Thursday, December 31, 2009

Out with the Old

Last day of 2009. My main resolution of the year was to stop procrastinating. I think I did okay. Seeing as how I started studying for my September LSAT in March and got 8 of 10 applications out before December. But also ran around like a fool while I continued to procrastinate on less important matters. Maybe I need the pressure to function. Who knows?

It was a busy year with trips to Arizona and Nebraska. My parents, Jilly, and Andrea each came for visits. I saw The Killers in concert. Took the LSAT and applied to schools. Read 79 books. And much more.

I also knocked off 5 things on my life list, including...go backpacking, learn to juggle, and throw a Cher-themed party.

I have dubbed 2010 "the year of balance," in which I bring...well, balance to my life. More on that as it develops.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Top Ten Reads 2009

I picked out my favorite literary-ish reads amid the shameful sea of smut that I consumed this year...hey! I took the LSAT! Give me a break!

  • The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
  • The Secret History - Donna Tartt
  • The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields
  • I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
  • The Bone graphic novel series - Jeff Smith
  • We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
  • The Magician's Elephant - Kate DiCamillo
  • The Hakawati - Rabih Alameddine
  • When Everything Changed - Gail Collins
  • In the Valley of the Kings - Terrence Holt
And if I absolutely had to pick the best of the best it would be In the Valley of the Kings - Terrence Holt. It's just phenomenal.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Meowy Christmas

I bought my cats their Christmas presents 2 weeks ago. New collars for both(because Opal broke hers); these catnip, ball-shaped things called "pawbreakers"; and a mouse on a string with a feather replacement. I had all of their things in a plastic bag inside my bookbag. When I woke up the next day they had pulled the plastic bag out of the bookbag, ripped a hole in it, and strewn their presents all over the house. Brody had left teeth marks in all the plastic packaging and it was too late to pry the "pawbreaker" out of Opal's clutches. Everything else went immediately into a dresser drawer. I debated not giving them their presents at all, something I vaguely remember my mom doing when I had found my Christmas present early. But then I thought it wouldn't be fair for me to accept what the cats got me, Harry Potter 6 on DVD!!!


Last Wednesday I couldn't wait any longer, I had to give them their presents if only to allow me to watch my movie. Opal looks particularly fetching in her new metallic silver collar. The second "pawbreaker" was kind of a bust seeing as they had been playing with the other one since Saturday. The mouse on a string was the real hit. Brody went insane over it. Running back and forth and back and forth. Leaping and climbing, jumping and spinning in mid air. Diving and somersaulting and stopping on a dime. At one point he was running horizontally along the back of the couch. He was out of his mind for that stupid mouse!

And then he just stopped. And stood there. And started breathing really heavy, and twitching his tail. At first I thought he was mad because Opal was trying to play too. But then he laid in the corner on his side and wouldn't stop breathing so quickly. He got this glazed look on his face and wouldn't move. I poked him but he was all limp. And when I picked him up, he dangled like a sack of potatoes, and on the floor where he had been...poop! POOP! He went over in the corner, laid down, and pooped! But definitely not normal intentional pooping, he never goes outside the box. I thought something was terribly wrong. So, I took him to the litter box and pointed him at it but he wouldn't go in. He went over to a corner again and this time pooped standing up. It's like he couldn't stop himself, not even to get in the box. When he was done he tried to run away, in shame I think, but I stopped him and he was still breathing heavy. I was pretty freaked out at this point so I brought him to his bed and just sat there petting him. He eventually started purring and 2 minutes later he was fine. I swear to you all, he pooed because of that toy. He was so excited, he actually shit himself. Hand to God.

Also in the realm of cat stories... I forgot to pick up cat food at the store before Christmas and the cats were hungry. So I thought to tide them over I would make some scrambled eggs. That's what one feeds sick animals, I figured it would be fine for them. Of course they wouldn't eat it. So I thought, they drink my cereal milk, I'll give them some milk. I had heard that cats are lactose intolerant, but my cats seem to stomach it fine. Turns out they are lactose intolerant, as evidence by the several puddles of vomit around the house a few minutes later. Poor babies, at least they weren't hungry anymore...

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Helpful Holiday Hints

As the craziness of the holidays rises to a fever pitch, I thought I would give you all a few last minute gift giving ideas if you haven't yet found me the perfect holiday hint.



A scooter...Vespa, Buddy, whatever, as long as it's adorable.






A hockey team. Preferably the New Jersey Devils, but since they aren't for sale and the Phoenix Coyotes are, I guess they will do.








Joel McHale.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Law, law, law law law law, law law law law law!

