Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Proper Introduction

Now, to actually let you know something about me. My name is Laura, I more commonly go by Lars. I have my master's degree in library and information science, but I am one of the masses of un- or under-employed people who graduated around the same time as I did. While my long term goal is to be a librarian at a public library (my specialty is teen/YA), I am happy to just be able to work with books.

I have been married for just over a year to my college sweetheart, and we recently moved back to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh, where he did medical school and I did library school. I have a father, a brother, too many cats, a turtle, and a giant heartache. My mother died last month. I know it is a bit cliche, but she was my best friend. We were closer than any other mother and daughter I have ever met, and it is not an exaggeration when I say that she was my world. I am starting this blog for so many, many reasons, but I think the biggest may be that I need to remind myself of the wonderful things in this world that I love. I need to be reminded that there are still reasons for me to exist in this world.

I have always been a voracious reader, and a re-reader as well. My favorite genres tend to be YA, fantasy, romance, food writing, dystopian, and folklore retellings. Um, and everything else, too.

I have been cooking my entire life, as well. This comes from my father, we are both very instinctual cooks who smell spices and know what will go well together rather than following a recipe. I am trying to make an effort and be more disciplined with regards to recipes and writing things down so that I can learn, but it is very difficult for me for anything other than baking.

I have been knitting for two years now. It started as a personal challenge, something I saw people doing and I thought "I could never do that!" So of course I had to try. My aunt showed me how to cast on and do the knit stitch, and the internet has done the rest. Now, I can't imagine my life without knitting. I would be so bored! I get an amazing sense of accomplishment because I am able to create something, I am able to modify something, I am able to make a garment that should fit me exactly. It is wonderful.

I have tried blogging before, and always ran out of steam before very long. I am too impatient to be a very good writer, but this will be a creative exercise. Editing is not very natural for me, and I know I desperately need it. Hopefully, I will improve with experience.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Hello There

I have always had passion in life. It seems to be a silly thing to say, it seems that everyone should have passion, but honestly, they don't. And it seems that these days, passion is frowned upon. People my age should only be enjoying life ironically, should frown upon being excited about things. Enjoyment in general, is viewed as childlike or base.

I wanted to begin this blog describing why I am passionate about the things I am passionate about: books, food, knitting, cooking, family. Instead, I return to the emotion that drives me to create this blog in the first place. I am eager and passionate to share my love of life with anyone who might care to read. Today is September 24, 2010, and I want to make you smile. I want to make you believe that life is wonderful . I want to spin you a thrilling yarn.