Hey guys!
Remember that one time when we had the international controversy over whether Dracula had a birthplace or not? Well, I just discovered that today is Bram Stoker's birthday, so it's a little bit like it's also Dracula's birthday. (Can't wait for clau2002 to come at me over that one).
I just participated in a writing competition where we had to rewrite a page from an 19th century vampire novel, "Varney the Vampire." Also, we just had Halloween, so I'm feeling like all of these coincidences should mean something. Like soon I'm going to meet a vampire or something.
But really, it's probably just telling me to go see the new Twilight movie next week. And I will. Who am I to ignore all these signs?
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
WTF: October
Today is the first day of October. To which I say: WHAT. This summer was awesome, and I'm just not ready to let it go (let's face it: I'm never ready to let summer go). But this year it just seemed to fly by so quickly and fall weather came on like an asthma attack: quick, unwelcome and almost unprovoked. I love boots, jeans and sweaters, but with the changing of the leaves, my fingers and toes freeze up, not to thaw for 9 more months. It's not a change I love.
This summer was absolutely fantastic, as I have mentioned. The one good thing about October is that I fully expect it to be a continuation of the awesomeness of the summer as far as my social schedule goes, so hopefully that will distract me from the weather growing ever colder. I've got something booked every weekend this month, whether it's the nuptials of my (probably) future-in-laws, my first 5k being chased by zombies, or a visit from my favorite young married couple. It should be a good month.
I'm on week 7 of my running program. The other day I ran about 2 miles without stopping. I can unequivocally say that is the longest distance I have ever run without walking in my entire life. I've never been a runner, but I'm not hating it this time around. Also, yesterday I joined a gym, so hopefully I won't lose momentum as the weather gets colder and my lack of warm running gear becomes an issue.
Plus, I've got two brand-spanking-new roommates, who moved in this weekend. After the stress and drama of the apartment search, I'm looking forward to settling in and getting to know them. I'm optimistic about the situation.
So, here's to starting the fall off on a good (if frozen) foot. I just need to get my butt to the store and stock up on wool socks and fingerless gloves for typing at work.
This summer was absolutely fantastic, as I have mentioned. The one good thing about October is that I fully expect it to be a continuation of the awesomeness of the summer as far as my social schedule goes, so hopefully that will distract me from the weather growing ever colder. I've got something booked every weekend this month, whether it's the nuptials of my (probably) future-in-laws, my first 5k being chased by zombies, or a visit from my favorite young married couple. It should be a good month.
I'm on week 7 of my running program. The other day I ran about 2 miles without stopping. I can unequivocally say that is the longest distance I have ever run without walking in my entire life. I've never been a runner, but I'm not hating it this time around. Also, yesterday I joined a gym, so hopefully I won't lose momentum as the weather gets colder and my lack of warm running gear becomes an issue.
Plus, I've got two brand-spanking-new roommates, who moved in this weekend. After the stress and drama of the apartment search, I'm looking forward to settling in and getting to know them. I'm optimistic about the situation.
So, here's to starting the fall off on a good (if frozen) foot. I just need to get my butt to the store and stock up on wool socks and fingerless gloves for typing at work.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Why I Haven't Blogged Since July
Lately, some of you have been getting on my case about not blogging much this summer (I'm looking at you, Mike MacDonald), but I swear I have good reason. Actually two good reasons.
The reason I didn't blog in July/August:
Work. I was doing three people's jobs (for the salary of one) and it was a crazy summer in the office. It was also a crazy summer outside of the office--crazy good, actually. Probably my best summer yet. I went to Virginia Beach with some of my favorite people ever, attended 2 concerts, started running, networked my ass off, signed up for an extra-curricular committee, have been super social and met a bunch of new people and turned 24, to name just a few things. All that didn't leave much time for blogging, even though I know I have put up hardly any pictures of our trip to Hawaii (but I take solace in the fact that my travel buddy and blood relative has put up NONE).
And the reason I didn't blog in September:
Potential homelessness. My lease is up in exactly 6 days, and I still have nowhere to live. I've applied to stay in my current apartment with two new roommates, but we still haven't heard whether or not we're approved. I can't even tell you how many plans I have had fall through. I was looking at 2 bedrooms with a girl who turned out to be crazy. I was going to get my own place, but rent is hella expensive this fall in any neighborhood where the probability of my death is less than 50%. I was gonna live in a not-great neighborhood, but literally, all the apartments I saw where terrible. I was going to get new roommates in my current place, but one backed out. I replaced her with another, but then she told me she was waiting to hear about a different place. Her other place fell through, so we got our applications in, but now we still aren't approved and there is no time to come up with a new plan if we're not, so I will literally be without a home.
"Wow," you might be saying. "How is she handling all this stress so well?" I'm glad you asked. A great support system, and a little prayer. But mostly wine. And Rolos.
The reason I didn't blog in July/August:
Work. I was doing three people's jobs (for the salary of one) and it was a crazy summer in the office. It was also a crazy summer outside of the office--crazy good, actually. Probably my best summer yet. I went to Virginia Beach with some of my favorite people ever, attended 2 concerts, started running, networked my ass off, signed up for an extra-curricular committee, have been super social and met a bunch of new people and turned 24, to name just a few things. All that didn't leave much time for blogging, even though I know I have put up hardly any pictures of our trip to Hawaii (but I take solace in the fact that my travel buddy and blood relative has put up NONE).
And the reason I didn't blog in September:
Potential homelessness. My lease is up in exactly 6 days, and I still have nowhere to live. I've applied to stay in my current apartment with two new roommates, but we still haven't heard whether or not we're approved. I can't even tell you how many plans I have had fall through. I was looking at 2 bedrooms with a girl who turned out to be crazy. I was going to get my own place, but rent is hella expensive this fall in any neighborhood where the probability of my death is less than 50%. I was gonna live in a not-great neighborhood, but literally, all the apartments I saw where terrible. I was going to get new roommates in my current place, but one backed out. I replaced her with another, but then she told me she was waiting to hear about a different place. Her other place fell through, so we got our applications in, but now we still aren't approved and there is no time to come up with a new plan if we're not, so I will literally be without a home.
