the living is easy
So I graduated from high school in December of last year (don't worry, I'm not getting nostalgic already). In November my mother turned to me and asked, "What would you like as a graduation present?" which totally floored me because I'd just assumed I wasn't getting one. My family doesn't really do grand gifts. Eight months later and I finally received it. And I say "finally" only because the suspense was killing me. My parents would say, "Oh, it's nothing big, don't get your hopes up," but then talked about how they needed to "assemble and personalize" it, as always as spending hours clicking through things furtively on the internet. It turned out to be a really large pile of books of things that they felt represented me in some way. They also put a little homemade sticker inside each cover that has pictures of me from when I was baby straight up to graduation, and says, "Essential Elena Essentials. Cognratulations Graduation 2009."
1. This Earth of Mankind, Child of All Nations, Footsteps, & House of Glass by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, for the time I spent in Indonesia.
2. How to Sew a Button and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried, because I am admittedly terrible at all sorts of things that I should know how to do. Like laundry.
3. The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything by Melissa Kirsch. It sort of seems like my parents have no faith in me at all, huh? Also they're aware of the fact that I like having detailed information on how to do things. Stuff is a lot less frightening if you know what to expect.
4. The Canadian Writer's Guide (13th Edition). Well, I am Canadian and a writer, I suppose. The review quote on the front says, "...an absolute must for any serious and aspiring Canadian writer, at whatever level," and I am trying to be a bestselling author by the time I turn twenty-one. Either that or win the lottery.
5. A Bescherelle. Thanks, Dad.
6. 101 Places Not to See Before You Die by Catherine Price. Apparently this seems like something I could have written, being - evidently - a glass-half-empty sort of person. Also, I love books like this, that are random lists of things.
7. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson, for the time I spent in Australia.
8. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I feel like this is fairly self-explanatory.
9. You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation by Susannah Gora, for my love of 80s movies.
10. First Aid. Oh, parents.
11. The Complete Canadian Living Coobook. It's a copy of one we already have. I kind of appreciate that they felt they could give me a normal cookbook instead of one of those student ones, even though that probably would have been the smarter choice.
12. Ottawa: The Unknown City by Rob McLennan. Because Ottawa is my hometown, and there are parts of it that are more interesting than just your basic government town. Apparently.
13. The Sports Illustrated special on Team Canada, the 2010 Olympic Champions. I got attached, okay?
14. The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies by Ray Didinger and Glen Macnon, because they are my epic guilty pleasure.
15. The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer by Keir Radnedge. I have been playing soccer for about fifteen years now. I don't have much to show for all those years, but I'm pretty attached to it.
16. 100 Photos That Changed Canada. Photography is basically my favourite artistic medium (am I allowed to make grand statements like that?) and this is a mix of photography and history, which just couldn't be more perfect. Also, I am a fan of this country. In case you hadn't noticed.
17. Australia: Explore the World in Pictures. Another keepsake of a place I lived for four and a half years.
In other, much sadder news, saramir left today. I think the worst thing about saying goodbye is not knowing when either of us will have the time or resources to visit again.
If I owe you a beta, I PROMISE IT IS COMING. God, I have four fics to beta and some writing to do of my own (or tailoredshirt might just kill me.)
Speaking of writing, I think I'm pulling out of lilpinktassel. I had started a Johnny/Evan fic and in light of recent events (or, as alexthegreat put it, Recent Events) I just don't think I can do it. That seems really melodramatic, I know, but I can't handle this whole debacle at all. People have been telling me right from the start that Evan's an asshole (I have friends of friends who are in the skating community, at a high enough level to know these people; let's not even talk about my fourth wall freakouts) and I just didn't want to believe it. But, you know...sort of unavoidable now.
I fly out to university in exactly three weeks. That is an unbelievably frightening thought.
Hope everyone is having an excellent week so far!
1. This Earth of Mankind, Child of All Nations, Footsteps, & House of Glass by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, for the time I spent in Indonesia.
2. How to Sew a Button and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew by Erin Bried, because I am admittedly terrible at all sorts of things that I should know how to do. Like laundry.
3. The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything by Melissa Kirsch. It sort of seems like my parents have no faith in me at all, huh? Also they're aware of the fact that I like having detailed information on how to do things. Stuff is a lot less frightening if you know what to expect.
4. The Canadian Writer's Guide (13th Edition). Well, I am Canadian and a writer, I suppose. The review quote on the front says, "...an absolute must for any serious and aspiring Canadian writer, at whatever level," and I am trying to be a bestselling author by the time I turn twenty-one. Either that or win the lottery.
5. A Bescherelle. Thanks, Dad.
6. 101 Places Not to See Before You Die by Catherine Price. Apparently this seems like something I could have written, being - evidently - a glass-half-empty sort of person. Also, I love books like this, that are random lists of things.
7. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson, for the time I spent in Australia.
8. 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I feel like this is fairly self-explanatory.
9. You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation by Susannah Gora, for my love of 80s movies.
10. First Aid. Oh, parents.
11. The Complete Canadian Living Coobook. It's a copy of one we already have. I kind of appreciate that they felt they could give me a normal cookbook instead of one of those student ones, even though that probably would have been the smarter choice.
12. Ottawa: The Unknown City by Rob McLennan. Because Ottawa is my hometown, and there are parts of it that are more interesting than just your basic government town. Apparently.
13. The Sports Illustrated special on Team Canada, the 2010 Olympic Champions. I got attached, okay?
14. The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies by Ray Didinger and Glen Macnon, because they are my epic guilty pleasure.
15. The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer by Keir Radnedge. I have been playing soccer for about fifteen years now. I don't have much to show for all those years, but I'm pretty attached to it.
16. 100 Photos That Changed Canada. Photography is basically my favourite artistic medium (am I allowed to make grand statements like that?) and this is a mix of photography and history, which just couldn't be more perfect. Also, I am a fan of this country. In case you hadn't noticed.
17. Australia: Explore the World in Pictures. Another keepsake of a place I lived for four and a half years.
In other, much sadder news, saramir left today. I think the worst thing about saying goodbye is not knowing when either of us will have the time or resources to visit again.
If I owe you a beta, I PROMISE IT IS COMING. God, I have four fics to beta and some writing to do of my own (or tailoredshirt might just kill me.)
Speaking of writing, I think I'm pulling out of lilpinktassel. I had started a Johnny/Evan fic and in light of recent events (or, as alexthegreat put it, Recent Events) I just don't think I can do it. That seems really melodramatic, I know, but I can't handle this whole debacle at all. People have been telling me right from the start that Evan's an asshole (I have friends of friends who are in the skating community, at a high enough level to know these people; let's not even talk about my fourth wall freakouts) and I just didn't want to believe it. But, you know...sort of unavoidable now.
I fly out to university in exactly three weeks. That is an unbelievably frightening thought.
Hope everyone is having an excellent week so far!