Her Journal

Each day, wash your head, bathe your body, and wear clothes that are sparkling fresh. Fill your stomach with delicious food. Play, sing, dance, and be happy both day and night. Delight in the pleasures that your wife brings you, and cherish the little child who holds your hand. Make ever day of your life a feast of rejoicing!

I had forgotten how much I love Gilgamesh and how much the story meant to me in college. The oldest record history known to us and it deals with a human struggling with the Very Same Thing with which I was struggling. Mortality. Death. Meaning of Life. And all that jazz. Not only is the lesson still applicable today but the fact that the lesson is still applicable is a lesson in and of itself. I take comfort in universal truths.


He left his city to learn how to avoid death, and he returned having learned how to live...

PS I miss college. A lot.

Poll #1405620 Rooms.
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

If you could stay in a room themed after one of these authors, which would you choose. Explain!

[Edit:] I should add that there are more options if this hotel interests you so much that you would like to stay there.

The Classics rooms include a private deck and fireplace but are out of our price range:
Agatha Christie
Colette
Mark Twain

Colette is apparently the honeymoon suite. I'd be tempted to stay in Agatha Christie's room but would be afraid of being murdered?

The Novels are cheaper than the above option but because they lack an oceanview, which I think would be worth. Otherwise, the option would clearly go to Tolkien, though the others would be fun, too.

Gertrude Stein
Oscar Wilde
Robert Louis Stevenson
Tolkien


PS I am saddened they don't have a CS Lewis room. I picture a wardrobe over the doorway. ;) It'd be so easy to do! <3

Please watch below:




<3

Seriously, Mary is my favorite person in this whole world. Apart from Daniel, of course.  But really. I keep expecting her to show some terribly flawed side of her; is that cynical of me? But as an idealist and perfecionist by nature, I tend to have too high of expectations thus I am wary of someone I like as much as her. But no, every day I meet with her, talk with her, etc. She continues to astound me. 

Mary recently was hired on for a new position. She is an activist at heart so she joined a healthcare reform campaign. I invited her over for some tea at my new house and we talked about it. I have tremendous respect for her. She is the epidomy of open-mindedness and acceptance. I don't know how such a strong woman with such strong convinctions can be so laid back, open and friendly. She genuinely seeks to understand. She tells me little tidbits and lessons that she has taught her children over the years and I marvel at her wisdom. She truly encourages them, and others around her, to be free thinking and independent. She is not like most people I know.

One of the things she is doing for her campaign, which is very grassroots, is to have house discussions on it and slowly spread the word, to write letters to editors, represenatives, senators, etc. To grow a movement toward healthcare. She asked if I would ever want to hold a house discussion, invite some of my closest friends, and have an open and honest talk on healthcare.

I laughed a little and explained that I have a strange assortment of friends, from the very conservative to the very liberal and the most opinionated and active ones of them all are libertarians, some who do not believe the government should fund or be a part of education, let alone healthcare. Her eyebrow raised slightly and she said, "Really?" Not as in shock or dismay (which you would really expect from a strong liberal as herself) but as in genuine interest, "Wow, I would really like to talk to them to understand where they're coming from. I tend to approach issues in a liberal way and want people who think differently than myself to explain themselves to me so I can understand"

And she means it. She is a good listener and does strive to understand. She's persuasive by nature, and perhaps on purpose, but not in a way that it's her sole goal. She believes strongly that people should be educated and come to conclusions on their own. She thinks action can be done by people finding their common agreements and working together regardless of their disagreements. It's a refreshing viewpoint in politics where so many politicians drive a wedge.

I am not as reserved as she is. I would like to think that I am open minded and willing to hear all sides. In many ways I am.. I do strive to understand, but I am nothing like her. If I find that people do not believe in equal civil rights for all (whether they descriminate by race or sexual orientation or gender) I tend to feel outraged at their lack of civility. Though Mary believes in civil rights as much as I do, she would be the type to sit down and really listen to why someone wouldn't want to have equal rights. She would strive to understand. Then she would strive to find the similarities and work from there. She's the type that gets the right action done. She's the type that genuinely lives by the motto that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar, even when the fly is skating on morally unsound ground. It's sound to them. Though I believe this, she acts it, which is amazing.

