Fall is coming.

I was on the metro today watching the trees as they flew past the window.

Even after all these years, I still get a little thrill at how green everything is here. But today I noticed a smattering of yellow and red. It was only tiny bit here and there but it reminded me that fall is around the corner. The colors will change drastically and temperatues will start to cool.

The end of another year draws closer. When did time start to go by so fast? How do I make it slow down?
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2 out of 3.....

The scrapbook pages are finally finished. That means my headdress is finished. My pages are done. Now all I need is 27 gifts........

Any thoughts?
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BTT #15

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.)

No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?

Or, um, is it just me?

No....that is what allows me to read authors that have what I deem to be less then stellar writing capabilities.

Many a time I will find my self skimming through pages of description (thank you Robert Jordan and Diana Gabaldon) to get to the action of the story. Not that the descriptions aren't necessary, but I find that on the first read through I want to know what happens more then i want to hear how the stage is set. It is only on the second read through that I will pick up the intricacies of the descriptions. Which, I am just realizing, means that I probably miss out on a lot of things in books that I figure aren't worth the re-read.

I can't sleep

It is after 11:30. I'm tired. I have qa sinus pressure headache. I am covered in Vicks VapoRub. There should be nothing to keep me awake.

And yet.....

I am awake.

Life is not fair today :p
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nothing but a big empty void.....

My head is filled with something other then words. Lol!
Therefore I will not be blogging about anything important today.

Instead I am going to go home in 20 minutes scrapbook another 4 pages or so and then SLEEP.....

You think if i sleep enough this head cold will go away and I will be able to function like a normal person....

It's a nice thought, but i think it requires a person to be normal to begin with. :)

I swear it was gonna happen.....

You ever notice that the minute you commit to a new work out routine you get sick?

Maybe it is just me? It will happen as soon as the head cold goes away. :s
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A letter to an older me.....

As I was getting ready to head out this afternoon I got stopped by a country song.....

Who knows what it actually talked about but I was reminded of the letters that I had to write as a teenager. You know the ones they had you write to an older self, filled with your hopes and dreams and fears......

I know of two that I had to keep. 1 I opened a few years ago at the time stated on the envelope. It spoke of my faith and testimony and the knowledge of a life as wife and mother. It spoke of my insecurities with the hope that I had found someone to help me overcome them. Someone that would get me past my fear.

I have no idea what the date is on the second envelope. I wonder if the time has passed for me to open it. Though in reality I fear what is contained with in the pages of that letter. I wonder if I am a disappointment to myself as a child.

Does that make sense? I am speaking as if I am 2 people. The teenager that had a sure knowledge that the future would hold a husband and children by the time I had reached this ripe old age of 29....And the woman who is happy in her single life and is not sure she wants it to change regardless of the fact that I joke about it with my friends.
(but that is not the purpose of this post, maybe I will expound on that at another time)

I decided while listening to this song, any letter I write today would be vastly different from the ones written by the younger me. I would not speak of the future as a given at all. I would not hope for someone to come and "help" me get over my insecurities. I would tell the me who is 45 that I hope she is past the fear of commitment....even if she is not committed to someone. I would hope that she is comfortable in her own skin and has a sense of accomplishment in what ever she does, be it home and family, a career, church, or service within the community. Or all of the above. I hope that she has found solace in the gospel at the times of her life was troubled.
My life has become one that is filled with a love of books and knowledge and learning; I hope that the older me has taken the time to go back to school. Any degree would be nice, but it is not essential, the chance to be in a classroom again would be enough.

Of course I have many hopes and fear but 45 should already know this. She isn't an idiot after all. Hopefully, she won't look back at this writing and think of herself as a completely different person.

Now I am off to the book fair in Harrisburg.....Wahoo for me!

Writers Block........

I stare at this blank page and nothing seems to flow from my fingertips. There are things I have wanted to blog about but every time I sit down the words won't come.
Tonight I will probably hit another movie by myself. Which means that the Dark Knight is still out (I am to big of a wuss to see that one by myself. I will probably scare myself witless.) Anyone know what is playing at the theater by the Courthouse Metro?

Tomorrow I am headed out to the Green Valley Book Fair. I must admit that I am geek enough to be excited about it. Lol!

Now, since I can't think of anything else to write you get another picture
meme.....Just cuz they make me giggle.

This one was stolen from one of the McNabbers Darla! (bonus points if you know what a McNabber is....)

Here’s how this one works:
You answer each question, search that answer in Google Image Search and then post the first picture that pops up. (And really I just picked my favorite...)

