Zoe’s Journal

Today I went, for the first time ever, to a Phoenix public library. In North Carolina, I used to frequent the libraries, but when I moved out here, I started to just buy my books. However, I’m taking a course on children’s literature, and we have to read at least one book a week, and I really don’t think the LotR wants ‘King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub‘ or ‘Click Clack Moo‘ lying around on the coffee table. I don’t.

So, off I hied myself to a library, which turned out to be amazingly close (and in close proximity to Subway’s, Target, and Bombshell’s Cabaret), rather small, and yet containing all the books I needed. I signed up for a card, dug out my list of books, stepped over a smattering of small kids, found my books, and got myself quickly out of that miniature room to find a ‘real’ table with chairs that sat higher than my shinbone.

Once at that table, I discovered that the library is an amazing place to work. I didn’t bring my laptop, so nothing distracted or disturbed me (except for the homeless guys that came in regularly to use the restroom) while I finished up this week’s lessons and got started on the next ones.

Have you ever found that liquor renders you loquacious?

It does me.

At any rate, I believe that I have a mild whiplash. And by mild, I mean, Ouchie. It was gotten yesterday, when, during my regular workout with the trainer, he decided to have me do some martial arts kicking. So he held up the kicking pad and said, ‘Come on, break my ribs!’. So, I squared up, geared up, and let fly with a rib-breaking kick… which unfortunately didn’t quite connect and threw me completely off my feet and into the air, from which I came down with a hand-bruising, and apparently whiplashing, bang, flat on my back. Talk about funny. I wish I had that on video.

I believe I’m going to go watch Annie.

It seems that just yesterday was May, and yet next week will introduce November. I can tell that winter is coming because my hair is becoming increasingly static-y.

At times, I wonder where the time has gone, and then I think back and remember that each week has flown by. Like this week, for example. Work is busy, so time flies there. Then I have the gym… after that, it’s evening and one day is gone. And each day this week so far, the LotR and/or I have been busy with other things after work. Last night after our martial arts class, we rushed to celebrate the LotR’s father’s 65th birthday. We got home around 9:30. Today after the gym, I rushed to meet friends for a shopping trip. After they left, I went to a couple of other stores to pick up some kitchen stuff. Okay, okay. And shoes. Tomorrow I have martial arts and also need to pick up some dry-cleaning along with jeans that I had to get hemmed up.

Speaking of jeans, I am a firm believer that clothes-makers and tailors have formed a diabolical team. I bought another pair of jeans tonight. I held the waist up to my boobs and the bottom cuffs still brushed the floor. Amazing.

Again, speaking of jeans, the pair I got tonight is a whole size smaller than what I had been wearing! I had been wearing a 27-waist… my new pair is a delightfully-fitting (except for the length) size 26. I guess all that dieting and working out has paid off! Let’s see how they hold up after this weekend trip to Vegas…

Now, I’m terribly tired. Hopefully I’ll have something more exciting to post later this weekend

I was thinking today at work. When a piece of paper is lying print-side up, why do we call it face-up? Or face-down, if the blank side is up? It’s a pretty simple concept, but it amazed me still.

The face is where the important information is. People can’t tell anything about you from the back of your head. Same for a face-down piece of paper. Can’t see anything important. Whereas if you turn the paper over, or turn the body around, you have a whole wealth of information!

It’s interesting how humans try to relate to everything as if it, too, where human. Cat ‘arms’, face-up paper, etc…

Interesting.

I’m pretty energized tonight for some reason. This morning I was super-tired and dreading all of the stuff that I have on my plate. But I got some stuff done/started at work today, and had a good workout afterward. It’s not quite 7:30, and I’ve finished my homework.

There is still a pile of about 25 cd’s on my desk to rip onto the computer, a whimsy rag article to write, a book review to write, dinner to cook, and a shower to take, but I feel OK. Oh, and I need to remember to buy some stamps.

The book I am reading, The Lies of Locke Lamora, is one of the more difficult books I’ve tried to read lately! I don’t know what it is… something about the writing style… lack of action… the layout… something. I’m only 132 pages in, and have been working on it for about a week (not every day though).

