I'll try not to just focus on my current adventures in reading. My birthday was so awesome. I tried to keep it low key this year just because I wanted to. I can't believe I'm 27--I'm still wrapping my mind around that number. Thirty is only 3 years away! Yikes. I got everything I wanted. Jason bought me this beautiful ring, not an engagement ring, but I'll take it. My parents bought me this awesome desk that I picked out and a throw rug to put it on. It's great because I can sit at my desk barefoot now and my feet don't freeze. Jason had almost this whole week off with me so we've been staying up late, sleeping in late and drinking beer almost every night. When I'm not reading I'm totally addicted to the Simpson's game on the PS3 and when I'm not playing that I'm playing MarioKart on the Wii.
I didn't have a "birthday party" however Jason made my favorite, Mole chicken enchiladas and Shawna came over because she made me cupcakes, which was totally awesome. We all had dinner together, drank beer and watched South Park. It was such a blast.
I found my housekeys on Tuesday, which was a total relief. I lost them the week before finals and I knew I lost them in the house somewhere but I didn't know where. Jason and I had been playing the "one set of house keys swap" game almost every day since then so I was so glad to find them. Come to find out they were trapped in some plastic wrapping around a bulk package of Kleenex. Weird, I know. I'm just glad I found them.
Inspired by my new desk, which looks great in my little office, I finally unloaded some boxes that have been sitting around my room and I put up some pictures, finally. I guess I'm finally starting to feel at home.
On Thursday my grandma took us both to Thunder Valley Casino, which was great for several reasons. One, my grandma was feeling up to leaving the house, and that's definitely a good sign. Two, Jason had never been there and he enjoyed it. Three, we both got to spend time with her and I think she really likes Jason which is awesome. I'm glad she likes him. Not that I thought she wouldn't, but still, it's nice. It's not the first time she's met him and she's always had good things to say about him but we actually spent time together. It was a lot of fun, too. It was nice to get out of town, even if it was just up to Lincoln.
I think that's it. Tomorrow Jason, Shawna and I are going to ride out bikes on a trail somewhere. I don't know if we have one picked out yet. It should be pretty fun. Sunday Jason is going to make a ton of Mole sauce and we're going to freeze some of it so we can have it for awhile and not have to make it fresh. It takes nearly all day to make because it's so labor intensive.
Really, that's it. I'm tired and I just wanted to unload before I feel like going to bed. I'm finally starting to get tired but not a ton. I'm going to sit in bed and read for awhile before I officially conk out. Here's to reading, summer, and staying up late on a Friday night!
Cheers!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Entry 14--AKA: "3 down 7 more to go!"
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. Crime & Punishment --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
9. The Satanic Verses --Salman Rushdie
10. TBA
I also added two new books, and I might up the list to 15 if I keep up this mad streak of reading! We shall see!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Entry 13--AKA: "Updated reading list and cause for concern?"
2. 100 Years of Solitude --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. Crime & Punishment --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
9. The Satanic Verses --Salman Rushdie
10. TBA
Can one become addicted to reading? I think I have. I haven't watched more than an hour of television in over a week. I have read three books in almost the same number of days. I am considering, quite seriously, upping the number of books I read this summer to 15 or even 20.
I am addicted to the written word.
I suppose this was bound to happen. One can only read so much literature before the quest to define your own tastes takes hold and you read just about everything you get your hands on. I've always been an avid reader but I cannot remember the last time I was reading with such devotion--such ferocity.
I'm currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This book is astounding!! (yes, two exclamation marks). I am so enamored by this book that last night I had dreams where all the characters had Spanish names and I was relating to the characters of my dreams as though they were characters in this novel. Come to find out Marquez was influenced by another great author I've only recently read, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who may become one of my new favorite authors. His Notes from Underground I read almost over night, and I have every intention of going back and reading it again fairly soon. Incredible.
There you have it. Though I'm starting to worry I am placated by the idea that being addicted to reading is far more pleasurable than being addicted to crack. Not that I know from experience. Actually, since I don't know I won't make a comparison. I'll just say that I feel safer being addicted to reading and I'm fairly certain that it won't drive me to the brink of financial, familial and emotional ruin.
And thats good, right?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Entry 12--AKA: "2 down, 8 more to go."
2. 100 Years of Solitude --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. TBA
9. TBA
10. TBA
Friday, May 23, 2008
Entry 11--AKA: "Reading list update--1 down, 9 to go."
2. 100 Years of Solitude --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Notes From the Underground --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. TBA
9. TBA
10. TBA
Monday, May 19, 2008
Entry 10--AKA: "When I grow up I want to be a well-read human being."
