FICTION OF THE NINJA KIND

A Girl You Should Date

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.
Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.
Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

– Rosemarie Urquico –

I am escaping this crazy rat race for a week. I've had two totally demoralizing experiences at week this week and I need a break so badly I can taste it. So it's a good thing I have a scheduled vacation. Chris and I are going camping from Big Sur to Del Norte Redwoods and back. We're leaving the dogs at home! Vacation from the kids too.

Speaking of the kids any of you readers in CA know someone who wants a lab mix puppy? She's super cute, house broken and will sit on command. She'll also stay to some extent. She's very lovable. However, she was never supposed to be our dog, and three dogs is one too many for me to deal with. So she's free for a small negotiable re-homing fee. The fee is only because every rescue site I've ready said people take better care of things they pay for vs. you give them. We'll also take her back if things don't work out. I just want her to go to a good home. Until we find one she's staying with us. So no worries we won't send her to the pound.

Texas with my family was wonderful. I really love the area that they live in. It was too hot though so I got irritable. Also I think Chris's lack of availability is a sore spot for them that he never calls or comes to visit. But! Their new house is wonderful, and the pool is fantastic. I came back half a shade darker than normal. No one noticed. I sometimes wished I tanned.

One more graduate class down, three more to go. I start another one tomorrow. I can do this, I will finish this degree. Then who knows what happens. Maybe we blow this central California Popsicle stand. A girl can dream right?

Dear Everyone,

I did not think it was possible to love my iPhone more than I already did, until today. Today when I used it to buy coffee at Starbucks. They scanned my phone. Now where me and my phone are there can also be coffee. Perfect.

I know it's such a minor thing, but it made me happy.

Tomorrow is Friday, and than it is the weekend. Next weekend I'll be in Texas. I can't believe I'm excited about that.

I am sitting here with my coffee gearing up to take the dog for a walk and then do some holiday shopping. I really would like to do Christmas cards today for those that requested them. I also need to clean my yard and the house. However, that's okay. Today I can do all the things. I'm contemplating buying a mop as well. I have swifter mop which I love, but I feel like it's not getting the floor clean and with the dogs my kitchen floor looks disgusting.

The holidays are coming, and I'm kinda feeling it. I have my holiday plans set to go, which reminds me I need to call my mother-in-law and ask her about the craziness I'm planning on taking part in.

My parents claim to have found the house of their dreams in Texas so they put in an offer. I wish them the best of luck with that, but am really hoping that I won't have to spend my visit with them helping them move. I am however, very much looking forward to seeing them.

The snowmagedon in the midwest looks interesting. Glad I missed it. It's been a very mild winter even by California standards, so I don't even think there's that much snow up on the mountains.

Had an interesting date night with Chris last night. We went out to BJ's and then went and saw Unstoppable in Modesto. It was nice to just spend time with him.

Zenyatta has a blog. You guys it is so awesome. I mean she's a little more cutesy in it then I would think, but it's so great that even after she retired they're trying to give her fans access to her. They have videos posted on facebook of her transition and respond to fan questions. For the horse racing industry it's really one of the most amazing things. While yes, I am sad that she's gone from racing, I'm glad I get to see her life at Lane's End. I hope we get to see her cute little foals too someday.

It's so crazy. I feel like I have no time anymore. I have breakdowns on a semi-regular basis which make me feel stupid and stress me out more. Anyway, all that aside I'm still alive and aside from being insanely busy am relatively happy.

Some people might wonder what a ninj day looks like so to illustrate have my schedule. I'm actually doing this for school purposes as I have to experiment with changing my schedule and routine for my next class.

5:30 AM Pry self from bed.
5:40-6:20 AM Let dogs out, bring them in and feed them. Put them back out because I am not a morning person and I do not want to deal with their happiness. Eat yogurt cup try to read a little. Get dressed
6:20-7:30 stop for Starbucks drive one hour to work. Witness frequent car accidents.
7:30-5:00PM Work-enough said
5:00-6:30 drive home. This should only take an hour, but due to traffic the drive home takes longer
6:30 get home change. Feed dogs.
6:45-7:30/8:00 Take River to dog park. Must do this as regularly as possible for both our sakes. this got moved up due to lack of daylight
8:00 onward-try to do homework/spend time with husband (Mondays and Tuesdays) or do anything relaxing until 10:30 which is bedtime for optimum functioning.

