Norabelle414's part V: In Which Spring Had Better Hurry Up Already!

I actually took this one! Some kind of flowering tree (cherry?) outside my apartment building. However, this was taken over a month ago and it's still below freezing many nights so the flowers don't look so great anymore.

(click here for sexy David Tennant)

Goals for 2013:

• Attend the big giant Philadelphia spring LT meet-up
  
• Read 75 books
  
• Catch up on my LTER reading / reviewing
  
• Read more books than I acquire (acquire fewer books than I read?)
  
• Be less hermit-y
  
• Tag all of my books owned and read by decade in which they take place
  

Previous Threads:
2013, part IV
2013, part III
2013, part II
2013, part I
2012, module eta

Books read in 2013:

January:
1) The Country of the Blind and Other Science-Fiction Stories by H. G. Wells
2) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
3) In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L. A. Meyer
4) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin
5) The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby
6) Redshirts by John Scalzi
7) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
8) Mississippi Jack: Being an Account of the Further Waterborne Adventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, Fine Lady, and Lily of the West by L. A. Meyer

February:
9) Looking for Alaska by John Green
10) John Dies at the End by David Wong
11) Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
12) The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
13) Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
14) Paper Towns by John Green
15) My Bonny Light Horseman: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, in Love and War by L. A. Meyer
16) The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

March:
17) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
18) Graceling by Kristin Cashore
19) Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy by L. A. Meyer
20) Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy
21) Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
22) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

April:
23) I am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson
24)

I'm going to try keeping a closer eye on the books I acquire throughout the year. Perhaps that will keep the numbers down.

Books acquired in 2013:

January:
1) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (free)

February:
None!

March:
2) Feminism in the Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Tara Prescott (free)

April:
3) Wool by Hugh Howey (new, $12)
4) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (used, $xx)
5) Zone One by Colson Whitehead (used, $xx)
6) The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (used, $xx)
7)

Stories from I am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson:

Mad House: A man has serious, serious anger management problems. He takes all his anger out on his house and his wife. Then his wife leaves him and it turns out that the only reason his house was not retaliating against the man is because his wife was so nice. Meh.

The Funeral: A clueless funeral director is hired by a vampire, and the funeral is attended by all of his friends (Frankenstein's monster, werewolf, etc.). This one sounds so good in theory but it just droned on without being interesting.

From Shadowed Places: A man returns from a trip to Africa on which he was mean to an African man and got cursed. Now that he's back home in America, he hires a black anthropologist (against whom the man swears he is not prejudiced!) to act as a witch doctor and remove the curse from him. This one was special, in that it was sexist AND racist.

Person to Person: A man hears a telephone ringing inside his head every night at 3am. One day, he decides to answer it . . . .

Book #23: I am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson, read by Robertson Dean (I am Legend) and Yuri Rasovsky (Other Stories) - (see above & previous threads for reviews of specific stories) - I liked Matheson's IDEAS a lot but I cannot stand his writing. He comes up with really cool concepts and then ruins them by droning on and on about nothing.

I am Legend was probably my least disliked of the stories. Dance of the Dead and The Funeral had the most potential, but fell flat.

The narrator of I am Legend was fine, but the narrator of the other stories was AWFUL.



Currently reading:
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Salt by Mark Kerlansky
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (5%)

Coming soon:
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 23
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 2
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 273
BOOKS REMAINING: 52
DAYS PER BOOK: 5.25

(Hermit days in the past week: 2)

Hi!

Yay New Thread!!

Hi Foggi! Hi Leah!

Beautiful flowering tree! I would love to see that outside my window.

*lurk in place*

Happy new thread, Nora :)

Thanks for stopping by, Julia, Rachel, and Es!

Hi Nora! *Smooches*

Ahhhhh, David. Oh, I clicked - you *know* I did.

Nice new thread. Love the pic on top.

Smooches to you too, Stephen!

Amber, I actually meant to switch that to the one of him in his underpants, but I forgot. Ah well. Next thread.

Hi Paws!

Excellent!
*starts waiting patiently*

I have to say I'm quite surprised by you, Nora. 16 17 messages so far and no Doctor! (The link doesn't count!)

Tsk, tsk. Getting old, are we?

(Edited because Amber was too quick for me.)

I wasn't thrilled with The Bells of Saint John (I need to watch it again), and I'm depressed that Matt Smith is definitely coming back for season 8.

You don't like him?

I'm sad you don't like Matt Smith, sad you are stuck with a Doctor you don't love. I love him a lot so I'm happy he's coming back but I was surprised. I didn't think Doctors lasted so long.

Love the flower picture! I found Salt tedious. Hope you like it more than I did.

Matt Smith is my least favorite Doctor. I feel bad because I'm sure he's a perfectly lovely person, but he will just never ever be able to compare to Tennant. I'm basically ruined for all other Doctors.

>22 Morphidae: Hi Morphy! I'm reading Salt "on the side", so I think I'll be okay. I'm not expecting it to be terribly entertaining or anything.

Some updates on my never-ending struggle with OverDrive:

1) I never did end up figuring out how to put a WMA file onto my ipod so I can listen to it. I tried a million things and every time it would seem like it was working but when I tried to listen to it I could not find the files on my ipod. What a mess.

2) They recently added two new "views" on the website: grid and list. So now you can actually SEE THE TITLES OF THE BOOKS, not just the covers. What a concept!

3) I just realized this morning that putting the list in order by "date added to site" does not work, for whatever reason. So any time I want to make sure I'm not missing anything, I have to look through all 3,706 titles to see what isn't on my wishlist.

