Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Halloween Reads (sort of)

Every year, I like to read a book or two during the month of October that is fitting with the holiday. I love a good theme. In keeping with the seasonal festivities, I am taking my usual habit and kicking it up by 500%. This year, I am making it a point to scare/creep the bejeebus out of me at every reading opportunity.

Last year's read was Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, a rather tame story in comparison to this year's selections, but very enjoyable. I like the movie quite a bit - who doesn't wish they could join Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and fly/jump off their roof, holding broomsticks, in front of their whole town? Plus, Aidan Quinn. Although it left me feeling mostly satisfied, it didn't quite hit the Halloween note. You know, the shrill, screeching, knife thrusting towards your face, psycho note.

This year's list brings psycho killers, witches, ghosts, and the End of the World. They may not be precisely Halloween related, but all are suitably creepy or thrilling in nature and should serve their purpose just fine. Naturally, no such Halloween reading list would be complete without Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. Check and check!

Bring on the scary!

***

My 2012 Halloween Reads:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

From Goodreads: After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own. Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . .

***

The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson

From Goodreads: GOOD FRIDAY, 1612. Pendle Hill, Lancashire.

A mysterious gathering of thirteen people is interrupted by local magistrate, Roger Nowell. Is this a witches' Sabbat?

Two notorious Lancashire witches are already in Lancaster Castle waiting trial. Why is the beautiful and wealthy Alice Nutter defending them? And why is she among the group of thirteen on Pendle Hill?

Elsewhere, a starved, abused child lurks. And a Jesuit priest and former Gunpowder plotter, recently returned from France, is widely rumoured to be heading for Lancashire. But who will offer him sanctuary? And how quickly can he be caught?

This is the reign of James I, a Protestant King with an obsession: to rid his realm of twin evils, witchcraft and Catholicism, at any price...

***

John Dies At The End by David Wong

From Goodreads: STOP. You should not have touched this flyer with your bare hands. NO, don't put it down. It's too late. They're watching you. My name is David Wong. My best friend is John. Those names are fake. You might want to change yours. You may not want to know about the things you'll read on these pages, about the sauce, about Korrok, about the invasion, and the future. But it's too late. You touched the book. You're in the game. You're under the eye. The only defense is knowledge. You need to read this book, to the end. Even the part with the bratwurst. Why? You just have to trust me.

The important thing is this: The drug is called Soy Sauce and it gives users a window into another dimension. John and I never had the chance to say no. You still do. I'm sorry to have involved you in this, I really am. But as you read about these terrible events and the very dark epoch the world is about to enter as a result, it is crucial you keep one thing in mind: None of this was my fault.

***

Misery by Stephen King

From Goodreads: Novelist Paul Sheldon wakes up in a secluded farmhouse in Colorado with broken legs and Annie Wilkes, a disappointed fan, hovering over him with drugs, ax, and blowtorch and demanding that he bring his heroine back to life.

[Sidebar: I am fairly certain this book will end up in the freezer at some point, but I'm willing to give it a go.]

***

And for an alternate, in case any of the above creep me out far too much:

Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer by Cecily von Ziegesar

From Goodreads: Just as in the original story, Serena returns from boarding school hoping to make amends with her BFF Blair Waldorf--things just haven't been the same since Nate Archibald came between them. But here's where our dark tale takes a turn: Serena decides that the only way for her to make things right with Blair is to eliminate Nate. If that means killing him, well, c'est la vie. Her attempted murder doesn't go unnoticed by Blair, however, who isn't about to let Serena kill whoever she wants-not when there's Cyrus Rose and Chuck Bass and Titi Coates and everyone else who's ever irritated Blair to get rid of first . . . .

***

If the above list isn't to your taste, here is a short list of some of my favorite suspenseful-chilling-thrilling-creepy-leave-the-night-light-on reads:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

What are some of your favorite chilling and thrilling reads? Please, no Twilight jokes. :-)

Saturday, September 15, 2012

A Southern Californian's Lament

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 }

Many are already embracing the coming of fall with Pumpkin Spice lattes, scarves and boots, and perfect 60 degree weather ...

