Remember that one time when I went to the City Library and worshiped it?

I went there with Jenny but I never did include pics. So here you go. And now you will understand why I must work here some day if my life is to be complete (here, and at Hot Dog on a Stick--for the uniforms).

When people found out about this main atrium it became the engagement photo spot for both book lovers and those who hate being in nature and do not feel it reflects them as a couple. I am all for people doing their photos here, because it's pretty and because maybe they would instinctively feel that piggyback photos would be quite out of place in such a setting. As opposed to parks, where you just automatically leap on each other's backs as soon as your feet hit the grass, apparently.

Sorry. Just realized we've never covered the piggyback engagement photos here and might as well.

Note how there is space for both books and people.

Because books + butterflies = genius


Nice one. Putting the typo right in front of the people least likely to be able to deal with it.

Hey, it's not a true blog post unless ovaries are mentioned.

Part of their rooftop garden. Because they needed one more way for me to love them beyond reason. I would have taken photos of the children's section but worried that my camera might crack at the Awesome. So you'll have to wait for that. Maybe next time.

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Are you kidding me?

Because my X-ray film was the 666th image in the school's archive system. Some kind of a sick omen that I'm doomed to that place? Lol.

The teacher asked me when I wanted to save the image to my thumbdrive, "Do you want to change file name?"
I went, "Nope, that's alright." Hehe!

Anyway, here is the thing I did today, oblique and Posterior-Angle of the Palma region. =)
This looks so much better than that manually processed one I did weeks back.

And... everyone is getting pissed at how intricate anatomy is getting. Am I the only one enjoying every bit of it? Because I get the Hannibal Lecter kicks out of it. ^_^

I give you a small taste of anatomy! =D
And that is only the stupid forearm's muscles. *smiles*

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Nothing gets by you people

Both cooldad and coolboy (my Dad and my baby brother) wanted to know if I'd fallen off a cliff on account of the lack of posting.

Sorry, nothing so exciting or deadly. I've been busy being a schmoopy and embarrassing person. Although I promise to try to keep that in check if only because I made my sister Jenny vomit all over her keyboard yesterday with my words.

Went down to Provo for Memorial Day and had a cookout, wherein there were:

Limeade and roasted red pepper & lime hummus by me

Homemade ice creams by Jenny. Think key lime, coconut cheesecake, dulce de leche, and chocolate mousse--and then go cry about whatever inferior dairy products you ingested on Monday. And maybe blame the person who fed them to you when you have to begin therapy.

Coolest berry couscous thing and that amazing Martha Stewart corn by Bethany. You grill the ear and then slathered it with butter & sour cream, sprinkled with paprika, rolled in asiago cheese. While eating it, you hope your reaction doesn't get filmed and end up on the Internet somewhere.

Insanely good cardamom cake by Cicada. Even if she doesn't offer you a piece, she might allow you to smell it. At which point your eyes will roll back into your head.

Lovely grilled meats and hospitality by Lyle, who is much happier now that she's done with the bedrest thing and now has a cute snuggle baby to show for all of that--one which is no longer actively trying to kill her.

But SPEAKING of babies and the people who are in the midst of producing them, I warned Gentleman Friend before we arrived that we were going to be among the child-bearers for the evening, and that the conversation most assuredly would, at some point, turn to things like afterbirth. It is unavoidable.

Except it ended up being way worse than I'd anticipated. I blame Cicada and her thirst for pregnancy knowledge, since she basically parked it on the couch and said, "Okay, tell me everything!" I did my best to be start other conversations with less nipple cracking and vaginal tearing over on the other side of the room. It helped a bit. Except I now have a really, really strong urge to order some of this online and start using it, like, today.

Ed snapped this pic me and Gentleman Friend at my mother's request. How cute is HE!

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Reminiscence

I really miss my slacking days when I could wake up to Ellen DeGeneres on TV and a nice cup of English tea when the house is quiet.