Age at my next birthday: *sigh* the big 3-0


Place I’d like to travel: Scotland and Ireland.......and well Europe......and so many other places....


Favorite place: Umm....the library. Duh!


Favorite object: Books....another duh...sorry.....


Favorite color: really my favorite color is teal or aquamarinie (blue green)....but usually I just say green because there are very few places where teal looks good. LOL!

Nickname: Rae


Birthplace: Pocatello, Idaho......no potato jokes please. :)

BTT #14

Inspired by Booksplease

Whether you usually read off of your own book pile or from the library shelves NOW, chances are you started off with trips to the library. (There’s no way my parents could otherwise have kept up with my book habit when I was 10.)
So …

What is your earliest memory of a library?
Who took you?
Do you have you any funny/odd memories of the library?

My earliest memory right now is in elementary school. I remember having to leave class in either 1st or second grade ( I know we were at the school in NH at least) and go to the library for tutoring sessions.....math? Reading? Both? I am not sure any more. It was too long ago, but it was at the back of the library and I got to go by myself!! Woot!
It wasn't until I was much older that the library became my safe haven. As a matter of fact, I think it was during my teenage years.
All of my funny/odd memories all include me taking 3 little boys to the library.
Good night nurse, boys have energy....

The Cutest Couple

While walking to the metro each morning I run into quite a few different types of people. We have the working professionals that hurry by with out a smile. We have the nervous school kids who won't look you in the eye. There are the "hooligans", you know the kids that have me all paranoid to walk home. There are the hunky (and some not so hunky) fireman that are usually washing their trucks in the early am and many others.

But a couple of times now I have had the chance to walk behind an extremely cute couple and I don't mean in looks. They walk hand in hand to the metro, laughing like teenagers falling in love for the first time. But they aren't teenagers, they are somewhere in their mid 40's. Which makes it nice to watch. Upon reaching the metro escalators, he leans in and gives her a fairly chaste kiss. Not an absent minded kiss, more a kiss that says, we're in public but I want you to feel loved. (Or at least that is what I see when I have come upon them). Then she heads off to catch a train and he heads back the way he has come. Both have the same smile on their faces.

That is what I want at some point in my life.
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I shot the Sheriff

A couple months ago some one wrote about a BBC version of Robin Hood on one of the blogs I read. I was intrigued and immediately added season 1 to my Blockbuster Queue.

Today after dinner with Jess and riding in her new car (Yay for new cars!!!), I arrived home to find disc one had arrived.

I'm a bit of a geek.

I watched all three episodes on the dvd. Lol! Now don't get all judgemental and think I have no taste.....mespecially you Steph......slicked back ponytail indeed! I will admit some of the acting isn't all that good and the timing is off sometimes. But DUDE(!) Robin Hood is a hottie. I am glad that I have 2 seasons to look forward to. ;)
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Another night with the TM's

Another night out with the TM's and I find myself on the bus late at night.

The bus is filled with people talking and laughing. Maybe not with me but at least around me.

It is a nice feeling.

Kandice.......before I forget..... I was told about the PALACE ACQUIRE program. It might be something that we are looking for. I'll email tomorrow with more information. ;)
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"You're basically a gay man."

Today's title comes from my morning discussion with StephinMT.....

While she was gushing over the twisted-ness of Karate Kid III, I was excitedly talking about my most recent Amazon purchases.

What could elicit such a statement you ask.....

I ordered:

• Les Miserables Original London Cast
• Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical
• 1 of: Into the Woods (1987 Original Broadway Cast)

And since I am the most impatient person on earth....I downloaded:

• On My Own
• Empty Charis at Empty Tables
• A Little Fall of Rain
• I Dreamed A Dream
• Do You Hear the People Sing

(From the Original Broadway Production of Les Miserables, of course.)

But really if I am going to see Les Miserables in 2 weeks I should listen to the music again to prepare myself...right? And if I happen to burst into song at random moments during my day, who can blame me. Jeremy.....does that make me a gay man?

Beside, the rest of the conversation included this:

StephinMT: It has a rich villain, Rae.
StephinMT: And he smokes cigars in the bathtub
StephinMT: W/his secretary taking notes
StephinMT: Talking on the phone about dumping toxic waste
StephinMT: He is an ally of the scorned Dojo Guy (Cobra Kai)
StephinMT: And now he is going to destroy Daniel.
StephinMT: It's AMAZING!

