31 January 2014

Warm Bodies: Evolution of the Evolution of Humans

The adaptation of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion into a film was a great idea. Sure, it's cheesy, and no, it does not accurately represent the book, but I still love it. It is no cinematic masterpiece, but I like the fact that both mediums evoke the same responses.

Warm Bodies follows R, a zombie of unknown origin, in his time as one of the living dead. Following the stereotypical zombie lifestyle, R finds a girlfriend, marries, and is given children to look after. He ingests only the living and can only communicate with occasional guttural grunts. R cannot sleep or dream or die.

Then, one hunting trip, R is changed forever.

Upon the ingestion of a certain living being named Perry, R begins to fall in love with Perry's girlfriend, Julie. Amidst the building carnage of the hunt, R protects Julie and brings her back home. Over the days Julie is held captive, her friendship with R transforms him more and more into a living being.

Although Julie returns to her home in the living sector, the transformation in R continues and seemingly infects other living dead. Realizing that the governing bodies (no pun intended) of the living dead, the Boneys, are aware of the contagion and its source, R travels to the living sector in search of Julie.

Once again under R's protection from the impending attack, Julie and R have no choice but to present themselves to the governing officials of the living. Having to convince the living of the living dead's transformation proves more difficult than they anticipated, but in the end, the actions of the living dead provide enough evidence to convince the officials.

Written as R's first-person account of the preceding events, Warm Bodies accentuates the blurred line surrounding the concepts of living and life. It subtly invites readers to consider the meaning of life and love in the unconventional relationship between R and Julie. What a surprise coming from (seemingly) young adult fiction!

29 January 2014

Bright Future, Big Plans

The last few days have been a flurry of completing applications for summer internships and externships and updating my resume. Instead of being frustrated about how little I have accomplished, I have become more and more excited for the future. For instance, I am applying to several internships in different locations around the U.S. I would still like to be able to travel during the summer and I thought, "what a great way to do so than by applying to internships in places I would like to travel?" I do not know if any of them will work out, but I am at least applying.

I suppose the point of completing all the applications is partly to keep myself busy and partly to remind myself that there is a whole world out there and I do not have to do the same things over and over again. I can simultaneously do something beneficial to my career and do something I really want to do - travel!



28 January 2014

Liberal Arts

This topic stems from the movie Liberal Arts, staring How I Met Your Mother star Josh Radnor. The film details the unlikely relationship between Jesse and Zibby, an alumnus and current student of the same college. Though the years between them span more than a decade, Zibby and Jesse are kindred spirits. Jesse, however, has reservations about their relationship and the two ultimately make the difficult decision whether to continue seeing each other or not.

One amusing part of Liberal Arts was the conversation Jesse and Zibby have about presumably a Twilight-esque fiction novel. Jesse repeatedly voices his dislike for the novel and implores Zibby to provide one good reason she enjoys it. The book in question apparently is not well written nor provides any literary significance, yet is well liked by millions of readers. Jesse questions the readership and, in essence, Zibby's maturity, simply because her views differ from his. Zibby rejoinders with the point of a liberal arts education - meeting and disagreeing with people.

What is the point of a liberal arts education? I always took liberal arts education to mean that I could take whatever classes I wanted in addition to the classes toward my major. I looked for and applied only to liberal arts colleges and ultimately decided on a nursing program that would seemingly allow me to complete a minor and study abroad.

Although my sister attended college a couple years before me, her collegiate career was much different from mine. I figured out soon enough that things were not going to work out the way I had planned. I ended up having to put up a little extra work to complete my minor and I am working on studying abroad for January Term of next year.

Now, after two and a half years of college, I consider Liberal Arts as having various means of communicating and discussing different points of view. There are all kinds of courses, clubs, events, and activities offered to students and oftentimes are a prime topic of conversation. As strange as it sounds, I enjoy disagreeing with people and being able to discuss why. It is invigorating and empowering and I suggest it be attempted daily for premium health and wellness.

27 January 2014

Traveling with Liv: The Link

Last week, my brother, mother and I took a trip to Seattle aboard the Link. We drove to Tukwila and boarded the Central line Link into Westlake station. The trip was only to try a different form of transportation into the city, but it proved to be an adventurous one!


My brother has an affinity for many forms of transportation, including light rail. He was more than excited to take the C-Link and wanted to return to the station as soon as possible.