I just love how Ellen would spontaneously break into a dance. =D

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Breather

I am getting incessantly annoyed at how noisy, crowded, unnerving weekends hotspots *malls, MRTs, town areas* can get. The baby cries in the restaurant you dine in, when you are trying in vain to find some balance in yourself, when you can be yourself and let loose. That same stupid song is playing again in the shop, way too loudly, you can only be heard if you speak at the top of your voice. People around talking too loudly, you have to strain your voice again, and again. The phone rings when you're captivated in reading your novel/closing your eyes for a few minutes of peace in the train carriage, your nerves gyrate upon your temples, you unwillingly picks it up, saying into the receiver, "Hey, what's up?" in a pseudo-enthusiastic way. You only wanted to get back to that interesting book or that sense of peace within as soon as possible. You have no idea why the heck are you going to Orchard again this Saturday, just to feel the weekend vibes maybe, just to feel the squeeze in the trains, just to queue for fast-junk-food, just to walk around malls looking at shelves with the exact same things for countless number of times, just to patronise Starbucks just one more time in the week, just to watch some flick on the theatres because it says, "Opening This Week". Then you worry about the last train and your credit card or wallet. That is the idea of a weekend for a modern typical Homo Sapien.

Sad isn't it? Ironically, one has to oblige with such arrangements to remain functionable in the society. What a stupid world, seriously.

I am very tempted to go to a beach or to nature reserve soon. Next weekend, shall make it a point.

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No more wishful thinking.

Well, I got all the replies from the 3 universities. Tough luck for me, not a hint of optimism from any of the 3. I kind of expected this already, knowing the level of *senseless* competition in the field and my set of grades. However, it still brought me some bitterness. Being smooth-sailing all the while in my academic path, the feeling of being phased out at this final junction doesn't feel good. My sister pointed out to me that it is my pride that is my foible. I kind of agreed to that recently. Knowing that, I willed myself not to dwell too much into this piece of news and get my emotions out of the way, and do what I have to do at my current location - a polytechnic. It is indeed a hard daunting emotional task, to overcome yourself and face reality in its truest sense. I think this shall be a metamorphsis for me, at least in terms of academics.

Another way to think about it is that my vocation - radiographer/radiologist (when I work my way up) would be one that is constantly in demand and one that would provide me with a stable, long term, anti-recession income. Which is true. It does sound better than a office-bound job that makes you into a white-collar zombie, in that Shenton Way Horde, looking at some odd paperwork, looking forward to a weekend or lunchbreak. How many engineers do you need anyway? How many accountants do you need? How many businessmen/women? The list is endless. But yes, I told myself, "Do you want to scrap into university and end up doing a mediocre course you have limited interest in, then end up hating your job for life?" Putting aside the prestige attached to the sound of Degree or that opposite of a Dipolma aside, what I really see is the trend of people from JC without any inkling of what they want in life/their interests, choosing a field that is popular and think it's a great way to go. No offence to any reader out there. Haha. Maybe it's just me trying to console myself amidst this grim situation. At least it works. =)

So far, I am really interested in brain-scans and heart-scans and how I can improve techniques of scanning to aid research in furthur developments in psychology and forsenics, for example. It sounds nifty.

Welcome to my full 3 years at NYP. I need to socialise more.

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Because "meme" is long for "me"

Grabbed this Friday Fill-in because it's Friday and I absolutely cannot wait for the weekend to start.

1. On my laziest day I like to _____!

[This one is hard because I feel pretty lazy most days. Only sometimes laziness can be a virtue, let me tell you. Like the part where I was lazy and hadn't delivered the 2300 Summer Reading Program fliers to all the little eager screaming children. We found out yesterday that we had to move the date. So now I can just change the fliers and get them out and no one will ever know. Laziness saved the day!]

But if I could just plan a lazy day I would sleep in/lounge in bed until 10:00, then go to Crumb Brothers for breakfast. I would sit out on the sunny porch and enjoy my breakfast while exchanging morning greetings with all the Volvo-and-golden-retriever owners also there. Would find a hammock somewhere to work off breakfast. Then the weather would take a turn for the worst and I'd go inside to eat cinnamon rolls and take a nap in my Down Comforter of Fabulousness while watching North and South.

2. _The people I hire to praise me_ make me feel like I'm being productive.

3. I love little _doll furniture--no lie, those tiny little issues of TIME magazine make my eyes tear up_ and big _Whole Nut Cadbury chocolate bars_.

4. This summer I want to _go on a road trip, gas prices be darned_.

5. _Yankee girl_ made me start my blog.

6. Red _is not good for my rage_ and orange _juice should be pulp-free and fortified with calcium (if it's not fresh-squeezed and served by strapping youths on the beach, of course)_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _Indiana Jones and much snuggling_, tomorrow my plans include _the Farmers Market and global domination_ and Sunday, I want to _light a fire under the organist's chair to keep her on a tempo that doesn't put me in a coma_!

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Finally watched American Idol last night.

I managed to resist up until now, because I didn't actually care. And now can I just say how glad I am that it's over?

