DIY and 2014 Goals

I made this Goal Board simply by sticking a sheet of black card stock in front of the glass of a frame I got for Christmas from my grandma and writing on it with a silver paint pen.

I've slowly started filling it up with goals I want to achieve for 2014 - some simple, some not-so-simple. I like the word "goals" better than "New Year Resolution" because goals sound not only more doable, but the latter tends to taper off somewhere near January 20th.

Goals are reasonable. Goals are motivating. And keeping them on my wall where I will see them everyday as I get ready in the morning or before I walk out of my house means that I will be constantly reminded of the things I want to accomplish and I will be less likely to waste time.

Here are some of the goals on it so far:

• learn basic coding (HTML/CSS)
• learn other Adobe applications (i.e. Illustrator, Muse, InDesign)
• finish a novel (even just a crappy draft)
• workout more and eat less
• finish my thesis
• stop being a chicken and send some short stories to lit mags or contests
• take a photography course
• find a real job (obviously after I finish the two classes I have this Spring and my thesis this Summer)

What are your goals for 2014?

Thinking About My Friend

I've been thinking a lot about a friend of mine. One of my best friends, actually, who moved away a few years ago and I miss terribly. She reads this blog, occasionally, so she will probably be embarrassed that I talked about her, thus I'm not going to name her. But really, she is one of the best people I know.

I was reading another blog post earlier this morning about being a nice person - being nice to everyone and focusing on whatever aspect of them is good. As the author of this particular blog post was writing about how to be non-judgmental, I was sitting there thinking how hypocritical she was based on some other things I've read by her. Then it occurred to me that by thinking these things about her I was being judgmental and hypocritical, myself. And then I realized how many more times only today I've been judgmental, thanks in no small part, to Facebook. Don't worry, I'm not going off on a rant about Facebook, but I do find it interesting how it tends to bring out the worst in me.

So, anyway, I was reading this post and thinking that the only person I know that models this non-judgmental, non-hypocritical temperament is my friend who, since moving away, now has less of a direct influence on me since we only see each other a few times a year and most of that time is spent catching up.

I think I was legitimately a better person before she moved away because she has a way of loving everybody that just rubs off on you. She doesn't gossip, she doesn't fault other people of their mistakes (or if she does, she keeps it to herself), and most of all, she doesn't force or suggest her opinion of someone to cloud another persons mind. She's perfectly happy to make up her mind about someone and let others make up their own minds.

If you asked her, she would say all of this is an overestimation, because she also humble.

I have a lot to learn from my friend. I consider myself a good person, but when I think about how often I judge people and how tightly I hold on to grudges I realize that I could use a lot more grace in my life. I wish it came naturally to me, but it's obviously something I need to work on.

Add it to the list.

Movies to Watch For (Round 2)

So, I still haven't seen all of the movies from Round 1. Particulary, "Upside Down," - which hasn't made its way to theaters wide yet - "Apart," and "The Five Year Engagement" - which is now set to record from HBO and I will watch hopefully in the near future.

Here's some new ones that look kind of rad.

1. "Knights of Badassdom" - Okay, so actually this movie looks disgusting. But I will see it for two main reasons: the great Steve Zahn and Jimmi Simpson (it's Mary from "Psych"!). I'm also pretty sure I can persuade my geeky guy friends to see it with my by uttering the magic words, "Summer Glau," as she seems to be at the top of every geek-guy's list. Some back up reasons to see this movie include, but are not limited to, the hot brother from True Blood, Peter Dinklage (he's an angry elf), Abed from "Community," and, of course, LARP.


2. "The Kitchen" - I'll admit it. I have a bit of a lady boner for Bryan Greenberg. And he and Laura Prepon already have some excellent chemistry pre-established from their roles on the sadly short-lived "October Road," so I'm looking forward to this one.


3. "Into the White" - RON I'LL FOLLOW YOU ANYWHERE! (Except maybe not in the snow. You understand).


4. "The End of Love" - Looks like I might need a box of Kleenex in the theater with me.


5. "Small Apartments" - It's so colorful. And I mean that in the literal snese. Also, Billy Crystal, James Marsden and Rebel Wilson. I've said it before: Rebel Wilson is my spirit animal.

Case of the Mondays

My Monday has started out extremely well. Not. So I'm going to share a little craziness with you. Hopefully, you'll be entertained. If not, well, I apologize.

Let me start by explaining what I do. I work for a university web department. A large part of my job consists of conducting training sessions to university department representatives on how to manage their own department's site using the content-management system the university has subscribed to. However, another part of my job includes converting and transferring departmental sites from the old system we used to the new one. When this happens, it generally takes me about a month (sometimes more, depending on the size of the site and state of disorder it is in) to transfer all of the content, clean it up, fix links, update images and out-of-date content, and generally make it look clean and nice. When I'm finished, I send a preview of it to the client for them to review and let me know if I need to make any additional changes. If I don't, I take down the old site and publish the new one, at which point the department then takes over the management of that particular site.

What sometimes happens, however, is that I will finish a site and send it off for review, and then it will sit for months, despite my frequent e-mailed reminders to the client, until the content I updated way back when is now out of date and has to be redone. It's pretty awesome. Fortunately, this has only happened with a few clients, and most of them have been pretty cool about owning up to their own inaction.

I have one client, however, who is crazy. If any one person has ever given me the urge to pour hot coffee all over someone's crotch, it's her.

So, instead of making this a long, drawn out vent-a-thon, I'm just going to share with you some key quotes from my e-mailed interactions with this woman. I already made a contact history log for my boss, so I'm just going to share the highlights. I have thus far had the good fortune of never having to meet her in person. And I fear that, should the occasion arise, I might actually punch her in the face (or, you know, at least kill her printer with a baseball bat).

Timeline 

April 19 – Finish conversion of site (which began on March 29) and send to client for approval; She responds saying she will pass it on to other associates in department for input and get back to me.

