Archive
Friday Fun! (Happy Thanksgiving!)
Hello my lovely readers! For once I’m actually writing this a couple of days ahead of time, because it is American Thanksgiving this weekend, and I’m going to be one busy lady. My dad is coming down from Vermont to spend a few days with me in my lovely city of Boston. I’m looking forward to the quality time. It’s something that’s hard to come by when you live in a different state from your parent. I’m also excited for him to see me looking far healthier than the last time he was here, which was almost a year ago!
There will probably not be anything particularly traditional about our Thanksgiving, since I’m a vegetarian, and there’s only two of us. We may go out. We may order in. We may make tacos. Who knows. We will, however, definitely be drinking beer and watching the game. We are traditional Americans in THAT regard. ;-)
Once he heads back for home I’ll be doing the laundry, getting in some quality gym time, and finally getting started on editing zombies. I’m aiming for a release date toward the end of January and am excited about this book. Whereas the Tova Gallagher series is a just for fun romance novella lite, zombies is all about the feminist scifi and horror writer inside me. It’s a different kind of excitement. A more serious one.
I do want to take a moment to ask you all to seriously consider avoiding the crass consumerism that is Black Friday sales this weekend if at all possible. I understand money is tight, trust me, I do, but all you have to do is youtube some videos of the types of mobs that happen to see how disgusting this obsession with stuff can be. Spend your long weekend with loved ones, whether related by blood or by choice. Get outside. Go for a hike. Read a book. Go to the library! Just don’t spend your precious hours off obsessed with stuff. As Tyler Durden says, you don’t own your stuff. Your stuff owns you.
Happy weekend all!
Friday Fun! (Holiday Book Swap Time!)
Hello my lovely readers! Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving already? Time flies! I had a cold this week, so I only was healthy enough to make it to the gym once. Sadness! But I did track my calories to make sure this wouldn’t cause a slump, and I’m seeing my trainer tomorrow.
I’m not a huge holiday person, but one of the things that I do enjoy is the various secret santa/book swap events that happen in the month of December for book bloggers. I had a lovely time participating last year, so I was stoked to see the information go up. In fact, I’m participating in two different ones this year.
First up is the one I did last year Book Blogger Holiday Swap. Alas, the deadline for that one was November 11th, so it’s too late for any of you to sign up. But! I already got my information for my swap partner. I can’t wait to raid the used book cellar in Harvard and challenge myself to find awesome presents for her.
Next is a swap that Amy let me know about–A Broke and Bookish Secret Santa. Apparently she participated last year and had a blast. I visited Broke and Bookish’s blog and enjoyed it, so I signed up! The deadline to sign up for this one is TODAY, so get on that ya’ll!
You guys don’t even know how excited I am to get not one but TWO packages of books in the mail this year! There’s just something extra-nice about unwrapping books from a stranger who just so happens to be a fellow book lover.
Happy weekends all!
Friday Fun! (Yeah, I’m Kind of All Over the Place Today)
Hello my lovely readers! I am sitting here with sore ribs from my work-out last night. Do not ask what happened. I have no idea. I think I might have to blame the Roman Chair though.
The deadline for Tova Gallagher 2 is fast approaching. Like, I’m starting to get a little panicky about it. It’s a Thanksgiving story, so I absolutely need to finish it like yesterday. Then I need to design the cover. *breathes* Finishing the draft is my major serious for REALZ goal for this weekend. I refuse to let ya’ll down!
I am currently obsessed with the admittedly horrible but still frighteningly addictive “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO. It’s my favorite post-workout song for this section, “Girl look at that body. Ah. Girl look at that body. Ah. Girl look at that body. I work out!” Ridiculous, I know, but it matches my after workout celebratory spirit so HAH.
This weekend I will be:
- Writing Tova 2
- Yoga-ing it up
- Training with my trainer
- Getting smoothies from the new smoothie place near me
- Watching nerdy shit with my friend K
- Making something in my crockpot
- Writing Tova 2
Look, I made bookends! Happy weekends all!