So, I also don’t know why, but things have been really stressful lately! Maybe once I get caught up at work… I haven’t been able to stay late because I have gym appointments at 5:00, four days a week! Today, however, I got to stay late and left myself with just a tad less stress than I had. Which is good. And then I came home and sent out a bunch of email interviews for my homework. A rough draft is due next monday - eeps! I need to get my stuff organized!

I’ve been trying to eat really healthy lately - and it works… all the way until dinner-time. Yesterday was one of my first ‘real’ dinners since Napa Valley. I’ve been surviving on chips, salsa, and cheese dip. O.o At least, for dinner. Breakfasts and lunches are much better since I actually prepare those a day in advance. Taking my advice from that, I just took out some food from the freezer for tomorrow night - hurray! I’m getting a real meal tomorrow night!

Speaking of food, I discovered a REALLY good salad recipe! Perfect for summer, since it’s so light. Here it is:

1 can of white beans, rinsed

drizzle olive oil and lemon juice over beans. Salt and pepper also. Slice some cooked, cold shrimp in half and mix with beans. Add some pickled peppers (optional, but they add a lot). Serve over lettuce.

It’s delicious! I made some tzatziki to go with it. MMmmmm…

Now it’s time to go get out of my work clothes and practice some hapkido kicks!

I haven’t really posted a comprehensive blog post in a while, so here goes. I’m going to do this the easy way, and just list things by category, and maybe run off on a rabbit trail or two.

Work:
Going good! Learning new things and being challenged. Always an excellent state to be in.

School:
I’m currently only taking one class - Magazine Article Writing. This class is running side-by-side with mythology for entertainment value, inspiration, and usefulness. The entire class is extremely encouraging and helpful - I highly recommend researching this for One Pink Minx, who could use her fashion and writing talent to make $$$. (or even just reading this excellent book). This class takes something kind of intimidating and breaks it down into simple, easy steps. I am planning to finish this class, and then take a break until January. But we’ll see how that goes - I get bored sometimes.

Projects:
Ah-hah. My somewhat-belated somewhat-announcement. Some of you already knew about this. I am currently working toward developing an e-zine (online magazine) for fans of fantasy. It is called the Whimsy Rag, and the way it’s looking, is more geared toward light, adventure fantasies. Most fantasy magazines lump three genres together into one publication - Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy. My goal is to focus entirely on fantasy. It will feature original fiction by aspiring writers, book reviews by Mwah (and other people who want to write them), news on authors (sparse, because they are mostly just sitting at their desks, writing), and also a section where I can feature cool things such as Fantasy Costume websites, posters, etc… Of course, this is going to take a lot of work. I have a guy working on the website now - will post it later, when it’s online.

Other Projects:
What else am I doing? Hmm. I guess you could consider my just-started-today martial arts training with the LotR as a sort of ‘project’. We had our first class today and it went well - apparently I need to stop making ‘girl-fists’ and man up to the real thing. Learning (and keeping!) the proper form is going to kick my butt. And he says he’s going to make me yell :-/

I don’t yell. Period.

(unless I get freakishly upset, but that rarely happens because I don’t get PMS (or periods, for those who like TMI) anymore (thanks, Seasonique!)… and the LotR and I get along quite well, thank you.)

Travel:
The LotR’s mom is coming to visit. She’ll be here on Sunday, and will stay with us for a lovely week. Then we are all going to Napa Valley, CA (and possibly San Fransisco). I will be there for three days or so, and then, since I have to work, I’m coming home. The LotR and his family will remain in California for the week.

Books:
There are so many that need to read. However - I just finished reading Carl Sagan’s The Demon-Haunted World, and Terry Brook’s Genesis of Shannara: Elves of Cintra. I also just got a book from my boss, called First, Break All The Rules. I’m supposed to read four chapters (half the book) by Tuesday. *gulp*

House:
Umm… it’s messy.

Overall:
I am feeling pretty good - somewhat unsatisfied, mainly due to the sheer amount of things I need to do/books I need to read/rooms I need to clean, etc…

I think that one of my main problems is that whenever I get onto the computer to do stuff, I get sidetracked. And then it winds up being 10:36 at night, and I’ve done absolutely nothing.

Well, that’s not the case tonight. I have trimmed my fingernails. And worked on Whimsy Rag content, and done some homework. And the LotR and I went grocery shopping, made a delicious steak & veggie dinner, and did our fighting class. So maybe I should feel pretty satisfied for tonight. I think I do.