oooh, look what my mommy left me!

I just finished completely unpacking both my check-in suitcase and my carry-on. I discovered a few 'presents' from my mother dearest. 

1. A (slightly leaky) bag of tumeric
2. A (very leaky) bag of chili powder
3. A (very 'fragrant') bag of sassafras
4. A bag of (very 'fragrant') bag of tarragon
5. A container of Vicks Vapo-Rub with the lid not screwed on tightly
6. A bottle of cocoa-butter lotion with the lid not screwed on tightly
7. A box of (very strong) fabric softener
8. Two fitted sheets
9. Five pairs of stockings
10. A hair-clip that won't quite hold a quarter of my hair up

I found the first seven items by following my nose. For the past few days, I had been wondering why strange smells were coming from my suitcase. Now that I've properly sealed all containers and put the various spices into double plastic bags, I'm almost missing having everything smell like chili powder. Just kidding. And the sassafras was right next to the fabric softener. That was an interesting smell. 

Now that I've gotten to the bottom of the suitcases and everything is sitting on the bed, I'm surprised by the number of shoes I now have (12) and how large the pile of clothing is. I hope it all fits... 

on suitcases and thoroughly convoluted routes

Did I mention that I'm wildly excited about seeing Brynne and Carew TOMORROW? 

I really should be packing, or at least tying neon pink ribbon to the handles of my suitcases so that I can find mine in the sea of black suitcases that is every American airport. I have to point out that I have no such problems in China, because my suitcase is practically the only plain, black suitcase in all of Asia. All the rest have Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty or some other monstrosity on them. 

Oh, and my route tomorrow is thoroughly convoluted. First, I fly from Little Rock, Arkansas to Atlanta, Georgia (not quite in the right direction), then I have the pleasure of watching Pendleton flash by on my way to Portland. Then (of course) I get to go to Pasco, Washington on my way back from Portland to Pendleton. I'm thinking of parachuting out when I get to Pendleton the first time. Seriously. Don't ask me why flying (approximately) 1540 extra miles is cheaper, but it is. Argh. 

Now, I'm going to go pack. Really. 

banana pudding in my brain

Don't expect this to be coherent. I'm wildly excited and still not quite awake. I know, it's 7:05 AM, I should be awake, but I haven't taken my shower yet, so my brain is like banana pudding. I happen to think that banana pudding is nasty. The reason I haven't taken a shower yet is because yesterday when I went to take my shower I found a water-bug that looked like a gigantic prehistoric cockroach playing dead on the floor of my shower stall. I don't like bugs, especially when they're an inch and a half long, have great big flapping wings and make you think they're dead just to hear you scream (yes, I have to admit that I screamed. I'm very ashamed) when they start moving. Eugh. 

My eyes are threatening to close. I really need that shower. There's something miraculous about standing under hot water for ten minutes that turns banana pudding into cinnamon rolls. 

Ciao. 

short & to the point

I (inevitably) spent most of yesterday thinking about the Letter Game. My head has been buzzing with little snippets of dialogue, chunks of plot and half a million potential characters, even though none of them are Violet. 

Oh, I think that yesterday I forgot to mention that Brynne will be posting as Abby, and I will be posting as Violet. And now I'm going to stop talking about the Game, or else I might give something good away. 

So, I went to the Clinton Library yesterday, and it was fantastic. In the museum store, I saw 'I miss Bill' merchandise, and was tempted to buy some of it, but I resisted. I really don't have room in my suitcase, and no one would know what it meant in China anyhow. 

After the museum, Aunt CM and I both had excellent tomato basil soup and mushroom-swiss quiche at the River Market. That's where we're going for breakfast and ooh! shopping (shopping where you say 'ooh!' and never buy anything) this morning. I need to go take my shower. 

bounce. bounce bounce

Good morning! I have exciting (for me) news today! Brynne of The Dragonfly Workshop and I will be playing the Letter Game with each other starting very soon, and we will post all of our letters HERE. 

Also, I will be seeing Brynne (and her brother, Carew) on Monday! And I will be staying with them for TWENTY-FOUR days! 

Now, I am going to go tour the Clinton Library. When I come back, hopefully I will be generously granted administrator access to the Letter Game blog so that I can mess around with it. Brynne and I have decided to handwrite the letters at least while we're together, and we'll type them in after we've read them. So don't be expecting a post on that blog for another few days. But I just had to share the news! 

Note to self: do not eat cinnamon rolls when very excited and then proceed to try and write without using exclamation marks. It doesn't work. 

totally awesome

I actually went to the Mid-America Science Museum with my cousin, Megan. And we had a great time! I have to admit that it was really, really fun to pretend to be eight and run around being excited about everything. Everybody should take some time and pretend they're a completely unselfconscious kid. 

