Feather by Feather

I Will Play Memes Now

2009-12-10T22:48:01Z

1.Who sleeps in bed next to you?

No one. How lame is that? No boyfriend and no cats. When I'm at home in Ohio, the cats sleep with me, but technically it's a couch instead of a bed.

2.What did you last eat?

Ice cubes

3.What kinds of books do you read?

When I have my choice, literary masterpieces. I also read informational non-fiction, especially if it's related to science, biographies, occasionally memoirs, classic sci-fi, and the dictionary. I read a lot of other things that are not books like articles online, ingredient lists on stuff, trash on the ground, advertisements, clothing labels, whatever I can get.

4.What are you reading right now?

I'm always in the middle of reading something, and I include those books that I began last summer and have not had time to finish since. So: Ethan Frome, Einstein in Love, Histoire d'une Revanche, a critical review of William Blake (I adore him), and a bunch of environmental/food ethics books from my interdisciplinary bio class. Plus, probably more that I'm forgetting.

5.If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

I don't have anywhere I could go. I suppose I'd like to be travelling and doing something exciting right now, anywhere in the world, or perhaps just with a friend. I'm sick of Lynchburg these days. I want to be in the future, but not the near future that's waiting for me, because Ohio is definitely not someplace where I want to go.

6.Tell me something interesting that happened today.

I tutored one of the professors for her history essay. It is so reassuring to know that I actually do have useful skills that can help someone who is more knowledgeable than I am in many ways. I appreciate how much LC supports us. Then, she and I had a nice conversation about how she's taking the class just for the fun of it. This is exactly the thing I needed to hear in order to make it through exam week.

7.Name one odd item within three feet of you.

I'm wearing a newsboy cap that I found on the ground a few days ago. I would not be surprised if this turns out to belong to Sean.

8.What's your current fandom obsession/addiction?

I don't write fanfics anymore. Does Lady Gaga count? I'm way into her. What about William Blake?

9.What did you really want to do today that you didn't?

I really should have finished my French presentation, and I even skipped my last day of Romantic Lit. to wok on it which makes me very unahppy.

10.What are you most excited for?

I'm such a grump right now. I can't even be excited for the party because, as fun as it will be, it's taking away precious time to finish papers and projects. I just wnat to be done with finals, but then I have to go to Ohio. If I weren't so busy, I'd be excited for my upcoming conferences and my schedule for next semester looks amazing.

11.What websites do you always visit when you go online?

Facebook, email, weather, Huffington Post. Now and again LiveJournal, PostSecret, MLIA, TFLN. There's always StumbleUpon.

12.What was the last thing you bought?

Chocolate toffee pretzels and fries

13.What do you want right now, off the top of your head?

To be a better poet, to be done with exams, warm socks, and a driver's license

14.What's your biggest procrastination method?

Checking email, napping, reading, getting snacks

15.Are there any bits of childhood you miss?

A lot of bits. Right now, I miss a certain tree in my yard in Ohio, the blue-green pine that has two trunks.

16.If you were a crayon, what color crayon would you be?

Purple Mountain Majesty

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-10-27T23:40:00

2009-10-28T03:43:40Z

My dad is dressing as the Pope for Halloween. We also said "Hola" at the exact same moment on the phone.

Is everything going to finally be good?

Things to Know Now

2009-10-20T02:52:24Z

I have contacts! I can see individual leaves! This is so cool!

On that note, I am getting new glasses soon (I hope tomorrow).

Coconut Thai Chai tea is both delicious and fun to say aloud. Look around (Go ahead, I'll wait.) If nobody's around, say to yourself. Then smile.

At Goodwill I got a black version of my lighthouse/windmill necklace. I think I've actually never explained the importance of this to a single person. Ask me when we meet again.

I need goggles for Halloween. If you can lend me some, I would be well-pleased.

Les crêpes que j'ai faites le soir dernier

2009-10-02T13:04:54Z

I made delicious crêpes with yummy food like:

--homemade pineapple syrup

--apple butter

--strawberries and cream

--turkey Caesar

--chocolate, caramel, and cream

I also created green tea crêpes and put honey on them. I checked, and people have basically done this before, but I didn't know that when I thought of it. In the future, I'm going to try other teas and coffee.