May 14 – Still have not heard back from client. Send another e-mail, reminding her that I am awaiting her review. She replies same day saying “Actually, I just got the edits back late last week, so I haven't had a chance to begin working on them. Let me send you the email I sent to [associate]. Let me know if you are confused.” Then she proceeds to forward me an email thread between her and aforementioned associate in which the associate praises her on the work she did on the site (to which she never corrects her) and requests a few more changes. Because my client has indicated to her associate that she will make the requested changes, since she has been given access to manage the site, I disregard the e-mail.

May 24 – Client emails me asking if I’ve made the requested changes. I’m sorry, what? I reply “Are you speaking of the email you forwarded to me on 5/14 addressed to [associate]? I read through that email and your comments, but was under the impression that those were edits you were going to make after the site goes live. Therefore, I have not made any recent updates to the site. If I misunderstood and you would like me to make those edits, please let me know.” To this email she responds simply with:

 “ :-) “

No joke. That’s some very professional e-mail correspondence, there, lady. Props to you. 

May 30 – I send her another preview with the updates I made; she responds saying she will pass it on to her associates.

June 5 – She requests more changes; I quickly make them then send another request for approval. Site is now at point where it’s been ready to go live and the updates she requests are things she could easily handle herself.

August 6 – Send another reminder about site and request ETA on publishing live. Her response:

“Thanks!” 

October 29 – Send contact history to boss. Boss sends stern email to client’s supervisor. Client’s supervisor gives client swift kick in the pants. 

November 8 – Client request site to go live. I schedule publication for the following Monday. 

November 16 – Client emails me and my boss about links that do not work and content that is not up to date. She says, “[Associate] had changed a few pages in [old system] that apparently Jory didn't realize.” 

I’m sorry, but were you dropped on your head as a child, lady? Of course the information isn’t up to date. I FINISHED the site months ago and it was UP TO YOU to send me updates you wanted me to do. Meanwhile, YOU HAD ACCESS to the site and actually get paid to manage it, whereas my duty to your site ended at the latest back in June, if not even earlier when I finished converting the site the first time. Not only that, but I specifically told you and your [associate] that it would be best to make all new changes in the new system, and if changes must be made in the old system, you must notify me about them if you want them implemented in the new site as well. Contrary to popular belief, I do not just sit at my desk checking your old site daily to see if there are changes. 

Also, back in March, she sent me an e-mail that said only, "It sure can!" I have absolutely no idea what this e-mail was in response to or what it was regarding. It was out of the blue. I imagine it was sent to me by mistake, further indicating that she is completely inept at professional correspondence. Do you not look at who the e-mail is addressed to before you click send?

So, that's my client from Hell. I've had other ridiculous clients - particularly one who is clinically crazy and had a complete and public mental breakdown last year - but they are all still at least pleasant to deal with, even if they do inspire occasional frustration. But this lady, I swear... I don't understand how people like this even obtain employment, let alone stay in their position without getting canned. Oh, and I stumbled across her Twitter and blog, and after a cursory glance at both, I can honestly assess that she is insane.

Post-Dawson's Creek Netflix-Enabled Suicide Reflection

So, I'm not actually sure when this all began, but I think it was two weeks ago. I randomly decided to watch Dawson's Creek on Netflix. I honestly can't say what put this idea into my head. All I remember is that I was housesitting, watching the League on a borrowed Netflix account, and all of a sudden I was wrapped up in the first season of probably the most famous teen melodramas in history (after The Wonder Years?). I remember catching an episode here and there when I was in high school (from the college seasons) but I was 11 when the show started and there was no easy way to catch up on the seasons I'd missed (ah, the age before streaming), so I just didn't get into it.

So I watched all six seasons in the past two weeks, and since I had to stay home sick this week, I managed to cram the last two seasons in three days. Finally, it's over, and it's my last chance to talk about it. This is good news for the tweeps who got tired of my live-tweet ranting throughout my viewing. (Give me a break, most of my tweet-storms took place in the middle of the night when normal people were sleeping).
Now on to the season recaps, followed by my nominations for best episodes. If you don't want spoilers or just don't give a crap about Dawson's Creek, for goodness' sake, don't continue reading. Here's the breakdown:

• Season Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Finale
• My opinion of the best episodes
• Meaningless facts and figures I somehow felt important enough to add

Season One

from the start

Jen moves into town and Joey gets all jealous that the attention she hogged for the past 15 years is now shifting to the girly blonde. Joey's kind of annoying in this season, but she's 15 so what can you expect? Dawson is, however, the biggest and most oblivious imbecile imaginable. And, of course, Pacey is a messed up kid with a good heart he just wants to share with someone. And there's that biology project where Pacey forgets to tie up the canoe so he and Joey have to wade through the freezing water back to the car and he peeks at her undressing in the side mirror. (Interjecting with "I told you so" point - Pacey was the first to fall for Joey, not Dawson). But then, using the biggest cliche ever, Dawson finally sees Joey in a new light when she puts makeup for a beauty pageant. Her godawful, unCinderella-like singing somehow entrances him. Like an idiot, she decides to forgo Paris for an angsty summer in Capeside.

Season Two
Now that Joey has finally manipulated Dawson into returning her affections, they play the happy couple until Joey realizes she wants to be her own woman. Well, duh. So she dumps him and starts dating Jack, who almost has sex with her after she sketches him naked, but then he writes a love poem about another guy and reveals he's gay. Jen kind of jumps around, not really staying with one friend for too long until finally becoming Jack's hag at the end. Meanwhile, Dawson becomes the poster child catalyst for the Emo movement. Pacey, on the other hand, embarks on a hate-love relationship with Jack's twin sister Andie, who whips him into shape then has herself committed. Now that Jack has eyes for guys, Joey goes back to Dawson, but then he makes her get her dad arrested for cocaine trafficking and she tells him she'll never forgive him. He leaves for the summer.

(I forgot to mention that the character Abby Morgan, a bitchy girl I haven't mentioned yet, gets drunk, hits her head, and falls into the water to her death. Her bloated body is by far one of the creepiest things I've ever seen on television, and I've watched a ton of CSI and Criminal Minds.)

