Today is the end of the pay period for the month of August, which means I am one check closer to freedom. After we take our trip into Southeast Asia (only 12 days away!), hubby and I have decided to return to our paper-pushing jobs and give our 30 days’ notice. It’s time to move forward with new goals, even if it means stepping outside our comfort zone and living on Ramen and love.
I’m a bit homesick these days. I miss our friends and family, and I’m sad that I won’t be able to watch summer fade into fall. I say ‘summer fade into fall’, because people always say that – but really, I think fall is quite as colorful as summer. At least, in some parts of the world…but I suppose in some parts of the world, neither is very colorful. Ok, I’m rambling now.
The point I’m trying to make is that I want a job that’s closer to home, and I’m going to make that happen very soon. So goodbye to summer, and goodbye to climbing the career ladder. I’m afraid of heights anyway.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
A Death in the Family by James Agee
Ahh, the beauty of words. The way an author can make them weave and commingle and intertwine to form a sentence, a chapter, a story.
If you take nothing more from this novel, just grant yourself the freedom to bask in Agee’s luxurious prose.
A Death in the Family is largely autobiographical, so it’s no small wonder that Agee dazzles us with his wonderful character development. In a novel at once heartbreaking and heartwarming, the reader will explore life, loss, relationships, faith, human frailty and the ways in which we find the strength to cope.
Part of the last passage spoken by Andrew is particularly lovely and unifies the emotional experiences of the central characters. The butterfly is a symbol of hope and an embodiment of the soul.
A few enjoyable phrases:
How far we all come. How far we all come away from ourselves. So far, so much between, you can never go home again.
The less he believed them, the more he was led to believe them, and the easier it was for him to believe them. The more alone he felt, the more he wanted to feel that he was not alone, but one of them.
Without either desiring to see her face, or caring how it looked, she saw that it had changed; through the deep, clear veil her gray eyes watched her gray eyes watch her through the deep, clear veil.
I’ll end up reading this one again some day – I’m sure of that. To date, this is, without a doubt, my favorite novel on the 100 Best list.
If you take nothing more from this novel, just grant yourself the freedom to bask in Agee’s luxurious prose.
A Death in the Family is largely autobiographical, so it’s no small wonder that Agee dazzles us with his wonderful character development. In a novel at once heartbreaking and heartwarming, the reader will explore life, loss, relationships, faith, human frailty and the ways in which we find the strength to cope.
Part of the last passage spoken by Andrew is particularly lovely and unifies the emotional experiences of the central characters. The butterfly is a symbol of hope and an embodiment of the soul.
A few enjoyable phrases:
How far we all come. How far we all come away from ourselves. So far, so much between, you can never go home again.
The less he believed them, the more he was led to believe them, and the easier it was for him to believe them. The more alone he felt, the more he wanted to feel that he was not alone, but one of them.
Without either desiring to see her face, or caring how it looked, she saw that it had changed; through the deep, clear veil her gray eyes watched her gray eyes watch her through the deep, clear veil.
I’ll end up reading this one again some day – I’m sure of that. To date, this is, without a doubt, my favorite novel on the 100 Best list.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Things I Love Thursdays
Lunch hour with my husband. – Actually, I get to have lunch with him everyday, but it’s nice to pause, reflect and be thankful for it.
Grey’s Anatomy marathons. – I love this show. Truthfully, I wish the characters really existed and were my friends. I preordered season 4 on Amazon.
Carrot cake and coffee in the afternoon. – I have to admit that I never really gave a sniff for carrot cake, before I had a slice with coffee. Mmm, a perfect blend.
Alison Krauss’ song Restless. – She has the sweetest, most wholesome voice. This song is like a big hug or a cup of chamomile tea: warm and comforting and gentle.
Greeting cards by Coffeehouse. – They come across sincere, not sappy. Cutesy illustrations and a lot of pretty pastels, too.
The delicious proximity of Fridays. – So close. So very close.
Grey’s Anatomy marathons. – I love this show. Truthfully, I wish the characters really existed and were my friends. I preordered season 4 on Amazon.
Carrot cake and coffee in the afternoon. – I have to admit that I never really gave a sniff for carrot cake, before I had a slice with coffee. Mmm, a perfect blend.
Alison Krauss’ song Restless. – She has the sweetest, most wholesome voice. This song is like a big hug or a cup of chamomile tea: warm and comforting and gentle.
Greeting cards by Coffeehouse. – They come across sincere, not sappy. Cutesy illustrations and a lot of pretty pastels, too.
The delicious proximity of Fridays. – So close. So very close.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Heat Wave
Today, we had a power outage at work. It was incredibly hot without the A/C. On the bright side (and I promised yesterday that I was going to look on the bright side), it was nice to take a break from the computer. My eyeballs, at least, are thankful.
I’m actually quite tired (energy zapped from the heat wave) and don’t have much of anything to say. Plus, it’s time to lock up the office and head for the hills.
However, today’s music was brought to you by: Zero 7. Pure, smooth and mellow. Breathe a little harmony through your ears.
I’m actually quite tired (energy zapped from the heat wave) and don’t have much of anything to say. Plus, it’s time to lock up the office and head for the hills.
However, today’s music was brought to you by: Zero 7. Pure, smooth and mellow. Breathe a little harmony through your ears.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Office Etiquette…Or Lack Thereof
What IS appropriate: delineating what is/what is not communal office property and adhering to those rules
What is NOT appropriate: drinking someone else’s very last and clearly marked Diet Pepsi
And by clearly marked, I mean my name written in all CAPS and black, permanent marker right across the tab of the soda. If this was a first offense, I could forgive and forget. If it was a second, I could at least forgive. But if it was a sixth (oh yes, a SIXTH)…well, the gloves simply must come off.
This is why I have a hard time keeping mum. It usually comes back to bite you on the arse.
*No ranting tomorrow, promise.*
What is NOT appropriate: drinking someone else’s very last and clearly marked Diet Pepsi
And by clearly marked, I mean my name written in all CAPS and black, permanent marker right across the tab of the soda. If this was a first offense, I could forgive and forget. If it was a second, I could at least forgive. But if it was a sixth (oh yes, a SIXTH)…well, the gloves simply must come off.
This is why I have a hard time keeping mum. It usually comes back to bite you on the arse.
*No ranting tomorrow, promise.*
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