Posted on Thursday, because I have time, and have learned to take advantage when that happens)

1. Okay, you guys were right. The minute I decided I would pick Twilight up again and try to finish it, it TOTALLY took off, pulling me along with it. I raced through the last couple of hundred pages in less than twenty four hours. Yikes! I am so glad I stuck with it. And while I eagerly ate up the teaser at the end of it for the next book, I am going to try to hold off on picking it up just yet. We'll see how I do.

2. I have a new obsession, and it's shoes. Not shoes for me, though: for my daughter. I bought her a pair of Pedipeds earlier this year, and she's been wearing them constantly. They are SO cute and get so many comments that I went looking for a pair the next size up. All I could find were these cute little brown maryjanes, so I got those....only to see a couple of weeks later these brown ones with little flowers. So I got those too. Now, I find myself haunting the website, eyeing these pink and brown ones that are so cute I can't even stand it. Hello? She only needs ONE pair. I have to control myself! But it is REALLY hard. I mean, look at them!

3. This is the last weekend of summer for most of the kids around here, and you can just feel this kind of last-gaspness in the air. It makes me sad. I mean, I like that the mornings have been a little cooler. And I am kind of sick of all my summer clothes. Plus this fall there's new TV season, and some fun trips, and other good stuff in the works. But summer, I still don't want you to go. I never do.

4. I wrote here before about another recent obsession of mine, making ringtones for my husband's phone. I am such a geek about this, I can't even believe I'm admitting it. But in case YOU are secretly a geek like me and are interested in doing it, I have two words for you: Ventones and minitones. And now, I will speak no more of this, my secret shame.

5. Finally, speaking of things to get entirely geeked out about, I have been informed by MULTIPLE readers that one of my books was a clue in the Nerdifighters scavenger hunt! Which is about the coolest shout out I can possibly imagine. Now, of course, I have to get caught up on all the other ones. But for now, this:

Thanks John Green!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

35 comments|Leave a comment

Episode DLXXVII: Fold, Spindle, Mutilate, Repeat

[Aug. 21st, 2008|12:02 pm]

[	Tags	\|	komputerwelt, kunst	]
[	Current Music	\|	Del tha Funkee Homosapien - "Mistadobalina"	]

Being at my parents' house again has brought me back to a place where I usually have lots of time to my own (usually how I like things) and lots of arts and crafts materials close at hand. It reminds me a little of high school.

( This is How I've Been Wasting Time )

Episode DLXXVI: Carry Go Bring Come

[Aug. 20th, 2008|08:29 pm]

[	Tags	\|	arbeit	]
[	Current Music	\|	Madness - "Razor Blade Alley"	]

Today was my last day at Cup-A-Joe.

I didn't cry, although I wouldn't have been surprised if I had. There were a lot of good-byes, and some pretty sad moments. But it was all good.

Ah, Glorious Unemployment!

[Aug. 20th, 2008|08:46 am]

Yesterday was the first day of classes here at UNC-CH, and, as always, it made me feel a little wistful. It's now been two full years since I gave up teaching, and while I know it was the right decision---more time to write, and now, to take care of my daughter---there are times I really miss it. Like in the spring, when the campus is lush and green, and days like today, when I know my old department is full of bustle and new faces and brand new creative writing classes none of which I am teaching. Which is a good thing. I am so scattered and forgetful lately I think I would be the worst instructor EVER. I can hardly remember my name some days, much less someone else's. But still. I am a school nerd at heart in many ways, and part of me is longing to go buy a fresh Carolina Week by Week and some pens at the Student Stores.

Instead, I went to Staples, which was ALSO full of back to schoolers. I needed legal pads, and metal clips, and if I hadn't had Sasha with me---who is totally squirmy in arms these days, always wanting to get down and take off crawling---I probably would have dawdled for ages among the notebooks and index cards. Do you EVER really get over a school supply obsession? Lately, I've been thinking I probably need to start looking for an assistant---I am kind of overwhelmed by email, if I'm totally honest---but I can't imagine how I'd ever find The Perfect Person. One thing I do know: they would have to love school supplies. Like, that might even be an interview question. What's your favorite pen right now? Medium or fine point? I know they would think I am crazy. But if they were the right person...maybe not.

