Randomness

I haven't blogged in a while, but as I have no exciting news or thoughts to report, this will be a mish-mash I suppose.

1. Author website pet peeve: If authors have written or are writing a series of books, I really appreciate when their website states a clear reading order -- I could hunt and find that information myself, but I'm grateful when the author makes it easy for me.

2. I've been reading a lot recently, trying to catch up during this break in my life, of sorts. Some books I've read recently include:

The Bronte Project by Jennifer Vandever -- Funny and thoughtful parody of academia and Hollywood, and also how reading and caring about books can influence or change our lives.

The Sharing Knife: Beguilement (Vol. 1) by Lois McMaster Bujold -- Discovering author Catherine Asaro piqued my interest in romantic fantasy and fantasy, so I've been looking for some new authors to try. I found this book through the Avon editors blog, actually, as the second book in the duo recently came out and was recommended there. I'm thrilled I tried it, as Bujold created a vivid fantasy world with engaging and lovable characters, but I can't wait to get my hands on the second book (which unfortunately is currently in hardcover . . . guess I'll have to wait till next year).

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder -- LOVE this book and can't wait for the next one. Great concept and executed very well. The story was interesting and suspenseful throughout, and the characters were all so intriguing.

The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon -- I got more into this book as it went on and ended up really enjoying the whole oddness of the mystery. The characters and the relationships between them are wonderfully portrayed.

3. I've also been buying books faster than I can read them (I can't help myself when bookstores send me coupons, or when Borders has those 3 for 2 sales). Books I've recently purchased include:

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger -- I know, I'm like the last person in the US who has not read it.

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot -- Cabot is so famous and her books so reputedly enjoyable for light reading that I thought give her a go.

Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston -- I loved Good Grief by the same author so I picked up this, her second book. However, the concept seems even more depressing to me than that of the first, so I'll see if she pulls it off with me again.

The Frog Prince by Jane Porter -- I saw this recommended on Julia Quinn's website, and a long long time ago I saw Quinn's recommendation of Gaelen Foley which was dead on the mark. Foley is awesome, go read her! Therefore I figured I'd give Porter a go.

Home Sweet Home

To the great comfort of my mother, I have secured an apartment in NYC!! (She was afraid I'd end up homeless). It's in Brooklyn, about 3 miles from Coney Island. It's a little farther away from Manhattan than I'd prefer, but the rate is good, the roomies seem cool, and I'm happy to get the process over with sooner rather than being picky. I'll post pics when I get furniture and move in!

iTunes

I just bought Sara Bareilles' album Little Voice in iTunes and I love it! Go listen to her!

If You Get Caught Between the Moon and NYC . . .

I'm in NYC!!!!

I flew in on Friday with my dad (boy that was a nightmare . . . this is clearly not my month for air travel), and moved into my housing at Columbia University yesterday. I live in a single room in a dorm that looks over Broadway, and the area and campus are both lovely.

Today we started our courses for the Columbia Publishing Course, and heard a series of really great speakers. If anything, being here so far is starting to convince me that publishing is where I really belong -- I'm in a crowd of people who love to read and want to talk about books all the time! Heaven!

ttfn, but I'll keep updates on job prospects, etc.

This is why traveling sucks...

This weekend I've traveled to North Carolina for my friend's wedding, and it has been the worst travel experience I've ever had.

My flight plan was to fly on Thursday from LA to Chicago to Greensboro, and this would have gotten me to NC by about 7 PM EST. Unfortunately, Chicago was having very high winds which caused delays and cancellations all day. We were delayed for about 2 hours in LA. When I got to Chicago, I turned on my cell after we had just landed and saw I had two voicemail messages -- as soon as I heard my mom's phone number, I knew she was calling to tell me that my flight from Chicago to Greensboro was cancelled. Yipee.

So I go to get in line to rebook my flight, but the slight problem is that a friend was supposed to pick me up in Greensboro, so my schedule was not the only one I had to keep in mind. I called the help number and found that I could get to Greensboro the next day by 5 PM and would have to fly through Dallas. Great. 5 PM was the time of the wedding rehearsal, so nobody would be able to pick me up. However, I got a flight to Raleigh-Durham, which was of course delayed, so I got to RDU around 1:30 AM. My amazing good friend Abby drove two hours to pick me up, and we arrived in Eden, NC around 4 AM.

My bag, however, did not arrive.

It is Saturday morning, and it still has not arrived. In fact, they don't even know where it is.

Which means, of course, that I had no clothes other than the ones on my back.

AND none of my friends here are my size.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR

So amazing good friend Abby also drove me to Belk at 8:15 last night (store closes at 9) and I rushed around like a madwoman to put an outfit together so I wouldn't have to wear a care bears t-shirt and jeans to my friend's wedding. I did successfully find a dress and sandals to wear, so I won't feel like a total bozo today. I know that the bride and groom would totally understand if I were a bit underdressed, but I would have felt badly and embarassed about being dressed so inappropriately at their wedding.

It's been a long two days.

Gradumacation

So tomorrow I graduate. I don't really know what to say at what I'm sure is one of the more momentous events of my life so far. Tomorrow will signal the end of 4 years of very hard work and play, the end to dorm living and long winter and summer breaks, and the beginning of my entrance into the "real world."

I'll miss my school, faculty, friends, and classes. However, I also look forward to the next stage of my life, and hope the past four years have prepared me for what is to come.

All the best to the class of 2007!

Arrival of the Parental and Brother Units

Last night my parents and brother arrived in North Carolina to begin the graduation weekend festivities. Yay! I don't actually graduate till Monday, but since they have to come such a long way (from California), they are coming a few days before most parents will show up. I was a little worried about them making it here yesterday, as I saw on the news yesterday that LAX had to temporarily evacuate a terminal, but though my parents were at the airport around the same time as thatoccurrence, they were leaving from a different terminal.

I'm just so excited that they are here because I don't see my family that
often during school (unlike most of my friends who go home semi-frequently). Home is so far away and I consequently rarely go home except for summer and winter breaks. I spent last summer in Philadelphia doing an internship, so I spent about 6 weeks with my family all of last year. It will be nice to spend some time with them over the weekend.