Initially our plan had been to take the Link into Seattle, do a little shopping, grab some lunch, and head home. Unfortunately we left later than planned in the morning and spent less time in Seattle than we anticipated.

Saul had chosen where to sit when we boarded and, as I anticipated, he chose the front of the Link. It just so happened the seats faced the opposite direction we were traveling. He was surprised, maybe even a little uncomfortable, and kept saying, "Libya we're going backwards!"

After the first stop, Saul was no longer preoccupied with the motion - instead, he marveled as traffic and landscape rolled by. Although the journey only lasted about 20 minutes, the excitement was imprinted on Saul's face the rest of the day.

The Westlake Station put us about a block away from the Westlake Center and by the time we arrived in Seattle the three of us were hungry, so we headed straight for the food court. There we enjoyed various noodles from the Noodle Zone, depicted below.

Although my mother and I could have gone for a little shopping, all Saul wanted to do was hop aboard the next Link home (or any other Link for that matter!). On the way back to the station, my mother and I detoured to a few shops in search of more Seahawks gear.

On the way home, I took a few videos which I hope to compile into the next "Traveling with Liv" episode for the video series on YouTube. I will announce it as soon as I am finished with it.

Upon arriving in Tukwila, despite our general exhaustion magnified by the afternoon sun, my brother and I raced to the car to grab the front passenger seat. I won this time. Nothing, I repeat, nothing could have made the trip better.

26 January 2014

The Perfect Bath

Relaxation is never easy when there is always so much to do. One of the ways I like to relax is by taking a bath. I can read or watch a movie, listen to music or an audiobook, mull over the day or make plans. Basically, a bath is a great way to multi-task.

The beauty items I have acquired over the months came in to good use whenever I am worn down and in need of some self-care. For instance, the bath bomb from LUSH was perfect! Honey Bee smelled like pure sweetness and was as soothing as a cup of camomile tea.

To start, I removed all my makeup using the YES soothing facial cleansing wipes and ran a warm-verging-on-hot-bath. I filled my water bottle with cold water and played some mood music. 
Although I could have easily fallen asleep, I brought with me a supply of books to read. I was finally able to finish The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, a book that my aunt lent me a while back and moved on to a couple other books I am currently reading. Fortunately I remembered to hydrate myself (hence the water bottle) amidst the engaging literature. 

After soaking for a while, I got out and dried off. My skin has been abnormally dry lately, so I decided to apply an absurd amount of body butter. (My favorite is Blueberry from the Body Shop, but as it is discontinued, I settle for the papaya scent.) I also applied Hope in a Jar by Philosophy, my favorite facial moisturizer at the moment. 

The result of all my efforts and time? Contentment and drowsiness. 

25 January 2014

Adventuretime: Snoqualmie Falls Edition

Last night I had the most incredible night of sleep I have had in weeks! Thus, I was a little disheartened the moment Saul came barreling into my room to wake me up for our day of adventure. Fortunately, after a little pick-me-up at Starbucks, I was more than ready to get going - I was excited! I cannot remember the last time I visited Snoqualmie falls, but I can say that it has been quite a while.

The trip to Snoqualmie was short, but sweet. My fellow passengers and I entertained ourselves with lively conversation and music... and the (not so) little one with snacks and a movie. Although Saul does tend to enjoy the journey more than the destination, he was in very good spirits when we arrived.

Today's good weather had drawn out many families to the park. I do not know if it is usually that busy, but I was grateful for the multitudes of families (especially those with pets) that were taking the trail. Not only were they a source of entertainment for Saul (the pets, mostly), they were a reminder that coming back up the trail would not kill us.

The trail was fairly steep - not a problem going down, of course, but a bit of a struggle coming up. (There is a separate parking lot closer to the lower falls viewpoint for those with difficulty hiking). In truth, I do not think any of us considered it an obstacle. We were too busy enjoying being outside on a lovely day being near such a magnificent force of nature.

The view was beautiful. I know it is literally just water flowing off a cliff, but it the sheer magnitude of the water was astonishing. What can I say? It's the little things.

We ended the trip by enjoying a lunch of sandwiches and soup at Rose Ridge Cafe & Deli. There is much to say about an owner who recognizes pretty much everyone in town and welcomes strangers as friends. Walking off our lunch, we explored the area and found a neat statue in front of the community center.