Mary confessed that her true desire would to someday own a business, even if she's an activist at heart. We were just talking about the lack of decent tea shops in the area, so she thought she could venture into a tea shop! I told her that I could see that, with plenty of room to have roundtable discussions on politics, the arts, science, etc. We decided it should be called Tea & Talk. How cute. Isn't she lovely?

I am so glad that Mary is in my life. She is the mentor I have always wanted. I want to take life lessons from her. I want to know how she raised her children to be so conscientious, intelligent, caring and responsive individuals because I desire that with my own children.

It seems so glib to say that I want children who are free-thinking and open-minded. What does that <i>mean</i> anyway. It seems like a catchphrase. But what I mean is that they are open, like Mary. Where they hold strong convictions, but they base those convinctions on their morals of equality and compassion for humankind. Yet, despite or because of their strong convinctions, they constantly seek out opportunities to grow, change and learn more by facing those that oppose them. Not by arguing, debating or fighting, but by sitting down with a cup of tea and saying, "What do you believe and <i>why</i>? Explain it to me so I understand." and bridge that connection. I want to instill a sense of community and civic engagement in my children.

Granted, I do not have children, so who knows what will happen once I see their darling little faces, my heart will surely change, but these are my values and these are what I want to see in the world. I believe that change can and does happen. I believe that these underlying values, principles and philosophy that is important for people to share regardless of where they stand on certain issues. Mary and I could disagree on the world (we don't) and still be friends and respect each other and that's what I love about her. She is inspiring to me. More than most anyone I have ever met. She has a way of showing me what's really me and what's good about me, what I love and what I am passionate about.

I like activism quite a lot. I like being involved. I like social justice. I like civic engagement. I like building a sense of community instead of living in disjointed houses next to each other. I want to hear opposing viewpoints. I don't want to become a like-minded America (the notion where people who think alike, live in the same communities and thus only become more extreme in their values instead of taking a hard look at what they stand for).

For anyone who doubts I am INFJ, you just need to undrstand that this is at the heart of who I am. The protector. The champion of the underdog. I have to be fighting for a cause or doing what I believe. I can't really explain it other than it just drives me. It's the core of who I am to try and do what's right, to seek understanding and go from there.

I want those skills that Mary oozes from her pores. I want to be able to have a discussion on something I believe in strongly without isolating those around me. I am trying. I am working at it.

It's funny.. next week I will be in Washington DC. It's a good time, because I have never felt more proud of being an American citizen. I admit, growing up, I was one to easily bash America and it's quick, easy and cheap mentality. We are a fast food society. Blah. But now I see all that is wonderful about America. I am not a fan of big government by philosophy, but I love government, I really do. I love that we have a government of the people for the people. I think it is beautiful that every of-age citizen can help choose the policies that take place.

I have been reading The Federalist Papers recently where the founding fathers really hammered out their ideas on the Constitution. It was a shaky time in America. We could have gone in a hundred different directions, but instead, those intellectual men met together to determine the fate of who we are and shaped our country. I am thankful they went in a direction where my vote and my voice matters. Sure, there are flaws. Lots of them. And I will continue to fight to erradicate the flaws, but I am proud of what we have. Not because the guy I voted for won the presidency (in fact, this has always been the case) but because of our rich history of giving the power to the people.

<i>Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.</i>

As you most likely know, I dream and I dream vividly. I can recall detailed plotlines complete with unforeseeable events and surprise endings. I dream anywhere from the mundane to the downright silly. Every so often a dream comes along that is so real, the only reason why I know it is not is because is does not jive with reality around me. I wakeup from the story and that’s how I know. Other than that, the dream looks and feels real. I react to it as if it really happened and then I wake up.

