hoorah!

I can get a kitty.

I am so excited! First time having a house kitty, but I'm okay with that.

It won't happen for another few weeks, since I'm currently in yoo-tah, but I can be excited now! YAY!




In other news, I finally looked up my grades; I am happy with the results.

book: the invention of hugo cabret

I listened to this book a while back, not knowing that it had so many illustrations that supplemented the story. The story stands on its own - the pictures make it even better. The author, Brian Selznick, is also the illustrator. The pencil (or charcoal?) drawings are quite realistic, with Selznick often 'zooming in' on what he feels is important.

The story is utterly fantastic and quite original, with enough based in reality that it is believable, too.

Hugo is an orphan, who is stuck tending he clocks in a train station after the disappearance of his drunk uncle. It shows his interactions with a toy maker who keeps shop in the station, and his god-daughter, and Hugo's driving need to fix an automaton that his father, an horologist who worked at a museum, was fixing at the time of his death.

So good.





General knowledge about the book now, but if you want to keep some things a surprise, stop reading now!





* * * * *





Interspersed with his own drawings are screen shots from early films.

Hugo Cabret is almost historical fiction - I say almost, because only one of the characters is based in real life: Georges Méliès, an early French filmaker. Here is a video of his film, A Trip to the Moon. (I am sorry about the narration.)

book: the last olympian and other musings

I do not want to give anything away about the final installment of Percy Jackson, and the Olympians, so I will not talk of the plot. This first series is possibly going to join Chronicles of Narnia, LotR and Dark is Rising on the shelf. I'm serious.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Even though the main characters are demi-gods and can control the sea (Percy), or are master strategists (Annabeth), they still have their humanity. This is going to be harder than I thought to explain without giving away some of the plot. Aargh. Will someone please read these so we can talk about them!

I will say this: Hestia is my new-favorite goddess. Maybe not new favorite, since I really did not have a previous favorite. Unless it is Pallas Athena, but nevermore.*

Oh, by the way, I'd say it's material I will reread. And minor cool note: I have a signed copy! I skipped FHE to go pick up my book tonight.

I would like to add that the author does not seem in danger of succumbing to hubris, either. And to end, since I was unable to attend the signing, I give you the Riordan's own account:

Last night in Raleigh, we had another successful visit at Quail Ridge. Elizabeth Edwards had just left when I got there, so we didn’t have any overlapping crowds. Adultery and Greek mythology . . . Awkward. The bookstore was completely full, and it was hot and steamy in there! People came from Florida, Washington, D.C., and Richmond for the event. Wow, I’m causing an enormous carbon footprint these days. The satyrs are not going to be happy with me. I should plant some trees when I get home or something. **

* This is probably the first and only time where I'll be right and mi hermano will be wrong regarding something in literature. May I once again emphasize only! time?
** from rickriordan.blogspot.com, Myth and Mystery: The Official Blog for Author Rick Riordan

close encounters of the ranting kind

You're lucky I just ate some cereal (wheat chex with brown sugar...mmmm.....) between uploading this picture and finishing the post - and let my train of thought get derailed.

This was going to be a rant about educational standards and how some people get lost in all the rules and stuff. and stuff.

But all my frustrations went to the back burner again with that brown sugary goodness.

Maybe the ranting fingers will be back, maybe they won't.

i forgot the most important one

This picture was the reason why I posted the silly ones to begin with.

I just know the day that the name crosses gender lines, well, that would just be an interesting day.

done and done

YAY!

My. paper. is. DONE. Sure, it was 33 minutes late. But, it's done. I learned a lot, and it's done.

Tomorrow I have work - database entry all day or hearing tests that were administered during the year. Fun!

Friday is graduation, where all members of the band convene in one massive band. Seven oboes. In unison. Fun!

Saturday, Rick Riordan is coming to a bookstore in Raleigh to talk about his new book, The Last Olympian! This was to be my official act of celebration for the semester's end. Ya, guess who realized they had double-booked themselves and has to...sorry...gets to play for the Saturday session of Stake Conference? Me!

Please forgive a moment of self pity. I mean seriously, how often do you get to hear the author's talk about their books? And I was going to wait in line, and he would sign it, and I was going to tell him how his books for little people helped me survive big people school....

Okay, done.

I need to email the bookstore so that even though I won't be there, I'd still like my book signed. (It won't be the same, but who's complaining. :) ) I'll pick it up, and all will be well.

I did get a pleasant surprise, though. My new audible credit has arrived!

So, in short, I need your help. I need something I can do to celebrate because of certain circumstances. And frankly icecream just will not cut it, even if it is the most amazing icecream in the world.

I thought about going to see Star Trek on Saturday? Perhaps a Pride & Prejudice showing on Monday? Maybe going to bed before 1 am?

Speaking of bed...

Before I head to bed, I would like to share some pictures I found interesting these last few days.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not a pessimist, yet I think that these mugs are just brilliant. And yes, I posted a link to them the other day, but I still think they are brilliant!




This is for my friend who's graduating who told me I was pronouncing Nevada wrong.



Curiously, my dictionary says: nəˈvadə; -ˈvädə. (I especially like the qualification for the second pronunciation: chiefly by outsiders.) They are different letters, but is the pronunciation the same as in the picture? I think so.


Lastly,

The story is sad, maybe particularly so because I played on the campus less than a month ago.
All the more reason I found the advertisement placement a little ironic.

i'm editing my paper

I really am!

(I'm doing so well, I didn't edit this post!)





They are(N'T) that unhistorical.

I was saddened to (NOT) be able to share Franklin's use of (an) ox and Englishmen in the same sentence.

on a not quite different topic

I got quite a kick out of this.

tee hee.

creativity and genius

This is a topic that I have been dealing with this entire semester, (perhaps with musicality substituted for creativity) specifically, for what I have lovingly called my 'stupid paper.' Okay, the paper is not stupid; the paper indeed is still an inanimate object last I checked. But I have put a lot of thinking time into it, and now the writing has become a horrible, tortuous process. Trying to organize thoughts and feelings via comprehensible words and form have never been my strong point.

That said, I love finding and hearing people's perspectives on creativity. This links you to a movie of Elizabeth Gilbert talking about creativity, and her desire to stop the perpetuation of the tortured genius! She believes that the change from the genius, or genie helping - (she compares them to Dobby the house-elf) which helped creative thinkers, and helped them to become a "glimpse of God" for that one moment - to the creative thinker being the genius is the beginning of the history of the suffering for the artist.

The lecture is only twenty minutes long, but I feel well-worth it.

I love the implications that this has for me and my faith in divine guidance, and the Holy Ghost.

I also appreciate the fact that she does not deny the need for good old hard work, either.

And now, back to the paper. It's due tomorrow! eep.

stupid paper.

:)

exercise your right to vote! part 2

Vote for your favorite recent Jane Austen adaptations, sans Billie Piper.

One of the questions is for, who the best ever Mr. Darcy was.

And now, back to writing. sigh.

baby!

I'm an auntie...well, sort of. Okay, not even sort of.

But, saying I'm a first cousin once removed! isn't nearly as exciting.

My cousin Kati had her wee baby today, cinco de mayo!

I got the text confirming delivery tonight at 10:39pm EST.

Mom and babe are doing well.

His official name is to be Alex Bloomquist, but I've decided to call him Alejandro, for it is cinco de mayo, after all.

Here are some pics from an uncle, and grandma.






My favorite. It seems Alejandro is thinking, leave me alone! These lights are so bright. I just want to be left alone.