-it began and ended with fforde-

i had a goal at the beginning of the year to read at least 50 books by the end of the year.. and as of right now, i accomplished that goal. i realized as i finished my last choice, that this year was very much a year of none other than mr. jasper fforde. i read 4 of his books and was amused by every one. and i got to meet him too. anyway. happy new year. i'm going to go socialize with roommates. i will not hermit myself.

1. First Among Sequels: Jasper Fforde

2. Gadiantons and the Silver Sword: Chris Heimerdinger (7-11, Chris! SEVEN-ELEVEN!)

3. Xenocide: Orson Scott Card

4. I Capture the Castle: Dodie Smith (finally. it was brilliant)

5. Thirteen Reasons Why: Jay Porter (meh)

6. Ice: Sarah Beth Durst

7. Children of the Mind: Orson Scott Card

8. Ender in Exile: Orson Scott Card

9. After the Sky Fell Down: Megan Nugen Isbell (yes, I AM counting it..)

10. East: Edith Pattou (again)

11.-

12. One of Our Thursdays is Missing: Jasper Fforde (can't get enough thursday)

13. Flipped: Wendelin Van Draanen

14. He's Just Not That Into You (Avoid)

15. The Zombie Survival Guide: Max Brooks (important)

16. Matched: Ally Condie (Ugh!! So dumb!)

17. Nine Horses: Billy Collins (poet)

18. Confessions of a Serial Kisser: Wendelin Van Draanen (bahahhaa.. painfully funny. pain-fully)

19. Blood Bound

20. Iron Kissed

21. Bone Crossed (i'm sensing a theme...)

22. Evermore: Alyson Noel

23. Don't Murder Your Mystery: Chris Roerden

24. Something Borrowed: Emily Griffin (eh..)

25. Silver Borne

26. The Man who Loved Books too Much: Allison Hoover Bartlett

27. The False Princess: Eelis O'Neal (eh, surprisingly ok plot.. definitely some stupid BS moments however...)

28. Blue Moon: Alyson Noel

29. Jane Eyre: Charlotte Bronte

30. Bean Trees: Barbara Kingsolver (love this author)

31. Insatiable: Meg Cabot

32. Abandon: Meg Cabot

33. Meridon: Phillipa Gregory (meh..)

34. Juliet: Anne Fortier (loved)

35. The Big Over Easy: Jasper Fforde (love this author)

36. River Marked: Patricia Briggs

37. Princess of the Midnight Ball: Jessica Day George

38. Princess of Glass: Jessica Day George

39. The Book of Mormon (rinse and repeat)

40. Daughter of the Forest: Juliet Marillier

41. Son of Shadows: Juliet Marillier

42. Bossypants: Tina Fey

43. Goose Girl: Shannon Hale

44. After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spead My Wings, and Flew Away: Joyce Carol Oates

45. The Historian

46. Anatomy of Peace (SO GOOD READ IT NOW!)

47. Raised by wolves: Jennifer Lynn Barnes (it seemed relatively familiar..)

48. (should be something here, i cant remember what)

49. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451-adaption

50. The Fourth Bear-Jasper Fforde

PROS AND CONS OF INTERNET SHOPPING!

So.. I've been thinking.. Mostly due to my current work position, that there are certain things not thought through by the general populace.. I can absolutely put myself in this category..


Such as.. The idea of shopping on the internet.. It's so easy. Everything is just a CLICK away. It kind of makes sense if in all honesty you live in the middle of no where and you're lucky to make it to your local WalMart 3 cities down. That I understand...


The easiness factor is what is starting to get me..


While you have the world at your fingertips and supposedly endless stock, this is false.. because when you click that button for that item you so desperately need (want) and it has that magical free shipping option, let's consider what one click of the button does..


That information erupts to space and back again in barely a second to end up processing through our system. We'll use my basic understanding of my work because that's all I know in this regard and where my possible rant lies.


That order goes through the system, checking for any possibly red flags.. potential fraud... That done, the pickticket gets printed to the guys in the warehouse floor, which then gets picked, taken to shipping, plopped in a box and sent out UPS. And then it happily arrives at your door.


Let's count how many ways THIS CAN GO WRONG.


Computers make mistakes. Mostly due to human error. No system is without flaw. (i want to make some snarky quip about walter bishop, but that would just make NO sense and prove that i've been watching too much "fringe")


The people on the warehouse floor could be checking to verify items in their boxes and bins. I have no idea. But possible human error once again rears its ugly head.


Then we plop that item in the hands of a carrier that we put our faith and backing behind to get your item to you and hopefully in a timely manner. Note that you're order is traveling across the country, there are a few stops along the way.


Possibly human error strikes again..