Starting this week I will be working OT on my Fridays and Saturdays off. Woot. Well, Saturdays I'm not in school anyway.

Finished my third graduate class. Only 11 more to go. Yikes. Most of the class for some reason Business Law was their last class. They were thrilled. I have a year left to go.

Work is busy-but good.

Dogs have eaten sprinkler control valves twice.They are costing me money and stress hand over fist. I asked Chris if we could get rid of one and got yelled at.

My earliest vacation date is New Years when I will be going to visit my parents at their new home in TX.

I miss Wisconsin.

Hello again internet! I've missed you. Actually, I've had internet for a week but I got caught up in stuff.

Like finishing my first graduate class. Hells yes! Good times, I'm telling you. I like it a lot, and I really hope it continues going well.

The Triple Crown is over. And I didn't talk about it much. Three races, three different horses. I don't know what to say. It's okay though, Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandria race next weekend. So there is more horse racing to come.

Work is going well. Because I'm a greedy selfish bitch I applied for another promotion. And the guilt is eating me up inside. This week at work is going to be terrifying,I have to give a presentation in front of my boss, my co-workers boss, and the senior manager of our division. Oh, and the co-workers whose work I now evaluate. This presentation? I have to do it three times at three separate offices. First thing in the morning.

I'll be back with more updates soon.

I think I want a Zenyatta Icon. Or Castiel.

Soooo....wow, this is an interesting Derby field. There a full 20 horses, and only three of them are at single digit odds. Lookin at Lucky, Super Saver, and Sidney's Candy. Plus the favorite Lookin at Lucky has the longest odds since 2002. On the other hand the longest odds on the board at 36-1 or something. This is very rare for a Derby. What the commentators are saying is that it's because of Mine That Bird and now this years bettors are spreading money are around. The filly is staying at 10-1 ish.

The track itself is just slop. They thought it might dry out, but I don't think it's going to since it was just raining. I think it's going to be an interesting race. They have just started the walk over so I'm really excited. I do love race day a lot. I can't wait to see this race. It's a shame about the mud though because the horses will get all dirty and you'll miss the gloss on their coats. Devil May Care is really a striking filly. I don't think she has much of a chance though. Come to find out she throws temper tantrums and likes to race from side to side. Straight line, much more effective.

As for the hat draw...I'm without a newspaper this year. It's tragic. I don't know the breeding on any of these horses. I just feel unprepared from a breeding standpoint. However, I found the info I needed to do the draw below. The hat would be making you money if these horses can in.

I think the slop does ruin Sidney's Candy's changes. Sad. And with what I know about Devil May Care I am just concerned. I think my top three picks of yesterday are unlikely.

Per the hat...
1. Awesome Act 2. Stately Victor 3. Devil May Care 4. Jackson Bend 5. Line of David 6. Backtalk
7. Sidney's Candy 8. Lookin at Lucky 9. Make Music for Me 10. Icebox 11. Homeboy Chris 12. Discretely Mine 13. Conveyance 14. American Lion 15. Mission Impazible 16. Paddy O'Prado
17. Noble's Promise 18. Dublin 19. Deans Kitten 20. Super Saver

For the record I'm still going with Lookin at Lucky.

This post brought to you by a thirst for continued education and the education benefits of the Fresno Housing Authority. I have decided to go back to school and get my Master's. If all goes well, I will start on April 24, 2010. I will be getting a Masters in Business Administration and I am THRILLED. Because it will mostly be free to me. Which is how I hear grad school should go. Anyway, I've worked out most of the funding, I just have to find time to go and talk to a bank about getting a new debit card and such and some checks-so that I can manage my school account.

Anyway, more updates to come as I work out all the little details. But I'm going back to school!!!

This week has been a good one, for I have been gifted with lots of wonderful things. Okay, most of these wonderful things are horse related things, and the stuff that happened today was not so good, but still read below.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA is Horse Of The Year. A GIRL HORSE. Take that all you stupid male horse fans. This year was dominated by the filly Rachel Alexandra and the mare Zenyatta. I actually, had a moment where I was disappointed because it wasn't Zenyatta. Then I had to pinch myself over and over because while there still hasn't been a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime I also never thought there would be a year when I could say that the two top contenders for HotY would be female. Zenyatta was named best older female horse and Summer Bird was best three year old male.

