Get Ready to Read: Who Wants to Join My Book Club?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved, loved, loved to read, listen to bedtime stories, and lose myself in great pieces of literature. I remember my mother taking me to the local library when I was 6 years old, feeling amazed by the stacks of novels and thoroughly electrified by the scent of bounded, beautifully withered pages. In this particular instance, I chose 6 books to take back home with me, I can’t recall the titles of each work, but I’m certain that the “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile” series by Bernard Waber was among my selection. Anyway, that night, after dinner, while my family was asleep, I turned my bedside lamp on and began to read. 

I read all 6 books that night, pleading with my mother to take me back to the library the next day. She refused, not believing that I had, in fact, completed each novel within the span of one night. The reason that I’ve chosen to share this memory is mainly for my own interest in igniting a similar passion for literature among my readers. So, in order to properly attain this goal, I’ve taken the initiative to begin a book club.

I currently have a rough outline for the plans of this little club, which are all subject to change, but please hear me out. Right now, I’m trying to recruit individuals living in the Sterling/NoVa area willing to meet the last sunday evening of each month and discuss a novel over wine, cheese, and some good food. You do not need to have a comprehensive education in the field of literature to join, and you certainly don’t need to have a college degree for inclusion, so please don’t feel intimidated. I would love to hear back from any of my readers or friends, so please message me on Facebook, email me, or comment on my blog. If you are not living in the NoVa area, but still have somewhat of an interest in joining, I’ll be blogging about each meeting, the books we intend to read, and the topics we discuss, so you can join in the fun on cyberspace and offer your two-cents on each novel. 

That said, I hope to start this up soon so I can organize everything before school starts, so please don’t be afraid to let me know if you’re interested!!!

A Peek in the Future: What’s in a Palm?

I apologize for my brief hiatus from the blogosphere, but I wanted to come back with a post that was interesting, fascinating, and, with me as its author, assuredly kinda crazy. So, today, for the first time in my entire life, I had my palm read. I know that there are several skeptics out there and I’ve definitely been one of them in regard to the psychic phenomena, but my experience today has made me an avid believer.

Everything the psychic told me could not have been more spot on. Now, I won’t share all of my reading, but I’ll share a few secrets that are rather amusing so I hope I make a believer out of all of you, as well.

One of the first pieces of information that the psychic shared with me is that I, too, share a strong psychic energy. She encouraged me to go with my gut because I have incredibly good instincts about people as well as a top-notch intuition. She spoke about my friends, family, love life, career, and varying aspects of my personality. She told me that I’m not a selfish person at all, but people who don’t know me well view me as “conceited.” She also told me that I need to let others see the “real” me because I have a “good soul,” so I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I humbled my self a tad...

She then began about my future jobs adamantly saying (and I quote) that I have great intelligence and the capability for a career, I just currently lack the motivation. Seriously, she stressed the fact that my “intelligence is all there” and it’s not lacking in any way, I just need to put it to good use. On top of this, she told me that I’m an extremist, with addictive tendencies, meaning when I do something- I do it to the fullest- so she encouraged me to channel this energy toward something positive, like working out or eating healthy, or even my future career, not through booze...

Then we have my love life. She told me that I’m not ready for an intense relationship at all right now, and that I should just stick to dinner-dates, dancing, and a good time. She also said that I have no interest in boys who like me, but the boys who I like don’t give me “much feedback.” Just some food for thought...

So, you can judge for yourself whether or not you believe in this kind of stuff, but I can promise you that it has given me answers I desperately need in my life right now. Take it as you will, but I can assure you that my reading could not have been more accurate. If you need details about the psychic I went to, please message me on Facebook or e-mail me! And thanks for reading! xxx

My Daily Itineraries: How Do You Spend Your Days?

Picture of a a Dude in Desperate Need of a Fulfilling Itinerary

Since I’ve been having one of the least productive summers of my entire life, I’ve fallen victim to moderate idleness, spontaneous shopping sprees, and a stubborn wave of writer’s block. You see, the more productive I am in other spheres of my life, the more I’m able to put a pen in my hand, or, in this case, glue my hands to a key board, and consistently create a number of blog posts. Writing is one of the foremost loves in my life, so the less I write, the less fulfilled I am, and the less excited I am about my surroundings. (I’ve even stopped jumping up and down when the mail man stops by--and you know when Eloise isn’t jumping up and down about the possibility of fan mail--which all too often comes in the form of spam, but I’ll take it--she’s not happy.)

