avengingsybil

Just to Say...

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. Yes, part of it is because I am a lover of good food, but mostly because I really dig the idea of a day dedicated to the concept of appreciation and gratitude. While I do make an effort to be thankful year round, it can't hurt to use the approaching day as an opportunity to list that for which I am grateful.

So this year, in no particular order, I give thanks to the universe for:

- my fabulously laid back and very understanding book club

- not having to travel for the holiday (I host at my home and I love it)

- the sheer ability to host such a gathering

- the result of the 2008 Presidential election and the all the implied potential that accompanies it

- Gossip Girl, 30 Rock and True Blood

- Nerdfighters!

- the many wonderful books I have read, and (maybe even moreso) the many, many still before me

- family, friends, friends who are family and family who are friends

- all of you out there avenging every day in your various important ways.

Whether or not you will be observing over pumpkin pie this Thursday, may you have much in your life to celebrate.

Written material copyright 2008 Dawn A. Emerman

Mmmm.... books.

Is anyone else suffering from Twilight fatigue when the movie's opening is still a week away? I'm sure it will be a huge hit. And I'm tempted to see it, if for no other reason than to see if there is any kind of interesting departure from the books. Plus Robert Pattinson is seems like such a charming rogue. But more likely it'll be relegated to my Netflix queue, and I can eventually watch it in the comfort of my own home and swear at the TV with impunity.

In the meantime, maybe I'll actually get it together and finish reading a damned book instead of my recent pattern of starting a new one and overstimulating myself with overlapping storylines. Completion would be nice, but then I'd just have to come here and write a cohesive post and what fun is that? Welcome to the inner workings of my brain. I thrive on chaos. I should have the goods on Paper Towns and Graceling and the new Francesca Lia Block poems and whatever else falls into my lap in the interim soon enough... it's just a matter of getting so much information all mixed up in there that the cream floats up to the top and out through my fingers.

Written material copyright 2008 Dawn A. Emerman

Here's to New Beginnings

What a time, what a time. I don't know if there's anything I could say that would add to all that's already been said about the election of Barack Obama. In a way, the reality of it hasn't fully hit me. Today I cried tears of joy more times than I have since the election results were announced-- I guess it's finally sinking it. It's not a joke, it really happened.

This is not a gloating post directed at those who didn't vote for Obama. This is merely my own celebration of the sheer exhilaration of change, not for change's sake but because it's the kind of change I think this country has been needing, a return to rationality and compassion.  On a personal level, the last 8 years in this administration have served few of my interests or those of for whom I care deeply; more universally the country itself suffered an undeniably miserable slide. To me, the way of thinking among the elected powers-that-be didn't work. And to me, President Obama's campaign was saying, "let's try a new way, and here are some ideas of what that way could be." Putting aside the man himself--who, no matter how great he might be is still a man, a fallible human--what this election showed to me is that the majority of this country has been hungry for this, too. I've never seen so much passion as I have over the last couple of weeks and it's the passion that's important.

Of course I don't believe Obama's the second coming (though I did meet someone who truly believes he's the prophesied Anti-Christ). And clearly there's a LOT that needs fixing. I would not want that dude's job. But I don't believe in magic. I do believe in hope. And I believe in honor. And hard work. And intelligence. And I think President Obama's record of service shows that he has the best interests of citizens in mind, not an agenda to promote for himself or his cronies. It'll be a long haul, but I'm in. I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

And now, big exhale, back to books. I finally FINALLY got my grubby paws on a copy of Paper Towns and I can't bear to be away from it another second.

Written material copyright 2008 Dawn A. Emerman