200th Post!!!

Using the excuse that I'm a Youth Services Librarian, and that I have to read it for my job, I managed to snag a copy of the Twilight series novella "The Short Second Life of Breen Tanner".

Now, since I'm not a Twi-hard (I only read the books once, which was enough, and I've hated both the movies I've seen), I couldn't remember who Bree Tanner was. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.

So far, I like this book much better than the other four Twilight books. First of all, it's short. Second of all, it's not whiny. Third of all, no Bella or Edward or mopey teenage angsty love triangles. And in spite of what Stepehenie Meyer did to vampires, it's very interesting to read from the vampire's point of view - especially a "newborn" vampire, who doesn't necessarily know what it is to be a vampire.
I'm not bad mouthing the original Twilight books - I found them highly entertaining to read, but not exactly what I would consider great literature. Some of the leaps of plot taken made me wonder if the story would reach the other side, or plummet into the gaping chasm below. Still, it was exactly what I expected from fluff-reading.

Busy Month of May

Wow. I've been neglecting the ol' blog again. I tend to do this from time to time, when my life gets exceedingly busy.

So, let's review, starting with knitting projects. A few posts ago (whoa - way back in February!), I was talking about all the beautiful things I've been knitting. Here's a status update:

1. Simone - flare sleeved cowl sweater
Hmm ... haven't touched this one in months. But I did get a good chunk of it done before getting side tracked. Hopefully I'll finish it this summer!

2. Proposition - entrelac gloves
After various attempts at getting gauge, this project is temporarily frogged. I will work on it again though! I still love it!

3. Lady Eleanor - entrelac stole
Ooo ... I'm *this close* to finishing it. It's huge and unweildy now, so it's tough for me to work on it. But it will be done! And (hopefully) soon!

4. Clapotis - rite of passage
Yeah. Not happening. Not yet, anyway.

5. Patchwork Trio Afghan - for Mom
So I got all the yarn for this one, figured out how to do the squares, gave a bunch of balls to my Mom so she could do her part ... and then my sister gave us some terrific news.

So, what have I been knitting, if all these projects seem to be paused? Well, based on my sister's terrific news, I've been a little bit baby crazy. So 99% of my knitting projects have been baby booties and I have plans for other baby things. Once this is done (and the kid is born), I'll get back to my regularly scheduled knitting.


That's my knitting update. Other than that, I've been seeing a new awesome guy and we've been hanging around together a lot. There's Dee's rapidly approaching wedding, which resulted in a fantastic bachelorette party ... first trip of the year to Wonderland with Corinna ... and a bunch of other great stuff that's been keeping me busy. So yeah. That explains the lack of updates, but I'll try to do better!

Brooding

Alone she sat,
Alone she thought,
Of happier times
She used to know ...

Annual Classic - DONE!

I did it. And I did it early this year.

I've read my classic novel for 2010. This year's selection was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through The Looking-Glass"

I really enjoyed these two short books, and I was impressed how much of it was actually included in the Disney "Alice In Wonderland". (I suppose that's because the Disney movie was made before everything had to be censored to avoid damaging the fragile minds of children).

Anyway...

I loved the weird Wonderland-logic and all the play on words. I loved the poetry and nonsensical songs, and I loved reading the notes in the back to see how Carroll incorporated snippets from Alice's life into his story. I can only imagine how delighted Alice must have been.

I also discovered a song in "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" that I learned in choir when I was in grade 1 or 2. I could only recall the first verse, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in the book I was reading!

So, I give the movie ten stars, and the books ten stars (out of five, of course), and highly recommend them both.

And since I finished my classic so early this year (and since I kinda cheated and picked a really short one), maybe I'll read another ... but after I work through my current growing list of fiction!

Next on my list: a book inspired by Wonderland called "The Looking Glass Wars"

Annual Classic

Every year, I try to read a classic novel. Last year was "The Count of Monte Cristo" (which I'm still impressed I finished) and this year is proving to be a toss up. Here are my choices:

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll

Yes, there's movie hype, but I've been wanting to read this one for a while. I've seen the Disney-fied version of the story, and I'm dying to see the new Tim Burton version, but I'd also like to know the original. I remember as a child watching a live action version of "Through the Looking Glass" that scared the pants off me! My best friend and I would make a pillow fort, get big bowls of strawberry ice cream, and watch the dragon scene.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austin

I have been very resistant to Jane Austin my whole life. I've never seen the movie versions, I've never read the written versions, and honestly I'm not 100% sure what they're about. And since I can't remember why I detest Jane Austin so much, perhaps I'll give this one a go this year. I've heard good things, and it would pave the way for this :

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo

This has been sitting on my shelf for a while, waiting to be read. At first, I thought this would be my classic of 2010, but I've been reading a lot of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, so I thought perhaps I'd branch into a different author this year. This is another classic where I've seen the Disney-fied version and would like to know the true one!

