I Swear to Dead, I'm Not God!

Sweet holy everything up in Heaven, I was gone for a long time! Over a month. Wow, well, that's what happens when you have a full-time job, kids.

But tons of things happened! Lemme get through them the best I can with my good friend, the Bullet List!

• I got a new laptop! It's an HP Envy and it arrived exactly one week ago. I love it! It's lighter and more powerful than my last one.
• I found out that I need to get better at getting people to actually pay over the phone. Otherwise, my scorecard will remain in the sad place it's at right now.
• I turned 28 and it feels awesome. I love being older, it seems I mature better like a fine wine.
• I got published again! This time, on a Tumblr literary magazine. A flash fiction piece that finally had a home!
• Thanks to Susannah Conway's workbook, I found my word for the year: BECOMING.
• I saw The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 with my mom and my sister. It was a good film!
• After obsessively listening to this New Pornographers song to and from work to get me pumped up, I have officially declared it my Song of 2015. Thank you, "Level Up" by Vienna Teng. You have supported me wonderfully this year.
• I had a very low-key Christmas, but I look forward to rocking it out for New Year's Eve!
• My hometown finally got a Torchy's Tacos and I am in love. The Trailer Park taco is my favorite!

I'm sorry that I haven't written so much these days, here or in my projects. It's been an adjustment to get used to this new job! One of my many plans is to post at least twice a week on here starting next year.

Hope your holidays were wonderful. And if not, here is to a forthcoming year full of new beginnings and continuing adventures!

~~

This post is sponsored by Electric Light Orchestra's "Don't Bring Me Down". So, here is me taking back the jokes I made about my Dad's music taste*.



*But if I start posting any music by the Moody Blues, please send help.

A HUGE UPDATE OMG o_O

So, my hawk-eyed readers, I'm sure you're looking around the blog and see something different... something off. Where are the references to her being a bookstore employee? you wonder as you munch on your snack of choice, yours eyes scanning the screen. Well, my friends, so much has happened since I last wrote on here and one big thing is...

I PUT IN MY TWO WEEKS' NOTICE AT BARNES & NOBLE.

If you haven't seen Hot Fuzz,
please remedy that.

I did have plans to stay until the New Year and help with one last Christmas rush, but life had other ideas. First off, Chase really started to take over my working days and I really wanted the days off to recuperate. And honestly, one of the ways to recuperate does not include working a retail job during the Christmas shopping season. Second, the time I spent there once a week wasn't enough to justify the pay I received. Finally, when my eighth anniversary passed by quietly (it was on the 15th, by the way), I realized it was time for me to go.

Basically my reaction when I looked
at the calendar on November 15th...

Of course there are people there who are saddened by my leaving. I'm sad to go too, I have made so many good friends there, those who I intend to stay in touch with for the rest of my life (ideally). I do plan on visiting, but not as often to be honest. I'm ready to move on and do other things.

2014 is slowly winding down to a close. This has truly been a crazy year full of successes, failures, excitement, boredom, adventure, oddball events, and potpourri that is just life in general. I have learned so much this year and I intend on sharing most of that on here when it's close to the end the year.

Sorry to say that NaNoWriMo was a bust this year. And you know what? That's okay! I had sucky timing and this also taught me that I need to put my priorities in order next time around. And boy, do I intend to!

For those wondering about my mom, well first... thanks for asking! She is doing wonderful, recovering just beautifully from her procedure. She already feels a major difference in her hip, so that's a great sign!

~~

That's it for now. I may start posting more once I figure out a good schedule to stick to! Until then, if your days are cold, may your nights be warm. May the cider be fresh and the turkey smoked and juicy. May... okay, you get the idea.

One Month Later...

Wow, has it been almost a month since I last posted on here? Yeah, it sure has.

The classroom training is now over and we are beginning the last three weeks of the overall training with being on the phones and watched like hawks. After that, eight more weeks of some program that's like training but not (what?) and that's it. I'll be done. In January 2015, I'll be sorted into a team and hopefully be a contributing member of that group.

I thought I wouldn't like working at a call center, but it's really not that bad. Even when listening into calls, I've only heard a scant few irate ones. The rest of the time: either no answer or mostly people who sound dejected but are willing to do something. But I'm not unloading any of my armor at all. This could be the calm before the storm. 

I love my new co-workers/classmates. We've been in the classroom, studying and role-playing and listening to other Specialists do their own calls for four weeks (all of October pretty much) and when our training manager asked us yesterday if we were ready for the phones, we were all:

yeah, I love the Game Grumps. Shut up.

We are ready to rumble with the big dogs!

I'm so excited and antsy to get on the phones and take everything I've learned and do something with it. I hate learning something and then not applying it to anything. One of the main reasons I love trivia games: the only good reason to learn random-ass things*.

*first-world eidetic memory problems
~~

Of course I am doing NaNoWriMo this year. Mostly, I'm going to work on previous projects, invoking the good ol' Zokutou clause this time. Funnily enough, I came up with an original idea only a few days before starting, but I'm sticking with my original plan. Maybe I'll save the new idea for Camp NaNoWriMo or next year's NaNo. We'll see.

~~

Very likely, I am not going to post all that much about my NaNo projects unless I either make the goals, change them, or cancel them. Same goes with general posting. I'm still trying to get a handle on my time between shifts and what little free time I actually have to get everything I want to get done, well, done.

Until I figure that out, expect not much to go on here. And when you see an increase of posts, you can be sure that, yeah, I did finally figure it out.

Yeah, and Texas goes Democrat this year. *pfft*

Okay, I'm sure most of y'all saw this coming...

But since I do start training at the new job in a scant three days, it is probably obvious that my time on the Internet, let alone other things, will be limited. So yes, that means that I'll be posting on here even less than before. I'll let y'all take this time to just shrug and go "okay, tell me something that I don't know".

Okay, with that out of the way, I will try to post on here at least once a month, but even then who knows what could happen? I'm trying to do a lot of things, beside getting started with this job. I'm also going to create a schedule where I can still get the things I need to get done (writing, chores, exercise, etc.) and still have time to do fun things.

Until I know for sure, consider this a brief pause for Musings.

Take care, faithful reader(s) and I shall see you in the forthcoming future!

~

This post was brought to you by "Holding On For Life" by Brokens Bells (I'll be seeing them this weekend! What a way to begin the new job with a concert!) and this wonderful gif. that sums up my feelings for the future:

Sorry, no title. *deal with it*

After making my announcement about my new job on here, I waited a week before posting it to Facebook. When I did, it was nice to see all my old friends and co-workers have something to say on the matter. I forget sometimes that I know a lot of very nice people.

