Congratulations, Scott!

This past weekend, Team Nabokov had the pleasure of attending the book-release party for Grand Avenues hosted by the ever-lovely Happy Booker. We welcomed many reunions with old pals from George Mason University's University Writing Center and former professors.

But of course, the evening was all for Scott.


Kate, BR, Theresa, and Scott.


I hope I can do this some day. I mean, for my own book that is.


We tried not to embarrass him (too much).

I Did It Again.

The problem I have with Nick Hornby novels is that whenever I pick one up and start reading it, I can't for the life of me put it down. True for High Fidelity, About a Boy, and now A Long Way Down.

My reading list gets bumped again.

Tom and Katie.

Just a slight observation made by T-bop. Hilarious.

Time to roll up my sleeves.

Over the past two years, little known to some, I've continued researching and redesigning my Tulsa piece. Now, the real work begins. I've bought my super-pens and college-ruled composition books, found my Library of Congress Researcher's card, and I think I'm ready to get into the realm of putting together an actual piece of history. I'm also planning a trip to Oklahoma this winter to dive into the University of Tulsa's archives.

All I can say is, writing a book is hard. Writing nonfiction is harder.

I'll be hanging out after work at the LOC a couple times a week. Yay!

Note: If you're like me and have to write everything by hand and then compile and type it out, I highly recommend the PaperMate X-Tend retractable medium ballpoint pen. They allow me to write for hours without aching.

Redesign.

Gave the Space, if you will, a facelift for its second anniversary.

Content. (maybe.)

1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.

Riding home with all three of my brothers listening to Pete Yorn on a Friday night.

The next couple of years are going to be full of transitions and changes. The four of us have been all we've had our entire lives because we moved around so much. And it will happen again soon. My oldest brother is thinking about college in Florida, my middle brother is already out in Lexington attending VMI, the baby in the family will graduate high school in 2008. The world has different plans for each of us. We just have to wait and see.

Come this summer, the house my parents live in now will be the longest they've been in one place since before I was born. How long will they stay there? Unknown. But it's the house my brothers grew up in; three brothers over five years from childhood to near-adult and adulthood, and me, looking in from the outside. My home has always been that brick house on the edge of the world in Oklahoma; watching the storms bubble green and sweep in from the West, standing on my back porch leaning into the wind and allowing myself to let go and be held by it.

I look at my life and the places I've lived, things I've done, opportunities taken and wasted. I'm currently living in my twelfth place of residence (not counting school). I've lived in six states. I've met people that have changed my life; I still do. And for some reason, I keep asking for more.

Love, life, happiness (and my brothers): nothing more, nothing less.

Blatant Advertisement.

Grand Avenues: The Story of the French Visionary who Designed Washington, D.C. is now available at your local bookstore. Written by the greatness that is Scott W. Berg, my professor and nonfiction mentor, Grand Avenues explores the life of Pierre L'Enfant and his Washington.

It was truly a pleasure to witness Scott's work from research to final project throughout my undergrad time at George Mason University, and I'm excited to finally have the final work-- nice paper choice, Random House, bravo-- in my possession!!!

Checked the Borders in Fairfax tonight with good friend T-Bop. They're right in the front with the new nonfiction releases. Ready. Go.

Upcoming.

Feb 16: Lily Allen
Mar 4: Scissor Sisters
Mar 6: Badly Drawn Boy
Mar 10: Flogging Molly at Shamrock Fest
Mar 20: Pete Yorn
Apr 7: Anti-Flag

Apparently, I like going to shows.

The Problem with Dress Pants.

Like most people in the Washington, DC area, I have to dress for work. I usually wear a pair of slacks, a collared shirt, and a cardigan, blazer, or another sweater. All mix and match, so I have plenty of combinations. I'm the most under-dressed person in my office because I don't wear a suit. Why don't I? Because suits are lame. No, not really. I don't wear suits because I bought them while I still had some college weight on, and now that it's gone, nothing fits. And I need to find a good tailor.

I wear pants because I do a lot of walking. I walk from the Metro station in Foggy Bottom to my office every day-- rain, snow, or deep freeze (like now). When it's warmer out, I walk from my apartment to the Metro station where I live, but the coldness has changed everything.

Dress pants are good for some things. They're oddly comfortable, easy to move around in, and they make your butt look good, but that's just my opinion.

But, dress pants also get wrinkled easily, they pick up all kinds of lint, and when it's cold outside, it's like you're running around in just your under-roos. The reason I hate dress pants the most? They have a normal waist or come up just below the waist, making whoever is wearing them, no matter how skinny or in-shape they are, look about three or four months pregnant.

And this is why I hate dressing up for work. No, I'm not expecting. But thanks for asking.