Cereals

The Amazwi Villager

Cereals — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:35:07 GMT

A lovely chat with Bongekile from the Amazwi Villager in Acorhoek, South Africa.

Check out the Amazwi Villager's PNN Page

Obsessions

Cereals — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:47:48 GMT

This is getting ridiculous.

Remember how I mentioned the other day that I was “fully enthralled” with this new book, Twilight, that I was reading? That’s the biggest literary understatement I have ever uttered. I am so completely engrossed in this book that I am beginning to think I am a vampire myself.

Last night, I curled up in a lounge chair on the back porch with a large bulb of red wine, and my beloved book. I read for hours: through sunset, and twilight, and sucked my red wine down as Edward tried desperately not to suck Bella’s “red wine” out of her neck. But my senses aren’t as great as dear Edward’s would be. The pizza guy had to bang on the door a few times, and Edward would have heard/smelled/sensed him three blocks away.

So maybe I am not really a vampire. Maybe I am just obsessively in love with one (AKA, our heroine Bella). I am having difficulty concentrating when I am doing anything that is not reading Twilight (being with Edward). I want to read (be with Edward) all the time. I worry that I will get to the bookstore and the next book in the series will be sold out (Edward will not come back from his hunting trip like he promised he would).

I think my intense emergence into this story is a sign of good writing. There are probably several literary critics out there whose heads just exploded as I wrote that; words like genre writing, young adult fiction, co-dependent teenage relationship are running through their minds. And I kind of hear them, to a certain extent. I don’t know if Meyer’s writing qualifies as great writing in the grand literary sense, but I think that there is something to be said for creating characters that are so compelling and stories that are so… encapsulating.

Is there a literary term for the experience I just described?

The fourth and final book in the Twilight series comes out tomorrow (Breaking Dawn). I start reading the second book (New Moon) tonight.

I expect I’ll have finished Breaking Dawn by the time I see you all again on Monday.

Getting Through it

Cereals — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:34:30 GMT

Sometimes things happen that you don't want to happen, and you have to deal with it.

Perky opening sentence, eh? : )

Right now my family is dealing with some issues that we wish didn't exist. Namely, my great Aunt has been diagnosed with Lukemia, and she doesn't have much more time here on earth.

Talking with friends and family always helps get through these times. But sometimes you have said all the words you have in you, you have expressed every thought and emotion you have, and you still don't feel better. Time will heal the hurt, but that can take some, well, time. So while I wait, I focus on little things in my life; things that I can look forward to or bury my thoughts in.

Here are some little bursts of happiness in my life right now

Coffee is my ultimate comfort food.

Cheddar bunnies are a yummy, addictive little snack to nosh on. Highly reccomended!

When I saw that the book Twilight was going to be made into a movie, I knew it was time to read it. i am a few chapters in, and fully enthralled.

The black hat I am knitting. No photo yet, but I am using a deliciously soft yarn, and a very easy but beautiful pattern I designed. I love working on this hat!

The thought of The Arrivals Gate at Heathrow Airport.

What gets you through tough times?

Blogging Her

Cereals — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:39:41 GMT

As I get ready for BlogHer 08 tomorrow, I would like to share some thoughts that have brewing around in my head regarding female figures that have guided my life.

When I was in High School, I used to think that I would have done ok in the pre-womens rights era, or what my little high school brain thought of as "the fifties." I liked doing domestic things, I thought raising kids seemed like an agreeable lifestyle, and I liked retro clothes.

The other day I was driving in my car singing along with Regina Spektor, "Hey remember that time when we found the human tooth, down on Delancy," and I realized that in no way would I have ever survived the fifties, despite what fantasies of red lipstick and aprons I may have had when I was in High School. I am much less conventional than I thought!

And for that, there are a few women I would like to thank. Some are fictional, some are "real," and some were even around in the "fifties," and I don't know any of them on a personal basis, but, at various points in my life, all of them have given me permission to be exactly who I am today. A mix of conventional, unconventional, good, naughty, sassy, sweet... I am comfortable in who I am and who I want to be.

Ramona Quimby

She worried all the time, like me. When most other kids in books I read were depicted as carefree, I felt comforted knowing that there was another kid who was worrying out there.

Adventures in Babysitting: Chris Parker

Ok, so it was irresponsible to take a group of kids into the city at night in order to rescue her best friend from the terrifying big city bus station. But Chris is totally in charge through out the entire movie. Would a weak character tell this to a gang?

Anne of Green Gables

She taught me that you don't have to think about boys all the time in order to end up with the love of your life. She pursued her educational and professional dreams, took care of Marilla and Matthew, built great friendships, calmed her temper... and he was still there when she was ready.

Regina Spektor...

...Kate Nash...