You may (or may not) have noticed some nerdfighter-ly additions to my page, including new links in the 'Favourite Sites' section. This is in celebration of me finishing watching all of the 2007 Brotherhood 2.0 videos. YAY! 

And I'm trying to decide whether or not to continue reading "Enchantment" by Orson Scott Card. I'm 50 pages in and not thrilled. I'm not saying that it's a bad book, it's not, but it may just not be my thing. I don't like giving up on books! I think it's sad when I decide I simply don't want to read something. Probably because it implies the book is worse than cereal boxes, various warranties and copyright notices. After all, I read those. 

Mid-American Science Museum

Just a quick note: I'm going to the Mid-American Science Museum in Hot Springs, Arkansas tomorrow. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I have to admit, I've always had a soft spot for science museums, so I'm really looking forward to MASM. 

Bucket List

I suppose the first time I made a list of things I wanted to do before I died I was nine, maybe ten. At that point the list was half a page in the back of my math notebook and included things that I couldn't care less about now. Things on that list were crossed off, changed, deleted, and eventually last year I typed the list into the computer. 

I had forgotten about the list for a while, but last night I had a dream in which I died, and that brought my Bucket List to my attention again. I spent a little while today going over my list (which is about a 1.5 years old) and finally making a new one. It's rather extensive, and some of it is pure WANT. I wonder what I'll think of it this time next year... 

My Bucket List (in no particular order): 

1. Write a book
2. Publish a book
3. Take up a martial art
4. Learn to play the guitar
5. Experience zero-g
6. Learn to fly a plane
7. Go whitewater rafting on the Buffalo River
8. Learn to throw pots—well
9. See the aurora borealis
10. See Stonehenge
11. See the Giza Pyramids
12. See the Louvre
13. See the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
14. Visit all 50 States
15. Paint
16. Work /volunteer at the Ozark Folk Center
17. Get a Ph.D.
18. Join a Big Sister program
19. Go to Rockport. Again and again. With the people I love
20. Have a home with a fireplace
21. Have my home be a place where people feel welcome and totally safe
22. Adopt a child
23. Watch a meteor shower
24. Attend as many family reunions as possible. Plan them myself if I have to
25. Learn how to ride a horse
26. Visit Jerusalem
27. Have a pet rat. Name him Professor Hamilton Dumbledore, Ph.D. for short
28. Celebrate ‘Pi Day’
29. Become a licensed psychologist
30. Learn how to cook things other than breakfast and dessert
31. Meet an astronaut
32. Learn to play the hammer dulcimer
33. Learn to play the fiddle
34. Be completely vegetarian for two years
35. Keep blogging for as long as possible
36. Get married—to the right person
37. Have at least two children
38. Help people with autism become accepted and productive members of society
39. Participate in a foreign exchange program
40. Disprove Murphy’s Law—just once

So? What's on your Bucket List? 

Hunting the Corrigan's Blood

...by Holly Lisle

I loved the suspense, loved the plot, loved the characters, but didn't like the gore or the fact that the vampires were almost invincible. Vampires aren't really my thing. But I will tolerate vampires, gore and other such nasties if I like the characters enough to care what happens to them. I instantly liked Badger, so I read enough of the book to let my respect for Cadence turn into fondness, and then I was hooked.* 

I'm on page 36 of 'Enchanted' by Orson Scott Card, which is a retelling of 'Sleeping Beauty'.** It's good so far, even if there hasn't been a whole lot of action. It looks like things are going to start happening soon, but they'll have to wait for tomorrow. It's 10:12 PM, and my eyelids are wanting to droop. 

*The fact that I was drooling over various gadgets by the 12th page helped. 

**I've never been a fan of fairy-tales or retellings of them (they always seem shallow), but Orson Scott Card is a superb author, so I thought I'd give it a try. 

the joys of public libraries

I went to the library today before lunch and checked out: 

Talking to Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede

Calling on Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede

Hunting the Corrigan's Blood, by Holly Lisle

Enchantment, by Orson Scott Card

Dragonsblood, by Todd McCaffrey

Dragon Harper, by Anne and Todd McCaffrey

Dragon's Kin, by Anne and Todd McCaffrey

Deerskin, by Robin McKinley

Sunshine, by Robin McKinley

Oh, how I love sci-fi and fantasy. I didn't have time to look at the mystery section (which is probably a good thing, because I'm only going to be in North Little Rock for nine days). 

I've already read the first two on my list. They were great. I love the way she pokes fun at fairy-tales and other fantasy books and how she manages to have her characters do the most ridiculous things and still be plausible. In that sense she's a lot like Diana Wynne Jones, who is another one of my favourite authors. 

