Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Thankful...

With the arrival of Thanksgiving last Thursday, it really made me think about what Im thankful for.

I am thankful for...

* having my grandma for 25 wonderful years, 23 more than we expected.  She was there to see me graduate from high school and college, for my softball games, to see me coach in the state semi-finals, and all the ordinary moments.  She was my rock and I miss her more than words can say. 
* still having my grandpa here with us.  While my grandma was the catalyst for our family, my grandpa is the glue that holds us together.
* my wonderful friends, both old and new, who have all become an extended family to me and have given me a shoulder to lean on when I couldnt stand on my own.
* a job with wonderful coworkers who make every day an adventure.
* the love of greyhounds, even though theyre not mine.  The soulful eyes and long needle noses never cease to make me smile.
* having known Coy and Gus, even though it was only for a short time.  
* my wonderful family, I dont know how I would have made it through this fall with out them.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Life...

So, my last three posts here have been pretty depressing and I wish I could say that Im all better, but that would be a lie...

Life has gone back to 'normal'...back to work, doing stuff around my grandpas (although I still frequently catch myself saying grandparents), ringing bells, family dinners...all the stuff that I used to do before Oct 10, but normal will never be the same again.  

I find myself wanting to call my grandma on a daily basis..nothing in particular just to say HI or tell her something or make plans to go out to lunch...and on several occasions picking up the phone, about to dial it.  Then I realize that she wont be there if I do.

I am going to continue my grandma's 'field trips' with Claire so she wont lose grandma and her 'special time' in one fell swoop.  Its been fun so far and has done as much good (or more) for me as it has for her.  Im going to try to do something at least once a month.

Im not really looking forward to Thanksgiving or Christmas...her favorite holiday.  But well put smiles on our faces and try to keep it as normal as possible for the younger kids (like we did 13 years ago).

Theres that word, 'normal', again...but what is normal anymore, really...

Sunday, October 19, 2008

N's Bold Gust

There is another sweet greyhound running free at the bridge...

Gus was diagnosed with Osteo on Tuesday and they let him go this afternoon.

Run free, sweet boy...Ill never forget your smile!

N's Bold Gust
9/4/2000 - 10/19/2008

:'(

Monday, October 13, 2008

My rock

Early Friday morning, I lost one of the most important people in my life.  For 25 years she was there - she was my grandma, my friend, my confidant and my rock.

Kathleen Marie Carvill
2/2/1937-10/10/2008



What shall I say about the Irish?

The utterly impractical, never predictable,
Sometimes irascible, quite inexplicable, Irish.
Strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit,
And stubborn refusal to bow in defeat.
She's spoiling and ready to argue and fight,
Yet the smile of a child fills her soul with delight.
Her eyes are the quickest to well up with tears,
Yet her strength is the strongest to banish your fears.
Her hate is as fierce as her devotion is grand,
And there is no middle ground on which she will stand.
She's wild and she's gentle, she's good and she's bad.
She's proud and she's humble, she's happy and she's sad.
She's in love with the ocean, the earth and the skies,
She's enamoured with beauty wherever it lies.
She's victor and victim, a star and a clod,
But mostly she's Irish - in love with her God.

Monday, September 29, 2008

He was truly one of the best...

This morning one of the most handsome, sweetest, gentlest best, greyhounds I know crossed the bridge...

Coy was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in early September and fought a valliant battle.  Even on Friday, he greeted me at the gate at Anne and Ben's with a smile and a stuffy in his mouth.  When I would pay attention to Mezzie, he would go lay down on his pillow, but every time I came back to the gate to see Zoe, he would come hopping back over on his 3 legs.  

I dont know how many greyhounds were adopted because people met Coy, but Im sure that it is more than I can count on two hands.    

Run free, sweet, handsome, black boy - free from the pain of dreaded osteo.

Until we meet again, handsome boy, enjoy your twinkies and oreos and know that you are dearly missed down here...

White light and Godspeed! 

Coy - N's Xtreme  02/10/00 - 09/29/08 

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Osteosarcoma

I will never, never, NEVER understand the terrible disease that is osteosarcoma.  It has taken far too many of these sweet, gentle dogs far before their time should be up...