After the detour, we reluctantly returned home to shower and settle down for the evening. Overall, a fantastic day.

24 January 2014

The Problem with Krypton Is...

Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman played by Henry Cavill
The other night I watched Man of Steel with my dad and was almost dumbfounded with the realization that Kryptonians were bred around the time Kal-El (Superman) was born. The scene in which General Zod (the bad guy) furiously attacks Superman after his ship is returned to the Phantom Zone was the source of my epiphany. He says that because of Kal-El he now has no purpose because his only purpose in life, what he was bred to do, was protect Krypton and ensure it's survival.

The short interchange between Superman and General Zod took me by surprise because, as an ethnocentric being, I assumed that General Zod had become an official by his own will. Instead, he was bred to assume that role in Kryptonian society. Crazy, no?

General Zod played by Michael Shannon
The interesting thing is, humans kind of did that too. Throughout human history, there have been people raised to think or expected that they can only be a certain way, or have a certain occupation. Children growing up to take on the family business, young men attending a seminary because it was expected of the family to produce a priest, young women marrying for the sake of the family's reputation and/or finances. Although the circumstances are different, the principle is similar.

What about the Christian concept of Free Will. Do humans have free will? If not, are we not toy-things of a higher being? If yes, are not we in control of our destinies and therefore higher beings? There are so many questions one could ask!

Towards the end of the film, Superman tells a government official, "I'm here to help, but only on my own terms." That, to me, sums up the human experience. We provide ourselves in whatever capacity we can, when we want to. We offer up our individual talents to each other on a daily basis and it is all interwoven into an ever-changing world. Ultimately, no one can force us to be anything we are not. Therein lies our power as humans. 

23 January 2014

Thankful Thursday, Pt. 4

This week has been very... taxing. I've been doing various adultly tasks and have been spending loads of time with my family which has all been wonderful, but in the meantime I have obviously neglected to blog. I apologize. Hopefully this coming week will be better. Now onto Thankful Thursday!

Oh my... So much to be thankful for today. As usual, my family is at the top of the list. I have been spending most of my time with my mother and seeing how she constantly looks for the needs of others is something I am very thankful for. I think I get my generosity from her.

I am also thankful for my brother and his sense of joy. Sometimes it will express itself in humor, other times in hugs, and other times in words. For instance, this morning on the way to school he teased me and upon returning home he hugged me and said he missed me. It is the moments in which I share in his joy that I am truly grateful for him. Not to be overlooked, I am also thankful for my sister who makes my day (pretty much every day) by her thoughtfulness.

I am also grateful for the local law enforcement officers. I ran into a few of them at a Starbucks and realized that I was actually glad to see a group of them chatting over their espressos. As one might imagine, they have a hard job and seeing them in a different light was refreshing and a reminder to be grateful for my safety.

The aforementioned are only a few of the things on my list of gratitude today, but they are the most important things to me at the moment. I hope that one day I might finally be able to list all the things I am thankful for, but for now, these short Thankful Thursday posts will have to do.

18 January 2014

Sarah's Key

A couple years ago, my cousin lent me a book she read as part of her high school English class. It seemed an easy read, so I read it. Later I found out it would be made into a book and recently I had the opportunity to see it.

The novel opens on the story of Sarah, a young Jewish girl swept into the tragedies of World War II who tries to protect her younger brother Michel by locking him in a secret compartment in their apartment. She and her parents are arrested and taken to the Velodrome to await their fate, along with thousands of other Jews.

Years later, a woman named Julia is researching the Velodrome for an international news magazine and stumbles upon Sarah's story. She soon discovers that Sarah's story is woven into her in-laws past and surreptitiously uncovers that the truth surrounding Sarah's family and France during World War II.

The novel left me mourning for days over the great losses of the Holocaust and Sarah's experiences during that time. The movie was a bit of a disappointment (as almost all movies are compared to the book). In particular, the transitions between Sarah and Julia's life were very abrupt and vexing to the overall tale.

Fortunately, both mediums achieve the same overall effect: the provocation of courage and and hope for those who have suffered immense misfortune. As in all movies based around World War II, the question lingers: what would I have done during WWII?