"Wow," you might be saying. "How is she handling all this stress so well?" I'm glad you asked. A great support system, and a little prayer. But mostly wine. And Rolos.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Book Worm, Big Island
Ok, we never went to the Big Island, and the islands that we did stay on were relatively small, but just go with it, ok? Here is the first installment of Hawaii pictures, in which Bridget and friends go to Pearl Harbor.
E&M traveled separately from me &A because we each of different frequent flier programs, but we started our journey together very early (3am-ish) on Thursday after varying amounts of sleep. I think I had the most, with about 3 hours and Mike had the least with <1. So needless to say, we were all bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and in fabulous moods when we got in the car.
I'm gonna skip over the flying part because it was 15 hours long and not a lot happened, except I watched Midnight in Paris, which was not good and paid $7 for some red wine, which the flight attendant apologized for, but which Andrew and I thought was a really good deal, because now where in NYC can you get 2.5 glasses of wine for $7.
We landed at around 5pm in Honolulu and took a shuttle to the Aston Waikiki Beach hotel. We were all pretty zonked, so we just went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Of course we ordered fruity drinks and the boys bought the girls leis which was super sweet, because, unlike any movie or tv show you've seen (I'm talking to you, Full House), you do NOT get lei'd upon arrival.
We hit the hay pretty early that night and got up for breakfast on the beach (kind of--we were running late, so we made it breakfast on a bench looking at the beach) and an early shuttle to Pearl Harbor.
We had about an hour before our tour was scheduled at 9:30, so we walked through a couple of exhibits. There was a ring of plaques surrounding a flag pole out by the water which commemorated the 52 submarines that were lost during WWII and some indoor exhibits about the events leading up to Pearl Harbor. My favorite thing, though, was the Pearl Harbor veteran signing books outside. He took a picture with us and told us about his experience. He enlisted in his early 20s (I think he might have been only 20, actually) and was immediately shipped out to Pearl Harbor. He arrived on December 6th 1941. Everyone who went to PH thought of it as a vacation, I guess. It seemed very far removed from the war. On his first full day, Pearl Harbor was attacked. I can't even imagine what that must have been like. I mean for anyone who was there, but especially for this young, green soldier.
At 9:30am we lined up and watched a 20 minute video about the attacks. Then we loaded onto a shuttle boat out to the Arizona Memorial. For some reason, whenever I thought about Pearl Harbor, I never thought about taking a boat to the memorial, but I guess that's really the only way it could be.
The memorial was beautiful, just like any picture you've ever seen. The walls and ceiling were open and the bright whiteness of the walls was very striking against the blue water and green land behind. There is one area with a hole in the floor, surrounded by a wall, where you can look straight down and see the battleship. The harbor is so shallow that part of the ship are still above water. What I found most interesting, and something I never really thought about before, was the oil. Obviously, battleships carry fuel, and when they sink, that fuel goes down too. The Arizona is still leaking oil--only about a quart or so a day, but enough that you can see it on the water. The memorial committee decided not to disturb the ship--because it is the grave of so many soldiers--so they fuel is still down there. It's been over 70 years, and they estimate it will leak for another hundred. For some reason, that fact really struck me, even more than any of the other things I learned that day.
Below are some of the pictures I took. I always feel weird taking pictures in memorial-type places, but I think it's important to remember my trip there.
Up next, and on a lighter note, will be our Friday night luau!
E&M traveled separately from me &A because we each of different frequent flier programs, but we started our journey together very early (3am-ish) on Thursday after varying amounts of sleep. I think I had the most, with about 3 hours and Mike had the least with <1. So needless to say, we were all bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and in fabulous moods when we got in the car.
I'm gonna skip over the flying part because it was 15 hours long and not a lot happened, except I watched Midnight in Paris, which was not good and paid $7 for some red wine, which the flight attendant apologized for, but which Andrew and I thought was a really good deal, because now where in NYC can you get 2.5 glasses of wine for $7.
We landed at around 5pm in Honolulu and took a shuttle to the Aston Waikiki Beach hotel. We were all pretty zonked, so we just went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Of course we ordered fruity drinks and the boys bought the girls leis which was super sweet, because, unlike any movie or tv show you've seen (I'm talking to you, Full House), you do NOT get lei'd upon arrival.
We hit the hay pretty early that night and got up for breakfast on the beach (kind of--we were running late, so we made it breakfast on a bench looking at the beach) and an early shuttle to Pearl Harbor.
We had about an hour before our tour was scheduled at 9:30, so we walked through a couple of exhibits. There was a ring of plaques surrounding a flag pole out by the water which commemorated the 52 submarines that were lost during WWII and some indoor exhibits about the events leading up to Pearl Harbor. My favorite thing, though, was the Pearl Harbor veteran signing books outside. He took a picture with us and told us about his experience. He enlisted in his early 20s (I think he might have been only 20, actually) and was immediately shipped out to Pearl Harbor. He arrived on December 6th 1941. Everyone who went to PH thought of it as a vacation, I guess. It seemed very far removed from the war. On his first full day, Pearl Harbor was attacked. I can't even imagine what that must have been like. I mean for anyone who was there, but especially for this young, green soldier.
At 9:30am we lined up and watched a 20 minute video about the attacks. Then we loaded onto a shuttle boat out to the Arizona Memorial. For some reason, whenever I thought about Pearl Harbor, I never thought about taking a boat to the memorial, but I guess that's really the only way it could be.