Season Three
Dawson comes back and tries to play the part of the bad boy, embarking on a shaky fling with a girl he meets on the bus, who later turns out to be Jen's long lost half-sister. Joey throws herself at Dawson and he tells her to get lost, then stupidly asks Pacey to look after her. I must say, Dawson, asking someone that far superior than you to babysit your wannabe girlfriend is just asking for trouble. Especially now that Pacey's single because Andie got a little slutty with another crazy during her mental institution vaca. It's only a matter of time before Joey wises up to the amazingness that is Pacey Witter, but not until witnessing him failing to engage in a FWB relationship with Jen, thus beginning the never-ending love triangle (sometimes square) from hell. (That was a very long run-on, for which I do not apologize.) Oh, and after she breaks the news to Dawson that she chooses his best friend over him, she jumps on Pacey's boat and they sail away for the summer. Because that is a completely realistic thing for two sixteen year-olds to do.

Season Four
Joey and Pacey return to the harbor from their summer of debauchery on the open waters (they read to each other from separate hammocks - bow chicka wow wow). Pacey and Dawson are now mortal enemies, and Joey is now forever to play the role of woman-in-the-middle. Jack and Jen have personality transplants and become star football player and cheerleader, respectively. Jen dates a freshman. Jack starts to try to date guys. Andie decides to leave school early and move to Italy. Surprisingly, I start to like Dawson as a character. It only took him four seasons. I've also started to like Jen, hot-mess that she is. The gang gets ready for college, except Pacey who barely graduates. His insecurities cause him to break up with Joey (because a good relationship obviously can't just work out on a teen melodrama). Dawson leaves for LA. Pacey jumps on another sailboat. Joey, Jack, Jen, and Grams ship up to Boston. Sadly, they didn't add this gem of a song into the soundtrack because they suck.

Season Five
starts off with more ridiculous drama between Dawson and Joey. The writers have apparently forgotten that she just broke up with PACEY, who not only took her virginity but shared with her the longest-lasting relationship she's ever had. She's obviously forgotten Pacey as well, because she's back to fighting herself over her feelings for Dawson. So Dawson drops out of USC film school for her, then his dad dies and he blames her for it. Dawson then dates Jen again, and Joey starts sleeping around, because what else are you supposed to do in college? Pacey is conveniently now in Boston, living on a yacht and excelling at chefdom at the swanky restaurant Joey and her gang just happen to frequent. Pacey and Joey "miraculously" slide back into the friend zone and she apparently has no problem whatsoever with him dating her roommate. This makes absolutely no sense, writers. You guys are chumps. Meanwhile, Jack and Jen are on the outs because Jack decided to join a fraternity and become an unmotivated douchebag until he gets himself kicked out/quits for a combination of grades+being gay+misc. douchebaggery.

Season Six
Pacey and Joey's roommate Audrey return from a summer in LA. Pacey has a hideous goatee and a promising new career as a day-trader. A likely story. Joey and Dawson finally get naked together, then she finds out he has a girlfriend (an actress, no less). Joey starts dating a slacker bartender, then he ditches her, then she takes him back, then he ditches her again. Pacey tools around with his day-trader boss, getting him in the doghouse with Audrey. They break up, then Audrey becomes a psycho-alcoholic and has to go to rehab. Pacey and Joey briefly hook back up and things look like they're going to start working out again, and then she dumps him for another short-lived romance with the prodigal slacker bartender. Jen starts dating a guy with even more issues than her (played by the ever-sexy Jensen Ackles from Supernatural). Jack has a nice normal relationship with David, until David becomes insecure about Jack's friendly demeanor toward every other human (particularly those with Y chromosomes). Dawson stupidly invests all his money with Pacey, who stupidly accepts his business then loses everything. Now they hate each other again. Then Joey decides she's not going to be in the middle anymore. Empty words. She then helps Dawson make his movie, and prompts Pacey to get off his ass and help. Pacey finds some investors for the movie and he and Dawson become civil again.

Two-part Series Finale:
By far the worst series finale I've ever seen. It's five years later and Joey is living in New York with Jeremy Sisto, who is apparently about to propose. Dawson is a TV producer (for a show that is pretty much the third re-living of tragic love triangle - Give it a rest man!) is back in Capeside to attend his mother's wedding. Pacey has reopened the Icehouse, the restaurant that used to be owned by Joey's family but burnt down in season two. Jack and Jen also reside back in Capeside. Jack is a high school English teacher and is dating Pacey's closeted older brother, Deputy Doug (now Sheriff). Jen is a single mother with an incurable heart condition that no one knows about. On her death bed, Jen asks Joey to make a choice, and Joey admits she's known all along who she's meant to be with. Jen dies. Jack adopts her baby and Sheriff Doug decides he's ready to take on being openly gay and co-parenting all at once. Joey rightly chooses Pacey over Dawson, claiming that Dawson is her soul-mate but their love is wrapped in their childhood innocence; Pacey is her true love. Dawson goes back to LA and finally gets a meeting with Steven Spielberg.

Best Episodes: (*even bester, personal favorites)

1. 1.10 "Double Date" - Jen and Dawson share an awkward double date with their "significant others." Meanwhile, Joey and Pacey start getting to know each other while working together on a biology project. Pacey obviously starts having feelings for Joey, but Dawson later makes him feel extremely guilty about it, even though Dawson doesn't want her.
2. 3.12 "A Weekend in the Country" - Pacey selflessly helps the Potter family generate business to their newly opened bed and breakfast. Friends and family come together on one of the coldest nights of the year to help make a good impression for a visiting travel critic.
3. 4.03 "Two Gentlemen of Capeside"  - While Dawson and Joey are pushed together for a school project, Pacey and Jen get stuck at sea during a hurricane and Dawson is forced to let go of his anger long enough to save his once-best friend.
4. *4.08 "The Unusual Suspects" - a "who-done-it" involving an epic senior prank. This episode, along with Supernatural's "Usual Suspects" episode, are based on the movie with the same name. I once fell asleep watching this movie, but now I think I need to try again because I loved both episodes so much. 
5. *4.14 "A Winter's Tale" - On a senior ski-trip, Joey and Pacey finally take their relationship to the next level. I'm composing a list of the sexiest scenes from TV/movies, and this one will be on there.
6. *5.04 "The Long Goodbye" - Everyone heads back to Capeside to attend Mitch's funeral. Each person has their own special memory in which Mitch cameos. Definitely keep a box kleenex next to you.
7. 5.15 "Downtown Crossing" - Joey has a strange and sad encounter with a mugger who gets hit by a car after stealing her money and coat. She ends up staying with him in the hospital, each helping the other find some closure and hope, before the mugger dies.
8. 6.06 "Living Dead Girl" - During the cast and crew's Halloween bash, Dawson starts seeing the ghost of an actress who died years earlier on the same soundstage. Joey has to babysit her professor's 15 year daughter. Meanwhile the rest of the gang attend a wild party where relationship tensions rise.
9. 6.14 "Clean and Sober" - Jack and Pacey throw a party for their new wide-screen TV. Joey get's hilariously drunk and starts sharing everyone's dirty little secrets, then, to top it all off, they all play game of Spin-the-Bottle. Pacey realizes he's not really over Joey.