I mean really come on! Does a woman who chooses to what Karate Kid II really have any room to talk? :P

Do I scrapbook?

As part of my trip next month I had to create a scrapbook page. Yes, creatively retarded me had to create a page. I know, everyone is gasping in shock. Meg originally offered to create my page and I was all gung ho with that idea. But after many discussions, personal procrastination, and the realization that I can make "digital scrap booking pages", plans changed. I actually created my own page last week.

This was my first try: I actually liked it but I couldn't find a way to make it 12 x 12 so here it is in all it's glory.
My second attempt is pretty much the same thing with a different color scheme and a scrunched feel. Here's hoping it will print nicely. I am not sure it will. Lol!

Just be grateful, Meg had the time to create my Ya-Ya headdress. (Yes, again, I know. Who would picture me in a headdress of any sort?) Can you imagine me trying to create one? It pays to know creative people. Being my best friend, she made my ya-ya out of a baseball cap. See that is what you get when your friends really know you. Lol!

A night out by myself

Surounded by men and women in their clubbing finest I catch the train home. It has been an interesing evening by myself. As. I mentioned in my last post it has been a while since I have gone out on my own. What I intended to be a quick stop at CVS turned into a couple of hours of phone calls, dinner and a movie.

It was fun for me. I like being able to attend movies by myself and have missed doing so. Tonight's choice was Swing Vote with Kevin Costner. Everyone knows I steer clear of politics but this lookeds to be a movie that was worth the price of admission. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. What I expected was a movie with the intent to make fun of either the political process or the parties themselves. I expected something only slightly funny due to my own politcal ignorance. What I found was an interesting movie meant to stir the sympathies of the american voter. Not to vote one way or the other. Not to stand behind this policy or that. Just for us to take the opportunity to exercise our right to vote, to be grateful for the blessings we have and help make our country the best it can be.
As a matter of fact I felt myself a bit ashamed as I listned to "Bud's" final speech. I am definitely one of the many that take the take my freedoms for granted. I had better change that.

Elections aren't that far away. Have you figured out who you stand behind?
--------------------------
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Too Tired....

Okay y'all..... I know I have been out of it for a bit. I don't promise that it will change anytime soon. Sorry.

I have been rather moody as of late. I don't want to be around most people. I don't want to have to socialize at all really. For those that know me well this isn't all that shocking. It has been a rather full couple of months.............

It all started in April with Rigelletto (interesting), Conference (uplifting), The Cherry Blossom Festival (Service is GREAT!), hairspray with Jess, A trip to Richmond to meet Tiff, My cousin Jane came to town.

May continued with Berwyn Heights Day (Yay for more service), The Renn Faire (FUN), Movie Mockers (Words cannot describe), The TM's in DC (A hoot), Plus various movies and dinners with friends.

June saw me off to Utah for a week (Sarah is the greatest friend ever!! and my family is GREAT), then dog sitting in Maryland for 2 weeks. There was also a trip to Annapolis with the TM's, The Opera with Kristin, my Aunt, Steph and Boo all came to town (in the same week no less).

July was filled with weekend trips. With Richard and Kandice, I headed off to Gettysburg and Williamsburg. I headed to Maryland with Jess for the chance to get books signed by Nora Roberts at her husband's store (Turn The Page bookstore....isn't that a great name fo ra bookstore). Dinner with the TM's was in there somewhere alone with more movies and dinners with friends.

August started with a bang, the trip to NY with the TM's was awesome. Dog sitting again for Jess, and then last weekend Richard, Kandice, and I hit Monticello and Lurray caverns; they were very interesting.
Tomorrow I have a dinner and movies with friends, next weekend is the Book fair with Patience,
I have the weekend of the 30th open.....for now.

But the following week starts September and I have Les Mes with Jess, a trip to Washington with the TM's, and a dinner with the local TM's. And that is before the weeks get filled with other things.

See just typing it all out makes me tired. Lol!

Pardon me while I choose to hunker down during the week and beg off certain engagements. I am tired. Physically and sometimes just tired of being around people. People who require hugging and smiles and happiness. Lol! I promise after sleep and lots of reading, I will return to playing. :)

Wordle.Net

So I jumped on the bandwagon.......Here is what Wordle created for me....

Why I am an coordinator.......

I couldn't help but post the results.....

You Are Scooter

Brainy and knowledgeable, you are the perfect sidekick. You're always willing to lend a helping hand. In any big event or party, you're the one who keeps things going. "15 seconds to showtime!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Thanks Come Undone :)

Not a BTT.....

