Redirecting 'Afterlife', Introducing 'Homesick'

It's official. The focus-less 'Afterlife' is dead. No really, no afterlife for 'Afterlife'. It's time to give this blog a purpose.

And as I'm finding a purpose for my writing in general, I thought it was only appropriate to devote this half-hearted attempt at blogging to the same thing: Texas. And all its murky glory.

Since leaving this God-forsaken state, I just can't stop thinking about it. Or talking about it. Or writing about it. Texas gets in your blood like West Nile after a skeeter bite (skeeter = read 'mosquito').

How do you write about a place when you don't even live there? From 2,000 miles away, I see Texas through new eyes and they find many more things to love, cherish, and celebrate about it. And as I mine the history books, blogosphere, the headlines, and the world wide web for these tidbits, I will share them with you. Hopefully, Texans on their beloved turf will appreciate it more and those who scoff at it from afar will scoff less.

You can never go home again. But at least you can write about it.

Latest Obsession: Reading

Lately, I have a dilemma. I want to read. I understand--entirely--that this does not make me unique or special in anyway. But it is noteworthy since I haven't felt the urge to put my eyes to a printed page since college graduation. What can I say, books and me needed a vacation from one another. We had reached the point of saturation.

These days, I just can't get enough. I used to make these crazy lists of all these books I want to read and I find myself doing that. Ambitious, I know. My most recent list includes:

-All of McCarthy
-All of Russo
-All of McMurtry
-All of Charlaine Harris (exclusively Sookie Stackhouse)
-All of James

At the rate I've been going--specifically the rate since graduation until, well, now--this list would take me the rest of my life. Which brings me to a point that I have not wanted to accept or acknowledge: does anyone really enjoy McCarthy and find him easy to read? The Road was truly spectacular. Loved every word. But Blood Meridian--my only other diversion down this dark road--was a challenge. I will admit, it's profound sprinkled with moments that are truly remarkable. But it was a struggle. Anyone? N-E-1?

What sparked this reconciliation? I was Wikipedia-ing one day--a favorite pastime--and wandered over to Anne Rice's page. I discovered that she is a "reverted" Catholic Christian and that she's written a book about it all. I was intrigued, as I often am, to hear other people's reasons for choosing faith and spirituality. I dashed off to the library to pick up this book and went home with Texasville, We Were the Mulvaneys, and The Painted Veil. Thus, we were reunited.

The Painted Veil is delightful by the way. Maybe will add 'All of Maugham' to my list?

Libraries, Literature, Love

I am excited--BEYOND MEASURE--about this weekend. Is it because of the Tech vs. Texas game on Saturday? Close, but, um, no. Actually, I'm dancing in my seat right now because the relentless little hopeless romantic that lives inside me is so revved up about the release of Bright Star.

I'm not going to pretend like I'm a John Keats fan, much less an expert. This particular section of Survey of British Literature II is a little fuzzy and not because it was at 9 am. But, I think all lovers of literature--poetry and prose--relish the opportunity to have a peek into the real lives of the enigmatic characters of literary history. And Keats is definitely one of the brightest stars (wink) in the cast. Even I have to admit that.

Bright Star is the story of his three-year long secret love affair with Fanny Brawne, passionate and tempestuous, that ended only with his untimely death. Okay, so it's not a wink-wink, ho-ho romcom in which the omnipresent Katherine Heigl tries her darnedest to pass as a romantic lead. I get the feeling there could be tissues involved. And sleepless nights. And a tender ache in the chest as the credits roll. But nevertheless, I will be there. Even if it does cost me ten dollars.

I might not be quite this excited if the film's creator wasn't the beloved and brilliant Jane Campion, director of the The Piano and my personal favorite, which I've seen at LEAST 100 times, The Portrait of a Lady. I haven't seen all of her movies, but I haven't seen one I didn't like. Think this one's going to be a winner. Leave the boyfriends/husbands at home. They can watch the Red Raiders/Longhorns game.

Speaking of Keats, and college, and survey courses, I was in a public library for the first time in a long time yesterday. Whoa, things have changed. I have to admit, I was little disappointed at the selection. You never appreciate the things you have until they're gone, like a university library. Even at that, Southwestern's library wasn't exactly epic. But it was three stories tall. And they certainly had every book I could ever want. Pickins' were a little slim at this particular branch of the Sonoma Co. Library system.

But what stunned me was this: gone are the days of library cards and the cathartic stamping of the due date on a sleeved chart inside the book of your choice. Things have gotten a smidge high tech. Check out process is as follows:

1. Scan library card--name and profile appear on computer screen.
2. Computer message tells me to 'place books on table' (table being a black pad under the screen.)
3. I cautiously and skeptically place book #1--Larry McMurtry's Texasville--on said 'table'.
4. Title miraculously appears on screen. Serial number and all.

