If anyone cares...

A long, long, long time ago on this blog (6-2-05 to be exact) I said that I had an unspoken prayer request. For those of you who were wondering, it was answered and everything turned out fine. Thank you.

In that same post, “Help!” I wrote about several stresses. I kept wanting to write another post about all the good things happening in my life at the time, but I never did. There really were good things happening then, too. I was about to get married! People threw me bridal showers, I got to go to Disneyland with friends a couple times, my church had a luau for college graduates and included me since I’d graduated back in December… yep, fun stuff. Well, now you know. Aren’t you glad?

Linguistics Troubles

“Hopefully we’ll get there…
Hence my use of a concise way of saying, ‘I hope and expect that.’” –Melanie

“What’s the other one that’s just ‘I hope?’ Oh. ‘I hope.’” –Marcy

Chibi Vampire Volume 1

Chibi Vampire by Yuna Kagesaki

I found this one thanks to Robert, who let me borrow it. It’s a manga about Karin (the title of the series in Japan), a high school girl who is a sort of reverse vampire. Once a month, it’s either find someone to give her excess blood to or experience the Nosebleed to end all Nosebleeds. She doesn’t fit in with her family, since they’re all normal vampires, and, although she’s done well until now at pretending to be like her normal human classmates, she isn’t truly human either. Thus far it’s basically a romantic comedy – i.e., the heroine gets into very embarrassing but funny situations when she’s around the guy who we all know she’s going to like – and I quite enjoyed it. Hopefully I can get my hands on further volumes soon.

Song of the Wanderer

Song of the Wanderer (The Unicorn Chronicles #2) by Bruce Coville

I read Song of the Wanderer and wrote this back in January, but here it is now. (The things I write often sit before I post them, in case I want to add more thoughts or edit in general. This one just sat a little longer than is customary.)

This is a sequel, but I won’t give you any plot spoilers, just my reaction to it and a poem from the book. I wasn’t super excited about the book at first – the first book was good, but not quite as good as I hoped, and this one is similar. It’s a young adult sort of book (the best young adult books are not of that sort). Enjoyable, but not exactly classic literature. However, two things helped to change my mind. The second was the way it ended – certain elements of the story came together beautifully. It had me wondering if Bruce Coville were consciously using the medieval idea of unicorns as Christ symbols. The first thing was this song:

“Across the gently rolling hills,
Beyond high mountain peaks,
Along the shores of distant seas,
There’s something my heart seeks.

But there’s no peace in wandering,
The road’s not made for rest.
And footsore fools will never know
What home might suit them best.

But, oh, the things that I have seen,
The secret paths I’ve trod,
The hidden corners of the world
Known to none but me and God.

Yes, the world was meant for knowing,
And feet were meant to roam.
But one who’s always going
Will never find a home.

Oh, where’s the thread that binds me,
The voice that calls me back?
Where’s the love that finds me –
And what’s the root I lack?

And between each verse the now familiar chorus:

My heart seeks the hearth,
My feet seek the road.
A soul so divided
Is a terrible load.

My heart longs to rest,
My feet yearn to roam.
Shall I wander the world
Or stay safe at home?”