So now in the morning I am left with a fake memory and real feelings in reaction to the fake memory and sometime’s it’s a downright nuisance. This morning’s dream was one of those dreams…

I dreamt that Daniel and I had a baby. He had just turned 9 months old and I was putting his preciously soft and cute clothes on him. I picked him up and marveled at how big he had gotten. I couldn’t believe it. He felt so heavy, looked so big, etc. It was baffling.

Which is funny because lately I have had friends with babies in real life, not just dream babies, marvel at how big their babies have gotten. And while I get the concept, me from the outside looking in just thinks, “Hrm, they’re growing at a normal progression and look like they should” I have never marveled at how quickly babies grow up.

But my baby.. well, that was just a different story. (I just adore being a mother in my dreams).

I was spending some time with the baby before I had to leave again (sad times). Daniel and I were separated (physically, not relationshipwise) because he was undergoing a training process that would take a few months. It wasn’t as formal as college, but he did have different classes all day long. I am unclear as to what he was doing. I think it had something to do with being a professor or teaching because Melalvai was also in the class with him.

Melalvai also had a baby girl around the same age as our baby boy. It was unclear as to whether this was Nell, her real life daughter (who is now 13), or whether she had a second child. Regardless, I was pleased Daniel would have some company and would be able to be with someone who has a baby around the same age.

I, on the other hand, had to leave. I had to go back home.

Fastforward a few months, I come back to visit Daniel for a few days. He was nearly done with classes, so I was waiting it out until he finished. While he is in class, I have oodles of free time. I find out that Mel has an online journal and I begin to read it. While I was reading, I could see exactly what she was describing as if I was there. She wrote about her classes, about her baby and a good deal about Daniel. The four had slowly bonded over the few months (good) until they were really close. They planned most everything together.
 
I read one particular entry where it was ‘graduation’ day from their classes. Everyone in the training classes dressed up to have a little ceremony. In order to celebrate, Daniel and Mel planned an outing together. They were going out to the park and then the beach. Mel wrote, “It seemed ridiculous that we had to take two cars even though we only had two children. It was like the four of us wouldn’t fit in one car. Of course we could have, but we joked that we couldn’t because our children had so many accessories with them: diaper bags, blankets, car seats, strollers, etc. that there wouldn’t be room for anyone else!”
 
It was that point that my heart just sank.. our children? I understand that she meant Daniel’s child and Mel’s child, but the lines seemed to be very blurred. Furthermore, Daniel never told me about graduation, let alone invited me (Mel’s husband, by the way, was there). I went up to talk to Daniel on his break and I explained that I was sad about what was happening between us. I said that we were so far away but he shrugged it off saying, “Of course, we’ve been living apart for a few months” I explained that was not what I had meant. We were distant. We used to be on the same page. We used to be able to talk without really talking because we just got each other. We were more than just on the same page, we were on the same sentence, the same word. We were partners completely insync with each other who had open communication. We told each other even the mundane things. But we’ve grown apart. And yes, that’s bound to happen but now we weren’t on the same page, we weren’t even in the same book anymore. He didn’t tell me about graduation. I wish I could have been there. I wish I could have supported him.. but now we were strangers who happened to be married.

The break ended and so our conversation was cut short. I started to leave when my doctor called me. He told me the bad news that the treatment I was trying was no longer working for me. It showed no results. Mel overheard.
 
I left in near tears. I kept running into old friends and then quickly dodging them because I didn’t want to see anyone in the mess I was in at the moment. I was driving myself crazy with nothing to do and too much emotion. I decided that I needed my baby. We could play together. Playing with him would give me something to do and make me happy.

I went back in the classroom in the middle of class, walked up to Daniel, and picked up our baby. I also got all of his playthings and walked out.. much to the shock of Daniel. I pretended like everything was normal and played with my baby.. who, by the way, was ecstatic to see me. There is nothing like watching the joy on a child’s face because you are near. Wow.

Anyway, Mel came to sit with me shortly after I left the classroom. She was pretty upset but also sympathetic. She said that I should get a second opinion from another doctor and that just because there were no results doesn’t mean the treatment wasn’t working. She was worried I was going to drop all treatment.
 