And then the dirty rotten thieves come in.. Yes. People suck and steal your stuff. This is nothing that I did to you. This is nothing that the people delivering your stuff did to you. It's the dirty rotten moron down the street that saw that super cool logo on the side of your order and decided that he/she must have it.


So lets think for a second. You dont want to deal with the crowds, the craziness. I get it.. I don't either. But wouldn't it be so much easier to be SURE of your purchase. I want__. I buy __. No harm, no foul. Tina and Jimmy are so happy for Christmas because it's all about what's under the tree.


So instead, I get to take phone calls from crazies who might be just as upset with themselves as with me. I am the man. I am the system. I am trying to make it so they don't receive their order. I'm in cahoots to be sure that this happens. It's what I call "job security."


No really, I signed my named next to each of those options when first accepting my job. (lie.. in case you didnt catch that subtle sarcasm. it's okay.. maybe you're new.)


I suppose if everything went on without a hitch, I would have continued being jobless and that horrible search.


but sometimes i feel like this--

Which is why I'm super stoked to see the holiday season over with.

the end.

minibits... not so mini.

Mini update.. before Christmas.. Is it Christmas? It's December already? 

Where DOES the time go.. 

This LAST weekend, sister Bekki came to town. We had many grand adventures.. 

Such as: 

Seeing our favorite band. 

 Dear Mr. MacDonald.. my camera seems to always give you demon eyes. I do apologize... 

 Classic Christmas- cause Justin is no longer.. 

This must be noted, 

because.. shoot.. really.. 

check out that jacket! 

Pikes Place had some mysterious locations that I had yet to experience.. such as-

The gum wall. Yes. It's disgusting. 

Did you know.. I kind of love Seattle.. 

 Grand Seattle adventures were led by my dear aunt and my bad-a cousin.. 

she may not look it, but she will kick your trash.. 

This picture kind of amuses me.. 

This particular weekend of adventure ended in a pretty spectacular place. 

Before

After..

End of adventures. . . 

Maybe next I will post about work.. 

Because, guys.. that's a doozy.. 

And for whatever reason, it makes me anxious, so I'd rather just not think about it.. 

I do remind myself while I'm at work of: 

1. My favorite Christmas song.. 

2. "It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... means a little bit more.." 

*sigh*

dear woot.. thank you for making this shirt ESPECIALLY FOR ME!

LIFETIME POSITIONING SYSTEM

Stupid navigation system. I swear this thing said I was only four years from Happiness a minute ago.

You are currently on College Road. Continue down College Road for four years to Finish Your Degree Street.

Recalculating…

Proceed down Rethink Your Major Street for three months toward Move Back In With Your Parents Boulevard. Turn Right on Move Back In With Your Parents Boulevard for six months towards the intersection of Dead End Job Road and Live With A Buddy Until You’re Back On Your Feet Lane. Proceed down Live With A Buddy Until You’re Back On Your Feet Lane for two years.

Recalculating…

Recalculating…

Recalculating…

Wear this shirt: when you feel you’ve lost your way.

Don’t wear this shirt: if you’ve made all the right choices, experienced no adversity whatsoever, and are living a comfortable life surrounded by people who love and respect you, you lucky jerk.

This shirt tells the world: “It’s not just a scribble! It’s a metaphor for life!

We call this color: Turn Right at Royal Blue Street

dear world

i've hit a moment of panic. my grad school application is due in a month and i can't think of a THIRD PERSON to write a letter of recommendation for. 


(lungs tighten... getting... hard.. to breathe..) 


i have been trying. make no doubt about that.. but i graduated from byu-i 3 years ago.. it seems like ages. 


and i know exactly what i want to say for my admissions essay. exactly.. now i just have to get it from my brain to paper, and that doesn't always translate as well. how do i express the excitement and prospect of this potential future? of not a job but a career where i can do good, enriching the lives of children/youth through my love of literature and devotion to the craft... because that's how i look at it. i'm in a library now, and a boy, probably 5, is walking by in a floppy eared hat looking from side to side at the books and shelves around him.. he's distractedly following his mom who has a stack of picture books obviously for him. my heart does little somersaults with possibility.  


sigh...


my panic also comes when i realize that i really desperately need someone to switch shifts with me for 2 days over the next couple weeks. (panic panic panic... ) ugh i hate asking for things. it turns my stomach. 


i interviewed today- a job in downtown seattle. i hate to even mention or bring it up because if i get too excited, i will fall and crash hard into the pavement if i dont get the gig. but it would be outstanding if i did. out-standing. 


i have work. a potential onslaught of phone calls of concerned/angry/confused customers. i do my best to help, but there is only so much i can do. 


c'est fini