Th Psychic by Carolita Johnson

Read this story and then do whatever the hell you want.
http://thehairpin.com/2011/11/the-psychic?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thehairpin%2FBdYj+%28The+Hairpin%29

Back To Life

I start classes (well, a class) again this week so it's back to work for me. I am trying to define work a little more...creatively this time around. As part of my penchant for making lists, here are some things I hope to refocus on:

Making A's and $
Taking some childhood development classes
Book reviews (and the reading that goes with it)
Creative ventures: sewing, collages, writing
Blogging: Both reading and writing
Seeing movies again
Exploring and listening to a lot of music
Playing with my look (particularly getting a little more creative with my outfits, maybe exploring Carol Tuttle's classes)
Exercising

I feel a bit more inspired than I have in a while, so wish me luck!

MAYA ANGELOU'S BEST POEM EVER

So I was forwarded this and I'm not really sure if its accurate or if it is in fact by Maya Angelou. I have to say I don't personally find it to be Angelou's best poem ever, but it does have some good advice.




A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra... one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....... 
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 
a feeling of control over her destiny.....
how to fall in love without losing herself..



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... 
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY... 


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more.....
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. . 
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year... 

Watch This. It's Wonderful.

The Hero's Journey in Film

Incurable Romanticism

Do you ever feel as if you might be insane and you would rather just fall into it? Like it might be more pleasant to drown than to fight the waves?
I don't want to be good anymore. I don't want to be bad, per se, I just want to give myself up to life. I don't want to temper my passions anymore. I want love, creativity, revolution...Everything I've always wanted, everything I am....I feel afraid to face myself, because what if I die? What if I really do drown in my own intensity? But I can't fight it anymore.
So let me fall, let me dream of you a little, however irrational, dangerous, or insane. Did you know I believe in love at first sight? I don't advertise it, but I do.
I want so much more than just salvation, even if I risk salvation to get it. Is that wrong or is it True? Will I be cast out?
If I am, maybe you'll be there...

Hey-o.

"Remember that even the tiniest adjustment can create the effect you desire."

This is actually from my Twittascope, but I thought it was a good thought.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Book Review

I have posted a book review! It can be found here and here.

I've also been more active on my fashion blog since my rediscovery of Polyvore.

Book Review!

The Craft of Research, Third Edition by Wayne G. Booth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The authors create the feeling that they are both knowledgeable and really understand what it is like to be a student, which reminded me of my uncle who works at CSU-Bakersfield. It also seems like they might work in different disciplines, however the author's note puts them all in English and Literature. This just further shows what a good job they've done being interdisciplinary.

View all my reviews >>

Congrats Grads! (That would be James and Shy)

I Really Should Be Writing A Paper.

Hm. I really should.

What an inspiring woman...

A Peace Treaty

If you're style runs to the bohemian at all, you should check out the scarves and made-to order jewelry at A Peace Treaty. The scarves are gorgeous, and the jewelry is both modern and buried-treasure looking. Incidentally, this guy is also really hot.

Where Is My Motivation?

I got no motivation
Where is my motivation?
No time for the motivation
Smoking my inspiration
--"Longview"--Green Day

Okay, so I'm not smoking it. I'm writing it down in notebooks and staring at it. I planned to actually work today, but it's not happening. At least I'm writing something, even if it's not what I want to be writing, or should be or whatever. So why don't I just go do that? Bleh.
Whine,
         Whine,
                 Whine.

I need to remember this...

I am a human being, not a human doing.

Don’t equate your self-worth with how well you do things in life. You aren’t what you do. If you are what you do, then when you don’t . . . you aren’t.
----Wayne W. Dyer

Everything else that happened in September...

So as you may have gathered, my time is stictly limited. Here is an extremely rough view of my first month here.

As you can see, the flat has been taking shape. We have been able to decorate a bit, and the living room now has furniture. Unfortunately, the plumbing in our apartment is not first rate, so we are waiting on maintenance to come fix the toilets.
I started working for the school newspaper. I got a movie review published and am now interim calendar coordinator, which means I get to know everything that's going on on campus and in town (though I still don't actually attend any of it). If you go to the website, you can find my review as well as see that almost all calendar events were submitted by moi.

Speaking of moi, I have started school-I have four credits humanities, four credits aesthetics, four credits french, and two credits creative writing. (I think this is the best way to explain my course load to non "greeners", as they call us up here.)  I love the subject, but school is kicking my butt. I spent 10 hours on homework today. 10! I'm finding French pretty easy to understand, but it's still 8 hours of homework-apart from basic studying. I am in school eight hours a day just in class, and the other night (between class and the paper) I didn't get home till 11 pm. I am still broke, despite my hard work. ;) I am accepting donations if you want to send me a personal check or money order. I still haven't found a real job yet, but I will be going to an employment workshop tomorrow. The images above are my view on my way to class (so lucky) and my view from the back corner of the bus (not so lucky, just crammed!)
On the fun side of things, my roommates and I went to Seattle the other day. J'adore Seattle! (Side effect of the French. I've been dreaming in it, which is awkward seeing as I've only had two classes and don't know much yet.) I was very disciplined, only buying food, ferry tickets, and okay, one book for my mother because it's going out of print and I couldn't resist. (It is coming Mommy, I just have to buy stamps!)

