Thursday, May 27, 2010

Revisting Gone With The Wind

So, last night I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sleep and thereore I was thinking. I kept thinking about Gone With The Wind. I must admit my posting on it wasn't the best, I couldn't verbalize what I wanted to say and I think a day off from the book really got me thinking. I had mentioned in my previous blog that I really wish I could write a paper on Ashley and Rhett but I don't need to. I've had them both in my lives.

Scarlett bothered me greatly. She annoyed me,especially concerning Ashley and Rhett. I will say that there were certain points in the story that I wanted her and Ashley to be together, even after we are introduced to Rhett. However, we all know that her and Ashley were never meant to be and Rhett really was the love of her life. I totally relate to Scarlett, as much as I hate to say, I do, just as I can imagine that a lot of people have/could/do.

I had my own Ashley, back when I was in highschool. I thought I loved this guy and for a good 3 years chased him around thinking that we were going to be together "officially". I let him use me, even though I know Scarlett never really had Ashley, and got tossed around. I cried, I missed opportunities with other people because I thought I loved this guy. Last night, thinking about it, I was in love with an idea of who I thought this guy was. I never really loved him, I loved who I imagined he could be. Alas, I never really understood it until now. That's what I love about books, it gives you a sense of escapism but makes you open your eyes about your own life.

As for Rhett, he is my boyfriend. Now, my boyfriend is not a drunk or a womanizer but like Rhett, he knows exactly what I am going to say, what I am going to do and possibly knows me better than I know myself. Although I try to prove him wrong, he is usually right and he is perfect for me. I couldn't ask for a better man who takes care of his woman and loves her unconditionally.

Thank you Gone With The Wind for finally letting me shed some light on a prior relationship that went kaput, one that never was or will be. And thank you for making me appreciate my man even more.

And now I am struggling through E.M. Forester's A Passage to India. STRUGGLE!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Gone With The Wind and other relationships gone KAPUT

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY

I finished Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Good Luck with the reading if you ever decide to. I struggled with the last 100 pages until I had 30 pages left. Then the action started all over again and then I was engrossed once more.


This book is almost 1000 pages long and it is an easy read, as I have stated before but it does just keep going and going. Scarlett O'Hara is an infuriating character but she is so real because we all know a Scarlett O'Hara in our lives. I cannot fault Mitchell on her character development because it was damn good. I wish I had read this novel during school because I would have loved to write a paper on the love triangle (in Scarlett's mind) between Ashley, Rhett and Scarlett. When she FINALLY realizes that she is in love with a memory that is Ashley and really loves Rhett, I wanted to bitch slap her and say "DUH, Scarlett, you ignorant slut!" (Thank you Michael Scott). And when she also comes to the realization that Melanie was her only real friend, that was a DUH moment (ignorant slut). While I loved to hate Scarlett, she was the only one who had any gumption to seize the day and do something even after the world she had known was destroyed.

One of my favorite parts of the book was after Scarlett returns to Tara and she is foraging for food for the family. She is struggling with her load and she declares that she will never from this forth go hungry ever again. I loved the imagery and totally envisioned the scene so vividly.

I have a lot of issues with the book in terms of the historical information. I feel that Mitchell glamorized a lot of the confederacy and from reading it seems as if she used a lot of what she was told by others. I appreciate the view point of a southerners' perspective of the Civil War, but too much glamorization and ignoring of the facts. Mitchell obviously was no fan of Uncle Tom's Cabin, as she jabs at the book multiple times.

Now the question remains whether I should see the movie. But to quote Rhett Butler, "My dear, I don't give a damn". After reading the novel, not sure if I want to sit through a 4 hour movie and be disappointed.


Next book I am reading is for the 1001 Book Club, A Passage to India. Much shorter then GWTW, hopefully it's a good read.

Until next time!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

One Hundred Years of Solitude and a little bit of Gone With The Wind

I finished One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez on Friday. I must say, I did enjoy the book, but I do not believe that it is my favorite of his novels. I enjoyed The General in His Labriynth more, maybe because it was my first Garcia Marquez book, or that I enjoyed the plot more, but still this book was good. It was definitely a challenge to keep up with all of the Jose Aurelio's and the Segundo's and whose child was whose. One of the more "weirder" I guess you could say or the more less acceptable behavior was the odd relationships between the aunts and the children. For example, towards the end of the book, you have the young Aureliano Babiliona falling in love with his aunt Amaranta Ursula and basically forces himself upon her while her husband Gaston is in the other room and she let's him! This type of behavior is quite rampant and I was aghast at the behavior! I kid, but I am pretty sure my eyes were wide open at some passages of the book!

I loved the magical realism in Marquez's novels, to me they add a dash of romanticism to his novels interwined with the magical events. When Remedios the Beauty flies off into the heavens, I wasn't sad, but loved that she did sort of fly off into the heavens, as if she was always meant to. One of my favorite characters was the patriarch of the family, Jose Arcadio Buendia. He was ridiculed by his friends and family a like, was enchanted by the "magic" of the gypsies and was always trying to conquer alchemy. I was sad when they tied him to the tree and there he was for so many years talking to ghosts of the past.