Yes, that David A is a cute, nice kid. But I will certainly not miss the incessant local news coverage wherein Murray, Utah residents gush about their belief that "David Archuleta represents Murray so good."

It's "so well," Murray residents. So well.

Please don't let us speak of this again.

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How to get a nerd to propose

[Scene 1: In the grocery store, after Gentleman Friend laughed at me for staring mesmerized with tilted head at the strange shiny red shorts the girl in front of me was wearing.]

Me: Yeah, I should really work on that. It's kind of like Seth Green said on Buffy. "Just a thought. Poker: not your game."

Fifteen minutes later, in the orange juice section, I asked him a question and he shook himself back to earth.

GF: Sorry. I haven't actually heard anything you said since you quoted Buffy. I've been focusing on not jumping you in the middle of Lee's.


[Scene 2: While driving and listening to the radio.]

Me: This song makes me think about that one episode of Quantum Leap where Al secretly sent Sam to go save his marriage because he's a prisoner of war and his wife's going to get remarried. And then Al gets to dance with his wife that one last time and it's so sad.

Gentleman Friend: Marry me.


[Scene 3: While snuggling in front of the TV.]

GF: So my friend just told me that the girl he's dating passed the Flux Capacitor test.

Me: What's that?

GF: Do you know what the Flux Capacitor is?

Me: Yeah, it's from Back to the Future, right? It's what makes time travel possible.

[pause]

GF: You are hotter right now than you have ever been. If you know what movie that's from and can quote it, then we can go to Vegas right now.

We didn't go, though. Even though I was very flattered.

Bet y'all thought I was fixing to make a Miss Hass-like announcement. Fooled you.

But I am very, very excited for Miss Hass and the lucky Ike. She and I have been friends ever since that fateful first day in the BYU dorms when she burst out of the room next to mine and introduced herself and wondered what the crap was up with my bangs.

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Katarche

A vision made flesh. Enjoy.

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The body doesn't even need two kidneys

So if you ever hear that I let someone dig one of mine out with a rusty garden trowel, you can bet it had something to do with this:


Because how can you even withhold organs from someone who looks at you like that? My b-in-law Ed emailed this last night, at which point my heart and my left ovary may have exploded.

Don't get me wrong, Ethan could totally have a kidney too if he needed it first. But he's been on thin ice ever since he met Gentleman Friend last month (new name to be unveiled soon) and completely preferred him to me. It was like, "Oh, hey Nem. YOU, though--New guy! Check out my cars! And also my pirate ship! And look what I can do! Now let me go to my room and get toys and bring them out for you to inspect and admire! Also, let's become blood brothers. Right here, right now. I'll get the knife."

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Done.

I just got back from Thekchen Choling temple and underwent something metamorphsizing. I took refuge today, from the above mentioned temple's leading teacher - Lama Thubten Namdrol Dorje. I got my own set of white/maroon novice non-Sangha robes, and they felt amazingly comfortable. It's like a dream that manifested finally, I have been secretly wanting to put on those robes and undergo the ceremony for ages. But it does take some level of skill to put on and look good. Otherwise, they're pretty awesome to wear. One downside of it is that they restrict your pace length, making you walk slower involuntarily. Which is a great way to remain mindful. Haha, so yeah.

Listened to the Guru of the temple expound on the concept behind Refuge-taking and explained the underlying guidelines that the refugee has to be aware of after the ceremony. Then I had to prostrate to the 3 Jewels and recite the Refuge mantras, afterwhich, a Buddha figurine, a stupa, and a cloth-bound Dharma text are tapped lightly upon the foreheads, and throat respectively. That signified the combining essence of the whole Dharma activities into oneself, thus perfecting him.

Afterwhich, the Guru presented each one's Refuge Certificate. My refuge/Dharma name is Thubten Choden. Voila. Done. =)

Namo Guruaya
Namo Buddhaya
Namo Dharmaya
Namo Sanghaya.

Be hailed, The Teacher, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Me in my robes, at home, lol. Surreal feeling.

=)



Somehow, I feel inherently different thereafter, in a sense that I feel pretty much clear-headed and subtly inspired. I take it as a good thing.

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Unforseen job perks

So, without saying too much, let me tell you that my sister Spitfire is affiliated with an organization which sometimes has occasion to visit people's homes and chat with them about the illicit substances found therein. And then maybe take them away for a little while to think about their choices.

Yesterday I invited her to come over, eat dinner, and watch the season finale of The Office with me. She came for dinner but couldn't stay because she had to work later.

