Living a Life I Don't Know How to Live

As I do each year, I am going to try to send holiday cards. (Last year was one of the most successful since before law school, when I got through more than half of my names.) I am particularly ambitious this year, because with this card making kick I've been on, I want to try to make my holiday cards. (No promises, though.) I've been planning out card designs with a friend, trying to figure out something simple but fun. I like sparkly, shiny cards, so you can expect that, whether I make them or buy them.

So if you'd like a card, please leave a (screened) comment with your address, or, if you're not comfortable with that, you can send me an email at carlamlee at gmail dot com. (Private messaging via LJ or DW is probably not the best way to reach me, though.) I love sending cards, so please do let me know if you'd like to receive one.

(My roommate once told me I single-handedly kept the post office open during the holidays. Considering I didn't make it through my entire list, I laughed.)

This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.org with comments. Read the original post there. Comment here or there using OpenID.

Apparently these entries did not crosspost earlier, so I am doing it manually now.

If you would like to receive a holiday card from me and haven't sent me your address, leave a comment here (comments screend) or email me at carlamlee@gmail.com. I wrote the first batch of cards today, and have cards going out to the following places:

Tempe, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Timboon, Victoria, Australia
Clayton, California
Riverside, California
Santa Rosa, California
Chicago, Illinois
Lawrence, Kansas
Olathe, Kansas
North Bethesda, Maryland
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Plymouth, Minnesota
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Pacific, Missouri
Rolla, Missouri
St. James, Missouri
Brooklyn, New York
Greensboro, North Carolina
Maineville, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Hillsboro, Oregon
Memphis, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Leeds, UK
London, UK
Madison, Wisconsin

Wow, no wonder my hands are tired. Many of those places have multiple cards. I should take a bit of a break, I guess. Maybe I will watch more Pushing Daisies and wrap presents. That's always fun.

Long time without a post. Sorry about that. I have been busy. Mostly with work, of course, but some social stuff too. I will tell you about a few of the social things, because they were a lot of fun.

In no particular order, some of the places I've been.

+ My sister's marriage ceremony

July 5, impatienke married Mr. impatienke in a civil ceremony at the courthouse. Most of the family was able to make it. Next summer, they're having the full social ceremony, and I'll be one of the bridesmaids, but this was nice, too. After, we all went out for a family dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant, and that was, as always, delicious.

+ My sister's graduation

Back in May, impatienke graduated with a couple Bachelor degrees. We went down for her ceremony and it was really delightful. I love family events. We also looked at bridesmaid dresses then, which was slightly less fun, since I get bored fast when clothes shopping, but I do love Kris and hanging out with our friends. The next day, the brothers M hosted her graduation party, a hotdog party which I planned for her at her request. It was a blast, and I think she really enjoyed herself.

+ Tessa Gratton's BLOOD MAGIC launch (link to Tessa's photo post about the event)

Tessa Gratton (user name="tessagratton" site="livejournal.com">'s launch party for her debut novel BLOOD MAGIC was held at Rainy Day Books, a Kansas City area independent bookstore. I'd been looking forward to BLOOD MAGIC for awhile now, and though I haven't had the time to read it (such is life), getting to hold it, with its beautiful cover, was amazing. Unfortunately, I worked right up until the event, did some work at the event, and then went back to work after the event, but at least I had the chance to attend. Everyone was charming and funny and so excited for Tessa, and I had a lovely time.

I'd never been to Rainy Day Books even though I drive past it twice a day at least five days a week, generally, because their hours are fairly short, but it seemed to be a nice store with really friendly people, and I hope to go back. (To the store itself; I'll be attending more events, but a lot of their events take place elsewhere, because it's also a very small store.)

+ Fourth of July fireworks

Though none of us wanted to fight the crowds to get spots around the lake to watch the Fourth of July firework display in my hometown (nor did we want to fight the traffic to leave after), a friend tipped us off to a great spot to watch from afar. We had an excellent view, the show was badass, and I saw many Sky Lanterns, though I'd never seen one before. I particularly loved the ones released in formations. June was a busy month at work and July is the same, so it nice to have a few days off for the holiday and for my sister's marriage ceremony. (Even though I did some work remotely.)