So, that was pretty sweet in and of itself, BUT THEN IT GOT BETTER. As you know, I recently went to Santa Anita to see the great and undefeated Zenyatta in a farewell parade. Where she obligingly showed off for the fans while on low dose tranqs because she thinks going out onto the track is serious business and they didn't want her getting too excited. They frequently have to tranq her when taking her out because she wants to run. Not at all fitting for a mare who is supposed to go and get knocked up any day. Her owners, being the horse fans that they are, and her trainer being clearly in love with this mare UNRETIRED HER. That's right. Look out 2010 Zenyatta is coming at you!

Plus now both Zenyatta's people and Rachel's people WANT to see them run together. This is like a dream. No wait, when it actually happens then it will be a dream. It will be huge. It is a race I want to have happen so badly. Various tracks are already putting up huge amounts of money if they can lure them both to the track for the same race. Oh, how I hope this will happen.

Now, I apologize for all the random caps locks, but this is really a big thing for me as I've been a horse racing fan for years and I am sick and I mean sick of seeing females discounted. When they discuss a horses breeding it's immediate sire, damn and damn's sire. that's 2 males and 1 female for every horse. Clearly, breeding only comes from the Sire. I was at the Irish National Stud and they said it's just because the guys run more. harumph. I can tell you years from now when Zenyatta actually does retire I will want to know when one of her foals and heck even grandfoals steps out onto that track. So I am looking forward to this next year of horse racing.

In the disturbing news for Friday I was awoken this morning, but the sound of the willow trees outside my apartment being killed. The 2 big willow trees that screened our apartment from the building across from it and keep us cool in summer were brutally annihilated today. I want to charge my complex for the difference in my electric bill this summer as I will now have to air condition more. Those trees were a big part of why I liked this place so much as they offered some much need privacy. In slightly ironic news: today we got new upstairs neighbors who chose their unit out of all the empty units in our complex because of the nice privacy proving willow trees. I'm sure they're thrilled.

I also was forced to flee to Border's to avoid the sounds of the willow tree death going on outside my door. I read trashy romance novels as I am sometimes prone to doing (I will never buy them, and sometimes they make me laugh) and apparently if you read romance novels in a book store it leads to middle aged men hitting on you. And you have to be very blunt for me to get that you might be hitting on me. It made me profoundly uncomfortable. So since the guy would not take the hint and leave me to read my paranormal romance in peace I fled. To all single guys out there: do not try and hook up with girls reading in bookstores. DO NOT. I hate that I'm timid, aka raised well. Because while I really wanted to tell him to get the hell away from me, I went for coldly polite instead. Because I was raised to not be a bitch. But don't get me wrong readers, he was not inappropriate. I would not have stood for that, but if you know me I just don't do well around guys in general.

And I just realized I now have to go to Target and get shampoo for my husband. Because I forgot earlier. *sighs*

Also dear readers, rec me books. preferable paperback-but really I'll take anything.
Has anyone read the Dexter books? I love the show, and I read the opening chapter of the first one, but it was so much like the show...is it worth a purchase anyway?

ETA: I should read previous entries and get my timelines straight. I posted about Zenyatta before this. However, I'm not going to delete my glee, because Zenyatta coming back is that huge.

As we all know, I've had mixed feelings about Dollhouse over it's brief run. I do have to say though, that I consider the last episodes to be stunning. And I really do have to hand it to Joss that he is willing to paint such a grim picture. For characters I used to have such a hard time caring about I can say that I care about all of them now. And that the end is not pretty, it may end up being happy, but it sure won't be pretty. And I think there might be a lot more honesty in that then anyone is willing to admit. Life can be happy without being easy, and the world will go through dark and light times. Civilizations usually end...violently, and new ones build. Humans are architects of their own destruction, and redeemers of their own future.

Spoilers under the cut

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Next up: Dexter. I've made it through seasons 1 and 2 and enjoyed it a lot. Taking a break before season three.