One point I took from the book was the love Sarah had for her brother and her family. I am the first to admit that I am very attached to my family, especially my siblings. That characteristic alone made me particularly empathetic towards Sarah's guilt in leaving her brother behind and the hope that she carries for her brother's safety throughout her journey home is heart-breaking.

As much as I would like to recommend Sarah's Key, I would not want to claim responsibility of any possible heartbreak resulting from it... However, if one is interested in the Holocaust and/or a tale of love encapsulated by secrets then I highly recommend Sarah's Key.

16 January 2014

Thankful Thursday Pt. 3

I've decided I want to try and make Thankful Thursday a more consistent thing, not only to remind myself to be grateful but also because I usually undervalue Thursdays. They are like the less-handsome fraternal twin of Tuesday.

Today is my great-aunt's 86th birthday! We celebrated by going out to lunch - "we" meaning my mother, great aunts, and my grandparents. I was the youngest there by at least 30 years, but it still ended up being a party.

Beforehand, I had the opportunity to go to the gym while my mom went and visited a friend. There I lifted weights, something I have not done in a while, and as a treat relaxed in the sauna for a few minutes. Afterward, my mother and I took Echo for a walk. I truly enjoyed having the company and the additional exercise (usually I either go to the gym or I go running with Echo).

By the time we got home from lunch, I had just enough time to catch up on one of my favorite YouTubers videos (Grace Helbig) before my brother's bus rolled up. We are now listening to music and are about to have a mini dance party!

Life is good.

Review: Revenge Wears Prada

The sequel to the New York Times' Bestseller The Devil Wears Prada picks up soon after it left off. Andrea ("Andy") Sachs takes time to freelance and eventually meets up with her ex-nemesis and future best friend and business partner Emily. Together they create a wedding magazine in the high-fashion style of Runway. After building up the magazine they are offered a once-in-a-lifetime acquirement deal from the company Elias-Clark whom Miranda Priestly, Andy and Emily's ex-boss, just happens to work for. The acquirement of their magazine would mean that Andy and Emily would be working for Miranda again. Many changes have occurred since working for Miranda, both on Miranda's part and Andy's, and Andy is left with a very difficult decision. Laced with the glamour of high-fashion and complicated relationships common in The Devil Wears Prada, Revenge Wears Prada succeeds in drawing readers to a new period in a working woman's life - including the joys and difficulties of marriage and family.

Although I did not enjoy the sequel so much as I did the original, I did connect to it. The constant barrage of pressure on Andy is something relatable to all, whether it be work, friendships, or family. I frequently frustrated myself with how Andy tolerated everything, convinced that I would have handled things much differently. For instance, the obvious injustices she endures was enough to make me shut the book several times in one sitting to calm myself before continuing. That being said, Lauren Weisberger writes very convincingly and in such a way that readers are drawn into work politics and empathize as if the problems were their own.

Overall I would give the book 3/5 owls.

14 January 2014

Correlation Does Not Equal Causation.

This post stems from an experience I had today. I apologize if I may seem a little harsh or unfair in any way - it might be due to residual shock, anger, or exhaustion.

I was pulling out of a parking space, looking both behind me for other cars and in front of me for the car parked next to me. My car's tail end was already sticking out in the isle when I looked back and saw a car barreling towards me. The isle was not wide enough for her to pass me and I was clearly in the isle so I paused a moment to see if she would slow down. Noticing that the car was not slowing down, I immediately pulled forward, back into my stall. The car honked repeatedly as it swerved and passed. I turned back around and saw that the car had slowed down and the older lady driving the vehicle was glaring at me. I honked back at her and mouthed "slow down," automatically furious that she had almost hit me. She continued to honk and glare and finally drove off.

Now I know it seems like an overreaction to the situation, but it brings to mind a stereotype of young and older drivers. I understand that young drivers may not have as much experience with driving, but that does not necessarily make them poor drivers. Nor does that make experienced drivers good drivers. That does not make experienced drivers poor drivers either. What I am saying is, one should not place judgement or blame based on the looks or age of a driver. Just because I was probably the less experienced driver in the situation, does not automatically make it my fault.

For now, I am grateful that nothing happened and I hope that the woman is no longer in any hurry and/or will not cause any accidents in the near future.

