A Note...

I don’t know how I’ve managed to not mention this yet, because it’s actually a really exciting opportunity, but I’m now being sent books to review! ....or at least I will be in the near future. 

An agency found my blog (via another blog, I think), and contacted me about adding my information to a database of reviewers to receive press releases about new books. If I’m interested in reviewing it, I reply and they send me a copy of the book. How cool is that?

In any case, I haven’t received/reviewed any yet, but I’ve requested a few, and I guess we’ll see what happens there. I don’t know if this will end up opening any doors or anything like that, but it’s cool to think that someone, somewhere, read my blog and thought ‘we should get her to read our books’.

Also, free books. You know me. Books are my favorite things and free is my favorite number. It is an excellent combination if I do say so myself. And I do. So there you go. 

Reviews from the books I finished pre- and during the beginning of school insanity are coming. Eventually. I promise. Also on the back-burner: a riveting piece on acceptable clothing choices (because I am oh-so-qualified to comment on fashion...). I know, you await my next post with bated breath. You are on tenterhooks. Every time you try to pull away I drag you back with promises of reviews and rants about horrible clothing. I am cruel. And this is why you love me. 

...You do love me, don't you?

Anyway, back to Don Quixote (for a class. I've already read it on my own, so there may or may not be a review. We'll see). Every time I pick up this book, Man of LaMancha starts playing in my head. It's really quite distracting. 

Today in the life

Today was a good day, and while nothing of great consequence happened, I thought I’d share.

Class in the morning, drove hall-mate to hospital to get blood work done, had lunch, etc.

After whiling away a good half an hour doing who-knows-what, I had my individual conference with my Chinese professor in which we basically sit in a room for 10 minutes and he sees that I still can’t speak Chinese. He said that he thinks my listening and speaking skills have improved, and since I’ve been feeling like a complete dunce when it comes to my beloved Zhongwen, that was a nice little boost to make me feel like maybe I’m not sucking quite as much as I’d originally thought.

I spent a little bit of time in Carpenter working on my editing project that I really need to finish in the near future (why don’t people give me deadlines? I can’t work open-ended like this….) and then headed to the Alumnae Association’s Careers in Writing in an Era of Media Turbulence panel discussion. I haven’t attended many of these panels in the past, but I really wanted to go to this one – so badly, in fact, that I got someone to cover my 4-6 shift at the library so that I could attend (and if you know how broke I currently am, then you know how significant giving up a shift is). The talk was really interesting and all of the panelists had a lot of great information. I also hounded them afterwards and asked a ridiculous number of questions and shamelessly gave out my information, but that, I have learned, is what I should be doing. The talk also opened my eyes to the fact that there are a lot more resources within the BMC community than I originally realized, so now there are a few professors who, given enough time, will groan at the sound of my name or the sight of yet another email from me asking when I can stop by their office for a little chat…

It really was great though. Even if it doesn’t lead anywhere ‘networking’-wise, I still learned a bit more about the publishing industry and what I really need to do if I want to be a part of it.

I realized that this blog is a huge thing for me. I started off scared out of my mind. Everything about a blog was foreign and bizarre and so Not. My. Thing. And then something just took over and blogging was great. Everything around me could suddenly be turned into a blog post – into a chance to write about what I see and experience, but not in a pretentious look-at-me-and-my-interesting (not)- life kind of way.

One thing that everyone on the panel said was that you just need to keep writing. No matter what. I scold myself for not writing in my journal more, but when I stop and think, I realize I’ve been writing all summer. Sure, I’m not writing as much fiction and poetry as I’d maybe like to, but I have not abandoned words. I still try to keep them flowing through me in some way, shape, or form.

Now I know I just have to take a few more steps. I need to put myself out there more. I need to get more involved. As a senior taking 5 classes, working, and trying to stay healthy, all while maintaining some semblance of a social life, that’s easier said than done, but I think I can make it work.

