Wow, I haven’t updated this in awhile. I’m going backward:

Currently reading:

Wilderness Tips by Margaret Atwood (short stories that keep bringing up the women’s movement in different ways)

Books Read:

Cat’s Eye by Atwood
Falling Through the Earth: A Memoir by Danielle Trussoni
Moral Geography: Maps, Missionaries, and the America… by Amy DeRogatis
The Common Ground of Womanhood: Class, Gender, and W…by Priscilla Murolo
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
Race, Gender, and Work: A Multicultural Economic History by Teresa Amott
Moral Disorder: and Other Stories by Margaret Atwood
Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Graduate Study for the Twenty-First Century by Gregory M. Colon Semenza
Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe by Laurence Bergreen
Surfacing by Margaret Atwood
In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta
Then We Came to the End: A Novel by Joshua Ferris

Basically, I spent the first part of the year reading what I wanted to fiction wise: Then We Came the End and The Abstinence Teacher were both very witty and sarcastic (as Perotta usually is.) Then I switched gears and tried to read more about my Patagonia trip.  Over the Edge of the World was surprisingly riveting for me.  I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I but I was happy to read while I visited the actual Straights of Magellan.

As soon as I found out I got into graduate school, I started to read some books that I thought would be necessary to read before I began. This, unfortunately, has not been going as well as I hoped–mostly because I have been very unfocused in that area lately.  I am going to get back into it as soon as I finish Wilderness Tips by Atwood.

One area that has been successful is the Atwood. I do adore her writing and am happy to report that I equally liked Surfacing, Moral Disorder, Cat’s Eye, and–almost done with– Wilderness Tips. Next up is Oryx & Crake. I want to read some of her poetry but I never really just sit down and read poetry for pleasure. I did it in high school and a bit in college and then analyzed it.  I think I may enjoy poetry by Atwood though.

I want to get back to a month to month list of books read.  Next up is a long list of books I WANT to read. I may have to abandon reading books for fun sooner than later. But I find this whole academia *FUN* right? Right.

FIN

1. Election news…I kinda wonder why she just won’t quit.
2. I’m struggling over what kind of blog this is, a grad student (to be) blog or a women’s history (which specializes in media and mormonism kinda?) blog or a hybrid of both. Or just a personal blog that covers both ends of that. I am somewhat relieved my friend hanVnah is. dealing with the same issue.  She and I are beginning similar journeys: starting grad school in new but familiar cities.
3. BIG ADULT DECISIONS: I made one of these when I moved in with my boyfriend (now husband), made another when we got engaged then married, adopted the kitties but the latest one seems like a REAL BIG DEAL. More on that later when it is settled.
4. A NEW DESK!!!: I need a nice new desk that has drawers that close. And I probably need a filing cabinet too so the kitties don’t eat all of my paper. There is this option from IKEA. Although I kinda like the idea of having a non IKEA desk because IKEA kinda is for that time in your life when you are just starting out. But who am I kidding I cannot afford anything but IKEA or Target or you get the drift.

You probably think this blog is about you.

In times of high stress and life change, its hard for me to focus thoroughly on the outside world thus making this blog a whole big VANITY post.  I do read the newspaper and listen to npr but I have little time to sit still and write a clear and focused piece about how I feel about a film or news piece.  All I can seem to think about is the FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS HAPPENING NOW!

This weekend was full of travel and big time big adult decisions. I’m not used to big adult decisions. I adopted two kitties in January and I’m still reeling from that decision. ANDNOW ALLOF THISSTUFF IS HAPPENINGNOW! But that’s how life is right….RIGHT!
More coherent posts to come…soon I think.