6 Thoughts on the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series.

Okay. So I didn't reach my goal of reading all three Girl With the/Girl Who series in three weeks. I was off by two days. And I still haven't watched the final movie but here are some of my thoughts anyway.

1) Is it weird to anyone else that the author, Stieg Larsson, just happened to die after turning in his manuscripts? Seems like there might be a conspiracy theory there.

2) Speaking of the author, after finishing all three, I felt I had just completed reading some dude's fantasy--like all of these characters were manifestations of who he wanted to be but wasn't--particularly Blomkvist.

3) The guy who plays Blomkvist in the movies is really unattractive. I find it in no way believable that he's a playa'.

4) The books make me want to take up boxing.

5) It's hard not to love Salander but who she loves/fucks is a bit weird. Like, I understand being attracted to people regardless of gender--but usually it's not such a all-encompassing list. For example, thinking both Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal are hot--that makes sense, but fucking a 16 year old boy, than a 23 (whatever) year old woman, then by the end fucking all those old men. It seems strange that she doesn't have a type at all and just likes to screw whoever (hence why I felt it turned into an authorial fantasy).

6) They weren't bad reads, I'll give them that. They resonate which I find shocking. Usually books that are super duper popular are duds to me, but these were fun. Maybe because the main character was a kick-ass woman and there were underlying messages of polamory and ending violence against women.

I'm Not Complaining, But. . .

I finally got where I wanted. Both of my degrees are being put to use in the non-profit I'm working for and the paper I'm writing at. I have jobs.

This is what I've been trying to get to all my life-- a good job working for something I believe in and want to make better. Helping women who have cancer become mothers isn't a bad job. It is at least a meaningful job.

And yet I feel scared.

Scared that now I am where I have been trying to get with no immediate new goals in mind and that I might get stuck in a routine where I become boring and bored.

Especially with Ryan. Becoming. Emerging. He'll soon be jet-setting around the world making massive installation pieces in fancy gallery spaces and I'll be like, send me a postcard if you have a minute and he won't. Have a minute that is.

I mean, I also feel happy that I have succeeded in my goals. And I should probably just take some time to relax and enjoy being where I am right now before deciding what my next big-time goal will be. I just don't want to settle. If I don't have a new big-goal now will I have the time, energy, desire to have one later? I've never not had one. And that's what worries me most.

Smooth Moves: Another Bar Experience.

I was 'Round Midnight after midnight watching mating rituals from my usual perch above the dance floor. Somehow I became a part of the story without really trying or really wanting it to happen. I was standing next to this Indian dude wearing a Slipknot shirt. He leaned over.

To me: "Why aren't you dancing?"

"Why aren't you dancing?"

"Do you want to dance?"

"There are so many women out there already for you to choose from."

"I don't want to dance with just some random girl."

"I'm a random girl; we've never met before, I'm just as much a stranger as anyone else here."

"But the only way to make someone not random is to try."

"True. But I think I'll stay a stranger."

Sad face.

Man, that was awkward. I should have told him to buy me a drink and I'd think about it. Dang! Pretty sure he didn't try to dance with anyone else that night. Now I feel bad.

Just so men are aware, rejecting you isn't easy for us either.

Rabbit Talk.

(they blend in well don't they?)

We used to have two pet backyard rabbits, Nibbles and Bert. Nibbles always was nibbling, obviously and Bert had a uni-brow like you know, Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street. Well, now unibrow Bert is gone, but there are still TWO bunnies and all they do is nibble! I can't tell the difference. I feel lousy. I feel like the real Nibbles must be pissed at me for calling the other rabbit by its name. I don't know what to do.

I'm going to have to sit out and watch them more closely until I can tell the difference again.

Silly rabbits. Messin with my brain.

Photography Series: Leftovers

It all started with this sign. Then I went for a walk around the block and found so much more.


"Now what do I do with this baby?"

"You can Only Park Here if You live Here"

"OMG!!! I didn't realize we had this much stuff!?!"

"And then there was NoLight"

"Insomnia"

"The American Way"

"Leftovers"


"Cleaned Out"


"Going Away For Awhile"

How Dance is Changing Lives: Leaning Crescent Pose Into a Shimmy

I can't decide if I should be happy or sad.

A part of me is sad because I am not the only one.

A part of me is happy because, in a way, I have found a community of people who are a lot like me.

Yoga Dancers.

That's right. I thought I was the only one who mixed yoga with dance moves, but I discovered differently at Titwrench over the weekend.

Almost everyone was doing it!

It seriously may be the best thing for one's body--you get the high calorie burn with strength and flexibility mixed in.

Come on Tony Horton where's your Extreme 90 minute Yoga/Dance DVD?

Maybe I should make a video. . .

I could be like the next Jane Fonda (a personal idol).

And/or rich.

Which would be amazing.

Hmmm....

The only problem is there isn't like a routine or anything, you just go with the flow, interpreting moves based on the beat. Still. There could be a market for it. (Maybe there already is and I'm just out of the loop?)

I Need a New Crush.

I don't know how anyone else feels about crushes, but I love them. I think I enjoy having crushes more than having actual relationships. Why? Because crushes can be everything you imagine them being and more! Real relationship have harsh realities, such as incompatibility, terrible discussions regarding Foucault or Steven King or why bell hooks doesn't capitalize her name--or the person could have a bad smell or be like sexually anorexia or something. But crushes, crushes are always fun.

And I haven't had a good crush in awhile.

Jake Gyllenhaal you are not doing it for me any more.

(okay...maybe doing it for me a little still.)

Jakey-poo, I am sorry. You are attractive and those dimples are freaking ridiculous, and those puppy dog eyes... but come on! It's been like almost ten years now. TEN YEARS!!!!

It's time for a change.

I considered James Franco for awhile--mainly because of that shit-eating-grin of his (that's what they call it in Kansas) but then I read this article on how he's like an ego-maniac and I was like, duh. Over it.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not just here looking for a new celebrity crush; I like to have real-life-people crushes too. (I'd name past ones but they might read this and feel weird around me so I'll just keep those to myself).

But...

If you're in my real-life, wink at me or something and I'll figure out if I want to crush on you or not.

This also works for friend-crushes. I remember the excitement and thrill of meeting and finally hanging out with Lizz (name droppin, what). I didn't like fantasize about her or anything, but I had extra energy in my life because I had met someone who was soooo cool (and still is).

I'd like that. Again.

Though really a celebrity or real-life (non-friend) crush crush would be super amazing.

Who's hot right now?

Who should I crush on?

Thoughts, suggestions, and/or resumes would be appreciated.