Books

1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. The Complete Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson
4. Watership Down by Richard Adams
5. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Movies

1. Jurassic Park
2. Big Fish
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
4. The Princess Bride
5. Iron Man

Songs

1. "Taxi Ride" by Tori Amos
2. "Gravity" by Vienna Teng
3. "The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)" by Jason Mraz
4. "The Poet and the Pendulum" by Nightwish
5. "The End" by Danny Elfman (Edward Scissorhands soundtrack)

Video Games

1. Resident Evil 4
2. Legend of Mana
3. Animal Crossing: Wild World
4. Final Fantasy IX
5. Civilization IV

People

1. Adam
2. Lindsay
3. Hunter
4. Mom
5. Dad

1. When did someone last break something of yours?
Kira, my cat, knocked one of my candle holders off the bookshelf I had it stored on and it broke. That happened a couple of weeks ago. Made me sad too, because it was one of the two black, Gothic-looking ones I use for my "dripping blood" Halloween candles.

2. When did you last play hackysack, if ever?
I've never played it, but I remember it being a fad at my high school for a while. There was one group of guys in particular who played it all the time. It died down once people started getting their hackysacks taken away by faculty.

3. What was your most dramatic haircut like?
I once let Adam cut my bangs and they ended up shorter than Bettie Page's. Not the look I was going for and not a cut that looks good on me. Moral: Even if your boyfriend says he can, if you're not sure then don't let him cut your hair. Guys think they can do everything. :P

4. Hacking is basically breaking through the security that protects a computer or a website. What’s the closest you’ve come to doing something similar in real life?
Leeching someone else's internet when they had an unsecured network. I only did it whenever I'd visit my sister at her old apartment. Then she finally got cable.

5. In the world of stand-up comedy, a hack is a comic who steals jokes from other comics. Have you ever known a hack in your own field?
I've always worked in a technical rather than creative field, so no.

I've developed a yucky cold. I feel like my throat has pins and needles sticking in it and my head needs to be vacuumed out. I spent a good chunk of yesterday cleaning the apartment when I should have been resting. I'm sure that didn't help. My body felt ready to collapse last night, so I took some Nyquil and went to bed early. Today is gray and rainy -- the perfect accompaniment for my sickness.

The Office premier was great! Adam and I watched it last night. I won't spoil anything in case anyone who watches the show comes across this journal and hasn't seen the new episode yet, but I am pleased. :)

We finally got a mat to put in front of the litterbox that will hopefully catch some of the litter from Kira's feet when he jumps out of it. He was tracking litter all over the bathroom and in the hallway, so I hope this mat will lessen that problem somewhat. He was sniffing the mat yesterday and seemed kind of leery of it. He didn't seem to want to touch it, so I was worried that he'd just jump over it when he got out of the litterbox, but it seems to be working. I saw some litter in it today.

Aaaaand...I guess that's all in the boring life of me. :)

Dwight Schrute, from NBC's The Office, is one of my favorite TV characters ever. In fact, he might be my top favorite. One big reason is because of all the hilarious things he says. Some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth keeps me laughing for a long time. Here are just a few examples:

"Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones."

"Security in this office park is a joke. Last year I came to work with my spud-gun in a duffel bag. I sat at my desk all day with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 pounds per square inch. Can you imagine if I was deranged?" - The best thing about this quote is the incredulous look on Dwight's face and tone in his voice when he says that last part.

To Pam when she's crying: "So you're PMSing pretty bad, huh?" - This is Dwight's way of being comforting and sympathetic. He's off the mark, but it still somehow comes across as sweet.

"I saw Wedding Crashers accidentally. I bought a ticket for Grizzly Man and went into the wrong theater. After an hour, I figured I was in the wrong theater, but I kept waiting. Cause that’s the thing about bear attacks...they come when you least expect it."

"No, don't call me a hero. Do you know who the real heroes are? The guys who wake up every morning and go into their normal jobs, and get a distress call from the commissioner, and take off their glasses and change into capes, and fly around fighting crime. Those are the real heroes." - And he sincerely believes it!

After excitedly carrying a dead goose into the office: "I accidentally ran over it. It's a Christmas miracle!" - He wants to cook and eat it, but of course (most of) the other employees are appalled.

After being caught trying to stuff a dead bird into a soda can by Michael: "I'm sorry! I grew up on a farm! We killed a pig whenever we wanted bacon! And when my grandfather died, we reburied him in an old oil drum! [Dwight pauses as Michael walks away, then looks at the camera] It would have fit, if he had just given me another minute!"

