I've Been Listening to This Song

Dragons, Oh My!

Lately I've been re-enjoying the delicious fantasy world of Christopher Paolini. I've plowed through his first novel, Eragon, and the second, Eldest, is a bit under halfway read (reread). This is all in anticipation of the long awaited third novel in his series, Brisingr. Brisingr will be released around Sept 2oth, so there is plenty of time to catch up.

Paolini's Inheritance cycle (thats what this series is called) is the flavor of the moment here at jholiday blog. The book follows a young man named Eragon who finds a dragon egg that hatches into an intelligent dragon. Eragon and his new dragon Saphira explore the world, grow up, and challenge the course of history The books are written in the vein of The Lord of the Rings with similar characters and plot. The writing is so charming and the characters are so endearing that I am thoroughly absorbed by the story and constantly amazed at the proficiency of Paolini's grasp of language. Did I mention he wrote the first book, Eragon, when he was 15? These books are truly the next fantasy classics of this generation, and while they stand in the shadow of Tolkien's masterpieces, they also stand alone as seminal works.

On Writing

I enrolled in a creative writing class at Cuesta. I used to shudder at the thought of a writing class because that would leave my work exposed and vulnerable to the red pen of the instructor. I know that just one person's opinion is not the end-all decision of the value of my work, but I've always been afraid that my arrangement of words and spinning of ideas is just average. For the class we'll be expected to create several short stories, poems and smaller miscellaneous writing exercises. I can feel the palpitations of anxiety welling in myself as I imagine submitting my attempts at good fiction. I attempt to write often, but I have more ideas for stories than time or drive to write them. I suppose I've always known that I should be a writer, but do I write well?

Let the games begin..

So while the Olympics in Beijing are off to a roaring start, I'm beginning my own gaming event here in my cozy apartment in San Luis Obispo. While I'm not sure everyone can relate to this, every once and a while I get a hankering to play video games all day. Today's schedule of events includes: Travian, a new online strategy game that happens in real-time, Neverwinter Nights 2, which I will be picking up from Circuit City shortly, and maybe a little Zelda: Twilight Princess, if I get bored with the other two too quickly. To keep myself from becoming a complete shut in today, I'm going to go see the new 3D movie at the Fremont with some friends tonight, thought I'm sure that doesn't do anything to help lower my nerd levels that are now dangerously high...

Jules is tired

After three days of work, interrupted sleep, double shifts at work, and no sleep, I'm on my way to my earliest bed time in...well, I can't remember the last time I went to bed before midnight. Today was particularly tiring because I woke at dawn to figure out the time of my friends' wedding! I never got an invitation, so I had to call my friends to ascertain the time of the ceremony. No one was answering their phones, so I was on "wedding watch" from 8 till 10 until I finally found out that the wedding was at 11. The ceremony was beautiful, and Steve and Christina were so excited and in love, which is the only requirement for good wedding to me.
At the reception, the most wonderful wedding-ly possible thing happened. I caught the bouquet!!! All superstition aside, all girls want to catch the bouquet. It's the competion. Like winning a flowery lottery. Today, no elbows were thrown, nor toes trampled. If I hadn't put out my arms it would have smacked me in the face. It was meant to be.
My next blogging challenge will be to post a picture. Maybe you'll get to see a picture of me from today, clutching my prize. But for now, slumber awaits...

jholiday returns

I know all you loyal readers have been on the edge of your seats since my last post, checking the page day and night for the Chico updates and gossip that I promised. I'm up late tonight after too much tea, and I can't but reminiscence of my week in my hometown, so it seems perfect to write an update and mark my return to San Luis.
I spent my days wondering around downtown Chico, which is much like dt San Luis. This was partly because I like to window shop and partly because I couldn't think of anything else to do. As a tenacious book lover, the used book store in Chico is one of my most anticipated stops. While there, I scored a really nice copy of "The Return of the Native" for my antique hardbound collection, "The Myth of Sisyphus", and "The Sign of the Four", (which is one of the few Sherlock Holmes stories I have not yet read). I also promise a review of "The Myth of Sisyphus" when I finally finish it (not an easy read, that one)
When I settled onto a patio table outside of a coffee shop next door, I had the pleasure of attracting many of the downtown Chico "personalities", until my little table was fully encircled by these perpetual coffee shop philosophers. We talked mainly of books, first my books, then great novels, our jobs, the heat, love lives, people we know. So immersed was I in our little circle that I didn't realize I was due to meet Breanna for dinner until I was very late. I fell all the more in love with my hometown now that I have a friend and good conversation waiting in many a coffee shop.
The weekdays were sprinkled with fun lunches and dinners with my memaw, and a multi day shopping extravaganza with Breanna. The warm Chico nights filled with old friends and long stories over countless pints. And lets just say my imaginary romance with Vlad wasn't all that imaginary after Friday night! When my memaw and step pepaw left for the weekend, I got to add late nights of great music and wine (Paso wine. Holla!) while sitting on their porch, watching the sunk sink past the city lights.
I love it when you get a vacation exactly right, and the joy of being in a new place doesn't fade until the long trek back, whence comes a slow burning yearn for home and the familiar, speeding your journey and closing the last chapter on a fond memory.