Plane Again...

I have to go on another plane tomorrow to go down and see my father in San Diego. I hate planes. But at least we can amuse ourselves with these cartoons.

Cupcakes!

Today I just found out how much I'm influenced by the power of suggestion when I saw a picture of a cupcake and, immediately after, desperately wanted cupcakes. Luckily, I have the nicest sister in the world and she made me chocolate cupcakes!

Zombie Vs. Vampire Debate

Percy Jackson

I'm currently reading the first book in the Percy Jackson series. I tried to get the second one from one of the five different nearby library systems, but it was not checked in to ANY of them. Usually it wouldn't bother me to wait, but I have to hop on a plane yet again for the 11th time in the past 8 weeks, so I need something before Monday. I might just buy the second book, because I'm almost done reading the first, and I didn't feel that one was a waste of money (I also bought it to read on the plane I took here), so hopefully the second's just as good. I won't do a full review right now since I'm not quite finished, but I think the story's compelling. The style of writing is not as much to my tastes, but it's not bad. It's just clear to me the book is meant to appeal to a slightly younger audience, but it's not dumbed down. I simply think the situation and humor are probably more relatable if you're a younger kid, specifically a young boy. Still, I'm enjoying it, and I'm also looking forward to the movie they're planning to make based on it.

I also managed to check out a digital audiobook of the 3rd Percy Jackson book from the Sacramento Library without leaving my house, but it took me an hour to jump through all the DRM hoops of flame. I feel the service needs to be a bit more user-friendly.

California Sunset

I spent all day unpacking and arranging my stuff so not much exciting news. Instead, here's a picture I took a while ago in the nature reserve near my sister's apartment. I suppose it's arrogant to compliment my own photography skills but I love the soft glow in contrast with the dark grass.

Dream Journal

When I was a lot younger I bought a beautiful dream journal that is currently still somewhere among my scattered effects. When I find it, I'll post a picture. One side was for night dreams and has the image of a little girl in a garden at night, standing in front of a hedge maze filled with strange things. If you turn the journal upsidedown, the other side is for day dreams with an image of the sun but I don't quite recall what else.

Anyway, I hardly ever used it for all its beauty. So today I'll share my dream with all of you. I have be having unsettlingly real dreams. These are dreams that it has been impossible for me to distinguish from reality upon waking. They are not scary by themselves, but I've never had dreams so normal that it would even be remotely credible to believe they really happened. For example, one dream simply had me speaking to my sister and mother in our kitchen and, upon waking, I had to ask them to confirm if it had happened or not. But last night I had a good old fashioned nightmare, and I'm actually quite happy because I know it didn't happen. I was just a monster dream. I was in a house with a monster that would roam around. Many other people were in the house, which was a mix of several different apartments I've lived in as well as a shopping mall. I hid in a bedroom that looked like my old bedroom when I was in high school except instead of the furniture I had there were many shelves covered in blankets. I presume the monster wasn't very smart because I was told that if at least 3/4ths of you was covered when the monster came, it wouldn't see you. I spent most the dream worrying my hiding space on a top shelf covered in blankets wasn't good enough but the monster never found me.

Waiting...

Today's picture is a cart full of Harry Potter 7 books that wouldn't fit on the shelf! I took this pic before I left the library. I have a theory that we got an overload because so many of the people who wanted to read Harry Potter 7, bought Harry Potter 7. Not that I'm saying we shouldn't have bought it or that we didn't need it for quite some time. I just find it fun to theorize on the economics of book circulation in libraries. Twilight, for instance, still had lots of holds on it when I left. True some of the renewed popularity was due to the movie but I also think it's because not as many people are as willing to buy Twilight before they've read it, whereas Harry Potter is more of a given.

Anyway, I'm waiting for the moving truck today. Then I'm going to unload all my stuff. I just wish I knew when of if I'll be doing that again before the year's out. I've been wanting to make more videos for the people who do like them but I haven't had the chance yet. I've also been making a lot of reviews because I've been meaning to for a long time and have a backlog, but also because I don't remember how to use the alternative movie making software that allows me to edit things I've made on my normal camera. But maybe I'll get around to tinkering with it.

Today I...

...Constructed a giant tent in my sister's living room.

This tent.



Why?

Because we can.

Angels and Demons and the Mysterious "D"?

I'm going to see Angels and Demons today with my sister, and I hope I have time for a more exciting blog post later but, just in case, I'm posting something now so I don't have to worry about it. The last time I had to do all the punishments was because I saw Prince Caspian and didn't end up getting back until after midnight. Of course, if I'm going to be punished for seeing any movie, Prince Caspian was well worth it. If Angels and Demons is even a quarter as entertaining as Prince Caspian, I'll be well pleased. This time I'll probably get back earlier since my sister and I are heading out earlier, but it seems wise to post beforehand anyway.

