Zazie, the Essayist

I wrote a research essay in two hours last night, with several breaks. This is because I had the help of hoglet (see photo). Not really. But I did really just submit this photo to Cute Overload, which is mind-blowing. But only if they post it. My Zazie, a star? Ohmygosh.

Have been surviving my winter schedule, but just barely. No more in-between-semesters classes. It helps that I have a great teacher, Robert Ford. They sure have some sort of bizarre mix in the faculty up at HCC. When told some of the essays we've read and analyzed so far (namely "The Case Against Coldplay" & "Why I Hate Britney"), a friend of mine responded with, "Who's picking these? Is your professor a 12-year-old girl?" Not really. But at least it's interesting.

My friend, Tina, is in town right now. She has been living in Japan for almost two years, and I am meeting her and another friend from JP class days, Jose, at Darband Persian Grill tonight to catch up. Really excited!

I finally got around to signing up for the Amigurumi 2 class at Sew Crafty. Miss Kelly Ekl and I are going to make crocheted sushi! (Last time was a cupcake. Mine looked like an acorn - after Tim was done with it anyway.)

Christmas was GREAT. I'm so glad it doesn't come again for a year. Here's to 2009! I'm going to the (always fabulous) New Year's party at the Foy house, along with my little sister, her husband and his little brother Justin. SUCH FUN. Cheers!

Yours very truly,
Sarah

Snow in Gunspoint!

Only one more class for this semester! My final for Biology doesn't bother me because I will almost inevitably get an A in that class because of my mysterious As on all previous tests. Go figure.

Things are going pretty good so far, for December. I've got all As, I'm staying pretty much caught up with work, I've got all my Christmas shopping done (except for ONE IMPOSSIBLE PERSON), it's snowing, and I have the next two days off! Kittens!

I met the girl from Morocco, Imane, that I am going to tutor in English grammar next semester. She and her husband are really sweet. Also hung out with Kelly EKL two nights in a row, and saw the Caroline Collective show. That's a cool place, no matter what Tim says. They put on a show once a month, and I will be sure to catch it.

Most boring post ever! What's your least favorite number to write? I've been polling everyone. Mine are five and eight.

Tim and I are watching the best movie right now, Baran. My favorite quote from it is a remark made in passing: "I saw you in a nightmare."

Later guys! Stay warm!

Yours very truly,
Sarah

Nirvana on the Way to Almost-Thanksgiving Work

I'm having lunch with my mother today. She is really such a delight. I hope that she always retains the mischievous and good-hearted energy she has now. I'm experimenting with confiding in her more; it doesn't seem to be backfiring quite yet. We'll see how that goes.

Over 40,000 words on my novel! And only six days to go. Yikes. But 10k in six days only requires me to write the standard nanowrimo minimum per day - 1667. I'm definitely going to do more than that, so I should come out ahead! Oh joy, oh delight.

I'm going to Tim's parents for a short (really!) time this Thursday. I've never been to a guy's parents for this holiday before. In fact, most of my relationships over the last 10 years of dating have faded out by fall, and I had the holiday season to think about what I'd done. Ha. Then it's off to Willis to celebrate with my aunt and cousins, whose darling company I always enjoy.

This cheese-filled post was brought to you by Sarah having too much energy to sit still and code her invoices.

Very truly yours,
Sarah

Emotional Black-out!

Sometimes I feel like I'm just miserable at life, but each time I try to put my finger on what it is I'm doing wrong, I can't tell.

While talking to a classmate recently, I verbally worked out that I may be too emotionally disconnected. There are advantages to this, obviously; many people try endlessly to distance themselves emotionally from a situation so that they can take a rational, objective look at their options. But could it hurt to do this too much? As the beloved(?) Sarah Palin would say, "Yoo betcha!" (Unnecessary.)

Maybe it's just that I spent so much time when I was younger exploring my emotions and following my feelings and listening to my heart. I saw where that got me. Nowhere. Fast. And a lot of times, in a whole lot of trouble, and lonely to boot. Four years of being single seems to have made me a very anemotional being, which saddens me in many ways.

I end up examining relationships (romantic and friend) in a way that seems a little cold and inhuman on reflection. It's almost as if I need a reminder every once in a while that my life doesn't need to be lived as though I'm some sort of diplomatic political figure. Why do my conversations that should be emotional end up sounding like a Christmas card from a lawyer to an especially wealthy client?

Frequently used inappropriate phrases:
"most beneficial"
"more permanant solution"
"an unfeasible move"
"extremely illogical"
"something more specific"
"respect your position"
And the darkest of all non-emotional lines that I've said in an emotional setting in the last few years: "I'm hoping we can fulfill mutually enjoyable roles in each others' lives." ??? Am I writing a legal contract or what? What is wrong with me??

To answer myself with one of my own recent quotes: "Passion is an amazing thing... sometimes I feel my heart is numb to it."

UPDATE

Here's a news flash, guys. We're all human. Every single person I know is a human. A friend and I confessed our humanity to each other the other day, and it was amazing.

Just to let you know.

And that means you're human, too.

Fall Vacation

It's still technically fall, right? I'd like to go on a vacation. Take me with you if you're going somewhere. Or else. I'll get the witch that lives in my apartment building to cast a spell on you (read: call the police while you're just hanging out playing pictionary by the pool).

Next semester, there are a few things I'd like to accomplish. First, I'd like to volunteer as an ESOL tutor, either with HCC or the Heights Library. Second, I'd like to organize an Esperanto Society ("club" sounds so trite) in my area. Third, I'd like to stop being co-dependent again. That's up to you to decide what that means, but I think I just want it to happen.

Lastly, I'd like to start a very casual, very not-intense street fashion blog for Houston. I'm going to get a camera for Xmas (don't tell Mommy & Santa I know!) and it just sounds like SO MUCH FUN. So we'll see. I have yet to decide whether I will use this blog or get another gmail to use for it. We'll see!

As for school, I have two words for you: YUCK, and KILL.

Very truly yours,
Sarah

This Doesn't Sound Good

Found a description of myself (in an email to myself, no less) from January:

"I'm a slightly swarthy 5'8, mask this just barely with cute cuts and colors, and have a puzzlingly plain face and ugly, gappy teeth. That's it. That's me."

Sounds like I'm on my way to the top.