Horray for mindless work and listening to NPR

Happy happy holidays

I love this time of year.

Don't get me wrong, I don't start humming Christmas carols or anything, in fact, I hate Christmas carols. But I do love everything that winter break and Christmas has come to mean. I love giving gifts and spending lazy days with my family. I love seeing people I don't usually get to and eating a lot of really bad food. I love drinking a lot of wine and not worrying about a schedule. 

I love all those things, but I think I like the last one the most. I LOVE being on vacation. Even though I'm at school now, I don't have to be. And better yet, since school is officially closed today, I'm the only one in my office right now! YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH. I'm not obligated to be here, or do anything really. So the work that I do get done is just extra. I loved sleeping in today and not getting out of bed until 11 because I was gchatting with my cute cousin. I loved walking to school in the SUNSHINE (yes, the inversion is gone! [though slowly creeping back]). I love staring across the empty campus and turning the thermostat in our office waaaaaay up. I just love Christmas break. Almost more than summer break.

Weird, I know.

Don't get me wrong, I looooooooove summer break. Mostly the temperature of summer break. But winter break is a perfect reprieve from school. Over the summer I feel as though I have so much time, but then it flies by. In the winter, I know I only have a little bit so I do everything I can to make it awesome. I've seen a lot of people I love. I've spent a lot of time with my family. I am back on track with my marathon training (seven miles yesterday what what?). And now I am at school catching up on everything I need to. And I still have two more weeks!

The sad part is that this time next year I'll most likely be back to work because I have to be back to work. No more extended winter vacation for me. So I'm totally going to live this one up (even though everyone is gone.....including Tommy!)

I am just in the best mood and felt the need to share it with everyone. I hope you all had an excellent Christmas and/or Hanukkah and/or vacation.

I'm FREE!!!!!!!

That is all.

But you want more, right? Well, I wish could give you more, and I'll certainly try, but in the interest of privacy (and, aw heck, embarrassment) I'm going to omit some details.

Today marks the end of a dark time, the end of being on a short leash, the end of answering every beck and call of a certain someone, and the end of a semester.

It marks the beginning of an old life, the option to leave, the lack of obligations and the final dash to graduation.

Despite the thick, oppressing air and lack of sunshine for over 48 hours, I feel happier and just plain FREEer than I have in a long, long time.

More than three months ago, something happened. I can't really tell you what it was. But it happened. And while the ordeal is not quite over, the grip it held on my life is now gone. Poof. Just like that. Happy Holidays to you too, Newton. Hope I never have to talk to you again. Everyone (everyone who knows, that is) keeps congratulating me on my new found FREEdom. They keep telling me how happy they are for me. And I know they are. And I guess I am too, but it feels wrong to be happy about it. I am, in a way. I'm really excited to do things I want to do when I want to do them, but I feel like I escaped Karma somehow, and She's going to come back and say "HA remember me? Remember when you eluded *****? Well guess what? KAPOW!" And something is going to happen that will make me regret asking to be FREE. Now, I know that Karma is not really a real thing, and when you look back on the history of it, and stuff, Karma's not really all about punishing (or rewarding) you in this life for little actions or inaction you have taken. It's more how your next life turns out. But isn't it funny that practically everyone blames, or attributes Karma to their misfortunes/woes/happiness/luck? I'm no different. See, on that fateful night, I couldn't help thinking that it was my fault that everything went wrong. Obviously, the mere act itself was clearly my fault. But it was so preventable and yet, it wasn't prevented. It happened.

But, I really should be more optimistic. Because if there's really such thing as Karma, then it's out of my hands. And if there's not really such thing (and my rational self wants to believe the latter), then everything will be fine. Either way, I'm FREE from it, and should just stop worrying about it. I can go back to my old life now. And that feels really really good.

Phew. That was the hard one to talk about. Even just writing it, and putting it out to the universe--feels wrong. I haven't really talked to anyone about it.

NEXT CASE.

I am sooooo done with TAing the class from hach eee double hockey sticks. So so so freaking all the way DONE with it. The class wasn't that bad. Sure, there were a few students who made me want to SCREAM, but their grade reflects their poor attitude and I quietly relish that (no matter how smart you think you are if you don't come to class, [especially this class] there's a good chance you will miss something that you can't get out of a book. And it's not my fault. So don't you DARE bring it up in review session like, "I've never heard that term before like omg". I'm glad you did poorly on the test). No, most of the students were fun and excited and willing to learn. It was the instructor. Oh holy hell I could go on and on and on. But there's really no point. Because it's OVER. But I no longer have to do whatever she effing wants anymore. And boy does that feel good.

Last, it's the end of the semester. Which means that I get to spend all of the break working on my thesis. No, it's no the most ideal way to spend break, but it's my last chance of uninterrupted time to really work on it before it needs to be DONE. But also knowing that I can work on it at school, or at my house, or at my parents' house or at a coffee shop or at the city library is so LIBERATING. I really hope to get a lot done on it before next semester, because the spring is going to be a crazy time.

I'm so close to being done with school I can almost taste it.

I am just having the best day ever. Really really really. I love today. And OH MY FREAKING MOSES THE SUN JUST CAME OUT!

The end.

I have had this page open all day and now I'm about to pack up and I still haven't written anything.

