Some good laughs

I bet you've heard of Lolcats, but have you heard of Fuck You, Penguin? Now this stuff is funny. It's also raunchy and somewhat offensive. But hilarious.

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Won't you give me a job?

I can write. And when I'm really into it, I can really write well, even. I can write about anything and everything. I have written about nearly everything. Aw, come on now - don't you want me to write for you?
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Bookworm

(Source.)

I've been on a book-reading rampage lately and it's been lovely. More than lovely, actually - spectacular. Here's what been keeping me away from the blogging world:

Recently finished:
-Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) This was excellent! Very female-oriented. I connected so well with the author.
-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Schaffer) I adore this book. I loved the characters. I wanted to be their friends.
-Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) It was so serious but so good. Definitely a tearjerker.
-Water for Elephants (Sarah Gruen) This was also excellent, loved the ending. And I loved the characters and story.
-Me Talk Pretty One Day (David Sedaris) His short stories always give you a laugh. A native of North Carolina. I found out he had visited Asheville just a couple of days before I finished the bk.
-Witch of Portobello (Paulo Coelho) He writes beautifully. And all of the stories I've read by are very spritual and female-based.
-By the River Pierdo I Sat Down and Wept (Paulo Coehlo) This is a short one. Female-based and very spiritual.

Currently reading:
-Delicate Edible Birds (Lauren Groff) This is great so far. Her short stories are serious and deep and her characters go through a lot.
-Haunted (Chuck Palanuik) I haven't gotten very far in this at all so I can't say how I like it yet.
-Why Him? Why Her? (Helen Fisher) I am just skipping through this book because of curiousity about myself and my beau. It's an interesting take so far. You start out with a survey to find what type you are. The beau and I are both "Negotiators/Explorers."
-The Angel's Game (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) I love this one so far. It's very sexy and sultry. I think it's going to be a seductive thriller.

Books waiting to be read shortly:
-A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini) I am highly anticpating this one. The Kite Runner was so good, and Lulu has told me she likes this one even more than the first.
-Hitler's Niece (Ron Hansen) The beau has encouraged me to read this one. It's a take of the Nazi regime through his neice, whom Hitler, according to this book, was in love with.
-Shopaholic Takes Manhattan (Sofie Kinsella) This should be a short and sweet read. I read Confessions of a Shopaholic, which was silly but not too badly written and so, so much better than the movie version.

Hopefully, I've enlightened you on a some books and inspired you to open a few of these and, as Ariel says, explore a whole new world!

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What's up

(Source.)

It's been nearly a month since I've last written and while I could say that lots has happened or that nothing at all has happened, saying either would be a lie. But here is what is up, actually:

-The Great City Search: The beau and I have been looking at cities around the eastern part of the country, considering where we'd like to move next. Our requirements: have a college w/an environmental studies program, have a French teaching position, be awesome like Asheville or close to it, and not be too, too far away from our families. The candidates? Charleston, SC, Pittsburgh, PA, Nashville, TN, Athens, GA, Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC.

-A second job: At a bed and breakfast! I love it. It's a good pay. It's a good workout. The owners and other housekeepers are awesome. They have a doggy. And I actually work! (Way different from my bookstore job.) Plus, there are tips! ;)

-TGR: I'm getting more involved in The Global Report again. Formally the Asheville Global Report, TGR is now has at least three formats. These are online, a wkly. video broadcast, and a wkly. podcast. This time around I'm helping with the podcast. Having my voice recorded and hearing it podcasted is weird beyond all imagination.

-Reading lots of books: So many. I'll write a post soon about all the books I've been reading lately.

-Spending mucho time w/friends, in prepartion for my eventual departing of Asheville: to outdoor theatres, house parties, movie marathons, dance parties, local restos, the great outdoors, bbqs, dinner gatherings, and general goodtimes.

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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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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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I <3 Harry Potter

Who doesn't? Not many, I'd say. Right now I'm doing some computer errands and listening to Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows on CD. I'm way super-excited about the next Harry Potter movie coming out in July, Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. This is probably my second favorite book, the Deathly Hallows being my favorite. But this movie should be soooo goooood. With LOTS of interesting twists and turns that I refuse to spoil for anyone who hasn't read the book.

(So I basically teared up watching this. Ridiculous, I know, but I am a convert for sure.)

One part of the excitement comes from my friends' excitement. We are going to have a Harry Potter movie-watching marathon the weekend before the next movie comes out. Gah, can you imagine 8 hours of Harry Potter?! Yes, yes, yes! ;)

So basically, I'm saying if you haven't read/watched/listened to the Harry Potter series then get off your lazy butt & get started because they are amazing. Waaaaay better than the Twilight series [oh yeah, I said it ;)].

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love is a many

I've been reading William S. Burroughs lately & thinking about using "his" cut-up method.



Snowflakes are falling.
But they will not stick.
People are a talking.
But they will not win.

As the days escape me
and my life falters,
I wonder what
could have been.

Living stagnant
is technically
living is it, not?

"love is a many"-therollergirl