So those are my choices. What do you think? What should I read?

Home Decor!

Apparently one of the side effects to growing up and watching a lot of decorating shows on basic cable, is the urge to decorate your own apartment. Sadly, it's getting to the point where I wish I lived in a two bedroom so I could keep going. I have to remind myself not to pile too much stuff on the walls, or else instead of nicely decorated, it'll look crazy-person cluttered.

Please stop me if my apartment starts to look crazy-person cluttered.

The bathroom is still a work-in-progress, but I did end up finding an awesome way to store my shampoo bottles and such. All this needs now is a larger rubber ducky for the top shelf :)

I'm super happy with how my bedroom turned out. I just bought new curtains today, so once I get the black-out blind up, I'll add them and then my bedroom will be just about done (well, except the two new dressers I want... and the shelf from Ikea... and bamboo for my vase...)

Years ago, my sister went to France and brought me back six beautiful prints of my favourite tapestry series (what? Don't you have a favourite tapestry series?) called La Dame A La Licorne. Anyway, now they're finally framed and hanging on my wall (excuse the flash glare)

And they have a friend!

This little owl is actually a book end, but I could only find one (he was on sale) and when I put him on my shelf, I couldn't see his cute owly self, so instead I hung him on my wall!

And finally, today's decorating question: What do you prefer, leaf or rectangle?

And this isn't all my decorating creations! These are just the pictures I could take without having to clean up my messy apartment ;)

Man, I feel growned up!

Rant

I'm not sure if you've heard or not, but Amazon.ca has changed their delivery service to UPS.

I'm sure this is great if you're a stay-at-home hermit, who doesn't sleep, shower, or generally leave the house, but if you're a regular person who, oh I don't know, goes to work, it means you'll never get your package.

Here's how ordering from Amazon used to work:
1. Place your order
2. Wait a few days
3. Receive a notice that Canada Post could not deliver your package
4. Pick up your package the next day from your closest post office

Here's how it works now:
1. Place your order
2. Wait a few days
3. Get a message on your phone at 3:00pm saying UPS tried (and failed) to deliver your package because you were at work. Wait a day.
4. Get a message on your phone at 4:00pm saying that UPS tried again (and failed again) to deliver your package because you were at work.
5. Seriously contemplate staying home from work so you get your damned package. Decide a paycheck is worth more in the long run than books.
6. Get a message on your phone at 4:00pm saying that UPS tried again (and failed again) to deliver your package because you were at work. This is their final attempt.
7. Phone UPS to find out where the hell your package is. Get put on hold for 30 minutes. You can't even enjoy the bad music because you're interrupted every 10 seconds with "Your call is important to us" although clearly it isn't or else someone would have answered you by now.
8. Have a 30 second conversation with a human on where the depot is. You have 5 days to pick up your package.
9. Wait for a day off (that's a weekday if you're lucky) to drive the 40 minutes across town to the depot to pick up your package.
10. Wait in line for 30 minutes.
11. Finally give your tracking number to a person, who vanishes into the back.
12. Wait another 15 minutes for the person to reemerge with your package.
13. Drive the 40 minute back home with your package.

Hooray! Amazon has made it so much easier for you to get your mail! Thanks, Amazon!

I'm switching to Chapters/Indigo. At least I'll only have to drive 5 minutes to the Shopper's Drug Mart to get my package with them!


(Incidentally, you can have UPS drop off your package at your nearest UPS store ... for a monthly fee. Seriously)

Knitting - On The Needles

So it appears as if I have a rather severe case of start-itis, meaning that there are a bunch of projects that I want to start and complete.

(note: photos are not the things I'm making ... well, they are, but their not the exact ones I'm making. Meaning I'm stealing the photos from other places to show you what the heck I'm talking about)

1. Simone - flare sleeved cowl sweater

My first attempt at a me-size sweater. I'm working on a boring part right now, just straight knitting the back for a good long time. Still, I'm stupidly proud that I'm making a sweater, so I can still make myself knit the boring parts.


2. Proposition - entrelac gloves

Another first - my first entrelac attempt. Ok, so far I've only done the 10 rows of ribbing at the bottom but I plan on knitting more tonight and possible doing the entrelac part tomorrow. I'm excited to try this out. Entrelac is, I think, one of the most beautiful designs you can do with yarn. And keeping that in mind, once I finish the gloves, I'll try this:

3. Lady Eleanor - entrelac stole

Pictures of this made out of Noro Taiyo (which is what I'll be using) made me squee out loud. Good thing I was at home! I'm absolutely dying to wrap this around me, so I'm hoping that the entrelac gloves won't be the end of me and entrelac ;)


4. Clapotis - rite of passage

Since nearly all my knitterly friends have either made (or are making) a Clapotis, I feel like it's a rite of passage for knitters to make one. A kind of fiber bar mitzvah (or bat mitzvah, I suppose). So once I find the elusive last skein of Noro Taiyo that I need to have enough to make a full size Clapotis, I will undertake this rite of passage myself!

