I had an interesting conversation last week at (where else?) a bar, with a 30 year old man who was not afraid to share with me his thoughts on women in their early twenties. Apparently, we just don't know what we want. And much to his surprise, I was in total agreement.
I think he expected a firm rebuttal in defense of myself and my clueless compatriots, but instead received a smile and an enthusiastic nod. Considering it took me several minutes to decide which micro-brewed beer to order on $1.50 beer night at the Blue Moose, I was in no position to assert myself as a confident and decisive woman. Hell, I change hair color every other month, I could practically be the poster girl for his campaign.
Now, this isn't to say that I'm apathetic. No, there is a fine distinction between being clueless about what you want, and not caring about what you get. When else in your life do you face an infinite number of open doors and possibilities, and still maintain a level of comfort knowing that there is always time to try something else? In accordance with the "Live every day like it's your last" philosophy, I say go with your gut and enjoy every second of it. Even if you make the "wrong" choice, whether it be a job, a relationship, or something trivial like what to put on your Chipotle burrito, at least you chose.
I am 22 and clueless as to what I want in life. One day I might want a career, to be halfway across the country, to be single and unrestrained, and to live for myself. Other days I'm content in my parents' house, and I crave the companionship of Mr. Right, sometimes spending hours daydreaming about that week's flavor. The ping pong game inside my head can be maddening, but it's okay. I don't need to know right now. As long as I go for what makes me happy, (and do my best to avoid choices with potentially devastating consequences), I'll get where I need to be, one day.
A sequel to this post will be added at a later date, concerning the outrageous trend of 22 year old women committing themselves to engagements, marriages, and even children- and my philosophy that the current economy is to blame.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Would you buy this book?
Here are a few samples of novel summaries that I've written for works about to be published. Not sure yet if these will appear on the books themselves, but they will be used on sites like Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com as the product descriptions for these works. Would you buy any of these?
Selected Poems
By Thomas Hardy
In the sphere of poets like Swift, Meredith and Kipling, Thomas Hardy is today becoming recognized as one of the greatest English poets of the 20th century. As a young man with interests in journalism, art, and architecture, Hardy achieved greatness in the fiction genre early on, writing novels for a living until his mid-fifties. He then abandoned fiction entirely in order to devote himself to his true passion- poetry. This ample selection of poems demonstrates Hardy's experimentation with intricate stanza forms and rhyme schemes, as well as his genius for rhetorical ambiguity. Set in his native, rural Dorset, his Selected Poems include such well-known pieces as "During Wind and Rain," "Afterwards," "The Darkling Thrush," and "The Oxen." Although most of the acclaim for his poetry was received posthumously, Hardy's poetry evokes themes and ideas that transcend time. Readers today still enjoy these poems of love, nature, and life's little ironies.
Chronicles of the Crusades
By Jean de Joinville, Geffroy de Villehardouin
The individual narratives brought together here reveal insight into the two hundred year struggle for possession of Jerusalem, in the words of two soldiers who participated first-hand in the bloody campaigns. Geffroy de Villehardouin (1150-1212?) was an appointed marshal of Champagne, France, whose Conquest of Constantinople recounts the controversial Fourth Crusade of 1204, against Eastern Christians in the Latin empire of Constantinople. Jean de Joinville (1224-1317) inherited the office of seneschal of Champagne at a young age, and wrote Life of Saint Louis after having accompanied King Louis IX on his first crusade and later living as a friend in his court. These accounts, originally composed in Old French, are considered to be some of the most accurate portrayals of the Crusades, and give fascinating insight into the religious and political fervor that sparked centuries of brutal battles and the struggle for holy conquest.
Otto of the Silver Hand
By Howard Pyle
Written in the style of traditional Arthurian legends, Otto of the Silver Hand is a scathing tale of the realities behind the chivalric ideal. During the course of his studies of medieval society, in preparation to write a magnificent series on King Arthur's Court, Howard Pyle shockingly discovered a mentality of cruelty and vengefulness among the legendary knights, which he brings to light in this work. However, these criticisms cannot overshadow the high sense of adventure in the story and illustrations of Otto, the gentle-natured son of a German warlord who, reclaimed from a monastery at age 12, suffers under the hands of a vengeful family rival, Baron Henry. While being held prisoner he falls in love with Baron Henry's daughter, Pauline, until he's rescued by his father and escapes his captor's grasp. The chase ensues in this epic tale of a young man overcoming hatred and strife with goodness and love.