In other news I'm finally opening a bottle of maple syrup that's several years old. It's never been opened and is stored in a glass bottle. The research I've done seem to indicate that the worst that could have happened is it's lost its flavor. I'm of the opinion that it's edible until it turns to amber. We shall see...

And one last thing. I have a comment from "D" in my last post. I suspect I know who it is, but I do have more than one friend with a D name, so I would appreciate it if people were more specific. If you'd rather not use your name, than please use initials at least. Otherwise you could be a member of the Illuminati come to get me...

Star Trek Review

To boldly go where no short skirt has gone before.

Attack of the Lego Pirates!

It's no secret I'm a proud sister of two little brothers. And what better way to do a blog post today than to mooch of their content until I finally make another video? So here is the incredible Lego epic created by my brother, Curtis. He also made another video which amused me. It's pirates dancing to the song Peanut Butter Jelly Time. It gets pretty repetitive after the first 15 seconds, but if you're interested, here's his YouTube Channel.

Also, videos count as pictures, so I don't need another picture for this post.

Update, Update, UPDATE! Aaaaand, the return of PUNISHMENTS!

The above picture is a dinosaur skeleton replica taken during my layover in Chicago's O'Hare airport. Later I should make a YouTube video on what I think this skeleton is thinking (yes, skeletons think...)

Cherie News!

Hi, all! Sorry for my long silence. It was a mix of chaotic life and stress, but a few weeks back a friend mentioned to me that she missed my text blogs. I also know I have a whole of two fans of my text blog (at least of my friends). I have one "follower" as well. Unfortunately, I've not updated my blog to allow for followers, because blogger says the update will erase my template, and I've done a few things with it I'd rater not redo. But if this follower outs him/herself to me (the blog won't tell me who is following me until I update) and if they ask nicely, I could update.

Anyway, I am currently back in California after more traveling in the past month than I care to contemplate. But since I'm giving you all updates, I shall. I've gone to California three times this May. Only the last trip this Sunday wasn't a round trip. That equals ten planes in the space of 31 days (two for each journey because nonstop is not for the likes of mere mortals like me). My life began to feel a lot like the movie The Terminal. And, of course, whenever I tell people that, they haven't seen that movie. Seriously, you guys should see it; it's a good movie.

The Return of Punishments!

Previously on Cherie's blog (and for a limited time only) you were allowed to punish me if I didn't update every day. That's right, an update from yours truly, every day. I am bringing back that feature with a few adjustments. First I will be adding my YouTube channel to this challenge. So I will be able to either update in text or on YouTube each day (updating both is possible but never required). I know at least one of my friends isn't interested in my YouTube channel, but this friend and others who may feel the same need not dispair; it is easier for me to do a text blog, so there will be plenty of those as well. This is just so I don't feel an undue burden when I do YouTube updates. That way the frequency of both text and video blogs should increase.

The Rules:

1.) Starting today I must post a text or video blog at least once a day.

2.) If it is a text blog, it must include either news or information about me or a photo taken by me.

3.) All text blogs must always include at least one picture and some text, but the photos only have to be taken by me of I don't write anything about myself.

4.) If it is a video blog, it must be at least a minute in length. There is no maximum length save the restrictions on YouTube.

If (and ONLY if) I break one or more of these rules, any of you may suggest a punishment. But, unlike last time, I won't do all of your punishments. I will choose one for each infraction. So make them all good since you don't know which I'll choose. Punishments may not involve anything that will cost me more than $5, seriously physically harm me, or get me arrested. However, humiliation and difficulty of any other kind are fair game.

When will this end?

I wish I could say never, but I know better. My life is pretty up in the air right now, so I'm going to go with: until I move again. By this I mean actually move. Sadly, I feel my close relationship with planes is not yet over, but I don't want to let that stop me. In the process of moving there will, no doubt, be a disruption in my internet service which seems a good reason to cut myself a break. Part of me was tempted to say until I get too busy, but since that's a really subjective deadline, I didn't want to give myself too easy a way out. Moving is a soft enough deadline since I don't know when it will be. The only way I can miss a day before then is if I am in a location where internet is unavailable for a full 24 hours. As long as I am at my sister's, this will never be the case because she lives near places where internet access is available.

Why are you doing this?

