College and other ordinary things

Alright, just a quick post about this book that I'm reading right now.

It's for my Native American literature class and it's GREAT so far. A little hard to read, but worth it for the story, which is amazing. It's called The Bingo Palace and it's written by Louise Erdrich.

Check it out, yo.

"In the month of August, during the full moon, break branches (in fully matured leaf) from sassafras tree." From Tony Chachere's Cajun Country Cookbook.

Well folks, that night is tonight. The 24th of August 2010 is the full moon, and tonight, I'm going to go pick some sassafras leaves. You ma feel the need to ask why I'd do such a crazy thing. Well, I'll tell you. It's because this Christmas when my Uncle Jerry makes jambalaya, I'm showing up with my own jar full of home made file'.

Tonight, the process starts with the picking, then continues for 2 weeks or so with the hanging and drying, and finally ends with me grinding it up and putting it in a jar. Hopefully it'll be a success.

Wish me luck!!

There is so much stuff in my head right now that I think it might explode.
This is not a joke. There is SO MUCH that I want to say, but it's all bouncing around inside my head like a bb in a boxcar, and I don't know where to start. Everything that I think has a life of its own. It wants to be said. It wants to make it's way out of my head and through my mouth or my fingers and into the world. Sometimes, that happens without my consent, and right now I fee like that would be a horrible idea.

I want to let it out. I want to be honest and let everyone know what I'm thinking. But at the same time, I don't want to come off as one of those brilliantly honest people who has more enemies than friends because they want to always tell the truth. (honestly, that's what I'd like to be. but I'm not strong enough to have that many enemies.)

I want to tell people that they need to let loose and experience things that scare them, or that they may not like, or that might hurt them. I want to tell people not to dwell over what has happened because it's all in the past now. There's no way you can change it - no way you can change him. The outcome would have been the same whether it happened when it did or tomorrow. I want to tell people to make up their minds! To just let it go and make the choice that will be the best for you. Stop making me wait. I need to know. I need to get on with my life and stop waiting for you to catch up with me. I want to say: stop being so critical! I'm trying as hard as I can to be as good as I can be. And that should be enough for now.

I also want to tell the world that I WANT TO BE A HISTORY MAJOR. That I'm passionate about what happpened and the people who came before me. That I love to hear their stories and love to tell them to others. I want to teach. I want others to be as interested in the past as I am. I want to make a difference.

That also means that everyone who said "well, it would be better if you went to Murray" can SUCK IT. I don't want to hear it again. I won't be going to Murray, and I am so happy about that. And once I change my major, you can't tell me that Murray would be the better choice either, because I can learn about the past anywhere.

I want to be me. I want you to love me for that. And I know that someday I will find you.

That is all.

I love books. This is an established fact.

Mostly I love romance books. They're funny, the characters are entertaining, and there's never a reason for me to cry because there's always a happy ending (which happens in so few relationships these days).

I have read a set of books lately that were published a few years ago that I have just fallen madly in love with. The author is amazing and her characters make me think about my own future with much more clarity than I usually do. I know that for me, having children and a family is a long way off, but I don't think it hurts to think about it now. Really, it's a good thing. When it's finally time to start a family, I'll know just what I want.

The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn follows a family of eight siblings in their quest to find love. It is set over many years (it does take a while to conceive and birth eight children, making them somewhat spaced out in age) with a book written for each child (Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth).

They all love each other dearly and would do anything for each other. It's much like my real life family, except we do not live in Regency England, and none of us have quite gotten up to eight children just yet. I feel the need to set myself up for the challenge. It may seem crazy, but I have always wanted many children, and know that my family would accept my decision no matter how strange it is by the standards of today's society. My reasons for wanting hundreds of children have never really seemed clear to me until recently, the need was just there. I now have reasons though, and still feel like I'm cracked for even thinking about broaching this subject with my eventual future husband.

Reason 1: I have grown up in a very loving very close knit family and would love that for my children. I had only one sibling, and while two was nice, I would have liked to have more siblings.

Reason 2: I think it would be just adorable to name my kids in alphabetical order. I would start with Aiden. Or Anabelle.

Reason 3: I want kids. I want a bunch. I want to have my own and know that they are MINE. And I want to adopt. I want to save some child from a horrible situation and know that it's MINE too.

Reason 4: Having a family is fantastic. I don't even know how to describe the amazing feeling of knowing that there will always be someone who has my back or will be there when I need them. I love every single second of it and I want to know that my kids will always have that. And that I will always have that as well.

Alright, so to add to my list of books that I love, is a historical romance novel that is mostly history with a bit of romance thrown in just to keep things interesting, and I'm convinced, depress you.

Mistress of the Revolution by Catherine Delors was one of the best novels that I have read in a WHILE. It makes you think, and for us history buffs, gives you a look into the side of the French Revolution that isn't discussed in textbooks. The love story is poignant and only serves to make the actually history all that more moving. I would suggest this book to anyone who isn't afraid of a little bloodshed, will take the time to read a novel that may feel like a slow read (personally I think that it's because the story is just difficult to take in), and appreciate the history that brought the world to where it is today.

I've come a little farther in Eat, Pray, Love and am loving every word of it. I can't wait to get to the end. I believe that I will feel enlightened when I'm done, and am looking forward to that moment.

I have said many times before that I love books. It's an addiction for me that I have tried and failed to explain to the non-word-loving. To read a book is to go into another world, and that statement is a cliche for a reason. I've read some pretty outstanding books lately and decided to do a quick blog post about them and the ones that I hope to read in the near future.

First off:
Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich.

I LOVED this book, but what's not to love about Stephanie Plum and her marvelous exploits? Morelli was hot, Ranger was hotter, and Grandma Mazur kept me laughing the whole time. I consider this book a very fine addition to the series and look forward to reading the next book when it makes it's appearance, probably sometime next summer.

Next is:
The Last Summer (Of You and Me) by Ann Brashares

The amazing author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has struck again. With her first adult novel, and the second to be published after the Sisterhood ended, Ann has struck gold. This book is a perfect summer read, though you might want to keep a box of tissues handy, and if you're an unattractive crier (like me) you might consider reading this book when you're alone.
The story of two sisters and their journey into adulthood, this book captures exactly the feeling of growing into yourself and being lost while it happens. I bawled like the baby that I am, since I recognized many of my own awkward teenager to adult transition emotions in the pages.
READ THIS BOOK. that is all.

A book that I have recently started and have already fallen a little in love with is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. When I first noticed this book I realized that I was stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place.
On one hand, I could but the book, read it and find out that it is amazing. I could then go see the movie in a few months and be disappointed because the movie is NEVER as good as the book. On the other hand, I could not but the book (that I have heard is amazing) and see the movie. I would think that the movie was wonderful and never read the book, since I NEVER read the book after the movie has come out. It turns out though, that my insane love of words and stories won out. I am on tale 26 in book one, "Italy or "Say it like you mean it" or 36 Tales about the pursuit of pleasure" and I love it.
This book makes me want to be a better person, and I can tell that it will have many re-readings throughout this awkward change into an adult.

I'm kryptonite to technology. It's a fact. In the past 4 years I have somehow (never on purpose) killed (in order):
1 mp3 player
1 camera
1 laptop
2 cellphones

It sucks.
I wish I could stop.