I looked up at her in surprise, “I wasn’t even thinking about that” and she couldn’t understand why I was upset. I was losing the two most precious things in my life .. and I felt like I was losing it to this woman standing in front of me right now. I didn’t care much about my medical health when I didn’t have Daniel or my baby. (This is, by the way, why I couldn’t have the baby or be with Daniel when he was going through his classes. I was sick and needed treatment). I very nearly said, ‘Do you even know who I am at all?’ but I didn’t want to be hurtful to this woman that I liked so much. I softly explained and promised that I would not make a rash decision. I am the sort of person who researches everything. I would weigh my options. I would discuss my treatment with several experts. I would read anything I could get my hands on and make a logical decision based on it. I would not get upset. (Even though I did want to yell at her for not knowing this about me, I reminded myself she was doing this because she cared and I backed off). Mel, satisfied that she fixed the problem, went back into the classroom.
 
At this point, I had such strong emotions course through my body. It is difficult to describe, exactly, only because the words I have to describe are insufficient. They draw the wrong picture. To say I was strongly jealous was correct, but that implies, to me, that I had burning rage or resentment attached to it; I didn’t. To say that I was sad over losing my loved ones implies a much deeper depression than I mean to conjure up. My emotions were strong, but subtle. I was disappointed at the turn of events. I
 
didn’t blame anyone. It was the way it goes. All I wanted was Daniel and the baby back. I wanted them as mine again. Not just in theory or in writing, but us as a family. I wanted to be that person Daniel went to. I wanted him to share with me, to tell me, to be in sync with me. I wanted everything back. I was not happy at all with Mel for taking it away from me. I didn’t blame her; she was just there. I was glad that Daniel and Mel had a friendship. I am glad they had each other because they needed it. I just wanted to be that person. (I am nearly crying when I write this)
 
A few days went by, I believe and I had a lot of free time to read, research, talk to friends and talk to my doctor. It turns out, my doctor had some surprisingly good news for me. I couldn’t wait to tell Daniel but Nika was there instead. I couldn’t explain that I had to talk to Daniel alone so we just chatted until she was gone. The doctor walked by and winked at me, “How’d he take it?” and I sputtered for a second and shook my head to imply I hadn’t told him yet. Nika left and Daniel picked up on this. He asked if I had something to tell him…

I did. So we sat down and talked. I told him.. that I was pregnant! We weren’t excitingly giddy by any means, but we both knew it was good news. I felt so far and so distant from this man sitting across from me, yet here we were with a child on the way. It was strange, but it was good. It was like we realized that we had to work hard to get back together before the baby was born so we could prepare to be a family again. He was happy and I was happy, but we weren’t yet happy together.. but we were taking a step in the right direction.

And that’s my dream.

In writing it out, it sounds mediocre at best. I skipped parts of it because I was focusing on the main story. It may not sound like much, but I was slowly watching my husband and my child fall away from my life and cling to another woman and her baby. Even though they were never techincally romantically involved, the idea that my family was no longer mine was awful. Even still, like I said, I experience more painful, more depressing and more jealous moments in my life than this, but I do not know if I have ever felt anything so deeply.

In highschool, my social studies teacher explained that several students who lived in the north, were sent in buses to the south to help with the civil rights movement. He then asked our class if we would have been on that bus. All of us raised our hands.

He then begin telling us what it was like for those that stood up. Police violence. Water hoses. He asked his question again. A few hands were not raised.

He went on for days and weeks. He showed movies, read passages, quoted historians and explained the horrors (and triumphs) of the civil rights movement: the cross-burnings, the threats, the torture. Every time he asked the question of who would have stood up to this, the count was fewer and fewer. Finally, we ended the unit by watching Mississippi Burning in which civil rights activists were tortured and killed.

He asked the question for the last time, which one of you would still stand up to this. I was the only one who raised my hand.

