Sunday Social # 5

1. What is your biggest driving pet peeve?

1.) People who don't let you in. 2.) People who don't let you in and then switch lanes. 3.) People who drive slow. 4.) People who are in the left lane and then haphazardly merge all the way to the right to get off. 5.) People who don't creep up on a left green light. 

2. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?

I sensor myself a lot. Also, one of my biggest fears is ending up on a website with a headline like "Look at this loser! And her shitty opinions!" So...there's that.

3. What is your biggest shopping pet peeve?

Not having enough money to buy all the things.

4. What is your biggest general pet peeve?

I am can be a bitter, angry person. If you're interested in my pet peeves, be sure to check out my Bitchin' About label. 

5. What is your most irrational fear?

I'm pretty scared of heights but I think a lot of people are. I hate, loathe, detest, am terrified of frogs and toads. Those things make me want to die. I think that's pretty irrational.

I can only stand to look at cartoonified versions of the devil's animal. 

 

Books - The Secret Ingredient to Life

I have been a book-lover forever. My parents would read to me when I was younger, and then once I learned to read, I'd read to them. I loved reading so much that my mum would sometimes use it as a punishment.

No Valerie, you CANNOT read today! Go clean your room!

Books were also a prize. If I got good grades I'd get to actually buy a book, instead of just borrowing it from the library.

When I was in elementary and middle school I loved reading non-fiction science books. Anything in the 500s I would devour. Ancient Egypt, the pyramids, Rome, space, spiders - I'd read to learn and better understand all the things I couldn't comprehend.

Beautifully made by: Maggie Appleton

Then I discovered the Young Adult section at Barnes and Noble. My dad and I would go and treat the place like a library; reading books and magazines while my mum went shopping. I'd pick a book from the shelf, then sit on the floor - or if I was really lucky - one of the well-worn sofa chairs and read for hours. Then, the next week I'd do it again until I finished the book. Rinse and repeat.

In high school I became a library volunteer, shelving and scanning the books that people brought in. This meant that I had usually already read a book that was assigned and had help from the librarians if I had any questions on a paper.

My book-nerdiness continued in college where I worked both at my college library and their bookstore simultaneously. And just two years ago I got a job for the city working at one of our many libraries. (Though I have since then quit.)

Visit SAPL to borrow books! 

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I've read a lot. And I like to read a lot. My goal in life is to get as big, if not a bigger library than Belle's.

This is my heaven. 

So, in the upcoming weeks I will tell you my Top 10 Favorite Books. Each will have their own post and a link to Goodreads but I will end up putting up the full list here for ease.

If you have any books I should read - leave them in the comments!

Sunday Social # 4

The questions this week are all about your Top 5. You would think there would be only 5 questions but you get a bonus.

1. 5 songs you'll listen to the rest of your life.

Satan and St. Paul by John Fullbright  * Before the Devil Knows We're Dead by Turnpike Troubadours * Gaston on the Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack * Wolf Like Me by TV on the Radio *  Sunshine by Atmosphere *

2. 5 things on your bucket list. 

 Skydive * Scuba Dive *  Go on a Volunteer Vacation * See the Northern Lights * Go to a drive in movie 

3. 5 celebs you'd love to hang out with for a day

Robert Downey Jr * Christoph Waltz * Jon Stewart * Chris O'Dowd * Tina Fey

I think, especially if I got to hang out with them all at once, it would be a complete riot. We'd be laughing and talking and they all seem so easy-going.

4. 5 things you always carry in your purse

I actually hardly ever carry a purse anymore. But when I do have one I carry: 
Driver's License * Debit Card * Lipstick * Phone  * Bobby Pins

5. 5 books on your reading list

The Fault in Our Stars * The Dark Tower Series * The Handmaid's Tale * Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe * The Lord of the Rings Series 

6. Share the last 5 pictures on your phone. 

Literary Junkie Link-Up # 2

Last month was my first link-up to the Literary Junkies. I love the idea so much that I decided to keep up with it. So here are this month's questions - all about the old-school paper. 

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!

Right now I'm reading my first Neil Gaiman book - Anansi Boys. 