13 January 2014

Ridiculous Analogies of My Current State of Being

As I was running errands and interacting with people today, I realized how much more entertaining things would be if we could sum up how we are through analogies. For instance, instead of the typical dialogue:
Cashier: How are you?
Me: I'm good, thanks. How are you?
Cashier: Good. I'm good.
 Me: Good.
Our conversations would flow more like this:
Cashier: How are you?
Me: I am swimming in the ocean, with one eye on the shoreline, listening to the waves calling me further in. How are you?
Cashier: I'm sorry to hear that. I am melted chocolate without a mold, shaped only by a caring hand.
Me: Good for you! I hope your day matches your mood.
I swear, I'm not crazy. I just have a hard time brushing people off when they or I ask how the other is. I do not necessarily want to tell them my whole life story, but at the same time I wish we could share a little bit of our lives with each other without it being awkward. I understand that some people have enough problems and wouldn't necessarily want to bother nor be bothered by anyone else, but it irks me that I can't have a bad day in public. It's not appropriate.

For instance, today I was exhausted from a rough night and constantly felt irritated by those around me. I knew my poor mood was due to lack of sleep and I felt myself constantly correct behavior. After a while my frustration grew and I retreated home to relax.

My challenge is this: ask someone how they are doing and mean it. Ask after their family or their job or school and talk with them if they want to continue the conversation. Make time to make a connection with someone - you never know, they might need it.

11 January 2014

Following the Funny Feeling: the Tale of a Stray Dog

This morning my dad had the uncanny idea that today would be a good day for a walk with our dog, Echo. We bundled up and got started walking down the street, noticing that the sky was getting darker as we distanced ourself from home.

Dad and I had barely left the neighborhood when we saw the stray dog, sniffing around the bushes. Echo greeted the dog in his normal fashion as I reached for her name tag. In place of her name tag was the number for what turned out to be the local Animal Control agency. As I called the number, trying to figure out what to do, our neighbor drove up and offered his assistance. None of us recognized the dog from our neighborhood so we decided it was best to take her to the Humane Society.

I, of course, grew attached to the dog in the short time we new each other. I nicknamed her Hattie, partially after the character in the novel I recently read, but also because she escaped our hands three times (hat trick). She is very well behaved and friendly and not to mention gorgeous! How could I not become attached?

Fortunately we were able to drop her off at the Humane Society and got a number to call in a few days to see if she is doing okay. Hopefully her owners will find her.

Strangely enough, my dad insisted on going on a walk, despite the fact that it was down pouring. He later admitted that he had had a funny feeling about it and decided to follow it. Thank goodness we did, otherwise we might not have been able to help Hattie!

10 January 2014

Take An Unplanned Road Trip: The Point Defiance 5-Mile Drive

Point Defiance Park is home to Pt. Defiance Zoo and Aquarium and was the key location of my unplanned road trip. I have been to the park before, but I have never properly explored it. Today was the day!


The weather was awful - stereotypical of the Pacific Northwest. As soon as my brother returned from school, we packed up and took off in the direction of the park. It was soon decided my brother would be my navigator, so I handed him the map I had made and maneuvered through the streets of Tacoma to our first pit stop.



We arrived at my grandparents' house and ate a quick snack, detailing our plans for the afternoon and looking over the map. After saying goodbye, we continued our journey to Ruston Way and drove along the waterfront before reaching the park. Once there, we put aside the map and followed along the 5-Mile Drive.



The drive led us to several viewpoints which overlooked the Puget Sound. On this horribly rainy day, the sight of the Sound was a welcome compensation to the alternative moisture that seemingly provoked us from all angles. I took as many pictures as I dared of the flora and the fauna as we drove slowly along the winding path through the park.



It was a wonderful couple of hours spent wandering, although I would have loved to spend more time enjoying the scenery by foot. The mini-road trip was a perfect start to the weekend and tickled my sense of adventure. I will always enjoy traveling and I look forward to wherever the road of life takes me next!

09 January 2014

Thankful Thursday, Pt. 2

I barely slept last night and I've been fighting the fog that is currently my brain all day to be as productive as possible on this rainy, no-good Thursday.

That being said, today I was awoken by a very chipper Saul (my brother) who asked me to drive him to school after being sick for so long. (1) He is not one for being excited about going to school and (2) he just got over a horrendous cold. I helped feed him breakfast and drove him to school where his teacher and assistants greeted him with enthusiasm. My heart could not help but be warmed by their kindness.