My sister is moving in with her boyfriend! They get the keys to their lovely new apartment next month. So excited that my sister is not only staking her claim in the world, but also achieving some huge milestones along the way. Plus, her one-year anniversary with her current job is fast approaching. She and her boyfriend are busy working to get their things together for the big move-in. Not sure if they'll be needing assistance from me, but time will tell.

So, after doing some research, I have decided that my new-gen console purchase will be the Xbox One. Mainly due to the fact that I know the new Silent Hill title will not be an exclusive, plus the new Tomb Raider will be out on that system first (The other reason is that my sister is planning to get this system and I want to be able to play with her). This may change as time goes on, but I feel that the One will be a sensible purchase. Plus, I can transfer my Minecraft worlds onto the new system and play it on the game there!

I'm also looking into getting a new laptop. But the when remains an unknown. All I know for sure is I'm sticking with HP (a brand I've been using for a long time) and I may actually order it online (a first for me). After that, it becomes a question of what features I want the laptop to have and how much I'm willing to spend. I mean, the one I have cost about $700 and it has lasted me this long. Probably should keep that in mind as I keep looking.

Sadly, I've not kept up with my writing. I need to fix that, starting today. As the morning arises, I will begin more work into Dolls (hoping to wrap it up in the early days of October) and work on City before even thinking of tackling NaNoWriMo this year. In fact, the latter remains an unknown due to the new job, among other things. But actually, the project might be a balm for the hectic times. Who knows?

That's about it for now. Will update as it goes.

Whoo!

Damn that television! What a bad picture!

From the Talking Heads song lyrics I used, guess what the big news is?

I FOUND A JOB!!!

So, some personal news...

After months of wondering what the hell was going on with her hip, being in so much pain that work-camping was becoming more of a chore than a fun thing, my mom went to the doctor and found out she will be needing hip replacement surgery. She is scheduled to get it done in mid-November, over a week before my birthday.

Now, this isn't her first rodeo with all this, she had both of her knees replaced over ten years ago. But naturally, I worry since she is... well, ten years older than when she got her knees done (for those keeping score at home, she is sixty-one). Dammit, I knew having older parents was going to start haunting me at some point. And here we are: me fretting over it.

I know she is in good hands: the doctor did her previous replacement surgeries and has even helped my dad with his own arthritis issues. My mom is no hothouse orchid either, I liken her more to a lovely flowering succulent: low-maintenance yet when something is seriously wrong, TLC is welcomed with open arms. My parents are very faithful and believe in prayer (which can help calm one down during stressful situations) and also have great insurance, even the funds to pay off whatever the hospital will likely throw at them.

For once, I'm thankful I still live with my parents. With this surgery being a future thing, I feel I'll be able to help whenever I can. And no, it will not come at the cost of my job-hunting nor my possible future job(s). My mom made it clear that she will smack me upside the head (metaphorically of course!) if I ignore myself while helping her during the six-eight week recovery period. It may be things like help keep the house clean, drive her to some places, and even root for her as she works on physical therapy.

I was barely eighteen when my mom first went for surgery to alleviate her arthritis (sadly, a disease that has roots deep on both sides of my family tree). I was an immature, snarky, pessimistic girl then. I'm still snarky, but I have grown so much. Sure, I still get pessimistic thoughts and I have the tendency to whine especially when I'm under deep stress (better than getting angry, I guess); but I feel now that I can be more of a help as a young adult with a better grasp of herself. Not just because I got better psychologically, but now that I've shouldered a lot of responsibility since then, helping someone after a surgery wouldn't be an overwhelming thing to do.

But that doesn't mean I will not worry. Damn my anxious mind.

The one thing to keep in mind is that once it's done, my mom will be mostly pain-free until her days on Earth are done. May she live to be a hundred, more years of less pain and more adventure!

Love and cheers to you, Mom! You continue to be an inspiration.

Last of the August Break Pics

Okay gang, welcome to the new month (okay it's five days into it, but shut up okay?): a full thirty days of trying new things, starting and finishing goals, and other platitude-ridden silliness. But seriously, let's get some things done, peeps!

Sorry that it took me so long to finish posting the last twelve days: I had a lot of traveling, personal things happened*, and job-hunting has taken over my life.

So, with no further introduction, here are the last of the August Break pictures!

An Update and Moar Photos!

Alright, as you know, I'm doing the August Break on here. Honestly, the prompts proved to be a bit hard at times and some I didn't do on their days (whoops).

On the job hunting end, I had an interview with another bank. Turns out that one that I previously interviewed for recommended me to the other bank when they realized their needs changed and I didn't have the requirement they were now seeking (in this case, being bilingual). Insert "you da real MVP" meme here. Seriously, if I score the job, I'm sending the other manager not just a thank-you card, but maybe some chocolates or gourmet coffee.

After that, not much else. Sorry, gang. Apparently, I'm taking a break from other things other than this dang blog.

~~

Day 9: In My Bag...

The bag was a birthday gift from my best friend. I haven't seen her since then. Life gets in the way sometimes. I miss her.










Day 10: Drink

Regional beer! :D
















Day 11: Handwriting

For those who can't read my handwriting: "If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill















Day 12: On the Table

My desk is pretty cluttered. My grandfather looks on in disapproval.











Day 13: My Guilty Pleasure

So many nail polishes! I have plans to donate a good amount of them to women's shelters in my hometown.









Day 14: Hands

My left hand holding the jewelry I normally wear. Prepping before a closing shift at my job.












Day 15: Blue

Bullet journal OMG










Day 16: Look Down

Day 17: Bookshelf

You see the books between "The Lottery" collection and Bitchfest? Those are my three all-time favorite books.








Day 18: Jump

An action shot of me acting my shoe size and not my age.







Day 19: Black + White

My mom's cat, an outdoor tom she named Toby. He's very young, about four years old, and quite a talker. And a huge whiny baby atop that. XD

Photos and Updates... whee!

Okay, so I did take a bit of a break from the blog to do the August Break photo prompts. I'm finding it tons of fun to take a picture and try to play with the prompt a bit. But I think too much time has passed without anything from yours truly, so let's fix that, shall we? This post will be in two parts: Updates and then August Break Photos Part 1.

Updates:

I had another interview with a local credit union for a part-time teller job. Seemed to go pretty well. I really liked the manager and her assistant, they seemed like really nice and laid-back ladies. I would love for the manager to be my future boss. Well, all the managers I've met would all be excellent future bosses. But I'm trying not to be too picky. XD

And since my period has sidelined me, I haven't gotten too much writing done, which bums me out something serious.

