I've watched this probably 20 times just today

Operation Superhuman Reader: Improved McCarthy

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was much more accessible than Blood Meridian, meaning I could actually follow the plot. Ha. In addition to being able to follow the story, I enjoyed it. The plot in many aspects is a thriller, but the main character, Bell, is deep and his introspection introduces deep themes that make you think. No surprise, McCarthy does throw in some violence, so consider that when deciding to read this book. Honestly, my opinion of McCarthy was wavering with Blood Meridian, but it was recovered with this easier-to-read yet no-less-McCarthy-esque novel.

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The Road by Cormac McCarthy


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If my McCarthy opinion was shaky before, The Road solidified my respect for the author. I don't want to sound cliche in my review, but this really was an excellent novel. The plot isn't action-driven but is rather propelled by the relationship and dialogue between the man and the boy. The relationship created between the man and the boy is simple and profound, and the love McCarthy develops is palpable. While the book is a quick read, it's meaningful and poignant. Yes, this was on Oprah's book list, but that should in no way deter you! The Road makes it onto my favorites list and is one book I will be sure to reread.

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lovely day

Birthdays are a big deal for me, and they always have been. So when Josh's birthday rolled around, I made every effort to make it wonderful. I made muffins for a late breakfast (when we ate them at 11:30ish, Josh was still in his pajamas--I'm glad he sees birthdays as holidays too), and mid-afternoon we headed up to Thanksgiving Point to go through the dinosaur museum there but decided last-minute to see Avatar in 3D instead.

While seemingly not my kind of movie (this was my first time seeing it), I surprisingly enjoyed it. And I found the 3D actually cool instead of headache-inducing.

Now get ready for the real adventure of the day: Josh accidentally locked the keys in the car. So his brother and sister-in-law were awesome enough to drive up and give us the spare key. Hahahahahahaha. While waiting, Josh and I moseyed over to the Show Barn where we watched a few numbers of a jazz dance competition. (Sarah and Dad will actually be here next week for Sarah's clogging competition, which will also take place in Thanksgiving Point's Show Barn.)

After dinner at Five Guys with his siblings, siblings-in-law, and grandparents, our birthday celebration concluded with a few episodes of "30 Rock" (I gave him the second season), birthday cake, and part of The Prestige. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

And one of my favorite parts of the evening? Lighting the candles (yes, 25 of them) super quick and opening the front door to dissipate the candle smoke and turning on the stove fan while physically fanning the smoke out to avoid triggering the smoke detector. Happy birthday, Josh :)

a saga of baking redemption

I was so ready to bake this cake. So ready. I had all the ingredients out, all my favorite baking utensils in cute colors at hand, my apron on, my iPod playing--everything was set to make a wonderful cake.

I was so ready.

I sifted the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt for a grand total of three rounds through the sifter

I beat the batter for the exact times specified.

And then I put those filled cake pans in the oven, expecting cakes deluxe.

 

I cockily licked the batter, expecting grandiosity.

And then, this is what I found after the timer went off, allowing me to check the oven.

 

Dammit. Yes, I said it. Epic fail. It's a blinkin' swimming pool, for cryin' out loud. Oh, how my heart sank, how it sank to the bottom, how it sank as low as my cake. I called Grandma, and I may or may not have used a couple of mild expletives in my venting.

I took as stiff a drink as I could.

However, I resolved to try again, this time implementing the high-altitude adjustments. Both Emily and Grandma had told me that they didn't think I needed to worry about that, and being a lemming--justifiably so, may I add--I didn't think to double-check that information. So this morning I woke up early (early for a Saturday, anyway) and tried again.

I felt greatly vindicated.

Redemption.

wondering?

Wondering how my cake baking is going so far? Don't. Just don't ask. I'm despondent.

a bit daunted

There is a particular birthday on Saturday, and I need to make a marvelous cake. I mean, it needs to be incredible. I want to make this cake because I love baking and making food from scratch, but you know what? I can't remember the last time I made a cake from scratch. Perhaps it was never. So I'm sitting on my bed flipping through my Betty Crocker cookbook and talking to my cake-savvy sister desperately hoping that I make the cake wonderful. A wonderful cake for a wonderful day for a wonderful person.

Wish me luck.

a memorable tribute

Yes, Canada regrettably lost to the USA in Olympic hockey, and yes, I have mixed feelings about that, especially given my beloved Canadian heritage. However, as a consolation to my Canadian DNA and to my Canadian family members, please enjoy this musical tribute.

clarification

In response to Anonymous: "Do you have a copy writer for so good articles?" Global clarification: I am the copy writer. I hire no one. This blog is all Charlotte Jane. I'm flattered that you enjoy my posts, and please take note that they are all mine.

Saturday night date

After a laid-back yet productive day of mostly schoolwork, I enjoyed the following evening:

• Famous Dave's Barbeque in West Jordan with Josh. It's fun to go out to eat every once in a while.
• Barnes and Noble browsing--love it.
• Wal Mart for $5 DVDs
• Katelyn's birthday party, complete with speed skating watching and toasted marshmallows
• The Fifth Element--a little ridiculous but kind of funny sometimes

I love a good Saturday night.

my real life

My life—the big-picture stuff—has all been planned up until this point, the point of my collegiate exit. I have only a couple of more months before I live out the rest of that life plan, and after that, everything seems uncertain. I've been able to postpone quasi-adulthood with my summer New Era internship, but after that, I don't know how I can avoid "real life." But really, isn't "real life" such a flawed term, anyway? Because the life I lead right here and right now is my real life, regardless of how "adult" or otherwise it is at any given moment.

So in living my real life, I'm facing an aspect of living I've never had to encounter before. I've always been able to steer clear of a long-term 9-to-5 job, car insurance, and a mortgage. Even the rent I've paid for my college apartments has been subsidized by living with three other girls. The real life I'm living is facing impending and unfamiliar change; I don't think I've ever experienced a change as significant as the one I'll experience in my transition from college student to quasi-adult. I feel like every decision I'm making right now has life-altering ramifications.

Sometimes when the world seems so overwhelmingly vast and I seem so unbelievingly small, I want to rail to the universe and cry, "Just give me a plan!!" That's all I need. Except that I'm wrong. I rarely know what I really need; because when I think I know what I need I get something else that makes sense only later.

In those moments when I doubt and question myself and my place and role in the world, at least I can fall back on the knowledge that I'm a daughter of God, who is a divine and exalted being, and it's my destiny to become like Him. In those moments when I second-guess my potential and underestimate my abilities and worth, at least I can know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows my true potential and worth better than I do, a Father who will never lose faith or hope or confidence in me because I'm His child. He believes in me because that's who He is.

And in those inevitable moments of blank uncertainty, once I feel the comfort of a loving Heavenly Father, then I can take a step back and go on listening to HP on my iPod.