My mother took me along on an errand and, thoughtfully considering my half-conscious state, took me to Starbucks. There I tried the new Caramel Flan latte - thank goodness I only ordered a tall! It tasted more like caramel than flan, but I appreciated the sweetness all the same.

Upon returning home, my mother began folding laundry while I ate breakfast and described one of the books I am currently reading. She was interested, so I began reading aloud. I kept her enthralled for a few chapters before my voice became hoarse. I forgot how much I enjoy reading out loud.

Later on I had a chance to visit with my grandparents. My grandfather always tells the best stories of his childhood and today he told me about a field near his hometown in Mexico that grew jamaica. He told me that the jamaica was sold by meter plots. My grandfather explained that they would cut up the jamaica and make traditional pico de gallo out of it.

Unfortunately I had to leave soon after the story in order to be home in time to collect my brother from the school bus. Saul's reaction to seeing me waiting for him never fails to make me smile. His exuberance has not yet faded as we sit together watching Chicken Little, hours later.

It's the little things.

Spend a Whole Day Reading a Novel: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

I knew for this challenge I would want to pick the right book, not just any book I had on hand. I began reading it the night before and I knew that that I wanted to spend the entire day with it, reading, reflecting, and processing it.

The novel is about Hattie Shepherd and the raising of her children in 20th-century Philadelphia. Hattie, an African-American, struggles to provide for her children with her husband August who ends up being more of a disappointment to her than anything else. A tragedy early on in their marriage results in a lifetime of anger and resentment for Hattie. Her children, raised with her callousness, go on to lead very different lives and constantly ache for their mother's love. The brief snapshots into her and her children's lives, however, provide insight to the inner workings of the Shepherd family and Hattie's immense love for her children.

Throughout the tales of Hattie and her children, I contemplated my future family and reflected on my own familial relations. As much as I say I do not like children, I actually do. I just don't feel comfortable with them because I do not know where my boundaries are as a stranger. I am neither a parent nor other family member, so what can I do to show my affection and well-being for the child? I would love to show affection for young'uns because that's how I feel most comfortable with children.
Hattie, on the other hand, worked immensely to keep her children fed and clothed. Some might consider this an implied responsibility of mothership, but with the constant barrage of hardships she had endured I consider this quite a feat for her. Hattie felt as though there was no more love in her to be given after doing all that was necessary for her children.


At one point, Hattie blames herself for not recognizing her daughter's distress. She says, "I never did know what to do about my children's spirits. I didn't know how to health anybody in that way." My compassion for her rose to new heights as I read those lines. What I saw in those lines was a woman exhausted by providing for her family trying to be a better mother. She gave no excuses, she simply stated her faults. 

I wonder how much I will change my response to children if I do become a parent. I can now discern the love my parents and grandparents expressed in doing what was necessary for me, especially when I did not appreciate it, but I wonder if I will have the fortitude to do that for my children if the time comes... 

08 January 2014

Insomnia, Colds, and Resilience

Today, like many other days, was uneventful. I spent most of it holding my sick brother and reading while a movie played in the foreground and the rain fell outside. Saul's coughs were the only thing that shattered the stillness.

I am currently reading a book about insomnia. I have been struggling with sleep the last few months and thought that the book would be a nice educational interlude to my feast of fiction novels during the month of January. The book, Insomniac by Gayle Greene, discusses the many aspects surrounding sleep and insomnia and is a great resource to those interested in learning more about such topics.

One of the reoccurring statements the author makes about insomniacs is their resilience. As a person who struggles watching others' suffering (whether that is due to my profession or some innate characteristic bestowed on me at birth), I ache for the people described in the book to be struggling to find jobs and doctors that will help them manage their insomnia. I suppose the point I am trying to make is that though they struggle to make it through the day, they try to do so. 

I am not naive to think that if one is sick, one might certainly rest. Having attended school and work while battling illness, I know taking time off for healing is not always feasible and I understand that illness and health mean different things to different people, however, I commend those that are focused on returning to health and/or do not accept the condition as part of life.