1. Into the Wild --Jon Krakauer
2. 100 Years of Solitude --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Notes From the Underground --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. TBA
9. TBA
10. TBA
Books I'm considering:
* Oil --Upton Sinclair
* Paradise Lost --John Milton
* The Grapes of Wrath --John Steinbeck
* Crime & Punishment --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
* Absalom, Absolom! --William Faulkner
I am also taking suggestions, so feel free to post something if you think it might be worthwhile. I want to try and read things that are considered "classics" to some extent in order to prep for my Literature classes next quarter. But I will throw books in if they are really good, too, because I do need some pleasure reading in there from time to time! Also, length is kind of a factor because I want to read 10 books and I don't know if that's possible if the books are all 1000 pages. I would greatly appreciate and consider any and all suggestions!
Thanks!
2. 100 Years of Solitude --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
3. Love in the Time of Cholera --Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Notes From the Underground --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5. Madame Bovary --Gustave Flaubert
6. Catcher in the Rye --J.D. Salinger
7. East of Eden --John Steinbeck
8. TBA
9. TBA
10. TBA
Books I'm considering:
* Oil --Upton Sinclair
* Paradise Lost --John Milton
* The Grapes of Wrath --John Steinbeck
* Crime & Punishment --Fyodor Dostoyevsky
* Absalom, Absolom! --William Faulkner
I am also taking suggestions, so feel free to post something if you think it might be worthwhile. I want to try and read things that are considered "classics" to some extent in order to prep for my Literature classes next quarter. But I will throw books in if they are really good, too, because I do need some pleasure reading in there from time to time! Also, length is kind of a factor because I want to read 10 books and I don't know if that's possible if the books are all 1000 pages. I would greatly appreciate and consider any and all suggestions!
Thanks!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Entry 9--AKA: "Just a short one before I begin work."
I can't describe my feelings lately. I'm so excited that the semester is almost over and yet I do not want it to end. I have this paper due tomorrow that I have procrastinated practically the entire semester and I'm still nowhere near finished with it. I'm feeling uninspired and I'm beginning to doubt my talents as a writer. I'm feel as though I have this lump in my chest that is keeping me from feeling truly happy about where I am with school and I don't know why and I don't know how to change it.
I guess I feel unprepared. I know that's probably not the case but I feel as though I should take another writing course or at least a few more literature courses here before I take that leap into a four year school--but for what? Everyone who reads my academic writing says I'm fairly good at it and aside from my lack of planning (in most cases due to procrastination) my writing is pretty good. But that doesn't make me feel any better. I would like to know how I can change it. Right now when I write I feel like I'm aiming an arrow into the dark and it's lucky that I manage to hit the target every time. I wonder if it's that my teachers haven't been hard enough on me, or have been easy on me because of my personality or whatever. Is that concieted to even think? I know I haven't been every english teachers favorite student my wholel life so I must be doing something right.
I suppose I'm just having "cold feet." I'm sure this is totally normal, after all I'm really secure at ARC--I know my way around, I know teachers, where the best study places are, the best bathrooms, I know my way around the system, where to get help, and how to make the most of my experience here. It's been a trial and error kind of process but now it's more trials and less errors and mostly positive, especially in recent years. I also get alot of support here from teachers and other students that I've actually grown quite fond of.
I was riding my bike to school last Friday morning at around 7:15 in the morning. I walked over to the cafeteria to get some coffee and as I was walking to the LRC (where I work on campus) I realized how absolutely stunning the morning was. It was this perfect temperature and the sun was just fully over the horizon and light seemed to be reflecting off of everything in this surreal sort of way. Everything seemed brighter; even inside I felt brighter in spirit. Then I hear this fantastic sound--it immediately took me back to jazz band in the early morning hours of highschool--like the sound of wire brush dragged down the side of cymbal. It was this prolonged, incredibly beautiful sound that made the hair on my arms stand up on end. I stopped and couldn't help my close my eyes and drink in this delicious sound with every ounce of my being. It finally stopped and I looked around for the source of the sound. It seemed to come from everywhere since it reverberated off of the brick buildings of the library, LRC, and bookstore. The sound began again and this time I looked around at what could've caused it. A sprinkler was running and the stream of water was hitting this metal light pole square on the side: that was the source of this otherworldly sound.
I think these are the things I'm going to miss about ARC. These small nuances that, though they may seem simple or even obscure, I like to know that these experiences are here for me and every day I can have them. I know this great spot between the LRC, Bookstore and Gym that, if you stand there while the bells are ringing on the hour from the Library the sound will echo several times and it's wonderful to hear. I love taking a break at 5 pm just to stand there and listen to the bells echo in this one spot.