And it will take another all too soon...

Coy - Ive only known you for a short time, less than a year, but I will never forget you.  Watching you work your 'magic' on anyone who met you has truly been a gift.  

White light and Godspeed!

:'(

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Sometimes its the little things that bring it all back...

So...this fall it will be 4 years since I left for Cork.

Every now and then there are little things that will bring the memories flooding back like they happened just yesterday...and one just happened to crop up at work...

My coworkers and I were talking about music yesterday morning and started talking about how FANTASTIC David Gray is, so I decided to put him on shuffle on my ipod.  Suddenly, 'Babylon' came on and it was as if I was sitting in the lobby of Mardyke after a night of climbing, listening to it for the first time on Lindsey's ipod.  I could feel all of the feelings I felt while I was there - the happiness, excitement, and joy of finally being able to be myself; the thrill of hiking and climbing; and the peacefulness of being able to breathe for a semester.  It made me want to go back...

Now, I know that I could never go live over there again...there is too much tying me to the states now, but I think Im finally ready to go visit.  Hopefully within the next 5 years I will make it back.  I would love to see Dave, Tom, JC, Askea, Declan and Brad (and anyone else that is still around) again; see UCC and wander around Cork, climb Carranthoul again and maybe do the Reeks Ridge, just be back 'home'.  

My co-workers laughed when I told them that where ever I go in this world, Cork will always be my true 'home'.  Im happy being back in the States, dont get me wrong, but a part of me is and always will be in Cork.  There is just no way of explaining it to someone who hasnt been there...its just a magical, magical place! :)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Prince: The toothless wonder

I first met Prince back in February, after returning from the GUR (greyhound underground railroad) to Kenosha, WI to pick up the 5 newly retired GEMs.  It was a crazy, exciting, long, fun weekend with a very emotional ending.  Robin and Laze had invited Merrie, Bob, Amanda, Anne, Ben and I to stay for dinner after the dog drop, and after spending 20 minutes in their driveway dealing with the train wreck ending, we went inside and were mobbed by their 6 greyhounds - Hefty, Gina, Prince, Gus, Duke and Karroo.  This was the first time I had ever met their dogs and the only thing on my mind was finding a very large glass of Robin's DELICIOUS (so I was told by Anne) margaritas to help me relax.  Hefty, Gina, Gus and Karroo were easily distinguishable...white, red, brindle and white/red respectively.  Prince and Duke, on the other hand were both black and VERY interested in what we were having for dinner.  No matter where I turned there was always a black dog.

Fast forward a few weeks to when our application for Mezzie was denied.  The only person on the board that I trusted (besides Anne) and knew would listen to what I had to say was Laze (GEM's president), so I wrote her an email to let her know my frustrations and expected that to be the end of it.  Imagine my surprise the next day when I had an email waiting for me from her.  She said that she would rather talk in person (or at the very least over the phone) and invited me to come down to her house.  I spent two hours sitting in her living room talking about everything that had happened and her thoughts on it all, when I mentioned that we wanted to do a 'foster with intent' with Mezzie to see how my dads allergies would react to a greyhound.  Without hesitation she said..."If you want to see how he will react, why dont you take one of ours for the week?"  They were leaving for Jekyll Island, GA for a week and needed still needed someone to watch Prince and Gina.  The next evening Prince hitched a ride from Brighton to GB with Ben and Duke.  

I picked him up about 10 pm and our 'adventure' began.  Laze sent a note in his bag with his feeding instructions and other info that I needed along with the comment "He has really bad teeth and really bad breath, but just love him anyways."  Well...that statement was a little understated...he had AWFUL breath.  He had been adopted 6 years earlier and had an owner that didnt care for him very well.  He hadnt had a dental in that time which caused the bad breath.   

But, despite his history, he was a huge lovey-dovey, goofball and stole my heart   Laze had told me that he would gladly sleep with me, if I wanted, or he would sleep on the floor.  I decided that a twin bed was just too small for me and a greyhound, so I put a pile of blankets on the floor by my bed.  An hour after I had gone to bed, I woke to him chattering his teeth, pacing and whining by the side of my bed.  Like the softy I am, I gave in and let him sleep in bed with me.  From that day on, he has become my snuggle-buddy.