Pacey with a vagina on his face.

10. *6.15 "Castaways" - Pacey and Joey get locked in a K-Mart after it closes and are forced to confront their shaky relationship. Joey also finally convinces Pacey to shave the vagina off his face. Hallelujah!

Meaningless facts and figures (and comments):

• Pacey is consistently the most admirable character on the show (until possibly season 6, when he became a tool, but still had a heart). Some examples: he saves Ms. Jacobs from getting fired over their affair; he helps Andie deal with her mother; he helps Andie deal with her own mental illness; he stands up for Jack and fights for what's right against Mr. Peterson, even if it means getting kicked out of school; he helps Joey with the bed and breakfast and campaign to save Mr. Green's job even though Joey is oblivious to his feelings and unappreciative of his help; he patiently waits for Joey to be ready for sex and doesn't succumb to the seductions of other women; he stands up against the new manager at the restaurant when she fires a single mom and he gives all the gourmet food to the needy; even after Dawson writes him off, he continues to help and support him.
• Everyone had at least one fling or relationship with either a teacher or someone significantly older.
• Pacey (2) - relationship with Ms. Jacobs; fling with new restaurant manager, Alex
• Jen (1) - fling with Vincent, the seafarer/fisherman/whatever he was
• Joey (1) - fling with Professor Wilder
• Dawson (1) - fling with Amy Lloyd, the film critic
• Jack (2) - almost fling with Professor Freeman; relationship with Doug Witter
• Pacey was technically the first to become interested romantically in Joey
• A large part of what made Pacey a tool in season 6 was the nasty vagina on his face.
• The shows attempts to be meta were often cheesy and hilarious (i.e. when Joey makes fun of teen melodramas or when Eve claims to be obsessed with watching Felicity).
• Dawson adapts his experiences three times into film (the high school film, "Creek Days"; the film he makes in season 6 called "The Untitled Dawson Leery Script"; and theTV show "The Creek").
• Not to mention Joey's creative writing projects
• In the last episode before the finale, Audrey in costume looks exactly like Ms. Jacobs
• I think a lot of drama could have been avoided if they'd just had cell phones in high school, geez

Welcome to Day Two of the Meg-A-Thon

Disclaimer: This is one of my longer posts, but bear with me. I've got pictures. And ice cream. (Oh, but the ice cream is just for me. Sorry.)

This is the banner I made for Meg's Facebook contest. I didn't win. But it's okay. Because the winner's banner was quite nice. (Notice the change in cover styles since that blessed summer day in 2001.)

Hello fellow Meg Cabot readers. You're obviously here because of the Meg-A-Thon made of awesome, because I usually only get about 4 hits on my blog (and I'm pretty sure they're all from my mother).

Not that I'm bitter or anything.

But seriously, I'm very excited you're here. Welcome to my humble virtual abode. And, in the words of my grandpa, "take off your coat and stay a while." We can have tea and scones and, of course, talk about Meg, since that's why you're here anyway.

I met Meg, hypothetically, on a very special day: my 14th birthday. (Well, officially it was two days after my birthday because I was in Kentucky for work camp on my ACTUAL birthday. But whatever, I like to acknowledge that the first Princess Diaries book was released on my actual birthday because it makes it seem serendipitous.) See, here's the thing, back in 2001, before the first Harry Potter film created the massive hysteria - forcing non-readers everywhere to crack open the book, making reading officially cool - I was considered the weird kid who didn't take advantage of the full passing period because I preferred to get to my seat early and spend the extra time reading a few more pages. So, when I returned from Kentucky, and my mom told me I could pick out my own birthday present, I naturally directed her to Borders.

(::sigh:: RIP, Borders).

I remember it like it was yesterday. You'd think my mother would have been glad that I was so devoted to reading and expanding my schema, but no. The whole way there she kept shaking her head, asking me if I wouldn't prefer to go to the mall and get a new outfit for the upcoming school year. But I was adamant.

When I walked into Borders I made a beeline for the Young Adult section. Back then, it was only a row and a half of shelves. (I know. It's horrifying.) Being that it was brand-spanking new, the Princess Diaries book was on special display. But I passed right by it. I don't know why I did this. Maybe it was because it was (Meg, if you're reading this, I apologize) pink, or maybe it was the tiara on the cover, but whatever the reason, my brain was clearly not functioning at its full capacity at that moment.

I remember picking up a few books and checking them out (one of them was Go Ask Alice, which was recommended to me but, to this day, I have not read) until I got to the section of the shelf where "Cabot" popped up again. Here's the difference: someone had placed the Princess Diaries on the shelf with its back cover facing me. Something about that Doc Martin boot on the back cover (I mean, I HAD those boots) caused something inside me to stir. I grabbed the book and read the excerpt and I KNEW. I knew I had to have this book. I knew that somehow, some way, Mia was me in some alternate universe, and the author had reached into my soul and found a way to reach out to me in manuscript form.

Okay, that's a bit dramatic. But seriously, as soon as I read that back cover I felt strongly connected to it. Also, it might have been the reference to Baldwin, because I had a huge crush on Alec Baldwin when I was a kid (who didn't? I also had a crush on Bill Clinton before the whole Monica scandal thing went down, so maybe my judgement wasn't the greatest. Don't judge me, I was 10.)

