Barnes & Noble Blogging

Yeah, yeah. Long time, no blog. I know. But let's spare ourselves thirty seconds: I won't write a long paragraph apologizing and making excuses, and you won't have to read one. Instead, let's all take a deep breath (are you doing it? Breathe!), exhale slowly, and exchange a virtual hug. The past four weeks have been a refreshing break for my fingers, but it's good to be back. I've missed you. You look nice today.

I'm currently at Barnes & Noble, enjoying the complimentary wifi and an armchair that was clearly intended for America's ever-growing asses, as I feel like I'm being engulfed in green canvas. I'm comfortable, though, and this slightly ethnic Muzak is somehow making me feel intellectual, even though I just got done reading an American Girl publication that suggested I make crafts out of tissue boxes. An elderly man with one of those phlegmy voices that seems to require a lot of effort is sitting adjacent to me, reading a novel with large print. I just tilted my head as surreptitiously as possible to try and see the title, but the two of us ended up exchanging awkward eye contact. So now I'm blushing and you're going to have to carry on with your life, never knowing what the old guy at Barnes & Noble is reading. I'm sorry I failed you.*

Anyway, I'm not just here to stalk geriatrics and learn about the many uses for old mason jars (a homemade bank! a pencil organizer! a flower pot!). For about a week, I've been devising plans for a new writing project, and since this is my first night I've had free, I decided to isolate myself in an inspiring environment** where I had no other option but to research and brainstorm. My wrist is now sufficiently covered in black ink, I'm riding on a high of the omg-I'm-good-at-something-yesss variety, and I've probably managed to creep out all the mothers in the children's section with my constant hovering and blurb-reading. But judgments aside, tonight has been quite successful. It feels good to be excited about something again.

On an unrelated note, but while we're on the subject of excitement, I've had a handful of noteworthy experiences in the last month. Every summer, I work as a camp counselor for local kids from the foster care system. For a week I live off s'mores and disgusting bile-blue fruit punch, kill spiders, have my life changed by eleven-year-old girls, and usually end up mopping urine at least once. This was my fourth year working for the camp, but it was much more trying and difficult than the first couple... I know I'll be going back next July, but I may have to accept being involved slightly less for the next time. Nevertheless, I learned a lot, and I don't regret stretching myself to that extent. At its toughest point, camp is at least worth the feeling of relief and joy that accompanies going home afterwards.

Since we last spoke, I also had the opportunity to meet a long-time Internet friend of mine, Adam (of whataboutadam fame on youtube), as well as two other youtubers I've watched and liked, Paige (hopeonatenspeed) and Travis (whattravissays). Adam and Paige have been roadtripping through the country all month, and went out of their way to stay at my house for two days, and Travis made a short pilgrimage from his hometown in another part of Ohio. We ate corn, we gossiped about the intricate dramas of internet life, we made stupid jokes. It was pleasant and fun, and for those of you interested, there may or may not be footage of a cute Irish guy in my fiveawesomegirls video this week!

Let's see... I also saw Inception, which blew my mind in a million good ways, and Ramona and Beezus, which SHOCKINGLY did not disappoint or anger me. I consider myself a connoisseur of Beverly Cleary's books, so I went into the theater expecting to complain left and right, but it was actually a very accurate and fun interpretation of the series. I saw it with my mom, who introduced the books to me when I was a kid, and we both embarrassed ourselves by crying through the entire thing. So. See those movies.

On that note, it's just about ten o'clock, so I'm about to be kicked out of the bookstore. A lady with glasses and an employee lanyard is giving me the fisheye. I apologize for the disjointedness of this post. I know I frequently end blog entries with half-hearted "I WILL BLOG MORE OFTEN" promises that are left unkept, so once again, I'll spare you. However, I think I can let you in on a little secret.

You know how Maureen Johnson is doing Blog Every Day in August? Well... winkwinkwink.

Chipotle burritos this year: 22
Subscribers: 31,508
Nail color: "Go on Green," OPI

P.S. The Barnes & Noble lady literally just walked over to me and made a finger-snap/point gesture which I have chosen to read as "Ugh, seriously, LEAVE already."

*So how desperately did you always want to be Harriet the Spy? Me too.
**There's an enormous display of Twilight paraphernalia within eyeshot, inspiring me by serving as a constant reminder that anything can be published.