 Britnee, Jean, Me.
Now a note from Toby-what he doesn't like and does like about college.
Dislikes:
Being confined in the apartment all day.
The declining frequency of treats.
Taking showers.
Being alone.
Most of the dogs at hearthstone, notably that smug boston terrier-pug mix.
Likes:
The balcony.
The smells.
The balcony.
The fact that going outside lasts longer than 2 minutes.
The blacony.
One of the dogs at hearthstone, namely the papillon that lives next door.
The balcony.
Chasing Girlfriend all over the apartment.
The balcony.

Toby in his chair and the yard, respectively.

Toby actually has taken an upswing in energy, and he's lost a little weight. I do get worried because after his monthly bath, he gets much colder here than in Salt Lake. I wrapped him in a dog coat and t-shirt, which he hated, but it's better than the violent shiver he had just before I put it on. Strangely, I miss Toby just as much as anyone. I'm always worring that he needs to go out and I don't know it, that he didn't get fed enough, that he misses me. His seperation anxiety was pretty bad my first week at the paper-he even peed inside. I feel a little bit better when he's able to wander about the pines on the dog run, or when I snuggle him and he seems happy. I have definetly decided that I'm going to get a pizza and breadsticks for us to share one day, like we used to on my days off when there was no one at home to hear his complaints. I'm sure Toby would love familiar visitors, hint hint.

I also need a Ruby Tuesday cherry coke at least once a month I've decided. I'm jonesing, I tell you. And while not quite as effervescently lovely as Millie's, they're pretty good.

New Post on My New Life

So now that I am finally unpacked and generally settled (if not actually organized), I can blog all about my adventures in Olympia thus far.
Getting here has been one hell of a ride. The car died 22 miles outside of Baker, Oregon. (Miraculously, we were able to slowly find a Dealership with what has to be the nicest man on the planet)  Then Mother and I got lost in Pendleton, Oregon, likely further screwing up the car. That night I got sick-fever, chills, and everything. Nevertheless, here I am.
My apartment has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, one kitchen/dining area, one balcony, one huge living room, one washer/dryer, and no couch.The four occupants are me, Toby, Jean, and Britnee. I would consider our kitchen, dining room, and the bathroom I share with Jean done. Our kitchen/dining room is blue and yellow, and our bathroom is green. The whole place is gorgeous, the apartment and the grounds. Toby loves the outdoors, there are lots of new smells and rich grass. There is even a dog run where he is free to hang out sans leash. Toby hates our stairs. He refuses to go down them, I think because he can't see very well or his depth perception is off or something. He cries and frets. Since I don't want him relieving himself on our front porch, I must pick him up and carry him down from the third floor.
Toby has adjusted very well. He is okay to be left alone in my boudoir and he enjoys chasing Girlfriend all over the house. He also enjoys the balcony, but has a tendency to talk to every single car that drives by. He is quite exhausted, as am I, which is why this blog isn't very well written.

 

  

More to come...

Book Review: How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: The Art of Living with Style, Class & Grace by Jordan Christy

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: The Art of Living with Style, Class & Grace by Jordan Christy


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book makes a good point and has some good quotes, plus some fun quizzes. I didn't feel like I was told anything I didn't already know, but this was definitely a fun read.

View all my reviews >>

Book Review-Primitive by Mark Nykanen

Primitive by Mark Nykanen


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was awesome-it keeps your attention right up to the last page. It makes you think, it's entertaining, the characters are relateable...
Truly fascinating look at climate change and the radicals on either side of the fence. Also very frighteningly current.

View all my reviews >>

The Hero's Journey

I posted a new video. It was created by someone named Ciaran Vejby and it's from a site called Myths-Dreams-Symbols. It's about the hero's journey. Basically every (good) story in the world follows this basic pattern. This is what I'm studying, more or less, in school. These stories are awesome because, in one sense or another, they are all true. We all go through this.
So watch and enjoy.

Devil's Feathers

Devil's Feathers by David Chacko

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It is fast-paced and entertaining, but well written enough to be far from a guilty pleasure. I can see this ending up on PBS' Masterpiece Mystery someday.

I was also excited to find out that there are other stories about Onur Levent, as his character was by far the most interesting part of the story. The plot may or may not be somewhat predictable, I for one was more interested in Levent's process.

So while this book is not life changing, it is perfect summer reading for the reader who is bored with chick lit and typical mystery novels. I will definitely read Chacko again.


View all my reviews.