So, My Summer's Booked

I got into the Alpha Writing Workshop in Pittsburgh PA, so I'll be going there at the middle to the end of July, the 15th-25th. The workshop is with Tamora Pierce (amongst others) and she's been my favorite author since I was about nine! At the end of the workshop, we'll be going to a sci fi and fantasy conference called Confluence, which is a really big and awesome one. Bringing me to my next news-- I also entered a story in a writing contest for the conference. I haven't heard back yet, but if that fits their bill, then I'll not only be attending the conference, but I'll also have a story in the program book!

So for the summer, I not only have that: I'll probably have some sort of orientation and registration at whatever college I end up going to (it's looking like Ithaca at the moment), I'll be visiting Becky (or I better be!), I'll be visiting Paul (for a weekend, maybe, if I ever actually ask), I'll be finishing a novel (because I need it before I go to any writing conferences) and et cetera. Goodbye, summer. I shall miss thee. *dies*

YAY

I just got into Ithaca College!!! I just need to get the letters of rejection or acceptance into Elmira and Cornell, then I'll be able to decide where to transfer to come Fall! Or rather, come May, since that's the due date for going or not. Ithaca will give me a $16,000 per year scholarship for academic excellence too, if I decide to go there, so AWESOME!!!!

Latest Crochet Amigurumi Creations

I wanted to make a couple of toys for my nephew Noah. This is one of them. You will note that he is a penguin and very adorable.

Braces, Fair, etc.

Yesterday I got my braces on (purple). I would like them if they didn't hurt so much. I woke up last night in excruciating pain when I had to take Mia out and was forced to toddle off to bed knowing that despite the fact it would hurt less if I was coordinated and awake enough to ingest ibuprofin, unfortunately, I was not coordinated and awake enough to ingest ibuprofin.

I got them on yesterday morning at 7:45(!) and we promptly left to go to the fair. We looked at all of the animals, went on rides, etc, and had a Bloomin' Onion, which would have been SO much more enjoyable, not that it wasn't already-- if I had remembered that I was almost certainly going to be in pain and needed to bring something for it. Why do you hear kids whining about how much they hate the way their braces look? They never mention how much they hurt!

I listened to Obama's speech last night-- I don't agree with everything he says, but I like him, which has to count for something. It's not that I like what he does or how he speaks... I guess I like the way he acts in old photographs of him, the things that logically couldn't be staged. He also has a powerful way of speaking and modulates his tone perfectly, so its not as much his speech that was good, but his intonation. The fact that he held it in a stadium was interesting, and the fireworks were kind of funny. His youngest daughter is cute.

In other news, Writers' Journal is having a contest for my favorite genre with a deadline of November 30th. They pay well and it's a new contest, so will probably have less applicants than it might have otherwise. I just have to figure out what I would want to submit!

Orientdoll So Ye - Penny

I finally got time to properly photo the little ball-jointed doll I have. Or rather, I finally figured out how. She's an adorable little thing, so she got a photo shoot while it was nice outside, in between the weird bursts of rain. Her cuteness is unparalleled.

College and Bento

Officially accepted at, signed up at, and registered for classes at TC3. I will be taking Cultural Anthropology, Approaches to Literature, Introduction to Poetry, Beginning Algebra, and Principles of Biology. Hopefully the workload isn't too difficult. Now I have a blessed amount of NOTHING to do, which is awesome, and Elizabeth has vacation for the next week-- we're going to Seabreeze Amusement Park in Rochester!!!

I made a bento a couple of days ago too: you'll note the heart sandwiches and the bunny deviled egg-- though the picture came out a bit blurry. The entire bento was a hummus and pepper jack cheese sandwich, some cherry tomatoes, a deviled egg, and on the level not shown vanilla yogurt and applesauce with extra cinnamon. This has been the first bento that I've been able to take a picture of, so I'm very pleased.

Peach-Marinated Tofu

I made dinner for Elizabeth and Aaron (and me!) tonight. I made a very good Confetti Rice from the Vegetarian Times and also made a marinated tofu, whose recipe I invented and made as follows:

Peach Marinade (for Tofu)

1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 tbs peach jam

Heat maple syrup and rice vinegar in microwave for about thirty seconds or until warm. Stir in peach jam.


Peach-Marinated Tofu

Slice tofu horizontally, then vertically into several slices. Place in a large baking pan and pour half of glaze (see above) over tofu. Refrigerate for at least an hour, preferably more, turning occasionally.

When ready to cook, add a tablespoon of olive oil into a pan and the rest of the glaze. Heat for five minutes, then add tofu to the pan. Cook for 10-20 minutes as desired, stirring often.