So You Know

Hey world! It certainly has been a while. In the spirit of a new year, a new book, a new sense of urgency and excitement and wonder at the universe--I've started a new blog.

I'm not saying this so that you'll follow the link or check it out. If you do, you might be shocked to see that... it looks almost exactly like this one! I just needed a fresh start and a new place to express myself. And I care about you guys. If I'm being perfectly frank, I've missed you and I wanted you to know where I've gone. Not so you have to drag yourself after me. Just so you know.

July In Books

I like taking my time with a good book. I like lazily wandering through a chapter or having the time to really appreciate a well crafted sentence. Oh, what am I saying--sometimes I like to read to finish. I plow through books with a grim determination, recording their titles like victories.

So. In the spirit of conquest (I'm playing online Risk right now and watching Battlestar Galactica--sorry for all the war references), here are the ten books I read this July:

1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - 4.5/5 such a good book! Characters and a universe that I can't wait to explore in the sequel, Pandemonium
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - 3.5/5 Not really my kind of book, but I enjoyed the mystery and action
3. The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson - 3.5/5 A fun read, and a little spooky, that let me play out all my English boarding school fantasies
4. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - 4/5 Very entertaining and fun to read. I've grown to love these characters through the Mortal Instrument series (especially Jace and Simon!)
5. Forest Gump by Winston Groom - 4/5 Surprisingly fast paced and entertaining; this was so much fun to read--although it took a little time to get used to the way Forest speaks
6. 1984 by George Orwell - 4.5/5 Even though it was a little tough to get through, I'm so glad I read it. A brilliant, thoughtful novel that really makes me look at other dystopian novels differently.
7. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - 3.5/5 A fun, lighthearted book that made me smile and fall in like with the quirky, charming Cricket
8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - 5/5 A beautifully imagined book that was so incredibly unique--I haven't read anything like it before
9. The Shifter by Janice Hardy - 4/5 A passport to a completely different world that was absorbing and fast paced
10. A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews - 5/5 Fantastic. Just a brilliant book that was full of thoughtfully crafted ideas and characters that made me happy sometimes and gut-wrenching-sad at others

Can't wait for August!

Welcome home

Well this is new. Really, blogger, I leave you for seven months and you what--you completely change on me! It's like all the time we spent together meant nothing! Like you've spent the past seven months having, dare I say it, a life. Like you don't regret the time we've spent apart, wish we had kept each other better updated on our lives, but are happy to move forward and start fresh, accepting each other for who we are rightthissecond now?

That sounds pretty good to me.

oh hey there

To the boy who Googled my name and found my little corner of the internet: Hello.

To the rest of the world: Hello.

I've missed you! I've missed writing for the sake of writing and being able to share my thoughts with (relatively) complete strangers. I've even missed the mixed feelings of freedom and anxiety when you realize that you have no idea what you're writing about. It's been a while so maybe we should take a moment to catch up.

There have been a few earth shattering moments since October 24th, such as:

• We performed Hairspray, the musical. I was Brenda, the slutty girl on the Corny Collins Show. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you fill this gaping hole in your life with some fun-filled, racially insensitive joy ASAP.

• I went to India for three weeks! Whoa! My dad, brother and I spent Christmas drinking chai tea and being stared at wherever we went. It was brilliant, it was miserable, I'm happy to be home.

• Winter. Where did that come from? I love it, I love it, I love it. The snow is so beautiful, the trees look like they've been sprinkled with powdered sugar (the cold has also motivated me to do an unspeakable amount of baking), and it gives me an excuse to buy new wool socks.

Life is good. Life is really good.

Love,

Erika

little things 5

Hello darlings,

Unfortunately, my internet presence over the past few weeks has been restricted to facebook chats and old Pokemon episodes. And sooo... I'll leave you with this, one of my new favorite things:

Little Things "A list of little things we should appreciate."

A couple little, good things from my week:

1. Leftover pizza
2. Crazy friends who will dress up as a zombie with you
3. Comfy, cozy, old man sweaters
4. The sound of rain pounding on the school roof
5. The word "hootzpuh"

Enjoy,

Erika

baby animal of the week: kangaroo

Hello friends,

Yesterday was my ultimate evening of culture and cool things. After musical rehearsal, I went to a book sale, a coffee shop, and an art show. Thus, today is my day of sitting on the couch eating Goldfish crackers, listening to Two Door Cinema Club, and staring adoringly at the following pictures:

Also, I know "of the week" is no longer an accurate time frame. Unless you adopt my new calendar where one week can stretch for MONTHS! Never be late for a deadline again! Just don't specify which Monday you'll do something...

some news

I never know how to keep this balance between my personal life and... other stuff. Writing stuff? Book stuff? Some days I just don't feel like I have enough expertise on anything but myself, and therefore don't have any right to post about them. But! These past few weeks have been supercrazybusy and I have a few things to share.

I got a role in the musical! It's a very small part--my character's name is Vicky and she's a chorus girl who sings/dances/acts in the background. I'm happy with it. And rehearsals are already in full swing, meaning every day after school I'm at the theatre or the music room practicing until 5:30. I honestly have no idea how the people with lead roles can handle it.

I'm not sure if I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year. If I do, it'll be my fifth year in a row. Wow, I've been trying to write novels since I was 11. That boggles my mind. My mind has been boggled. But between band, jazz band, musical, choir, homework... I don't know if my mind can handle any more of this boggling nonsense.

You tell me: Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? There are 28 days left to plan your epic novel! And, if you don't mind me asking, what do you think of Hairspray?