It is not that dying or being tortured didn't scare me (oh, it does!) but that I can't stand injustice being done. The discrimination against nonwhites was outrageously ridiculous that if there was a movement to change, you bet I'd be on board. It isn't that I'm a better person, that's not what my story is here to illustrate, it's just that it's so obvious to me that it's the right thing to do and I just feel compelled to do it. It's just who I am, I guess. It's just blatantly obvious to me that everyone should have equal rights.

That being said, I think another great civil rights movement is upon us. I do not think it'll be as violent or as drastic as the ones for African-Americans in the 60s. They're rights were opressed quite a deal more, after all, but I do think it's atrocious that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people are not entitled to the rights that heterosexuals have.

Thusfar, the only arguement I have heard against homosexual marriages is a religious one. To this, I say, seperation of church and state. If marriage is really a religious act, then why is government controlling it? If it is not a religious act, then why can't two legally consenting adults who are in a loving and committed relationship enter into a legally binding contract?

For those that say why should a loving and committed relationship need a 'piece of paper' validifying their union. Because marriage is more than a piece of paper. It comes with a whole slue of rights behind it. A married couple can file jointly, for example. Here is a sampling of what married couples can do:
joint parenting;
joint adoption;
joint foster care, custody, and visitation (including non-biological parents);
status as next-of-kin for hospital visits and medical decisions where one partner is too ill to be competent;
joint insurance policies for home, auto and health;
dissolution and divorce protections such as community property and child support;
immigration and residency for partners from other countries;
inheritance automatically in the absence of a will;
joint leases with automatic renewal rights in the event one partner dies or leaves the house or apartment;
inheritance of jointly-owned real and personal property through the right of survivorship (which avoids the time and expense and taxes in probate);
benefits such as annuities, pension plans, Social Security, and Medicare;
spousal exemptions to property tax increases upon the death of one partner who is a co-owner of the home;
veterans' discounts on medical care, education, and home loans; joint filing of tax returns;
joint filing of customs claims when traveling;
wrongful death benefits for a surviving partner and children;
bereavement or sick leave to care for a partner or child;
decision-making power with respect to whether a deceased partner will be cremated or not and where to bury him or her;
crime victims' recovery benefits;
loss of consortium tort benefits;
domestic violence protection orders;
judicial protections and evidentiary immunity;
and more....

By marrying another individual, all of these rights are immediately activated. By having a loving and committed relationship without the 'piece of paper', all of these rights are not inherent.

For those that say that a couple could gain these rights without marriage. For some of these rights, yes. But most of them would require the time and expense of attorney fees. That and it would be loopholes, paperwork, filing, etc. All because of what, exactly? Why do that when they should be able to, like any heterosexual couple, marry.

Yes, all of this is in response to California's failure to turn down Proposition 8 which effectively BANS same-sex couples. At first I was shocked, now I am outraged. Constitutions are meant to guarantee and protect our rights, not strip them away. How can there be that many people who are still denying people the right to MARRY? (When they are two legally consenting adults, of course)

I am ready to take action. I don't know what the next step is, so if someone does, let me know. I might join some local organizations, but I really want to fight and do what it takes to get people to understand that LOVE IS NOT A BAD THING.

I am getting married in less than a year. I am thrilled and excited to embark on this new journey and new chapter in my life. While I consider Daniel my family now, I know next September he will officially be family. I can call him my husband and I will be his wife. We will delight in the excitement and joy of marriage and we will have all the rights and responsibility that goes along with it. It makes me weep that some of my good friends cannot share this right. I will do my damndest to make it possible.

All you need is love...

Oodles of facebook, twitter and livejournal updates display the range of feelings based on last night's elections. I have seen people rejoice, shrug their shoulders, accept it as it is, have mixed emotions, despair, pray, threaten to leave the country, or any other full gambit of emotions and actions. I don't particularly feel I need to add my voice to the collection, because I have nothing novel or insightful to add, but I know this is a historic moment. I will want to be able to look back on this day and know what I was thinking.