Anyway, the Princess Diaries not only made me journal my life religiously in the event that someday my life might be as entertaining and exciting as Mia's (unlikely), but it introduced me to chick-lit and that honest, confessional style of writing that has been perfected by our esteemed Meg. Not only that, but it made me realize that I don't have to become as famous as Meg to be a great writer and if I can make one person laugh the way Meg has made me so many times,well, then I have succeeded.

Geez, I'm such a suck-up.

I've read all of Meg's books, including her first published novel ever, a romance novel that she released under a pseudonym. I recommend her to my friends and random people I meet any time I have the opportunity. (Seriously, sometimes I just shout "Read Meg Cabot!" across the street to strangers.) I reread my favorites (which change year to year) in between my heavier grad school reading. And last year, I finally got to meet Meg (not hypothetically) in Naperville, IL at a book signing. She was charming and beautiful and everything I imagined her to be. I only wish I had had the foresight to bring that romance novel I mentioned because I think she would have gotten a kick out of that.

Any book Meg writes, I know I'll read and love. But there will always be a special place in my heart for the Princess Diaries. It was released on my birthday. I was 14. Mia was 14. I grew up with her (albeit, maybe a little faster, because when Forever Princess was released in 2010, Mia was graduating from high school while I was graduating from college). But no matter how old I get, Meg keeps me young.

Obviously.

P.S. I've made it a habit at bookstores to shelve books with the back covers facing out, now, because sometimes it's just as, if not more, aesthetically enticing as the front. And let's face it, we do judge books by their covers, but sometimes we just need to get the full picture.

Three Weeks of Meg Cabot
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May 2012

		15 Little Miss Drama Queen The Romance Bookie	16 Jo Writes The Blog	17 Wickedly Sweet Books	18 YAL Book Briefs
20 A Sunny Disposition	21 Kati-Kati in Wunderland		23 Eve's Fan Garden		25 A Girl, Books, and Other Things	26 Just Smile
27 Blethering Bookworm	28 Read-2-Review		30 The Teen Book Guru	31 Lady Jessop

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Get To Know Me

A few things that I love

(I should be writing that paper right now. Oh well.)

Diet Coke. My life force.	Writing. Especially in awesome notebooks from Granada.
My Macbook. His name is Cooper.	My brilliant niece. She, coincidentally, loves Jelly Beans.
Photography.	Beer.
My Fossil necklace. I'm a Fossil snob.	My Fossil purse, wallet, and  wristlet (not pictured).
Sweets. Of the homemade variety.	Starbucks. And, consequently, the Rewards program.
Clouds. Especially before/after a storm.	Reading. Good books.
Pez. The key to my heart.	Rain.
My evening commute.	Road trips.
Motorcycles. Helmets are sexy.

Happy Erg Valentine's Day

Like I said yesterday, I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day. It could possibly have something to do with the fact that my last serious relationship pretty much ended on V-Day. But to be honest, I never cared much for the holiday in the first place. I hate pink. And I don't like the idea of going out to a fancy, expensive dinner when the food will probably be rush-cooked and restaurant will be crowded anyway. Just stay in and be comfortable and do the night-out thing another time.

Also, Cupid just creeps me out. I mean, who really wants a fat naked baby shooting them with an arrow? Hello, ouch. And that Cupid baby is just going to grow up to be a pervert and a sociopath anyway. And he will most likely be afflicted with delusions of grandeur, thinking he can just fly around wearing nothing but a pair of wings and a quiver.

Nuh uh, not having it.

What I do always appreciate about V-Day, however, is my dad. My dad is my forever Valentine because he always gets me a ludicrous amount of chocolate. And he's also just a good dad in general. (I swear I'm not sucking up. He doesn't even know I keep a blog and wouldn't read it if he did.)

(that's me, fyi)

So, in honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share a little blurb I wrote a few months ago after a writing prompt told me to. Mainly because I'm vain, and also because I just reread it today and still like it.

She touched the little box in her pocket and smiled. She knew she probably shouldn’t keep it. The right thing to do would be to put it back where she found it, which was in her step-sister’s second to bottom drawer. But she wasn’t interested in doing the right thing. Not this time. So she walked out of the house and turned the corner. Down the street she went, that little box along with her, until she reached her destination. The doors to the post office swung open and she stopped at the back of the line. She reached into her purse and found the slip of paper with the address scribbled on it. Her step-sister’s boyfriend’s address. Not her “local” boyfriend, who wrote her all the notes contained in that little box. No. The address was to her “real” boyfriend, the one she left back in Michigan with a promise to be faithful, who was about to be in for a rude awakening. Happy Valentine’s Day, sister dear. 


Also, here's a V-Day Haiku I wrote a few years ago that won a contest. 
My dear ex-boyfriend,
Thanks for dumping me before
You gave up showers.

 That is all. Have a great ahem holiday.

This is what schema is good for...

My friend posted this video  -



- on my Facebook wall, and the whole time I kept thinking...gee, something's familiar about Ariel. Then it came to me...

Oh, Rick Perry. Priceless.

Other thoughts: The Prince Ali guy is pretty attractive. And he must be a math major because I've only ever seen math majors able to draw perfect chalkboard circles like that.

By the way, what's up with that? I haven't seen an actual chalkboard in years!

Also, Gaston is pretty darn talented. That's all.

For the Bride

One of my best friends is getting married in a little over a month. She just moved out to Boston. For her bridal shower, we had to get a little creative and find gifts with one of the letters from her name (they were assigned). Naturally, I received the letter "Z." I went with a zebra theme (which matched the animal print theme of the Bachelorette Party, so...win) and wrote her a poem instead of getting a card. I thought I'd share it with y'all. Disclaimer: this poem includes inside jokes.

A Poll on Ethics

I'm taking a poll to aid me in an assignment I am doing for my Rhetoric class. Don't worry about the context, don't think too hard about your answer, just give me you initial gut opinion. The theme here is right vs. wrong. Base your answers on ethics not legality. I really appreciate the help. I will explain the point of this poll after I see some results and finish my assignment.