The memorial was beautiful, just like any picture you've ever seen. The walls and ceiling were open and the bright whiteness of the walls was very striking against the blue water and green land behind. There is one area with a hole in the floor, surrounded by a wall, where you can look straight down and see the battleship. The harbor is so shallow that part of the ship are still above water. What I found most interesting, and something I never really thought about before, was the oil. Obviously, battleships carry fuel, and when they sink, that fuel goes down too. The Arizona is still leaking oil--only about a quart or so a day, but enough that you can see it on the water. The memorial committee decided not to disturb the ship--because it is the grave of so many soldiers--so they fuel is still down there. It's been over 70 years, and they estimate it will leak for another hundred. For some reason, that fact really struck me, even more than any of the other things I learned that day.
Below are some of the pictures I took. I always feel weird taking pictures in memorial-type places, but I think it's important to remember my trip there.
Up next, and on a lighter note, will be our Friday night luau!
 |
| The plaques commemorating downed subs and their crews |
 |
| Open floor over the battleship |
 |
| Inside the memorial |
 |
| The slow-leaking oil |
 |
| Parts of the Arizona rise above the water |
Happy Independence Day!
Happy Independence Day everyone! I wish I could have spent it with you. All of you. Or any of you. I spent my day alone (being independent, get it?). I used to really like spending time alone, but lately, not so much. So as much I was looking forward to today, I ended up a bit lonely. Was super productive though! I did some freelancing, went to the gym (for the third day in a row--probably a personal record) ran some errands and I even went out to dinner at this place I've been wanting to try. Not a bad day, just would've been nicer with some of you guys!
Anyway, Happy Fourth of July, and keep reading, because I'm about to post some Hawaii pictures!
Anyway, Happy Fourth of July, and keep reading, because I'm about to post some Hawaii pictures!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Twenty-one minutes left of work before vacation and I CANNOT CONCENTRATE!! This time tomorrow I will be in the airspace over the Pacific and that is all I have been able to think about for the last hour. I was super productive up till then, crossing things off my list left and right. But after lunch it all went down hill.
I should really take my bosses up on their offer to skip out early.
I should really take my bosses up on their offer to skip out early.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
What I've Been Listening To
I have always loved lists. And it turns out, according so social
media research and stuff, people like reading lists. Something about a
short attention span or whatever...I didn't finish the article to find
out why. ;) So here's a list of my favorite music right now.
1. The "Some Nights" album by fun. Because they are good, and it's cool that I saw them before they got really big.
2. Tower of Babel by Elton John. I just heard this for the first time a few months ago, but it never gets old.
3. The "Brothers" album by the Black Keys. Because it's groovy and a little rough (vocally that is)
4. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. Because, duh.
5. Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys
6. Rumor Has It by Adele. Because her voice is on my list of people I would kill to sound like.
7. That song about being beautiful by the British boy band "One Direction." Because boy bands are totally making a comeback (thank you, Big Time Rush), but mostly because it always comes on after Call Me Maybe on the radio
8. Twist and Shout by the Beatles, because I have started exercising to it again (used to be our exercise jam when we were younger, too).
9. Drink to That, by Rihanna. I don't like much by Rihanna, but "Cheers to the freakin' weekend, I'll drink to that, yeah yeah" pretty much sums up my outlook on life recently. Also it was on Smash.
10. Sail by AWOLNation. Just because it's cool, and there is this awesome video set to it.
Pretty eclectic, I know. But if there is anything you haven't heard, LISTEN to it! Andrew will tell you, I have fantastic taste in music.
*Note: I originally posted this yesterday, to count for the countdown to Hawaii blog challenge, but I noticed today that I accidentally posted it on my other blog. My bad!
1. The "Some Nights" album by fun. Because they are good, and it's cool that I saw them before they got really big.
2. Tower of Babel by Elton John. I just heard this for the first time a few months ago, but it never gets old.
3. The "Brothers" album by the Black Keys. Because it's groovy and a little rough (vocally that is)
4. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. Because, duh.
5. Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys
6. Rumor Has It by Adele. Because her voice is on my list of people I would kill to sound like.
7. That song about being beautiful by the British boy band "One Direction." Because boy bands are totally making a comeback (thank you, Big Time Rush), but mostly because it always comes on after Call Me Maybe on the radio
8. Twist and Shout by the Beatles, because I have started exercising to it again (used to be our exercise jam when we were younger, too).
9. Drink to That, by Rihanna. I don't like much by Rihanna, but "Cheers to the freakin' weekend, I'll drink to that, yeah yeah" pretty much sums up my outlook on life recently. Also it was on Smash.
10. Sail by AWOLNation. Just because it's cool, and there is this awesome video set to it.
Pretty eclectic, I know. But if there is anything you haven't heard, LISTEN to it! Andrew will tell you, I have fantastic taste in music.
*Note: I originally posted this yesterday, to count for the countdown to Hawaii blog challenge, but I noticed today that I accidentally posted it on my other blog. My bad!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Base Tan
An hour ago I got back to Brooklyn after spending Saturday and Sunday in Mattituck, LI, a small beach town on the North Fork of Long Island. As I mentioned, we stayed at Andrew's aunt's beach complex, so we spent the two days sitting on the beach, eating and playing Kan Jam. Today the cousins pushed a big-ass dock out into the water to float on, and beer kayaked, which is like shower beering, only instead of taking a beer with you into the shower, you take it out on the water in a kayak. My new favorite water sport.
Despite some rain this morning, we had excellent weather and I successfully managed a base tan, or "practice" for Hawaii. So it was a successful weekend. Our arrival date is officially in the 5-day weather.com forecast and there are only two working days left!
Also I bought chocolate covered almonds which I have been LOVING lately. So that was awesome.
Despite some rain this morning, we had excellent weather and I successfully managed a base tan, or "practice" for Hawaii. So it was a successful weekend. Our arrival date is officially in the 5-day weather.com forecast and there are only two working days left!
