The Great Gatsby.

Like everyone else in the world, I've picked up The Great Gatsby in hopes of finishing the book before the film adaptation leaves theatres.

Incidentally, it's on my 100 Must-Reads list, so it looks like we've got ourselves a little "two birds, one stone" scenario. (As an aside, that list is woefully under-updated, I promise to remedy this soon!).

Because I love a spoiler, I've already been reading reviews of the film. They seem to be mostly positive, although with some reservations. The Rotten Tomatoes score is currently only 48%, which seems low, but won't discourage me from checking out the movie.

I love, love, love the film's director, Baz Luhrmann. I adore (and own) his first three films: Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge! - his fantastical, larger-than-life approach to film suits me juuuust fine.

I'm 3 chapters into the novel, but I'm having difficulty disappearing into the story. I want to love it so much, but it's not happening for me. Someone wise once told me You Can't Hurry Love...so I'll just have to wait...love don't come easy...it's a game of give and take...

Sorry.

Have you read Gatsby? Have you seen the film? What did you think?

(Image via)

Imagine More.

I've been in a bit of a creative slump lately. I'm having a lot of trouble pulling stories and pieces together from the scribbled notes and half-ideas that I leave laying all over the place.

Now that the sun is back, I'm feeling re-invigorated. As I try to get my imagination moving, it seems like the perfect time to celebrate and thank those whose imagination, creativity, and passion continue to inspire me!

Scott Wilson, my friend and a brilliant self-taught photographer who captures people and places so beautifully. (Also a shout-out to his frequent subject, Natalia, who is imaginative in a PhD-in-Epidemiology-kind-of-way...):

Craig, my old high school chum, and his wife Cassie, writers at The Broken Plow. They share their adventures (and misadventures) in clean living, gardening, and DIY home renos in their new/old home in Indiana. Lots of great photos and tutorials on their site:

Amanda Brunk, (who I have worked for since 2007!), musical director extraordinaire. Her passion for music and creating an inclusive arts setting is inspiring:

I have a new writing project in the works, and I'm hoping this dose of imagination will help me get the ball rolling. More on this later (hint: it was inspired by this)!

P.S. You can see my previous Imagination posts here and here.

e-Readers.

What's your feeling on e-Readers? Jo gave me a Kobo as a gift a couple of years ago, and I absolutely love it! It's so slim, light, and handy - I keep it in my bag wherever I go. Contrary to popular belief, the screen doesn't hurt your eyes. The Kobo is front-lit, so it's very much like looking at a piece of paper versus a laptop (the downside being that you need a separate booklight to read when it's dark).

My one beef is that it can be difficult to find a deal on books - $10-$20 seems like quite a lot for an electronic file to me. There used to be a lot more promo codes, but it seems that many publishers don't accept them anymore. Does anyone know any sneaky ways to get e-book deals?

That being said, I have been loving catching up on my classics with all of the free, public domain downloads.

I have also had really good experiences with Kobo tech support (my Kobo isn't a piece of junk, I'm just a techo-idiot).

I feel like I'm betraying books when I talk about the Kobo so lovingly. Nothing could ever change how I feel about real, live, bound, paper books, but I'm an e-Reader convert. I admit it.

What's your deal? Are you on Team e-Reader or Team Books 4 Lyfe?

(Image via Poorly Drawn Lines)

Love to the Mums.

Happy (almost) Mother's Day, mamas!

I love mums. I love all the mums.

Obviously I love my mum best, but I have a real appreciation for many of my friends' mums, too. T's mum and I meet regularly for visits, and I'm on a texting basis with more than one mum.

Most people think this is weird. Well, most people are real judgy! Mums know stuff, guys. A lot of it. Sometimes they tell me some of it. And they never think it's inappropriate to drink wine, even at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday. And they let me look at hilarious baby pictures of my friends. And they feed me.

Basically, they're the best kind of people. Mums. You heard it here first.

Now that I'm the ripe old age of 29, I know more and more mums. Not just my mum and her mum brethren, but mums my own age - it's really strange, actually. When my mum was my age, I was already a fully formed baby, wandering around and causing mischief. I have a difficult enough time wrangling my stubborn beagle, I can't imagine being responsible for a real, human child.

Brave, brave mamas, I admire your courage.

Here's to all the strong, clever, thoughtful, fun(ny), amazing ladies in my life; you teach and inspire me everyday.

But, especially, here's to my mum - the smartest, toughest, weirdest, dance party-est, best mum of all. You made me who I am, and society blames/thanks you.

Love you, mum!

P.S. A Song for Mama courtesy of Boyz II Men (get serious, they're the best).

(Image via)

Nerd Language.

Last week, my geekalicious sister guest-blogged about anime.

So, let's talk about nerds now.

I went to school, and now work, at a notoriously nerdy school (I'm pretty sure I'm using the word "nerd" correctly, I used this infographic and Venn Diagram to confirm).

Here are some nerdy things that I love:

1. Math jokes
2. Tetris stackable desk lamps
3. Also, Tetris
4. The International Quidditch Association

And here are some things, frequently loved by nerds, that I do not love:

1. The Lord of the Rings books
2. The Lord of the Rings films
3. Star Trek (any of the TV incarnations and/or films)
4. Star Wars
5. Comic books (although, I did love me some Archie in my day)
6. Films based on comic books (yes, yes, I'm aware that Heath Leger was legendary as the Joker)
7. The Big Bang Theory (I mean the show, I'm okay with the theory...)
8. Dungeons and Dragons
9. Communicating using fictional alphabets
10. Magic cards

What kinds of nerd things do you love? I think I need to expand my nerd horizons...

(Image via)

In Honour of Maurice.

One year ago, we bid farewell to the incomparable Maurice Sendak. His words and illustrations continue to fill my heart with wonder. Take a moment and remember him today!

P.S. Check out this post for a link to a great NYT piece on Sendak.

(Image via Poorly Drawn Lines)

No Blogging Ever.

I am sick.

I've been sick for a week.

I have a chest infection and double pink eye and all the worst, grossest things.

And that's why I'm not blogging, because I can't compartmentalize. All I want to talk about is how sick I am, and nobody should be subjected to that.

Here are 4 things that went on in the walk-in clinic today:

1. A guy with the words, "Counting Crows" tattooed down his calf showed up.

2. A woman with a gooey, sniffly nose refused to get a Kleenex. So she sniffed and sniffed and sniffed, and I was very mad.

3. A man in shorts and cowboy boots was there. So...

4. I had such a coughing fit that two people actually moved away from me. Yes. I was that person in the clinic today.

Must. Get. Family. Doctor.