If you know a person is a recovering alcoholic and you put a drink in their hand, would you feel responsible if they drink it?

If you hand a person a shovel, would you feel responsible for the driveway getting cleared of snow?

If you know a kid is being bullied and you put a gun in their hand, would you feel responsible if they shoot someone?

If you supplied a person with illegal drugs, would you feel responsible if they overdosed?

If you lecture about the importance of physical appearance, would you feel responsible if a young girl in the audience develops an eating disorder?

If you give a speech about the importance of charity, would you feel responsible for the many audience members donating large sums of money?

I know that some of these issues are not black and white and that you may want to justify your response. Please choose yes or no first based on initial reaction. After that, if you desire, you can use the comments section to explain or argue your case. However, for the purpose of my assignment, all I am really looking for is the yes or no.

Thanks for your time.

Hello Again, Old Friend

I've been seriously neglecting this place. Mostly because I've been debating myself on whether or not to shut it down. I'm still not really sure, all I can tell you is that it's been far too long and I could really use the creative outlet right now. So here's what's going on in my life:

- My parents finished our basement so I've turned it into my own little apartment space. Yes, this is less cool that actually renting a legit apartment. But I never claimed to be cool. And I can't afford a car right now, let alone an apartment of my very own.

- I got a job at a local bakery/cafe. I 60% like it. I get tips, not as much as I would if I were a waitress, but tips nonetheless.

- I've recently grown accustomed to getting my legs waxed. It hurts like hell the first time but the second and third times aren't bad. I intend to never shave my legs again if I can help it. That's really not as gross as it sounds, I promise.

-I finished a novel. Kind of. I finished a little over 50K words for NaNoWriMo in November. It's still unedited and probably not worth revising, but still, I did it, and I'm proud of myself.

-I've started my third semester of grad school and I am taking my first couple of classes in the teaching certification program. It's a lot more work than last semester but hopefully doable. My MA class, Traditions in Rhetoric, has reading that is so dense I have to reread sentences two or three times to make sure I'm understanding them. But, despite the difficulty, I'm still excited to be learning. And I'm pretty excited to be getting into the classroom.

-I got my nose pierced. I realize that this was kind of a futile action since I'll be taking it out before I start student teaching. But it's something I've wanted to do for the past few years. I've only had it for a few days so it is still is sore and looks like a giant sparkly booger out of the corner of my eye.

-I've set a goal for myself to lose 50 lbs by October. It's a big goal and is going to take a lot of commitment (and a lot less ice cream) but I'm going to try. I think I'm going to post here weekly on my progress to keep myself accountable.

That's all for now. Laters.

Autobiography, Part 1

My mother once told me that my brother came quickly but my birth was long and painful. My brother was healthy and quiet. I was sickly and never stopped crying.

I was born premature, weighing 5 lbs, and my skin was so thin that my eyelids still remain purple. I grew up in a cozy ranch home with an exposed finished basement and a basketball hoop in the driveway. My house was in a suburban culdesac; my best fried lived ten little-girl-steps away.


I lived in a city of Swedes. Ninety percent of the families were descendants of Swedish immigrants, mine included. My grandmother tried to teach me a little Swedish when I was very young. I retained very little but the pronunciation of certain words sometimes sneaks out of me.

Though I have three older siblings, I lived much of my youth as an only child, finding companionship in my dolls, movies, and books. My older sister was always a mystery to me. I remember looking at a portrait of her in her dance costume and thinking she was the prettiest woman in the world. As a little girl, I was envious of her big eyes and womanly figure. I always wanted to be part of her life but she always seemed distant.

My older brother and I used to play cops and robbers; I was usually the robber (this later became ironic when he became a criminal).

Throughout my childhood, my extended family belonged to a country club where I (along with my siblings and ten cousins) swam and dove for the swim team, took tennis lessons and played golf. Some of my fondest memories of those summers included playing the card game, “Spoons,” and eating stale popcorn from the bar after a long swim practice.
I was a terrifying child. One of my older cousins dubbed me the “Red Tornado” due to my wild red hair and my hyperactive behavior. I taught my six year old cousin how to play “21.”

We moved out of my favorite house when I was 12. My best friend threatened to slash our tires – she didn’t – or to chase our car down the street for as long as she could – she did – even though we moved less than a mile away.

Some are silver and the others gold

I've been thinking a lot lately about how people in life come and go. Some stay for ever, like your best friends and family (and of course the ONE, once you finally meet him or her) but others are only there for one thing. That thing could be to help you when you need them most or to be your friend when you have none, they might be there to inspire you or to let you inspire them. Whatever the reason they come, they leave just as swiftly.

Facebook is an interesting tool that allows us a slightly better opportunity to touch base with these people, or at least get updates once in a while on what they are up to. For example, one particular person that falls into this category just got engaged over the weekend. He is the guy who I once went on the most awkward date of my life with.

This guy was a few years older than me. We worked together at a summer job. He was starting Grad school when I was just getting out of high school. He had beautiful eyes and adorable curly-ish hair. I had the biggest crush on him, but he had a girlfriend, of course. I never thought he would be interested in me anyway, because I was kid and he was in Grad school. But I spent that whole summer daydreaming those "what ifs" and started writing them down. And when I started college that next year, I kept thinking about him and writing stuff down. Essentially, he was the inspiration for my first attempt at writing a screenplay.

Now, I have to say, I never finished that screenplay. It got a little too "Nicholas Sparks" for me and I wanted to move on to other stuff. But I never threw it away. I still have the hand written pages that I stapled together with notes to type up later.

Anyway, this guy and I didn't really get back in touch until a few years later when Facebook took over the world. He had just been jilted by a fiance (remember that girlfriend he had that summer I had a crush on him?) We started commenting on each others' walls. Then we started chatting on AIM. I was dating my ex, then, and I would talk to him about it. When that relationship finally fizzled out, he asked if he could call me. And he did. Nearly every day until I came home for that summer. He told me he wanted to take me out on a date. I had never been on a date. Not with someone I wasn't already in a relationship with, anyway. (I don't count high school dances as dates, either.)