What makes me mad is that I have so much important (and not so important) stuff to do and my cramps and hot flashes are preventing me from getting things done. It's very frustrating. But all I can do is take iboos (my shortened way of saying and spelling ibuprofen) and wait 'til it kicks then, and run with that as long as possible until I'm sidelined again. I'm just thankful that I work tomorrow and then I have a few more days to recover. God, sometimes I hate being a woman and this is especially one of those times.

~~

Okay, with all that said, onto the photos!

August Break Photos Part 1:

Day 1: Lunch

This is the lunch I packed for my evening shift at the bookstore.


Day 2: Pattern

This cup belonged to one of my co-workers. Since we were doing a Frozen-themed event, naturally, she was celebrating along with those throwing the event itself.


Day 3: Window

This is my view every morning when I wake up. Even with bonus kitty tail! But it is usually my kitty, not my sister's (in this case).


Day 4: Orange

A book I'm currently reading.


Day 5: Three

The pens I'm using every day to keep my food/exercise journal and my new Bullet Journal.


Day 6: Reflection

Getting ready for an upcoming interview!


Day 7: Today Is...

A photo of my paternal grandfather, who died over seventeen years ago. I recently got this frame for it. He now sits at my desk and keeps watch as I work on my writing.


Day 8: Selfie

Me with my current read (Writing Wild by Tina Welling) while sitting in my reading nook. [Man, my sister was right. I do make a weird 'reading' face! XD]

And now for something completely different...

I've been following Susannah Conway's blog for about two months now (and just read her book This I Know, which was fantastic by the way!) and saw her past posts on something she invented called the August Break. Giving it some quick thought, and wanting to do something different with the blog (even if it's for a little while), I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and give this a go.

Since I do not have a Flickr or Instagram account (and have no intentions of getting either of them), I'm going to post my contributions on here. I may add a few words here or there, but otherwise, it may be short of words but not of visuals!

Quick note: if huge things happen, I will take a brief pause from the August Break to share the news of whatever it is.

If you want to join this party, click the link I posted above and sign up!

Awww, here it goes!*

*if you get this, let's become friends. We'll have great things to share and adventures to embark on.

Skynet Writes My Books: What I Use to Make Words on the Computer

As you know, I do a ton of my writing on the computer. This accounts for about 75% of all the writing I do in a day. 15% is journaling and 10% is in notebooks count for the physical handwriting portion. Okay, enough with numbers, I ain't no Math major, but my dad is sorta... he has a Bachelor's in Engineering. It counts! >:-(

The big thing I use is Scrivener*, the word processor that some writers adore to pieces (like me!)... and some writers hate with a passion. I forgot who, but a writer I follow on Twitter talked about his dislike for it. Hey, no hard feelings, writer friend. You work with what works for ya!

Ahem, either way, Scrivener is my main tool. I love the notecard feature, how each chapter/scene/whatever you wanna call it is organized like that. A giant corkboard! It's aesthetically pleasing. You can customize the colors of the pins, the labels you stamp on the cards (I have custom ones like "Incomplete" and "Kill it with Fire"), and folders upon folders for random-ass crap like character files and pics (I use a lot of stock photos to help me visualize them), pictures with a few descriptive paragraphs on certain locations (like real places or even fictional towns, like the one in Spiders), and a special folder of parts I've written but haven't found their places in the story yet.

[I talked about how I won a 50% coupon from winning NaNoWriMo in 2011. That's the "easy" way to get some savings off of the software if you already know you want it OMG. But there are free trials, so best to give it a test run before you throw money at it. But if you already want it for sure, the best way to save money is to do NaNoWriMo this year and write 50,000 words. You get the satisfaction of doing something great and fun, and you can get some awesome software on the cheap(er)!]

While I like writing on Scrivener's word processor portion, I love the sound of manual typewriters, so I often use Writer: the Internet Typewriter. Holy Moses, whoever created this, you are a saint unto humanity and should have a church built in your honor. You can customize it to make the sounds of a manual or electric typewriter, font size and style, even the background and text colors! I use white text against a blue background as a throwback to my early days messing around with WordPerfect for DOS on my grandfather's Tandy computer.

But converting text from the Internet Typewriter to Scrivener can cause some headache-making issues with formatting, so I open up Microsoft Word to fix the spacing, paragraph indents (more so on Scrivener), change straight quotes and apostrophes to smart ones, and of course check for spelling and grammar. I used to do a ton of my writing on Word, but I've all but abandoned it for my creative projects. I still use it for other things like making lists and job-hunting related work (e.g. resumes and cover letters).

I do all my writing on my laptop with an external keyboard that is solar-powered (not cheap, but it was awesome. Oddest impulse purchase I ever made, for sure!). I used to write a lot on my bed and using only the keyboard built into the laptop, but the screen hinge cracked earlier this year and I can barely move it around, let alone close it. That, besides the Vista software I still have (I know, I'm a loser, baby, so why don't you kill me...) are the reasons I'm looking into getting a new laptop very soon. I've had this thing for over five years. That's above average for me. I usually replace things within two-three years. That's what working part-time and paying important bills will do to ya: make use of what you got. Until it breaks. See: my car, which is not only used but also turned 10 years old this year and is a model that doesn't even exist anymore.

So, writing peeps, what do you use to create words on computer screens? Do you go all out and have folders upon folders of writing with character files and pics of random buildings, or do you prefer the simpler WordPad just to get the damn thing down? Let me know in the comments!

*I use the Windows version, which is not as fully-stocked with awesomeness as the Mac version, but frequent updates are fixing this!

A Good Run of Bad Luck

Okay, I had some things go down since I last wrote on here. Allow me to present it in bullet list form, since I'm lazy and it also will work better for this. Sounds good? Alrighty then, let's go!

• The only good thing that happened last week was the screening of Stop Making Sense. The crowd was awesome, singing along and cheering. It was like "I found my people!" And I don't even live in Austin. ;_; (About three people complimented my shirt!)
• The job search wasn't going very well. Had a so-so interview the day after the Stop Making Sense screening. I also had a video interview with one bank, a teller skills assessment test with another. Got a "nope" email after the video interview and barely passed the test (I was two points away from the minimum) and have to wait two months to retake it. 
• Atop all this, my mood was really off for some reason. I had trouble pinning it down, but I feared the worst: is depression coming to visit again?
• Saturday night, I finally realized the cause of my "off" mood: I was fighting off a nasty cold. So I spent my two days off (yesterday and today) to recover from it. Coughing so hard I pulled a muscle on my left side, so it hurt to stand until today. 
• With my two days off, I watched archived livestreams by Ray of Achievement Hunter, played Plants vs. Zombies (shut up, this game's ridiculously fun), and did some light reading. Along with eating a ton of fruit popsicles (which helped my throat when it was getting real sore from the coughing). 