... It was 100 degrees today in Los Angeles, bringing on a serious case of the grumps. I found myself positively chartreuse with envy (That Thing You Do! anybody?) of everyone in the Northern Hemisphere who will soon get to experience true autumn, with the leaves underfoot, their reds, greens, and browns waving in the October breeze like little flags welcoming The Great Pumpkin.

Let's face it, I'm not envious, I'm flat out jealous. I love Southern California and it certainly has it's perks (... not freezing in the winter, world class museums/restaurants/beaches, Disneyland...) but it is highly lacking in seasons.

To that end, rather than wasting the day as an unproductive mope, I took some time and put together a list of things that excite me about my favorite season:

1, 11: Quintessential New England towns in the fall get me all in a lather where I want nothing more than to tramp around the leaf strewn streets discussing Melville and Hawthorne like a third Gilmore Girl. I would adore living in Stars Hollow.

2, 6: Pumpkins and Halloween! Just call me Linus, but spending the night in a pumpkin patch would be a dream come true. I'd pack cozy blankets and sleeping bags, a picnic to include hot cider and candy corn, and lay under the stars and do my best not to freak out that a Scarecrow will come steal my soul in my sleep. Alas, most pumpkin patch proprietors would consider this trespassing so I will have to settle for a day-time visit. I'm not sure I have the skills to do a Hogwarts Crest design on a pumpkin like this picture, but I'm going to give it the old college try! I often end up not doing much for Halloween, but the past two years I've been able to go to Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. I won't be able to attend this year, which depresses me enormously, so I'm going to have to work hard to find a new way to celebrate this year. Breaking out the decorations early may be a good way to start.

3, 15: I'm no foodie, but there is something about the fall that makes me want to eat healthier. Perhaps because many of the best dishes feature lots of greens and oranges, my two favorite colors. I'm encouraged to attempt these two recipes this season: ratatouille and vegetable soup seem simple enough, though I'm sure I can find a way to make it complicated.

4, 9, 10: Not much is more perfect than getting cozy on the couch with a great movie, while the wind howls outside and rattles the windows. "You've Got Mail" is a perennial favorite but is most welcome during the fall. "This place is a tomb. I'm going to the nut shop where it's fun." Love it. A new favorite is "Arsenic and Old Lace", a delightfully quirky 'horror' story in which Carey Grant's character, Mortimer, discovers his aunts have a silly habit of killing people and burying them in the basement. The fall is also the time when Hollywood releases their last bids for Oscar nods. One such film that I'm very excited about is "Lincoln" featuring Daniel Day Lewis as our 16th and (arguably) greatest president.

5, 12: The only thing greater than cozily watching a great film is curling up with a good book - any time, any place, preferably in a comfy chair by the fireplace. I CANNOT WAIT for JK Rowling's debut adult novel: The Casual Vacancy. Hidden corruption in an idyll English village? Always a winner with me!

7, 8: Peacoats, boots, sweaters, scarves, layers! I love it all. As a naturally modest individual, I always feel more comfortable when fully covered, which makes wearing sweatshirts in the summer looks awfully silly (still do it though). Such awkwardness fades away in the fall. I only wish I had unlimited funds and could make such fun outfits like these a reality in my closet.

13: Pumpkin EVERYTHING. Pumpkin cream cheese muffins and pumpkin bread from Starbucks, pumpkin pancakes from Mimi's Cafe, toasted pumpkin seeds the day after carving my Hogwarts Pumpkin ... I want it all!

14: Last, but certainly not least: baking. Baking in the fall is more like a prelude to Christmas baking, more about practice and getting back in the habit before the serious business of Christmas baking takes over. Trust me, December rolls around and it's like I'm a Keebler Elf with all the cookie baking I do ... but in and of itself, baking in the fall is soothing. Sometimes things get crazy around the holidays - working on the perfect costume for Halloween, stressing over time-off at Thanksgiving, struggling to find the perfect gifts at Christmas - it gets a little crazy at times. I find baking to be great therapy with a delicious treat at the end instead of a bill.