So I don't like today's BTT questions because I don't really read books about sports or their players. (I totally don't count the books on the Chicago Stars...they aren't real, Meg. No matter how real we want them to be. :p)

So instead you get to look at my fantasy home. I got these pics from an email sent to my by one of my baby brothers.(Thanks Paul!) My SIL Cyn quickly responded with another email saying this was how she envisioned my ideal home...."a book house, filled with the book furniture."

And that is what this man has made, a house of books.........Hand carved wooden books.... You have to check out his site to see how amazingly talented this man really is. But I think my all time favorite is the bed. How I would love to fall asleep on this:



To Quote Cyn:

He is mind bogglingly talented!

Who am I?

I know I haven't written a real post is quite a while......I'll get around to it sometime. For now you will have to survive on fun little things I find. :)


Here's the meme:
If you want to play too, type your answer to each of the questions below into a Flickr search. Using only the first page, choose your favorite image, then copy and paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows). Leave a comment if you play, so I can have a peek.

The questions:

1. What is your first name? (Rachel)
2. What is your favorite food? (Food Lol!)
3. What high school did you attend? (Orem High)
4. What is your favorite color? (green)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Gerard Butler No, I am not the fan of post it fame)
6. Favorite drink? (Cherry Coke)
7. Dream vacation? (I still can't make up my mind....it is either Scotland or Ireland...but the cooler picture was in Scotland so that is what you got. :P)
8. Favorite dessert? (Ice Cream Sundae)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (Librarian)
10. What do you love most in life? (family)
11. One word to describe you. (Eclectic)
12. Your Flickr name. (Rae)
1. 133: SOTTS will make you jump!, 2. i can taste summer! a.k.a. childhood summer! a.k.a. childhood reminiscence! a.k.a. those were the good times!, 3. Winter at Mt Timpanogos, 4. A big bloody Samoan storm that turned gay!, 5. Gerard Butler, 6. Cherry Coke, 7. Mistycal Morning, 8. Cardamom Peanut Butter Ice Cream Brownie Sundae with Chili-Spiked Chocolate Sauce, 9. She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain 44/365, 10. "Norouz" is coming!..., 11. Spunky Eclectic: Almost solid sampler, 12. JMT Mile 37 - Rae Lakes Sunset

And the curtain rises to the sound of the Jackson 5

I have seen this in a few places (Thanks Anne and Shaka!!) I have wanted to try it because my friends often tell me my taste in music is quite eclectic.

So…..

You decide. :)

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your music library.
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you’re cool...just type it in, man!

• Opening Credits: "Who’s Lovin’ You" by Jackson 5
• Waking Up: "Worth The Wait” by Ashley Harris
• First Day Of School: "Close Enough to Perfect” by Alabama
• Falling In Love: "Burn” by JoDee Messina
• Losing Virginity: "Butterflies and Hurricanes” by Muse
• Fight Song: "Words I Couldn’t Say” by Rascall Flatts
• Breaking Up: "Turn Me On” by Norah Jones
• Prom: "Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now” by Various Artists (Hairspray soundtrack)
• Life: "Thank You For The Dissertation Pal” by Striking 12
• Mental Breakdown: "That’s The Way It Is” by Celine Dion & R. Kelly
• Driving: "All The Same” by Sick Puppies
• Flashback: "Demon Days” by Gorillaz
• Getting Back Together: "A Star Is Born” by Various Artists (Hercules soundtrack)
• Wedding: "Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Birth Of Child: "Before I Gaze At You” by Julie Andrews (From the Musical Camelot)
• Final Battle: "Left Right” by Anwar Superstar/The Chemical Brothers
• Death Scene: "Drive” by The Cars
• Funeral Song: "The Way You Look At Me” by Brian White
• End Credits: "For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

Here is the Sequel, just because...