So, like I said, we went on the most awkward date ever. The more I think back on it, the more awkward it seems. Maybe it's just because I'm a really awkward person in general. Or maybe it's because I no longer had any romantic interest in this guy but was just shell-shocked that he wanted to go on a date with me! Because, remember, I was just a kid to him.

Anyway, after our date we both got busy and didn't talk as much. He moved to Chicago and I went back to California. He met someone and they started dating. I graduated from college, moved back home, and started Grad school. But like I said about Facebook, it keeps us in the loop. He and I still occasionally post comments on each others' pages. And I was able to see through my news feed that he proposed to his girlfriend over the weekend and she said yes. That girl turned out to be his One.

Why is this important? Well, he came into my life twice. The first time, he inspired that screenplay. He was my muse. The second time, we were there to help each other through our respective failed relationships. Even though that date was awkward, it was a date. It made me feel like even though I had just been rejected by my ex, I was still dateable to someone else. And for him, well, I like to think maybe I was a stepping stone for him before meeting his One. Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit. Ah, screw it. I can remember things the way I want to. It's my life.

Update

So, I know it has been a while since I have posted on the happenings in my life. Partly because my life is mostly uneventful, and partly because I don't think people actually CARE what my day to day is. However, since the last time I really put a lot of effort into this blog was back in July, I have decided to tell you a little bit about myself.

I went to college in California (1 year in San Diego and 3 years in LA). I graduated last May with a degree in Film (Screenwriting), but, in fact, have no desire to go into Hollywood or, as it is, write screenplays. I haven't completely tossed aside the idea of screenwriting, I just don't feel I'm very good at it and it is not something I want to focus my energy on at the moment. This does not mean, however, that my education was a waste because everything I learned helped me reach this decision and, of course, broadened my experience and knowledge.

I want to be a novelist. I know that is a general statement and that a lot of people "say" they want to be novelists but don't ever do anything about it. Well, hopefully, I am not one of them. I am working on a novel right now and am also prepping for this year's NaNoWriMo, YAY!

After graduation, I moved back home with my parents. Yes, I returned to the good 'ole nest. Illinois. Close to Chicago but not in it. But also not in a cornfield, I thank you.

I have a total of TWO friends in town with whom I am actually still in contact with from high school. They are both guys. Neither of them really get me. So you could say I am a bit lonely.

My four best gal pals are all far away from me: one in grad school four hours away, one finishing up her Bachelors three hours away, and two back in California. Luckily, the one finishing her Bachelors will graduate in about a month and a half and will move back here (She'd better, anyway, or I will be a very sad little Jo). But I guess that's what I get for deciding to go halfway across the country for college.

I'll be going back to school for an MA in English in January. I never thought I would be able to afford grad school but the school I'm going to is quite inexpensive compared to my undergrad. I'm excited, and also kind of nervous. I take the GRE this Thursday. Wish me luck.

When I am not preparing for going back to school, I substitute teach. And when I am not substitute teaching, I am at home catching up on ALL the shows I didn't watch when I was too busy studying in college. And I make lots of crafty things (like awesome movie poster collaged shelves I built for my multitude of books).

Speaking of books. I have too many. My current, but incomplete, count is 205. I went a little crazy at the used book store. I have yet to read all the books I own. In fact, its almost a bad omen for a book when it's not purchased by itself.

Anyways, there's a little bit of an update. Don't want to give too much away right off the bat.

Talking When Nobody's Listening

For those of you who don't live in places with seasons (California, I'm talking to you), the months of May through August are heavy with construction. This means that basically every road has little orange cones up and slower speed limits.

In residential areas, when those little orange cones take up a third of the street, its just not wide enough for two cars to fit through. So you have to take turns.

Today I was let through first by a gentleman, and as I passed him I waved and said, "thank you." My window was up and so was his. He couldn't hear me.

Why do we do that? (Talk when no one can hear us?) I know I'm not the only one. Some people get frustrated and yell at other drivers. Some people, confused by what another driver is doing might say, "come on buddy." I, personally, catch myself saying, "go ahead" when at a four way stop, without actually waving the person on. And then there's the hesitant inching forward, then stopping to let someone go, only to have them doing to same thing, so you don't really know WHO is going to go but you're both waving each other on.

I think it's really funny that we talk alone in our cars. I used to think it would be smart to install CV radios in all cars and you could just automatically tune in to whoever is around you. That way you could say things like, "hey you go ahead, you look like you're in a hurry," or, "excuse me, but could you please let me through, I'm in a hurry," or, "could you please leave some room on the right so that I can pull into the turn lane? Thanks," or "GET OUT OF THE WAY, MY BRAKES ARE OUT!"

But then I realized what a bad idea that would be after all, because it would probably increase road rage and ultimately cause more problems. Like the two cars that stopped in front of me on my way to lunch the other day. Both drivers got out of their cars and got into a full on contest to see who could yell the F-bomb louder. It was amusing, but I was late for lunch.

So anyway, that was just a random thought of the day. I've been doing more research for my novel and reading up on preparation. Someone had posted a link to this blog, Bibliophile Stalker, which has a bunch of excellent links for writers and readers alike. Check it out.

Mom's Day

I thought that, in honor of Mom's Day today, I'd tell you a bit about the woman who reared me (and lived to tell about it). This is how awesome my mom is.

• For my eighth birthday, I begged for a Pocahontas cake. I thought it would be so cool. My mom, however, had alterior plans. Plans which, quite frankly, blew the socks off my Pocahontas plans. When my cake arrived at my birthday party and was set down in front of me, I was surprised to see not Pocahontas, but my own smiling face staring up at me. It was seriously the coolest cake ever, and everyone said so. But I remember being really angry, and possibly throwing a bit of a fit because I wanted Pocahontas. I still feel bad about that to this day.

• When I was 15, my friend decided to let me try and drive his Acura which was a stick shift. We drove around the neighborhood, all the while my friend was shifting for me and yelling clutch since I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing. We pulled up to a stop sign and I did something wrong and the car started bouncing up and down. A cop was behind us and decided to follow us back to my driveway. He got out of his squad car and I stopped the Acura and started to get out. I didn't realize that there wasn't a parking gear like on an automatic transmission, so the car started rolling backwards. My mom walked out the front door just as the cop turned on his lights. We got a warning from the cop, and my mom gave me the "You're in big trouble, young lady," but once we got inside and shut the door she started cracking up.