How do you switch to list view?

Can't you just convert the wma file in Itunes (assuming you have Itunes)? That's what I do with pretty much all files I want to be able to listen to on my Ipod.

>25 leahbird: If you do a search or view one of the "collections" (which are pretty much just a search) there's an option at the top of the page that says "Cover | Grid | List"

>26 PawsforThought: No, they have a DRM.

>23 norabelle414:: I feel exactly the same way about both Smith and our dear David.

Maybe one of these mathods will work: http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-Protected-Audio-Into-a-Plain-MP3

>30 PawsforThought: The way that the software is set up does not allow me to open the audiobooks in iTunes, for that very reason. I'm just trying to play the files in iTunes, whether they have DRM or not. But thanks!

Ooh, I didn't notice that there are view options now in Overdrive. I'll have to check that out. Thanks, Nora!

Ohmygodthoseglasses! Adorable! Sigh.

I have this weird thing about when guys push long sleeves up to their elbows. It makes me drool. I have no idea why. I like a nice manly forearm, I guess?

35: Agreed. I also love the 5 o'clock shadow going on up there.

Have you seen the episode of QI that DT was in? He had a red velvet suit on. Looked very dapper.

#23 -- At the recommendation of somebody or other (one of my Doctor Who-loving LT friends, but I can't remember which one), I started watching DW from the start of series 6 ("The Eleventh Hour"). I fully intend to go back and pick up on the episodes I missed, but so far Matt Smith is the only Doctor I have known. I suspect that, if I had started with Tennant, I would feel the same way about him as you do -- but as it is, I am perfectly happy with more Matt Smith.

>37 PawsforThought: No, I don't believe QI is available in the US. I've never heard of it before.

>38 foggidawn: I started with Christopher Eccleston, actually. He was an excellent Doctor (though still not as good as Tennant).

38. I believe that was Nora. She gave me that exact advice a few months back (which I followed and subsequently loved the show and Matt as the Doctor).

39. It's on YouTube, you should check it out. Just type "qi david tennant" into the search bar. It's a quiz show where it is more important to give interesting answers than correct ones and if you answer something that is both wrong and obvious you get penalties. Stephen Fry is the quiz master and Alan Davies is a constant panel member (the "dumb one"). Lots of great comedians have been on is and a couple of other faboo people too (like Daniel Radcliffe and Prof. Brian Cox who had an incredible discussion with Ross Noble about ewoks and methane). The series isn't numbered the way most shows are (series 1, 2 and so on) but goes by the alphabet (series A, B...) and the episodes are named after a word or phrase beginning with that letter - and the questions relate to that in some way.
You should absolutely check it out. It's one of my favourite shows ever.

Aha! I found the XL episode of David's appearance (XL episodes are longer versions that air the next day). Series G, episode "Groovy": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUkICwIVPMI

>40 PawsforThought: Twasn't me, I always recommend that people begin with Christopher Eccleston (season 1 of the reboot).

Thanks for the tip! I will check that out on YouTube when I have a few minutes.

Maybe Eris?

33: ♥

Must have been Micky or Eris, then. I was sure it was you!

Love the flowers! So pretty!

I can only use mp3 files with my mac. It makes me sad as my library has plenty of books that are not available in mp3 and only WMA :(

>33 norabelle414:: Siiiiiigh... *starry-eyed*

I, too, am a sucker for a manly forearm. I love forearms and hands.

And wrists. Watching a guitar player's hands, wrists and forearms is as good as it gets.

It wasn't me recommending someone start with Matt. I also am a strong advocate for starting with Eccleston.

Also, beautiful pic up top, Nora. I wish my photography skills were that good.

Then it was Eris. She recommened I start with The Elevanth Hour and then go back and watch the 9th doctor. And she was absolutely right.
I originally started with Eccleston and couldn't get into it but when I tried again after having been swept away by the raggedy doctor I liked it/him better. Still haven't reached the Tennant episodes so can't say anything about him.

>48 MickyFine: It's just a cell phone photo!
Step 1: hold phone really, really close to tree
Step 2: wait until no cars are passing behind the tree
Step 3: press shutter button

>48 MickyFine:, 49 Being a perfectionist, I first tried to start with William Hartnell. That didn't go well.

I keep thinking about going back and watching the classic episodes. But I've been watching the BBC recaps each month of each doctor and I'm thinking that I couldn't handle it. That kind of classic tv just doesn't do it for me. But I feel like I'm missing so much.

>51 leahbird: I definitely intend on doing that at some point. But there are so many other shows to watch! Plus I am really weird and I like watching each episode of my favorite shows twice. That takes up a lot of time, even though I watch them online so there are fewer commercials.

I made a "What We Are 'Reading'" thread for audiobooks! You can find it HERE!

I've also added it to the wiki.

53: Woo! I love audiobooks! I always have one audiobook going and one physical book going.

50. I'm doing that! I've watched about a third of the first season, but it's pretty slow so I've taken a break from it.

I hadn't logged in to OverDrive in the last 10 days or so and hadn't seen the new view options. It's an improvement. One thing I miss from the "old" version of OverDrive is the ability to view new audiobook additions. I would check the list about once a month to see if there was anything I wanted to add to my wishlist. After the redesign I can see recently added ebooks but not audiobooks. Since I use Overdrive mainly for audio downloads that's not very helpful for me.