The lesson here is that my house is awesome and you should come hang out here.

This Conversation Compensates Me For Illness

2009-09-20T04:15:13Z

I've been miserably sick for the past week and a half with the flu and/or stomach virus. Then this happened:

[Conversation about fevers and diseases]

Emily: I don't know! I'm an English major, not a doctor!

Me: That's why you're useless!

[Emily smashes a pillow on my face. I cough.]

Me: Great. Now my germs are all over that.

Emily: [throws pillow across the room.] We'll have to burn it.

Me: [wistfully.] It'll be like "The Velveteen Rabbit"!

Emily: Then it'll be a REAL pillow!

<3

A Mood I Haven't Been Before...

2009-09-14T02:48:14Z

I am something like discontent, but I am also happy.

I like everything that I am doing. My classes, my clubs, my jobs, my writing are all enjoyable, rewarding work, but work nonetheless. And, it isn't that it's too much. I've had a lot of work lately, but it's all work I want to do. I'm in the mindset that "Slow and steady wins the race." So, I'm on top of it.

My situation is strange. For the first time in my life I really feel calm and competent. In many ways, this past summer was not what I had hoped. Upon occasion it was wretched, but aside from two major catastrophes, the things that would have wrecked me before didn't touch me. I know what my goals are and I feel like I'm right where I ought to be (I am legitimately writing a short story and my portfolio is coalescing bit by bit). The trouble is, these are long-term goals. They won't see fruition for two to ten years. Excepting the Prism, my cat-rescue plans (Anyone interested...?), and getting my license(if that happens), I don't have a lot to look forward to in the near future. Besides, all those things seem like a continuation of what I have already begun. I crave something completely NEW.

Suddenly, nothing's good enough. What's up with me? Maybe I'm itching to leave school, ready for adventures, but I can't imagine what's out there that I'm missing.

Like I said, I love everything. I just want more to love.

Notes: My brother went to court Friday for shoplifting. I haven't heard from my parents yet about that or the other charges. He'll be 18 in fifteen days. This demands a party.

LARPing this weekend was wicked fun.

Cabell, Emily and I have agreed to try a new restaurant or go out every Friday. All are welcome to join us. This weekend I think it'll be the Muse, then King's Island (or Osaka's). Also, RiverViews on Thursday night.

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-07-24T21:37:00

2009-07-25T01:37:41Z

Here's a bit to catch you all up on my recent life. After last weekend I was ill for about 4 days but I am well now. Nightly John, Chris, Julia and I have been watching the Harry Potter movies in order to get Chris ready for the sixth movie. During the day I have mostly been reading and writing books include a couple books of poetry, Ethan Frome, Einstein in Love,a book on evolution and morality, Sylvia Plath's collected letters and a few other things. Sylvia Plath made some fairly obnoxious or inexplicable statements (at a resort "the working class is also dirty {littering}," etc.) but she also expressed a wish to be omniscient at the same age that the notion occurred to me;no one I've ever said it to got what I meant.She said a lot of good things about writing in general but unfortunately I dislike much of her writing. As for me, I've begun 5 poems in the last two days. I feel productive.Plus I found several renown poets I like(Dana Levin, Gregory Orr, Gerald Stern) thus affirming my sense of aesthetics.I will apply to UVA and have decided to apply for the peace corps after gettong my MFA. That's basically my life for any who were wondering. BTW, please pardon any odd formatting--this is John's phone.

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-06-23T23:43:00

2009-06-24T03:53:49Z

This summer is amazingly similar to last summer, better in a few regards, but worse in others. Like most of my life in the past, I have no internet, so I do miss you all passionately. I do despise summer. Like last summer, I have not found a job. I have sincerely been trying though. I have gone to over twenty places and spent three hours yesterday walking around. On the plus side, I know this city now.

I have been passing my days in writing, reading, wandering about, and playing Exile. As soon as I get some money, I can add cooking and saving kittens to the list.

