“You can’t create fate because then it’s not fate, it’s Voodoo.”

I have so much I’m thinking about, words swirling around in my head that aren’t quite ready to be transported to any sort of page, online or otherwise, and did I mention I’m flying to Asia in t-minus THREE DAYS and counting?

If you’re thinking I’m ridiculously excited (you’re right! and), add a dollop of sheer GLEE (I get to see my SISTER, and WILL, and HUG them both), and a dash of apprehension (because hi, I have no idea what to expect, or how I’m going to read anything, and one of my co-workers recently told me to bring anti-poo pills with me, and did I ever anticipate I would be talking to said co-worker about bowel movements while traveling abroad? No, no I did not) to the emotional mix, and you will have my emotional state in a nutshell. Or in a mixing bowl, as it were.

No doubt I’m going to have endless pictures to share from upcoming weeks to be spent in China and South Korea (and I’m beyond excited to take those pictures, and to share them), but for now, here’s how this past week looked in pictures:

Exhibit A: An empty fortune cookie on Monday, which, while causing me a brief existential crisis, also made me realize that yeah, I really do make my own luck. Take that, Cheap Chinese Restaurant Who Shall Not Be Named (cough…August Moon…cough).

Exhibit B: We like to rain it, rain it.

Exhibit C: A new necklace, which I’m (amusing myself by) calling The Precious. The Precious is so precious, in fact, that it can’t bother to be photographed in focus.

Exhibit D: A lovely gift from Sizz! Inside the adorable box was an even more adorable pair of turquoise earrings.

Exhibit E: Or, what happens when you try to take a picture of a beautifully colored sky while you’re walking out to your car after work. I actually love the way this shot turned out, even if it is all epileptic-looking.

Exhibit F: This is what me choosing books to be stowed in my one and only carry-on looks like. The stack below represents the main contenders, which I am now evaluating based on 1) weight; 2) general interest in the story/stories; 3) probability of the book encouraging strangers to strike up conversations with me while I’m attempting to read on the plane. Antisocial air travelers, UNITE.

Exhibit G: I (basically) finished packing a full week before I’m scheduled to fly. That’s a personal record in anal-retentive travel for me.

Exhibit H: Running office-related errands and thinking these window decals walked right out of Where The Wild Things Are.

Exhibit I: Work-related fun in our Creepy Storage Unit. (That’s Erin! at the window.)

Exhibit J: I spent the bulk of Saturday shopping, lunching and movie-watching with Kali! at Bridgeport Village. It was my second visit to the shopping oasis and my first ever trip to Anthropologie. I managed to finish the majority of my pre-travel errands while enjoying terrific company. It was, in a word: awesome. Also awesome: Kali’s adorable flower hair clip.

Exhibit K: Want to donate to Haiti relief efforts and get an awesome t-shirt at the same time? Threadless is offering a new shirt with 100% of proceeds going to the American Red Cross. The mustached rabbits want you to donate. Listen to the mustached rabbits.

*Post title is from a super random episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Where Am I Going, Where Have I Been?

This week I have been:

Writing, editing, and organizing grant proposals, and preparing gargantuan-sized grant budgets feverishly, to meet deadlines both old and new.

Snuggling with my pug and enjoying any downtime I have been able to muster.

Writing! I’m so excited about three different stories I have in the works, and thanks to a recent prompt by Danny, I’ve been sitting down daily to translate my excitement into actual words on a page. (Not unlike snakes on a plane. Only → Read more...

Stand In The Place Where You Live

This post inspired by my friend and partner in movie quote crime, Home Sweet Sarah.

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Some of the most memorable places I have stood, in no particular order:

On The Great Wall of China. Next to my sister as she took her wedding vows. In front of the Kremlin in Moscow. Next to my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Priest Lake. Specifically, my family’s Priest Lake dock spot. On Mt. Seorak, South Korea. Poolside for countless summers with friends, and cousins, and awesome(ly ridiculous) bikinis. At the base → Read more...

“I once saw him beat a guy up with a starfish.” “That’s ridiculous.”

Full disclosure: I initially considered titling this post !!!!!!!!! but Wordpress started laughing at me, and threatened to throw spam.

At this point to say I cannot contain my already typically excessive exclaiming is to understate. HOW am I going to refrain from blurting out, “Hawaii! I’m going there!” from now until I leave at the beginning of September? Better yet, Maui! + getting to see my sister in TWO WEEKS = how am I going to sleep tonight? And the → Read more...

Not A Kid’s Movie Review: Pan’s Labyrinth

Originally aired: January 19, 2007. Watched by Kerri Anne: August 1, 2010. Courtesy of: Netflix Instant Watch. Because: a) I was in the mood for a lighthearted, kid-centric story; b) Netflix told me I would four stars enjoy it and saw fit to leave out crucial somber-tone-revealing plot points in their synopsis; c) Netflix is a lying liar face; d) ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Starring: A slew of great Spanish actors you’ve probably never heard of, most notably Ivana Baquero and Maribel Verdú. Protagonist’s → Read more...