I don't have any trouble loading OverDrive's WMA books onto my iPod Nano through iTunes. I don't think the files are really stored in iTunes, but they have to pass through iTunes on their way from the OverDrive Media Console to my iPod. The first time iTunes didn't recognize the files as an audiobook and put them somewhere in the music collection. I had to figure out how to change designation from music to audiobook in the metadata so that it would show up in the audiobook collection. Doing it once seems to "train" iTunes to recognize those files as audiobook files because all subsequent downloads go straight to the audiobook collection.

>56 cbl_tn: Hi Carrie! I think my issue with not being able to see the recently added audiobooks was a different problem - I think some of the "date added to site" dates were wrong. Once I got about 2 pages in, they all sorted themselves correctly.

Here's how you can view the most recently added audiobooks, regardless of the "collections" your library chooses to offer:
1) Click "advanced search" underneath the search bar in the corner
2) From the dropdown that says "All Dates", select the time frame you want (or leave blank to see all books)
3) From the dropdown that says "All Formats", select "All Audiobooks" (or "OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks" or "OverDrive WMA Audiobooks")
4) *optional* check the box next to "Show only titles with copies available"
5) click "search", and you'll get a list of books
6) on the left side of the page, you can sort by "date added to site" if you want, and filter by things like language or subject.

I'm glad someone's figured out the WMA format! I'll try it again and if I still have problems I wil solicit your help!

Thanks Nora! I'll give it a try.

Carrie and Nora, are you using iTunes on a Windows machine or a Mac? Because WMA files work just fine with iTunes on Windows, but not at all on a Mac.

I'm on Windows. I got most of the way there. The OverDrive program told me that the files were transferred to my ipod, but when I looked at my ipod later I couldn't find them.

I'm using a Windows laptop. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I need to replace it. I'm not sure I'd go for a Mac, but then I haven't tried Windows 8 yet. I've tried MP3 files when I have a choice and I've discovered that I prefer the WMA files.

I don't know if there's anything in this document that would help you, Nora, but this is the troubleshooting documents the Iowa City library posted on their website:
http://www.icpl.org/emedia/pdf/eaudiobooks/ipod-eaudio-troubleshooting.pdf

Here's our library's help file for iPod/Windows machines:

http://help.overdrive.com/article/0002/How-to-transfer-audiobooks-to-an-iPhone-i...

Occasionally the OverDrive Media Console will tell me that the files have transferred to my iPod but when I check they're not there. When that happens (not too often), I transfer again and it always works the second time. It usually takes a good 15 minutes to transfer a 12-hour audiobook from the OverDrive Media Console to my iPod. The few times it hasn't actually transferred the "finished" message has popped up far too soon.

>62 rosalita: Well, I failed the questions where it asks if you have an Iowa library card ;-)

But thanks! I think the second-to-last question will fix my problem! I'll let you know the next time I try.

>63 cbl_tn: No :-( the last time I tried like 10 times in a row.

Why don't you have an Iowa City library card? That seems like a real oversight. :-)

Good luck!

Awwww, so true.

Indeed.

Haha! That's awesome. Except I want people to leave me the hell alone when I'm reading. :P

BBC America is producing a 7-part miniseries of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/04/bbc-america-to-co-produce-jonathan...

I can't even describe how excited I am!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! It.... they..... HOW? A whole YEAR we have to wait. What the hell are they playing at?

Love the blossom, wouldn't mind a spot of spring round here too. I know that where we are a white Easter is statistically more likely than a white Christmas, but it feels like it's been winter for years and I would like some sun...

QI is just awesome. I have it set on series record & sit & chortle to myself. And also (usually) learn something, which is all to the good. Ace programme.

*ignores the Dr Who stuff - haven't watched that since it scared the willies out of me as a child*

>71 leahbird: but we get a whole year to be really fangirly and excited!

And go completely insane.

that's what I said

Not insane in a fun way. Insane in a drooly, padded room kind of way.

Sounds fun to me!

I just saw this on Tor! So far I can't find any casting info though. I haven't read the book, (well, some few parts of it), but I followed along on the tutored read last year. I'm excited too!

Oh, dear... looks like I may have to read that book now...

I am so curious as to how they will address the footnotes. Those footnotes are at least 1/3 of the wonderfulness of the book. Please god don't let them just disregard them.

Besides - sounds like a perfect excuse for a reread!

What a day! It's 80 degrees out, I'm wearing my favorite summer dress, the flowering trees are in bloom all of a sudden, and I might have a date tonight. Amazing!

It's one of those days when I know I don't want to live anywhere else.

Best news quote I've read in quite a while courtesy of this article from the New York Times.

"No casting was immediately announced for Jonathan Strange, Mr. Norrell or the footnotes, and we’ll assume Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch are otherwise occupied."

I LOVE that they mentioned casting for the footnotes!

I think Cumberbatch could do it. Filming for Sherlock season 3 started in early March so he should have the rest of 2013 free. The only question is . . . . is he more of a Jonathan Strange or a Mr. Norrel?? Or a gentleman with thistle-down hair??

I think his duties as a dragon might be keeping him otherwise occupied, but maybe they are completely done?

I think I'd rather see Cumberbatch as Jonathan Strange. I'd like to see him play something a bit lighter and Mr. Norrel is definitely NOT lighter. I think the man with thistle-down hair could be interesting but maybe too... disturbed?

>83 leahbird:: That's fun!