...and Lilly Allen.

For writing sassy, quirky lyrics.

Bridget Jones

She's a complete nutcase, but she's our heroine and we love her, "Just the way she is."

Elsiecake

(photo by elsie)

For inspiring me to have strength, conviction, and delight in my own creative abilities.

Again, these are just a few. There are billions more that will come to mind over time, but you gotta start somewhere!

Guess Where I Am going On Sunday?

Cereals — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:11:05 GMT

Yeehaw!

I am looking forward to meeting all kinds of cool crafty people, finding some yummy inspiration, promoting our Craft Contest and, well...

shopping.

Anyone wanna come with?

Our "How To" Craft Contest

Cereals — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:41:24 GMT

Do you like to craft? Do you like to tell people what to do? Do you want to become famous for your fantabulous crafting skills?

Then check out our "How To" Craft Contest.

I am super excited about it!

I've always wanted to go to Hogwarts...

Cereals — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:54:10 GMT

So, we got a new widget at PNN today. I encourage you all to try it out if you have a webcam/microphone. It's called ustream, and it allows you to record live videos of yourself that can go straight to your PNN Page. Alternatively, you can record a video and place it on your page. ((its under the widgets tab in your tool box)

My first video is very sophisticated. I wave "hello" to you for three seconds. Then, the video loops, and you see me waving again for another three seconds. This goes on and on until you get sick of me, and click to go elsewhere on PNN.

Meanwhile, I will still be sitting there, waving merrily at anyone who passes by, much like a portrait hung in the grand hall of Hogwarts.

Stay tuned for more sophisticated (?) videos

Confusion At Work

Cereals — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:33:55 GMT

Bougereau, "The Knitting Girl" (1869)

I confess: I know absolutely nothing about "code." (AKA, CSS, HTML, or any other type of code that is absolutely essential to build and run a website or social media network like PNN).

I am actually the only person in the office who doesn't have a clue about this kind of stuff. So when they all start gabbing about "code" for an extended period of time, I threaten to start reciting knitting patterns.

Knit two, purl three, yarn over, knit one, knit two together...

It all sounds so horribly confusing, and I feel smart again. : )

Breaking News

Cereals — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:27:46 GMT

Exciting things happening in PNN-Land.

Coffee-holic Cheers Up

Cereals — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:45:45 GMT

...well, at least it gives the day a chance!

Did you know that I am the only person who drinks coffee at work here at the PNN office? I suspect others have a quick cup in the morning before coming to work, but none have the addiction quite like me.

I keep telling Lauren the next person we hire at PNN must be a coffee-holic like me. : )

What Wildfires and Orcs Have in Common

Cereals — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:02:51 GMT

Normally you can see the tops of the hills quite clearly

Last night I noticed that there was a red sun setting in the sky. I told myself the little adage "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning," thought about when my grandma taught me that phrase, and went on my cheery little way.

This morning, I noticed that there were considerably fewer cars on the road to work. I wondered if we were having a three-day-weekend that I forgot about, then got distracted before I could realized that it was Tuesday, and no three-day-weekend exceptions to traffic rules would apply.

At lunch, I went to my favorite gourmet grocery store. Normally I have to wait in line for at least five minutes. Today, three tills had no lines at all. I briefly sympathized with Tom Cruise in Vanilla Sky, then went back to work.

Just now, I stepped out side for a breathe of fresh air. Well, I thought I was stepping out for fresh air, but I ended up stepping out of my own little bubble of self-absobtion.

I think it was the strong smell of burning wood that woke me up the most. I don't have the greatest sense of smell, so I know that it must be strong when I can smell it. Then I noticed that I couldn't see the tops of the Sonoma Hills. Normally, they are crystal clear.

But it was only when I heard the faint wail of a fire truck for a few straight minutes that I began to wonder if I should go back inside and check the news for evacuation alerts.

I checked, and we are fine so far. But even as I write this, I think of the poor dwarves who were raided out of the Mines of Moria by those dumb-ass orcs. And Gandalf reading the last scribblings the dwarves wrote as the last bit of their kingdom was invaded.

"They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes, drums... drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow lurks in the dark. We can not get out... they are coming."

Are my scribblings here like theirs?

Ok, so I am being a bit dramatic about our situation right now. But the situation itself is quite dramatic. The number of wildfires in Northern California has risen from 520 on Sunday evening to 842 today (Tuesday afternoon). These fires are just a stones throw away from us.

I just hope that everyone (including us!) remains safe while the fires are brought under control.

PNN News

Cereals — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:48:03 GMT

I just found this cool article about out very own Isobella Jade. Check it out!

And look forward to our interview with Isobella Jade, coming next week.

: )

Cereals — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:53:49 GMT

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