kindles don't kill books, people do.

I bought a Kindle about 2 weeks ago and I am in love. I didn't want an e-reader, at all. I had nothing against them, I just had no reason for one. Eventually, I discovered I actually had a lot of reasons.

People seem to have pretty strong opinions of the Kindle; you either love 'em or you hate 'em. Why is that necessary? Why would you hate an electronic? It should be that you either love 'em, or you don't own one. What's the point of hating something that no one's forcing you to even have? It's just. An object. Get over it.

book review: room.

Room by Emma Donoghue

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Generally speaking, "Room" is my kind of book. It takes a twisted mind to write it and an equally twisted mind to enjoy it.

Honestly, I was turned off by one particular review before I even started reading it and I would mostly say I agreed. The book is written from the perspective of a 5-year-old, so it can be very frustrating to read and I couldn't follow some things because of the grammar. I almost feel like Donoghue doesn't give 5-year-old's enough credit, but I don't spend enough time with children in that age group to truly back that up. I have to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that, as a best-selling author, she must have done her research. There were some inconsistencies mentioned by the aforementioned reviewer, such as how Jack refers to vomit as "stuff falling out of her mouth," but then calls it vomit for the rest of the book when it's never actually explained to him. However, it didn't bother me as much.

I must admit that I was pretty impressed with Ma's creativity in all the ways she managed to teach and entertain her son in the confines of an 11x11 ft room. There were a few spots that actually had me tearing up a little, which isn't easy for an author to bring me to. For some reason, I can't bring myself to say that I "love" this book, but I can't think of too much I didn't like about it. The story was intriguing enough; especially during the "Great Escape," I seriously couldn't read fast enough. Warning: that whole chapter was insanely anxiety provoking.

If it was possible, I would give it 3.5 starts and would definitely recommend it to the right person.



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identity crisis: i'm not a cancer.

I have been a Leo since 1986. I'm textbook. I'm still getting it inked. Deal with it.

(Pluto was one thing... it was a rock. Now you're just messing with the way people see themselves and an astrological connection that helps them figure out who they are. Don't people have enough problems with identity as it is?)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/13/horoscope-hang-up-earth-rotation-changes-zodiac-signs/

snowpocolypse '11.

The Great White Waltham, Circa 2010.

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i needed a scarf.

So, this is the one I started. I don't know why, but I couldn't get a picture to do it justice. It looks better.. not in a picture. Actually, it looks like I screwed it up at the top, but it's just because it gets kind of bunched at the needle.

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it's gonna be a happy new year.

What a freaking decade that was. My entire high school career, college, becoming seriously sick AND recovering from it, dad become seriously sick and his stem cell transplant, my brother's entire college career and living in NM, a cruise, every real trip I'd ever taken (which was not many..), my little cousin Devin's entire life, babies everywhere... In the bigger picture, um, 9/11? The war we've been fighting for 10 years, the Sox winning the WS... TWICE. Good Lord, a decade is a whole lifetime, it seems.


But 2010... it literally sealed it off for me. I mean, it wrapped that bitch up with a bow and everything. There are years that stand out, but seriously, what a way to pull it together. I feel like my life finally just came together in the past year. Well done, 2010. Well done.


The abc's of my year (mad friendship points if you can fill in the letters I couldn't):


adventure summer; not as adventurous as planned...
blizzard of '10?
cpa; life saver
donald, the; yeah, he's kind of on my side for 2011
elissa june haddad; the nicu miracle baby herself
frozen oranges; the semi-end to an era?
greg & mal's wedding <3
how i met your mother; the most quoted show of the year
ikea; i discovered it
jen warner; life saver
k
legen-- wait for it...
matzo ball '10
nicu crew; best non-blood family anyone could ever ask for
olym pen vacation; most successful runaway
paramore; my one and only concert this year (worth it)
quitting my job on a (desperate) whim
returning to my degree after 5 long years
sweatshirt bonfire; now that's closure
twilight rendering my $5 clearance rack shirt an $1100 ebay sale
u
vegetarianism; that was a fun month...
wrapping up the last 5 years... perfectly
x
...dary. legendary.
z


So it's 2011: the year of the Rubensteins. The number 11 has kind of been a weird pattern for our family.
New Years Resolutions are not my thing. I'm a bigger fan of listing out goals for the year and things I'd like to do/see. My biggest one for this year is to take more risks. I started a little right at the end of 2010; pushed myself to do things that terrified me (as trivial as they were) and it worked out pretty well. It won't always, but it's worth it when it does.


What do you hope to accomplish for 2011?

xmas decor.

Our 3' Xmas tree.

Snowmen creepin' on our TV.

flannel sheets save heat money.