Mexico

2009-05-30T05:29:05Z

So, I probably will not have time to type up everything right now, but I'll try to get the highlights.

Friday--I spent almost 20 hours on the greyhound bus. I'm going to start looking into planes. It can't cost too much more.

Saturday--I got home. I hate it. My room is so gross and pungent that my eyes watered when I went in there.I washed my hair overhe the toilet becaue the tub is ful of black water. Nick turns 18 in September. If my parents do nothing, I'll have to do something.

Vacation--It was beautiful. I swam in the Carribean Sea and got a bit of a sun burn. I bartered with the merchants and got some cute stuff including silver strawberry earrings. My poem about strawberries is nearly done now, among others. We went deep-sea fishing; I caught a red snapper, a rainbow trout, a tuna (?) and a few smaller things. I didn't get to help reel it in, but our party caught a huge white marlin. It took over an hour. I was somewhat sad because the woman who hooked it did not understand how important it is. I spent hours reading by the ocean and finished "Of Human Bondage." It's a lovely, accurate book. My copy is from 1915, so I ought to check if it has any particular worth.

Thursday--I got back pretty late. Sadly, I slept through the lightning storm on the fight back. Since I had no place else, I slept in the car, but the weather's nice so it was kind of like camping. The roses aren't in bloom yet and the lightning bugs aren't out yet. My dad got paid today so I won't have to fret over money for another couple of months.

Today--I've been hanging out with Kathryn and Derek (<3!). I tried fondue for the first time and it was yummy. I miss Virginia a lot. It's definitely home now.

More later.

Silverwood

2009-05-22T17:46:25Z

The other day I went by the bookstore in Harrisonburg. There are always free books outside and I have a penchant for antique books so I picked one called "Silverwood." It was published in 1856!

Turns out, the author is Margaret Junkin Preston, "the Poetess Laureate of the South." She was married to Major John T. L. Preston and she was Stonewall Jackson's sister-in-law.

Epic win.

In less than 48 hours, I'll be on my way to Mexico.

Baileycat!

2009-05-20T18:57:49Z

When she wanted me to pet her more, she tapped me twice on the nose with her paw. It was the cutest ever.

In other news, I will briefly appear in Lynchburg on Friday before I take the Greyhound bus (for 15 hours) to Ohio. I am kinda of concerned because I had to pay for it. This means that my parents owe me $600, assuming we split the price of the ticket and if I insist on them paying for my passport. I think I will. $100 is food for the month and maybe a dentist visit. I am flying to Houston at 4:30 am Sunday morning for a layover. It will be my first time on a plane.

I feel sort of guilty for going on this trip. If i had the money that the company is spending on it, I'd use it for far better things.

My grades went up to a 3.6. It is probably too late to get the 3.75 I wanted, but I'm still pretty happy with this.

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-05-13T14:17:00

2009-05-13T18:19:49Z

Oprah's hosting Dane Cook today. My first thought?

"BrOprah"

I just made you cringe, didn't I?

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-05-09T22:50:00

2009-05-10T02:52:48Z

Good job Katie!

Good job J. J. Abrams!

I think I've got this summer hammered out, minus a few crucial details.

Emily, Cabbie, Tree, Natalie, and I just ate a giant cupcake.

I'm pretty damn happy. All my love to all of you.

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-05-06T00:20:00

2009-05-06T04:22:30Z

It must be weird dating Kanye West, considering that the radio is still playing the songs he wrote about his ex-fiancée.

(I actually really like all of his songs.)

Too Cool Not to Post

2009-05-02T07:44:43Z

Plans

2009-04-29T17:00:34Z

I have sort of decided to go to Staunton for the summer since I can't get a job here in Lynchburg, it costs just as much as an apartment to stay at LC in a dorm room, and I can't get around well on foot. Also, Lynchburg bores me.

If my parents pay me back, I should have close to $1000, enough to get me by for, say, two months. It's bizzarre how this suddenly seems much less impossible than it did before, and I wish I'd felt this way sooner. It helps to know that I've got good friends who won't let me die.