So, in order to get my spring back, I’ve taken it upon myself to create an itinerary of  for each day. Once that itinerary is completed, I will create another for the next day and so on and so forth. Here’s what I have planned starting tomorrow:

Itinerary for Thursday June 6, 2012

1. Wake up at 9
2. Go to the gym
3. Avoid, avoid, avoid mall or shopping of any sort- ...Maybe just a browse?
4. Come home, complete job application (can’t say for what in case I don’t get it...)
5. Go to NoVa and un-fuck-up my account
6. Clean my room
7. Clean out my car- and hopefully find the dead animal currently rotting in it
8. If both car and room are clean enough, blog about how clean they are
9. Avoid crazy British lady I live with
10. Have glass of wine
11. Read
12. Create Itinerary for Friday June 7, 2012
13. Have another glass of wine- Totally deserve it for the long day I’ve had...

Okay, so that’s basically what my itineraries will look like for the rest of the summer, each and everyday. Please do not mistake these for “to-do” lists, because I’m way too fabulous for those...

Facing Truth: Why Are Growing Pains so Painful?

Every year, everyday for that matter, I’m forced to face and accept certain truths about myself that either kill me, help me, or encourage me to change. I’m sure many of my readers can relate to such a reality, and can even think of a time in which they had to grow up or go home. But, for me, I feel as though I’ve done more growing in the past 5 years than I have in my entire life. The first time anyone has to, forgive me, look at that “man in the mirror” is always the worst, especially because people are demanded to acknowledge the good, the bad, and the ugly about their personalities and, often times, come to discover that they, like all people, are not perfect. Sometimes, people fear accounting for their faults because they are compelled to travel to dark or even morbid places in their mind, and ones that they avoid venturing to out of apprehension for the inevitable personal distress that will likely occur. Though it is frightening, uncomfortable, and unsettling, it is always necessary. 

How are we expected to grow and develop if we aren’t willing to change or face truth? The way I look at it, and please bear with me, is by the fact that the only person you can every truly change is yourself, no one else. For example, and this can go several different ways, if there is someone in your life who is consistently providing you with a negative energy, inflicting a pure damper on your own happiness, you do not have the power to change this individual. You do, however, have the authority to alter the way you accept this specific energy by either distancing yourself from it, or even dismissing it altogether, or even by trying to understand why you have been chosen to receive this energy and that you may not be lily-white either. Though this is incredibly difficult, even depressing at times, sometimes it is needed. 

Sometimes we need to be strong to make ourselves better in the long run, as awful as it may feel. Sometimes we need to look toward the future, and know that we will not always feel as though our chest has been ripped open by accepting our imperfections. There is always beauty in growth, and we should never feel ashamed to acquaint ourselves with such an experience, with such a blessing in disguise.

A Beatles’ Ballad: “Hey Jules?”

Paul McCartney and Julian Lennon

Listen to "Hey Jude" Here! (My favorite part begins at approximately 3:03)

The beloved Beatles ballad “Hey Jude” is commonly perceived as a love song in which the speaker is offering guidance to a confused young man on the verge of an incredible romantic relationship. Well, I have chosen to dispel that rumor and iterate the actual truth behind this incredible orchestration. At the time the song was composed, John Lennon began a relationship with Yoko Ono, who was viewed by Lennon’s family as the “Other Woman.” Lennon was still married with children when he fell in love with Yoko, provoking a whirlwind of chaos among their closest relations. 

Lennon’s son, Julian, was only 5 years old at the time, naturally feeling an enormous amount of unneeded stress while his own father was leaving his mother for an unfamiliar, eccentric woman. Now, here’s where the song arose: Paul McCartney was visiting Julian and his mother out of worry, simply to ensure that they were coping well with the entire situation. He penned the song before his visit, changing the original title “Hey Jules” to “Hey Jude” because it flowed better in the song’s composition. John Lennon had always assumed that the song was about him, never once pondering the notion that it was, in reality, about his own son. Julian, however, found out that the song was actually about him approximately twenty years after its release. 

So, that’s the story behind “Hey Jude.” Seriously though, look over the lyrics for yourself and one can easily comprehend how the words are more appropriate for Julian than John during the time in which the song was developed. For example, the advice “to let her under your skin” is encouraging Julian to let Yoko under his skin, and open up to her, despite how hesitant he is to do so. 