To keep in touch with all of you. On a purely personal level, I forsee hard times to come in my life. It would be far too easy to withdraw entirely from the world and allow those troubles to consume me. Better to reach out now because it will only be harder later. I also want to prevent all of you, my friends, from becoming a distant memory. Currently I am happy to be reunited with my family, but I have no friends in my immediate vicinity.

On a philosophical level, this kind of action fits with my values. It often amazes me that the easier communication has become, the less we communicate with each other, or in the very least, the less meaningful the communication becomes. From one line emails, to Facebook, to 140 character tweets, technology seems determined to trim down our coorespondense all while it has the power and potential to enhance it. But is technology really the enemy here, or is it our own laziness?

Story Word Updates!

Three months. Yup, it's been three months since I've told you all how many words I've written in my current novel. I know you've all been on the edge of your seats not knowing. It's been pretty pathetic, but maybe regular blog updates well increase accountability and, therefore, productivity.

March: 4421 words (Ugh...)

April: 1235 words (My excuse is finals...but that's hopefully the last time I get that excuse.)

May: 4012 words (Moving stuff. But I still could have been more productive)

If I don't update my word counts once a month from now on that's also a punishable offense that does not end when I move. The only excuse from now on is if I don't have internet for the entire month. And what do you guys think of me tweeting my daily word counts? It's the only use of twitter that really appeals to me, but I'm curious what you guys think. It affects my decision if no one's interested.

Well, that's all for now! If you read all the way to the end, you deserve a treat. If you tell me you reached the end, I'll try to think of a way to honor you.

The Great and the Small

I'm on top of the world!

I bet you all thought I'd forgotten about regular text blogging but I shall not let grad school defeat the blog! (Only make it sadly infrequent...) Anyway, when I was in California, I took lots of pictures but only five would fit on this post. I may add more later.

Now for a Cherie writing update. Since I have sent my first novel out to my awesome beta-readers, I've started writing in another novel that I started the first time I thought I was done with my previous novel.

Anyway, that means I can once again tell you how many fictional words I've written in a month! I know this is a feature you all missed and couldn't live without.

So for February that number is....3674!

But, since it I did start this novel previously, and I have the inability to be concise, in total it's currently: 52,618 words.

But if you're the type who doesn't find simple numbers fascinating, I'll also say this new story is a fantasy children's book that takes place in modern suburban America and explores real terrors of childhood through magical happenings. Some of my friends and family will know more, but I'm strangely paranoid about my writing even though I'm perfectly aware that I'm at the state in my writing career (this being the unpublished state) where self-promotion and having random internet users take an interest in my work could only be a good thing. It's also probably more likely that I'll be a famous author one day than it is someone will steal my idea over the internet and become that famous author in my stead.

It's just that the mere thought of the latter, no matter how unlikely, is enough to keep me awake at night.

And now for more pretty pictures from the hike my sister and I went on in the Auburn State Park. It was cloudy, but still beautiful. If only I was in better shape!

A naturalist in her natural habitat

I thought that I should pay as much attention to the small wonders like this leaf...

...As I did this amazing vista.

Sometimes even people are small

Best of 2008

That's right, it's a New Year and some things did not change in 2008. I'm still a grad student. I'm still an unpublished writer. Hopefully one of those things changes in 2009. The first is far more likely (hopefully) than the second, but it is my New Year's resolution to finish my personal edit of the story so that I can send it out to my noble beta readers (I'm still accepting beta readers if anyone else is interested). Clearly I failed at NaFiRoyBIMSCom. But so far I've edited approximately 2/3rds of my story, so there is some hope. However, it also seems to have swelled to 216,825 words from the 214,023 upon originally finishing despite my valiant attempts to delete more than I add... Although, to be fair, some of these are simply notes to myself.

Anyway, now for the best of 2008:

Best Movie: (Spoilers Review, Non-Spoilers Review) Prince Caspian is hands down the best movie to come out this year. If the Chronicles of Narnia were actually as good as this movie, I might actually like them. I didn't like the first movie much more than the book but this movie is so much better than the book (and yes I forced myself to read the whole book and was unimpressed). But I LOVED this movie. Reepicheep and Edmund pwn. Unfortunately, C.S. Lewis does not pwn.


Best Fantasy Book: (Non-Spoiler Review) Neil Gaiman's the Graveyard Book deserves a place of honor for the best depiction of a vampire and werewolf that I have ever read.









Best Teen Book: I had to add a new category to honor John Green's newest book, Paper Towns. I haven't had the chance to review it yet, so I'll do a brief non-spoilers review here. I feel this was easily his most complex and elegantly written book. An Abundance of Katherines remains my favorite of John's books for it's ireppressible cheerfulness, but I think this one was the most meaningful. I was initially not happy with the end, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how well it fit with the meaning of the story. I feel this book effectively explored an important theme that his first book Looking for Alaska (also excellent), left untouched.