I've been reading it for a while because I've been busy with Noah, work, and trying to clean/paint/and garden our home. But so far I'm really liking it. It's easy to read, engaging and even laugh-out-loud funny. 

2. Divergent, Hunger Games, or Twilight. Which do you prefer and why?

I haven't read Divergent but want to. I am currently on the library waiting list at number 25 or so. But I have read The Hunger Games trilogy and I absolutely loved it. I read each book in one sitting and found them to be fully formed and complex. I love Katniss and the situations she has to face. I love that even though she's strong she's not always strong. Sometimes she does break down and that doesn't make her any more fragile or girlie or whatever - she's multi-dimensional and Peeta is the greatest. 

3. TV Series Based on Books: they start out very close to the book to draw in the fans but then will start to separate themselves by changing things and adding characters. What are you thoughts on this?

I actually had to Google TV Shows based on Books because I wasn't sure which ones I've seen and read. Turns out...not many. I loved Dexter (based on the books by Jeff Lindsay) but haven't read a single book. 

I watch Gossip Girl (books by Cecily Brooke von Ziegesar) as a guilty pleasure but have never picked up any of the books in the series.

 I understand why they have to make differences from the book to the big screen but when they divert too much from the original it can get annoying to the book-fans. 

4. You've just been recruited to help a movie studio bring your favorite book to the big screen. What's the movie and who are you choosing to play the main characters?

One series I love - The Jessica Darling Series - is hilariously funny, snarky, witty, and smart but I don't think a movie could ever do it justice, no matter how much I wish otherwise. 

I think any book by Sarah Dessen would make a good chick flick. I can see This Lullaby being a great rom-com.

The Truth About Forever a good high school coming-of-age movie. 

As for actors and actresses, I seriously don't know. 

5. Going back to the above question, do you keep it word for word the same or do you use this chance to change little things you thought would make the book better?

I think it would be very difficult to keep any movie-based-on-a-book word for word. There is always something you have to cut out for time constraints...unless you do a BBC mini-series version. But I would not change the overall direction or ending of the books because I think they're perfect for the story and could be shot perfectly for the movie. 

6. After you finish a physical copy of a book do you keep it for a reread, put it on a shelf to collect dust, donate it to Goodwill, or do you just not purchase physical copies of books?

I love buying books. I kept all my English Lit textbooks. I always scour Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Library Sales, but recently I've only been borrowing them from the library. I love owning books because I can highlight them, write in them, get food on them without worrying about it. But we don't have enough wall space for a bookshelf to fit all the books I have and wish I could buy. That said, if I see a book I know I love or have been wanting to read for a while I will definitely try to find it at Half Price or somewhere cheap. 

Boyboy Had a Bone

It's been a little over a week since John and I got Noah but we decided to change his name to Boyboy. Animal Care Services said that his name was Noah but we'd call him over and he seemed to get confused. So we'd say "Come here, Noah" and he'd start to walk over and then stop since he understands the word "no". At first we couldn't decide what to name him so we'd say "Come here, boy," or "Good boy," and eventually we just capitalized it.

Anyway, I absolutely love him and am convinced he is the smartest dog to ever walk on four legs.

I walk him every day either at the small park by our house or the trails that connect downtown to the Missions. On the weekends, John and I walk him together. I feel a lot healthier even though I don't usually run and break a sweat with him. I also feel more accomplished because I wake up early to ensure that we don't end up walking in the glaringly hot noon-day sun.

But when we do, it's okay because he loves snow cones. 

I've already learned so much about myself now that I am a dog person.

For instance when walking Boyboy on his leash it is not important that I'm completely out of shape or that I have the knees of an 80 year old -- I will run so that he can still run, even faster in front of me. His waggy tail and swaying butt make my heart attack worth his smiley, drooling, happy face.

I also bought him the cutest little armadillo stuffed animal. I had no idea that they even made stuffed animals for dogs but once I saw it, I had to have it...I mean I had to get it for him. He loves it. John will throw it and he'll chase after it and then try to tear the poor little armadillo's legs off. It's the sweetest.