• She is always telling me to be aware of "bad guys."

• She totally talked back to this grumpy know-it-all that I used to work with and she put him in his place.

• I used "Perm For A Day" on my hair once, and she told me my head looked like a Furby.

• Like all good mom's, she encouraged me to study some sort of medicine. She told me that doctor's and nurses would always find work. And though this was never an area I actually wanted to pursue, I knew she was looking out for my best interests. And of course, she has always been supportive of my writing and has told me (lied, I'm sure) that I'm great at it.

• She taught me how to sew when I was little and helped me make "friendship pillows."

• She made me a gorgeous prom dress. And a beautiful black cocktail dress.

• She laughs at herself.

• Despite the fact that I used to sleepwalk a lot and, in fact, once dove on her in my sleep, she still wants me to sleep with her when I visit. (And her bed is like sleeping on a cloud.)

• She laughs at me. Like the time I fell down the stairs. She held it in until she knew I was okay, then she showed no mercy.

• She says things like, "I don't think Jesus needs a house."

• She used to call in sick for me so I could have "mental health days" in high school. (Then again, I was such a good kid I deserved it. Ha ha.)

Anyways, my mom is awesome. Love you mom. Thanks for birthing me. I pretty much appreciate it. And you got a pretty good end of the bargain too, if I do say so myself.

New Pets = New Loves

I won't be alone for Valentine's Day tomorrow after all, because last night the roommate and I compulsively brought home two new pets. We have named them Ron and Harry. If you can't figure out which one is which, leave now.

We were at Wal-Mart picking up a few necessities. I was looking for banker's filing boxes, not quite knowing where to look, and so I was just wandering around. I passed by the fish and just knew I needed one. I walked up to my roommate, who was looking at lotions, and I told her, "we're getting fish."

We picked them out and giggled like little girls as the employee scooped them out of the tank and put them in a bag for us. We carried the fish across the store to the craft section, and we actually found marbles in Gryffindor colors. Geeky, I know, but marvelous. As we were walking past the office supplies, I held the bag up and said, "Aww, look, they're bonding!" A man in the shoe aisle gave me the most ridiculous look I've ever seen. Seriously, some people don't know how to live.

Anyways, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I fully intend to stay in bed and read all day long until I have to go to work at 6:00.

In honor of the occasion, however, I started to write some love letters, which then turned into general random letters.

By the way, those notes above were for Twenty Something Bloggers' February Carnival, yay!

On a serious note: I'm wearing red & black today and tomorrow in honor of the students that were killed at NIU last Valentine's Day.

Update as of 6:15pm: Harry has died. We gave him a nice send off to toilet Heaven. If Ron doesn't make it, then we will surely know that ants are the only pets we can keep alive.

Lovin the Letter "K"

So, I am participating in a meme going around in which you are assigned a letter, and you must list 10 things which you love that begin with that letter.

My letter, "K" was assigned to me by the very charming Tia over at CleverGirlGoesBlog.

So here goes. 10 things I love that begin with the letter "K."

Un (yes, I'm counting in French, a girl's got to practice!) - Kabuki brushes:
They are the best you can get. Love em.

Deux (2) - Kashmir by Led Zeppelin:
Such a good song. Makes you just wanna move.

kashmir songs
free Music downloads | Free Mp3 downloads!

Trois (3) - The Kindle:
I don't have one, but I want one. As much as I love having hard copies of books, it would be really handy if going on a trip because I tend to pack too many books. Bags start to get heavy.

Quatre (4) - "Keeping up Appearances":
I used to watch this show with my grandparents when I was little. I loved crazy Hyacinth and her shenanigans. British humor is just that funny.

Cinq (5) - Kirsten Dunst:
Okay, I might be a little biased because people tell me I look like her in Spider-man, but I just think she's really cute and a good actress. I watched "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" today, and though it wasn't as good as "He's Just Not That Into You," it was still pretty enjoyable.

Six (6) - Kisses
Okay, really, who wouldn't love these?

Sept (7) - King sized beds:
Well, I've never had one. But I've heard they're nice.

Huit (8) - Ketchup:
My mom used to say that fries were invented so you would have something to dip in ketchup. I always tended to agree.

Neuf (9) - Kool-Aid:
Honestly, the big giant kool-aid pitcher kind of scared me. And the Jim Jones cult history never really helped any either. But kool-aid sure tasted good on hot and humid summer days.

Dix (10) - Knitting:
Yeah. Sometimes I channel my 70 year old self to knit. I can't do a whole lot (little patience and all) but I did make myself a few cute scarves and an iPod cozy.

So there you have it. 10 things I love that begin with the letter "K." If you want to give it a shot let me know and I will randomly assign you a letter.

le français and Book Lists

Yesterday was a much better day. Not that French had anything to do with it. (Though I did at least understand a little more...). I visited Scribd.com for some grammar help and found a nice little workbook that I can practice on. This website is excellent, because you can find documents such as the one I found last night - the piano sheet music for Bella's Lullaby.

I for sure have a place to live after I graduate. I also picked up an application to teach at a school. I'm not setting my hopes high on that one, but I do happen to know that one of the teachers will be going on maternity leave and they will need to fill her position. It's worth a shot.


I am once again TAing for a professor in my department. However, my work for her is more in line of an administerial assistant. She is a literary agent in addition to being a professor. For me, this is the best of both worlds, because I can finish my degree in film while at the same time learning some of the inner workings of the publishing biz. My first assignmet for her is to read a book written by one of her clients and write coverage. I breezed through four chapters last night in the bathtub.


So now I start my book list for my novel writing class. They are supposed to be books that we haven't read before, but I feel that I should start with Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot. I will re-read it, and this time I will read it from the perspective of a writer. So here is my list so far:

1. Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

2. Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella

3. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding (this counts! Yeah, I've seen the movie, but I haven't read the book...)

4. Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

5. Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Especially if you can think of any chick-lit mysteries, since that is the genre I intend to write.