The weather is absolutely wonderful here too, Nora. Ahhh, I think I like late-blooming spring better than early, as it doesn't coincide with my February/March moodiness. *Sighs happily*

>85 leahbird: I believe all filming for The Hobbit is done? I think they filmed all 3 movies at the same time and now everything is in post-production.
I always pictured Mr. Norrell as short. Or at least not especially tall. The gentleman with thistle-down hair is tall and slender, and I definitely know that Cumberbatch can play disturbed. But I always pictured him as older.

Have you seen this, Nora? (And Eris and Micky and all other Whovians)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/whitneyjefferson/doctor-who-films-in-trafalgar-square

Hush with all the weather bragging. We had a windchill of nearly -20C this morning. Blurgh!

As for Strange and Norrell, can I join the excitement club? :)

>90 MickyFine: Yes! I'm totally going to skim through it when I get home so I can make more casting speculations :-)

Micky: My windows are open, and a pleasantly warm breeze is blowing through my house.

If it makes you feel better, I've killed 4 spiders in 2 days.

THOSE POOR SPIDERS!! WHAT DID THEY EVER DO TO YOU??

They invaded my living space, with their grotesque visage and their horrifying tendency to move incredibly fast for their size. Something had to be done.

#94 by Ape> Hear, hear, Stephen! Spiders have their place in the universe. That place is not my living room or bathroom.

Yes! I like spiders, when they are outside. I once fed a spider that was on my porch, because its web was empty for an extended period. However, the inside of my house is a place of wholesale spider genocide.

My spider rule is that any spiders smaller than my pinky fingernail are welcome in all places that are not within 3 feet of where I sleep.

I actually think I mind the big ones less because at least you know where they are and they can't fit inside your ear.

Oh, Leah. That's nightmare fuel right there!

I feel this is appropriate:

However, the inside of my house is a place of wholesale spider genocide.

Oh, that amuses me.

>100 MickyFine:: Micky, that made me sad :(

Not another thread with horrific spider pictures on it! I thought I was safe once Rachel's thread turned over. :-)

I'm sorry for mentioning spiders, Nora! :( I should have said something cute, like "If it makes you feel better, I've killed 4 tiger cubs in 2 days."

Oh, I don't mind talking about spiders at all.

>101 Esquiress: I love the misunderstood spider meme. So delightful. Although sometimes tinged with sadness.

>105 norabelle414: What if I sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"? Are you ok with that?

>106 MickyFine: Yes.

I figured you didn't mind talking about spiders, I just assumed you didn't share my passion for scaring away your guests. :D

Random thought: Parasitic spiders that infest your intestines.

Meh- if I can't see them, no harm no foul.

Wait, I can't feel them, right?

Of course you can. They crawl all over the place. When they mate, they play Jazz music, and then the crawl up into your stomach to lay their eggs. 2 months later, the eggs hatch, flooding your stomach with thousands of baby spiders. The crawling spiders cause you to regurgitate profusely, resulting in the horrifying spectacle known as spider vomit. It is common for the airways to be clogged with a mass of congested spiders, resulting in asphyxiation. As you know, the bodies are often found with much of the face eaten away, as the baby spiders feed on their first victim, which make it difficult to identify the body sometimes. It is, of course, tragic that the parents die with the host, but the new mass of baby spiders will ensure their genetic legacy continues.

Ok, you just need to stop now.

Spider vomit during sex is totally embarassing, I should note.

Stephen, does your weirdness know no bounds? :P

Oh that sounds delightful Stephen, thank you. What if one were to ingest copious amounts of insecticide as soon as one discovers one is infested with gut spiders?

Would you like more bounds in my weirdness? I have some rope, but I don't really good with knots...

Kathy: You would probably die before the insecticide reached the parasitic intestine spiders, and I failed to mention that when intestine spiders find themselves in a dead host, well, they are liable to find their way to the nearest exit. This happens to live hosts too, of course, when the intestine spiders get bored and want to find a new host to parasitize.

Oh I see. So is there any escape from gut spiders? Or should one simply lay down and accept one's fate as baby gut spider fodder?

The subject is currently being studied by many scientists about the world. So far it has been determined that the Stop, Drop, and Roll method is pretty much completely ineffective.

Too bad, I hear it's quite fun.

Stephen, you have managed to almost make me vomit twice in one week. I just don't know what to do with you.

I went to see Jurassic Park in 3D tonight AND IT WAS SO FREAKING AMAZING. OH MY GOD. I CAN'T EVEN.

*ignores all other conversations*

Wow I had to double check, I thought this was Stephen's thread for a second!

Sooooo how was your date? :)

Awesome, Nora! I'm probably going to see it with my sister and her boyfriend, sometime in the next week or two. My sister wants to get contacts first though, because the 3-D glasses don't fit over her regular glasses very well and she won't be able to see it very well if she didn't wear them.

They make clingy film 3D thingies that go directly on your actual glasses. I've been avoiding 3D for that exact reason but some smart person has fixed it apparently.

I went to see it on Tuesday. It was definitely awesome. Also, I had forgotten how awesome Jeff Goldblum is in that movie.

Jeff Goldblum is the best. He's so funny in JP.

The whole theatre cracked up at this shot:

ME TOO! That was the hilariousest part.

Oh, is that what that's from? I never cared for that movie (or book) but I've seen that still around and it is hilarious and fantastic.

Playing catch-up. I'm determined to pull myself out of this funk. Here's how my priorities are going to go: 1) replying to the lovely messages you all keep leaving here despite the fact that I'm being completely boring lately, 2) lots of bad news, 3) some good news, and 4) a book review.

_______________________________________

>122 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! Thank you for asking. I thought my date went REALLY well, but he hasn't texted me since we went out. Considering we were texting each other multiple times an hour for a couple weeks before the date, I'm guessing it did not go as well as I thought.