I've always had to deal with my hair coming out in the shower, when I make a pony tail, when I take my pony tail down, when I brush my hair...basically anytime I mess with it but it's totally weird having to get used to fluffy, white, fur balls all over the place that are not my own. Boyboy loves his belly rubbed and all you need is one pass over it to see your hand covered in his long white fur. His fur gets stuck in our grass and makes little furball tumble weeds that float across the driveway when a wind blows.



I've also become very irrationally protective of him. If, at the park or down the street, another dog barks at him or tries to nip him I get all crazy-eyes and hate stare them down as if they understand what I'm doing. Boyboy just keeps on walking and doesn't even give them the time of day. He's so much more mature than I am.

So basically he's the best dog ever! I'm so glad that we found him at the shelter and decided to take him home with us.

Sunday Social # 3

These questions are all about the BEST. 

1. What was your best birthday?

This year, my 25th. Lauren, her boyfriend, John and I went to see Kathy Griffin and moved up even closer! Then, the next weekend John and his friends took me out and paid for my drinks. It was pretty awesome.

2. What was your best vacation?

When I was younger my parents would take me a lot of different places since, at the time I was still an only child. I've been to Disney World, Vegas (more times than I can remember), Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and New York. Once, we went to Florida and actually saw a shuttle launch - as far as experiences go that was a pretty cool one. My dad recorded it, it will make you sick to watch; we didn't have a tripod. 

3. What is the best date you've ever been on?

This might sound like it would be under best vacation but when John and I went to Roswell it felt like a date. We decided it randomly, suddenly, and just did it. The entire trip felt surreal. We were still new and were kind of awkward around each other, or at least not as comfortable as we are now and it felt great. 

4. What is the best movie you've seen?

Gah! Probably the hardest question on this thing. I have so many top favorite movies I don't know if I can just pick one! I will probably do a Top 10 Movies some time eventually...probably by genre because that is really how many movies I love. 

5. What is the best TV show ending of all time?

I absolutely loved the way Fringe ended. There aren't a lot of shows that end on a good note. Many end because of the lack of ratings, giving them no time to get their shit together at the end. Fringe was great and closed many holes that were brought up throughout the entire series. 

Tim's Vermeer - Art & Technology

John and I went to see the documentary movie, Tim's Vermeer, opening weekend.

The movie produced by Penn & Teller is about a man named, Tim Jenison of NewTek fame, who thinks he's figured out the way the famous Johannes Vermeer created such extraordinary, photo-realistic paintings.

Such as these:

The Milkmaid

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Music Lesson

I don't want to spoil it too much because it really is an interesting movie but one concept that comes up throughout the movie is the idea that technology and art go hand-in-hand.

Some people think that using technology is cheating. It is explained in the movie (and probably your art history classes) that at one time technology was made to help achieve better art.

Should we still be using rocks to draw crudely on cave walls? Are people who paint with oil better artists who use pencil?

I've spent my whole life thinking I wasn't very artistic. My stick figures are squiggly and disproportionate. But when I got in front of a computer and opened up an editing program I felt that I could be an artist.

The shots weren't mine but I was able to help in taking them and creating a story with them.

Now, there are digital artists. Some think that this isn't true art because it's more easily accessible. But you still have to learn it. You still need to practice.

There are some things about art that I don't understand - like what makes this genius

Via

And me a lazy bastard who just doesn't want to make the bed?


Still, I don't think that technology impedes the true essence of art.

In the movie, Tim tries to paint an exact replica of a Vermeer painting using his theory as to how it's accomplished. Even using this "new" technology we see the time and attention he pays to getting the painting exactly right. Whatever the outcome - he's poured his blood, sweat, and tears into this work.

It may sound totally hippy-dippy to say, but I think that if more people went around thinking of themselves as artists, more things in every day life would be prettier all around.

Knit Graffiti (Via)

Beautiful Garbage Trucks (Via)

Horse Bike (Via)

2014 Goodreads Book Challenge

As I'm trying to read more this year than I did last year I came across this Book Challenge while browsing Goodreads the other day. I totally admit that I'm not that outgoing when it comes to book-reading so I figured this challenge would get me reading a whole bunch of different things. 

I'm sure there will be some that I don't actually do, such as Second Chance. If I can't get through a book I'm not going to waste my time trying to. But hopefully this will push me to finally read a biography or memoir and more Sci-Fi. 