Friday Fun! (Gym, Thundersnow)
Snow on the ground this morning.
Hello my lovely readers! I hope you all had nice weeks. I discovered at my potluck that all of my friends are *amazing* cooks! We should do this potluck thing more often. :-)
This week I returned to meeting with a trainer. In January it will be exactly one year since I started focusing on my fitness, and I’m rather determined to meet a few goals before then. I figured a trainer would help. He’s also nice and tough on me, which I enjoy. I am a bit distraught to discover that I’m still having issues holding a plank for a minute. I make it. But just barely. Needless to say, that’s one of my big goals for the next two months.
We got our first snow of the year last night, and it wasn’t just snow, it was THUNDERSNOW. That’s what we call it when there’s thunder and lightning with snow instead of rain. I loooove winter, and I was happy to see snow this morning, although I must admit that I hope this winter isn’t incredibly long like the one in the Little House books.
I got a lot of library loot last night. I’m thinking of having my own mini read-a-thon at some point next week, especially since I’m no longer working at the restaurant. I’m picking up my final check today and handing in my uniform. I’m happy to have my evenings back to myself, though I will miss the extra money, heh. In any case, let me know if you’d be at all into a mini read-a-thon at some point in the next week.
Happy weekends!
Friday Fun! (New Foci. Yes, Foci Is the Plural of Focus)
Hello my lovely readers! I hope you’re all enjoying the new genres that have found their way to my blog since the start of the Real Help Reading Project a couple of months ago. I’ve been alternating between books for the project from the library and books from my tbr shelf at home, and I’ve certainly been enjoying the variety. African-American and African lit (outside of scifi) always felt a bit inaccessible to me. Perhaps it’s that it tends to be in its own special interest section in libraries and bookstores? Or maybe that it was never really included in regular English classes but instead in special interest classes? I’m not totally sure, but I do know that I needed the kick in the butt to realize just how accessible it actually is. In retrospect it seems silly that I never picked one of these books up. Reading is so universally accessible, and I’ve read stories set in pretty much every racial, cultural, and class surroundings. Who knows really why I’d never ventured into black lit before, but I’m really glad I have now. :-)
In light of this, I’ve planned out a new reading project for myself to embark on with the start of 2012. No, it does not have to do with black lit. I’m not telling you what it is! But I have already started assembling a list of possible titles to pull from and am stoked for it. You’re just going to have to wait until the end of December wrap-up/announcements bonanza that happen on book blogs to find out what it is.
My life has now adjusted to having a second job and has reached a nice rhythm. I am busy almost every minute of the day between job 1, job 2, commute, gym, friends, reading, writing, drawing, etc…. I only barely make time to watch my two favorite tv shows every week (Parks and Rec and Big Bang Theory). Periodically I play catch-up on The Biggest Loser and America’s Next Top Model when I’m cooking dinner. Other than that, though, I feel a sense of enrichment in my life that I haven’t felt since being completely immersed in learning culture in undergrad. It’s a good thing. :-) I love it that I can get home totally exhausted and still prefer to read a civil rights era memoir over watching the latest crap on tv. I’ve reconnected to what’s important–people, self-improvement, learning–and let go of the other things. When I compare now to a year ago, I can see marked improvement. So, yeah, being 25 is hard. Being in your 20s in an economic depression is hard. But I’ve got good people, good food, good books, and my health. That’s what’s important.
Happy weekends!
Friday Fun! (Restaurant Work, Updates)
Hello my lovely readers! It’s been a crazy week on the blog with everything from the Nigerian Lit Reading/Reviewing Project to white trash zombies to a smack-down with a rude author. Phew! And that was just one tiny part of my life, lol.
