I'll be back!

(Source.)

I'd like to not say this but I've got to take a short break from here. It should be just a week. I've got to get my life a bit more organized. Have to find me a job - or some source of income. So bye for now, but not for forever in the least.

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Lost my glasses

...and it sucks. I've been without them for over a week now. And this isn't the first time, either. And I don't have any contacts right now - nor the money for them. Well, technically, I do have one pair of contacts chilling in solution but I don't think I should wear them (one has a crack in it).

(Source.)

So basically I've been going around in a haze-daze for about 10 days. I probably shouldn't even be writing right now. Oh well, it will have to do until I can afford to go the eye doctor again. C'est la vie.

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Neko Case

When I started my time at college, back in 2003, I was introduced to a whole plethora of amazing music I had never heard before. And I am so thankful for this intro. If I was still listening to only top 40 still...gah, I would be a boring person.

(Source.)

One artist I was introduced to was Neko Case. Although I never followed her during my college years, I have recently began listening to her new album, Middle Cyclone. And so far, I'm hooked. It's mellow with good lyrics, and I always love adding another favorite female to my daily listening.

"Maybe Sparrow" [not from her new album]:


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A little bit about the beau

Meet The Beau:
The basics:
~Age: 26
~Eyes: Big, big blue eyes. Blue mostly, but sometimes changes to a blue-green mix.
~Hair: Dark brown. It changes length all the time. But he looks yummy when it's a bit longer and shaggy (and with a beard, please!).
~Height: A little taller than me, which isn't saying much b/c I'm basically a munchkin.
~Weight: Scrawny-arse, but w/the beginnings of a beer belly (but don't tell him I told you that).
~Occupation: Currently works 1 day/wk. as a server. He's student teaching (becoming a French teacher in May!) so he has no time to work, really.
~Hobbies: Pool, games, darts, being a beer connoisseur, reading The Wheel of Time, and cooking.

The beau, if you don't know already, is French. He moved to the U.S. with his family when he was 11. He's the brother of Miss Lulu. He graduated from ETSU in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and French. He's now attending UNCA, just 2 months shy of getting his teaching license in French. He's extremely friendly and full of energy. He's a huge lover of games (and dogs, too) - any and everything...board games, video games, bar games, sports, etc. He has an eclectic collection music, but his current musical obsession is Europe (mostly for their phenomenal The Final Countdown). He loves having people over and impressing them with his awesome cooking skills and beer knowledge.

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The Wheel of Time

Although, I tend to read multiple books at a time (I'm going to go to the library today to pick up some books by Anais Nin that I've had on hold for a while), lately I've been absorbed by the series The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan.

(Source.)

I started the series back in the beginning of 2008 (I think!?), and now I'm on the fifth book, The Fires of Heaven. I'm racing through it and wouldn't be surprised if I finished it just after the beginning of the next month. They are quite hefty books. Book Four, The Shadow Rising, was 20 pages shy of 1,000 pages, and book five is just 20 pages shorter than book four.

There are 12 books in the series and a prequel (which I recently bought for just 5 bucks!). Similar to The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time is incredibly detailed and the story lines are woven expertly. I highly recommend trying a read of the series - the reading will never end!

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Feeling Crafty

I've been feeling super crafty lately. I think it mostly has to do with not having a job and therefore having copious amounts of time laying around to play with.


This crafty feeling has permeated my life to the extent that just the other day I made a list (big surprise!) of all the things I want to make and eventually sale on Etsy (and any other place I can find). Here's a sampling of the list (I won't torture you with the whole list - it was over 2 pages long!):

-Bar Soaps (for hands, body, face, hair, etc.)
-Candles (Soy and Beeswax)
-Cleaners (for laundry, dishes, all-purpose, etc.)
-Bags (grocery, tote, purses, laundry, etc.)
-Slips (for ipods, laptops, various portable electronics, etc.)
-Hair Accessories (clips, barrettes, headbands/wraps, etc.)
-Jewelry (necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, etc.)
-Clothing (dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, undies, bathing suits, etc.)