Sooo… I got a bit off-topic. The talk was awesome. I think I pretty much covered that. After the aforementioned talk I met up with the roomie (we lived together sophomore year, she graduated last year and is now living and working in Philly, but she’ll always be my roomie [and Puddles] to me) and we met another friend for dinner at a nearby restaurant that is able to accommodate my friend-with-many-allergies. After dinner, roomie and I headed back to campus and ended up hanging with 2 of my hall-mates (the other in our group is gone for the weekend).  We ended up kind of just chilling in my room/the hallway outside my room with one other person from the hall, drinking red wine and making fun of the ridiculous stuff that we all say. It was a good time.

After dropping roomie off at the train station, one of my hall-mates and I just sort of hung out outside and talked for a bit. It was sort of a serious discussion and sort of a share-time, but we had our lighthearted moments and it was a nice bit of bonding.

So yes, many good things happened today:

• I don’t suck quite as much at Chinese as I thought I did
• I got to learn more about an industry devoted to my first and never-ending love (coughBOOKScough)
• I got to see roomie!
• I got to hang out with some really amazing people while either eating good food, or drinking decent wine
• I got to get to know one of my hall-mates a little better

I still have lots to do and think about (and write about – the reviews are coming, I swear!), and since I didn’t really get much reading done today it means that I actually have to be productive this weekend, but I feel good. Mildly overwhelmed, but good. I know that there are some steps I need to take, there are some things I need to write, and there are some changes I need to make. There are also lists I need to make, but the lists reflect the above-mentioned ‘musts’, so everything is all intertwined.

I feel good right now. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow when I have to get up to do Saturday paging…

Back to school, back to procrastination

School has started up again and so what am I doing? Anything other than what I'm supposed to be doing, of course!

I'm slowly slogging my way through my Chinese homework. This is probably the easiest homework I will have all semester. I am literally just copying the dialogue out of the book. Yes. That is the homework. That's it. And yet it still somehow requires more stamina than I can muster.

In addition, I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at classes online and managed to find one that I really want to take. It will take me up to five classes this semester which is something that I may or may not (hint: the former) have promised not to do again. Ooops? It looks really interesting though, and it's only one day a week and it might help me finagle my way into a minor. Also, it's something artistic, which I feel I need in my life right now. Also, I just really want to take it.

But of course, this is me and things are never really that easy, so I decided that I'll shop the class tomorrow. This meant that I had to find someone to switch shifts with me at the library. Luckily I shot out an email and the girl working the shift before me was able and willing to switch, so that was pretty painless.

Then I had the agonizing argument with myself about whether or not I should actually do this since it's taking on another class and yadda yadda yadda. I am, as we know, incapable of making a decision myself, so I called my mother. She convinced me to at least go tomorrow and that I probably won't die if I decide to take it, so that's out of the way.

Then I had to figure out where the hell this building is because I may be a senior, but I still get lost on H-ford's campus all the time. It's embarrassing and truly ridiculous, but I am just that directionally challenged. I have printed out, highlighted, and examined a map. That, combined with the fact that the blue bus is going to drop me off 40 minutes before my class actually starts makes me think that I might have a chance of getting to this class in one piece. But we shall see.

And did I mention that if I do take this class, it will conflict with what was originally my first shift choice at the library? Well, it will. So then I had to sit down and re-order my prioritized shift list since I won't be there for the scheduling meeting and need a proxy to pick my shifts for me.

So there's all the drama of the night for you. Drama centered on a Chinese Calligraphy course that distracted me from doing my Chinese homework. Kind of poetic in a way...

In other news, I have finished reading some books and reviews will happen in the near future. Probably at some other point when I'm trying to avoid doing something that I really need to do.

One more unfortunate thing I learned in college: blogging is a really great procrastination tool.

Alas, back to the grind.

I feel special...

I signed on to write about my moving-in escapades today and happened to look over to the side of the page and realized that I have TEN followers. I realize that in the greater blogging sphere, that is pretty damn pathetic, but since I started off with 3, all from the class, I'll celebrate all I want thankyouverymuch.

It's cool to see that other people are reading what I'm writing. Cool and frightening. Are you judging me? You are, aren't you? Well, too bad, it's my blog.

One really cool thing about blogging about books is that if enough people start to read your blog, publishers will send you free (yes FREE) copies of books to review. Since that is a combination of my two favorite things (books and anything free), I'd love to get to that level.