I've written 22 of these summaries, I'll post them periodically among my personal writings!
Selected Poems
By Thomas Hardy
In the sphere of poets like Swift, Meredith and Kipling, Thomas Hardy is today becoming recognized as one of the greatest English poets of the 20th century. As a young man with interests in journalism, art, and architecture, Hardy achieved greatness in the fiction genre early on, writing novels for a living until his mid-fifties. He then abandoned fiction entirely in order to devote himself to his true passion- poetry. This ample selection of poems demonstrates Hardy's experimentation with intricate stanza forms and rhyme schemes, as well as his genius for rhetorical ambiguity. Set in his native, rural Dorset, his Selected Poems include such well-known pieces as "During Wind and Rain," "Afterwards," "The Darkling Thrush," and "The Oxen." Although most of the acclaim for his poetry was received posthumously, Hardy's poetry evokes themes and ideas that transcend time. Readers today still enjoy these poems of love, nature, and life's little ironies.
Chronicles of the Crusades
By Jean de Joinville, Geffroy de Villehardouin
The individual narratives brought together here reveal insight into the two hundred year struggle for possession of Jerusalem, in the words of two soldiers who participated first-hand in the bloody campaigns. Geffroy de Villehardouin (1150-1212?) was an appointed marshal of Champagne, France, whose Conquest of Constantinople recounts the controversial Fourth Crusade of 1204, against Eastern Christians in the Latin empire of Constantinople. Jean de Joinville (1224-1317) inherited the office of seneschal of Champagne at a young age, and wrote Life of Saint Louis after having accompanied King Louis IX on his first crusade and later living as a friend in his court. These accounts, originally composed in Old French, are considered to be some of the most accurate portrayals of the Crusades, and give fascinating insight into the religious and political fervor that sparked centuries of brutal battles and the struggle for holy conquest.
Otto of the Silver Hand
By Howard Pyle
Written in the style of traditional Arthurian legends, Otto of the Silver Hand is a scathing tale of the realities behind the chivalric ideal. During the course of his studies of medieval society, in preparation to write a magnificent series on King Arthur's Court, Howard Pyle shockingly discovered a mentality of cruelty and vengefulness among the legendary knights, which he brings to light in this work. However, these criticisms cannot overshadow the high sense of adventure in the story and illustrations of Otto, the gentle-natured son of a German warlord who, reclaimed from a monastery at age 12, suffers under the hands of a vengeful family rival, Baron Henry. While being held prisoner he falls in love with Baron Henry's daughter, Pauline, until he's rescued by his father and escapes his captor's grasp. The chase ensues in this epic tale of a young man overcoming hatred and strife with goodness and love.
I've written 22 of these summaries, I'll post them periodically among my personal writings!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Epic Fail
For some reason I've come to believe that I was born the quintessential Susie-Homemaker, who can cook everything from scrambled eggs to filet mignon to creme brulee, fix almost anything in the house, and sew as well as a professional seamstress. As it turns out, I was sadly mistaken. Well, on one out of three counts...
I can't sew. I mean, I can sew, I have made a few pretty baller aprons, and hemmed countless pairs of pants, but that's about the extent of it. A few minutes ago I dumped a pile of red cotton, jersey-knit fabric into the trash because I failed at turning it into a simple dress. As it turns out, there is actually a kind of geometry and logic that goes into pattern-making that I just don't have. I spent well over 10 hours on this project- sewing, ripping, re-sewing, measuring once, cutting twice, and poking myself in the fingers with pins I don't know how many times, and ultimately failed.
In the hopes that I just chose a ridiculous fabric to attempt my first pattern with, I purchased some $10/yard blue and green floral silk for my next project: a top and skirt. As if silk is the obvious next choice for an easy fabric to work with... Oh lord, what have I gotten myself into?
Stay tuned for further updates on the Susie-Homemaker home front.