>123 Ape: Stephen, I usually remember to wear my contacts to 3D movies, but sometimes I forget and rock the "two pairs of glasses" look. It's okay, it's dark in the theater, no one can see me.

>124 leahbird: Leah, Wow! I've never heard of those. Smart.

#130 by norabelle414> Well, I can't seem to find anywhere that actually has the filmy things... Here's one of the MANY blog posts about them, but no info on how to find them.

Bad news:
- the aforementioned date-that-I-enjoyed-but-apparently-the-feeling-wasn't-mutual. This seems to be a trend. I guess there's still a chance that he's AWOL for some other reason, but I dunno.
- I got a letter yesterday about renewing my apartment lease at the end of June. My rent is going up $150 a month.
- That letter triggered the realization that I've been living in my apartment for almost a year and it still doesn't feel like home. I have boxes I haven't unpacked because I don't know where to put the stuff in them, and I haven't put anything on the walls. It still feels like I'm just squatting here.
- And then I was thinking, "Can I afford to keep living here?" The answer is technically yes, but only because I have very little expenses right now. No car, I'm not in school, I'm not planning any big vacations, etc. But should I be living someplace so expensive? (And getting more and more expensive?) But where else am I going to go?
- And then all of that triggered my usual "I'm almost 25 and I haven't the slightest idea what I'm doing or what I wish I was doing or what I wouldn't hate doing" panic attack.
- Also, the lead administrator at work is on vacation this week and next week and so I'm doing her job and it is HARD and EXHAUSTING.
- I just realized this past Saturday afternoon that my license expires on my birthday (Sunday), and because the lead administrator is out this week I can't take time off from work to go to the DMV. So the absolute only time I can renew is this Saturday between 8am and noon. Stressful.
- Did you know that of all the DMVs in my area, NOT A SINGLE ONE is easily accessible by public transit?? That makes NO SENSE!! The DMV is where people go to get IDs if they can't drive! It's where they go to get their license back if it's been revoked! It's where they go to register their cars! I managed to find one which is 0.9 miles from the nearest bus stop, so I guess that's the one I'm going to.

_________________________________________________

Ok all of that is OUT OF MY SYSTEM now. Completely done with ranting.

Can you renew online? I thought I couldn't because I'd waited too late, but I could and just kept the printed receipt in my wallet until my new id arrived.

>131 leahbird: You're right! If you read the comments of that article the "creator" says that they're only an idea, not anything she has implemented. Weird.

I did find these clip-ons though: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZU0WCI/ref=wms_ohs_product
and only $5.30! Not bad.

>133 leahbird: I don't actually have a driver's license, I have a learner's permit. Driver's licenses you can renew online, learner's permits you have to renew in person. It makes ZERO sense. I don't have to retake the test or anything, I just have to bring my ID and stuff. Ugh. (Probably it's not worth it to set up the website for learner's permit renewal, since who besides me ever has their learner's permit for more than 5 years???)

I don't drive so I don't actually need it for driving. But I need it to DRINK! Normally I would happily just go a week or two without drinking, but it's my birthday and on Sunday I'm going to all the way to Baltimore to go to one of my favorite restaurants, which has amazing cocktails. And then Monday my mom is taking me to a really nice restaurant which has really fancy and delicious wines. Maybe I could just carry my birth certificate around with me?

Ah. Maybe look into getting just the basic photo id card rather than something actually tied to your driving. If that's renewable online, you are set forever! I mean, it won't save you this trip but it might save you future trips.

Good news:
For the past several months I have been applying for numerous volunteer positions at the National Zoo, and last month I finally got an interview. Then yesterday I got an email saying I've been accepted! I'll have training 2 days a week for a month, and then I'll be a real zoo volunteer! I'll be an interpreter for the Asia Trail department (sloth bears, fishing cats, red pandas, clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, a Japanese giant salamander, and giant pandas)

I'm so unbelievably excited for this. I know it's going to be so good for me, socially and physically and psychologically and hopefully professionally as well.

(ETA: and an extra special thank you to Stephen for letting me freak out in his general direction about this whole process)

>136 leahbird: I think I'm still under the delusion that one day I'm going to find someone who is willing to help me learn how to drive, and it'll actually stick.

Nora, my best friend didn't drive for years, so she carried her passport around with her to prove she was old enough to drink....

ETA: That's great about the volunteer position!

>139 katiekrug: That's a good idea, Katie! I know they do that in Europe.

(The only problem is that my passport photo was taken when I was a horribly unhappy, apathetic teenager. Yikes!)

But it's so worth flashing that around so that you can indulge on your birthday :)

PS: What's the restaurant in Baltimore with the good cocktails? The hubs and I may be up there for a day or so in June after his sister's wedding in DC....

Congrats on the volunteer position! That sounds great!

I can teach you to drive. You just have to get down here. I don't even drive in DC so I don't think teaching someone to drive there would be a great move. Here you can learn in a cow field with hay bale obstacles.

>141 katiekrug: Woodberry Kitchen!

>142 leahbird: Well that's fine and dandy, but I still have to take the driving test on just-outside-of-DC streets, so not very helpful ;-)
Actually, back in the day when I actually was kind of trying to learn how to drive, I was way better at DC-ish driving than rural driving. I tried driving in South Carolina but other drivers kept yelling at me because I refused to go more than 5 miles faster than the speed limit. I really do not like going fast.

Looks great - thanks!