Frame & duvet cover from IKEA.
Plaid flannel sheets from Target (which, by the way, is definitely pronounced "Tar-get.") They're on sale for $15/ea, if you're into that.
King size flannel pillow case from Mom's linen closet. Those are free with biological discount. Black Friday special.

Now, to redecorate the rest of the room. That may have to wait for 2o11...

thanks.

Yesterday was my 25th Thanksgiving. (Kind of a weird thing to say, isn't it?) It was really nice. There's usually 10-16 of us, but it was just my family, G and B. Small and quiet, and far less people to battle for my Gramma's sweet potatoes.

For 2010, I am thankful for:

1. My 3 families.

1a. SO many more people that I would never have the room or time to mention here for their continuing love and support.

2. The amazing job opportunity I've been given.

3. My awesome apartment and roommate.

4. The daily struggles I face that make me a stronger force to be reckoned with.

5. My uncanny ability to attract exactly what I need when I need it most. (See also: shirts that sell on eBay for $1100 right after I quit my job on a whim.)

6. Two pretty solid years of health and the ability to love Thanksgiving for what it truly is...AND the food.

7. Anyone that still reads my blog(s) and, more so, those who comment...

Hope you were all able to enjoy the holiday, Ativan-free. Or with it, whatever.

My mom and I are going to attempt to go shopping today. Wish us luck not dying!

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i cook now.. kind of.

I've been getting into this weird habit lately of cooking dinner after work. Like, with produce and stuff. It's amazing how much healthier you feel when the words "remove the film" don't appear in the recipe.

Now, what should I do with the tilapia in my freezer? And why does Android not recognize the word "tilapia?" How sheltered.

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frostbitten oranges.

I let go of Frozen.Oranges, the blog. (Not the name.)

I lost it. In fact, I kept losing it. It was mostly because of billing errors (I lose my debit card a lot, no one's sure why), but it seemed ridiculous how many issues I had keeping that site up in just the past year. I fought to get it back this time, even tried to pay and GoDaddy couldn't revive it for some reason. I mean, I posted about one time for each that I went through the trouble and long waits on the phone with GoDaddy. Guess it was time to let it go.

Let's be honest, the fruit of my domain was rotting. It's just not where I am anymore. It's not that it's a topic I'm no longer passionate for, but I'm in a very different place. I would have readers tell me they would love to know what life has been since finding full recovery - which is something I could certainly write about - but it didn't seem to have a place there. It wasn't the right tone.

I'd love to pluck all the remains (ok, that pun was actually not intended, but I'm keeping it) from whatever bits of the internet they dwell and keep them together. However, it's been a while since I felt good about pointing someone in the direction of the blog-that-hasn't-been-updated-since-2008 (or so it felt). I didn't feel like I was having the same effect I used to and I didn't feel the pride in it I used to.

I'm keeping the name. It stands for something and people connect with it... more people than I ever would have guessed when I first came up with it. I just believe I need to move it in a new direction. I've had some projects swirling in my thoughts for a few years and I might start to build on one of those. In the meantime, for those who are interested in post-recovery, you got it right here.

couldn't have said it better myself.

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first droid picture.

Dude. This camera is good. I smell photo-blogging. (Phlogging?...ew.)

By the way, meet my 4-year-old...and most patient photo subject.

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to mal & greg.

Congratulations & mozel tov.

Love you both.

Mal & Greg
Sunday, Oct 24, 2010

some dudes marry dudes.

This isn't exactly the post I wanted to put up after not having written for a while (and having a good number of topics going through). It's not that it isn't good - because it is - but just that I consider posting videos when you haven't blogged in a while to be like.. fair-weather-blogging. (Lame.)

Anyway, yes, I'm getting this shirt. Get the fuck over it.

my life is awesome: the academics.

I like that for the first time for as long as I can remember, I get excited when people give me the ol', "So, how are things?" Unfortunately, people who ask that probably just expect, "Oh, good.. the usual." Too bad.

School is not directly amazing, but it's awesome in general. My classes are.. just something I need to get through to get my credits. That, of course, is exactly why I'm at MB; just get the gen eds done and get out. The more in depth my classes get and the more interactions I have with my emotional claimants, the more I realize where I need to be. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to take classes in child psych, addictive behaviors and pharmacology. Oh, and of course, nutritional science. I'm still strongly considering a holistic nutrition program in Cali after I get my BS, but that's way down the road. I get really excited thinking about it, though, even if it's not for a while.

On the other hand, there is the fact that I am going to miss out on approximately 12.5 hrs of class this semester due to the fact that classes start at 6pm and, depending on I-95 traffic, I get there between 6:15 and 6:45 from work. That's 12.5 normal length classes. Oy. Better make sure I do my reading.. I'm thinking next semester, I'll take 1 night class, 1 online class, and a Saturday class.