I voted for Barack Obama. I believe in Obama more than I have ever believed in any other politician. Generally I approach politics with hesitation. That may surprise you because if you've talked to me in the last year, you know that I seek out politics regularly. I listen to public radio, I joined the League of Women Voters, I read The New Yorker on a regular basis, I engage friends in political conversations, I research, I read, etc. But yet I still approach politicians with hesitation because, as most people feel, politics is corrupt. I am not cynical; I am hesitant.

In the past, I have voted for the guy I have disliked the least. I say this as if I have a long standing history of voting. This is only the second time I have voted for a president because it is only the second time I have been eligible to vote in a presidential race. Heh. But I have been aware of the elections since at least the Clinton vs. Bush election in 1992. Yesterday I cast my vote in a man I truly believe in.

When I heard why Obama became a civil rights attorney, my heart was won. He talked about how his mother was never the type to get angry unless she saw injustice being done. That was inspiring and motivating to him. He talked about his sense of helping the underdog. His whole campaign was built on hope and change. Well before he was even a politician, he gave speeches on how the world was and how the world could be. He is an idealist, without a doubt.

Of course, I do not agree on every single issue that Obama proposed, but I agreed on the ones most important to me. I vote for candidates based on where they stand on the issues. I believe in candidates because of their underlying philosophies.

Every presidential election is a case for history, but last night, especially so. It is hard to talk about Obama making presidential history without mentioning that he will be our first African-American President. I have heard and read comments, articles, discussions, news pieces on racism in America over hast several months. I wrote my own position paper that I have not published anywhere yet. I am still working on it.

It's absolutely fantastic that within half a century we have come so far as a country. It still shocks me when I hear about the wide acceptance of racism only 40+ years ago. I know that by electing an African-American President that our racism is not going to automatically disappear. I know that it's not a sign that All Is Well on the racism front. But I do think it is a milestone and a marker that is worth celebrating. I do think that our children now will grow up in a society where they will be just as shocked that there was a time that an African-American being President was a highly unlikely possibility. I would believe in Obama regardless of his race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. I believe those things helped structure who he is today, sure, but I believe in him because of his underlying philosophy. Yet, still, I am thrilled that we have broken away from the white-man-only presidency. What a huge step for America.

Congratulations, President-Elect Barack Obama.


Picture taken by Dan Francis

My cat slipped a note under my door this morning. No Joke. Here's the story:

Last night Daniel and I stayed out relatively late. It was, afterall, Halloween. So we wanted to sleep in this morning but the cat had other ideas. She wanted to play. So she kept attacking our feet, walking around us, trying to get us to play. Daniel picked her up and put her in the living room with all her toys and shut our bedroom door so we could sleep in a little bit.

We heard her playing with her toys and then with something else. It sounded like she was in the room again, so I peeked at the door and saw a piece of paper partially under the door.. that wasn't there before. She was slowly pushing it under the door and eventually, when we woke up again, the full 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper was entirely in our room and several inches away from the door.

I picked it up. It was a letter I had written Daniel last week that was sitting on our table. She somehow jumped on the table, pushed the paper on the ground and shoved it under our door.

I was highly amused.

This morning I walked into Barnes & Noble. I don't think I have ever been in this bookstore so early in the morning before. It was odd to see it in daylight, for one, and odd not to have oodles of college students lounging and studying, for another. It was certainly not empty (though it felt as such). There were still people there, but they were bustling, chirpy, and moving about to prepare for the day. It felt fresh, bright, new.. instead of laid back, whimsical and friendly. It felt like the store was just awakening; like it was one of those eager beings ready to watch the wonders of the morning unfold. Really? Because I would have thought it to be the begrudging sort of being that drags itself out of bed and shakes itself hard as it downs an obscene amount of coffee. It isn't supposed to really be full of life until after supper at least! So that was a surprise. It was not the Barnes&Noble I had thought it to be.