• Opening Credits: "Christmas is All Around” by Billy Mack (Love Actually Soundtrack)
• Waking Up: "It Might Be You” by Stephen Bishop
• First Day Of School: "These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding
• Falling In Love: "Why” by D.H.T. featuring Edmee
• Losing Virginity: "Nothing Left To Lose” by Need To Breathe (Ironically this is a Christian Rock Band……)
• Fight Song: "Glasgow Love Theme” by Craig Armstrong (Love Actually Soundtrack)
• Breaking Up: "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” by Donna Summer
• Prom: "Brace Me Up” by Lex De Azevedo
• Life: "You Are My Home” By Linda Eder & Peabo Bryson (Scarlet Pimpernel Soundtrack)
• Mental Breakdown: "I’m Not Dead” by Pink
• Driving: "Baby, I’m A Want You” by Bread
• Flashback: "That’s What It’s Made For” by Usher
• Getting Back Together: " Giving It Up For Your Love” by Delbert McClinton
• Wedding: "Diamond Dogs” by Beck
• Birth Of Child: "Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Lick The Tins
• Final Battle: "NYC” by Interpol
• Death Scene: "Carol of the Bells/What Child Is This’ by Yolanda Adams
• Funeral Song: "Even The Losers” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
• End Credits: "California Dreamin” by the Mamas & The Papas

As with all movies the Original is better then the sequel. Lol!

I am off to play for the weekend. See y'all in a couple of days.

BTT #13

Suggested by Miko

Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live?
Or where you certainly would NOT want to live?
What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?

(This came to me when reviewing a Jonathan Carroll book - I’m not sure I’d like to live in the worlds of his books.)


I like my world just fine.......I am pretty happy with it. I must admit I wouldn't mind a few of the gadgets from Roarke and Eve's world (thanks J.D. Robb....).

Now I am going to go back to my hole and pretend like I feel okay.......
I am thinking of writing my memoirs:

My struggle for Emancipation From My Uterus

(Steph you are like totally brills!)

It seems to be that way for a lot of people today......

Don't take it personal!

The Dawn Broke...Lol!

And I hadn't seen the inside of my eyelids.....Lol! It has been quite the weekend so a Quick recap:

Monday through Thursday:

• I lived on 4 hours of sleep or less a night.
• We finalized all of the information for the NY breaking Dawn Trip with my fabulous Twilight Moms

Friday:

• After an hour of sleep I headed up to NY with Tara and Tink.
  
• Then we hit the Twilight Live Panel (what joy and fun)
  
• A shout out to big sister Tiana who managed to score one of the TwilightMom's Fundraiser baskets!
• On Line at the Nokia Theater for just over 3 hours..it was hot and I was tired
• I helped the TM's admin by "making the drop" (Thanks Tara) (I had to handle the transaction for 2 extra tickets to the signing. They sold for over $300(!!!) and funds went towards the TwilightMom's Forum. Wahoo!!
• The signing itself....AWESOME.
  
• Fabulous Q and A.
  
• Great pics taken.....I hope I get copies
• Furfenfeld was really great. I haven't always been a fan but when it was just the man and his guitar it was really good stuff. I might have to snag an album just to see if I like it....
• The lines for the signing was insane...I'm talking people almost passing out, getting shoved up against railings, crazy concert type stuff....
• Stephanie was really nice as always.
• Midnight Release..........great except they ran out of Jacob tattoos!!
• Real NY Pizza at 1 in the morning
• Thanks for the craving Lisa!! I was glad I got to try it. Did you ever get your bagel?
• Back to the Hotel where we read until we passed out...after being up for 24 hours straight!
  

Saturday:

• Breakfast.........you know people were looking at us funny when we talked about putting the naked cowboy in the basement in a jar!
• Checkout and Good Byes. :( :(
• WICKED at the Gershwin!!
• A friend got me a seat in the booth. I had never seen a Broadway show so I was ecstatic....If only I hadn't been falling over dead tired. Lol!
• This also included a tour of the theater back stage...AWESOME!
• Train ride home where I alternated between reading and phone calls full of exclamation points.
• Home with Gina to talk for a bit before I crashed for about 5 hours!!

Sunday:

• Among other things I finished Breaking Dawn. :)
  

Now about the book. I don't really review books on my blog. Mostly because I will read just about anything. As long as I can live in my imagination I can usually enjoy the book.

I have read post after post of those that either like or hate this book. I think it all comes down to expectations. Many people already believed they knew what would happen with this book. They had their own ending already pre-written in their head. I think this set them up for disappointment when the story was different then they expected.

I, on the other hand, had very few expectations. Everyone knew Bella and Edward would marry,.Other then that my only requirement was that Jacob was happy. This book met both expectations and then surpassed them in ways that I had never imagined. Lol! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

In the last few weeks, I have had to explain my interest in these books to several people and I have taken to saying this:

Stephanie Meyer might not have the best technical/grammatical writing abilities. But what she lacks in technique she more then makes up for imagination.Not everyone agrees with me. That is okay; it's the way the world works. I don't have to change my mind, and they don't have to change theirs. Lol!