Also I bought chocolate covered almonds which I have been LOVING lately. So that was awesome.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Oops
Ok, so I only made it two days into the "blogging every day till Hawaii" challenge. I totally planned to blog yesterday, but everything at work was so boring I couldn't think of what to write about and then I came home early (we closed at 2:30, yeah!) went to Target, took a nap, watched Captain America (pretty good), had dinner and then went over to Matt's house for some beer pong. So...blogging accidentally slipped by the wayside.
However, one exciting thing that happened is Megan realized her FB was broken and finally wrote back about fun. and confirmed that she is still coming up! So my fifth epic weekend is still in play!
Now I'm off to Mattituck, Long Island for some (hopefully) beach time. Happy Memorial Day and see y'all tomorrow (I promise)!
However, one exciting thing that happened is Megan realized her FB was broken and finally wrote back about fun. and confirmed that she is still coming up! So my fifth epic weekend is still in play!
Now I'm off to Mattituck, Long Island for some (hopefully) beach time. Happy Memorial Day and see y'all tomorrow (I promise)!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Summer of Spontaneity
Andrew and I have declared this the Summer of Spontaneity. Actually, I have declared it such, Andrew has
asked to rename it the Summer of George. We’ll get back to you on the final name. I always want
to be spontaneous and fun and not care about staying out later than I should or
getting into a little bit of trouble.
But I never end up being that way.
I can’t help it. I like schedules,
and I like knowing what time it is, and sometimes it seems like my life is a
series of small countdowns to the next thing I have to do. I just arrived home from work, and have 5
hours till I need to go to bed. I just
left the studio—7 seven days till I have to go back. It is kind of depressing and annoying and I
want to be different and more fun! Thus,
the Summer of Spontaneity.
We are starting off well.
It’s not even technically summer, and I have 5 epic weekends
planned. Ok, well 1 already happened and
4 are planned (I know planning isn’t spontaneity, but just listen a minute,
ok?). The first was last weekend which
was totally epic and spontaneous
because Andrew and I decided on Thursday night to go to Maryland on Friday for
another awesome MacDonald party. That
deserves its own post, because it was definitely the most successful party
anyone in my family has had. I’m an
awful party thrower. So you’ll hear more
about JMac’s Grad Party later (that’s how I had it marked on my calendar, even
though I wasn’t planning to go till the last minute).
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, which means an extra
day off work, shopping at the outlets and going out to the North Fork of Long
Island where Andrew’s aunt has a beach complex.
I say “complex” because it’s a bunch of houses on the same property, not
because she has some issue with the beach.
Hopefully we don’t get those intermittent thunderstorms the weather
channel is talking about, because as I mentioned in my last post, I really need
to “practice” for Hawaii.
Next weekend is Hawaii, so…duh.
The weekend after that we come back from Hawaii, which is
slightly less epic, but then my awesome cousin Megan is coming to visit with
her husband (of over one year, what??) and an Italian exchange student, which
sounds random, but trust me, it makes sense.
Kind of.
Then the next
weekend is the fun. concert with Megan Shook (hopefully, if she still comes,
because I asked if she was coming on Facebook and she hasn’t responded yet,
which is concerning, and Megan if you’re reading this you had better still come.)
So those are the next few weekends for me, and they are all
before summer even officially kicks off!
So I can safely say this will probably be the most awesome summer anyone
has ever had in the whole world ever.
Because I am also hopefully going to Cleveland, and I’ve made a whole
list of things I want to do this summer which I will post later and which
includes a lot of stuff like baseball games and concerts and—obviously—ice cream
trucks.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I'm About to Get Really Annoying
As probably all of you know, I am going on vacation to Hawaii this summer...actually, make that NEXT WEEK. It was suggested to me that I blog everyday between now and then to "build anticipation." At first I thought, that would be cruel to my lovely readers who aren't going to be in Hawaii, but then I thought, if you aren't going to Hawaii, you might as well be happy for me that I am, right? (Side note: while I fully support this behavior in others, in the interest of full disclosure I must say that if you go to Hawaii or Australia or Europe without me, I WILL LOATHE YOU.) So even though I'm mad busy between today and next Thursday (yep, that's when we leave) I will do my damndest to blog as often as possible about the things that interest me, just like I always do. Here's a short list of things that are interesting to me this week:
1. Shopping for clothes to wear in Hawaii
2. Packing to go to Hawaii
3. Stopping the rain this weekend so I can lay on a beach and practice for Hawaii
4. Thinking about the weather in Hawaii
5. Getting a haircut, pedicure and base-layer tan for Hawaii
6. Cupcakes
Countdown to take off: 7 days 19 hours
1. Shopping for clothes to wear in Hawaii
2. Packing to go to Hawaii
3. Stopping the rain this weekend so I can lay on a beach and practice for Hawaii
4. Thinking about the weather in Hawaii
5. Getting a haircut, pedicure and base-layer tan for Hawaii
6. Cupcakes
Countdown to take off: 7 days 19 hours
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Here is a List of Things That Would Be Totally Awesome
1. If I had a box of chipwiches in my work freezer. I should definitely think about making this happen. I have been an ice cream fiend lately.
2. If it were June 1, instead of May 1, so I could be drinking rum from a coconut in Hawaii (yes, just rum.)
3. If sugar wasn't so damn delicious so I wouldn't have such a hard time trying not to eat it (see #1, re: ice cream fiend)
4. If we could bake a cake out of rainbows and smiles and eat it and be happy.
5. If I could wear my new dress every day because it is pretty and twirly and grown-up and people keep telling me it is pretty, and I can't find a picture online so you will just have to trust me.
6. If I could get a recurring freelance gig that paid really well.
7. If it didn't cost $1200 to change a plane ticket from Hawaii so I could stay two extra days.
8. If laundry would do itself.
9. If puppies were free and didn't need to be walked, except in summer, so I could have one.
10. If I had a balcony instead of an extra-wide ledge, because I wouldn't trust myself on the ledge drinking sangria.
2. If it were June 1, instead of May 1, so I could be drinking rum from a coconut in Hawaii (yes, just rum.)
3. If sugar wasn't so damn delicious so I wouldn't have such a hard time trying not to eat it (see #1, re: ice cream fiend)
4. If we could bake a cake out of rainbows and smiles and eat it and be happy.
5. If I could wear my new dress every day because it is pretty and twirly and grown-up and people keep telling me it is pretty, and I can't find a picture online so you will just have to trust me.