Spitfire: BUT, I could try to catch some of it while I'm working.

Me: What, while you're at the house?

Spitfire: Yeah. I mean, if the TV's on . . . I've done it before. Like with Jazz games and stuff. Or if Utah State is playing.

Me: So you're watching TV and nobody minds?

Spitfire: Well, usually the people who live there are watching anyway, while they wait. And then it's kind of nice, because it's like, "Hey, see? We're both people. We both like the Jazz. It's just that you're watching in handcuffs and I'm taking notes about what's hidden in your underwear drawers."

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Conversation between me and my new director

As she saw the library's copy of Wives and Daughters get checked back in:

New Director: That's the best movie.

Me: Yeah, it's really good. Have you seen . . . North and South?

(this is absolutely a test)

ND: OH yeah. Love that one. That last scene is pretty much perfect.

Me: At the train station? I know! OH! Or what about the part where she drives away in the snow--

ND:---And he's like, "LOOK BACK! LOOK BACK AT ME!!!!

Me: Baaahhhhhggghhh!



And then we embraced and started sobbing. As would you.

Except we didn't really.

But I think we'll get along okay. People who like North and South are generally right-thinking, I find.

And here's another one, just because it's Thursday and I like you.

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My first X-ray exposure!

Today, I did my first X-ray exposure. It was a very nice experience, no doubt. I especially liked the part when you need to manually process your film like how you develop your old school photographs, in the darkroom. That room just makes you so calm, and the red hues give off a nice ambience. Haha. I really like the place. I did 2 exposures, one with the phantom hand (think real human bones encased in engineered human flesh-like scilicon) and one with my Sony Mp3 player. Here are the outcomes after the manual processing procedures.

I have no idea but the whole process of aligning the X-ray casette and the object of interest under the beam's scope and the manual processing gave me a very meditative sensation. It calmed me and brought my mind to a subtle sense of peace. Perhaps it *is* my vocation. Ah ack.
In other news, I received a ''negative'' letter from SMU. Not too concerned about that, since I don't really like their mentality and how they operate. =)

I really have nothing much to rant about recently. It's just school, physics, listening to people speaking with a very odd accent ("burst --> bus, furs --> far, determine --> determine"), eating prata at North canteen, eating Macs again and again, gossiping about a certain 26 year old guy in my course, and having a great time with my coursemates. Time flies, it's the 5th week I am in a poly now, and it doesn't feel that long. I think this is the second best school experience besides Nan Chiau's. ^_^ Be honoured, Felicitians/Integral people!

On a personal note, I really wonder how did I survived slacking for months at home using the computer all day prior to restarting school. I use it for 2 - 3 hours now, and I got bored of it. Lol.

On a cosmic note, I think it is ever more probable that planetary destruction will set in by 2012. Just look at the proximity of the dates of the 2 massively-lethal natural disasters - Burma's giant cyclone and China's demon earthquake. One in early May, one is middle May. With hundreds of thousands died, the Earth is surely fucking furious.

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I may need to go smoke a cigarette now

I just weeded out a couple hundred volumes from the collection. And oh, my, did it feel good.

I went to a day-long workshop last week about redesigning library space, and how to best use what you have. The speaker actually spent a good part of the time talking about weeding. She said the huge problem with libraries is that we don't have enough space. And yet most of us actually waste good chunks of our very expensive space on books that aren't getting checked out--space that we could be converting to "people space" for studying, relaxing, etc.

She said we need to remember that we are public libraries. We're not museums or historical repositories or warehouses. Our priority isn't to preserve what might possibly be the last remaining copy of such-and-such. (Note: it isn't the last copy. And even if it is? Still not our job.) Our priority should be keeping a current, relevant, accurate, shiny collection of materials that will actually get checked out, thereby giving us a return on our investment. And people don't want to browse through shelves that are crammed to overflowing with dusty, outdated, dingy stuff. People go for the shiny. They are like magpies in that way.

So. I thought that was pretty cool. And since my new boss is starting on Monday I figured I'd better work fast just in case she turns out to be a hoarder.

First tackled the adult paperback section and decided that it will never be allowed to expand beyond the shelves that are specifically meant for it. If we take in something new, we ditch something old. This time around I ditched about 100 ratty books from authors that no one reads anymore.

In the YA section I had the Best. Time. Ever. Started with the Science Fiction/Fantasy section and removed all those freaky hard-cover books from the 1970s with the wretched, wretched covers. Because here's the thing--if the books are actually decent, they'll still be in print today, with new, better, shiny, appealing covers. (Example: the Dark is Rising series, which no one was checking out. But now that I've reordered cool-looking copies I can't keep it on the shelf.)