Book #24: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren - Penelope Lumley graduates from Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females and gets a (suspicious, to the reader's eyes) job as a governess to a very rich family. It turns out that her three pupils don't actually belong to the rich family, they're just three feral children that Lord Ashton found in the forest. Extremely suspicious.

Penelope is a kind, smart, resourceful, poised, and generally likeable main character. She's particularly relatable for us readers, as she solves most of her problems by remembering things she has read in books.

The book was very cute, but confusingly short. There's no real resolution, nor a cliffhanger, the story just stops like it's the end of a chapter. Ah well. I'll probably listen to the next in the series soon.



Currently reading:
Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
Salt by Mark Kerlansky
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Currently listening to:
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, On Her Way to Botany Bay by L. A. Meyer

Coming soon:
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

BOOKS READ: 24
BOOKS BOUGHT: 0
BOOKS ACQUIRED: 2
BOOKS DEACCESSIONED: 0

DAYS REMAINING: 263
BOOKS REMAINING: 51
DAYS PER BOOK: 5.16

#143 by norabelle414> South Carolina is home to some of the worst drivers I've ever encountered so don't take it as a sign of your driving skill. They are just nutso.

Nobody beats Massachusetts drivers for sheer awfulness.

I don't drive at all Nora nor do I have a learner's. But here in Alberta you can get an ID card from the registry office (equivalent to the DMV) that is basically the same as a license (without the permission to operate a vehicle, obviously). Any equivalent in your neck of the woods?

Also sending hugs for you over the guy who isn't bright enough to see how awesome you are.

You can freak out in my general direction whenever you need to, Nora! I'm also stressing about renewing my license, which I have to do sometime in the next 10 days. Ugh. Don't want to. I'm terrified of the whole process, of course, and I'm doubly apprehensive about failing the eye test. I would totally teach you how to drive though! I think DC has a reputation for being difficul to drive in, but you just need an abandoned parking lot or something to circle around in. When I was learning, when I was around 17 or so, my mom took me to the local fairgrounds, which are mostly empty throughout the year, and I could do a few laps whenever we went into town. The first time I went out on the road was very stressful, but she had me circle the block, just taking right turns or going straight, so it wasn't so bad.

I'm super happy you got the volunteer job though. That's awesome! I'm sure you are going to be happy, and are you going to be counting that as 'getting out of the apartment?' Surely it does, and you get to be potentially eaten by leopards in the process, woohoo!

I can sort of understand why the apartment wouldn't feel like home. I think home is where your memories are, and I think its harder to make memories in a smaller space. I sometimes think, when you live in a big city like you do, it's the city itself that is your home.

Congrats on the zoo volunteer job! I volunteered at the Minnesota Zoo for about a year and it was a fabulous experience. You'll love it!

Red Pandas?! You get to work near the Red Pandas?!?! So awesome.

Best of luck with the other stuff - keeping you in my thoughts, as I've been there and know how that sort of stuff can pile up and really get you down.

147 katiekrug - I agree, Massachusetts drivers are the worst. New Hampshire drivers are nearly as bad, though.

There are non-driver ID cards and you can renew them online (see here). It also says if you're 21 or older, you do have to retake the test to renew your learner's permit. Huh.

If I lived in a place with good public transportation, I would give up driving. Unfortunately for me, while I dislike driving, I don't actually want to live in a big city, so...yeah.

Oh a zoo position would be so much fun! We have a zoo near here that I've been dying to visit because they have an african lion cub that looks just adorable in photos! Enjoy!

(130: Maybe he is just trying to play it cool? I always hated the dating games.)

Re: Driver's License, I got up at the asscrack of dawn (i.e. 7am) to go to the DMV this morning. I got there at 8:45 and my number didn't get called until ELEVEN AM. I discovered when I got there that I would have to re-take the learner's permit test (which I was not at all prepared for, as the last time I renewed I did not have to re-take it). So I decided to get a regular ID card instead. The DMV employee who was helping me was SO PUSHY about this. He kept wanting to clarify over and over that I had had a learner's permit for years but had never learned to drive. And then he wanted to know why I hadn't learned to drive. (I did not feel like telling him that I tried to learn to drive when I was 15-18 but my parents refused to help me ...) And then he kept solemnly telling me that he wanted to HELP ME so I could learn how to drive. (It felt like he was trying to save my soul or something). I finally convince him to give me an ID card and . . .
1) he refuses to believe that today is April 13 and not April 14.
2) he tells me that I cannot get an ID card because I have a valid learner's permit (for one more day)
3) he has to start the whole process over again because he messed something up
4) he gets fussy about my height. My learner's permit, for some inexplicable reason, says that I am 6ft5in. I am, in fact, 5ft5in. I put 5ft5in on my application but the guy got fussy because it didn't match what was on my permit. Dude. I am very obviously not over 6 feet tall.
5) he refuses to take my learner's permit away from me, even though the paperwork clearly states that I need to surrender all old IDs, licenses, or permits. (I should sell it to some lucky minor so she can get into bars for just one night)

And then. After ALL OF THAT NONSENSE, the process is completed and the guy informs me that, unlike the Alexandria DMV which I used to go to, the Arlington DMV does not print cards on site. So my ID will arrive via mail in 10-15 days. WHAT THE HELL.

But then after all of that was over, I walked to one of my favorite neighborhoods (Shirlington) via a path through a dog park filled with puppies. I wandered around a bit and then had lunch at one of my favorite cafes. And then I found a bus that goes from Shirlington to the Pentagon, and stops within a block of my apartment along the way. So basically it was an amazing morning, despite the DMV.