Not sure yet if ths is really going to pan out, but I'm going to apply tonight to a job online. It's some sort of health service position...I'd be feeding old or disabled people and cleaning? The job sounds painful--they warn you ahead of time that you'll have to deal with difficult people and circumstances (you can imagine, I'm sure), but considering that, the pay shoud be good and it could be an interesting experience. When I work up my courage, I'll call about apartments.

On the Radio

2009-04-18T15:25:13Z

The advertisement I just heard said "Don't wait any longer! Get the body art you've always wanted! Sport a new look for summer!"

I guess "Sport a new look for the next sixty+ years of your life!" would be less convincing.

Rain!

2009-04-10T18:43:35Z

I'm so glad! ^_^

Day 5

2009-04-08T12:56:48Z

The Mysterious Eternal Illness (hereafter "MEI") sucks. I don't want to do anything but sleep (Because it hurts. I don't think it's mono).

Here are my symptoms:
--body aches
--constant headache (on and off since Saturday)
--nausea
--slight sore throat
--slight congestion in throat
--slight runny nose
--slight sneezing and coughing
--hot flashes
--chills
--fever (Teresa said I had one Monday night and I think it broke while I slept, so it wasn't there when I saw the nurses).
--swollen lymph nodes

Health Center diagnoses: Allergies

Allergy symptoms:

Sneezing, the most common symptom, may be accompanied by a runny or clogged nose
Itching eyes, nose, and throat
Allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes caused by restricted blood flow near the sinuses)
Watering eyes
Conjunctivitis (an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed eyes).

Notice how two (I'll grant that allergies can give a person a headache) symptoms match and they completely ignored everything else I told them. Their half-ass explanation for the rest of my symptoms was "Whenever something is different with your body, these things might happen." But then they admitted that the rest of the symptoms might be from a virus--you know, something contagious--but whatever. Have some allergy meds.

I've never really had a problem with allergies, besides a little sneezing. I understand pollen levels vary, but I shouldn't suddenly have a huge reaction. I usually get allergies in June. The nurse told me that things bloom here earlier (by two full months?) despite the fact that I got sick in Manasses, three hours north, where things were not blooming yet.

May I point out that it's thirty-odd degrees today and I'm burning up? Yeah.

Pah.

A Cute Thing

2009-03-25T04:33:25Z

http://birdandmoon.com/birdandmoon/complete.html

Poetry

2009-03-17T06:38:31Z

I love getting something exactly the way I want it, even if it's at two in the morning, even if I have an exam the next day. Earlier tonight I was trying to describe why I am an English major. It's because I just spent 45 minutes vacillating between the words "dust" and "powder" and had to choose from five adjectives that mean "like a star."

I chose the phrase "sidereal dust." It sounds a bit silly out of context, but, trust me, it's right.

Recap

2009-03-11T05:56:40Z

Watchmen = (Mostly) Awesome

Sushi = Awesome (No roe, however. *sad*)

Weather = Awesome

PB&J = Raspberry seeds = Awesome

Free time = Awesome

Occasional bouts of loneliness/nostalgia/regret = Not awesome

Checking Account = ?

Future plans = Awesome and/or scary (Peace Corps???)

Summer plans = Awesome

Hipster bitches = Not awesome

Cats = Awesome <3

chiaroscurokept @ 2009-03-05T19:35:00

2009-03-06T00:36:19Z

As it turns out, the ancients totally suck.

http://listverse.com/miscellaneous/top-10-color-classical-reproductions/

I feel so guilty.

2009-03-04T20:34:46Z

I just told Dr.Cowden that I am not a bio major anymore, after she just said what an awesome combination English and Biology are and how I'll write great science papers. She looked so sad.

If I had the money, I really would do both. But I don't, so I can't afford an extra semester or two and two unrelated Ph.D's. I am not a good enough student to take 23 or 24 credits per semester, which I also cannot afford.

But then I ran into Dr. Mayer and we spoke some French, so I feel a little better.

I want to be a Rennaissance woman. Can we bring back that concept?

Brain Power

2009-03-01T21:07:44Z

http://thecurrentaffairs.com/index.php/new-games-powered-by-brain-waves/

I want this so bad.