I know I'll find this kind of stuff at Davis but I worry at how long it will take. I hope it's sooner rather than later.
I guess I feel unprepared. I know that's probably not the case but I feel as though I should take another writing course or at least a few more literature courses here before I take that leap into a four year school--but for what? Everyone who reads my academic writing says I'm fairly good at it and aside from my lack of planning (in most cases due to procrastination) my writing is pretty good. But that doesn't make me feel any better. I would like to know how I can change it. Right now when I write I feel like I'm aiming an arrow into the dark and it's lucky that I manage to hit the target every time. I wonder if it's that my teachers haven't been hard enough on me, or have been easy on me because of my personality or whatever. Is that concieted to even think? I know I haven't been every english teachers favorite student my wholel life so I must be doing something right.
I suppose I'm just having "cold feet." I'm sure this is totally normal, after all I'm really secure at ARC--I know my way around, I know teachers, where the best study places are, the best bathrooms, I know my way around the system, where to get help, and how to make the most of my experience here. It's been a trial and error kind of process but now it's more trials and less errors and mostly positive, especially in recent years. I also get alot of support here from teachers and other students that I've actually grown quite fond of.
I was riding my bike to school last Friday morning at around 7:15 in the morning. I walked over to the cafeteria to get some coffee and as I was walking to the LRC (where I work on campus) I realized how absolutely stunning the morning was. It was this perfect temperature and the sun was just fully over the horizon and light seemed to be reflecting off of everything in this surreal sort of way. Everything seemed brighter; even inside I felt brighter in spirit. Then I hear this fantastic sound--it immediately took me back to jazz band in the early morning hours of highschool--like the sound of wire brush dragged down the side of cymbal. It was this prolonged, incredibly beautiful sound that made the hair on my arms stand up on end. I stopped and couldn't help my close my eyes and drink in this delicious sound with every ounce of my being. It finally stopped and I looked around for the source of the sound. It seemed to come from everywhere since it reverberated off of the brick buildings of the library, LRC, and bookstore. The sound began again and this time I looked around at what could've caused it. A sprinkler was running and the stream of water was hitting this metal light pole square on the side: that was the source of this otherworldly sound.
I think these are the things I'm going to miss about ARC. These small nuances that, though they may seem simple or even obscure, I like to know that these experiences are here for me and every day I can have them. I know this great spot between the LRC, Bookstore and Gym that, if you stand there while the bells are ringing on the hour from the Library the sound will echo several times and it's wonderful to hear. I love taking a break at 5 pm just to stand there and listen to the bells echo in this one spot.
I know I'll find this kind of stuff at Davis but I worry at how long it will take. I hope it's sooner rather than later.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Entry 8--AKA: "I forgot that I enjoy wearing earrings."
During my angsty late teens and early twenties I managed to pierce myself in several places in order to look as tough as I felt I might be. It was an interesting time in my life. It started with my tongue (at 18) and ended with the right side of my lip (at 21). In between I managed to put at least 5 holes in each ear (though not all at the same time), and a hole in my left eyebrow. At my worst I looked like a closeted butch lesbian who was angry with her parents for not accepting her, despite her lack of attempts and "coming out." (No offense if you are a butch lesbian attempting to come out and are feeling angry about it!) Anyway, somewhere around 23 (give or take 6 months, I am still having a hard time piecing out those years because of the booze intake) I decided I didn't want any piercings--everyone had them and they were getting "played out." So, I took every one out, except the tongue stud because of sentimental reasons. After all, it was my first body piercing, I went with Noelle and I nearly passed out afterwards.
Moving on.
Instead of piercings I focused on tattoos and I haven't looked back. Of course, with tattoos, everyone has them and they are getting played out but I cut my losses and figure if I ever don't like them I will wear sweaters for the rest of my life. I can live with that. Where was I going with all this? Oh, yes....
In taking out all my piercings I also took out all my ear piercings. I had three in each ear at one time, and I think one in each upper ear. All. Gone. I took them out and never looked back. Until Yesterday.
Saturday morning I'm standing in Target obsessing over the shower curtain I'm going to buy my brother for a wedding gift. After I find a plain one, at a reasonable cost, I'm on my way to the front when I see the CUTEST pair of earrings. Little hanging silver stars, lumped together in a package with 5 other earrings. "Dare I try to poke those through my ears today?" It's been a good 4 years since the last time I wore earrings, I'm not even sure I have open holes anymore. I buy them and figure if nothing else I can re-pierce them with a needle, if I have to.