This was my first full week working my new part-time job at the restaurant. Due to the new schedule, I can only do the gym 3 days a week instead of 5. I was worried this would lead to me losing ground on my get fit challenge, but that is clearly not to be the case. My restaurant shifts involve running around like a chicken with my head cut off for anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, and if anything I’ve seen my metabolism increase from more expended energy. And that’s just the regular shifts! I’ve also had shifts involving “guerilla marketing” or what my co-worker calls “menu bombing.” If you live in a city, you know what this entails. Running around residential neighborhoods leaving menus in mailboxes, on porches, and on cars. I had no idea how many steps are on Boston porches until I climbed them for two hours. Holy shit, Batman! It was like getting paid to do the stairmaster. (If you can’t tell, I’m happy about this). I love my part-time job! Plus they feed me dinner most shifts. Since it’s a healthy restaurant, that means free healthy food, yay!
The classic fall New England weather is here, which means crisp air and frosty mornings. Halloween decorations are up all over the city, and I clearly need to start work on figuring out my Halloween costume. My co-worker last night suggested I could pull off being Lara Croft, and I absolutely LOVE the idea, so I’m thinking that may be it. But shhh, don’t tell!
I’m really hoping to finish up the first draft of Tova Gallagher 2 this weekend, so I can get to editing my zombie book! I can’t wait to get more of my writing out to you guys. Be sure to check in tomorrow for the discussion of the next book in The Real Help Reading Project (it’s my favorite that we’ve read so far).
Tonight I’m doing yoga and hopefully seeing some friends. Happy weekends all!
Friday Fun! (Things I Did This Week)
Hello my lovely readers! I’ve been up to quite a lot this week:
Like, I read a book for Amy’s Nigerian Independence Day reading project (post will be up later today).
I decided that I desperately need more money flowing into my bank account, so I found a part-time job at a local restaurant. I already had my first shift and really enjoyed myself.
I went out for beers to watch the Sox with my downstairs neighbor. We will not discuss the outcome of the game. *coughs*
I discovered that there are free games on Google+!! And I found this amazeballs game called City of Wonder, which is kind of like SimCity, only you’re building a civilization, and you get to attack other civs. It’s seriously good times.
I bought two pairs of jeans for the first time in like five years. I am now fit enough that they’re semi-comfortable and look cute!
I’ve been working my patootie off on Tova 2. Hopefully the draft should be done by the end of this weekend.
Oh, and I co-wrote a guest post with my friend on her blog. If you have any curiosity about the snarky librarian side of my life, feel free to check it out.
This weekend I’m going to Salem with my friend Sara, working a shift at the restaurant, hopefully bathing the cat (and not dying), doing some yoga, and just generally being my busy, awesome self. Happy weekends!
Friday Fun! (Real Search Terms People Have Used To Find My Blog)
Hello my lovely readers! I hope you all had good weeks. Mine was rather long as I a) found out I didn’t get a job I really wanted and b) had dental surgery that seems to *still* have not fixed the problem. But! Life goes on, and I have good friends, a fun city, a snuggly kitty, and an adorable apartment to live in. So all will be well.
Today I thought I’d give you a little insight into the behind-the-scenes here at Opinions of a Wolf, not to mention the psyche of our fellow Earthlings, and show you some actual search terms people have used to find my blog. Offered with commentary, naturally.
