Happy New Year everyone!

In 2010 I:
-Applied for more jobs than I ever imagined I would
-Fell down an entire flight of stairs...TWICE.
-Watched a lot of the AFI top 100 movies
-Performed in the Vagina Monologues
-Interned with the Heart of Illinois United Way
-Published the 2010 edition of Broadside as Editor-in-Chief
-Graduated from college
-Celebrated the finale of Lost
-Saw one of my best friends get married
-Spent the summer working at Target
-Was offered and accepted a job with Wiley-Blackwell
-Moved to Ames, IA
-Started living completely on my own for the first time

I don't normally make new years resolutions, but I do like to think about things to make a general game plan, so here's what I came up with:

-Eat healthier
-Exercise more and shoot for 3+ times a week, but don't beat myself up if I don't (which shouldn't be too hard considering I barely exercised after I graduated from High School)
-Read some excellent books
-Keep in touch with friends

Otherwise, I am just going to keep on keeping on. It's time for bed. I am feeling so grateful for my family and friends. I am thankful for what the past year has brought me and am really looking forward to what the year will bring me.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Read it. Love it.

I was enthralled by this novel almost from the moment I picked it up. I am such a sucker for mystery novels though - it's probably because I love hearing gossip (though not necessarily passing it around), reading tabloids, etc. purely for the knowledge of whatever the information may be. It could pertain to something that I don't have a care in the world for (please see: anything to do with celebrities) but I just want to know, otherwise just knowing there's something within my grasp to know would drive me crazy.

I digress. (That all makes me sound like a crazy person.)

Although the book is a translation from Swedish (which can sometimes be hit or miss), I could barely tell the difference. That's what good editorial work should get as a result!! Ahem. I got so engrossed trying to figure out the mystery that I was scribbling notes on scrap paper and cross referencing different things mentioned earlier in the novel. I think I've lost more sleep over this book than any other I've read for a long time. I couldn't put it down last night so I resolved to get only 4 and a half hours of sleep before putting in a full work day. AND THEN I am up til 1am again to finish it! Without a doubt I am sleeping in tomorrow.

In short, it's great. I would very much recommend it be added to your list of things to read.

Up next? The Girl Who Played with Fire, of course!

Welcome

to my new home. (Ames, IA)

I start my new job on Monday!

Here is the point in my life

when I wish I knew what was ahead. I don't want to know intricate details or anything, but I would like to know things like how long I will have to live at home working at Target, if I will get a job in publishing or if that's just a fleeting dream, etc.

Sigh.

I will be back home in Wheaton in one week from today. Probably around this time too.

...I wish this cold would beat it.

I did it!

I applied for my DREAM JOB with Simon and Schuster. It's an Editorial Assistant job in their Children's Division. Now I am superly nervous/excited!

Farewell NYC

Waterworks have begun. :(

I am such a little worker bee

I am totally on the Bradley Website. Check it out.

:)

Today was a pretty good day. Minus I almost passed out this morning like as soon as I got to work. Maybe it's because I was reading a really bloody, graphic part of the manuscript I was working on?

Man, I really am a pansy.

Either way. Mental image: Me, dressed up for work. Lying on the floor in my cubicle with my upper body under the desk.

They probably thought I was dead or something. I mean, it really probably looked like it. But Kate was wonderful and got me some water and gave me a handful of her Hershey's Kissables.

Nothing like chocolate to bring your blood sugar up.

My mom sent me a flower cake at work. It's beautiful (and also a big hit with the rest of the office)!

I still can't believe I am almost 21. I keep forgetting. AND Disney World is coming up. (!!!)

Book treasures of the day: The Graduate by Charles Webb, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the books from the Mortal Instruments series.

Man, I love this job.

I also just saw my roommate Katy completely naked. Eesh, that was unpleasant.

I may sound like a pubescent boy, but I sure love this city!

In the last six days I have learned may things:

New York suits me. It suits me mighty fine.

Publishing is what I want to do. (The internship has been AMAZING)

Washington Square is perfect for people watching.

I am actually a lot better at making friends than I thought I would be (but I got really lucky. Like, really, really lucky).

Bradley cafeteria food really is that bad.

:)