I get home and try them out (with the help of a little rubbing alcohol). Lo and behold! the holes are still there! Two on my left ear and one on my right. Super. I wore the earrings all day Saturday and I was so happy I think I'm going to make this a regular thing. Earrings. What a concept. I had forgotten I even had the ability.
The wedding was nice, too. What can I say? It's nothing like how I want to have a wedding. Pay a fortune, and for what? A few photo-ops so people can stand around and talk to each other about how beautiful the wedding is? What taste they have? Hm...not my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, it's what my brother and his wife wanted so I'm glad they could have it. I'm just saying that if I had that kind of money to spend I would have something else to do with it. Buy a house? Go to Europe? Finish school? Bah...those kids have money coming out their asses so I guess they don't value it as much as I do. I'm happy for them, I know they're in love and will be happy; I just disagree with their politics.
My wedding will be like this:
1. Outside.
2. "BYO" everything--I'm not your momma.
3. Transients will set up chairs, in exchange they can wander the aisles and panhandle during the ceremony--as long as they're not too loud.
4. The vows will be written by each one of us and read to each other. Backwards. To invoke the devil.
5. The "priest" will be dressed like a Simpsons character dressed like Elvis. He will have a poor southern accent and be nearly fall-down drunk.
The reception will consist of:
1. Several days, if not weeks, of camping.
2. Drinking.
3. More drinking.
4. Laughing.
5. Bad jokes, including "your momma," "sexist," "a guy walks into a bar," and "some guys on a boat," and "blonde."
6. Four words: Pooping In The Woods.
7. Dancing around a campfire.
8. Telling ghost stories.
If you're interested let me know. I'm on the "Torres Ten Year plan" so it should be sometime between now and 2018. So keep open every August 20th between now and then.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
Moving on.
Instead of piercings I focused on tattoos and I haven't looked back. Of course, with tattoos, everyone has them and they are getting played out but I cut my losses and figure if I ever don't like them I will wear sweaters for the rest of my life. I can live with that. Where was I going with all this? Oh, yes....
In taking out all my piercings I also took out all my ear piercings. I had three in each ear at one time, and I think one in each upper ear. All. Gone. I took them out and never looked back. Until Yesterday.
Saturday morning I'm standing in Target obsessing over the shower curtain I'm going to buy my brother for a wedding gift. After I find a plain one, at a reasonable cost, I'm on my way to the front when I see the CUTEST pair of earrings. Little hanging silver stars, lumped together in a package with 5 other earrings. "Dare I try to poke those through my ears today?" It's been a good 4 years since the last time I wore earrings, I'm not even sure I have open holes anymore. I buy them and figure if nothing else I can re-pierce them with a needle, if I have to.
I get home and try them out (with the help of a little rubbing alcohol). Lo and behold! the holes are still there! Two on my left ear and one on my right. Super. I wore the earrings all day Saturday and I was so happy I think I'm going to make this a regular thing. Earrings. What a concept. I had forgotten I even had the ability.
The wedding was nice, too. What can I say? It's nothing like how I want to have a wedding. Pay a fortune, and for what? A few photo-ops so people can stand around and talk to each other about how beautiful the wedding is? What taste they have? Hm...not my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, it's what my brother and his wife wanted so I'm glad they could have it. I'm just saying that if I had that kind of money to spend I would have something else to do with it. Buy a house? Go to Europe? Finish school? Bah...those kids have money coming out their asses so I guess they don't value it as much as I do. I'm happy for them, I know they're in love and will be happy; I just disagree with their politics.
My wedding will be like this:
1. Outside.
2. "BYO" everything--I'm not your momma.
3. Transients will set up chairs, in exchange they can wander the aisles and panhandle during the ceremony--as long as they're not too loud.
4. The vows will be written by each one of us and read to each other. Backwards. To invoke the devil.
5. The "priest" will be dressed like a Simpsons character dressed like Elvis. He will have a poor southern accent and be nearly fall-down drunk.
The reception will consist of:
1. Several days, if not weeks, of camping.
2. Drinking.
3. More drinking.
4. Laughing.
5. Bad jokes, including "your momma," "sexist," "a guy walks into a bar," and "some guys on a boat," and "blonde."
6. Four words: Pooping In The Woods.
7. Dancing around a campfire.
8. Telling ghost stories.
If you're interested let me know. I'm on the "Torres Ten Year plan" so it should be sometime between now and 2018. So keep open every August 20th between now and then.
That's not too much to ask, is it?
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