I’m right where I’m supposed to be for Infinite Summer. I’m absorbing about half of it, I’d say (Infinite Jest, the book, in case you don’t know what I’m talking about). The other half I find a little tedious and difficult to stay focused on. But I’m sticking with it. Because I like to read about people who do a lot of pot, I guess. Also, depressed people who smoke a lot of pot. Also, experimental filmmakers.

Thank you.

back in the old days…

Amazing! And I still probably only have about 7 readers. Hello 7 readers! Love you.

Things you may not know about me:
I used to be Catholic. I don’t know what I am anymore (other than a Humanist) but it is definitely not Catholic. My confirmation name was Jane (in Catholic confirmation one renames oneself after a Saint. Or something. I don’t really know). Saint Jane de Chantal. Can’t recall why I picked that name. I do know that I wanted to pick Saint Frances of Assisi , but the nun wouldn’t let me use a man’s name. Those darn nuns!

In a high school production of Bye Bye Birdie I played the awestruck, crazy, screaming, hyper Ursula. It was fun. I still have “We love you Conrad” playing in my head a lot.

My best Halloween costume was a Fry Guy. But I hate McDonald’s. Also, I am currently eating a McFlurry. (also, what the fuck is that thing?)

The first band I was ever obsessed with was U2. The boy I crushed on in 7th grade (he moved away that summer, the bastard) introduced me to them.

My awesome college roommate, Heather, from my USF days was so devoted to Perry Ferrell she made a sculpture of him. I wonder what happened to that thing. She played all kinds of punk while I played Toad the Wet Sprocket. We had a very strange radio show.

I am kind of embarrassed by how obsessed I was with Toad the Wet Sprocket. When they played at Iowa I jumped in their Holiday Inn van and introduced myself. I also loaded them up with free coffee and muffins from the Union Pantry where I worked.

My first kiss was awful. And way late. I wished I had kissed much earlier.

I didn’t go on one date in high school. One boy did ask me out and wrote me a very nice letter about wanted to go on a date and he even called to invite me to a dance but I rejected him all around and pretended he didn’t exist. If I could go back in time I’d go out on that date with him instead of holding out for that other guy. Damn high school.

I used to be skinnier before Paxil, but I’ve never been a skinny girl. I’d be content being pleasantly plump, but I think I’m a little too weighty at the moment. Please ignore my future requests for McFlurries.

Besides the awesome girl herself, my favorite thing about being a parent is the marvelous world of children’s books.

Infinite Summer is almost here! Just a few more days. I have to finish House of Leaves already.

ILOVEEDWARD
Edwardsgirl
Edwardsgrrrl
Twilightgirl
xphile69
writergirl
bigassgirl
bigMama
littleMama
Mommygirl
Edward4evr
I_am_Bella
Spock_is_my_bitch

I don’t know. So many choices! Petunia_Town_Girl?

Is it mid june? What date is it? Ah, June 10th. Close to mid June. I’m watching TV. Here is a commercial for KY Jelly. What do I say when Dulcie sees it and says “what’s that for?” Or “What is ‘the big moment’, Mom?” Uhhhh. More reasons to not let the kiddo watch tv. But that’s not realistic. Also, I’m not really against tv. She is of this world, let her partake in it. But advertising sucks. And it is important to be outside.

So I have a headache. I’m currently figuring that about 60 percent of my life is made up of headaches. Yes, eat better. Yes, exercise. Yes, drink herbal tea. I know, I know. Also, I need a massage. a deep one.

Coming soon: Infinite Summer. I will finally be reading Infinite Jest and I will be taking my dad a long with me (actually, he’s already begun, not realizing it starts June 21st, not June 1st). I expect to be commenting like crazy and maybe I’ll post about it here, as well. Anyone else in?

Summer is here. Not technically, but as far as school and life are concerned. I hope we can be productive this summer. I hope the tv isn’t on all the time and I’m on the couch with a headache. I hope we make paintings and root beer floats and I manage to make at least a few meals with veggies from the farmer’s market. Ah, goals.

But I’m excited, damnit. We’ve got the Iowa City Arts Fest this weekend and music downtown and lots of time to spend at libraries and trips out of town and popsicles and Petunia Festivals and sunshiney days. Yay for sunshiney days. Also, I will yay for Root Beer floats.

Like many Americans, I’m guessing, I have a love hate relationship with weekends. I like having nothing I have to do (most of the time). I like having the opportunity to sleep in (Saturday is my day, Sunday is Mark’s day). I like having the kid and husband home. But, BUT, I’m always disappointed with myself for not doing more.

Like organizing the entire house. Cleaning the entire house. Redecorating the entire house. And finding time to write.

Instead I do a lot of wasting time on the computer, wasting time watching television, wasting time sitting around feeling paralyzed by all that I want or need to do. Oh well. What else is new? As Lita Ford would say “Uh huh, it ain’t no big thing.” At least I think she said (sang) that. Except she was singing about not getting laid and getting in fights. What different lives we lead.

Because I’m turning 35 on Thursday and kind of depressed about that I’m giving myself a birthday week. Which means I’m treating myself every day in some way. (despite the non support of my husband in this endeavor). Yesterday it was a bagel for 2nd breakfast and a long nap (although that had a lot to do with my terrible headache, as well). Today it was a pedicure. And it was only a 20 dollar pedicure because I went to one of those cheap mall places employed entirely by Asian women. I also got Indian buffet for lunch and coffee and croissant for lunch dessert. I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow, but I’ll think of something. Perhaps a magazine!

35. So much closer to death!

Easter weekend was nice enough. With the in-laws visiting, easter egg hunts, and lots and lots of candy. We snuck in some egg coloring. And we snuck in some more candy. Here are photos!

Must get full-time job. To pay off debts. To buy house. To send kid to college. Must work on second draft of YA novel. So I can query agents. So I can feel like I did what I always meant to do.
These things weigh on me.

But the good things in life are spring blossoms showing up here and there. All the sudden! And an Indian Wrap at Clay Pot. And hanging out in bed with my laptop. Dulcie at t-ball practice. New books from the library. I know I talk about the library too much. I just love it, so. All those books! To take home! Bummer that they didn’t have any Amy Krause Rosenthal checked in. She rules.

I’m just filling space here, aren’t I? Oh well. Back to that crime novel I’m reading. Where people get shot and shit happens.

Madison is so fun to visit. Much bigger than Iowa City but not overwhelmingly big like Chicago. Of course, Chicago is fun to visit, as well. But in Chicago one has to expect a certain amount of stress. No stress is Madison. Our only really frustration so far was that the Laotian restaurant was closed at 3pm when we tried to go there for a really late lunch (or, um, Linner?). Instead we went across the street to Monty’s Blue Plate Diner which wasn’t too bad of a compromise since I was able to enjoy a very yummy chocolate malt. Oh, and we did get our car backed into while we were eating. That does suck. Our car–it is a magnet for fender benders. I just laughed because at this point, what else could I do?