6. If I could get a recurring freelance gig that paid really well.
7. If it didn't cost $1200 to change a plane ticket from Hawaii so I could stay two extra days.
8. If laundry would do itself.
9. If puppies were free and didn't need to be walked, except in summer, so I could have one.
10. If I had a balcony instead of an extra-wide ledge, because I wouldn't trust myself on the ledge drinking sangria.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Review: Invisible
I recently finished the book Invisible by Paul Auster. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, so I'm hoping writing it out will help me decide. I read the book for a book club I recently joined through Meet-up, so it probably isn't something I would normally pick up on my own. I read the back cover copy and was wary.
"Sinuously constructed in four interlocking parts, Paul Auster’s fifteenth novel opens in New York City in the spring of 1967, when twenty-year-old Adam Walker, an aspiring poet and student at Columbia University, meets the enigmatic Frenchman Rudolf Born and his silent and seductive girlfriend, Margot. Before long, Walker finds himself caught in a perverse triangle that leads to a sudden, shocking act of violence that will alter the course of his life."
This sounds to me very similar to Sophie's Choice. Any one else? Young writer/poet living in New York City, meets an "enigmatic" man and his mysterious girlfriend, a shocking act of violence? That's alternate copy for Sophie's Choice, not the plot of a separate novel! It might be blasphemous to say, but I wasn't a huge fan of SC, so I was, like I said, wary about Invisible. But I wanted to go to the book club and meet people, so I read it anyway.
It wasn't like Sophie's Choice. The first part described the spring when Adam Walker met Born and Margot. It was a very whirlwind relationship--from beginning to end was no more than a couple of weeks. Then there was the "shocking act" of violence, Walker reacted to it, and vowed never to see Born again. End Part 1.
Parts 2 and 3 are narrated by one of Adam Walker's college acquaintances forty years later in 2007. He lost touch with Adam after college and didn't hear from him for many years. Then one day, he receives a letter and part of a manuscript in the mail from Adam. The manuscript recounts the Spring of Born, and Adam says he is stuck on the next chapter and could use help. The narrator gives him some advice, and a few days later receives the second part, which he recounts (so the rest of the book is a mixture between the narrator telling how he came to be involved in the story, and the actual story). The second part of Adam's book is written in the second person narrative style. The first part was first person, so it was "I, me, mine." The second part is "you, your." Second person narrative is very rare, especially for a novel. I appreciated the risk.
The second part recounts Adam's summer recovering from the trauma of "the event" and living with his sister Gwyn in New York. During the summer they engage in an inappropriate relationship. I was enjoying the book until this part. There are a couple reasons why this changed my opinion of the story. First, there is the "taboo" of it--instantly turns most people off. But additionally, I didn't really see the necessity of including these details. This may be one of those "Bridget doesn't understand literature" things, but I just didn't see how this had any relation to the Born story line. Finally, the fact that it was written as "you do this" "you say that" made the story very unrelatable.
The third part recounts Adam's semester in Paris, where he meets Born again and attempts to ruin his life in retribution for "the violent act." Needless to say, that ends badly. Adam never gets his revenge, and never completely finishes the novel. However, his college acquaintance, a published novelist, does, with Adam's permission, change the names and publish the book under his pen name.
I know I haven't given you a lot of story here. I'm never sure how much to give away in a review, and always err on the side of too little. But here is my rundown of my reaction to it. I think the only real issue I took with the book was the relationship between Adam and Gwyn. As I mentioned, I just don't see how it related to Adam's relationship with Born, which was the focus of Parts 1 and 3. I guess I just feel like Part 2 doesn't quite fit with the rest of the book. And I did enjoy the shift in narrative. The story was told by two different people, but with four different points of view--Part 1 first person, Part 2 second person and Part 3, third person, then the college buddy's first person narrative running through. I appreciate the unconventionality of the second person narrative, though I do think it would've resonated more in a different area of the story. That summer is not an experience many people have, so saying "you" doesn't quite feel right. On the other hand, though, saying "you" instead of "I" or "he" disassociates Adam's character with the actions, so the reader may be more ready to forgive him for his transgression, and not hold it against him for the rest of the book. Also, the 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 relationship between part and narrative style is quite clever.
I think, overall, I did like the book. The story I could give or take. But the way the story was told really is quite excellent. It's full of narrative surprises, not just plot twists. And Auster's descriptions really are well-written. Oh, except one more thing I didn't like. There were no quotation marks throughout the entire novel. Dialogue was not called out, other than by "he says" or "you ask." At first I hated it, but then I guess I got used to it, and was more tuned in to when people were speaking. It also gave more of a feeling of being told a story, than reading it. Like if someone read a book out loud, you wouldn't always be able to tell when one person stopped speaking, because quotes are sometimes the only indicator. With this book, someone could read it out loud and it would sound like a story. Just another narrative surprise, I guess.
So, thanks for reading as I work out my very complex feelings about Invisible by Paul Auster. I liked the narrative, but had issue with the story. It's a give and take--there are few books about which I love everything. But this book? Yeah, I guess I liked it.
"Sinuously constructed in four interlocking parts, Paul Auster’s fifteenth novel opens in New York City in the spring of 1967, when twenty-year-old Adam Walker, an aspiring poet and student at Columbia University, meets the enigmatic Frenchman Rudolf Born and his silent and seductive girlfriend, Margot. Before long, Walker finds himself caught in a perverse triangle that leads to a sudden, shocking act of violence that will alter the course of his life."
