Orange Rugs

I do not like the color orange. Its brash and intense and looks terrible on me. But right now I'm craving it, like I'm craving longer days, sunshine and warmth. Visiting TallMan's parents just intenstified the desire for bright cheery and warm, and orange is all these things.
Also, it might've had something to do with their rug.

Their rug was a gorgeous warm orange I had to snap a picture of. It was an area rug so maybe 10x15, and thick. Also, I loved loved loved the pattern. Very Moroccan sort of, not quite, but lovely.











Similar to this one, from Shades of Light, though this one doesn't seem quite as vibrant as the one at the TallMan's parents' house. Of course that might just be the computer or the picture. Either way, I like the pattern, and I might actually like the more muted color, since it would be practical in more homes.

This one from West Elm, the Iznik Dhurrie in Sorrel (which I thought was a type of mushroom, hmm) is similar, and has a GREAT pattern. Its a little different, but I think it would work better in a more classic room, something less modern. There is something about this rug that makes me think of Louis Quatorze chairs. No idea why.

Maybe its too early for orange or its not even in this year, but a quick search didn't find many more orange rugs. Does anyone have a rug store recommendation to share? Or colors that make you happy in the pre-spring months?

Job Search Update

I bet you're all wondering how my job search is going. No? You aren't? That sure is surprising (sarcasm!).
Well, I'll tell you its not going great. I got a letter in the mail a couple days ago from a state agency rejecting me from an internship I don't even remember applying to. And considering that it was sent to my old address and I stopped applying to internships a while ago, I'm guessing it was something I applied to back in January. Ouch.

My current job search scenario includes scouring websites for attorney positions and applying for those if they seem like I am marginally qualified and would be marginally interested. (Applying for jobs I'm not qualified for is stupid, because there is absolutely no point, as opposed to just mostly no point, and I get very cranky when I apply to jobs I'm not interested in, so I try not to do that.)
Perhaps you can tell that I'm finding the whole process hopelessly overwhelming?

The past couple of weeks when I've gone to various websites to start looking for jobs I've been so disheartened that I browse to see whats there then give up.  Yes, cast stones, shun me, I am so very ashamed, but I admit it, I have been not applying to the pitiful few jobs I'm marginally qualified/interested in. I have been applying to jobs for months now, and not getting anywhere, and usually not even hearing back. This is enough to make anyone need a break, whether its dating (you go out with men on lots of first dates and neither of you want a second one), or weight loss (you go to the gym and eat right but some how you end up gaining weight). So I took a two week break.

But conversations with people (ohh do you have a job? no.) and shopping excursions (I'm sorry, I'd love to buy you but I can't) keep ending in me saying "I wish I had a job". Well unless there is a magic fairy kingdom I don't know about (is there?) wishing I had a job isn't going to get me one. Thus, I am approaching this week with a renewed mindset. A fresh slate if you will.

My upcoming priorities are this: Pass my classes, Study for and pass the bar, get a job.
In that order (because I can't take the bar if I don't pass my classes and I can't get a job if I don't pass both my classes and the bar.) So instead of spending my time wishing, I am going to focus on my goals in order. I have a month until I take my exams, and in that month 70% of my time will be spent on my classes and getting ready for exams, 20% on prepping for the bar, and 10% on finding a job. After I take my exams I'll spend 80% of my time on prepping for the bar and 20% on finding a job. After I take the bar I'll spend 100% of my sorry ass time looking for a job.

I'll let you know how this goes.

Book Review: Goat Song

I just tore through Goat Song by Brad Kessler. I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. But really, does that surprise anyone? No probably not.
This is a non-fiction book about a man who moves to a farm in Vermont with his wife and buys a couple goats. The first year is covered in detail, the second year less detail, and then a detailed story of his pursuit to make cheese in the third year.

The first year the goats aren't lactating, but the humans get them knocked up, care for them, consider their diets and habits generally, help them give birth, milk them, and bond with these four legged cud chewers.

The second year the story becomes more about cheese, which is fine with me, and then the third year becomes entirely about cheese. Yum.

Some highlights include: a detailed look at goat sex, which involves self masturbation on the part of the male goat, and peeing in your own face, also the male, a mouth watering account of fresh chevre made from raw milk, and a tendency to look at the historical relationship humans have had with goats and that relationship's impact on our religions, languages, and many many aspects of our lives. Oh and lets not forget the goat poetry.

If goat sex, goat cheese, and goat poetry aren't your thing, then don't read this book. But if you want to learn more about goats, goat cheese, or are feeling like some time outdoors out of the city might do you some good, I recommend this book so highly.

Sleepy Kitty of the Week

Sometimes Monday's are hard... so I'm posting multiple Sleepy Kitty pictures for your enjoyment.

Today's pictures tell a story of a nap. First all cuddled, Parsley and Sage enjoy the warmth of a quiet room.

 

Sage doesn't appreciate her picture being taken, so she wedges her head closer to Parsley, under Parsley's chin.

Later, the nap has progressed from a ying yang cuddle to a "i'm using your butt as my pillow" cuddle. Sorry for the blurry-ness.

Happy MONDAY!

Barnyard Pic of the Week

I feel like these goats are looking at the camera and saying "excuse me, but who do you think you are? ugh, the paparazzi are soooo annoying!"

In North Carolina near where TallMan's parents have a beach house there is an island covered in wild goats. I didn't get to see it this time because the weather was too crappy to take the boat out, but hopefully next time! (Also, yes, these aren't barnyard animals because they're wild, but they ARE goats... which counts, right?)

April Fools

I am not good at this holiday. Why can't we just have April, without the Fools?

Wikipedia says that April Fools has been happening for a long time, and that foolishness has been associated with the first day of April since the 1300's in England.

A not very reliable looking site called "April-Fools" says that it is because in the 1500s the calender was changed from an April 1st start date of the year to a January 1st start date. Interesting. I like this theory.

Snopes, which I think is more reliable, says that while the calender change is a possible origin, there are other theories including finicky weather around the beginning of April, young animals being naive and easily caught, or a vestige of a Celtic celebration.

Then of course there is France, who don't celebrate April Fools they celebrate poisson d'avril, or April Fish. In French class in high school we used to celebrate by cutting out fish and sticking them to each others backs when the person wasn't looking.

Either way, this is a weird holiday, wouldn't you agree? Lets just get on to spring!

Book Review: Passion of Artemisia

I recently read The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland. Susan Vreeland wrote Girl in Hyacinth Blue, which I loved, and Lucheon of the Boating Party, which I took some time to get into but ended up loving as well.

The Passion of Artemisia is similar to her other books in that it is a historical fiction about an artist. Unlike the others, this book is about Artemisia's adult life, and not just the story of one painting.
Synopsis: Artemisia lives during the late middle ages, is a woman, a painter, and her father is kinda an asshat and her husband is not much better.

There are some modern themes in here that are probably taking liberties with what Artemisia was actually thinking at the time, the work/life balance, certain feminist ideas about being a wife and having a passion for your work, etc. But the story is told really well, and it is an engrossing read, strangely I found it engrossing not because of Artemisia but because of her daughter. I wanted to see how her life would turn out, if she'd be like her mother or not and how her mother's past would effect her future.
Overall its a decent historical fiction but if Girl in Blue was a 5 star, Luncheon Party is a 4 star, I'd give this one 2 and a half stars, because I almost gave up on it mid way through because the main character is a little whiny and the story, while well told, has some boring parts.