For those that don't know, I have successfully taken the LSAT...well if not exactly successful, at least it's done. I have labored for several weeks over my personal statement. And as of December 4th, I have 6 applications floating out there in the law school admissions process ether. I still have 5 more applications to go, but I'm waiting for my next paycheck...and quite frankly most of them are my second tier choices, and I'm not sure I would go to them even if I got in. I've pretty much nixed any ideas of going to Michigan based solely on last week's frigid temperatures.

So now I wait. In the meantime, several of the schools I've chosen have an online status check and yesterday Seattle University sent me a link to theirs. They also said that I can check "your admission status anytime, 24/7". And after checking my status yesterday and seeing that my file was under review...that's exactly what I do...though it's more like 60/60/24/7.


On a side note, Seattle University sent me a Christmas card. What does that mean? Are they trying to tell me something? Am I in and they just can't say it yet? You know, nudge nudge, wink wink. Or are they just being nice? After all, they are Jesuits.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Logs O' Yule

Praise the Lord! Christmas Cheer has arrived (finally) in the form of a burned DVD from my mother. The Yule Log!!!! Thanks Mom!


I watched it for 2 hours last night and finally put together my Christmas To Do List. Number one...bake that cherry pie I've been meaning to bake since Thanksgiving.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Ava...what?

Since becoming a relative Luddite with the lack of television and lately no internet, I have a difficult time keeping up with the latest trends and entertainment gossip. Though having Carrie and Trish Tivo The Soup helps a little.

This weekend I happened to be house-sitting for them and I was looking forward to boning up on my useless celebrity/entertainment news. How surprised I was to find how useless the TV was. I think I must have seen more than 30 commercials for Avatar and I still have no idea what it's about. I know as much about it as I did before which is only that it's from MEGA-DIRECTOR James Cameron, and that it's supposed to change movies forever...and that it seems to star a bunch of really pissed-off smurfs. So, thanks TV, thanks for nothing.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Bah Humbug

I love Christmas. I always have. When I was little, my mom would let my brother and I decorate the house. It was always awful. As if Christmas had thrown up in our house. There was crap everywhere. And then on Christmas Eve, we would go to church and then get Kentucky Fried Chicken and bring it home and open presents. It was great.

Even after moving out I have loved Christmas. Lately I make my own gifts, partly because I am not able to buy presents for everyone, and partly because I just love making gifts. But this year, something is different. Maybe due to the fact that I can't afford any gifts, or even the material to make gifts. It's not as if I hate Christmas, it's more like I don't really care. Which is sad. Because I do care...or more precisely, I care that I don't care. Does that make sense? At any rate, the holiday spirit seems to be eluding me this year. Any tips from fellow Scrooges?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Book Musings

I've been reading Gail Collin's latest, When Everything Changed : The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, and it is pretty great. It's not often that non-fiction title grips me like this one has. It's funny, smart, and packed with information. All delivered without an agenda. There are foolish men...and women in these pages. It's not a bitter diatribe, it's a hopeful history. Very well done. In fact, the other night I was reading it on the bus home, and found myself with tears in my eyes at one particularly stirring moment.

The book has also sent me on tangential, fact-finding missions. Like the search for Robin Morgan's article, Goodbye to All That, about the rampant machismo
and sexism in the New Left radical movement of the 1970s.

Reading this has also heightened my admittedly acute feminist's eye. For example, while watching Saturday Night Live last night, I noticed that there is only one full-time female cast member. And while unpacking a box of books at work the other day, I came across this book...
What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women, by Dr. James Dobson. Great, just what we need, a book telling men what women want them to know...written by a man. But don't worry ladies, he's a doctor. This is a bit of a low blow on my part seeing as it was written in the 70s. Although I have to say it's good for a laugh.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Caw

I am totally obsessed with crows! I can't get enough of them. It is so cold here right now, that all the crows are walking around all puffed up, trying to keep out the frigid temperature. Poor crows! The other day while I was riding the bus to work, I looked out the window and saw this crow cawing. And I swear to God, I saw that crows breath. I texted my brother, and he says it must be some sort of omen some where. I haven't found anything out yet, but I will keep you posted.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Back

So...you are all clamoring for more. Well, maybe not all, and not really clamoring, but my attempts to quit the blog have met with a slight resistance... mostly from Carrie. However, the other day my brother told me he was checking out my blog but there hadn't been any new posts. Even at my advanced age, I can't help but love when my brother thinks something I do is cool. Or if not cool, at least worthy of checking out. I believe I will forever be the little sister, pestering and annoying her brother. I think I'm okay with that.