This sounds to me very similar to Sophie's Choice. Any one else? Young writer/poet living in New York City, meets an "enigmatic" man and his mysterious girlfriend, a shocking act of violence? That's alternate copy for Sophie's Choice, not the plot of a separate novel! It might be blasphemous to say, but I wasn't a huge fan of SC, so I was, like I said, wary about Invisible. But I wanted to go to the book club and meet people, so I read it anyway.
It wasn't like Sophie's Choice. The first part described the spring when Adam Walker met Born and Margot. It was a very whirlwind relationship--from beginning to end was no more than a couple of weeks. Then there was the "shocking act" of violence, Walker reacted to it, and vowed never to see Born again. End Part 1.
Parts 2 and 3 are narrated by one of Adam Walker's college acquaintances forty years later in 2007. He lost touch with Adam after college and didn't hear from him for many years. Then one day, he receives a letter and part of a manuscript in the mail from Adam. The manuscript recounts the Spring of Born, and Adam says he is stuck on the next chapter and could use help. The narrator gives him some advice, and a few days later receives the second part, which he recounts (so the rest of the book is a mixture between the narrator telling how he came to be involved in the story, and the actual story). The second part of Adam's book is written in the second person narrative style. The first part was first person, so it was "I, me, mine." The second part is "you, your." Second person narrative is very rare, especially for a novel. I appreciated the risk.
The second part recounts Adam's summer recovering from the trauma of "the event" and living with his sister Gwyn in New York. During the summer they engage in an inappropriate relationship. I was enjoying the book until this part. There are a couple reasons why this changed my opinion of the story. First, there is the "taboo" of it--instantly turns most people off. But additionally, I didn't really see the necessity of including these details. This may be one of those "Bridget doesn't understand literature" things, but I just didn't see how this had any relation to the Born story line. Finally, the fact that it was written as "you do this" "you say that" made the story very unrelatable.
The third part recounts Adam's semester in Paris, where he meets Born again and attempts to ruin his life in retribution for "the violent act." Needless to say, that ends badly. Adam never gets his revenge, and never completely finishes the novel. However, his college acquaintance, a published novelist, does, with Adam's permission, change the names and publish the book under his pen name.
I know I haven't given you a lot of story here. I'm never sure how much to give away in a review, and always err on the side of too little. But here is my rundown of my reaction to it. I think the only real issue I took with the book was the relationship between Adam and Gwyn. As I mentioned, I just don't see how it related to Adam's relationship with Born, which was the focus of Parts 1 and 3. I guess I just feel like Part 2 doesn't quite fit with the rest of the book. And I did enjoy the shift in narrative. The story was told by two different people, but with four different points of view--Part 1 first person, Part 2 second person and Part 3, third person, then the college buddy's first person narrative running through. I appreciate the unconventionality of the second person narrative, though I do think it would've resonated more in a different area of the story. That summer is not an experience many people have, so saying "you" doesn't quite feel right. On the other hand, though, saying "you" instead of "I" or "he" disassociates Adam's character with the actions, so the reader may be more ready to forgive him for his transgression, and not hold it against him for the rest of the book. Also, the 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 relationship between part and narrative style is quite clever.
I think, overall, I did like the book. The story I could give or take. But the way the story was told really is quite excellent. It's full of narrative surprises, not just plot twists. And Auster's descriptions really are well-written. Oh, except one more thing I didn't like. There were no quotation marks throughout the entire novel. Dialogue was not called out, other than by "he says" or "you ask." At first I hated it, but then I guess I got used to it, and was more tuned in to when people were speaking. It also gave more of a feeling of being told a story, than reading it. Like if someone read a book out loud, you wouldn't always be able to tell when one person stopped speaking, because quotes are sometimes the only indicator. With this book, someone could read it out loud and it would sound like a story. Just another narrative surprise, I guess.
So, thanks for reading as I work out my very complex feelings about Invisible by Paul Auster. I liked the narrative, but had issue with the story. It's a give and take--there are few books about which I love everything. But this book? Yeah, I guess I liked it.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
A Case of the Thursdays
As far as days go, today has not been stellar. I have not been able to catch up on sleep the last two weeks (DAMN that large coffee I drank by accident back in March!) and my stomach has been doing some wonky stuff today. And for the pas 6 hours, I have been feeling weirdly, unexplainably nervous.
Does that happen to anyone else, ever? My stomach is both wonky and fluttery, and my heart is pounding. I thought it might be because I had to give an evaluation at Toastmasters, but that was over and I still felt this way. So I thought maybe it was because of our staff meeting this afternoon. But now that's over, and I still feel this way. Is it because I have to work tonight, and I hate doing that? Is it just unexplained paranoia? Does my subconscious know that something bad will soon happen?
I don't know. But it's annoying, man. And even though I agreed to work for 5 hours on Saturday afternoon--prime weekend time--I am so looking forward to tomorrow at 5 o'clock.
Cause today has been weird and not even pictures of cute animals was enough to knock it off.
Side note: my office smells weird. It alternates between movie theater popcorn butter and a mystery meat microwavable meal. It is not helping the stomach wonkiness.
Does that happen to anyone else, ever? My stomach is both wonky and fluttery, and my heart is pounding. I thought it might be because I had to give an evaluation at Toastmasters, but that was over and I still felt this way. So I thought maybe it was because of our staff meeting this afternoon. But now that's over, and I still feel this way. Is it because I have to work tonight, and I hate doing that? Is it just unexplained paranoia? Does my subconscious know that something bad will soon happen?
I don't know. But it's annoying, man. And even though I agreed to work for 5 hours on Saturday afternoon--prime weekend time--I am so looking forward to tomorrow at 5 o'clock.
Cause today has been weird and not even pictures of cute animals was enough to knock it off.
Side note: my office smells weird. It alternates between movie theater popcorn butter and a mystery meat microwavable meal. It is not helping the stomach wonkiness.
Friday, April 6, 2012
I've barely had a bite of Easter candy all season.
