(Heavy Cross- Gossip!)
Work has been good, but exhausting! Yesterday I followed my client around one of the local malls for six or so hours, and at the end of it all, I was carrying about eight big bags and three tiny ones. I've never done that much shopping in my life! My boss even bought me a new pair of shoes for my troubles, and something from Swarovski as a Christmas bonus. When I got home yesterday at around 830, I was shaking from how heavy the bags were. I'm sure it didn't help that until we sat down to eat at 6pm, that I hadn't really eaten all day. The power had gone down the night before due to wind storms, and it wasn't back up for hours; that morning I had just enough time to take a shower and sock-bun my curls for the day, when it finally came back on.
Suffice it to say, I'm a little more than sore today.
Wednesday would have been my cousin Jill's 30th birthday. She passed away in 2009 while on vacation in Thailand with her fiance, Ryan. So, when 5pm rolled around, those of us who were able took shots in her honor. I was working and had no choice but to take a sip of coffee for her, but I'm sure she would have appreciated the gesture regardless. We had so many plans! I was going to come visit her and my sister in Washington, and we were going to spend our time together going through antique shops, going to art galleries, and generally wrecking-havoc. We were never incredibly close growing up, but as adults we were able to form a relationship despite the distance and divorce that had originally kept us apart as kids. Since she passed, I've been so grateful for those moments we were able to spend together as friends and family.
Let's see..
Oh, so like I mentioned, I ended up reading The Hunger Games. At first I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it/finish it at all. When it came out in 2008, I had been introduced to greats like Neil Gaiman and Chuck Palaniuk and wasn't sure if I would be able to read anything remotely YA for some time. But all of the reviews I had seen were amazing, but when I went to pick it up, I saw that it was written in the first person narrative and immediately put it back down.
I'm of the opinion that first POV should be reserved for essays or journal entries, but not for an entire novel. It just bothers me-- more than any other literary device there is.
But after seeing the previews and knowing I needed something to keep me entertained while my mom had her surgery, I went ahead and bought it anyway. At first I honestly couldn't get past the narration, but when I finally hit my stride, I was able to enjoy it and finish it in a night.
I just finished Mockingjay last night (the third book in the trilogy), and I have to say how sorely I misjudged the writing. It's young adult, yes; but there's something about them that makes me weary about younger children reading them. I can't imagine a 13 year old walking away from it and being okay.
Just really unexpected and well-done. I haven't cared that much about characters or a story-line in a long time.
Speaking of books, I bought Finn two for Christmas: The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (in Real Life) (Chris Hardwick) and Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett).
When I heard about the former, I knew I was going to buy it for him. It's a self-help book, but I think he'll enjoy the comedy in it more than anything. As for the other, it's one of my favorite books! Finn likes Neil Gaiman (he steals my copy of Neverwhere and Anansi Boys all of the time), but he rarely ever buys anything for himself aside from games. It's a hilarious telling about the end of the world, and the accidental loss of the Antichrist in an orphanage. There are two covers: one that is black, white, with red accents and the likeness of the fast-living demon mentioned in the summary; and the other is black, white, with golden accents and a similar accents of the fussy angel. I have the first, so I thought I'd get him the companion cover for fun. I think he'll dig it. And I'm excited for Christmas to give them to him!
Most of what I want for Christmas comes from Modcloth, bookshops, and Etsy. Also, a new pair of boots would be wonderful. But I'm not expecting anything too grand.
I feel stupidly jumbled right now. I apologize!
Last night was the first time I've gotten a decent amount of sleep in days, and I don't think I'm fully out the haze yet.
Anyway, hope you're all doing well!