A couple weeks after they got back from Jekyll Island, Robin and Laze asked if I would be interested in staying at their house and watching all of their dogs while they were away at different events, instead of them having to find people to watch them all.  I told them absolutely and started watching the dogs in April when they went to Gettysburg.  Prince learned quickly that whenever I was there, he was allowed to sleep in the bed.  He has gone from waiting to be invited up on the bed, to automatically getting up there when I go to upstairs.  

Since our family reunion this July was at the end of the same week as my first week of work, I couldnt go so I told Robin that I would be able to watch the dogs while they were in Louisville after all.  I was talking to Robin the Saturday night they were gone (Gina had been sick since they had left and I was out of paper towel :P) and she kept apologizing it then told me that they had gone to see the pet psychic.  She told me that Prince had told her that he really loved me and that all the dogs, even Hefty, liked it when I stayed at the house with them.

Well, I didnt think much of it until she was telling me more when they got home Sunday night.  They had been having problems with Prince growling, snapping and biting before they left and the psychic told them they he was 'testing' them, thinking that if he was bad enough they would 'give him back'.  The psychic also told them that he really, really loved me and would come live with me.  

Since theyve been back from Louisville, Ive been over at their house quite a bit - Robin has been out of town and Laze asked me to let the dogs out if she was going to be late getting home from work.  Every time I come in the door Prince is the first to greet me and is my shadow the entire time I am there.  If I am sitting on the couch he is usually snuggled up on my lap, if I get up for some reason he either gets up and follows me or rests his head on the back of the couch to watch me, he has even started sleeping with me downstairs while the rest of the dogs are upstairs.  Robin and Laze joke that Im his girlfriend! :P      

A week ago Wednesday, Prince finally had a chance to go see a veterinary dental specialist to have his teeth looked at.  The vet ended up removing 14 teeth, including all 4 canines, (to go along with the 14 the normal vet was able to pull last year), leaving him with just 7 tiny teeth.  Despite all he has been through, he is happier that Ive ever seen him.  He has the energy of a 3 year old puppy in a 9 1/2 year old body.  

He is still the goofy, silly, lovey, cuddle bug that stole my heart back in February but with MUCH better breath.  I truly love him as much as if he were my own dog!



My silly, goofy, cuddle-bug - Prairie Prince!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Before I head to bed...

****8 years ago today: July 22, 2000*****

1) How old were you?
Just turned17

2) Where did you go to school?
Grand Blanc H.S.

3) Where did you work?
U-12 Softball umpire

4) Where did you live?
Grand Blanc, MI

5) Where did you hang out?
softball field

6) Did you wear contacts?
indeed

7) Who was your best friend?
AB, Meg

8)How many tattoos did you have?
None

9) How many piercings did you have?
2, but I never wore earings

10) Did you drive a car?
Buick Regal

11) Had you been to a real party?
not so much

12) Had you had your heart broken?
nah

13) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorce?
definitely single

14) Any Kids?
definitely no

***4 years ago July 22, 2004

1) How old were you?
Just turned 21

2) Where did you go to school?
Albion College

3) Where did you work?
Michigan State Police Crime Lab - Sterling Heights/FURSCA...best summer EVER! :D

4) Where did you live?
Albion: I-house, Farranlea Hall, CORK; with my parents, Mo's

5) Did you wear glasses?
just before I went to bed

7) Who was your best friend?
Erin

8) How many tattoos did you have?
still none

9) How many piercings?
5

10) What car did you drive?
Grand Am

11) Had your heart broken?
indeed

12) Were you Single/Taken?
still single

13) Any Kids?
nooo

*****Today: July 21, 2008*****

1) How old are you?
Just turned 25...scary!

2) What do you do?
QC tech

3) Where do you live?
still at home (boooo)

4) Do you wear glasses?
my eyes havent seemed to get the message that I dont want to, so yeah

5) Who is your closest friend?
Laura, Anne, Rachel, Robin

6) Do you talk to your old friends?
not nearly enough

7) How many piercings do you have?
5

8) How many tattoos?
none...contemplating one more and more :P

9) What kind of car do you have?
Saturn Vue, although I wish it got better gas millage

10) Has your heart been broken?
yeah, but what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, right?!