I've resisted the lure of malted eggs. I've silenced the siren song of Starburst jelly beans. No nibble of a chocolate bunny ear. The one thing I had was a bag of candy coated chocolate eggs, but I hardly enjoyed them (they were Hershey's not Cadbury). Overall this Easter season, I've been extremely self-controlled.
Part of this is due to my lack of dental insurance and fear of mouth rot.
The other part is, I've been saving for Monday, when it all goes on sale.
But, I just caved. Walking back from the Production department down the hall, I noticed a bowl of off-brand jelly beans, a carton of cookies and a tray of Peeps.
Peeps. My weakness.
I never liked Peeps growing up. But around high school, I realized it was a marshmallow rolled in sugar. What's not to like, I ask you? Also around high school, I realized Peeps are even better when they're slightly stale. Any one who has ever had a stale Peep knows what I'm talking about. Any one who has never had a stale Peep just threw up in their mouth.
Anyway, I pass the Peep tray, and see them sitting there, unpackaged. I just knew that they'd be perfectly stale, sitting in this already stale office air. I snagged one, walked back to my cube, popping into my coworker's office on the way.
"Peeps!" I said.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah and I bet they're stale." I take a bite. Perfectly chewy.
And now, now that I've caved. I know it is all over. I finished the Peep in two bites and not seconds later had to resist the urge to go finish off the tray. Peeps will be my end.
PEEPS!!! WHY MUST YOU BE SO DELICIOUS??
Part of this is due to my lack of dental insurance and fear of mouth rot.
The other part is, I've been saving for Monday, when it all goes on sale.
But, I just caved. Walking back from the Production department down the hall, I noticed a bowl of off-brand jelly beans, a carton of cookies and a tray of Peeps.
Peeps. My weakness.
I never liked Peeps growing up. But around high school, I realized it was a marshmallow rolled in sugar. What's not to like, I ask you? Also around high school, I realized Peeps are even better when they're slightly stale. Any one who has ever had a stale Peep knows what I'm talking about. Any one who has never had a stale Peep just threw up in their mouth.
Anyway, I pass the Peep tray, and see them sitting there, unpackaged. I just knew that they'd be perfectly stale, sitting in this already stale office air. I snagged one, walked back to my cube, popping into my coworker's office on the way.
"Peeps!" I said.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah and I bet they're stale." I take a bite. Perfectly chewy.
And now, now that I've caved. I know it is all over. I finished the Peep in two bites and not seconds later had to resist the urge to go finish off the tray. Peeps will be my end.
PEEPS!!! WHY MUST YOU BE SO DELICIOUS??
Friday, March 30, 2012
Welcome to Spring
Even though it was warmer in NYC pre-3/20 than post-3/20 it is officially spring! To celebrate, I redesigned my blog so that it wasn't wintery white. Who digs the new colors? I do!
Is anyone else SUPER PSYCHED for summer? I know I'm jumping the gun a bit, since spring only just started, but I've been waiting for summer to come back since October 1. Summer is my absolute favorite season and since I won't be spending this one sweating it out in Inwood, I'm extra pumped. Still don't have an AC, but curtains and a tree outside my window make me hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I can scrape by without one this year. Because you know what is mad expensive? Portable air conditioners.
So, summer. It's awesome. I mean, it's always awesome, because there's sun and outdoor concerts and you can go for walks and it's sunny until like 9pm. And I have way more summer clothes that I like than any other season. But this summer is especially awesome and here are some reasons I am looking forward to it:
1. Hawaii. Duh.
2. I live in Brooklyn, which just seems like a better place to be in the summer than Inwood.
3. Sunglasses. They're just more fun in warm sunshine (as opposed to watery winter sunshine)
4. Sandals and flip flops. They're better than boots and sneakers (no matter how much I love boots)
5. Going out to bars without carrying a humongous jacket. More fun.
6. Waking up to sunshine instead of dark.
7. Concerts in parks
8. Dining alfresco (so many places in my hood)
9. Packing away bulky sweaters means I have more room in my closet
10. Summer always makes me want to rent a convertible and drive around with my girlfriends singing awesome songs. I've never done this, I can't drive in NY and most of my girlfriends aren't here. But it's the attitude, and feeling of doing it without actually doing that summer gives me. It puts that bop in my hop when I'm walking to the subway.
Viva la verano!
**Disclaimer** that Spanish is probably super incorrect. Who cares? It's (almost) summer y'all. The season to be carefree.
Is anyone else SUPER PSYCHED for summer? I know I'm jumping the gun a bit, since spring only just started, but I've been waiting for summer to come back since October 1. Summer is my absolute favorite season and since I won't be spending this one sweating it out in Inwood, I'm extra pumped. Still don't have an AC, but curtains and a tree outside my window make me hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I can scrape by without one this year. Because you know what is mad expensive? Portable air conditioners.
So, summer. It's awesome. I mean, it's always awesome, because there's sun and outdoor concerts and you can go for walks and it's sunny until like 9pm. And I have way more summer clothes that I like than any other season. But this summer is especially awesome and here are some reasons I am looking forward to it:
1. Hawaii. Duh.
2. I live in Brooklyn, which just seems like a better place to be in the summer than Inwood.
3. Sunglasses. They're just more fun in warm sunshine (as opposed to watery winter sunshine)
4. Sandals and flip flops. They're better than boots and sneakers (no matter how much I love boots)
5. Going out to bars without carrying a humongous jacket. More fun.
6. Waking up to sunshine instead of dark.
7. Concerts in parks
8. Dining alfresco (so many places in my hood)
9. Packing away bulky sweaters means I have more room in my closet
10. Summer always makes me want to rent a convertible and drive around with my girlfriends singing awesome songs. I've never done this, I can't drive in NY and most of my girlfriends aren't here. But it's the attitude, and feeling of doing it without actually doing that summer gives me. It puts that bop in my hop when I'm walking to the subway.
