mr. wally lamb

I have read a lot of books lately, most of them weren't worth mentioning. But every rule has an exception, and I have found mine. In high school, I read two books by Wally Lamb: I Know This Much Is True and She's Come Undone (the second I stole from a library, I'm sorry to say, but I had to). Both were books I wanted to read when I couldn't, like an addict. Oprah loved them too.
So, he became overwhelmed by the success of his books piggy-backing on each other and didn't publish one for awhile. I looked for a new book here and there, but figured it was a lost cause after a few years.
UNTIL I found The Hour I First Believed at my favorite York used-book store. I bought it, gobbled up all 735 pages, and reaffirmed my literary crush. I can safely say that Wally Lamb is the greatest fiction writer I have ever encountered, and I've been friendly with a lot of them. The man included an appendix with playlist to recount his inspiration. I can't say enough.

my, what an angry jury you have.

Tonight was the read-through for my second play in York. I was only planning to be here a month, but at least I have been given the opportunity to act in 2 plays. Before Anne of Avonlea, I hadn't auditioned in 5 years (thank you, Gordon College). This one is called 12 Angry Jurors and is at the York Little Theatre. I am Number 2 because first is the worst and second is the best. The theatre has good vibes, the show has a contemporary setting, the cast seems nice & talented, the space is in the round, and I am the closest thing to a child in the cast. All these things make me think it will be a good experience.

The downside: there is a performance on the night of the Lost Season 6 premiere.

Theatre v. Lost = the greatest battle for my heart ever.

the golden age

Incidentally, in the time that my computer was busted and I abandoned my blog, I turned 26 on Sept. 26, which made it My Golden Birthday. That was a month ago today, but I would just like to say I have really nice friends and family who took care of me as I entered a new year with only one parent at the party. Rachael and I went to NYC to try to see HAIR, but didn't, and stayed at a sick hotel that looked like The Hatch from the top floor

and went to see pretty Mandi

That's all.

:(

I am so sick of people getting diagnosed with cancer.

At least Andrew Lloyd Webber's isn't pancreatic and isn't stage 4.
:(

UNDEFEATED

York had a Small Dogs Expo with a costume contest. There were four awards: Most Original, Scariest, Prettiest, and Funniest.

Gigl was dressed as the Hamburglar/Hamgiggler and won Scariest, and Holly recycled the turkey costume and won Funniest.

Moral of the story: I am the pug pagaent mom queen of Halloween.

all these things

that I've found in cleaning out Grey Gardens or in grosso York.


Softballs that my dad kept from some of his best games. He didn't realize at the time that he was saving one for Jeff, Jenny, and me to hold onto.


baby Beatle!


this is what people eat for dinner in York


This is one of the three thousand boxes of my dad's writings that I have organized (and will later turn into the most awesome book(s) ever), on computer paper that is folded in half. I think I know now where I got my hypergraphic tendencies. The irony is that he pulled out his horoscope for something regarding a sermon and he was the sign of Cancer.


From the envelope from the last Valentine card my dad gave me. It's actually from the second to last Valentine's he was alive, but the last one in his real handwriting. I love.

my life according to the killers

Describe yourself:
NEON TIGER

How do you feel:
HUMAN

Describe where you currently live:
SAM'S TOWN

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
A DUSTLAND FAIRYTALE

Your favorite form of transportation
SANTA'S BIG SLEIGH

Your best friend?
ANDY, YOU'RE A STAR

You and your best friends are:
SPACEMAN

What's the weather like:
THIS RIVER IS WILD

Favorite time of day:
MIDNIGHT SHOW

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
GLAMOROUS INDIE ROCK N ROLL

What is life to you:
BLING!