I'm going to start looking into schools...

a very important date.

On Sat, Aug 29, 10, one of my very close friends had her bridal shower. Since I happen to have first-hand access to the photos, I thought I might show of my POV of the MOH's beautiful job setting up the whole tea party-style deal.

[For more, visit my work at Zenfolio.]

now ('10) and then ('03).

On my (really f-ing awesome) birthday, I went to the Paramore concert with some sweet ladies. It was amazing. I'm not ashamed of the girl-crush I have on Hayley Williams. Of course, New Found Glory definitely opened for them.

So, I went onto Xanga to read my friend's updates who still use it. My last updates on Xanga are from my inpatient days and what lead me to Blogger.. which lead me to Frozen.Oranges. Knowing this, I thought it might be fun to go back and check out my original entries.

My Xanga goes back to 2003 (holy crap). Of course, this means there's some really interesting crap starting with junior year in high school. Before it all. It's weird to see proof that there was life before.. it blew up.

Friday, 25 April 2003

• 'eeey!

  THE HRC/LTJ/GC/NFG CONCERT LAST NIGHT WAS FKNAMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! first of all, BS, BD, GM, and AP, you guys kick ass. i had such an awesome time with you guys. second of all, i believe Greg put it best in his profile: "you haven't lived till you've been hit in the back of the head by about 10 crowd surfers." althought, the number was closer to around 30 or so, haha~ it was hot, gross, cramped, and GOD was it painful... and worth every second of it!! i'm damn proud of the bruises i picked up on the floor of the Worcester Centrum. "These bracelets don't come off until they rot themselves off!" damn straight, yo. it was so incredible, i can't even begin to tell you.

  M; I put the M in mosh

  
  

  Man, do I feel old. That was 7 freaking years ago.
  And.. I still stand by rotting bracelets.

  
  Here's to you, 17-year-old Emily, because I know you would have loved to know that you got to see NFG again.. even if you really can't see what the big deal is now.

the weight of silence.

  The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is amazing. While it took me close to a month to get through it (as I could only read during my lunch break at work), it's a very quick read.

Gudenkauf's style is genius and completely entralling. I will admit that I got through a good chunk of the book pretty skeptical, as you feel like you already have all the answers and there's no mystery left. You know where the "lost" girls are and how it happened. Or you think you do. I love books where I get bitch-slapped by the author in the end for assuming they didn't think I was smart enough and everything finally falls into place. I had to go back and reread the first chapter when I realized how wrong I was about a seemingly very small fact at the beginning of the book that completely through me off.

I read one review where the reader felt like there was no depth the characters and I absolutely beg to differ. That reader could not have been in the same book I was.

My favorite part is close to the end when Ben figures out how to get the facts. I will openly admit that during that part and several others, I almost cried. It takes a lot for a book to either make me cry, or laugh out loud. (There was no laughing during this book, though.) I should not have been reading it at my desk..

Well done, Gudenkauf. Well done.

View all my reviews >>

summer based on unemployment.

Oh my God, I need this storm to hit. I hear it's on its way from New York. I love the heat, I don't even mind humidity. However, Boston's hit 101º twice this week and it seems like I just can't get away from it. I need a break so I can sleep without a frozen washcloth and 2 fans going.

Anyway, I didn't expect (or care to think it was possible) that my summer would be spent unemployed, but somehow, my plans reflected that the possibility was there. The goals I'd set for the summer are far more difficult with a 40 hr/wk job, but I canNOT complain. I've accomplished my biggest goal, not just of the summer, but for 2 years.

However, all I have to do now is rearrange some things and scheduling. I only have the weekends now to get stuff done. I can do some things in the evenings but I only have until 10p, as I wake up for work at 6:30a. I think I'll actually have to write myself of schedule of when I can do all the things I want to do.

My next big goal is to find me a roommate. My current roommate is moving out next weekend and I'll need someone in here for August 1. If you know anyone looking to move to the Waltham/Newton/Watertown area, let me know. I'm hoping to have someone locked in no later than the 20th. At this time, I have 5 people coming to see the place between now and Monday. Wish me luck.

Oh, and the date is set for the Big Cut of 2o1o. I made it 2 years (and 2 months) this time. I was going to set it for the 24th, but the girl I want to see isn't available so I'm going on the 17th. It's probably better. I am so done with the crap I have to do every single day that I'm not even sure I'll make it to the 17th without going insane.

I couldn't work out the scheduling with the place I've been going for 15 years. My regular girl is on maternity leave until October and the other two I'd let near my head are only available on the weekdays. So I'm trying out this place. Wish me luck..