"When my mother was pregnant with me, they did an ultrasound and found she was having twins. When they did another ultrasound a few weeks later, they discovered that I had resorbed the other fetus. Do I regret this? No, I believe his tissue has made me stronger. I now have the strength of a grown man and a little baby."

"I never smile if I can help it. Showing one's teeth is a submission signal in primates. When someone smiles at me, all I see is a chimpanzee begging for its life."

"I think one of the greatest things about modern America is the computerization of medical records. As a volunteer sheriff I can look up anyone's psychiatric records or surgical histories. Yeast infections...there are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from that old bread factory..." - One great thing about Dwight is that he's really quite naive about a lot of things, so comments like this from him are always funny.

Okay, I'm going to sleep now. I need rest.

Every significant thing that has happened to me over the past couple of years, since I last updated, in bulleted list form:

• Adam was promoted to manager in June of this year and given his own store to run. The catch: it's in Middlesboro, KY, which means we had to move. I miss Knoxville, but I'm content enough in Middlesboro for now. We'll be moving back to Knoxville as soon as Adam can get transferred to a store there, which will probably be in a year or two. I still visit my family often. Knoxville is only about an hour away, so it's not too bad.


• Some basic info about Middlesboro, just for the heck of it:
  - It sits almost directly on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky, but it's technically in KY. TN is literally only five minutes away from our apartment. Virginia is close by as well.
  - Cumberland Gap, a historic national park, is partially in Middlesboro. It has scenic hiking, walking, and biking trails as well as places for camping and picnicking. There's a spot in the Gap where you can stand in TN, KY, and VA all at once.
  - The entire town of Middlesboro is situated inside a crater, which I think is pretty neat. That also causes it to flood easily, though.
  - It's a small town with its fair share of rednecks, but it has some nice qualities too. It's definitely a huge change of pace from the quite large, bustling city of Knoxville. There's very little to do here, which is hard to get used to, but we're managing.


• I worked for an insurance underwriting company for five months before we relocated. I made some fantastic friends there who I hated to leave, but I got a good recommendation from my boss and a promise that if I ever want my job back, I can have it.


• Adam and I rent a nice two-bedroom apartment that his dad was generous enough to help us furnish, and we also adopted a little gray kitten named Kira.


• I'm currently unemployed, but I'm turning an application and my resume into the Middlesboro Public Library this Thursday. Hopefully I'll get the job. If not, the Lincoln Memorial University library or office is my next bet.


• Before my office job, I worked at a hotel as a housekeeper and breakfast host. I basically cleaned rooms, did laundry, and served people breakfast in the mornings. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. I worked there for almost exactly a year before quitting. Just a month after I quit, I was called and informed that my boss had died of a brain aneurysm. It was one of the most devastating pieces of news I've ever heard. She was only 42, a wonderful person, and full of life. She is sorely missed by many.


• Hmm...I guess the only other big thing that has happened is that I became quite involved in the upcoming election. I've donated to Obama's campaign and I support him 100%. I believe it's very important for our country that he be elected. If you want to know why, refer to this amazing article (and my reasons for opposing the McCain/Palin ticket are here).


• Other random stuff: I followed the 2008 Olympics like my life depended on it, even though I'm usually not a big fan of sports; I became obsessed with The Office after watching all four seasons on DVD, and now I can't wait for the fifth one to start (this Thursday! :D); I saw The Dark Knight in the cinema and was awestruck by Heath Ledger's amazing performance as the Joker; on the same day as The Dark Knight, Adam and I saw Weird Al Yankovic in concert and it was one of the best experiences of my life. He put on a wonderful, hilarious, super entertaining show.

I think that covers all the important stuff. :)

I'm feeling kind of under the weather right now. My body has been aching and my throat's been sore all day. I think it might have something to do with the chilly air. Not that I'm complaining about that, though. I love cold weather! I just wish it didn't bring sniffles and coughs and aches with it.

I'm going to start updating this journal again. I need my journal that no one knows about. :)

Season 5 of The Office starts this Thursday! I'm so excited! I don't think I've been this obsessed with a TV show since Friends.

Tomorrow is my brother's birthday. He'll be 32. He and his girlfriend are going to come to my parents' house (I'm here visiting) and we're going to have pie and play board games. We also all pitched in to get him Rock Band 2 for his Xbox 360. I'm sure he'll be happy about that.

