Archives for the month of: July, 2011

2011 in Books (so far).

July 28, 2011 //
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I love reading. Books are fulfilling unlike anything else (with the exception of some music, but only some).  So far, 2011 has been a remarkable year for my literary cultivation. I slacked a bit throughout college, but those days are long gone now. (Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.) My favorite kind of genre is dark/science fiction laced with political undertones. That might seem a bit specific, but a lot of the novels I read fall into that category.

WIthout further ado, here is 2011 in books (so far).

-Animal Farm, by George Orwell

-American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis

-The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

-Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

-Less than Zero, by Bret Easton Ellis

-The Rules of Attraction, by Bret Easton Ellis

-IT, by Stephen King

-The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury

-The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

-The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (in progress)

So far they’ve been pretty good, though a few books (ahem: the works of Bret Easton Ellis) are pretty messed up. I typically like “messed up” though. Maybe I’m messed up. And Stephen King’s “IT” was so promising in the beginning-middle, but it dragged on and on. Otherwise, I recommend any of these books, especially those by Ray Bradbury. He’s my favorite. I can’t ever get enough.

Thanks for reading.

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Categories Literature, Ponderings

Meet Frank.

July 26, 2011 //
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Meet Frank.

Ever since we had to put our sweet dog, Claude, down, her sister (since birth) has been a little down. After considering adoption for a couple weeks, we finally decided to go for it. My work is directly across the street from an incredible organization in St. Louis called Stray Rescue. There are so many volunteers who sacrifice their time and energy to give abandoned, abused, or lost dogs a confortable life.

We found Frank and fell in love. He’s an adorable rotweiler/german shepherd mix, and we could not be happier to have him in our home. If you’re considering dog ownership, I highly recommend skipping the puppy phase and adopting a dog who truly needs you. At Stray Rescue, all dogs are microchipped, spayed/neutered, eligible for assistance for an on-staff personal trainer, and most of all- super loving and appreciative. It really is a fabulous organization.

Thanks for reading.

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Categories Photography, Ponderings

Chicago Trip

July 10, 2011 //
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Finally back from Chicago after a glorious weekend. I spent most of my time in Bucktown, the neighborhood where my boyfriend, Matt, resides. While I adore the trendy, yuppie-infested atmosphere of Bucktown, I will always feel a strong affection for Lincoln Square, where Matt’s parents live. This charming neighborhood is my ideal summer getaway; I can’t think of a much better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to engage in conversation over a decadent brunch at Fork- which is exactly what I did today. I’m a lucky girl. Also on the agenda was playing with my sweet friend, Nora. (Matt’s niece). Someone had very mysteriously poured soap into the fountain overnight. I don’t think a single person could resist smiling at the outrageous display of foam. Especially Nora.

Thanks for reading.

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Categories Photography, Ponderings

Fahrenheit 451

July 7, 2011 //
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This post is a tribute to my favorite authors. ^^The photo is of one of my favorite books. Hoping to frame this print someday.

Now that I’m creeping my way into the real world (not the MTV show, thank God), it’s clearer that my long-term infatuation with literature has shaped my lifestyle into what it is today. I’ve been reading for a long time- I suppose since the age of four or so. (Doesn’t sound so impressive considering my brother could write at the age of three).

Anyway, since before I can remember, my parents would find me lying on my stomach, leafing through a Sesame Street book. I’ve always been easily distracted (sort of spacey, I guess) and even as a child, my parents would send me to my disaster of a room with one direction: straighten things up. For whatever reason, I always ended up lost in a pile of dog-eared works by Mercer Mayer, Beverly Cleary, and Dr. Seuss. Shrug.

Since then, my attention span has stretched just enough to give me hope for a future. My literature obsession has yet to subside- but it’s not as compelling as it was  in the third grade. Each year I try to read works by a new artist. Last year it was Ayn Rand(such an incredible, strong, brilliant woman) and this year it was Brett Easton Ellis (I recommend him for sure if you aren’t easily disturbed).

Literature is so much more powerful than movies could ever be. At least to me. Maybe that’s why I’m not really a film person. How can I ever compare an hour-and-a-half (that’s my limit) motion picture to a thousand pages of rich text?

This has been another rambling post, but if you’re still reading (and wow, thank you for that) then I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from my friend, Oscar Wilde.

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” -Oscar Wilde

Thanks for… reading. :)

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Categories Art, Literature, Ponderings

Photographs // How bitter, how sweet

July 1, 2011 //
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I found this photo today of my brother and me (and our sweet dog, Claude). Isn’t it funny how dogs have such distinct personalities? Claude and Cleo came from the same litter, and while most people could never differentiate one from the other, we could tell them apart from any angle. I miss that girl. So does Cleo. Photographs are such a treasure; a luxury, really.

Thanks for reading.

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Categories Photography, Ponderings