But now, there is an extra set of good news: I got another interview with a local credit union for a part-time teller job, so there's that! And also, I haven't heard back from the interview from Tuesday, so there's a slight chance of that being a yes. But we'll have to see...

I also have made a huge leap in recovering from the cold. I am not about to run a 5K or anything like that, but it is a big difference. I'm keeping a sharp eye on it so it doesn't turn into bronchitis or something equally ugly. 

Haven't done any serious reading or writing since I fell ill, but I hope to begin that again once I start regaining my strength. 

That's about what was going on with me these days. Hope things are better for y'all. If not, I hope they do get better, at least, a little more than it was before. <3 div="">

The Tools of the Frustrated Lady Writer

In my free time (when I should be doing other things, like writing, etc.) I have been browsing various notebook and journaling websites and Tumblrs. After a while, I began to think about the tools I use for my IRL writing, so I'm gonna share with y'all my favorite pens, notebooks and journals, inks, and other random-ass things that I use to create words not on a computer!

And just as quickly...

The interview that I had yesterday, the high I was riding from doing a good job... crashed and burned when, only several hours after the interview, I got an email saying "nope, you ain't getting nothing from us *trollface*"

Hey, Ray, my main man, can ya sum up my feelings for me in one funny .gif?

Thanks, I knew I could count on ya.

P.S.: But seriously peeps, I knew I goofed on some parts, which likely cost me the final offer. I now know what to do when the next interview happens. But also, the last person that interviewed me was a tough nut to crack.

TWO JOB INTERVIEWS OMG (and other exciting things that happened)

That's right, my sweet little marshmallow chicks, I secured two job interviews! I had a surprise phone one this morning and I did so well, they want to meet me on Friday for a final interview!

Then, the one I had scheduled about a week ago also went well, so I have a final interview with them next week on the day after Stop Making Sense (yeah, I got a ticket to the Austin screening and I am SO GOING. I'll be the brunette wearing this shirt and reading whatever I found in the Half Price Books in town).

I should note that these two jobs are full-time, benefits-having, call center/customer service positions. You would think I would be bothered by this, but not really. I'm ready to try something different and put myself in a new work environment. I may start entry-level, but how else can I get a better feel of the place than start from the beginning? No sense in being thrown half-way up.

Man, near-victory tastes so good, like blood orange candies.

Atop that, I've been making excellent progress on my current novel project. Over 11K written just in the last twelve days!

43830 / 100000 words. 44% done!

And there is still so much more left to write. Well, good thing I have today and tomorrow off from work. It's going to be a writing/reading/listening to music/Orphan Black watching bonanza!

I also secured tickets to several upcoming concerts: Little Dragon next month, Twin Shadow in late October, and Broken Bells in early October.

So wow, talk about a reversal of fortune, huh? So much good stuff is happening. I'm so... wait, lemme have Ray tell you himself:

Hope you lovely readers out there are doing well in whatever you are doing. If not, I hope things get better for ya and that you cherish even the tiniest of good things. That's what kept me going when I was first recovering from depression. You gotta find the little things to keep you going. It's hard, but it will be worth it.

I believe in me and (everyone else) too, tiny cactus!

See ya next time!

That great moment...

when one serial killer character I wrote (from Spiders) used a previous serial killer character's MO before writing the spiritual prequel (current project) and it turns out... it works out with no continuity issues. Because I TOTALLY WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

You don't even know how much I love this .gif.

What I Would Take 2.0

A while back, over a year ago to be exact, I did my first attempt at The Burning House (where I photographed what I would take in the event of a forthcoming catastrophe). Since time has passed, favorite things have changed. There were things I rather save than others, so some switching around was done. Now I feel that I have a better idea. Or at least, the most current one.

Going For It (or: Waiting on Others Is Not A Good Idea)

Earlier this year I mentioned that I was going to do Camp NaNoWriMo with my sister, but as it got closer, it became apparent that this wasn't going to happen. My sister changed her mind, I was really looking forward to what she was thinking of writing, and I got swept up in the job hunt and working on my own writings.

As the month of June comes to an end, the month we would've done Camp NaNoWriMo, I realized something very important: if I want to do something, why do I wait on others to join me? Oftentimes, I do it because I want my loved ones to join in all the fun. The other reason, sometimes, I hate doing things alone. I still find it weird to go to the movies or eating at a restaurant or even going to a concert alone (though I've done these many times solo). I have said to others before that I don't mind doing a lot of things alone, but there are times I do feel like a hypocrite (like now).

But why do I fret about being forever alone? I am not in the least! I have friends I stay in touch with and I have a very strong relationship with my parents and little sister. We are just independent people with different schedules and things to do. And knowing me, the moment I do find people that will join me in the fun, I'll start wishing for the days when I did everything alone (ye gods, self, make up your damn mind!).

Right now, it's finding the balance to do what I love alone and doing it with my loved ones. It's only a matter of doing.

Whether I do NaNoWriMo with a bunch of peeps this year or go see Stop Making Sense alone next month, I'll figure it out one of these days. Or at least, get a general idea.

~~

Side note: I'm currently reading the archives of Susannah Conway's excellent blog. I absolutely love her work and look forward to getting a copy of her book one of these days!

So...

I woke up with a draining, sore right ear. Just great. That's usually a sign of a cold in the making for me. Or perhaps, self who oozes with optimism, something I can tackle before it turns into a sickness kaiju. But I hadn't been sick in over seven months, so I guess it's my turn (I usually get sick at least once a year, rarely does it cause me to miss work, unless it's surprise bronchitis).

As for writing, I was on a roll the first two days, but wow... exhaustion from work and the pain in my left heel were enough to drive me to bed and rest up the days I had off. I'm beginning to see an association with this. All I want to do is relax away the pain and watch ASMR videos (yes, I think I actually have this, more on this another day). While relaxing and resting up from the pain are great ideas, it doesn't help me get anything done. I need to find a way to work through the exhaustion and pain so I don't get sidelined like that again.