+ Partying with the brothers M

The brothers M brought the Shadow up to me a few weeks ago, and we spent some time hanging out around Kansas City. To thank them for bringing me my bike, I took them to Fogo de Chão, which I had serendipitously learned about from a coworker the day before, and it was amazing. I thought we might have some trouble, because I'm not much of a fan of red meat and Jake can't eat pork, but oh, god, so many options. So many delicious, delicious options. We then went on to the Ameristar, where I learned they'd gotten rid of my favorite werewolf slot machine. (I'd only discovered it on Jake's last visit to KC.) Sad! I tend to find casinos boring pretty fast, though I enjoy going with friends, but loved that stupid werewolf slot machine. It told a werewolf story! Technically, it told numerous werewolf stories! I'm going to see if I can't buy one for myself. Because that's just what I need.

+ Writing

Sort of this falls under work. I do less of it than I'd like, but I do what I can.

+ Full mooon

I've done a lot of traveling under the full moon, which I love, driving with it just outside the window. Thursday night, the moon was high when I got home from work, and it reminded me of the summer in Washington, all those late night walks around Redmond, and all the werewolf stories I told myself.

What I haven't been doing is visiting San Diego again, though Kris and I had planned to go over Memorial Day weekend. Alas, there was too much family stuff and work stuff going on to get away. I hope to make it out sometime this fall. Nor did I get to visit Tucson when karenhealey was in town. Nor did I get to go to Indiana with law school friends. Lots of travel fail lately.

What is coming up:

+ Jim Butcher event sponsored by Rainy Day Books. I'm going with Kris and our friends, even though I haven't liked the series for awhile and haven't even read the last book, I don't think.

+ Chicago trip with law school friends. I'm not sure if this will happen, and it will be a short trip for me if it does, but I want to see them. It's a short, cheap flight, I don't mind a fast turnaround.

+ Mini-writing retreat with some of the Interrobangers. This also may not happen, but if it does, this fall will be awesome.

+ Wiscon 36 in May 2012. Obviously I don't know if this will happen, but it's been awhile since I've gone, and some of the Interrobangers will be there, so I would like to go. Plus I would love to see my friends, particularly cabell with her new family and chr0me_kitten, whom I haven't seen since I left Michigan.

+ AMOK AMOK AMOK with Sarah. I haven't seen my bff in person since 2005, and we are highly overdue for a visit full of amok.

+ Motorcycle ride into Kansas. I need some great wide open in front of me and soon.

And of course, work. Which I love most of the time, but is tiring.

It's been so long I don't remember my tags. Huh.

This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.org with comments. Read the original post there. Comment here or there using OpenID.

Life is really hectic and fun and new right now, and I had some computer problems, so I'm still struggling to get everything set up and caught up. I promise I'll talk about that later, when I have more time. But right now, I am here with three requests.

One, if you would like a holiday card from me, please leave your name and address in a comment. (All comments will be screened and then deleted once I grab the address.) I know I never managed to send cards during law school, but my roommate and I have both set a goal to send cards this year, and I know we'll encourage each other until it's done. (We are actually right now making and wrapping gifts. Because we are awesome.) I send non-religious cards, frequently something shiny and glittery. I don't think I'm making any cards this year, but maybe. And for many of you, I have cards from previous years, so those will go too.

Two, if you have a similar request post, please leave me a link. I haven't read my flist completely in weeks and I know I'm missing things.

Three, if there is something going on in your life you want me to know, please leave me a comment either with an update or with a link to the post where you talked about it.

This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.org with comments. Read the original post there. Comment here or there using OpenID.

Reasons my father is awesome #1098723410987:

I got an email from him today that, among other things, basically said, After you pass the bar in July [note that he is so sure I will pass he doesn't even bother saying I will take the bar, obviously I will just pass it], let's ride up toward Alaska for the month of August, when hopefully it will be warm and dry.

I haven't had the best day, but that cheered me right up. It's not like we haven't talked about this before, but it's starting to feel real. <3

In less than a week, I will be home for Thanksgiving. It can't happen soon enough.

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a splendid evening.

We didn't do much. kinayla came by for a little bit, but she's sick and has to work tomorrow, so she didn't stay long. theinvader stopped in on his way to work. misteraloha and I watched movies all day, cleaned a little, and talked a lot. It was actually very lovely. We watched the ball drop, watched the Central Time Zone celebration, and drank sparkling grape juice, because we had no champagne. I work tonight, 1.30 to 10, but then I'm off Friday, so more cleaning will commence.

Thank you for your phone call, thestalkycop. I hope you got my text message; I know we were having trouble with it earlier.

Much love to all of you. My bed is calling me soon.

May 2004 be so much greater than 2003 ever was.