Enough, maybe? Hardly. :)

(In addition to using my time for crafty things, I've also spent many hours writing for my blogs and trying to connect socially - via the internets. If you haven't noticed I've a had a plethora of posts on my other two blogs: Lu-n-Am & Je Suis Un Rainbow.)

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Passion Pit

Crazy little band I just discovered through Tumblr (I started an account just yesterday)...

Passion Pit. I've now listened to "Cuddle Fuddle" and "Sleepyhead." They're kinda a strange band with the singer's high-pitched whiny voice. But I guess that's what I like. Here's a video of "Sleepyhead" :



Oh, and they're kinda hot, too. Always a good combo (hot+musician).

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Creating Meals for the Week

Something I've started doing lately - so that the beau and I can not only shop smarter but also eat healthier - is looking at recipes during the week and rounding up a list of needed ingredients for our next shopping trip. That way we know what we're eating the next week and we know that we've spent our grocery money on food that we won't waste.

(Source.)

The two sites I've used so far are the Greenlife Grocery recipes and Cooking Light.

This week I've decided on:
-Quick Pizza Margherita
-Lemon-Shallot Scallops
-Lemon-Basil Chicken w/Basil Aioli
-Shrimp Florentine w/Caramelized Garlic
-Chunky Vegetarian Chili
-Beef & Vegetable Kebabs

Sounds delish, doesn't it?
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Job Hunt Fatigue

I've been on the job hunt for so long now. I'm so tired of it. And most days, I just sit around looking at pretty pictures and blogs instead of being tirelessly in pursuit of a job. In a word, it's simply depressing. Depressing to be looking, looking & looking but not even being considered.

(Source.)

I did have an interview with this awesome non-profit organization, TACF, on Tuesday that I have high hopes for, but other than that there are no prospects. I had an interview with A Faraway Place last week, but even though I thought the interview went well, they never ended up calling me. So when I took the situation into my hands and called them, they told me I didn't have enough retail experience. Seriously? I have an effing Bachelor's Degree. Do you think I really need more retail experience? Argh.

So that's my rant, for now. If you know of any jobs out there, then please send them my way! Thnx.
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Montford Books & More

Formally, The Reader's Corner, Montford Books & More is a sweet little used book and record (& coffee!) shop located just a 10 minute walk from my apartment. Everyone loved it when it was the Reader's Corner. And everyone should love it this time because the only difference is it's name (and the addition of the coffee).

(Source.)

I know I love it! I'm going to go there today, to drool over their records so I can begin creating a real nice record collection. :)
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Ready to shop?

I received some awesome gifts for my birthday this year. Among them, 2 $50 gift certificates. One, to True Blue, the nicest art shop, ever. And the second to the Earth Guild, the raddest craft shop, this side of the Mississippi. My mom has got to be the best mom out there.

(Source.)

Now that I have "$100" burning in my pocket, I have to spend it, right?! Probably...it's not like, they are going to gain interest or anything. But I do need to be careful, art & craft supplies are usually pricey so I need to reassess my stash before I head out. Some things I'm thinking about "yoinking":

-Pretty yarn
-Some pastels (I love how they feel to work with.)
-Soy wax (for candle making)

Who knows...I'll probably get there and end up buying half the store at each place. Eep!
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Oh, Abe, you're making me blush!

I received my federal tax refund on Monday and celebrated all day! On top of it all, Monday was a snow day for the beau so we had to untie our shoes and act a little irresponsible. ;) I went with the beau to Nine Mile and we ate & drank to our little hearts' content.

(Hello, Mr. President...[source].)

Later on, we hopped over to Greenlife, picked up some yummy and (slightly) healthier-than-usual pizza, chips & dip. We came back home, put on our couch potato clothes and watched one of the stupidest movies ever - The Animal - on Netflix. Honestly, I do not recommend it.

It was a fun day, but one that will not be repeated soon...I must save money for a beach trip in April & our trip to Quebec this summer (w/Lu & her beau!). Nevertheless, mad props to our man Abe (Obama!) for "stimulating" our economy. He can stimulate me, anytime. ;)
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