I guess I need to write an update on my life and all that has happened since I last wrote a real entry and not just meme answers. It's been almost two years. :O Whoa. Things have changed since then.

It's late now, though, so I'd best be getting to bed. Good night, journal!

1. What’s the cutest of the small, furry animals?
I think chipmunks are absolutely adorable.
2. What predator impresses you the most?
Sharks scare me the most.
3. After which animal will you name your professional sports team?
Otters. Simply because they're my favorite.
4. What’s an unusual animal that you know a little something about?
The tarsier. I read up on them once because I was fascinated by the way they look. I know that they live entirely in trees, they have night vision, and they can turn their head almost all the way around like an owl. They're very similar to owls, which is odd because they're mammals.
5. Your high school probably had some kind of mascot or symbol, but based on your memories of it, what animal should REALLY have been the emblem?
Ours was the panther, but it should have been the parrot because it seemed like everyone wanted everyone else to notice them.

From fridayfiver:

1. Last party you went to?
I honestly can't remember, but it was probably some family thing. I never party.
2. Do you pee in the shower?
I have before, but it's not a regular thing.
3. Have you ever fired a gun?
A BB gun.
4. Where do you call home?
The apartment I share with Adam in Middlesboro, KY and my parents' house in Knoxville, TN.
5. What's your favorite board game?
Scene It?, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit, and Cranium.

From thefridayfive:

1. Name one movie you wish everybody could watch.
Stranger Than Fiction. I think it has a good message about taking control of your life and finding happiness in it.
2. Name two books you wish everybody could read.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (a must-read about censorship and the importance of both knowledge and imagination) and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (a more lighthearted, fun, escapist book with some good messages thrown in)
3. Name three goals you wish everybody could achieve.
Be happy, be more environmentally friendly, and be more understanding and accepting of each other.
4. Name four people you wish everybody could know.
Adam (my fiance; he's truly an amazing, intelligent, funny person and I wish everyone could get to know him), my grandmother (she should've been a famous poet), Mahatma Ghandi (because I'd like to know him too), and J.R.R. Tolkien (same with Ghandi; I'd love to meet him)
5. Name five places you wish everybody could visit.
Knoxville, TN
Tokyo, Japan
Lapland
Dublin, Ireland
New Zealand

Friday's Feast:

Appetizer

When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
Earlier this year. I think it was sometime during the spring.

Soup

Name one thing you miss about being a child.
I could name loads of things! I guess the biggest thing is just being a kid in general. That sense of wonder, being carefree, having a big imagination, playing outside...I miss everything about being a child!

Salad

Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Butter!

Main Course

If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
Mandarin Chinese. It's becoming increasingly more important to know, and I'd love to be able to visit China one day and speak freely with the locals.

Dessert

Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
Married and well on my way to becoming a librarian.

From Little Wonder. I stumbled across her website randomly while surfing the 'net and saw these questions. Thought I'd answer them myself. If she ever comes across this journal, I hope she doesn't mind!

1) Is there a certain someone in your life who you cannot live without? If your answer is yes, whom is the person, and why can't you survive without him/her?

This question actually brings to mind my biggest fear, which is losing the people I love. It's extremely hard for me to fathom life without the people I hold dear. That said, there's more than one person who I can't live without and it's impossible for me to choose just one person over the rest. My family has always been there for me, and I try my hardest not to take them for granted because I know that many people in this world have lost family members. I recently lost a beloved grandmother, and it was the hardest thing I've had to go through in my life, even with the assurance that she was old and she went peacefully in her sleep. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose one of my parents or my sister or brother this early in life. The other person who I can't imagine life without is my boyfriend. We've been together for over three years and I love him with every fiber of my being. I've come to depend on him for many things, including my own happiness. I honestly don't think I could go on if I lost him. I'd probably go crazy or something. All of those people -- my family and my boyfriend -- keep me content and grounded, even when it feels like the world is crumbling at my feet. I don't know what I'd do without their constant love and support.

2) Everyone has their own hopes and dreams in their lifetime. What is your ultimate dream, and are you determined to realise your dream someday?

My ultimate dream is just to be happy. To live a good, fulfilled life with the people I love. I'm not an extremely ambitious, goal-driven person, and I consider love and family the most important parts of life. So I will just try my hardest to live a life that when I get old, I can look back and say I was truly happy with.