On an entirely separate note, I'm returning to the job hunt in hopes that I can find 40 hr/week employment at a company that doesn't make me want to stab pencils in my ears. (That is about my only criterion as of now). As much as I enjoy sitting at a computer listening to Pandora 25 hours a week, reading and formatting incredibly interesting literature, I am nearing the end of my threshold for living with the 'rents. I'm ready to leave the nest, yes, and hopefully not fall tragically to the cold, snowy ground. Unfortunately, my $9 an hour job won't permit me to do that just yet, and a second job isn't in the cards with my 12-5, Mon-Fri schedule. It really is the most inconvenient work schedule you could ask for, albeit I don't mind sleeping in every day...
So, in addition to the aforementioned updates, stay tuned for news on the job hunt front as well!
I can't sew. I mean, I can sew, I have made a few pretty baller aprons, and hemmed countless pairs of pants, but that's about the extent of it. A few minutes ago I dumped a pile of red cotton, jersey-knit fabric into the trash because I failed at turning it into a simple dress. As it turns out, there is actually a kind of geometry and logic that goes into pattern-making that I just don't have. I spent well over 10 hours on this project- sewing, ripping, re-sewing, measuring once, cutting twice, and poking myself in the fingers with pins I don't know how many times, and ultimately failed.
In the hopes that I just chose a ridiculous fabric to attempt my first pattern with, I purchased some $10/yard blue and green floral silk for my next project: a top and skirt. As if silk is the obvious next choice for an easy fabric to work with... Oh lord, what have I gotten myself into?
Stay tuned for further updates on the Susie-Homemaker home front.
On an entirely separate note, I'm returning to the job hunt in hopes that I can find 40 hr/week employment at a company that doesn't make me want to stab pencils in my ears. (That is about my only criterion as of now). As much as I enjoy sitting at a computer listening to Pandora 25 hours a week, reading and formatting incredibly interesting literature, I am nearing the end of my threshold for living with the 'rents. I'm ready to leave the nest, yes, and hopefully not fall tragically to the cold, snowy ground. Unfortunately, my $9 an hour job won't permit me to do that just yet, and a second job isn't in the cards with my 12-5, Mon-Fri schedule. It really is the most inconvenient work schedule you could ask for, albeit I don't mind sleeping in every day...
So, in addition to the aforementioned updates, stay tuned for news on the job hunt front as well!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Who are the hunters?
I think I've been boy-crazy my entire life. And by think, I mean know, and have been told on more than one occasion. And as I've delved deeper into the world of adult dating, I've realized that this is a pretty dangerous trait to possess. The days of playing "hard-to-get" by leaving notes in each other's lockers are long past, and there are suddenly new, very serious, rules to follow in order to enter into a real relationship in your 20s. And on that subject I only have one thing to say-
F&#% that.
The anxiety that takes over a person within the first few weeks of dating is unnecessary, ridiculous, stressful and... completely exhilarating. I write this in hopes that I'm not alone, and that there are plenty of people out there who share this love/hate relationship with relationships. And for those of us brave enough to jump headfirst into what I still affectionately call a 'crush,' I'd like to address a few things. For centuries it was the man's job to make the first move, court the girl, and initiate the direction of the initial attraction. Then, I think sometime in the past few decades that rule became obsolete, and men were ostracized for these kinds of ideas. Hell, we're living in a generation where 40 and 50 something women are pursuing men, particularly the young, verile ones, in a manner that has earned them the name "cougars." But the trend is now taking a 180 back to the days of chivalry and tradition, and I find myself caught in the transition. So my first question is, who are the hunters?
Having asked many friends over the years for advice on "making the move," I think I've established that there are two types of men. The Hunters, and the Prey. Many of you are probably thinking that this completely applies to girls too, which it does! But for all intents and purposes right now, I'm going to stick with the guys. Plus, I'd rather not criticize my own sex, someone's got to stick up for us, right? But back to the point- There are Hunters and Prey, and no in-betweens. There are the guys that hunt down their target, stealthily move in, and thrive on the excitement of the chase. These are the expert game-players. The ones with rules about when to call, text, and meet. These are the ones that drive women crazy, know that they're doing it, and usually don't care about the casualties along the way. For them, there's always a new catch on the horizon...