I could do all my writing before I go to work, but there is no guarantee* of that, since I usually do other things (y'know, like an ACTUAL PERSON), like various household chores. So it's becoming a matter of balance. And here I sit, while there are writers who raise children or juggle multiple jobs. What the hell is my excuse? Pain? Procrastination? I don't know. I need to find out more before I can make a judgement call.

On the lighter side of things, I lost four pounds! Watching my portions and snacking less has really helped so much. Four down, thirty-six to go!

See ya later, peeps! May the weekend be good to you.

~~

*One day, I'll make it my life's mission to spell this damn word correctly.

*not bothering with this*

As per usual, life took over and I avoided doing things like creative work and even fun things like writing on here. But as I get a handle on it, I realize that I can make time to do the things I want to do and love to do so I can feel like each day has some meaning to it.

Alright, enough of my nonsense, here's some of what I've been up to these days:

• Job search is going okay. No return calls or invites for interviews. But after a series of events that I won't go into here (due to privacy), I'm more determined than ever to find something, even if it's part-time.

• Borrowing too many library books, but eventually settled down. Currently reading Finding Your Element. 

• Since all the Exxon gas stations in my town have become 7-11s, I've been buying too many Slurpees and bags of cheese curls. I regret nothing.

• Thanks to reading The Element, I realized that I actually have some hobbies that make me content. I just need to concentrate on those instead of trying to find new ones.

• OMG y'all, Stop Making Sense is going to have a special screening in Austin next month. *fangirlism intensifies* 

• Been actually writing. Holy Moses, and it's going well. And I need to do it more often. *dumbass*

That's about it. Uhmm... here, have Ray sum up my feelings about life as of today.

And a Geoff. Until next time... later, peeps!

It's time for a random soundtrack thingy!

And now... for a thing to share with y'all!

You know the "stupidest short story" that is now a novella-in-training? It has a Latin title, but I don't want to reveal it all. Just the last word: Omnia. C'mon, language aficionados! I'm sure you know this one!

Okay, enough with the elementary Latin. Let's get to the random thing to share. How about the soundtrack to the novella? Yeah! I always wanted to do this, not just share the "official theme". Let's get to the beautiful list!

1. "Klapp Klapp" by Little Dragon
2. "Cannibal" by Silversun Pickups
3. "Somewhere" by Run River North
4. "Coming of Age" by Foster the People*
5. "Violet Hill" by Coldplay
6. "Every Now and Then" by Garth Brooks
7. "What the Water Gave Me" by Florence & the Machine
8. "Wanted (Dead or Alive)" by Strange Talk*
9. "Nowhere to Go" by Nite Jewel
10. "Gold Lion" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
11. "Seasickness (Part 1)" by YAMANTAKA // Sonic Titan
12. "Promise" by Wild Nothing
13. "Are You Okay?" by Dum Dum Girls
14. "Walkin' After Midnight" by Patsy Cline
15. "No Rest for the Wicked" by Lykke Li
16. "Don't Change" by Morgan Kibby [a.k.a. White Sea] (INXS cover)
17. "Very, Very Hungry" by Brian Eno and David Byrne
18. "My Silver Lining" by First Aid Kit
19. "People Help the People" by Birdy (Cherry Ghost cover)*
20. "[Animal]" by A Hundred Waters

*Thanks a lot, work. You're the reason these songs got to be part of the soundtrack.

I'm not gonna link to the songs for two reasons:
1) I'm lazy
and
2) I'm tired of linking songs that later turn into dead links

One more thing... the "official theme" to the novella is "Somewhere" by the excellent Run River North. If you haven't listened to their debut album, I'll forgive you this time for missing this excellence. But don't let it happen again!

ಠ_ಠ

Some sorta updates... *snores*

Well, life is always coming at me from all sides, so naturally I find myself unable to do certain things. But here we are, on Memorial Day weekend, and I have today off to do nothing but laze around like the loaf of sourdough bread I am*.

Phone interviews went well, but did not translate to second interviews or offers for employment. I must soldier on. There is a career fair the day after another interview, so I'm going to take advantage of that. After those two major events, I will do another sweep of job hunts and blanket all the banks with résumés and cover letters.

Writing has been on and off, just scribbling into my Moleskine Volant with a varied selection of Pilot Precise V5 pens between lulls in my work shifts, whenever inspiration strikes. That's why I'm always with a notebook and pen these days. But today I will work on a novel project long dormant and now ready to be worked on. God help me. 8-/

Been having plantar fasciitis issues again, but have found solace in an excellent foot lotion and an Accu-Tap massager my parents have. It does wonders on my heels. I did about ten minutes per heel yesterday before my closing shift and I hardly had any pain. Very nice!

However, I was struck with a low blood-sugar attack before I went to bed late last night, so I was unable to sleep, being sweaty and shaky. I stayed up about an extra forty-five minutes, eating some almonds and cheese with a tangerine. And some Lorna Doones and Mountain Dew Baja Blast (limited time only!).

So wow. Man. Lemme return next week with an ACTUAL entry of some substance. Until then, remember kids, tangerines will save your life.

*But surely I am the prettiest loaf of sourdough bread this side of the Mississippi's ever seen!

Quick updates on life, the universe, and... that's it

Hey party people, sorry it's been dog's ages since I last wrote on here. So lemme fix that for y'all!

• been reading the excellent RowdyKittens blog. After reading the author's book You Can Buy Happiness (and It's Cheap), I'm now a fan. Go check it out!

• Jamming out to the new Little Dragon album, especially "Paris"*. Hell yeah!

• Had a phone interview on Monday, another this coming Friday! Will keep you up to date on how those went. The one on Monday came as a huge surprise. I hope I get a second interview. 

• My parents are going work-camping again. And thus, party at my house! (No, not really.)

• Man, I can go for some French onion dip right now...

• Finished the "stupid short story" (now a novella in training) I initially talked about on here. Changed some details so now the famous musicians that were high-schoolers are now random-ass peeps in college. And I pictured the teacher as Christoph Waltz the entire time. *not ashamed*

That about covers it. Stay tuned for more bloggy goodness from me and other random things I want to post on here! See ya!

*Couldn't link to official video, since it's blocked for us Americans. Wahhh. 

Holy Moses...

I'm writing the STUPIDEST short story on the planet. It's based on a dream I had last night: several of my favorite bands are high school seniors (well, they are only based off the musicians and sorta named after them, but that's about it) that survive a catastrophic flood that engulfs their town. They join up with their favorite teacher, a literature one no less, and they go on an epic journey. It involves surviving some sort of post-apocalyptic world.

And I'm having a f***ing blast.

Man, it feels good to write again.