Sorry the pictures are so blurry, but you get the idea. That last one is my favorite, I think. Does anyone here know ANY 16-yr-olds who are going to pick these up? No. No you don't. Young adults have gotten used to sexy covers and there's no going back.

Then had fun in the Romance, Mystery, and Horror section chucking all the Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan and Sabrina the Teenage Witch series and whatnot.

And THEN I went over to the adult nonfiction and just went crazy wild. I got rid of humor volumes by people no one knows anymore, and the stuff about "The World We Live In" featuring the Soviet Union. (That was a big point the speaker at the workshop made: If it's outdated information, it's WRONG information.) And the twelve books about Watergate and Bill Clinton's Sins. And the Cliffs Notes. And 3 of the 6 copies of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. And pretty much anything that was dingy, old, heavy, useless, or could be found at the Utah State University library by someone who actually needs to do scholarly research.

Cannot even TELL you how much hotter these shelves are now that they've had a taste of my sweet lovin'. There's actually room in them now and what's there looks like stuff that's worth browsing. Plus it's kind of fun to get into this new mindset and to remind myself that some of these books just have a limited shelf life. And it's okay. They fill their purpose and then we retire them to make room for the books about the Bush administration and righteous sexy vampires and things that people actually care to read about in 2008.

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This is not good for my rage

My last surviving daffodil is gone, now--murdered by the kid who mowed the lawn on Saturday. Between him and the neighbor kids (not once but twice) there are no more flowers at all of any kind.

Which is why I didn't feel that bad when I accidentally backed over one of their bikes with my car.

I hope it was the little girl's. (This is the same girl who also scraped a rock along the entire side of my roommate's new car.) It's about time for her to start learning about a little thing called karma and how tasty her tiny delinquent butt must look to it.

Have I mentioned how glad I am that spring decided to show up this week?

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It's a good thing we don't have permanent records any more

So the other day I said this after riding my bike to work for the first time this year:

. . . it was a lot harder than I remember it being. I was puffing and heaving and generally dying and trying to hold back the vomit that threatened to spill out over the handlebars. It's a good thing the way home is a bit more downhillish. And it's a comfort to know that in a couple more weeks of this I will be a true hardbody.

I didn't mention the part where I considered just hopping off and walking the &^*% thing. Or throwing myself and the bike into a ditch (sorry, barrow pit) and letting sweet death take us. And the bit where my rear was so sore afterwards that I couldn't sit down without yelping for the next 18 hours.

Turns out there was a reason why it was so hard. Spitfire's friend, who is a bike enthusiast, was visiting and asked how things are going with the bike. I told him how hard yesterday's ride had been and he quickly discovered the problem:

My tires were flat.

Instead of possessing the recommended 50 pounds of air, mine were at about 6. So, yeah. I biked 8 miles on flat tires. Which would have been difficult for anyone. He very nicely pumped up my tires while Spitfire laughed herself into an exhausted heap on my front porch, stopping every now and then to point at me and and shake her head and then laugh some more.

Even with the mocking, I feel ridiculously pleased to know that I'm actually not out of shape like I thought I was yesterday. I mean, it is too bad that I'm stupid. But that's a trade off that other people make every day. If they can live with it, so can I.

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The Mighty Boosh Live DVD

These guys are fucking briliant. I was laughing so hard. I highly recommend "The Mighty Boosh" to any comedy fans. It's like the next British's Monty Python. =D

I need more Boosh!

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We didn't meet on the Internet

But I was his boss. So that's something.

When you've started dating someone, do you really have to make a blog announcement? Or can you just begin slipping things into your posts like, "I'm really sleepy this morning on account of what I was up to last night with my hot lovah." Except I think something like that might very well raise questions rather than answer them. Especially with people like, say, my dad.

So, the news of the day is that I have a gentleman friend. We're still deciding on a blog name, but you actually already know him if you follow this blog. He is smart, funny, kind, cute, and snarky. (And, as everyone knows, snarky = sexy.) There has been a bit of drama in the past--drama which I will not explain today because it makes me look like a freak. I'm doing my absolute best to remain drama free and so far it's working, which pleases me greatly.

So now when I start inflicting the Internet with the same case of Mentionitis that I currently unleash on my family and friends, you'll know who I'm talking about. And won't that be fun!

