I Will Not Be Left Out!

Innaguration 2001-Ah! The Memories ... Since everyone and their grandmother is writing about their Innaguration 2001 memories, I began feeling left out. :/ So, I'm joining in! So many memories. Here are mine: I WAS THERE! There ya go.

No, really, it was a very amazing experience that I will never forget, very special memories--hey, I even had my first "date" there (very quote unquote!). Try and beat that! Well, you can go here and read a litle more (although it's written rather slopily!) of my mems and here to see another pic of me on this historic occasion.

Hopin' to go again someday,

O.J. =:-D (p.s.-photo curtousy of my friend Sarah's collection)

Baby, Baby!

Life has been taking many interesting turns for me lately, including one today down the baby food isle at the grocery store. Yes, you heard right. The baby food isle. It was a hesitant turn, too. Since I only look 18, I didn't want anyone thinking I was a "teenage mother," but making my way to the cans of mashed sweet potatoes and purree plums I went. My face flushed as a woman in her 40s glided past.

Not to go into detail, but to help heal my bod I currently have use for soft foods, and many of the softer fare in the adult section, I am allergic to. So, as I began remembering all the times I fed my baby brother when I was 12 and 13, I recalled one thought that has always stuck with me, Gerber's purreed plums were not that bad. In fact, they were so good I remember sharing them with my brother. So, I decided I'd give baby food another try! Now, before you decide that I've gone and lost my mind, know that I would never, ever eat mashed vegatables unless I was desperate! Well, maybe the sweet potatos ...

So, back to today ... After choosing my baby fare, I caught one of the women at the check-out staring at my fingers. I think by that time I had gotten over the initial embarrassment, so, while still while in a slight hurry to exit the store, I was able to find her imploring looks and staring quite funny. Wow!

Anyway, if you haven't yet had a baby and want to know what baby food tastes good, I highly recommend the apple/blueberry sauce and banana pudding!

Jo and O

Call me silly, but I have recently taken a great interest in the life of Louisa May Alcott. After all, I am a writer, love history and simply adore studying people. Every time I watch or read Little Women, "Lu's" autobiographical novel, I am absolutely shocked at how similair I am to Jo/Alcott. In fact, while watching the movie last night (the wonderful 1994 version) I continued hearing chuckles followed by, "That's Olivia!" I think the only real differences between Jo and myself is that she is a slightly more gutsy, independent and feminist. And, the biggest difference, I WOULD HAVE MARRIED LAURIE, you pathetic Jo, you!!!!! Ehem, excuse me. Anyway, yes our personalities are very similair indeed. We're both very dramatic, ecentric, restless, imaginative, emotional and burst forth into whatever. We also both (btw, I use the present tense here since Jo is also a literary character, and literary characters are to be written about in the present tense) had issues with change in good relationship dynamics with family and friends (e.g.- getting married).

I also find it funny that Alcott and I both began secret clubs in our house's attics, acted out our own dramas and both moved to Concord when we were older. And, how about this, my Concord was directly named after her Concord in Massachusettes! However, I don't live next to an orchard ...

Going back to the subject of Laurie, I have always vowed with passion that I am going to re-write the end of Little Women so that Jo marries the perfect for her Laurie. Further fueling my decision is a fact I found out today: he didn't exist in her life (until she was in her 30s), so the fact that Jo doesn't marry him was purely a literary decision of Alcott's. She was a feminist that believed a woman could get along just fine without a man. In fact, she said that she wouldn't have Jo marry Laurie for anyone. She nearly avoided the Mr. Bhaer character, as well, when thinking about having Jo never marry, just as she never married. Ugh! So, I feel no qualm at all now about re-writing.

I am particularly fascinated with the Laurie and Jo dynamic of the story. So fascinating! Anyway, Alcott fashioned a matching character for her mirror image Jo, a person that would have in real life been a perfect fit for her, as well. That is probably why I have always loved Laurie so much, being that I am so similair to Jo. I also find some fashion/refined similairities between the Amy character and myself, as well. So, I'm looking for my Laurie ... If you find him, let me know. ;)
Whew-, with all that said, I'm working on my own book/movie at the moment and my sister has already written some the musical score for it. (Also met a director/screen writer the other day. Hmmm...) A period piece that is simplistically magical. When it is completed, I'll letcha know!

Realizing the small things in life are grand,

~Olivia~

All the Rage

Everybody and their great-great-grandmother have been knitting and crocheting lately. It is no uncommonality to walk into any room, including the school dining hall, and find people pouring over their yarn-work. So, seating myself a couple weeks ago at dinner it was no surprise to see girls knitting by the fire. But, I caught myself doing a double take. "Is that a ... boy croqueting?!" It wasn't just a boy croqueting, it was a totally cool boy who was apparently quite good crafting beanies. I couldn't believe my eyes. Mentioning this to one of the guys in one of my classes, he showed no surprise and said that one of the dorms is full of guys who regularly knit and croquet.
When I got home on break one of my brother's skateboarder friends was wearing his friend's beanie. Reportedly his friend, a guy, knitted it at snowboarder camp where they teach the boarders how. Hmmm...
So glad it's not looked on as sissy anymore. It's a practical thing, you know? And, I've joined in. And, I've got to say, GO BOYS! :)