What's with today today.

Oh dear. So, I continue to laze about regarding this blog. I'll get back into the swing of things soon enough. Since I'm being so self-referential right now, I might as well mention that today in the blog world it is apparently "De-Lurking Day." I've seen it on several blogs and thought I'd pose it here -

I may have readers that don't leave comments, and therefore, I may not know who you are! Leave a comment today - maybe include where you're from, how you came to my blog, and if you have your own. I'm quite curious. :)

But if you don't want to, and would rather remain anonymous, you obviously don't have to. Because at the same time I'm like, who picks these days? Who was like January 12th - you shall be De-Lurking Day! My brain's all over the place these days, can you tell?

In other news, I'm thinking of redesigning the site. It's a typical blogger layout and I'm at that point where I need one with a little more pizazz. Scratch the pizazz. I just want something different - lighter and cleaner? Maybe it'll reinvigorate my writing here.

This weekend I played a lot of board games, did some wedding planning, went to Perry's Mad Men birthday party, watched football and cuddled with kittens. Oh, and books. I'm trying to read as much as possible! How was your weekend?

How I spent most of today.

Literate and stylish.

I know I've been sporadic as of late. It's been a tough week to get back in the groove of work after a couple of pretty sweet two-day workweeks.

I've seen a lot of people deciding to read 52 books this year as a promise to themselves in 2009. I think I'd like to try that goal and read more, if possible. That'll be pretty tough with the whole "getting married" hoopla and whatnot, but I think I can do it. I commute everyday via subway (prime reading time!) and I do a lot of travelling otherwise - to go home, to visit Jesse.

Though Jesse's been home for quite a while and methinks he'll be here for some time, too.

I've already finished one book, the second book in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, A Clash of Kings, which Sean got me into. I started it in 2008, but I'm counting it because it's 1001 pages long. SERIOUSLY.

With the help of Goodreads.com* to keep me organizied and vigilant in my quest, I'm starting the countdown with all the books I got for Christmas, plus a book Sean and I have promised to "Book Club" together.

Also, I'm counting Eclipse of the Twilight series, as I'm only 200 pages in and I started reading it in or around the beginning of December. These books are hard to get through, HOLY CRAP. Jesse can attest to me picking up the book on the bedside table, groaning, and going, "Okay, okay, okay, I can get through this," and then he just laughs at me and goes, "Why???" But I shall conquer this, because I know not even horrible writing and nonsensical plots will defeat me! Okay, I'm getting melodramatic.

I present, my burgeoning list:

01 A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin (DONE 01.05.09)
02 Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (CURRENTLY READING)
03 Infinity Blues, Ryan Adams (CURRENTLY READING)
04 Y: The Last Man, Brian K. Vaughn (CURRENTLY READING)**
05 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks (CURRENTLY READING)
06 Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (Future Sean/Jessica Book Club Book - FSJBCB)
07 The Road, Cormac McCarthy
08 A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin
09 Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card
10 The Heretic's Daughter, Kathleen Kent
11 Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
12 Daughters of the North, Sarah Hall
13 2666, Robert Bolano
14 The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood
15 The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
16 Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (UGH LAST ONE FINALLY)
17 Crimson, Brian Augustyn (graphic novel series)
18 A Feast for Crows, George R.R. Martin
19 Best American Magazine Writing 2008, ASME

So. That's where I'll start. What are you reading? Anything I should be reading? Leave any suggestions in the comments to check out and possibly add to my "to-read" list! And add me on Goodreads if you have an account!


*To my Shelfari lovers - I simply couldn't; I had already invested myself in Goodreads and Shelfari wasn't as detail-oriented about the books as GR is. I like being able to update my book-reading status with page number and notes(couldn't figure it out on Shelfari) and it was easier on GR to browse and find interesting books. I deleted my Shelfari account.
**Y: The Last Man note: it's a series of graphic novels, 10 volumes at about 120 pages each - I'll count them all together as one book.

My sincere architecture.

I'm pretty happy with the way 2008 turned out. I mean, I think I can safely say it was the best year of my life thus far. In no way can I try to quantify or qualify it in order to demonstrate its supreme awesomeness.

I continued to be surrounded by the good friends, loved by the one, and did away with the bad, evil, and life-ruining elements.

There's still work to be done, kinks to be sorted out - true of every life. Keep working until the end. Keep loving until the end.

[I've been reading Ryan Adams' Infinity Blues; please excuse my aimless pondering.]

I've never really believed in resolutions, because I make goals for myself all the time - not just at the beginning of the year. I feel on the brink of something...not quite sure what, but there's a lot I want to accomplish, not only in 2009, but in my life. Damn everything and anybody that stands in my way or judges my logic.

I think it's time I speak up when I want to, instead of cowering or tiptoeing. I'm done with people trying to do the "cool" thing; when you do it, it exhausts me, and I just want to have fun. I want to have fun without being frivolous or doing frivolous things. Stop making me feel bad for not doing something or voicing my own personal opinion. I want to read lots of books and put more thought into my writing. I'm ready to check things off, and not procrastinate. Prioritize. I'll do it my way, thank you. I'm done apologizing for things that aren't my fault.

I feel good. Here it is: I'm getting married and I've never felt more independent.

Changes are coming, but given my lifestyle from birth to present, that's always been the case. I welcome them, always.

It's 2009 !

Happy New Year! More pictures to come of last night; Jiscilla was there, as you can see:

I have NO idea what my eyes are doing!!!

It's the end of two-thousand-great, but I'm pretty stoked on oh-nine!