Aside: Before proceeding, I'm looking around trying to find the conspiracy in all of this. I look at the lady behind the desk to see if she's typing in my titles. Apparently not.

5. I place remaining books, in a single stack, on the 'table'. Each title appears accurately on screen.
6. Complete transaction.
7. Dialogue box appears: How would you like your receipt? Email? Fax? Print? Or Text? Email please.

Yeah. Space-agey or what? Maybe I'm behind the times, but I was so charmed by it all. Plus it's one of the few places in town with free Wi-Fi where I don't feel pressured to buy coffee. So awesome.

Still Alive

Indeed, you may--or may not--have noticed that new posts on this blog have recently been reduced to...zero. That's right. Very little blogging has been going on at this particular site.

I have little to say on the subject except that I have been doing a little too much of the above...I'll give you a minute to assess the image now.

Done? Mmmk. A little bit too much of THAT, along with working, traveling, bridesmaidsing, and other such shenanigans have significantly diminished my time and desire to blog. However, I feel the drive and inclination to continue said blogging coming back.

Do you ever just run out of crap to say? That's kinda what I was experiencing. But then maybe I was just saying it elsewhere. Who knows. But I've missed the ole blog and my sprinkling of readers. And so, I'm back. Hopefully.

In other news, I'm strongly considering a subtle renaming of the blog to match the direction it seems to naturally follow, which is a longing for all things Texan. Along with a few digressions into the areas of movies, television, news, and goofy anecdotes. Should be fun.

Speaking of which, how about that Gerard Butler? I just can't seem to get enough of that guy lately. Bad movies notwithstanding. When you're willing to sit through The Ugly Truth just so you can spend two hours with him, you know there's an issue. So what if it's just in a movie theatre. And it costs you ten dollars. IT'S WORTH IT. Suddenly Schumacher's Phantom of the Opera has strange appeal. Mmm.

I will be back for more. See you there.

Finding Life Outside the Cube....Genius

Dude. I am stoked--repeat, stoked--to have stumbled across this blog today! I was just milling around Lindsey Pollak's blog (also awesome) when I read a familiar phrase: "Anti 9-5..." I clicked and it spoke to me.

You all must know how much I love Tim Ferriss's Four Hour Work Week. Um, it changed my life, that's all. But let's face it, Tim is more about time management than the art of freelancing. Freelancing is merely a means to an end in his eyes.

This nice lady, however, gets down and dirty about how to create success as a 'creative' freelancer. In her blog, The Anti 9-5 Guide, she even speaks to those freelancers in such lines of work as 'professional organizing.' Man, I cannot wait to click through every page of this little gold mine.

Or turn every page of this one! Michelle Goodman--said anti 9-5er--has also written two, count 'em, TWO books about life as a freelancer and how to make it work! Only one of which is My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire. The answer is 'yes,' I've already ordered both of her books from Amazon.com.

Michelle's other little treasure, The Anti 9-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, is also en route to my home. Isn't it so awesome to randomly find people that share your same thoughts and outlook on life? It sure makes the world seem a little cozier.

(Photos courtesy of http://www.anti9to5guide.com/)

Never Fear, MoreDating is Here

Ugh, I know. There's been a sad lack of postage going on at All Growns Up. What can I say: I've been busy working for the man. And with that, there just really hasn't been that much to write about. First Rule of Blogging: Don't Blog When You Have NOTHING To Say. I try to follow that rule, even though I've been known to break it. As you can see....

However, if you've been paying attention to the days quickly passing by in 2009, it might have come to your mind's eye that the dreaded V-day is upon us. Yes, it's Valentine's Day time y'all.

This time of year, I usually get the stink eye from single-looking passers by because I'm a 'missus'. But even when I was a single gal, I never thought Valentine's Day was one to sit inside, watch Fatal Attraction, and accept the fact that you've gone up a dress size. It's just another day, y'all. No really, it's just another day. And no, I'm not saying that because I always had a boyfriend... I usually got flowers and candy on Valentine's Day...from my dad.

But that doesn't mean that it isn't nice to have someone of the opposite--or the same--sex to spend the day with that preferably is not a paternal figure. So being that the big day is still five days away, I'd say it's crunch time.

Okay, five days might create some pressure if you're hoping to find your soulmate before this Saturday. But on Valentine's Day, all you need is a great date. My recommendation? Wander over to MoreDating.com.

MoreDating.com is a brand-spanking new dating site where you can mix and mingle with single folks in your area from the comfort of your desk chair. And, if you find someone that seems like a promising V-day partner in crime, you can even plan a date with their restaurant and date-planning resources.

Basically, it's a one-stop shop social networking site for those looking to add a little oomph to their dating life. Log in now and you can be one of the first people to explore this awesome resource for single people everywhere! You'll be a MoreDating legacy! And, who knows, you might even fill your February 14th schedule.