Isn't That Funny?

It's turning into one of those days. You know, where nothing works out the way it should and you either have to laugh or cry about it.

I figured I'd share one of the more comical moments of the day.

We've had a cord for the Xbox Live running through the hallway and into the office since we moved in. The 25' cord that was long enough in Lemoore didn't quite reach here, so we had it stretched straight across the hallway and office. You can see it in this still of the video tour I posted recently.



I'm a total klutz, so I was always worried I would trip on it. We had cords running all over the place in our last place for the internet and cable, and I tripped in doorways constantly.

Amazingly, I never once tripped on the cord, despite it being in the middle of the hallway, despite me passing it with arms full of laundry or garbage or whatever else, despite my inclination to trip and fall and spill things. Not once.



We finally ordered a longer cord and some clips to nail it into the floor, so I went to work doing that today. It doesn't blend in too well and it doesn't look that great, but we use Xbox Live every day so it's worth it. And at least it was out of the middle of the hallway.



And wouldn't you know it, the first time I cross the cord to bring a basket of clothes to the laundry room, I trip big time and flail frantically to prevent bashing my head into the washing machine. Clothes went flying, the ironing board bashed into my shoulder, and the nicely nailed down cord came flying up.

After months of treacherous loose cord, I nail it down to prevent trippage and nearly kill myself seconds later.

Isn't that funny?

I was just glad I didn't manage to injure myself. I walked away and came back a few hours later to nail it down again. This time I added more nails in hope that I won't do it again.



That's how my day's going today. So I'm calling it quits and pulling a meal out of the freezer and watching a movie on the couch.

Chopped

I got this crazy idea in my head that I could cut my own hair. It looks so easy when the stylists do it, right?



I had unruly bangs and layers in desperate need of a trim and was feeling the need to chop my hair shorter. I thought about getting an a-line at some salon, but finding a salon and trusting someone that may not speak my language very well not to screw up my hair scared me. A lot. Last time I had my hair cut, the lady butchered my bangs and I think a language barrier had a lot to do with that. So this crazy idea started, and I pulled out the scissors.

After a HUGE mess in the bathroom (hair does not sweep off of textured tile very well) and a lot more time than I've ever spent in a stylist's chair, I got this:



Certainly not perfect, but I have to say it looks pretty good for doing it myself. It took some contortionist moves and some tricky mirror play to be able to trim the back of my head myself. And I took a big gulp before attempting layers, fully expecting to do something horrendous and have to run to the salon tonight to get it fixed. But I managed to get my ends fairly even, do some layering that looks close to how it looks when I walk out of a salon, and trim my bangs without butchering them even more. Yay!



It may not be perfect, but for $0, I'll take it. It's still long enough to pull up and out of the way, but all the unhealthy ends are gone. I can't stop touching it because it is SO soft with all that damage chopped.



Not bad for a couple hours and some flexible arms, huh?

The Gravedigger's Daughter

I recently finished Joyce Carol Oates's The Gravedigger's Daughter. I've been stewing on it for a bit because as usual, Oates finishes with an open ending and leaves you with a lot of mixed emotions. And I generally stew for a day or two before I decide how I feel about a book. I always hated walking into class the morning after plowing through a novel and having to answer the question "So what'd you think?!"


But, I have to say, I was enthralled with this one. Rebecca is such a strong female lead, and Oates does a really amazing job of making you connect with her yet still leaving her a big mystery. You care, but you don't always understand what's making her tick, even if you think you do. There's so much interwoven into the plot, you could talk for days about all the themes and story lines that pop up. Female identity, male violence, racial differences, financial differences, geographical differences, love, motherhood, etc. etc. etc. It's a book that as soon as I finished, my fingers itched to plot out themes and discussions on paper. For me, that's a sign that the book reached me and got me thinking.

You don't have to read it so deep though. At its base, the book is a story about a girl surviving. Surviving murder, surviving abuse, surviving motherhood, surviving life. Like I said, I was captivated by Rebecca. I think Oates is an author that provokes more questions than she gives answers, at least from the selection I've read. The plot isn't the predictable "girl figures out who she is after some typical boy-girl hardships", and the answers don't come easy for Rebecca. There's a sense of triumph and its costs, and the sacrifices one must make for "the better life".

I can't tell you exactly what it is, but Joyce Carol Oates is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I've read Black Water and Blonde, as well as a small selection of her short stories. I'm always captivated by her writing and her characters. While I love my fluff, I really love a book that makes you question. I think Oates is a master of creating a world where there are more questions than answers, and the reader is searching for the answers as eagerly as the character.

This is probably a vague review of the book, but I'm trying not to give too much of the plot away. I was going to quote the Amazon review, but I feel like it gives a bunch of spoilers that are better left unknown. (Note: don't read the Amazon editorial reviews! Go to a bookstore and read the book's jacket instead). And then go back and buy the book on Amazon, because it's currently only $6.40, and I promise I paid more than that when I bought it at Borders a few months back.

I don't think your taste in books matters much, almost anyone could find something they love in this book. So read it. And then pick up some more Joyce Carol Oates. I'm slowly compiling a list of books and authors I need to read (I'm at the stage where I'm thinking I should start this list), and I'm fairly certain finishing all of Oates's novels will be on that list.

Oh, and if you're not ready for such a hefty read, try Black Water instead. It's loosely based on a popular Kennedy (think senator and tragic car accident/drowning), and it's an astounding work. I.could.not.put.it.down. And it's short, so you could knock it out in an afternoon if you wanted to.

Basically, I really think you should try reading Joyce Carol Oates. And I'm so captivated by The Gravedigger's Daughter, I don't even know what to say about it besides read it! You'll love it, or at least have very strong emotions in response to it.