Anyway. In other news, I'm still reading Twilight, but have realized that it is just not my Cup of Tea. It's compelling, very interesting, and I can TOTALLY see the appeal. But I am not a vampire person. And also, there is the complication that I have a Tom Perrotta book I have not even read yet, just waiting for me on my bedside table. Do I keep reading, or abandon? I feel sickly conflicted. I always like to finish a book once I start it. But it's Tom Perrotta! He's, like, my favorite! Maybe Bella and Edward will wait for me?

Ah, decisions. For now, I think I'll clean out my office drawers, organize my paper clips and collection of Post-it notes. It's not going to back to school. But it's close enough.

Have a good day, everyone!

48 comments|Leave a comment

Episode DLXXV: Return to Sender

[Aug. 18th, 2008|09:12 pm]

[

Tags

leben

]

I've been cleaning my room. I've likened the task to trying to make two separate piles of iron shavings from one big bowl of iron shavings using a single bar magnet. Things get shifted around and around and around again, and finally land in the proper heap. Piles of things coalesce and then disintegrate again. It's crazy.

It's at times like these that I'm reminded of the wisdom of Helen and Scott Nearing of "Living the Good Life" fame. They had a rule on their farm that once you picked something up, you couldn't put it down until you were sure that it was going where it was supposed to be. Tools always went back in the same place. Instead of a half dozen piles of scrap there was one big heap. Things didn't get lost. Imagine how much time they saved, just putting things away mindfully! Genius!

Such a simple idea, and how hard it is to put into practice! And now that I've read about it I can't keep myself from thinking about it....

Episode DLXXIV: Crumbs

[Aug. 18th, 2008|02:51 pm]

[

Tags

leiden, stummel

]

It hasn't been a good day so far.

I suppose that just means I need to try harder. I think about 85% is just me making myself miserable. That's a bad habit of mine.

[Aug. 18th, 2008|08:57 am]

First off, I want to thank everyone for the great suggestions about where to buy good baby clothes. I ended up hitting the BabyGap website and ordering a TON of stuff, and plan to check out Gymboree and The Children's Place next time I am at the mall. And to the person who suggested MiniBoden: oh, my God. There is a pink apple pinafore that is WAY too expensive, but I think I may have to buy it anyway.

You know what's funny? There was a time when I got this excited about buying clothes for MYSELF. Now, not so much. I'm going around in busted Gap cargos and plain T's and Havianas, or variations thereof almost EVERY day, but Sasha's attire is a high priority. I am so into it that I get annoyed when my husband picks out an outfit for her without my input (usually because he puts her in something without the color pink somewhere, which leads to comments like, "Hey, little buddy!" and "How old is he? He's ADORABLE!"). I find myself thinking hours before she gets dressed what she'll wear that day, according to what our plans are and who we might see. It's like I'm back in junior high again, or something. And it's not even my clothes! Truthfully, she'd be happy in shorts and a plain T. Or gap cargos, T-shirts and Havianas. She is pretty easy to please that way. But she is a good sport when I get her all dolled up, even if she's dragging some dress hem behind her as she bangs across the floor, a spoon in one hand.

In other news, I FINALLY watched some Olympics this weekend, seeing some of the women's marathon and, of course, the highlights of the last medal for Michael Phelps. Pretty impressive all around. They showed this one woman right after she'd won the NY Marathon, and she was carrying a baby on her hip who was about the same size mine was at the same time of year. Was I thinking, what a great example of athletic prowess, how impressive? No. I'm like, HOLY PAJAMAS, she had a baby a few months ago and now she's WINNING MARATHONS? I feel proud I do my two and a half mile walk a few days a week. Whew. But okay, okay. If nothing else I am learning that you cannot parent laterally, i.e. comparing yourself across the board to others. Especially marathoners.

Lastly, thanks to Sarah, who urged me to go join Goodreads. I know, I know. The last thing I need is another internet distraction. Twitter itself takes up half of my day as it is. But how fun is it to post what you're reading, and find out what other people are liking as well? I am still finding my way around, and need to add more comments, but so far, so good. Although I may have to limit how often I go there. I mean, fitting it in with Twitter and all.

Okay, this entry is WAY too long. Sorry! Going now....

Have a good day, everyone!