Why I Will Do Camp NaNoWriMo This Year (and Other Assorted Thoughts)

It is for the silliest reason ever. My sister is actually going to throw her hat into the ring. She told me about it a while ago and I decided to join her, since "why the hell not?" was the only reaction I had other than "what possessed her to try it out this time?" Either way, I will be working alongside her this time for Camp NaNoWriMo... and if she enjoys that, then she'll join me for the main event in November!

I'm gonna evoke the Zokutou clause this time. Actually, might as well for both events! I won back in 2011 and 2012 honestly (meaning I started from scratch on the first day and finished with 50k by the 30th). I already have an idea of each story I may end up working on.

Either way, even with that going on, I also have been real busy with job hunting-related stuff. I had an interview the other day with a local bank for a possible full or part-time position. I'll keep y'all up to date on how that goes. I feel like I could've done better at the interview, but I hope I did enough to show the manager that I am worth hiring. Trust me, ma'am, once you get me in action... you'll see that I am worth all the training time and salary the company will pay me!

That's about it here for now. I really need to get better about updating this. My bad.

Holy Moses, I vanished.

Well, not literally, but man have I not written on here in a long while. So in that light, let's go ahead and talk updates. And they're actually interesting, for once.

Life got in the way in the form of job interviews and applying for more jobs. The radio station job was a sad bust, but not too long after that, I rebounded and may have a chance at a local bank. Still waiting on one of the branches to respond to my query for an interview. But the HR interview went pretty well. I have a good feeling about this one, y'all!

Just as I was getting into the swing of that, dear God, I got called for jury duty. It happened today. Not that I hate it or anything, this is actually my second time actually going down to the courthouse and waiting all day and stuff. Unlike the first time, I got picked for a panel within the first hour. After delays upon delays (including lunch, 'cause that's priority, you guys), I sat in and got questioned. A thirty-minute wait after that and the jury was selected. From me talking about it here, you can guess safely I wasn't picked. (Otherwise, dear peeps, I suck at being a juror. /end joke). Oh well, maybe next time?

I wish I can say I've been a good little lady writer and wrote lots and lots, but not really. As usual, I suck at working it in. I really need to stop doing this to myself. It's a punch to my soul.

Beyond that, nothing else has been going on. Just life stuff. Be excited. *waves hands in front of your faces*

The Outline As a Sandcastle (Or: Outlines Aren't Giant Man-Eating Spiders, So Stop Fearing Them)

Writers are an odd bunch, as you may see just from my blog. We have different ideas on what to do to cure writer's block and where to find inspiration. One of the many spars us writers engage in concerns the ol' workhorse, the Outline.

Ah yes, the outline. It either helps the writer know where the f*** the novel is going or it misleads with its certainty and doesn't allow room for growth. I'll be the first one to tell you that I love the outline. It has saved my stupid butt more times than I would like to admit. And yet, the limitations of it are known to me, so naturally it is a your-mileage-may-vary thing.

But, allow me to add another perspective to this argument. First off, the biggest problem with outlines seem to be the limitations it brings to the writer. Once you jot it down, it is the equivalent of the 10 Commandments Moses brought down from the mountain. God help you if you change a thing, everything will be thrown into chaos, the writerly variation of dividing by zero. Or maybe you like seeing how the story unfolds without knowing ahead of the plot. But, to be honest, I find that reason to be silly. I mean, you don't want to get spoiled by your own story? Man, must suck to be you, then. You do know how our life is gonna end, right? The same as the rest of us?

Okay, allow me to make the outline less scary and more accessible. Think of it as a sandcastle. A lovely one, crafted with your hands and mind, with the dark beige sand and nice and smooth grains. Sometimes, you get a little help from friends or strangers. You spent hours on the thing, adding the random seashells that brighten it up or a piece of trash that makes an excellent banner for the tower. You could easily place in a contest, a victory worth a round of beers from the beach bar. But, as we know from building sandcastles, whether for fun or profit, sand is a malleable thing. We can change and add to it as much as we can. And sometimes, there is a surprise rainstorm or a rogue wave or an SOB wearing socks and sandals that threaten the poor sandcastle. You can only protect it from the elements for so long. It's gonna get smacked by something, it's only a matter of when, and maybe the what. 

If you think of an outline as a sandcastle, it is something you work on, is worth your time, and yet isn't as concrete. You know things could change very quickly, whether it's a surprise plot point or even a better protagonist. I agree that the outline's creative asphyxiation is an issue, but I'm beginning to think it's more of a block made by the writer than the outline itself. Writers are superstitious, things have to go very well and in certain ways in order for the writing to flow. Well, let's kick that myth down. You'll never have an ideal writing space or time. It's impossible. Stephen King typed out his early works on a child's desk in his trailer's laundry room, for Pete's sake. You can have an ideal method, but it will be tested and revamped, much like an outline would be. You have to allow for that flexibility, from yourself and from your work.

If you never tried it out, just give it a shot. You have nothing to lose. Really, you don't. How else are you gonna know if it works for you or not? You can only read enough testimonials, my dear writing peeps.

I'm just real tired of people making writing out to be this precious thing that can be only handled with kid gloves and the right amount of offerings to the muses. And while I reiterate that the outline is a preference and far from a rule of thumb, its alienating reactions from writers is something I want to end. 

On Writing Characters Like Me (Or: For the Love of God, Another Author Surrogate?!)

If I am guilty of anything in my writing (which I am), I would say the two things I can think of are: odd dialogue (I'm working on this) and author surrogates. Now, unlike the linked definition, I don't create these characters because I think I'm so damn awesome or because I want this author surrogate to jump in and say something about my beliefs. Nah, for some reason, I happen to make characters that are a lot like me.

Actually... *stops for a moment to count*

I only have three characters that I can safely say are the closest in terms to being like me. Now, it's never 100% , 'cause really, show of hands of who wants to see me become a fictional character.

*brief pause* Thought so.

But why do I do it? Really, I wish I knew. Perhaps it is the adage "write what you know", but one of the characters is half-Japanese (which I am not) and another is bisexual (which I am not also). So, if that's not the complete case here, do I secretly harbor the feeling that perhaps I am awesome? Well, not really. I do have traits that could be interesting, like my passion for music and random knowledge of trivia, so I throw in what would make the character human. And last I checked, I am human, so it makes sense to draw from there.

But the thing is, when it comes to character creation, you draw from everything and everywhere. I can't begin to tell you the characters I have created that are loosely based on people I know, from bosses to friends to random strangers I met at the mall. For Pete's sake, my parents were the basis for about four characters! So I am just another source, that's all.

