Do you know what time it is???

It's blogging time! That time of the crazy week when I should be working on about 80 other things and I decide to blog instead.  I must say that the last few weeks have literally sucked the creative energy right out of my body, it's been a scary and kinda dull place.

Lots of big things in the works after finals.  Plans.  Lots of plans.  Possibly moving plans.  Not to my cottage by the sea though I still haven't given up on that. But moving to other places not too far away plans.  Perhaps even plans about new places to study and learn.

I do not love moving, but there is something really exciting about planning to move that I am perhaps a little addicted to.  I guess it was about time, I have been here a year after all - hah!

It is fabulous that my summer break is so close, my garden needs me, my sketchbook is lonely, and my camera has not been out for awhile.  A giant stack of books to read, just because I can. And, sleeping in; at least the possibility of it.

I bought this watch today because I keep finding myself in situations where having my cell phone is not convenient.  It's weird to have one on my wrist.  I think the last time I had a watch was when I was working for a tour company back in like 2004? I sort of feel like it might be judging me right now for working on this instead of some homework.  I also find the ticking a little distracting... Like maybe I am supposed to be diffusing some inter-dimensional device or something.  Or maybe that's because I had a Fringe marathon the last few weeks.

Review: The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Now I have to take back some of the bad things I have said about Stephanie Meyer as author. I still loathe the Twilight series, but I was very intrigued by the number of people who recommended this book to me, many who were not fans of Twilight.

I have to say also that the Host is one of those books that makes you sound a little crazy when you try to describe it to people who don't normally read in the genre, but you know would love it. I mean... You will love this book see there are these aliens... Kinda loses people right there.

While I still have issues with the editing and a strange lack of description in the writing the story is incredibly compelling. It's about so much more than aliens and human resistance. The internal journey that the alien, known as Wanderer, walks as she experiences what it is to be human and the understanding she gains because of her host, Melanie Stryder, is something I found profoundly moving.

If you do not have any real experience in the Southwest you may not feel immersed in the world (the strange lack of detail I mentioned above) but I would still recommend it.

I understand from friends that the movie has stripped out all that I found compelling in the novel though they all said it was well cast. It is sad that the movie is more of an angtsy action flick because I did not find the book to be any of those things.

I was also sad to see there are plans for a couple of sequels because I felt like this book was complete on its own. I can only hope that the next book will be set sometime down the road with new characters.



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Caturday, a shop update, and I freak out a little...

Okay, so I sort of tricked you with the shop update thing.  But, you are getting to see Fiesty again.  She hasn't made an official blog appearance in awhile, though she is a featured star on my Instagram feed.

I am working on the shop.  Well, mostly I am working on getting stuff ready for my show in May, which is also stuff that will go in the shop, so I guess you could say I am a multi-tasking girl these days.

I have to say though regarding both, it is increeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedible how many little details are involved in setting up for a show and in getting a little online shop ready for business.

I have had some moments like these along the way....

• What do you want your shop name to be? Sounds easy, but it took me a really long time to finally settle on mine. I mean, I know I can change it, but I wanted to find something I could stick with.  
• What kind of description do you want your customers to see? Uh.... I have discarded many, many, many... many.... ideas and still working.  I suspect I will finally be inspired when I am somewhere inconvenient like driving down the freeway with no one else in the car. 
• What do you want your logo to be?  Oh yeah, I need one of those too. 
• What shop policies do you want? Yikes! Policies sounds so.... shoplike! What do you think I am? Someone who wants to be professional or something? 
• Do you want pink or purple? (Okay, not really a decision but when I was sitting looking at my shiny shop front with nothing it, I almost felt like it was implied...)

I'm not really as unorganized as I sound up there, but there are definitely moments.  

Then, there's the getting ready for the show in May.  It's not a big show or anything fancy, but I was having an, "Oh my goodness! People are going to be judging ... I mean looking at my work!" freak out a little while ago that went something like this:

• ACK! I have a 10 x 10 space, do I even have enough to fill that!?!? It seems huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge!
• ACK! It's TWO days long! 
• ACK! I should probably have business cards?!?! 
• ACK! I have to design said business cards!?!?!?!
• ACK! I need a table or some easels or something, right?
• ACK! I need to find some tables or easels or something! 
• ACK! I should probably also have an umbrella or some shade-thing for me, or I will look like a lobster afterwards.  

There are alot more "ACKS!"when I think about the show, because the shop... Well, the shop seems more abstract; at least right now.

My "to-do" list is calling me away.  I hope you are all enjoying an ack-free Caturday.  

Spring is here... Well... Almost!

A few days ago my mom and meandered through our favorite wildflower looking loop.  It took us past Badwater in Death Valley, but sadly there were not any flowers in the park yet, at least nothing to get excited about and actually stop the car for.  There were a few little beginnings, and LOADS of creosote is in bloom already, so I am hopeful that we should have a decent bloom this year.  We also have had alot of rain (for here anyway) and it seems to have arrived at the right time, so fingers crossed that we start to see more and more.

On our loop home, we did find several lovely spots to pull over and take some shots and even saw some of the Desert Five Spots, which are one of my favorite flowers.

The cactus are also on the very beginning of blooming and we saw evidence of alot of blooms just ready to burst.  THAT is going to be amazing and I hope I am able to get out and snap more of them over the new few weeks.

I am also looking forward to more clusters along the roads like this lovely in yellow and purple.

Spring truly is the BEST time to be in the desert!


Hope you are all enjoying some signs of spring!

Review: A Memory of Light

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I have been waiting for this final novel in this series for a very long time. I was a little worried that I was going to loathe the ending... I mean after a long wait, you have time to think about how you think things should end, you know?

I was pleased with the ending. I have seen many of the details of it in my mind for quite some time and so as it began to unfold as I thought it might, I worried that some of the lamer details I had in my head would also play out, the curse of someone who reads alot in a particular genre I think. However, I found that the details I did not exactly see coming changed the story in ways that I loved.

I am not going to spend alot of time delving into a synopsis or analyzing story arcs. 1. Because everyone would be really bored and 2. Because I read in this genre to get away, and the potential deeper meanings of anything are not my particular focus.

Here are three things I really liked:

1. I must admit to jumping up and down and doing a little dance when I saw that the story was finally winding down instead of introducing a bunch of new stuff.

2. I was completely shocked by some of who didn't make it through to the end, and I LOVE that! I love it when I am surprised in any book.

3. I was completely satisfied with the end. I have seen other people who did not like it, but I found it very satisfying.

And, now I have to live in the "life after the Wheel of Time series ended" world. But, I am looking forward to rereading the entire series from beginning to end this summer when homework will not get in the way.



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