An even cooler level - when publishers not only send you books, but when you get to interview authors and are even able to give away books on your blog. Speaking of giveaways, there's almost always one going on here. Right now I want to win this giveaway, so if you go up against me, I may have to take you down. Just saying.

I have now completely strayed from the topic about which I was going to write when I opened this window, but I think that's OK. Maybe tomorrow I'll be all motivated and get my room straightened out. Then I could even post pictures, and wouldn't that be something? The answer is 'yes, yes it would'. I am going to decorate this year if it kills me. Someone hold me to that please. I can't live with blank walls for another year. Also, this year my room is cute. Still kind of small and somewhat oddly shaped, but cute and cozy and there should be plenty of room for my books!

OK, the end for now. (PS- just started using google chrome. It fills me with a child-like glee. Just sayin').

Today's the day...

I return to the Mawr. Originally (or at least according to my father's delusions) we were going to leave at 7. I predicted 9:30. We're getting stuff out and into the cars slowly, but surely.

I'm excited to go back to school. So not looking forward to unpacking though...

Well, back to loading up the cars.

Mental Feng Shui

 My father sent this to me and insisted that I send it along to everyone else ever. Since I don't really like sending out chain emails, even if they are well-intentioned, I decided to share it. I do think there is something to some of the stuff it mentions. So here we go...
                              
 Lotus Touts: You have 6 minutes. Do not keep this message. I don't know why we're not allowed to keep this message. Does posting it on a blog where I can look at it later count as keeping it?

The Lotus Touts must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you will get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired. Hehe. I like the term "faith impaired". I may have to work that into my everyday vocabulary.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, t heir conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling..

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' 'or be strong' when you hear someone sneeze. Never heard "be strong" as an alternative. I'm not sure I get it...

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

Since I've already broken the rules with this format, this part probably doesn't matter, but I figured I'd keep it in case you wanted to see or decided to send this as an email or something. 

Now, here's the FUN part!

Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve. 1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
 9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks                              
15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Do not keep this message. Again with the "Do not keep this message" stuff. What if I want to keep the message? What if I want to keep these rules as reminders? Hmmm? In any case, I do like the sentiment that comes before. It's a bit hokey, but does pretty much ring true.



So there you have it. I have sort of done what my dad wanted me to do. I think that wins me some good daughter points. Right?

TV! Food! Who says my life is all about books?

So when I'm not reading (or, to be perfectly honest, quite often while I'm reading) I watch a lot of TV. Much of it is complete trash and you would judge me if I told you what I watched, but I do, on occassion, watch good television as well.

Whenever I'm home, the TV spends a lot of time tuned to the Food Network. As a wannabe foodie, I usually just watch the shows and rarely try out the recipes I see. This is mainly because of my bizarre cooking anxiety, but also has to do with the fact that Food Network cooks don't make that many vegetarian dishes. In any case, the other day my family and I were watching the premiere of Aarti Party (the new show starring Aarti Sequeira, winner of The Next Food Network Star) and she was making "Massaged Kale Salad". It looked really good, so we decided to make it.

I have to admit, I did not make it this time, but I am confident that I could re-create it. In fact, I think I will at some point. It was delicious!

So yes, you could just go to the Food Network site and look up the recipe yourself, but I'm feeling generous today, so I thought I would not only post the link, but also the recipe itself, thereby saving you oodles of time so you can go straight to massaging. I'm just so good to you, my lovely readers.

And so, Massaged Kale Salad:

Prep Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

    * 1 bunch kale (black kale is especially good), stalks removed and discarded, leaves thinly sliced
    * 1 lemon, juiced
    * 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
    * Kosher salt
    * 2 teaspoons honey
    * Freshly ground black pepper
    * 1 mango, diced small (about 1 cup)
    * Small handful toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), about 2 rounded tablespoons

Directions

In large serving bowl, add the kale, half of lemon juice, a drizzle of oil and a little kosher salt. Massage until the kale starts to soften and wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside while you make the dressing.

In a small bowl, whisk remaining lemon juice with the honey and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Stream in the 1/4 cup of oil while whisking until a dressing forms, and you like how it tastes.

Pour the dressing over the kale, and add the mango and pepitas. Toss and serve.
Recipe courtesy Aarti Sequeira, 2010

There you have it. Eat up!