There are several reasons why I adore this song, and even more for why I can listen to it endlessly without feeling an ounce of boredom. But, above all, I love how McCartney didn’t intend for this song to reach the level of success that it did, he wrote it strictly for Julian, who was struggling during such an awful time. McCartney didn’t care about the reception of this song, he just wanted to let someone he loved dearly know that everything will be okay, which are words we all need to here from time to time, from day to day, or even from second to second. Everything will be okay someday. It will all be okay.

I invite you to peruse the lyrics for yourself to develop a further understanding of its intent for Julian, NOT John (or anyone else)!

"Hey Jude" by The Beatles

Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah yeah

Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better...

Marriage Equality: Why Can’t We All Have Our Cake and Eat it Too?

“The government has to treat all citizens equally. I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a strong version, in which the rights that are conferred at the federal level to persons who are part of the same-sex union are compatible. When it comes to federal rights, the over 1,100 rights that right now are not being given to same-sex couples, I think that’s unacceptable."

-President Obama on August 9, 2007

With hopes to renew his presidency, President Obama’s recent statements of his support for marriage equality has created a new wave of controversy and conflict, simultaneously inspiring my latest blog post. As a caucasian, straight, economically privileged female in our current American culture, I have never truly experienced the sting of prejudice, especially in comparison to other classifications of people, like our homosexual population. Presently, same-sex marriages are legal in D.C. and only six states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. This social imbalance raises a particularly unsettling question, especially regarding the core values by which the United States conducts itself. 

If, referring to the tenets of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, we endorse ideals of equality, justice, and honor, how can we possibly deny those basic, fundamental human rights from fellow citizens? To me, this discrepancy is not only unconstitutional, it is purely unethical. Though there is little one can do to improve this social condition immediately, there is certainly much we can do to alter and influence the attitudes of those who are not supportive of marriage equality.

We can probably start by refraining from incorporating derogatory, demeaning language in our everyday speech concerning homosexual people, or even by making an effort to demand that those who use these words explicitly should stop as well. It is only the ignorance of others that causes this type of discourse, representing our culture poorly and shamefully. In addition to this measure, perhaps we could focus on educating ourselves more about the movement of marriage equality, and gain an understanding of same-sex marriage from varying perspectives. Specifically, we should look into the reasons for its necessity in society, like its aid in the improvement of our suffering economy, promotion of adoption, and its contribution to our overall culture. 

These are just a few among the many reasons for its essentiality in the United States, and I hope that individuals who are not willing to support the social and legal recognition of same-sex marriage gain a greater comprehension of its advantages. A marriage is a union of one person with another, it should not discriminate against any human being based on gender, it is for those who are truly in a loving, healthy relationship, regardless of their sex.

Let Them Eat Cake: When is It Time to Take Off Our Rose Colored Glasses?

As some of you may know, the famous phrase “Let them eat cake” was supposedly uttered by Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution in response to the rebellious social atmosphere instigated by the impoverished, oppressed masses. Fortunately, for me, these words have inspired my next blog post- a blog post, I’m ashamed to say, that I have been weary to write simply because of the degree of criticism I might receive, or even the potential backlash from readers who absolutely hate my writing. These particular concerns are what drove me to stop writing for approximately the past month and, I know it may seem rather petty, I realized that placing myself on such a platform in which judgment was inevitable isn’t necessarily the smartest move. Specifically, when anyone joins the blogosphere, especially if their blog acquires the attention of a solid amount of people, you will receive harsh opinions, and ones that will very likely hurt you.

So, I’m sorry that “The Open Book” has been so, well, open, and I’ve learned what is okay to write about and certainly what is not. If, however, some of my future posts offend anybody, I really am sorry, because I’m the one who needs you more than you need me. I’m the one who wants a larger, stable audience because I really never know who could be reading- maybe it’s my next employer, maybe my future in-laws, or maybe even my idol Britney Spears. I really never know.

With that said, I will make a true, honest effort to keep my rose-colored glasses far from my reach, and think about what I write before I post. And, in any upcoming posts, I may unknowingly include a sentence or two that might make me sound like a huge idiot, like Marie Antoinette, or maybe the smartest girl in the world, but I will do my best to focus on writing about topics that are interesting, without offending my readers. 

I am only human, after all, and we were born to make mistakes, but it is learning from them that makes us better, and that is all I can promise to do. So a great thanks to the people who are supportive of me because it means more to me than I could ever put into words. So thank you, thank you, thank you!! xxx 

P.S. Will strictly stick to content regarding politics, music, and the other intellectual, boring topics I presented in my profile blurb. (And, of course, some astrology from time to time...)