I was once again inspired by a blog, this time by a girl who does nothing special except write really really well--check her out here. I followed a link to her blog from facebook and apparently so did the rest of the world because her post today was about how she suddenly became viral. Ha. That's not the point. The point is that she's an excellent observational writer--she's witty and topical! I can only hope to be like her. So when I got to school today I opened up blogger and thought, I'm going to write like she would. I spent the day thinking of things to write about, and came up with a list (though short). Topics such as "Why do people spend so much money on a mac and then don't learn all the cool stuff that goes with it like two finger scrolling?!?" or "That nasty wart/blister on my heel" or "How I can't make fun of students on facebook anymore because they've all added me as a friend" or "That stupid hypocritical bitch on facebook that I drives me crazy but I wouldn't delete her but then I finally did". You get it. My life revolves around (not "centers around" that is just plain wrong and stupid! another post I wanted to write) facebook. And mundane shit that no one cares about. And complaining. Again with the complaining. I promise I really am a happy person who is very lucky to have the life I lead!

So, despite my best efforts to observe something and then write about it witty-ly on the interwebz in the hopes that one day too my blog will go viral (even though I actually don't really want that), I came to the conclusion that maybe today is not the day. And I can't force creativity or inspiration.

Therefore, in order to not call the day a complete failure, I decided to document something that I am grateful for.

I am grateful for the health and safety of those I love dearly. Tommy's grandfather has taken a turn for the worse and it just made me realize that I am really lucky that my friends and family are (relatively) ok. Everyone is leading a productive life. Few are unemployed, and those who are have parents willing to take them in until things get better. With the exception of Grandpa Waner, everyone is in good health.

So I am thankful that all I have to complain about is this stupid wart/blister that is making it impossible to train for the marathon. Damn you, universe! Just kidding.

I'm heading home now, Tommy is bugging me on skype. It's the inter mural dodge ball championships tonight. GO DONKEYS GO!

Corelli's Mandoline: A Novel, Reviewed

Well folks, it was a long time coming, but I finally finished Corelli's Mandolin: A Novel, by Louis de Bernieres.

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This book, let me tell you, is fabulous.

The main story follows Pelagia, a young girl living on the island of Cephallonia in Greece during the height of World War II. Early on the book she falls in love with a local fisherman, Mandras, and they are betrothed. Soon after, however, troops from Italy and Germany invade the island, and Captain Corelli (of Italy) invades Pelagia's father's house.

[side note: I am currently writing my thesis and it has become very apparent that I am now a science writer--I mean, how boring was the above description?!?]

I'm not going to divulge much more information about the plot because it twists and turns and comes back on itself and nearly everything is related, and honestly, it's one of those books you're better off being surprised by.

But oh my god let me tell you, de Bernieres is a literary genius. Though much of the story is told from Pelagia's point of view, each chapter is different and switches between characters. Often, if they are not about Pelagia, Dr. Iannis (her father) or Corelli, they are told in the first person or by letter in a different character's voice. This technique makes the novel very interesting and exciting to read. One of my favorite chapters was sort of a train-of-thought of EL DUCE (Mussolini)--absolutely hilarious and you can tell de Bernieres didn't think highly of the man (for probably all the right reasons).

I found after reading it that the book is historically accurate--which makes it all the more intriguing. Throughout the novel, Dr. Iannis is attempting to write a history of his beloved island, but continues to get frustrated as his own biases and opinions of how things went down keep sneaking into his text. Ironically, one of the Italian soldiers remarks, "I know that if we win then there will be stories about mass graves in London and vice versa". After this statement, it becomes apparent (at least to me) that the author wants the public to know what happened in Greece from all different points of view, because it's common knowledge that whoever wins the war gets to write the history books.

de Bernieres also provides a lot of commentary on different forms of government--especially communism and fascism--through his different characters. Unfortunately I don't know much about the subject, so it was difficult for me to follow, and it will be nearly impossible for me to review. BUT if you're into that sort of stuff, it's in there.

So I mentioned early on in this post that it took me a long time to read this book and that is for a couple of reasons. The first is that I have had no time lately. What with all this running and wedding planning and thesis writing, I get into bed right after dinner and fall asleep before I hit my pillow. But I have to admit that the beginning was kiiiiiiiinnnndddaaaa slooooooooow. I think if I were able read bigger chunks of it over longer time periods, I would have gotten into it, but all I could manage was a chapter or two a few times a week. And since his chapters switch characters and plot lines each time, the stories didn't really pick up until about halfway through (and it's a 400 page book here people). So honestly, I didn't get excited about picking it up until the end (although, pahleeese don't get me wrong, when I did have time to read it, I was always glad that I did because de Bernieres is an absolutely stunning writer. You feel like your eyeballs have turned into golden honey after reading what he wrote because he's that good).

But when you get to that tipping point where all the stories have momentum and the characters are built, then you'll fly through it. I would reccomend this book to anyone. It is combines multiple love stories, historical events, and political commentary into a book that will make you laugh and cry (oh my god I haven't cried so hard since the last episode of Grey's amiright?) and think. It is hands down one of the best books I have ever EVER read.

So go pick it up from your local book shop and dig in. And let me know what you think!

PS I mentioned in my last post that I read two doozies. Well obvi this was the first, and the second was the second installment of the Hunger Games titled Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I flew through it in about 13 hours, and now I'm reading the last of the trilogy, so when I'm done with the set I'll review the whole thing.

PPS Do yall know anything about florists? That's the next big "thing" on the wedding planning to-do list and I'm sorta at a loss on this one....