11) Single/taken/married/divorced?
still waiting for prince charming

12) Any Children?
Haha...not so much!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Happy Birthday to ME!!! :)

Yesterday was my 25th birthday...yup 1/4 century old! :P  It was pretty quite, but nice.  I picked up Ferny-girl and took her and Gus to Frankenmuth for the GEM M&G.  It was REALLY humid and rained, but fun.  We sat at the booth for a while until Gus got restless and then I took both of them and walked around River Place Shops (where the M&G was at).  We talked to quite a few people about how fabulous greyhounds are and I think there were several that were very interested.  About 215 it really started to rain and both hounds were getting pretty warm, so we headed back to Brighton.  Laura came over for dinner and we ordered pizza (yummy!) and hung out.  We were both pretty tired, so she and Ferny headed home about 800 and I watched some of the Tigers game (GRRRRR!!! >:0 ).  About 930, Robin called (I thought it was something to do with the dogs), but it turned out to be Robin, Laze, Hilde and Merrie singing me Happy Birthday!  It was really funny and made me smile!  Other than that, I just snuggled with Prince and watched Thursday's episode of 'Hopkins'.

Today, I met up with Amy for lunch.  It was very yummy and good to see her.  Even though she lives closer now that shes moved, I dont see her a whole lot!  Hopefully that will change.  After lunch we went to Borders.  They had a TON of books on sale, so I got a coffee table book called America 24/7, which is a compilation of pictures from all over the country during a one-week span.  It was normally $50 and I got it for $4.99!!!  I also got a book of M.C. Esher's drawings.

Now, Im just hanging out, watching 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' with Prince snuggling on my lap.  Im thinking of taking Gus, Gina and Prince to get ice cream later today.  We shall see how adventurous I feel! :P

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

EXHAUSTED!!!!

Well...I started at Exatec on Monday.  The first 3 days have been filled with a s@#$ load of reading and a lot of asian men!  

Ok...that sounds really bad.  Yesterday and today weve had people from Toyota walking through the lab and plant to look at our production and testing.  Well...because they were there (and this was a HUGE thing for Exatec), we all had to look professional (dressed up, lab coats...the works) and every time they could possibly walk by, walk through, or just plan look up from the operations floor into the lab we had to be busy.  Well...I didnt know jack about what they did or how to look busy, so someone would give me a quick 5 minute training on a test and then have me test the same two samples over and over and over and over and...well you get the idea!  The only problem was that the 5 minute training just confused the H@** out of me.  Needless to say, its been a whole lot of information overload in the last 3 days!

Hopefully I will be able to learn a little more tomorrow and Friday!

Anywho...from now until Sunday night Im hanging out in Brighton with Robin and Laze's hounds while theyre in Louisville.  Saturday, if the weather is nice, Im planning on taking one or two of them up to Frankenmuth for a GEM M&G.  I figured its a good way to spend my birthday!

Hope everyone has a GREYT weekend! :)

Friday, July 11, 2008

EEEEEKKKKKK!!!! :D

I just found out that Im going to be an Auntie!!!!


I am SOOOOOO excited!!! :D


Laura just called me on her way home from work to tell me!  I am SOOO excited for her and Shawn.  Theyve been trying for so long!  It may even be twins!!!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

A day of new beginnings...

This past Saturday was a day that many in our family never thought we'd see.  It has been a long 12.5 years, but it was definitely worth the wait.  Mo and Jim got married on Saturday at Central United Methodist Church in Detroit.  Jim officially became part of our family and it is so nice to see Mo smiling again!

It was definitely one long, hectic, but fun, weekend.  My parents and I left GB at 945 to meet our family at a park in Shelby Twp for our family pictures (my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary present).  We were done and out of the park in an hour, which is just a small feat.  We took SOOOOOO many pictures...everyone (all 25 of us), Grandma/Grandpa with the grandkids, my grandparents with their six kids and the six kids + spouses, my grandpa with his two boys and two boys + four sons-in-law, my grandma with her four girls 
and four girls and 2 daughters-in-law and then each individual family.  I will post some of the family shots when we get the CD from the photographer.