Well, anyway, not a minute into the store, I had a salesperson ask if she can help me find something. I told her what it was and she eagerly tromped off to find it. But really? Eagerly tromped off? This is Barnes&Noble, I wanted to inform her. You are supposed to be a) hard to find in the first place and b) busy when I do find you but c), and this most important, too emo and too intellektual to eagerly tromp off into anything and instead stand there and stare at me while making judgement calls on the sort of person I am by the sort of books I read.

So I now have The Graveyard Book in all its Dave McKean beauty.

Listen to Neil Gaiman read the first chapter of The Graveyard Book!

To-day Daniel and I went over to our friends' house to watch the Colts vs. Vikings game (Go Colts!) and I casually mentioned we were sorta kinda thinking about looking at houses. Well, wouldn't you know, there was an Open House only 4 houses down from their house. We went to take a look and I was pretty impressed. I am surprised because normally I do not like newer houses. I like old character homes. :) However; I totally dig this place. I like the neighborhood. We're good friends with the neighbors (obviously). It's a decent price for a good home and here it is:

HOUSE!



The thing about this house that you don't see from the description and the pics is that it has an unfinished basement. The wood framing is done, the plumbing is done and the electrical work is done (but needs to be inspected before being 'hooked up'). All that needs to be done is to put up sheet rock (cheap and easy) and to put in flooring. Carpeting can be kind of expensive, but cheaper doing it ourselves than buying a finished basement. Daniel's brother owns his own business laying wood floors so I am sure we could have him put in real wood floors at a fraction of the price.

In addition, there is a bathroom downstairs, sort of. The tub is installed and ready to go. The plumbing is there to add a sink and toilet. There is also an additional two unfinished bedrooms and one unfinished room. So it would be a 4 bedroom and 2 bath after we're done with an office to boot. That would significantly raise the price for when we want to sell.

---

Thoughts?
<3

Ever wanted to read something by Neil Gaiman but thought shelling out some cash was too much or heading to the library to check a book out seemed like a daunting task? Well, be rest assured. Now you can read Neil Gaiman from the comfort of your home computer, for free!

That's right, as a limited time offer, Harper-Collins (a publishing company for those of you who can't bother to know these things) is offering Neverwhere as a free e-book.

So, wander over to this site, download the e-book and Happy Reading to you! (If you do check it out, let me know what you think. It's the first Neil Gaiman book I've ever read)

Also, only 27 more days until The Graveyard Book. Whoot.

Okay, here's the contest. I will post a video and here's the directions:


1. Count how many times the basketball is passed between people wearing white shirts.
2. Post a comment here about how many times you think it is.
3. DO NOT read any comments ahead of time; that's cheating! :)


It's harder than it sounds, so pay attention. You can watch the video at this site. Remember to comment! :)

Daniel and I went on a photoshoot yesterday in Trollwood park. He already worked on some of them and sent them my way. The last one is my favorite. Please let me know what you think.

( Pictures!! )

I was messing around with photoshop. Usually photoshop leaves me near tears because I am so frustrated that I know what I want to happen but I don't know how to get it to happen that way. Anyway, so I was playing around and this is what I did:

( Pictures )

So that was fun.

(mostly stolen from daysprings but heavily edited enough to be considered my own)



Name: Amanda Kelly (which means: Beloved Warrior)
Also Goes By: Mandee
Age: 25
Stats: 5’2”, dark brown eyes, high cheekbones, small feet which is consistent; short brown hair with blonde highlights, 125ish,and emerging muscular build all which is not very consistent at all.
Date of birth: December 30
City of birth: St. Augustine, Fl
Current residence: Both my hatred and my love: North Dakota
Alma Mater: Minnesota State University Moorhead
Major: Speech-Language-Hearing Science
Special Education (certificate)
Psychology (minor)
Work: I am the program manager of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Central States Chapter. Huzzah. Basically, I am in charge of all the programs and services in North Dakota and the six counties in Minnesota that border North Dakota. What do I do? Well, a whole lot of everything.
What I do in my spare time: Reading, writing, graphic novels, friends, board games, movies, internet, internet, internet, spending a ridiculous amount of time with my boyfriend
A few of my favorite things: simple pleasures in life, warm blankets, chai tea, dancing in the rain, red umbrellas, willow trees, the excitement of coming up with a novel idea, the sound of highheels clicking against the floor, the smell of lavender, the look of a clean kitchen, treasure trunks as coffee tables
What you need to know about me to understand this journal:
+I am not nearly as angsty as I sound (I hope).
+I live with my amazing and wonderful boyfriend, Daniel. He's a 5'10.5", blonde hair, blue-eyed photographer. He's the cheese to my macaroni. :)
+I am an avid dreamer.. probably moreso than anyone you've ever met.
+I do not get along well with my mother, though I try. It's a yo-yo effect, really.
+90% of my topics revolve around the previous facts I stated.