Wow, what a hassle! Glad the dog park and stuff made up for it!

>148 MickyFine: Micky, I figured that if it was all the same amount of work I might as well have a learner's permit. But I did end up getting an ID card so I wouldn't have to retake the test.

>149 Ape: Thanks Stephen! I actually did just fine at the "driving around in parking lots" part of learning to drive, but anything involving other cars just caused me to have panic attacks.
The zoo is definitely non-hermity! I'll be standing around outside the exhibits and answering questions.
I actually have a hard time feeling like anywhere is home. I lived in my mom's house for 13 years and it still didn't feel like home. To me, home is somewhere you feel safe, and I have trouble feeling safe. (likely due to being kicked out of my mom's house frequently in high school)

>150 Morphidae: Thanks Morphy! I'm really excited.

>151 scaifea: Thanks Amber! The Red Pandas are my favorite, but I'll likely be spending most of my time at the Giant Pandas, since they're the main attraction (and the female might be pregnant)

>152 bluesalamanders: Wow, thanks for doing all that research for me, Blue! I actually technically live in Virginia (shhhh don't tell anyone!), but it's nice to know that DC's regulations are almost the same as VA's.

>153 ChelleBearss: Hi Chelle! I'm sure I'll take lots of pictures and post them here :-)

>154 norabelle414: Hi Foggi! The dog park was so great. And unexpected! I was just following the walking directions my phone gave me and all of a sudden I was surrounded by puppies! (and this one geriatric dachshund which was just as cute)

156 nora - You're welcome. After I posted, I was concerned it would come across as condescending - I'm sure you can do your own research!

>154 norabelle414: Yay for finding a new bus route! :D Hope you had a lovely afternoon.

I can see why rising prices would make your 'home' feel unsafe. :(

Man, that guy at the DMV sounds like a total bone head. Now I'm REALLY not looking forward to renewing my license. I guess on the bright side, living in a small town, there is rarely more than 4-5 people there at the same time as you. In fact, the last time I went it was completely empty, which was totally weird and a little creepy.

See, I'm a little terrified of mass transit. I like driving! But I hate renewing my license. I was so happy to renew online every time until this last one they wanted me to come in again. Pffft.

Your guy sounds like a real winner, Nora. What a bonehead indeed! I just hope when you get your ID card it's all done correctly! I am still listed as a 5'5" blue-eyed blonde, when in fact I'm shorter, with green eyes and auburn hair. The lady didn't think it mattered enough to change it. *shrug*

Have you looked around at what other apartments may be available and what the prices look like?

Hey, Nora. I totally get how one freakout leads to the next and so on until it all builds up and wants to explode out of year head like like that chick from Zeus or something. It happens to me all the time. Feel free to freak out at me too - I can be a pretty good listener :)

>149 Ape:: That's the most I've ever "heard" Stephen say ever :)

*rogue hug* It's been quiet in here. Hope that means you've just been crazy busy. :)

Perhaps, lacking an ID to buy alcohol with, she went on a homocidal rampage and killed the owner of the nearest liquor store and 3 other customers, then proceeded to load up on as many bottles of hard alocohol as she cold, and is now to drunk to figure out how keyboards work.

...or she's crazy busy. Yes, that's probably it. Nevermind, forget I said anything.

*Blows smooches at hopefully-sober Nora*

ETA: Oh yeah, I forgot, she posted on other threads earlier, so she is definitely not drunk. That doesn't make her any less dangerous, though. *Hopes Nora doesn't go all Valkyrie on his ass.*

*Hopes Nora doesn't go all Valkyrie on his ass.*

You deserve it. :)

I suppose you are right.

Then again, having Nora go all Valkyrie on my ass could be very exciting... :D

>166 Ape:: Also true.

Dude. I disappear for a week or two and I miss spiders AND Jeff Goldblum's abs!? I really need to stop hiding behind my real life and get back on the internet!

For realz, Rachel!

I wrote a nice long post for you all but then I accidentally hit a button in my browser and it got lost :-( I'm the worst.

Basically, I'm in a better mood this week, I think. My zoo training starts on Sunday and I'm very excited. I managed to negotiate my renewal lease down to an increase of only $50 per month (previously it was an increase of $150 per month). I'm going to get a cat next month when I get back from Philadelphia. I bought a book and it's all Leah's fault. Then I bought three more books and I'm going to go ahead an blame those on Leah too. I got a haircut (a rare thing for me) and dyed my hair, which always makes me feel better. Probably because I love having someone else wash my hair. I've finished a book and an audiobook so I'll post about those shortly.

Noooooooo! *Weeps*

I don't think you are the worst though. I think the Sisters of Fate are just really jealous of you, and so they insist on harassing you constantly. :(

Oooooh, do we get a picture of the new hair?

Considering you haven't seen a picture of my hair since November-ish, you wouldn't notice a difference :-P

Are you insinuating that I was using your hair as an excuse to get you to post picture of yourself? Gasp! I should be offended... :P

I look way worse in pictures than in real life (and I've been told so by multiple professional photographers) so I try to avoid them. You'll just have to meet me in real life.

I'd say you "don't look as good" in photos than in real life. :) Many people have the same problem - and some people just look fantastic in photos.

He should COME TO PHILLY for the meet-up!

Haha, I'm afraid I can't just go to Philly, though I would certainly love to. Errrr, kind of... *Gulp*

Wait wait wait, mora looks better than she does in photos? *Jaw drop*

Ok, what books did I make you buy? Should I be proud of myself?