I also became a YouTuber in 2008 which has been a strange but fun experience, so I feel it's only right to give a favorite YouTube vid of 2008 which would have to be Hank's Numa Numa Dance. I've posted it before, but it's worth posting again. Incidentally, the favorite of my own videos is the response where I do my own Numa Numa Dance.





Best Most Nerdtastic Personal Experience:
















Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed my reflections for 2008. I'd love to hear yours and I wish you all a wonderful 2009!

Cherie's Divine Comedy

So it snowed this morning, but I still had to get to work, and the buses don't run early enough on the weekend. I fell over twice on my bike. Once in the middle of the (thankfully empty) street and kept to the sidewalk from then on. And once on the sidewalk. My pants were a mess but in the youth department they have dresses in the closet. Why do they have dresses, you ask? Because they're prom dresses. Why do they have prom dresses? Prom dress exchange program. See there's a reason for everything.

So what am I wearing right now? That's right. I am wearing a prom dress at the public desk. It's a rather plain one thankfully. Just black and long sleeved and really not all that dressy (or so I tell myself and so my coworker has assured me). But you know you've had a day when you're wearing a prom dress at work. :P

And before anyone starts with me, I know my bike should have special tires, but I don't have the money to buy them.

UPDATE: I took some pictures of the dress when I got home. It's actually probably a disappointment to anyone hoping it was more ridiculous looking. But honestly I would have stayed in my clothes if it had been. I admit it wasn't the worst thing to have in a pinch but I'm definitely bringing it back. I only wore it home because I didn't really feel like changing and I work tomorrow anyway.

I seem to be bad luck today, though, because when my friend Erin kindly drove me and my bike home she realized she'd left on her car lights so she had to have her car jumped. Yup, it was one of those days.

Twilight Madness

I saw the midnight release of Twilight and thought the movie was far more melodramatic than the book, but I still hope they make New Moon because I think there's room for improvement. I was also pleased to notice that the vampire women tended to have more of a body than I've been used to seeing on most Hollywood women. They weren't the usual Hollywood waifs. Dare I hope that the fashion for women to look like they have consumption is finally dying down?

Cynthia is Made of Awesome!

Thanks to Canadian Nerdfighter Cynthia (she was so cool she came all the way down from Canada for this) I finally have footage of the Ann Arbor event! It's perfect too because she was sitting right next to me and filmed almost everything I would have filmed had I had my camera (And possibly even some things I would have been too slow for because my reflexes stink). Incidentally, the librarian in the red shirt who introduced John and Hank is the Awesome Sharon who gave me my Paper Towns book. And as extra icing on the cake the back of my head and even my profile feature prominently in this video since Cynthia was right there. No one will probably enjoy it as much as I do but there's still some pretty fun stuff on it:

* * *

And a few more pictures of the event I've gathered from other people's Facebook. Probably the best use of Facebook I've ever had.

This picture pretty much sums up how awesome I thought this all was.



Spoonfingers! What's that? You don't get it? They're spoons and fingers!
That's really all there is to get. And look I'm in the upper far right background probably talking to Nerdfighter Allison who took the picture of me with the Green brothers.



The musicians.
You know you're in a roomful of awesome when it has both a ukulele player AND a guitar player.

Nerdfighters!

I met the vlogbrothers last night and COMPLETELY FORGOT MY CAMERA! Yes, only I could have such complete and utter idiocy. Luckily one is never short of cameras at a vlogbrother event. So here's me with Hank and John Green. Thanks to the awesome that is Allison
(the fellow nerdfighter I met at the event). There's so many much cooller things that I wish I'd said to them but at least it was a very supportive environment for a shy and awkward person.



Me with some scrabble playing nerdfighters.

Funnies

While poking around WorldCat I found this book.

Also, while on the bus today I coveted the shirt of a student I saw. The back read "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research."

Election 2008

My election story is very simple. I barely waited in line at all because I voted in a small polling place in a good window of time where most people were at work or in class. I fretted that I might have done something wrong or the machine may have read it wrong. I'm sure many did. But I got my sticker all the same.

I've never been particularly political, but it has mattered to me more and more over time. I also have had what feels like an almost lifelong cynicism for government. But that just means that tonight I am more proud of my country than I have ever been in the whole of my life.

That said, it's probably obvious who I voted for. But all the same I had high respect for both candidates tonight. McCain's eloquent concession speech was on par with Obama's acceptance as best speech of the night.