Overall, I felt a sense of sadness within the book, that the family was all around cursed, and the men for whatever reason kept going to Pilar Tener! The family itself created their own demise, by the decisions and actions they chose and it was sad. You wanted them to prosper and succeed and when it seemed like they were going to, like those red ants which seem to me represented destruction and the fate they could not overcome, those rainy days kept coming until they were all ultimately wiped out. I recommend that everyone should read this, it definitely is a sad but good read.

Right now I have begun Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell, the novel of the south. While the book itself is a breezy enjoyable read, I can't help but not believe that these Georgia plantations owners were just so kind to their slaves. It is as if Mitchell is romanticising these southern slaveowners. While I am sure there were kind slaveowners who didn't whip their slaves, I am going to go out on a limb here and say that not everyone was like that. Mitchell ignores a lot of the truths and chooses to idealize the actions of the soliders of the Confederacy. I am only 300 pages in and there is a lot more novel to go, but we shall see what else Mitchell chooses to ignore/romanticise. Maybe it's because I am a damn yankee but you can't blatanly ignore truth and facts and create wonderful fiction.

Until next time!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

1001 Books

I decided to turn this blog into my literary journey of trying to read the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. It all started interestingly with MENSA, you know, those "wicked smhat" people who have only geniuses in their group. There was in article in Newsweek I believe (haha, yes Newsweek still has some journalistic stories) that gave the top internet sites that MENSA chose. Interested in what they heck MENSA would think were awesome sites, I saw the website www.goodreads.com, a place where you can discuss books with others and discover new ones.

I definitely needed this, let me tell you. I have been on an Agatha Christie kick for the past couple of months now, with no end in sight. I have no strayed into any other genres or authors except for Alexander McCall Smith, who writes The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.

I am so glad I have good Goodreads. Those at MENSA got it right. (Fun Fact: James Woods is part of MENSA. They've got JAMES WOODS!) Anyway, you can join groups on goodreads and I joined some awesome groups, all with different topics and one of them happens to be 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

So, here begins my journey. The first book that I read which you have until May 15th to read (you get a whole month) is The Rainbow, by D.H. Lawrence, which I have completed. I have already had some lively discussions on the book, so I will post my comments and feedback on the novel shortly, as I will do with other books that I will be reading that happen to be on the list. Other books that I am reading from other book clubs, such as The Next Best Book Club and The Victorians, also have me reading books from the 1001 Books, which is good, because I can kill two birds with one stone!

I hope by joining me on my journey, you might also be compelled to start reading some different books you never would have ever read. I am glad that I found Goodreads. I love discussing with others my point of view and I love reading awesome books!

Right now I am currently reading One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I will post a progress report shortly as well!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Jiminey Cricket

Dear World,

My parents are moving to St. Louis tomorrow. No, this has not settled in and I have known about this for 3 weeks now. And yes world, I am pretty pissed. Well, at least I think I am. You see, because my life is never as simple as I wish it would be, there are legitimate reasons why I am pissed.

Firstly, my Grandpa is currently residing at the VA home in Bristol until Jesus wants to make Pasta Beans with my Poppy. And seeing as my Poppy will out live us all, Jesus is going to have to wait a while. But the point is, my Poppy needs company. My dad does not stop by everyday like is should be doing. I mean, he isn't working. He is retired! So retired means no working. I mean, certain weekends he is working at the National Guard but still. I mean, I visits once a week because of me working 60+ hours every week. Bristol isn't very close and I need to dedicate 4 hours for the day I am going to visit him. He is my dad's responsibility.

Secondly, they are leaving my sisters behind! I mean, my youngest sister is 17 but she still has one more year of high school and because they basically sucked at parenting her, she doesn't whatever she wants so she will not be moving down with them because she doesn't want to. my twin, who is special needs obviously needs some time so my parents know what services are needed but here is the kicker,
WHY DO BOTH OF THEM NEED TO GO?
I mean they are moving down there because my dad got a job. He needed a job. My mom lost her job last May as a teacher and they couldn't live off his pension. So I get it, but my mom doesn't need to go with him. SHe is having one of my aunts from Panama come up to watch my sisters for three months and once her three months is over, another aunt, My Auntie Carmen is coming up for the next three months. They haven't gotten past 6 months yet.
They are totally not prepared and it's pissing me off.

So, I am super pissed. Yet, I am happy my dad is making some $. I get it, but they both need to take the kids with them.

Oh but they say they will be coming back in 2 years, to build a house, on my Grandpa's land.
Yep, at this rate my Grandpa isn't going anywhere, he is telling luekiemia to STFU and telling Jesus hold up on the pasta beans.

