Reading

I've been waiting for this sort of day for months.

Laying in bed, drinking cup after cup of coffee, reading a book on my kindle.

Right now I'm reading the new Dan Brown book, The Lost Symbol.

It's moving pretty slowly right now, I am a little more than a third of the way through and hoping it'll pick up soon.

I'm kind of excited to finish and move on to the next book, which will probably be the new Foer book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. After that, who knows!

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Having a kindle is great, but there really is something special about holding a book in your hands, turning the pages, underlining your favorite lines to go back to later, and then lending your favorite books to your friends. Also, one of my favorite things to have happen is to have someone say, "I love this book, I think you will,too," and then they lend you theirs, with the worn in pages and bent spine. As much as I love a new book, it's somehow more special when it's already been read and experienced. There's something magical about it. But of course, kindles are so convenient and the books are often cheaper and you can have like a thousand books with you at a time, pretty excellent for vacations. Yet, I don't really think it would be a good idea to bring a kindle on a beach.

I just hope that the same thing doesn't happen to the book industry that happened to the record industry. It's a legitimate worry of mine.

There's something so beautiful about a stack of books.

And I love bookshops, and when I grow up, I want a humungous library.

I'll stop being a booknerd now and go back to my reading.

(images found on booklover.tumblr.com)

Quote of the Week

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

(photo via tumblr.com)

Christmas is over :(

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Santa brought me a cold, so I've spent a lot of time relaxing and watching movies. I guess it's better to be sick now then at a time where I don't have time to rest and need to get lots done. Besides the fact that I have the sniffles, Christmas was really nice this year. No drama, lots and lots of good food, and some excellent presents. It's really just so amazing to have time to relax for once! I am also getting very excited to graduate and start making plans for the future! While I am home I am going to start re-doing my room (ex. picking paint colors, getting new furniture, etc.) for when I move back in. I don't know how long I will be moving back in for but I figure it's about time, and my parents will have an easier time selling the house once my room isn't a bright teal color anymore.

Now that Christmas is over, I have a lot to get done before returning to school! For example, I HAVE to finish my grad school apps. There are also a few people that I want to get together and catch up with. And also I want to make a lot of progress on my room! I am really excited for the new year, because I always consider it to be a fresh start. This year, I'm really going to pay attention. It's amazing to see the sort of things that can happen in one year's time. 2009 was not really the best year in a lot of ways, but one thing it has awarded me is a better knowledge of myself. I really think I am starting to know who I am, and what direction I am headed in more than ever before. I know there is a lot I have to learn, but I am getting a better idea of what I want out of life.

The pretty winter sun!

Me with the cam

My dad with our dog, Mickey

My cousin Dan and his wife, Kim, with my Grandpa Jim

me and my family by the tree in Rockefeller Center

My pup, Janey, in the kitchen

Our tree

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

Merry Christmas everyone!

No matter your beliefs, I hope you are having a relaxing day with some good food and some good company!

(that's our tree!)

(p.s. This is my 100th post. How perfect!)

A Different Kind of Busy

Hello everyone! I hope you are all getting ready to eat, drink, and be merry tomorrow and Friday! Since I've gotten home, my life has pretty much been one whole Christmas celebration, and I certainly have no complaints about that. Needless to say, I have been very busy, and I will most likely continue to be that way for the next few days, but I'll tell you the sorts of things I have been doing so far.

Friday: Took my last final (grades are pretty good this semester) and drove home and stopped for some Christmas shopping. I was quite tired, so I relaxed a bit, waited for my mom to get home, and then the two of us went out to dinner and watched Julie and Julia and waited for my dad to get home from his business trip.

Saturday: Unpacked all of my stuff, relaxed, etc, then went to my friends house for some drinks. Then I slept at Melina's because she lives nearby and went home the next morning.

Sunday: Went to my aunt's house to spend time with my family that would not be making it to Christmas Eve this year. We spent quite some time eating, laughing, and hanging out. Then we came home, decorated the tree, and had some dinner.

Monday: Got some Christmas shopping done, worked out (kinda) and watched my cousin for a little. Then some of my other family came over for dinner and we hung out till it was my bedtime.

Tuesday: Wrapped presents for my aunt, as it has sort of become an annual tradition and a good way for Mel and I to make money for last minute Christmas gifts. Then came back here, watched Julie and Julia yet again, and then got ready to go out. Went to Michelle's house to do Secret Santa with the girls. Then we all stopped at my friend Kyle's because he was having a little Christmas party, and then went to our friend Pat's to see the boys. From there we all went to the diner, ordered gravy and mozzarella cheese fries (New Jersey thing) and that brought me to about 3:30 in the morning.

Wednesday: Now I am up. And tired, and apparently a bit congested. I think it's a combination of allergies, staying up late, and just plain old being run down. Even so, today is going to be a big day! Me and the fam are going to Les Halles, Anthony Bourdain's french restaurant in NYC, and then to the MoMa to see the Tim Burton exhibit I posted about before, and then hopefully to see the tree! There will be pictures.

These pictures I have put up are from decorating the tree. we had a little fun with some net lights and I only had my iphone handy so apologies for the poor camera quality.

mom

jess and chris

chris

jess

me with no eyes! ( i was told this photo is frightening, my apologies.)

Quote of the Week

"It is a luxury to be understood."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just a little somethin'

On Friday, I will be done, and you will be hearing more from me, but I thought I'd post a little something that made my day a little brighter today as I study for my finals.

On A Cup Of Jo, Joanna Goddard posted the cutest puppy pictures I have ever seen. And of course, I saved them to my computer to cherish forever.

Enjoy!