PS: I'm glad this week isn't so gloomy. Yay for better weeks! I'm officially all wiggly with hopeful possibilities. Which won't last long but is certainly nice at the moment.

Huzzah for good moods and kitties! I am basically counting down to... a lot of things actually. But one of them is the date I can go get a cat. :)

>179 Ape:: You should definitely try. You know you want to :)

Oh yes, the kitty completely slipped my mind. Yay for kitty!

Like this month hasn't been shitty enough, I got a call during dinner from my bank saying that someone has been fraudulently using my credit card. Awesome.

Eww, that's a super not good situation. Hopefully they caught it early and will cancel the charges for you.

*waving* at Nora

Oh, you poor, poor gal. Sigh. Sending sparkles your way.

Nora, I'm really sorry to hear about all the bad things happening right now. Hoping everything will work out for the best.

Meanwhile, I saw this and thought of you.

Oh, dag! That happened to me when I was in grad school. It's really annoying while it's happening, but it'll get cleared up in the end.

Yes, the Sisters of Fate are definitely envious of you. *Pat pat hug*

Congratulations on the zoo volunteering and on negotiating a reasonable rent increase!

I've lived in my apartment for 3+ years and I still have minimal stuff on the walls, and things in suitcases from when I got back from California because I just don't have enough storage space for everything (I'm actually sort of overrun by the suitcases themselves, even if they were empty). My dream is to have sufficient shelves and drawers so that everything can be put away and easily found again. Somehow it still manages to feel like home, though, I guess just from the passage of time?

Also, have you thought about buying a condo so you won't be so much at the whim of landlords and their random rent increases?

I hate driving, and the day I did my final driving test was probably the most terrifying of my life. I was then happy that I would never ever have to go through that again, until recently it occurred to me that I might eventually want to get a separate US license to avoid giving up my Ontario license. Hopefully not for a very long time, though, and ideally after I've lived in a place where I actually drive more than once a year.....

I knit this dishcloth today!


Nom nom nom . . .

I love it!

That is amazing!

Cute!

Awesome! :D

Look how crafty you are!

:) cute

In one day? It's great!

Sorry, all. I've been terrible lately, I know.

Quick update:
Saturday I got up super early to go to the bank to get a replacement debit card. It was a breeze, I just didn't appreciate having to wake up at 7 on the weekend. Then yesterday I had my first day of zoo volunteer training. It was really fascinating and most of the other volunteers (there are 18 of us all together) in the class are really nice. They are mostly GWU students/graduates, but I won't hold that against them (yet).

Today I have horrible work meetings all day.
Tomorrow I have zoo training after work from 6:30 to 9
Wednesday is my library book sale (at which I plan to buy a TON of books)
Thursday I have more zoo training after work from 6:30 to 9
Friday I have nothing extra planned; will probably just sleep
Saturday is my brother's college graduation, which involves getting up at about 5am to drive to Harrisonburg, sit through his graduation ceremony, and then just hang out for several hours while he attends various graduation parties, and then take him and his girlfriend and her family to dinner, and then go home.
Sunday I have more zoo training from 9am to 3pm

Basically the next time I get to sleep past 7am is 25 May. It's mostly fun stuff, but still. So tired.

I'm also taking another Coursera class. It's a genetics class but I can't remember what the name of it is right now.

I've finished The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, on Her Way to Botany Bay (the 8th Jacky Faber Book) and Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury. Both were good; I'll write reviews eventually.

Currently reading Wool by Hugh Howey, which I bought on 15 Apr (Leah's fault). Coming soon are Zone One by Colson Whitehead and The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, both of which I bought last weekend and I'm going to blame those on Leah too, since she ruined my not-buying-books streak and now I might as well buy all of the books.

Currently listening to The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book II: The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood, read by ♥Katherine Kellgren♥ (can I just put hearts around her name all the time from now on? I need you to know how much I love her)

I was going to borrow The Hidden Gallery for my drive today by my library doesn't have it. They have book 1 and book 3, but not book 2. That's just rude.

>201 leahbird: That IS rude! Especially since they definitely are not standalone books.

That's how my library is with EVERY SINGLE SERIES IN EXISTENCE. It's totally obnoxious.

My library's book sale is coming up soon too. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. *Drools excitedly*

Yay for zoo training! Boo for having a lame brother!

I'm so excited for my library's book sale! I'm not a "Friend," so I can't go until May 9th and 10th. The bag sale is Saturday the 11th. Woohoo :)

I'm only a "friend" for the purposes of getting into the book sale early. It's $15 a year and there are two book sales per year, so it's totally worth it.

I consistently miss my library's book sale. Mostly because I NEVER go there. They never have what I want and I'm extremely unreliable when it comes to returning books on time. I seem to realize it's book sale time the day after it's done.

The only way that I know about the library book sale is because I volunteered at it once (it was a TERRIBLE experience) and so now every time there's a sale they send me multiple desperate emails begging me to volunteer again. My mom, who lives 4 blocks from the library and works 1 block from the library, never ever knows when the sales are. They're terrible at advertising.

The library I work at has book sales four times a year. In terms of advertising them, I think we do well advertising internally to anyone who comes into the building or anyone who goes to our website. But if you don't do either of those things... I have a feeling they'd be pretty much invisible to you.

My library has at least one huge sign advertising the book sale at a very popular intersection in my town, but I myself found out when I went there looking for an audio book. I took a picture of the ad with my phone so I could pull it up and keep remembering it :)