3) At this moment, do you have a craving for something? (E.g. Food, A certain activity...etc) If so, what are you currently craving for?

I'm craving hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows, right now. I think I'll make myself some after this!

4) From your point of view, how would life be like without the internet and advanced technology? How would you live in a world without any of these?

One of the downfalls of modern technology is that people often take for granted how convenient their lives are now. People used to (and still do in some places) live without the internet, computers, etc., which means that people certainly could live without them if they had to. Despite that fact, many people claim that they just can't survive without their laptop or their iPod or cell phone or other mass-produced electronic gadget. And what would they do if the object in question was taken away from them? They'd whine for hours on end, but ultimately they would survive. It seems as though we're a bit spoiled these days. I think a good way for any person to challenge him/herself is to take a day, a couple of days, or even a week to avoid getting on the computer or using any sort of advanced technology at all. Use that time for reading, reflecting, painting, spending time with loved ones, going outside and being active, reconnecting with nature, etc. The internet is a great source of information and it, along with countless other technology, has brought great convenience and ease into our lives, but we need to leave time for the non-material things that are truly important to us, such as family, friends, and nature.

5) Have you ever regretted having done something in your life?

I have many regrets and many things I wish I could go back and change or erase, but I try not to dwell on them. Mistakes are normal. They keep us learning and make us better people.

6) List 5 hobbies which you enjoy engaging in during your spare time. How often are you able to engage in these activities?

1. Reading. I read all the time, even while doing mundane activities such as drying my hair or eating breakfast. I always have at least one book with me wherever I go. I'm quite the escapist, as I love immersing myself in fantasy worlds, and books are the best source of escape for me. I read everything, from the classics to fantasy to horror to children's. Literature is my ultimate passion, which is evident in the fact that I'm working towards getting my ALA masters degree in order to become a librarian.

2. Drawing. I don't claim to be a great artist by any means, but drawing relaxes me and serves as a creative outlet. Whenever I'm stressed about something, it helps to open my sketchbook and let my thoughts flow through my pencil onto the paper. It's the same as a person who relieves stress through writing. Writers and artists aren't that different - both put their thoughts and ideas down on paper, whether for their own sanity or others' enjoyment. It takes a bout of inspiration for me to draw something that I would deem good, but I'm constantly sketching random things that I see or that appear in my head. And I'm my own worst critic, but there's nothing like the feeling of being truly proud of something I've created.

3. Video games. As stated before, I'm an escapist. Video games provide another great way of escaping from the hassles of real life because you actually have the ability to step into a character's shoes and immerse yourself in his/her story. It's no surprise, then, that RPG and survival horror are my favorite game genres, but I do enjoy other types as well. I play video games whenever I get the chance, and I'll often become addicted to a certain game and play it for hours on end, neglecting all of my other hobbies.

4. Cooking. My love of cooking only surfaced this past year, but I think my boyfriend is very happy with my sudden interest. ;) I cook for the two of us all the time now, and I like to try out new recipes, so we often have something different every night. I've started collecting cookbooks, and I actually enjoy grocery shopping because I get to buy all the various ingredients for my latest concoction. I also and especially enjoy baking. There's nothing like a delicious homemade sweet treat!

5. Listening to music. I listen to music all the time. I'm not picky when it comes to music, either. I listen to a mixture of everything, from rock to classical to pop to metal. The only genres I'm not too fond of are rap and country, but I even find myself enjoying the odd one every now and then. Music relaxes me, comforts me, inspires me, and overall keeps me sane. There's a song for every situation, and when I've gone through the hardest times, my favorite bands and musicians have been there for me. The really great thing is that I know they'll always be there, even when it feels like I have nothing else.

From fridayfiver:

1. Will you be having a white Christmas?
It's supposed to snow Christmas night, but I doubt we'll get much. During Christmas day it'll be cold and rainy. We haven't had a white Christmas here in a long time. It saddens me. :(
2. Best present you could get/have already received this season?
I'm hoping for a Nintendo DS Lite. :)
3. Egg nog or snogging under the mistletoe?
Ew, egg nog is disgusting! Definitely snogging under the mistletoe, with my boyfriend!
4. Is time on your side?
At this point in my life, yes. I have all the time in the world.
5. Favorite holiday tradition:
Christmas candy & cookies, opening a present on Christmas eve, and seeing a movie with my cousins on Christmas night.