6/11/91 (very nearly 22)
“that song is the most emotional song i’ve heard in a long time, maybe the most personally touching song i’ve ever heard. it’s SO beautiful. listening to it i thought about arthur, but then i though about playing it for margaret & thought maybe she used to feel that way about ken. wow. i didn’t feel any jealousy, just massive empathy.”
AUUUUUGH I have no idea what song I was talking about!!!
Music was really important to me back then.
4/2/91 (age 21 going on 22)
“dynamics – the moment is all that matters. my past was created by my past thoughts; my future is in my own hands being created now. but only the moment matters. relationships only exist in the moment. my past is only an example of what i am capable of.”
by Normal Maclean
I picked this up because I read that it was about Montana. I have a soft spot for Montana ever since I visited Bozeman and Yellowstone. I pictured the grand canyon of Yellowstone throughout all of this.
The story, though – haven’t we heard this one before? Troublesome kid brother?
by Paula Hawkins
If I had a dime for every time someone in this book made a bad decision. “It doesn’t feel right to say these words out loud” but of course she does. “I’m ready to hang up the phone, but” of course she doesn’t. I shouldn’t go buy a drink, but I do, I shouldn’t trespass and spy and lurk, but I do.
There are three women in this story and two men. The men are both awful. The women are all awful decision makers. Actually there are four women, if you count the bit part of Rachel’s flatmate Cathy, who probably makes the worst decisions of them all, since she tolerates the awful Rachel who pukes on her carpet. And there are three men, if you count the bit part of the red-headed man Rachel can’t recall how she knows from her drunken stupors. That guy is the only decent specimen of the male sex.
Oh well. It was supposed to be a mystery/thriller, not a character study. It was fairly exciting. Just, of course, not my kind of book. Obviously another book club pick.
1/16/91 (age 21 1/2)
It gets a bit challenging now for many years as I began writing backwards.
“i love myself enough to surround myself with beauty! i’m really getting into this aesthetic-decorating-beauty-sensuous thing! what fun.”
8/2/90 (age 21)
“perhaps if cody took a very short vacation i could get back in order better. he’s distracting. well if i start going to school we’re going to be together much less. it’s amazing how i can’t stay upset at him (unless he’s asleep). i can’t help but (heart) him. if someday i find a decidedly anti-sexist attractive appealing male w/intelligence will my (heart) for cody fade. my need for him probably will. it (heart) will probably go the way of whatever that feeling was i had for he-whom-i’d-care-to-forget. but now is now.”
I won an award. I won two awards.
“Chris, thank you for being an amazing technical lead. You have mentored all the new team members and keep the older ones in line. … Your leadership and knowledge have helped this team grow immensely. Lourdes and I are very much thankful for your contributions, leadership, and forward leaning thinking!”
and a small one, arguably more meaningful, as it was from a peer:
“Thank you for ALL your support and guidance. Really appreciate it !!!”
It is one (two) of those awards I get to shop for. I am feeling jewelry again this time.
10/25/89 (age 20)
“A) now you may note that i stupidly left out the highest priority, scheduled activities, which includes everything documented on the Class Schedule & the Snoopy Calendar. let’s talk about how to conduct yourself at some of these activities.”
eek, let’s not, 20-year-old me, what are you over-thinking!
First blooms on my Xmas cactus noticed the day after Tgiving. Good job Xmas cactus! Way to start the holiday season right on time and NOT too soon!
by Nicola Griffith
Hard to follow. But an impressive piece of work. Felt very true to 7th century. The only anachronism that jumped out at me was mention of a ‘mosquito’ (preferable would have been ‘midge’ or ‘gnat’). The concept of “gemaecce”, two women in a formalized friendship, had me searching the internet, and led me to the author’s blog. Her tiny author bio, and the book’s appendix, had already given a glimpse of her personality and voice – she seems super fun and clever.
Tytania 