And yes, I do have a gorgeous Clapotis that I adore, made by the wonderful Heather, but I feel like I should make my own to prove to the world that I Am A Knitter :)


5. Patchwork Trio Afghan - for Mom

 

Finally, the last project I want to tackle, is this afghan for Mom. She said she would knit part of it, so it'll be a joint venture. I just need to wait for the 26 balls of yarn I ordered to come in. This is going to take me a loooong time to make.


Well, it looks like I'm going to be busy for quite a while. Who's up for a Stitch 'n Bitch?

Mourning

You are dead to me
A stone cold corpse
Beneath the earth

Your honeyed words
So sweet in their insincerity
Do not reach me now
Buried beneath 30 feet of dirt
60 layers of silence

Yet here I stand at your grave
In mourning for a statue
Breathtaking but selfish
Those actions meaning more
Than honeyed words could convey

I was the worm that now
Crawls through your flesh.
I was to you a trifle
You were to me my heart

I mourn as the worms
Pick at your skin.
I struggle to restore to my life
Through the void you left.

I wish the grave were empty
Although I placed you there
With my own two hands

Stripping you of your life as you did me

I live and you remain dead

Uh oh...

The Magicians

Were you one of those kids who, after reading The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe went around testing every cupboard and closet in your house for a secret portal to Narnia? Or were you one of those kids who tried to learn magic tricks because it was as close to magic as you could get?

I was one of those kids, and so was Quentin. The difference between the two of us, though, is that Quentin found his magic portal to the world of Brakebills college.

I suspect Lev Grossman was one of those kids too.

The book reads like an adult Harry Potter or a dystopian Narnia. The characters in this book, upon discovering magic, do not suddenly find that their problems are over, but rather that their problems intensify. Quentin believes that once he finds his way to the land of Fillory (the book's version of Narnia), the emptiness in his life will be over and learning magic is just a stepping stone.

It's a great read, definitely an adult fantasy novel, but many of the themes would be appreciated by non-fantasy readers as well. Pick it up and give it a try, especially if you've ever gone searching for Narnia yourself!

Avatar

Now, I know that everyone in the free world has seen this Avatar:

Don't get me wrong - it was an amazing movie. Beautiful scenery, awesome special effects, etc. Kind of a Pocahontas-meet-Dances-With-Wolves-meet-Ferngully, only more blue.

The Avatar that I'm especially looking forward to is this one:

Which is a live-action movie version of this:

Which is one of the best non-anime cartoons I have *ever* seen (and I watch a lot of cartoons)!

So even though The Last Airbender (I guess they couldn't call it by the full title the show has, which is Avatar: The Last Airbender) is a live-action movie directed by M. Night Shamalan (or however you spell it), and I know it can't compare to the sheer awesomeness of the cartoon, I still can't wait to see it!

*movie squee*!

 

Rough start to 2010

So, thanks to the magic of Facebook, it isn't a secret that the guy I've been seeing and I broke up. It happened Jan 2nd (after he didn't spend New Years with me) and I've been kind of reeling ever since.

But, thanks to the wonderful support of my amazing friends, I'm getting by. But I'm not going to turn this blog into a sob story ... I just wanted to highlight two amazing books that are really helping me out now.

Have you seen the movie, "He's Just Not That Into You"? Did you know it started out as a book?

Anyway, the book is not like the movie (which was also very good). It's a great way for you to clue in whether or not the guy you're seeing is actually into you. Believe me, it was an eye opener. I was sure my guy was drifting away, but I didn't think that he had fallen out of love for me until I read this book and realized that he wasn't into me anymore. It was sad, but reading it has helped me come to grips with his feelings.

So, one you've realized he's not that into you, you can read this:

Same author, but this time he's writing with his wife. Ways to cope with your break up, and stories by other people on how they reacted very badly to their break ups to help you out. Great advice, and if you feel yourself slipping into the "maybe I'll just call him to see if he's suffering like me" phase, they have steps you can take to ensure that you don't.

Currently, I'm in the "Don't See Him Or Talk To Him For Sixty Days" phase. After that, sometime in early March, I'll see if I still miss him or even care.

(And if you're thinking "What if he reads this public blog?", well, I don't really care if he does. And also, I don't think he will. If he's not into me anymore, why would he go out of his way to read my blog?)

There's one more book by the same author of the previous books, which I can't seem to find in Canada or the U.S. but I would really like to own:

I've only seen in on the UK version of Amazon. It was published 2007, so it's not that old. I'll have to see if I can get this somewhere. Thank goodness for the magic of the internet!

As for me, I'm doing ok. But if you're concerned, drop me a line or invite me out someplace!