More facts about me:
+I tend to develop huge and unpassing crushes on people I admire like : Neil Gaiman and Ellen DeGeneres.
+I am easily excited over anything that I enjoy which is mostly everything.
+If I give you a negative review of something, believe it, because it is very rare indeed.
+I am an optimist, hoper, dreamer and champion of justice: at least, in my mind!
+I dream of ways to develop superpowers such as working with chemicals in a thunderstorm, exposing myself to gamma radiation or evolving my dna sequence. Thusfar, nothing has worked. I will keep you posted on any further successes.
+I'm a nerd: through and through.
+I love reading random trivia books and facts. It never gets old becuase by the time I pick up the book again, I've forgotten what I've learned and it's all new fascinating facts for me.
+My favourite authors are: Neil Gaiman, Madeleine L'Engle, GK Chesterton, Douglas Adams, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Ray Bradbury
+I love love love listening to music on a record player far more than on any other media.
+I play videogames.
+I am mentally addicted to chai tea (though not to the caffeine within it)

That is all, for now! <3

Hello! I am pleased to announce that Dan Francis Photography website is NOW AVAILABLE! Please check it out and let me know what you think!





http://www.danfrancisphotography.com

My backbends are amazing! :)

PS A real picture: no photoshop.
( Image )

I love you, Madeleine.
Hate, God.

To my role model, spiritual mentor, favourite author, friend: You gave me faith when I had none; you bestowed hope within me, how could one ask for a better gift? You taught me invaluable lessons that I hold dearest to my heart. Every word you wrote felt like it was coming from a future, more sophisticated, more educated, more wise me. How I imagine you'd laugh and what you'd say if ever I told you that! I don't know you; not really; I never did. I'm not the sort to say that I knew you from your work, because your work was only a reflection of you (albeit a good reflection: how dearly and wholeheartedly did you pour yourself into it). I never had the pleasure of meeting you and I won't pretend I did. Yet, I will forever seek a white laughing Buddha to place on my desk to remind me to not take life so seriously. I will forever cherish every single one of my birthdays and think it is a Very Big Deal. I will ever consider how my life affects the universe as a whole and how I am the universe as a whole to the life within me. I will always try to communicate with far more that words. I will not cease to attempt to imagine a world without sight and then explaining colour to its inhabitants. Never ever have I found anyone else who thinks along the same lines as I do and about the same things (yet can pen it with such eloquence and with such wisdom).

I am not one for identifying with celebrities; they're strangers for goodness sakes! There is but one exception; Madeleine, you were and are very dear to me. You are my penguin; my mentor; my icon.

Thank you.

May you rest in Peace.

Madeleine L'Engle: 1918-2007

It's a quiz about ME! Take it here.

I am planning a trip up to the Boundary Waters sometimes this summer. The trip will probably be three days (Fri-Sun) although I am always eager to go longer if that's the consensus. It'll consist of "roughing it" as much as we possibly can including carrying all our provisions and possibly canoeing. I am trying to work out the details but it depends on how many people are going and what they want.

Is anyone interested? The time frame right now is mid-June but possibly early-August.
Please let me know if you're interested and I will keep you updated and let you know the details.

I'd be more than happy to meet up with out-of-state visitors as well. (_haydee_, You doing anything?) ;)