- seitan fondue (4 hits)
Wow, this is…..rather brilliant, actually. I suddenly have this urge to make seitan and fondue and EAT ALL THE THINGS. - marge piercy woman on the edge of time chapter summaries (4 hits)
Hello, students. Sorry, I’m afraid you four are going to actually have to read the book if you want such detailed summary. It’s a good one! You’ll enjoy it! I’ll even give you a metaphorical cookie for reading it. - jondalar cheats (5 hits)
Oh, fellow fans of the Earth’s Children series. I regret to inform you that yes, it is true. Jondalar does cheat on Ayla. I hope my review saved you from having to read the god-awful last book in the series. - to say nothing of the dog movie (5 hits)
Wait! Is this happening?!?! *googles* No. No, it is not happening. Brilliant idea though, fellow Connie Willis fans. - urbmon 116 (5 hits)
To clarify, this is a key building in a tiny, not super-well known scifi book that I’m always trying to get people to read entitled The World Inside by Robert Silverburg, so I’m rather baffled as to why people are googling the urbmon? Where are they hearing about this? Why are they googling it as opposed to the name of the book? Inquiring minds want to know. - become a wolf leave comment (5 hits)
….what? No, really, what? Let me clarify things for you, googlers who I really hope are delusional teenagers who need more to do. You cannot become a wolf. That is not possible. That is a thing we call fantasy. - image of female great plains wolf howling (2 hits)
So…..two people needed an image of a great plains wolf howling, but it *had* to be female? Why does the gender matter? - saraha desert (2 hits)
You might have better luck if you listen to google and change your spelling to sahara, since there is no saraha desert. You’re welcome. - gross factors about the centipede (3 hits)
*head hits desk giggling* Oh, something tells me my post about The Human Centipede was not the gross thing they were looking for. - siluet wolf (1 hit)
*face-palm* - i’m poor and boring (1 hit)
Boohoo. Get off the internet and go read something or go for a run or something. - sparknotes for revolution is not a dinner party (1 hit)
Apparently this is being assigned in classes now. It is not a long book, kids, just read it. - 1973 boobs (1 hit)
Ok, why specifically boobs from 1973? I’m pretty sure boobs from every decade are relatively similar. - cute werepanther pictures (1 hit)
*raises eyebrows* - i want to fuck michelle beavan (1 hit)
I don’t know why you think googling this will get you what you want, but then again, men think catcalling women will make us get in their cars with them, so *shrug*
And there you have it. We have students trying to avoid reading (JUST READ IT), a few health nuts, and people obsessed with wolves and werewolves.
In all seriousness, though, these hits just show part of the fun of having a blog. You get a bit of insight into other folks, not to mention get to feel you might not be so weird after all. I mean, five other people are interested in a building from that obscure scifi book after all……
Happy weekends all!
Friday Fun! (I’ve Been Really Busy So Let’s Talk About Fondue)
Hello my lovely readers! Like whoa, have I been busy this week! I actually finished reading The Meowmorphosis and have literally not had a spare moment to write up the review. My bad! It’ll be up next week. I’d tell you what I’ve been busy doing, but I can’t (well, except that part of it has been very long skype convos and sharing wine virtually with Amy).
So instead, let’s talk about how freaking excited I am for my friend Sara‘s birthday dinner tonight! She, bless her, wanted to get fondue. Fondue. Aka melted cheese and melted chocolate and dipping things and sharing your germs. If it is not abundantly clear why we’re friends, then I just don’t know what to say to you people anymore. This is pretty much what I have been thinking about off and on all day.
In other news, I haven’t quite finished the first book for The Real Help project but I am totally going to and get the post up tomorrow morning at some point. I might not be able to write it right when I get home tonight due to pure food coma.
Happy weekends!
Friday Fun! (Irene Update aka Help Out Vermont)
Hello my lovely readers! What a busy week it’s been. There’s just always something to do in Boston, and I love it. :-)
Hurricane Irene got downgraded to a tropical storm before hitting us. Boston didn’t fare too badly with mostly downed trees/branches/billboards, etc… The worst was loss of power for some. I was not one of them. As of this morning there were still people without power in Mass though.
However, I’m going to get serious for a moment and talk about my home state of Vermont. Vermont is a very wet state. It’s full of official wetlands and rivers, which means when a lot of rain hits, it doesn’t have anywhere to go. Vermont suffered horrible damages from Irene with entire villages cut off from assistance for days due to washed out roads. Vermont’s a rural state so farmers lost crops as well. Even worse, Vermont depends a lot on tourism and some of the historic covered bridges were washed away. Thankfully everyone in my family is fine, but I really feel for the Vermonters. Since I grew up there, I know that a lot of the people there are poor, working class folks who will really struggle to recover from such a travesty. If you have any spare change and have ever found my blog useful or amusing or a light in your day, I’d really appreciate it if you’d help with the relief efforts in my home state. Many options may be found here.
My week was busy full of friends and karaoke and gym and general other awesomeness. This weekend is a three day weekend, and I’m super excited! I’ll just be in town with my girls being generally epic.
Happy weekends!
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Opinions of a Wolf 