As for those three characters, my literary "twins"? Do they do anything special in their stories? Not really. They struggle, fall in and out of love, have stupid jobs, have bad days at the grocery store, and do not possess super-special powers. I do my damnest to make them as anti-Mary Sue as possible. I owe that, not just to you fair readers, but to myself and to the characters. Not like they'll kick my ass for getting them wrong, but I feel I'm not honest if I write willy-nilly about them.

So, I just happen to have these three characters (all from projects I've mentioned on the blog: Blues, Invisible, and Dolls). Their similarities: tall white girls with German ancestry that love music and reading. Wow, such spectrum. :P

What are your feelings on this topic? Should authors stop using themselves as character idea wells? Is there a way to write an author surrogate that doesn't want to make you punch the author in the face? Am I just being silly? Should I find better things to write about? Let me know what you think in the comments!

2014 Is Not the Year of Grad School

I got the email last night from Michener. Denied again.

Yeah, I'm getting real tired of this. Perhaps grad school is no longer a thing I should pursue. As I gave it more thought after getting the email and throughout the day today (since I wasn't going outside, it's effing cold y'all), I really don't know why I'm going to grad school. What else could I learn that I don't know that I can't get outside of an academic institution?

This is really a long-winded way of me saying "I may not need grad school after all".

I think my professor was right all along...

On the bright side, I have a job interview tomorrow. At least some things are going better than I thought.

As I said on Facebook, 2014 is still a young year. We got eleven months more. Let's see what happens, shall we?

*memes do not belong to me*

Might've celebrated too soon... or not?

*Note: This is a mish-mash of two posts that I never finished until now. You will see why as you read.

So after months of hunting, I found myself a second part-time job! It came out of effing nowhere, just a call about an application that I placed over a month ago, thinking nothing would come of it. Went in for an interview last Monday and got the call on Wednesday that I was selected. What were the perks? More hours to work (35 a week!), decent pay (I start at $9.00 an hour), and I get to wear socks all day! (It was at an early education center in my hometown.)

So I went to the second job last Friday to fill out the necessary paperwork. When it got to the discussion about vacation hours and all that, I realized that if I were to get into grad school, I was honest to God screwed. I couldn't get vacation time until I worked there for a year, so if something were to happen, it would likely make me quit the job due to that policy. I mentioned this to my new boss and she said that would have to talk to her superiors about it, let me know if this was too much of a risk.

I heard back yesterday and they said that they will hold off until I hear back from Michener. At this point, I'm not going to take the job. When a little time passes, I will contact them and say "thanks, but no thanks". I mean, to hold things off due to a theoretical, iffy thing? I could get a rejection any day now! Very weird, and frankly, kinda sad. Oh well.

But this morning I got yet another job interview! It's for a local radio station looking for an office assistant.

It's pretty damn surreal to have all this going on. I'm very excited. Even if grad school doesn't happen, the job search is going better than the last few months.

Either way, the last week or so have been very trying and interesting.

Hey, didn't ya have a post up?

Why yes, observant reader of my blog, I did!

As time goes on, I will talk about it more. Right now, things are at a weird place and I really need to make sure before I proceed further. This is not the time for me to go into detail. I do promise a somewhat good explanation down the road.

But I will assure you, dear readers, that my family and I are well. There has been no deaths or anything tragic and serious, just a really strange wrench got thrown into the gears. I promise you all that.

Until then, here, have this:

Though I think you're a good-looking dude, Mr. Gaffigan. :D

*meme does not belong to me*

Best of 2013: Book Edition

Before you go all "where the f*** is The Goldfinch, you insipid bibliophile?"*, yes I didn't finish much of the big releases of last year. I'm sorry, I really am. More to myself, but still to the few readers that wanted to know what I thought about Doctor Sleep (actually, I'm not fond of it, more on another day) and other big -timers. Either way, here is eight books released in 2013 that I did love and want you to check out (if you already haven't).

8. Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen
  Short yet sweet and funny like the author; ...Hipsters is less of an extensive memoir and more of a collection of autobiographical essays. They still get the point across about Fagen, a portrait of the artist as a young man (get it?). I really love Fagen being portrayed as that grumpy professor the students all love but the faculty hate. A great afternoon read.

7. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
  Oh look, Stephen King's son wrote a damn good book. It's about biker chicks, space and time being ripped apart by random objects, and a strange-ass serial killer! And yes, that is my selling point. Go get it and have a blast.

6. Odds Against Tomorrow by Nathaniel Rich
  If there was any new book I was eager to read, it was this one. And thank goodness, it was worth the wait, the time and money used to get the book, and the reading experience. It is a strange one, following a young man with a tendency to predict major disasters. When he foresees a major hurricane-like storm hitting New York City, it becomes a tale of survival atop a dissertation on corporate life and the nature of tortured geniuses in this century.

5. Storm Kings: The Untold Story of America’s First Tornado Chasers by Lee Sandlin
  Warning: this is my inner meteorologist about to geek out here. At first, this book was a little slow, but as you get past the first two chapters, it picks up with the speed of an unexpected windstorm. This book is not only a hidden history uncovered, but a humbling reminder how meteorology as we know it is still a young science. It is a marvel it has gotten this far, who knows what the future holds?**

4. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
  Oh my God, a YA book that isn't an insufferable mess! The story follows a young woman living in the red light district (Storyville) of New Orleans and her attempts to escape her abusive mother and a housekeeping job at a brothel while applying for a prestigious college; all the while solving a strange murder mystery atop that.

3. Turn Around Bright Eyes by Rob Sheffield
  Yep, also talked about this one here before. But, my opinion didn't change. It is a funny and wonderful look into the world of karaoke and the people who love to sing despite the lack of training. It is also an intimate look on how Mr. Sheffield found new love in a woman who would love karaoke as much as he did. Loved it, just as great as his previous books.

2. Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni
  Man, I hate getting into series in progress. I already talked about this book to a lesser extent, but I will reiterate one thing: DAT ENDING. My God. Where is the last book, Ms. Trussoni?!

1. Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown
  Thank all that is heavenly possible for Ms. Williams Brown. Thanks to her, I have regained faith in my generation and especially women my age. This book is just plain wonderful and I wish it was around when I was younger, but what ya gonna do? It is full of wonderful advice, so good that I just reread it this month! Go buy it and read it, then go enjoy her blog.

~

This post was brought to you by a photo of me on the Eiffel Tower, circa 2010, taken by my sister:

I still have that jacket, believe it or not.