Your relationship:
BONES

Your fear:
READ MY MIND

What is the best advice you have to give:
LEAVE THE BOURBON ON THE SHELF

Thought for the Day:
SMILE LIKE YOU MEAN IT

How I would like to die:
ON TOP

My soul's present condition:
LOSING TOUCH

My motto:
I CAN'T STAY

sunshine adventures

1. Sunshine Cleaning: Booooring. I love Emily Blunt and Amy Adams but not when I'm asleep.
C+

2. Adventureland: So nice, I watched it twice. I want Santa to bring me the DVD.
A+

3. Mysteries of Pittsburgh: Misleadingly boring from the previews & hype. Can Sienna Miller play anything but a sassy, party-girl muse? And if that is the typecast she hangs her hat on, she should at least do it well. I love her TopShop stuff, she should stick to the clothes. Take a lesson from the Olsens, lady friend.
D

4. The Jane Austen Book Club: I Love Emily Blunt & Maggie Grace (especially MG with dark hair). Seemed like a better movie than a book, and Jenny confirmed this (which is ironic considering the topic).
B

ring king

I've never been way into jewelry unless it's permanentally implanted, but I am when it is yellow and/or has a little meaning to it. So the other night my mom gave me this ring:

The topaz/gold glory belonged to my great-grandfather and my dad used to like to wear it on dress-up occassions. And now it belongs to me, and I will wear it for all occasions. I do love me some men's jewelry.

bad things

I want this to be my new ringtone but don't know how :(

ear candy

There has been a lack of good live music in my life for the past few months, but luckily that has been recently remedied by two of the best performances of my life.

1. BOB WEIR = late hours of crazy awesomeness at All Good in West Virginia that ended way too soon.



2. THE WAILERS = minutes of awesomeness at People's Fest in Wilmington that lightning managed to make even better, but also caused to end way waaaaay too soon.

seamstress patch

Some girls scout fairies descended upon my PicnicPack and gave me patches that I didn't earn, but do deserve. In another life, they belonged to my mama.

blockbustation

Blockbuster offered this deal where you get unlimited movies (2 at a time) for a week, and I have been trying to be on top of getting my $$$'s worth. And the lucky ducks who got to come home with me so far have been:

1. Wendy & Lucy
I loved it inside out upside down. A girl with bad luck who is on the road and loves her dog, it felt very familiar.

A+

2. Confessions of a Shopaholic
Felt just like the Devil Wears Prada. I liked the idea of really addressing shopping addicts (which it seemed to do at the beginning), but then it got too slapstick at the end. There was a bride in fur in NYC, which I love. But there was also a moment involving the line, "The bidder on the phone was you?" Which I did not love.
C+

3. He's Just Not That Into You
I never saw a preview for this movie, but I did see the commercials, which are mini-previews. And the movie was just a way longer version of the commercial. It felt like Love, Actually in the structure of the plot and a way watered down SATC overall. I like Ginnifer Goodwin but her character was pathetic. Drew Barrymore's part was small, but she was the techno-savvy faghag, and she had a line that said, "People don't meet each other organically anymore." I think that can be true, but I'm glad it's not the case in my life.
C

4. The Education of Charlie Barlett
So boring, everyone mumbled. Fred Durst should not direct anymore. I lasted about 40 minutes before I took it out and watched.....
F

5. The Office Season 4
Makes my heart soar.
A+

my thoughts

1. I wish I could play the violin.

2. It annoys me that people are saying Bruno won't be funny because I think the general public is jealous of Sasha's crazy great humor skills, which are impeccable in my not humble opinion.

3. Today was our first open house and 9 couples went through, one of whom was supposedly very interested. 2 other couples went through last week. I don't think I have ever wanted anything as much as I want this house sold and to be done with York. The day this house sells will most likely trump my wedding day.

4. The Office is my favorite show ever besides Lost.

5. Today I went to the dog park and there was 1 other fugly pug, 3 jugs (jack russell/pug), 5 bugs (beagle/pugs, which I thought were called puggles but whatever), and a bulldog. I don't know why people get these imitation pugs when obviously all they want is a Gigl of their own.

where the sidewalk ends

BUY MY HOUSE NOW