Watching my brother sleep while a mild fever ran rampant through his body and his coughs strained to remove the buildup in his lungs was enough for me. I know colds come and go and each time our bodies become more resilient to the virus, but it was hard to watch it manifest in a lack of appetite and energy (two things my brother is not known for). It seemed as though my brother had suspended his healing process and it made me far more protective than I normally would have been. Hopefully he will be feeling better (physically and mentally) tomorrow.

06 January 2014

Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

My local library has a tower shelf of books each with green three-leaf clover stickers labelled "Lucky Day." These books are available for just a few weeks without the possibility of renewal. The Lucky Day books are thus labelled because of their popularity and/or recent date of publication. Today I, for lack of a better-fitting exclamation, scored majorly.

The most recent book by Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline, was available for checkout! I began reading it in the car to my brother - skipping over the morbid parts, of course - and had even my mother enrapt in the story before we returned home.

The novel follows a middle-aged man back into his childhood to the small Sussex town where he met Lettie Hempstock and her family. Unbelievable events occur as a result of their friendship and leaves the not-so-young man to pull them from the depths of his memory years later.

It is not a coming-of-age tale, but the fantastical journey that Gaiman spins is likely to change any young reader it encounters - even those young of heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book (considering I read it over the course of 7 hours, it is obvious) and I recommend it to all those in need of trust, courage, and consolation.

Review: Jacksgap.com


Okay, so if you haven't heard of JacksGap on YouTube, you need to click here. I'll wait.

Now, let's discuss their video announcing Jacksgap.com. Those cheeky boys. I knew they were up to something all those months!

The concept of the website is summed up in their announcement video as "a curation of the best of the web." I loved the idea of it. Initially I thought it would be similar to Veooz in that it would be based on popular linkage. The book Too Big to Know by David Weinberger discusses how popular linkage directs the results of search engines by correlating the most-visited links with relevancy to the search. As many may note, sometimes search engines do not provide the most accurate links nor the most relevant. This is often due to popular linkage.

Jacksgap.com, however, is not entirely a result of popular linkage. Jack and Finn Harries, among others, write individual posts of all the material on the site. There are several categories under which users may read the mini-articles and view YouTube videos.

I have personally used the website for several months now and have enjoyed the amalgam of topics Jacksgap.com have addressed. Included in the site are, of course, the Jacksgap YouTube channel videos - including the first two episodes of the Rickshaw Run series, a series I highly recommend to those interested in international travel and philanthropy.

Although the hard work and time dedicated to this website is not at first obvious, Jacksgap.com will soon surprise its visitors with the expanse with which it focuses its attention. When it says "a curation of the best of the web" it means it!

Ding-Dong-Ditching

While I am not officially labeled a disturber of the peace, nor am I a Marauder with access to the Marauder's map, I did successfully pull off a prank. A nice prank, of course.

A friend of mine have a long-running joke about giving cupcakes as a sign of how much one cares for another. Up until now, it was just a joke that we teased each other with, but Saturday night I took it to another level.

Fortunately there is a fantastic cupcake shop nearby in downtown Tacoma called Hello, Cupcake. I picked up a few of my friend's favorite cupcakes and drove to his house and - you guessed it - left the cupcake box, rang the doorbell, and ran away!

Just around the corner, I hopped back in my car and waited to see his reaction. He walked out, looked around, looked down, and smiled.

Mischief managed!



05 January 2014

2013 Recap

I will make no blanket statements about the last year other than it was a year of learning. I learned more about myself this year than I can remember any year before that.

In January, I applied to nursing school and spent the month taking care of my post-surgical father. I started on the AFI films list and revamped the existing List. Fast forward to May - I finished my sophomore year of college and packed up my things for the last time in McMinnville. It was bittersweet, saying goodbye to the campus and people that made so many wonderful memories, while also looking forward to my future in Portland. I also celebrated the graduation of my beautiful sister!

In June, I traveled to Mexico with my family and spent a week relaxing and recouping from a rough school year. July flew by and left me dazed and confused, scrambling to get things together for the first week of school in August.

Adjusting to nursing school and Portland took most of my September and October, but I successfully completed my first 5k in November. The transition from  November to December was rough, what with all the academic events occurring and the process of packing for two months home.

The last week of December was fantastic. Christmas with the family was wonderful, as usual, and New Years Eve, despite a couple mishaps, was fantastic. As ever, I am grateful for the experiences that have led me to this point in my life. I look forward to the year ahead and, as always, I wonder what it has in store for me.