Friday, January 30, 2009

25 Random Things About Me (Recycled)

I was tagged for this in facebook and figured I might as well post it here, too, since I don't seem to post much of anything lately. I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to participate if you like.

1) I refuse to tag 25 people, but I will tag a few.

2) I talk too fast. My brain works faster than my mouth.

3) I had an internship at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Be very afraid!

4) I often prefer books to people.

5) I like to bake my own bread.

6) I'm addicted to chocolate.

7) I'm addicted to diet coke.

8) I am a klutz but I have good balance. I'm always tripping or running into things, yet I rarely actually fall.

9) I have delusions of grandeur.

10) I'm never sure if I'm really actually half-way smart or if I'm just good at faking it.

11) I have a history of being a bad student in formal education-type settings.

12) I like to take pictures of food, particularly if it is something I've made.

13) I love libraries but I also like to own my own books.

14) I am a compulsive re-reader. This might explain #13.

15) Death!!

16) I am a snob.

17) When I was in elementary school, my dad took me on a side trip on the way to see my eye doctor. That side trip involved dropping off a dead body at a crematorium.

18) While I've learned that I can live without television, I seem to binge on it when I have the opportunity to watch it.

19) I would have trouble living without the internet.

20) I like open spaces.

21) I hate heat and humidity. It is oppressive.

22) I am always thinking of ways to revise things, especially things I've cooked or baked. When I do this out loud, people think I am criticizing in a negative way, but really I'm just thinking about possibilities.

23) I am scatter-brained.

24) Because of #23, I make connections that aren't always immediately apparent to other people. While I've had to learn how to explain things to other people, I kinda like that I do this.

25) I make fantastic cookies!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Hello Out There

Life hasn't been super-exciting lately. I write and I read. The weather is cold and gray.

I was (and still am) very excited that this year's Newbery Medal winner is Neil Gaiman for The Graveyard Book. This year's choice pleases me, and not just because of the death-aspect.

Speaking of reading, are any of y'all on Goodreads? Let me know if you are and are interested in being friends at that locale. I love seeing what others are reading!

Anything else going on...hmmm...not really. My life is boring. This must change someday very soon!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Someday I'll Post Something Of Substance

In the meantime, here's a picture of the cake I baked for my mom's birthday.



I did show some restraint and didn't place 69 candles on it. I was very tempted but didn't for two reasons: 1) the aesthetics of the cake would be ruined, and 2) I would have been in a whole lot of trouble.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Distractions (From Writing)

  • We are under a Blizzard Watch. I shouldn't be excited (all of that snow to shovel!) but I am.
  • The smell of the Chicken Cacciatore cooking in the crock pot. I got the crock pot for Christmas, which didn't surprise me after what happened to the other one. Fortunately, this one is a little smaller - 5 quarts instead of 6 1/2 quarts. Anyway, I want to dig into the food NOW!
  • The thought of cleaning that I should be doing.

Really, I think it's the food smell that is the most distracting right now. Maybe after I eat I will be able to focus a little better.

In other non-news, I just managed to convince my father that my mom's birthday cake probably shouldn't be an ice cream cake (his idea) when the projected high for that day is 5 F. I am now in charge of baking a cake. I'm thinking that it should be something simple like a good dark chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. The comfort food version of cake for a cold cold day! Plus, she loves chocolate, it's easy to make, and the picky eaters in the family won't have pained expressions on their faces when they see it.

Friday, January 09, 2009

The Things I Do To Myself

I finally got around to reading Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. I cried so much as I was finishing this book that I think I frightened my cats.

It is wonderful. Once again, I feel broken and damaged after reading a book and all I can think about is how that book is simultaneously beautiful and horrifying. And I want to read it again.


Some might wonder why I continue to read.

It is similar to how I felt when I read Sonya Hartnett's Surrender last April. I feel completely raw and bloodied, semi-paralyzed yet with an intense need to move (which means I start pacing).

Perhaps I should try something more comedic. I know I'll return to this sort of book eventually, though.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Holiday Pics

Of course, there were cookies.


By the way, that's me in the background striking a pose in my 70s era togs.

And this is me on Christmas morning, 2008.

Chewie enjoyed one of his gifts in front of the tree.

And the younger brother opened presents with glee!

Someone practiced taking pictures of herself and Sophie with her new camera.

While another engaged the Plum kitty in aggressive play!

One little kitty enjoyed snuggling with her new catnip gopher...

...that is, until Chewbacca showed up.