Right now, it's 9:45 PM, so I'm going to get into bed with a good book. 

Good night! 

P.S. I did do other things besides read this afternoon, like swim. 

P.P.S. I'm going to read 'Hunting the Corrigan's Blood' next. 

relocated

I fit everything into two suitcases, and that is my accomplishment of the day. I'm tired, and I have to be up by seven tomorrow to go to the River Market in Little Rock tomorrow morning, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight! 

the week in one post

I find myself once again facing having to apologize for not posting. I've been exhausted and busy. I'm leaving to spend a (long) week with my aunt tomorrow afternoon, and my mom's leaving for Shanghai the day after that. (Notice how I didn't actually apologize.) 

I'm not sure if I mentioned this before or not (I probably did), but my youngest uncle is now married. Pictures later. Allow me to say that I spent a weekend in Dallas, ate a ton of really good food, talked to a couple of really cool people, escaped shopping, didn't fall asleep in the middle of 'The Matrix' and laughed a lot. All in all, it was more than satisfactory. 

Hmm... I seem to be overly fond of parenthetical inserts. But they're so convenient that I'm not going to even attempt to limit my use. 

I read 'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks yesterday, and 'A Walk to Remember' also by Nicholas Sparks on the day before that. They were fairly good, heart-wrenching, all that... But they were also too sappy for my taste. It's not that I don't like love stories, I just like my characters to be sane and functioning human beings even when they are in love. It's fine to have moments in the book that make me want to go 'aaaw', but after twenty pages straight, the feeling wears off and the characters start to annoy me. However, I do have to admit that they annoy me more in retrospect than when I was actually reading the books. 

So that's pretty much what's happened in this past week. I find it hard to believe that I have to start school in less than two weeks. Oh, yeah. Another thing that happened: I signed up for my courses at Brigham Young. I'll be taking Psychology and Journalism for my electives this semester (or however long it takes me to finish the courses). I hope I have nice teachers. But at least I don't really have to worry about classmates. 

Classmates aren't my thing. After being cooped up in a room with someone not of my choosing for a certain length of time, I invariably feel like finding myself a nice cave in the Adirondack Mountains and spending a year or two there. School is only a good learning environment if you're an extrovert, so I'm really glad I get to escape it three years early. I'm much more productive when I work alone, so hopefully school will be a lot less stressful this year. 

I would like to point out an addition to the 'Favourite Sites' on the bottom left-hand corner of this blog. About the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator deserves a place on my blog, seeing as anything that has to do with psychology fascinates me. Synesthesia is also a new addition. I discovered the article when I was reading (more) about autism. 

Rockport, Massachusetts!

Right when we got there. I couldn't stop grinning. I could probably live off the smell of the ocean. 

A gorgeous sunset--on its side, because blogger doesn't like me and won't upload the not-on-its-side version. 

Me, walking on the beach, completely oblivious to the fact that someone was taking a picture. 

'Ooooh, the caesar salad looks good!'

My cousin, Paige. 'I'm the angelic one!' 

What can I say? 

Motif One. 

My cousin, Megan, and I, on the last night. 

'Who day and night must scramble for a living, feed the wife and children, say his daily prayers? And who has the right, as master of the house, to have the final word at home? The Papa. the Papa!' 

hey

Hey. 

We got back from Rockport this afternoon, and everyone's really tired, but I'm too hyped up to sleep right now. We drove for about 14 hours yesterday, crashed at 11 PM, got up at 3:30 AM and kept on going. It probably wasn't too bad, as far as long car trips go... We listened to All Things Considered (which I love) and Billy Joel on the way up, and I slept, listened to my iPod or completely zoned out on the way back. 

I have to confess that there was wireless at the library in Rockport, but... I didn't want to interrupt my vacation, which was awesome. Unfortunately, I don't have the cable for the camera with me here in Little Rock, so you don't get photos until later. Sorry. I know everybody was practically drooling to see Cape Ann. 

Now that my vacation is over... Well, tomorrow I'm going to officially end my (rather lengthy) break from my WIP(s). And I'm announcing this so that I actually will start contemplating writing tomorrow. Or else it would be very easy to put off. So, tomorrow my goal is to know what's going to happen in the next two chapters. My plots tend to be more 'the grand scheme of things' and I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what I want to happen in each chapter or scene that I write.

 So, I need to at least get going with the organizational part... And hopefully I'll be able to write on Monday without having to constantly stop and figure out what's going to happen. I usually have to opposite problem, where I want to cram too much in each chapter, so I've had a hard time dealing with the feeling that I don't know what's going on. Which I don't. 

And is it really necessary to have a Cracker Barrel every other exit between Memphis and Knoxville?