UUUUGHHHH I am so happy I don't live at home!!

you know you love me.... besos

Monday, August 24, 2009

She can ruin your faith with her casual lies

I always say I am going to be a consistent blogger and I always forget to do this. I always tell myself, "Oh I need to write in my blog" and then as soon as I remember to do it, I just as quickly forget.

Another monkey wrench in my so called life. I am going to take classes part time at school, further pushing my graduation date because why, because that's just how my life seems to be going at this point. I will not dwell on this. I can get through this. I want to graduate. That is my goal and I will get it done. Nothing will stop me.

What is the topic of the day?
I need to find a new book to read. I started reading The Appeal by John Grisham, but then I read the end after I had read about 100 pages, which I am not sure why I did but I did so now the book is ruined for me because the ending made me mad and it sucks. The funny thing is, is that the ending probably happens. People buy their way into power. Not to ruin it for anyone, but do yourself a favor, you will get worked up and pissed off when you finally get to the end. So don't read it. It is a good read, I do enjoy reading John Grisham novels, but this one made me mad!
Suggestions for any books that I can read? I have been an Agatha Christie kick for awhile now and I think I do have two books in my closet to read. Speaking of, I need to organize my closet. Once I get that puppy organized I am going to photograph it. Then frame it.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Why Apartment Living sucks

I am a horrible blogger. I always wish I could make money off of these things, but then I would have to give up my day job and that makes me money. Besides, who is interested in my life? I need to learn how to post pictures on here because I have plenty to share.

So the topic of the day is how much I hate my apartment complex. It is not so much that I hate the apartment itself, which is great, nice and roomy, minus the fact that the dishwasher sucks at cleaning and the a/c no longer keeps us cool, but that is neither here nor there. The people who have moved in, especially since July 1st, are trashy jerks. And they are SOBs. They are rude, they do not know how to park, they are loud, they don't pick up their dog shit. I mean really. Also, some jerk put dog shit on our door so I called and left a message to the leasing agents and told them to call be back but it has been about three weeks and not one person has called me back. It also doesn't help that one of the leasing agents is my "ex's" current girlfriend. Not that he was every my boyfriend but again that is neither here nor there. She is a complete bitch to me and only deals with my boyfriend. All I want to do is tell her to go fuck herself and to get over it. That shit's been over for 4 years now.
So that's one thing. I mean, who puts dog shit on someone's door? I mean think about it. You have to pick up dog shit and physically place it on the door. You must be a sick, dirty person to even do that. Now mind you (sorry about the visual) but when I have to pick up my own doggie's poo with a plastic baggie, I am sceeved out to no end. Ugh nasty!!!
My other problem with my complex is that we have a pool. Now, I like the pool. It is a decent size and there are plenty of lounge chairs. However, again, the complex sucks at enforcing their own rules. For instance, you are not allowed to drink alcohol at the pool. I get it, liability issues. You don't need a drunk ho drowning in the pool. I haven't seen much of that, but whatever. Same thing with smoking, you are not allowed to smoke in the pool area. That's icky, so I have no problem with that either. I haven't seen any of it, but apparently that is a problem. The other thing is that you are only allowed to use the pool if you LIVE at Willowbrook or if you live at the other complex Picerne owns which is down the road. I am cool with that as well.
Here is what I am not cool with: Assholes taking up parking in my lot (which happens to be next to the pool, but it is not guest parking) when guest parkers are suppose to park near the leasing office and walk down to the pool (which happens to be right next to the leasing office). Also, those same assholes don't know how to park, take all of the parking, or they park on the rode which they are not suppose to do either.
I also hate that people from the neighborhood think they can use the pool. Those jackoffs don't pay rent. So why the hell are they using the pool? When you see people from the neighborhood walking from across the street from the neighborhood which pool stuff then going down to the pool and no one says anything, we have a problem.
The best part is the leasing assholes sent out a reminder notice. They basically said they have seen people breaking rules so they are giving everyone a warning reminding them of it. If they catch anyone breaking the rules, they will be kicked out and can't return for the rest of the summer.

Here is a question. If you see these people breaking the rules, then why don't you tell them when you see them? Shouldn't you nip that shit in the bud as soon as you see it? Like if you see people from the neighborhood walking over to use the pool, shouldn't you kick them out? No. Because PICERNE SUCKS!! Why don;t you make everyone get pool passes? You need to bring a pool pass to use the pool and have someone police it for awhile until the jerkoffs get the hint? Oh wait, you won't because you're picerne and the people who work for you SUCK!!!

Also, another shit thing about Willowbrook, don't tell them you have a dog. Or any animals for that matter. They don't care and don't give a shit. They apparently have "rules" such as no dogs over 40lbs, but I have seen massive breeds, german shepherds and the like. So if you want an apartment complex that is lax on rules and plain ol' doesn't give a shit, move to Willowbrook!

FUCK PICERNE!!!

Thank you for listening to my rant. I promise next time my posts won't be so far between and I will share antics from my new kitty Obi Wan Ke-nobi.

You Know You Love Me