It has just occurred to me that I left out the greatest thing about fall from my collage and my list . . . 'Fall Back'! 'Fall Back', the end of Daylight Savings in which we gain an extra hour of sleep, is my third most favorite day of the year (apart from Christmas and my birthday)! Nothing trumps sleep. 2:00 am, Sunday, November 4th - calendar is marked!

Now that I've listed a few of my favorite things (Julie Andrews should be singing in your head right now), I'm making it a mission to find fall in Southern California where ever I can. I've already made tentative plans to visit Julian, a picturesque mountain town outside of San Diego famous for it's apple pies, to hunt down the perfect pumpkin - I can't wait!

Now that I've found a way to make the most of this Autumn, I encourage all of you to make the most of the season as well!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Finish Lines are Dreams with Deadlines

I want to cry.

My knees are screaming inappropriate invectives at me. Every second step feels as if tiny pins are stabbing my foot, sending sharp pains into my back like perverse acupuncture. The sun is rising higher and higher, the temperature with it. My sun screen, which started melting off an hour ago, has mixed with the sweat from my forehead and is burning its way into my eyes.

I'm loving it.

The pain barely registers through the cheers of strangers shouting "Go Nikki!", "You can do this!", "Keep going, the finish is just around the corner!" My parents are also just around the corner, making it even harder to keep down the ball that has formed in my throat, dampening my ability to breathe.

Nine months of preparation, countless runs, and 13 miles have brought me to this point, with that ever elusive .1 mile to go. A few minutes more and it'll all be over, the medal will be around my neck, my knee will be iced, and my face will be beaming. I want to reach the finish line so bad but I'm not ready for it to be over. The euphoria of running down Main Street USA, taking the obligatory photo in front of King Stephan's castle, being cheered on by entire troops of boy scouts and high school cheer squads, seeing myself on the jumbo screen at Angel Stadium, these special moments are still alive and are carrying me through just as much as my legs are. I've had possibly more fun in the last three hours of this race than in any other sporting or fitness endeavor I've ever participated in. Every second has has brought me happiness, excitement, encouragement, bringing me that much closer to the finish line and what I set out to do all those months ago.

I don't want it to end but I can see my parents now, waving and taking pictures. I smile and wave back, fighting back tears of pride, joy, and struggle. This last dose of encouragement is more than enough to carry me home.

Less than a hundred feet away is the finish line. And victory.

***

My official stats:

Overall Time: 3:23:37

Overall Place: 12890 / 14836

Gender Place: 7827 / 9341

Division Place: 1637 / 1848

5K Time: 44:34

10K Time: 1:30:37

15K Time: 2:20:58

I'm pretty darn proud that I finished ahead of ~2,000 people. It was never about finishing with a particular time, it was just about finishing. I had to walk a little bit, my knees were giving me a lot of problems, and I probably walked about 2 miles total. Now that I've finished a half marathon and know what it takes, I really want to run a complete half. I enjoyed this one so much but I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another one. I decided to take some time and think about it, since I'd have to be much more diligent in my training if I want to run an entire half. A couple days ago I found myself researching the San Diego Half Marathon - I think I'm sold on it! I would much rather run the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disney, but it sold out before the Disneyland Half even occurred. That just means I'll be ready for it in 2014.

I thought I'd want to take a break from running once this race was over - the mental stress that I put on myself weighed me down more than the physical stress and I wasn't sure if I really wanted to put myself through that again. It's been 10 days and I'm already itching to lace up my shoes, the only thing preventing me is the plantar fasciitis that I developed on the half. I've got to give my foot some time to heal before I head out again but I am very much looking forward to it.

Now that I achieved my goal - completed a half marathon and developed an enjoyment of running - what's next? While my foot is healing, I don't want to lose momentum so I've decided to do a . . . . 30 Day Ab Challenge!! These challenges are very popular and I'm always last to jump on trendy bandwagons, but better late than never! I'll be starting it soon but if there is anybody who wants to join me on this challenge, I've located a good workout and I'd love to have others join me. Everybody don't jump up at once now. ;-)

Happy Trails!