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They say it's like riding a bike

It's been so long since I blogged last that I'm hoping I can remember how to do it properly. But speaking of bikes, since this was practically the first morning I haven't had to dig my car out from under snow in forever, I rode mine to work today.

Only it was a lot harder than I remember it being. I was puffing and heaving and generally dying and trying to hold back the vomit that threatened to spill out over the handlebars. It's a good thing the way home is a bit more downhillish. And it's a comfort to know that in a couple more weeks of this I will be a true hardbody.

Had a fabulous week and weekend, with enough going on to fill like eight posts. Will start with conference highlights.

Got to feel like a famous person twice when I was recognized from the blog. They both said they knew me by my hair. And they still were willing to be seen talking to me. This would not have happened in junior high, I can tell you.

The great Shawn Econo introduced himself (we meet at last!) and we chatted for a bit. Then one of the fab Provo librarians I blogged about last year came over before a session started and introduced herself. It was funny because the librarians sitting near me looked over like, "Should we know who this chick is?" Then I put on my Mysterious Face of Mystery. And I invited myself along to lunch with the Provo crowd. They were very gracious, and it turned out that one of them knows Savvy from storytime. And understands that she is, in fact, The Precious.

Did meet Susan Patron and had her sign The Higher Power of Lucky for me. Chose not to mention the s-word based on her comment to the person in front of me in line: "Yeah. The book about more than just that one word." Instead I talked about Daltongirl's Newbery collection and how this copy is going to be a birthday present for her. She liked that story a lot better and said she was excited to be a part of that. So, good save by me! I'm sure pissing off Newbery winners is bad karma, somehow.

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"I can see you but you can't see me
I could touch you and you wouldn't even feel me
Wait a second and you'll settle down
I'm just waiting 'til you really let your guard down
You're relaxed, you're sublime, you're amazing
You don't even know the danger you're facing
If I'm quiet, I'll slide up behind you
And if you hear me, I'll enjoy trying to find you

I've been with you all day
I'm trying to stay calm
I'm impatient and it's really hard to breathe
I'm going to empty you and fill you in with me

Just keep the violence down
Not yet-Don't make a sound
Oh, God I'm feeling it
It's reaching fever pitch
My skin is caving in
My heart is driving out
No mercy, no remorse
Let nature take its course

Watching-Bring me to my knees
Waiting-I am your disease
Lover-Set my symptom free
Covered-You won't feel a thing

I'm sweating through my veins
I'm trying to hold on
It's unbearable, It's almost worse for me
I'm gonna to tear you apart and make you see-Make you see

Watching-Bring me to my knees
Waiting-I am your disease
Lover-Set my symptom free
Covered-You won't feel a thing

This is the virus, the virus of life
This is inside us, The crisis, The knife

It's almost time to play/It's time to be afraid
I can't control the pain/I can't control in vain
Oh God, I'm ready now/You're almost ready now
I'm gonna love you now/I'm gonna put you down
I see you in the dark/I see you all the way
I see you in the light/I see you plain as day
I wanna touch your face/I wanna touch your soul
I wanna wear your face/I wanna burn your soul

Watching-Bring me to my knees
Waiting-I am your disease
Lover-Set my symptom free
Covered-You won't feel a thing

You can't stop me

This is the virus, the virus of life
~ Slipknot's The Virus of Life"

This song popped into my mp3 player today on the bus, memories came flooding back.

In other note, congratulations on David Blaine's breath-hold world record, a whooping 17 mins 4.4 seconds, very much incredibly impressive. This led me to my sudden interest in the little known extreme aquatic discipline called Static Apnea. Haha.

Otherwise, nothing much to rant about.

Oh yes! I am so amused by the concept of The Mighty Boosh's Stationary Village, here's it:


Gawd, hot guys (referring to Noel Fielding only) and excellent comedy = bestest.

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Higher Power of Censorship

Susan Patron is one of the speakers at the conference I'm at. She wrote last year's Newbery Winner, The Higher Power of Lucky. You may remember the associated furor over the inclusion of the word "scrotum" (a dog's, mind you), which I commented on briefly. She'll be speaking during one of the lunches so as to remind this group of important things like the part where we are meant to be librarians and not raving lunatics who freak out over the idea of the word scrotum existing in books or on mammals. Not that I think we couldn't do with a few less scroti in the world, because we sure could.

She's having a book signing later today. Thing is, I didn't actually love her book. So I don't know if I want to buy it. If I do, though, I want her to sign her name and then write the word SCROTUM on the title page. Because then my copy will say it four times instead of three.

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