What I'm Into (January 2014)

I missed out on the linking up for December's edition (blame it on being happily otherwise occupied with visiting my Knight), but here I am again to share with y'all what I was into during January.


What I'm Reading

• At long last, after a three month hold at the library The House of Hades came in!  I'd heard mixed reviews about this, and while it wasn't anything spectacular, the long wait was not disappointing.  I laughed over quite a few parts and found myself enjoying the adventures of Percy and company.  (Was I the only one who noticed though that Jason sort of fell off the face of the earth in this book? Zero character development and he was really... kind of a lame character this time around.
• I saw that there was a movie titled The Book Thief playing in theaters, and I thought it looked like it would be interesting.  I haven't gotten around to going to see it yet, so I thought that in the meantime I would read the book.  It's a fascinating story, and while I find the writing style to be more of an artsy kind (by my definition) I am enjoying it nonetheless. (Not a huge fan of artsy/unusual novel writing styles).
• I got a Kindle for Christmas and have been semi-delving into the world of ebooks. I prefer a solid, paper and ink book any day but I cannot deny that having ebooks stored on my Kindle for when I'm traveling or passing the time is very nice.  Amazon has a lending library and the first book I checked out was The War Brides.  It tells the tale of five women in England from various backgrounds and social classes and how they come together to be friends.  It ended a little abruptly, but the characters were intriguing and the story was good, so I liked it.

What I'm Watching

• SHERLOCK SEASON THREE!  After two years, may I repeat, two. years. of waiting for a new season we finally got season three.  And yes, every single second was worth the wait.  Perfection in each wonderful episode.  If you haven't gotten into Sherlock yet, do it now!  There are only nine episodes, so you have no excuse that there isn't enough time for a new show.
• After much poking and insisting by a friend of mine, I finally got around to watching Leverage.  I've only had time to watch three episodes so far, but it's good.  It's got a hacker, a thief, a grifter, a retrieval specialist and an informer insurance agent, all working (sometimes reluctantly) together to fight against big corporations and occasionally government. It's funny, it's fun and worth going back for more.
• In the movie theaters: I've seen Frozen and Catching Fire twice each, and both were wonderful!  Catching Fire was better than The Hunger Games and even more faithful to the original novel.  The adaptation was very satisfying, and I personally think every living author should be on the production team of films based off of their books.  There would be many more satisfied fans out there.

What I've Been Up To Lately

• I've already covered my major trips in January already (visiting my Knight and Elenatintil's wedding), so I won't say too much more here.  The wedding was beautiful and though the bride was very ill with a migraine, the fact that she made it through the day and the ceremony with a smile despite the pain she was in showed the dedication and love she has for her husband.  As for the groom, he's perfect for her and I know my dear friend ended up with a wonderful man.
• While in Minnesota for the wedding, I stayed with another good friend of mine and two other friends who were also in from out of town. We had a blast all getting to visit and be together and spent the day after the wedding at this beautiful conservatory taking loads of photos together.
• In less exciting news, classes have started up again for the semester and when they aren't being cancelled due to sub-zero temperatures, I am studying Hotel and Restaurant Law, Event Planning and Microsoft Office.  The last class is my favorite and as a poor student who has used OpenOffice for the last four years... I honestly don't know what I do when I run out of free trial downloads of Microsoft.  You can do so much, and I've only just gotten started with Microsoft Word.  Methinks I'll have to do some saving up and do some shopping...
• The other weekend I went out with my cousins to Toby Keith's I <3 This Bar and Grill, and it was a blast.  I'm still a novice bar goer, but I think I am definitely a country bar girl.  The food was great (even though they did forget my order), they serve beer in mason jars, and we had front table seating for the live band that played. 
• This most recent weekend was our (thirteenth?) annual Daddy-Daughter Ball, and it was a blast as usual!  I've been going with my dad and sisters ever since it began and it's so much fun to dress up every year and spend an evening with my dad.  This year, as I am studying Meeting and Event Planning, I offered to help out and was put in charge of figuring out/purchasing beverages (we had a drink bar with five different soda/juice cocktails that I created), as well as the running of the music.  It was a good experience, and I'm excited to put it on my resume for a really cool job I'm applying for... 

What I'm Following (Blogs and Interesting Links Around the Web)

• Catholic Cravings.  The blog of a Re-Discovered Catholic.  She's funny, she's profound, she's pretty amazing.  Y'all should totally go follow her blog.  My favorite article so far has been her fantastic "Can You Be Catholic and a Feminist?" (Spoiler alert to the answer: Heck yes!) That post and the third part of her "I'm a Feminist Because...", titled "I'm Feminist Because I Love Patriarchy"
• The Personal Blog of Dr. John H. Watson.  Sherlockians, yes, this is a thing.  It's a real thing and it is awesome.  Comes complete with comments from Sherlock, Mary, Mrs. Hudson and Molly Hooper.
• Lately I've become addicted to Buzzfeed.  They just have so many interesting things on there!  Plus, when they do posts like this and this I find it incredibly helpful seeing as I don't have Tumblr and thus I can get geeky satisfaction by reading other people posts and thoughts all in one convenient location.
• Okay... get ready to cry when you here this Sherlock version of "Do you want to build a snowman?"