Read a "chunker" (more than 600 pages)

Mystery

Young Adult fiction - The Elixir Series & Wintergirls

Accidentally watched the movie first 

Relive the magic (read a book from childhood/youth you loved and haven't read recently)

Gathering dust (had the book for years and still haven't read)

Loved by others (others are constantly praising this book)

Second chance (didn't like the first time)

Award winner - The Color Purple 

Classic

Biography/memoir

Contemporary fiction - In Perfect Light

Non-fiction

"Adult" fiction

Fantasy

Horror

Lost in Translation (book originally published in a foreign language)

"Secret Santa" (book assigned to reader by another challenger)

Short stories - Esquire's Big Book of Fiction

Graphic novel

Banned book - 1984 

True crime

Current NY Times #1 Best Seller

Coverstory (a book you chose based solely on the cover image - you are not even allowed to read the description)

Humor

The Color Purple - Book Review

Even though I love YA fiction and can read like 20 in a week - the easier words and plots can get a bit redundant so every once in a while I like to shock my brain with something a bit more complex.

I'm always trying to read the classics and books that are still relevant throughout the years. This time, during my adult reading I chose The Color Purple.

I never had to read this book in school and was honestly never interested in it until I saw the episode of American Masters about the author, Alice Walker. She seemed to be an almost other-worldly person: kind, introspective, and seemingly transcendent of many societal conventions in the name of love and peace.

The Color Purple is a book of letters Celie writes to God about her life. To say that Celie's life was unfortunate would be an understatement. The situations she had to endure and then the ones she gets shoved into were horrendous - it's no wonder that Celie is timid, quiet, and obedient. Raped by her father, forced into marriage by a man who hits her, and then forced to raise his children who do not respect her at all - Celie tries her hardest to survive everyday. Her life turns around when she meets her husband's mistress, Shug Avery. She bonds with Shug who opens up her mind and teaches her how to question and think for herself. From there Celie continues to meet more women who question their husbands and society's view of them. Slowly, finally recieving letters from her long-lost sister and continuing to be true to herself Celie learns how to be independent, how to love, and how to live a happy life.

At first the book was hard to get into because of the use of Southern vernacular but then you get into the groove of reading it and it becomes engrossing almost immediately. Despite having to put the book down a few times because of the shocking abuse that happens to Celie and Walker's decision to not sugar coat it; I read this book in a short amount of time. It discusses all kinds of family dynamics and how women, especially women of color were treated. The characters are multi-dimensional and the women are strong.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I love the way it was written as an epistolary novel.
And I loved the diverse, strong women in it. But I especially love the way that Walker describes faith and God within the book and that is in ones love for life: the beauty within it and the beauty within others.

Call Me Mommy

I have been busy with work, life, and house-cleaning/working/organizing so I haven't had the chance to type up a proper blog post.

But yesterday John and I had a major life-changing moment. We'd been discussing it for a while and finally decided it was time to take the plunge.


And get a dog!!!!

We went to Animal Care Services on Monday and looked at all the dogs they had there. We fell in love with some German Shepard puppies because they were all fluffy and tiny but ultimately decided that puppies would be a bit too much to take on.



So then we found a 2 year old German Shepard/Horse blend. He was huge!!! But very friendly so we took him out on a walk. Well...John took him out on a walk. And he was so energetic! Running every which way and trying to chase the other dogs that were being walked. We thought that he might be too rambunctious so we decided to take out Noah, a 6 year old, Border Collie blend.

And he was the sweetest thing ever! He was so well behaved. He didn't chase any cats or other dogs and he seemed to know sit, stay, and what a leash was.

We decided that he would be perfect for us. So we went back on Tuesday to fill out all the paperwork and we brought him home later that day.

Well we actually went to my mum's house first and she loved him too. He loved her big backyard and he liked that we were all sitting outside petting him.

He also loved when John would throw and try to get his stuffed armadillo. Yes, I bought my big, old dog a puppy toy but it was too cute!

He's the perfect mix of fun-loving and energetic mixed with let-me-guzzle-some-water-and-rest-a-minute.



So even though Noah can't CALL me mommy, I am going to consider myself one.