~

Side note: After reading Night Film, as I briefly talked about here, I have to say one thing to Ms. Pessl: you just had to kill the supernatural angle that late in the game, didn't ya?

*If I had finished The Goldfinch in time for this list, Ms. Tartt and Ms. Williams Brown would be sharing the literary crown, as Ms. Teng and Ms. Calvi are already doing for music.

**God, I still want to be a storm chaser and this book didn't help at all.

Best of 2013: Album Edition

Okay, here we are. Everyone has already released their best-of-the-year lists. And like everyone else, I have lists of my own. Yet, it is late and not as varied in some multimedia departments. I only saw two movies of worth: The World's End and Pacific Rim, so no movie list this time. But I do have enough for books and music, as always.

So to kick things off, here are my ten favorite albums of the year!

10. AMOK by Atoms for Peace
  I originally wanted to name this as my album of 2013, but future releases would knock it down this low on the list. I see the ordering in lists as arbitrary, so it being here isn't a bad thing at all. So Atoms for Peace, which is several members of Radiohead and a Radiohead producer, made their debut with this fine album. It contains the minor hit "Default" and my personal favorite "Ingenue". Hope to hear from them again. Until then, will there be a new Radiohead album?

9. Nepenthe by Julianna Barwick
  Man, don't you love it when favorite artists make new albums every couple of years? Yeah, I do too. When I heard Barwick was releasing something new in 2013, I was very excited. Of course, she delivered with another excellent, haunting album full of evocative songs. I know people have done this kind of music in the past, but it's nice to see it revived and appreciated in the 21st century. Favorite track: "Pyrrhic".

8. The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You by Neko Case
  After falling in love with Middle Cyclone, I eagerly awaited her latest release. It helped that I follow her on Twitter and she talked about the album a ton prior to its release. Once I popped it into iTunes and gave it a listen, I knew that she was someone I can count on to release quality material, even after long breaks between albums and tours. Though I cite "Wild Creatures" as my favorite song, "Nearly Midnight, Honolulu" is quite powerful and haunting in its simplicity. Like Case, I hope this kid will break free from their mother and know that they are loved by those less cruel.

7. Nature Noir by Crystal Stilts
  God, I wish this band (like everyone else I like) were more popular. Everyone badly wants another Joy Division. For some reason, The National are cited as the American reincarnation of the iconic band. Ehhh... Crystal Stilts can kindly take that title and run the eff away with it. You see, everyone thinks Joy Division is a lot more grandiose than they really are. They're pure rockers. And at least, Crystal Stilts sticks to that part and do it very well. Their latest is no exception. Favorite track: "Future Folklore".*

6. Ice on the Dune by Empire of the Sun
  After hearing the first single "Alive", I got a little worried. While I did like it, it didn't grab me until repeat listens. Nonetheless, I feared the sophomore slump from my favorite Australian dance duo. I took the plunge and bought the album regardless of my fears. I found them to be unfounded. With tracks like "Surround Sound" (I think it's great, shut up) and "Old Flavours", "Alive" was just an outlier in the whole package. I am glad that "DNA", my favorite track, was released as a single. The video, though, left a lot to be desired.

5. and that's your time by THEESatisfaction
  I didn't buy this album until early this month, but I badly wanted to count them in this list. Of course, the risk is 'what if the album isn't that good' when doing something like that. Nope, no sophomore slump for these Seattle ladies! I was a bit surprised to see their new album without a label backing (wonder what happened?), but I wanted to support them regardless. Indie acts need the support of their fans more than ever as they journey into self-releasing. I am proud to support them with my patronage and fangirlism. Favorite track: "Queen Country (4 Women)". Close your eyes and get swept away in the beats and rhymes.

4. Heartthrob by Tegan and Sara
  I'm no spring chicken with these dynamic ladies, I knew of their existence long before this album. Yet, it took this to get me to finally listen to their music. And I have to say I am not only very impressed, but I look forward to digging into their catalog. I understand that their earlier works aren't as electronic and poppy, but hey, they can go electric and still rule acoustic, right? And it also helped that this album was played over and over at my job. Favorite song: "I'm Not Your Hero".

3. UZU by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
  I forgot who or what introduced me to this band, but whoever it was... thank you. I've been wanting a solid metal group to patronize. This Canadian act mixes heavy metal, prog rock, and noh theater costumes and concepts to create a beautiful blend of artful music that captures the listener and sweeps them away into stories that are gorgeous and horrific. Favorite track: "Hall of Mirrors". Rapping section FTW!

2. We the Common by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
  Again, Bitch Magazine gets the kudos for introducing me to this band via their music reviews. After reading it, I sought out the album as soon as possible. It is such a solid, rocking album with wonderful undertones of country rock and soulful singing done by the band's namesake. Favorite track is "City", though "Holy Roller" will always remind me of walking down the sidewalks of San Francisco.

1. Tie: Aims by Vienna Teng and One Breath by Anna Calvi
  As before, women are crowned the music rulers of 2013.
  Teng makes her glorious return after taking a few years off to attend grad school and finish with a Masters degree. That, along with the recent sociopolitical environment (which was more prevalent since she moved to Detroit), inspired her to make a passionate plea for various causes: the 99% movement ("In the 99"), wasteful delivery systems ("Landsailor"), and trying to live in a city falling in despair ("Close to Home"). Favorite song: "Level Up". And sadly no, I didn't contribute to her Kickstarter video. I would've, but money was very bad at the time.
  As for Calvi, her return is marked with passion, but for different reasons. Mourning the loss of a beloved family member, she takes these emotions and channels them into an album that is not only beautiful but so heartbreaking. It's been a while since I heard an album this intimate. The moment I hit 'play', I knew this wasn't like her first album. And that is a very good thing. Favorite song: "Piece By Piece".

~

So there ya go. 2013 was a solid year for music**. Hope 2014 continues that streak (which seems like it so far). Thanks to all the musicians who put something out this year and to the newcomers that took the big leap.

This post was brought to you by my theme song of 2014***:



*Wow, not much of a review and more of a ranty-fest on The National. I don't really dislike the band at all, I think "Anyone's Ghost" and "Conversation 16" are amazing songs. I'm just tired of the myth that Joy Division were proto-emo. They weren't, y'all.

**Though funny enough, some music critics have called 2013 one of the worst years in recent memory. Well, that's what happens when you listen to crappy music stations. You have to look for the good stuff. I hope to prove that it isn't the equivalent of pulling hen's teeth.

***When I said this on Twitter, Vienna Teng favorited it. Needless to say, it made my day.

*meme does not belong to me*