What I'm Looking Forward To

• The Olympics!  For the first time ever I'll be able to watch them on TV, and not by searching for YouTube highlights. I cannot wait for the figure skating.
• The Academy Awards Show.  While I was away at school and had TV there I watched them and they are just so much fun!  Frozen is up for a few awards this year, which is super exciting, and of course I'm rooting for Jennifer Lawrence in her bid for Best Supporting actress!
• Spring.  I love spring. When it's a spring that holds a hint of summer... I can't wait for those 60 and 70 degree days where the world is lovely smell of the earth and trees waking up again after winter.  If it is going to be cold out, then I am glad that there is snow to make it at least look pretty, but I am so ready for winter to be over.

What I'm Laughing About

• Thor just wants to build a snowman
• Sherlock's friend name is... John Wazowski?
• And that's how the fight started
• Do you know what this adultery needs?

That moment when...

... you write a truly terrible blog post after weeks of silence because you were in a mood and just threw something out there.  (I apologize to anyone who had to read that before I deleted it)

... you start reading The Book Thief with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Death, because you started it just after you finished watching Sherlock, and his voice just fits perfectly.

... you sit in awe watching television... real. actual. television. on your TV. Because your parents discovered that you can pick up an antenna and get basic channels for free. Would you believe that we've not had television reception since I was 6?

... you realize that this means you get to watch the Blackhawks without having to leave home (but only when it's on WGN).

Ignoring the fact that I happened to take this picture on my laptop right when Vancouver scored a goal. Of course.

... you get a message on Facebook from Iris, because it just so happens that you both know the same family offline!

... You realize why it's been so darn cold out here lately.

... you download the trial version of Microsoft Office 2013 so you can do homework for class and realize just how primitive OpenOffice really is, and how on earth can you ever go back?

... you realize that having television means you can watch the Olympics, and the Oscars, and Once Upon a Time and Sherlock and Downton Abby WITHOUT USING ALL THE INTERNET BANDWIDTH.

... you realize that you have less than two months left of being 21. (I am dreading the inevitable posting of Taylor Swift on my wall when I turn 22.)

... after multiple attempts of staring and blank blog posts and then closing them, coming up with ideas and discarding them, you finally hit publish on another post.

So It Begins OR Have a Wonderful Journey

This Friday marks the day that a close friend of mine currently is getting married... the very first one.  No really! I haven't had any of my close friends get married yet.  Now one is.  And I have another one who is engaged.  And I'm eyeing some other friends who look rather suspiciously inclined in that direction.

And so it begins.

Its a little disconcerting, because that means we are all growing up.  I am realizing that there is a very real possibility that I will be married myself within the next few years.  We aren't kids anymore.

It's weird.  But it's exciting.

As much as I look back with wistfulness at my childhood, growing up is full of it's own adventures and experiences.  Yeah, life is a little more frustrating and stressful an as adult, but at the same time it's more rewarding too.  When you are young you don't have the perspective to appreciate and anticipate things the same way as you do when you are 'grown-up'.

My dear friend Elenatintil is getting married.  In my mind, I am still struggling to wrap my head around that fact.  Wasn't it only yesterday that we were meeting up for the first time when she was only 21 and I was 18?  (Oh gosh really? We were that young?)

We became friends online, and then this was taken at the first time we met in person =]

Now she's all grown up and getting married.  (In a funny coincidence - to a young man who grew up 20 minutes away from where I currently before moving out by her!)

At the premier of the movie version of "The Shadow of the Bear" that Elena directed

We've had our differences at times, but over the years have formed a strong friendship that I think is going to last us for a good long time.  She is a very wise young woman, and one that I know I can always turn to for some solid advice.

ReginaCon 2012

Also, can I mention here how happy I am that I actually have a photo of us together from each year since the first year that we met?  This is awesome.

Surprise visit after she and Nathan started dating!

It's a new chapter in both our lives.  Hers, obviously, as a married woman, and my first step into the age where we all start to grow up and get married and go wherever it is our lives are taking us.  As Bilbo used to say...

"It's a dangerous business Frodo, going out your front door. You step onto the road... and there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

Elena, you are about to find out where the road is sweeping you off to, and I am sure it will be a beautiful and breathtaking journey.  I think you've picked out an excellent companion for your journey and I know the two of you will keep each other safe and sound.  Have a wonderful adventure.

I am so Blessed...

to have a Knight who loves me far more than I deserve.

Who is so patient with me when I am irrational and moody and selfish and decidedly not the best me.

Who makes me laugh and smile with his silliness and teasing.

Who makes me melt every time he smiles at me and gives me a kiss and my heart skip a beat each time he says my name.

Who gives me new reasons to fall deeper in love with him every day.

Who is willing to undergo the struggles and painfulness of a long distance relationship, who does so much to care for and support me and is there for me even when 1,000 miles lie in between.

Who is the best Knight a Lady could ever ask for and more than she had ever dared to hope might come riding into her life.

Who makes each and every day that we are apart worth the wait until I can see him again.

Hey Y'all

I've been quiet lately and I blame it on my man!  I've been out in Rhode Island visiting for hte past week and enjoying alternating temperatures of 16 degrees and snow and then 60 degrees and rain and now 8 degrees and a little more snow.  'Tis nuts!  Due to negative temperatures back at home and American Airline getting all their anti-freeze frozen (how ironic), my flight back home was cancelled and I get an extra two days out here. Happy me!

To atone for my absence, here are some photos.

He got me a Kindle for Christmas!

Free coffee on New Years Eve!

Poker night

Our snow heart out in the middle of the lake

Cold!