Then there are the Prey, who absolutely love when a pretty, confident girl approaches them. They want the girl to make the moves, show her interest, and take things to the next level. Although I completely understand where they're coming from, these guys are treading dangerous ground if they don't step up and make a few moves themselves. No one should let themselves get completely comfortable with being the Prey, and accepting the fact that they can't face rejection if they don't put themselves out there. And there's just something about a guy that has a pair. The guy that can take his chances, risk rejection, and just go for it. But how do you tell the Hunter from the Prey anymore?
I typically go into each situation assuming the old "He's Just Not That Into You" mentality of: if he wants you, he will call you/see you/make it happen. But that's not always the case! Playing hard to get, which used to be the secret weapon of women in keeping men at the edge of their seats, has now been adopted by the Hunter to draw women out into the open. So when he's not calling you/seeing you/making it happen, he could be putting you right where he wants you. But then again, maybe he's the shy Prey, waiting for you to pounce on him! It's too confusing to try to guess, but I still find myself excited at the game.
So here's my idea: when you like someone, or even just think you might like someone, make it happen. There really isn't much to lose. I know the fear of coming on too strong keeps some people from calling or texting as often as they want to, but really, don't most people nowadays tell you if you're coming on too strong? Wouldn't you be able to tell if you're irritating someone that isn't actually interested back in you? So just go for it. And although I hate the "rules" and games and identity crises involved in dating, since everyone participates in them anyway, I hope some people still get as strangely excited about it as I do.
F&#% that.
The anxiety that takes over a person within the first few weeks of dating is unnecessary, ridiculous, stressful and... completely exhilarating. I write this in hopes that I'm not alone, and that there are plenty of people out there who share this love/hate relationship with relationships. And for those of us brave enough to jump headfirst into what I still affectionately call a 'crush,' I'd like to address a few things. For centuries it was the man's job to make the first move, court the girl, and initiate the direction of the initial attraction. Then, I think sometime in the past few decades that rule became obsolete, and men were ostracized for these kinds of ideas. Hell, we're living in a generation where 40 and 50 something women are pursuing men, particularly the young, verile ones, in a manner that has earned them the name "cougars." But the trend is now taking a 180 back to the days of chivalry and tradition, and I find myself caught in the transition. So my first question is, who are the hunters?
Having asked many friends over the years for advice on "making the move," I think I've established that there are two types of men. The Hunters, and the Prey. Many of you are probably thinking that this completely applies to girls too, which it does! But for all intents and purposes right now, I'm going to stick with the guys. Plus, I'd rather not criticize my own sex, someone's got to stick up for us, right? But back to the point- There are Hunters and Prey, and no in-betweens. There are the guys that hunt down their target, stealthily move in, and thrive on the excitement of the chase. These are the expert game-players. The ones with rules about when to call, text, and meet. These are the ones that drive women crazy, know that they're doing it, and usually don't care about the casualties along the way. For them, there's always a new catch on the horizon...
Then there are the Prey, who absolutely love when a pretty, confident girl approaches them. They want the girl to make the moves, show her interest, and take things to the next level. Although I completely understand where they're coming from, these guys are treading dangerous ground if they don't step up and make a few moves themselves. No one should let themselves get completely comfortable with being the Prey, and accepting the fact that they can't face rejection if they don't put themselves out there. And there's just something about a guy that has a pair. The guy that can take his chances, risk rejection, and just go for it. But how do you tell the Hunter from the Prey anymore?
I typically go into each situation assuming the old "He's Just Not That Into You" mentality of: if he wants you, he will call you/see you/make it happen. But that's not always the case! Playing hard to get, which used to be the secret weapon of women in keeping men at the edge of their seats, has now been adopted by the Hunter to draw women out into the open. So when he's not calling you/seeing you/making it happen, he could be putting you right where he wants you. But then again, maybe he's the shy Prey, waiting for you to pounce on him! It's too confusing to try to guess, but I still find myself excited at the game.
So here's my idea: when you like someone, or even just think you might like someone, make it happen. There really isn't much to lose. I know the fear of coming on too strong keeps some people from calling or texting as often as they want to, but really, don't most people nowadays tell you if you're coming on too strong? Wouldn't you be able to tell if you're irritating someone that isn't actually interested back in you? So just go for it. And although I hate the "rules" and games and identity crises involved in dating, since everyone participates in them anyway, I hope some people still get as strangely excited about it as I do.
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