Then it was off to Julies for a scrumptious lunch of stuffed chicken, fried green beans, cheesy potatoes and salad.  After lunch we all just hung out at until it was time to get ready for the wedding.

AB met me at Julies about 3 and we took off for Detroit about 330.  It was an interesting trip to say the least...including me coming to a dead stop in the middle of I-94 because I wasnt paying attention and almost missed Woodward (and I was in the left lane :P).  Our first missions was to drop off the seating tickets and guest book at Cheli's.  Well...Mo told me that all I had to do was go in and ask for Jen and we would be taken care of.  After asking 4 times and 15 minutes, Jen FINALLY emerged from the 3rd floor saying that she didnt even know we were there!  Oh well...luckily the church was right next door, so we made it with plenty of time.

The ceremony was beautiful.  It was very simple and classic.  Mo looked gorgeous...she was absolutely glowing.  Annora, Nick, Emma and Nadine did readings.

Now it was time to PARTY!!!  With the exception of a little snafu with the seating tickets (Jim or Mo (Im not sure which...they each blamed each other :P) had some of the tickets in the wrong envelopes), but we got it figured out.  The food was delicious!  We had the 2nd and 3rd floors, and roof of Cheli's Chili...which was a ton of fun.  Mo and Jim were able to have a message put up on the Comerica Park scoreboard to all of the guest and we spent the night hanging out, drinking and just having fun.  I still dont know how Emma, Annora, Nadine and Claire were still walking at the end of the night.  From the first song the DJ played, they were out there dancing.

Sunday Sharon made breakfast for Brian and Sheryl, my parents and I before Brian and Sheryl headed back to Chicago.  We hung around Sharons for a little while before heading over to Jim and Mo's for pizza.  Maggie and I finally made it back to GB about 5 and then my parents, Maggie, Tom and I all went to Chili's for dinner before we met the Bendis'.

It was definitely quite the weekend.  Im so happy to see Mo smiling again and to have Jim be an official part of our (wacky, crazy) family! :)  Theyre already planning to have a party at Cheli's next summer around their anniversary!  

Now, for those of you dying to see pictures (RACHEL!!!), here are some.  I will post more once we get the CD from the photographer!

Claire-bear and Jims nephew Erik - Flower girl and ring bearer

Krista and Matt - Maid of Honor and Best Man

Saying their vows

The Priest blessing the vows
 
Jim giving Mo her ring

Mo giving Jim his ring

Matt pouring his sand into the vase during the Unity Ceremony

Mo pouring her sand

Mr and Mrs Jim Bur :)

Jim and Mo's message to the guests on the Comerica Park scoreboard

My beautiful date AB and I

First dance as husband and wife

They werent quite sure what they were supposed to do...

Uncle Jimmy to the rescue

Robert and Annora taking over the dance floor

Mike dancing with Nadine

Me with my daddy

Matt dancing with his grandma

Just for fun...Annora and Robert thought they should go like that to the wedding! :P

Friday, July 4, 2008

Good News!!

I had an interview yesterday with a company in Wixom called Exatec.  They are developing polycarbonate coatings for automotive windows and it sounds fascinating (nerdy, but fascinating none the less)!  It all went very well...its a young group, small company, and very friendly.  I left after the interview feeling very hopeful that it would work out in my favor.  Well...about two hours later I got a call from the staffing company that I have been working with and they want me to start July 14th!!! :D

I am ecstatic, to say the least.  I am hoping that it will challenge me not only as a scientist, but as a person - make me think outside the box a little.  Since this is technology that isnt currently on the market, everything is experimental.  

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Lets see where my bookmark has been...

Im bored and procrastinating, so Im stealing this from Rachel! Lets see how I do... :P

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible (parts of it)
7 Wuthering Heights
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold (FABULOUS!!!)
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Not too bad considering that the only lit classes I took in college were Irish lit... :)

Starting from scratch...

Ive had a livejournal account since I was in college, but decided that I wanted to make a fresh start.  Hopefully I will be better at posting here than I was on my lj!

Time to close my eyes and leap...