Viva la verano!
**Disclaimer** that Spanish is probably super incorrect. Who cares? It's (almost) summer y'all. The season to be carefree.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Siesta!
I am very strategic about my lunch hour. I usually try not to eat until at least one, but preferably 1:30 or 2. I am hungry much before then (because I'm, like, always hungry, or at least always in the mood to eat), but I make myself wait so that when my lunch hour is up, it's 2:30 or 3. And then there's just a little bit of time left in the work day. It's a really good plan, especially since mornings tend to go by faster than afternoons (it's a proven scientific fact).
But lately, I'm realizing that eating later is probably better for my career. Lately I have gotten so sleepy after I eat. I've got that lead-in-the-stomach, needs-all-my-attention-to-digest sort of thing going on. And when my stomach is so warm and full, and I can see the sun outside, naturally my eyes will get all heavy and my fingers turn sluggish on the keyboard. Naturally, all I will want to do is take a nap. Yeah, I've got a lot of that going on right now. So, if I am far less productive after lunch, it may be best to eat later, that way, I can get loads of stuff done before I zombify. There is actually a guy at work who doesn't eat until about 4:15, because he knows he won't get anything done after. I know I could never wait that long, and it does seem a bit silly to eat that late, only to go home and have to cook dinner. But I can definitely appreciate the sentiment. Because I am like one status meeting away from comp...
...letely falling asleep. Oh, maybe its too late.
But lately, I'm realizing that eating later is probably better for my career. Lately I have gotten so sleepy after I eat. I've got that lead-in-the-stomach, needs-all-my-attention-to-digest sort of thing going on. And when my stomach is so warm and full, and I can see the sun outside, naturally my eyes will get all heavy and my fingers turn sluggish on the keyboard. Naturally, all I will want to do is take a nap. Yeah, I've got a lot of that going on right now. So, if I am far less productive after lunch, it may be best to eat later, that way, I can get loads of stuff done before I zombify. There is actually a guy at work who doesn't eat until about 4:15, because he knows he won't get anything done after. I know I could never wait that long, and it does seem a bit silly to eat that late, only to go home and have to cook dinner. But I can definitely appreciate the sentiment. Because I am like one status meeting away from comp...
...letely falling asleep. Oh, maybe its too late.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Books, Books, Books
I've been busy this week, being productive. On Monday, I did spring cleaning a day early. I scrubbed my whole bathroom, except for the floor (because mopping is a pain!) and picked up my room, dusted, cleaned out my closet, even moved around some pictures and things for a change. I've been thinking about moving the location of my bed, I'm just not sure if it will work any other way. I've also gotten loads done at work, and done laundry and made dinner two nights this week so far. And I've been reading a bunch too. Since I'm at work, I don't have time to delve deeply into the stuff I've been reading, so I'll just throw some covers up and write reviews later. Maybe. If I feel like it. I'm not great at writing reviews and I haven't loved any of the books I've been reading, because I've been reading a lot of "literature" and as I told Andrew last night, "literature" is almost always about emotions, and I really prefer reading books that are about anything but that. Seriously, if you look at my favorite books, they have almost no emotional element-- In a Sunburned Country, The Westing Game, The Stephanie Plum Series...ok, I guess I don't even have that many favorite books. Which is ironic. What I don't like reading about is people have "deep" emotions and then they do irrational and nonsensical things. Like the girl who runs crying out of a library because she saw a painting that looked sort of like her female lover and it looked at her. Like, what? Is that a metaphor? What is that supposed to show us? Maybe I just don't understand deep emotions and that is why I don't like literature. I will probably be shot for saying this, especially since I work in book publishing, but Catcher in the Rye...what? I don't get it (I hope we can still be friends, Ann). I don't know...I'm flummoxed. Maybe I need to get more in touch with my "emotional side." Bollocks.
Anyway, I said I wasn't going to delve deeply into book reviews, so instead I delved deeply into my inner turmoil....my bad. Here are those covers I mentioned and I'll get around to writing some reviews when I feel like it (hey, maybe I do feel stuff!). If like, I don't get all depressed because of an incident on the subway that somehow seems to signify the futility of my life path and then do irrational stuff and wind up in Colorado or something...
Anyway, I said I wasn't going to delve deeply into book reviews, so instead I delved deeply into my inner turmoil....my bad. Here are those covers I mentioned and I'll get around to writing some reviews when I feel like it (hey, maybe I do feel stuff!). If like, I don't get all depressed because of an incident on the subway that somehow seems to signify the futility of my life path and then do irrational stuff and wind up in Colorado or something...
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| I had very high hopes for this one. It wasn't awful. |
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| I didn't have high hopes for this one. They lived up (down?) to them. Spoiler: 1950s lesbian fiction |
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| My boss is letting me borrow her Kindle so I can finish this series. I have mixed feelings about this--I want to finish the series, but I don't because of the all the hype, and I don't want to cave to a Kindle, even if it isn't mine. |
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| Flipped through this as research for work (hopefully I will be getting some aviation projects soon) and then started reading in earnest because I found out getting your pilot's license is actually CHEAPER than I thought, and how awesome would it be to be able to fly, like, anywhere? When I move back to Maryland, that would be so awesome, I could get to NYC in a snap! So for my birthday, please just buy me an hour of flight time. Kthanks! |
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
But on a Happier Note
Last night I went to bed with happiness, but I had forgotten it by the time I woke up this morning. I was happy because today is the first day of spring! And it actually feels like it outside! It will still be spring when I travel to Hawaii (summer doesn't officially start until the end of June), so we are in sight! Seventy-two days away, in fact. So in honor of that, here is a really awesome link I found. This link has a very tentative relationship to spring, but here it is. It is spring, in spring I will go to Hawaii, where I will view the transit of Venus, which is an astronomical event, and this link has something to do with outer space. Also this link makes me happy, just like spring and I spent a very long time fascinated by it. I hope you enjoy!
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