15 comments|Leave a comment

Episode DLXXIII: Thank You For the Music

[Aug. 16th, 2008|10:41 pm]

[	Tags	\|	kino, kunst, mein gott!	]
[	Current Music	\|	Mantronix - "Needle to the Groove"	]

( I Got a Tattoo Today )

I also saw "Mamma Mia!" with my mama. It was pretty silly, but of course the music was dope.

4 comments|Leave a comment

Episode DLXXII: Urgh, Halftone

[Aug. 16th, 2008|11:47 am]

[	Tags	\|	fragenbogen, nachricht, stadt	]
[	Current Music	\|	Bit Shifter - "Particle Charge"	]

( I Was in the Newspaper Last Week )

Episode DLXXI: Please, Hammer, Don't Burn 'Em

[Aug. 15th, 2008|11:59 am]

[	Tags	\|	speisen, umwelt	]
[	Current Music	\|	M.C. Hammer - "U Can't Touch This"	]

Yesterday I went hiking on a trail that I had never been on before, by the Eno River access on Cole Mill Road, and I would've taken pictures, but I didn't bring my camera. Phooey. But I did see a string of ten turtles basking on a log, the most I'd ever seen on one log before. I also saw this crazy bright red-and-black ant. Also, the forest smelled really weird. I mean to say, not unnaturally so, but in a way that made it distinct from all the other forests around the Eno that have trails. It was really weird.

Today I made Masala Dosas for lunch.

[Aug. 15th, 2008|09:04 am]

The Friday Five!

1. Okay, so I'm starting to feel REALLY lame that I'm so behind on the Olympics. I keep meaning to watch....and then life gets in the way, and I have emails to answer and laundry to fold and calls to return, and then Michael Phelps has won six gold medals and I'm like, WHAT? Plus, I think I have totally missed the gymnastics. Whoops. As soon as I finish this entry I'm going to go look and see what's on tonight and plan my evening around it. After I, um, answer all these emails. And fold my laundry. And....

2. Someone was kind enough to leave a comment for me yesterday saying that season two of Everwood is going to be available on DVD after all. Which means that maybe I will watch the first season? I had held off, as many loyal viewers had told me it was excruciating to only get one season and know others were out there, but not available. God knows we need something to Netflix until the new Scrubs comes out in November. As it is, we're watching season one of Project Runway, which is SO much fun even though we know who won. I love me some Austin Scarlett, I swear. Blayne WISHES he had that kind of style! (Not that I don't like Blayne, I do. But I am an Austin girl.)

3. Meanwhile, my daughter is currently outgrowing EVERYTHING, so I went clothes shopping for her yesterday. I was not encouraged by what I found. It seems like all the cutest stuff is for babies, i.e. up to 12 months. Now we're looking at 12-18 months it seems like there's a lot less selection, or maybe it's just at Target and Babies R Us? I know a lot of mom read this page (and I am so grateful, as you have helped me with everything from car seats to teething to surviving our first flight---so if you have recommendations for simple, not-skanky clothes for the almost-toddler (and I'm not kidding about the skanky, they have Daisy Dukes for babies, for goodness sake!) please let me know. I'm going to hit Old Navy and Baby Gap but there have to be others, I'm thinking.

4. Yesterday, while at Target, we bought Sasha this little remote-controlled car. It's the Parents brand (which of course makes it educational!) and makes all these little motor noises, and lights up. We were SO excited to give it to her...but then, all she really cared about was chewing on the antenna, while WE fought over who got to play with it next. I worry about us, seriously. I think we are ENTIRELY too childish to have children.

5. Finally, speaking of obsessions (were we?) I have spent the last few days (yes, DAYS) trying to figure out how to upload new ringtones onto my husband's Treo Smartphone. Now, I used to have a Treo, and you could upload MP3 tones. But with his, you can't. (Maybe this is an Alltel thing, I don't know.) I only discovered this after creating the MOST AWESOME EVER Motorhead ringtone, oh my God, he would have loved it. I had to upload it to my phone, instead. He can only have MIDI files, which are fun too, but not quite so much. I am still entirely geeking out trying to find them for him, though. So far I have uploaded some Led Zep, Black Sabbath, the Office theme song....none of which he really cares about, like, at all. He says, "Can I just have my regular ringer?" and I'm like, "No!" But he doesn't even care! God, enough. I need to just go watch the Olympics..

Have a good weekend, everyone!