Okay, so I have to brag and gloat for a second. To fully understand my pride, you must first know a little back up information... I am currently taking a professional writing class which has been the most ridiculous class I've ever taken. The class broke into groups to form 5 different editorial boards for a scholarly journal. Then as individuals we have to write a each a formalist analysis, theory based analysis, and persuasive research analysis essay to then submit to a particular journal for review. That journal then looks over your paper and accepts or rejects the essay for publication in their journal (due at the end of the semester). We are then graded by the number of papers we have accepted. WELL, after working very hard on my first paper two papers, I received conflicting feedback from the editors, along with comments that did not make sense and were VERY condescending. In the end both papers were rejected. I know I'm not an amazing writer, but seriously? I was really doubting my writing ability, especially because I hadn't received either paper back from the teacher yet, but today I finally received her feedback:
"Meredith: I just finished grading your FLA paper. I is a brilliant analysis. I gave you 100/100 on it. I'm not sure why it was rejected..You covered every aspect of the poem, and your analysis was thorough and well articulated. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your paper and had no negative comments whatsoever.
You wrote that for the Mosaic, didn't you. They actually have not accepted any papers yet. I'll have to check into this because your paper is excellent."

And then at the bottom of my paper itself she wrote:

Meredith: This a brilliant analysis of Hughes’s poem. I enjoyed every minute and wanted more at the end. Your thorough analysis is carefully worded, skillfully crafted, and an excellent example of what a formalist analysis should be. Nicely done.

Yes it feels great to have a teacher tell you your paper is brilliant. Especially a teacher that does not typically pass out such compliments (I had her last semester too, and she DID NOT like me!). I wanted to email my graded paper back to the editors, but instead decided to post it here instead. More sweet justice will come at the end of the semester, when those editorial boards realized they will have no Formalist or Theory essays for their journal to publish at the end of the semester. I think they forgot they actually have to format the excepted essays and turn it in for a grade, but they will have nothing. I know, I should be ashamed, absolutely ashamed for delighting in this thought, and instead I am posting it for the world to see. I am human, and right now feeling very vindicated. Sigh.

"Family" Pictures

Okay, so everyone thinks I'm a weirdo, but Josh and I have maybe 5 pictures together since we've been married (obviously not including our wedding pictures). Needless to say, whenever we go out and do something we don't take pictures, and if we do, we are not smart enough to both be in the same picture! Now that we are finally getting settled in to our place and I'm starting to get pictures hung, I wanted an updated "family" picture. We called our amazingly talented friend Rona and she took these beauties! So Josh can call me a weirdo all he wants, but I'm sure glad I forced Josh to dress up for a few hours and frolic around the Irvine park! He even admitted to having a fun time (thanks Rona!!!). Check out Rona's website to see some of her other work (she has the cutest baby pictures!). http://ronahawkinsphotography.blogspot.com

Halloween

Here are our costumes. (Yes we've been the same thing a few years in a row. I'm sorry, we are poor and can't afford new costumes. Really though, I just can't think of anything better!). If it's not super obvious, I am a mermaid and Josh is a fisherman. We really struggled getting the time to take a good picture, so I made Josh take one decent one of my costume to show what an amazing job my mom did converting my old homecoming dress into my costume! I have to did through pictures to show you what it originally looked like. It's hilarious!





We had such a fun Halloween weekend! I have to say it's probably been my favorite Halloween since I was a little kid.

We kicked off with a scary movie Friday night (after I finished my paper!).

Then Saturday we went to a costume/spooky dinner party. Our hostess was amazing, I felt like I was on the set of a Martha Stewart photo shoot (and I mean that in the best possible way!). We had a salad with bat, broom, and coffin shaped croutons, green beans with almond slivers (that look like finger nails), bbq chicken, twice baked potatoes (which I had never had before and I am in love!), and jello in the shape of a hand (how did she do it?!). We also had amazing dessert, my FAVORITE mint oreo ice cream pie (it's like she can read minds!!!), cookies, cupcakes, candy apples! I kept saying I felt like I was Gretel at the witches house been fed goodies to fatten me up! The table was so cool, I can't even explain/remember all the little details, but it was the perfect cross of elegant and spooky. She even had chair covers with bows! We played an awesome game during dinner, throwing sticky candy eye balls at a skeleton face on the wall, trying to get them to stick in the eye socket (it was REALLY hard!). I couldn't even get mine to hit the wall, they kept landing on the couch! I can't throw to save my life! We also had a candy necklace kit, and we had fun stringing and tying our necklaces. Somehow my packet had WAY more rings in it and Josh had the least amount, so of course he accused me all night of stealing from him (I have to admit, it IS totally something I would do, but I didn't this time!!!). We finished the night with a VERY long and intense game of "Pirate Perudo." We had such a great time and can't wait to get together with everyone again!

Sunday we had a relaxing taco night with a few couples, watched some football, and passed out candy to the 5 trick or treaters that came. (I'm so glad I bought 7 bags of NAME BRAND candy.. I must give it away so I don't eat it all.) One of our friends brought pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that were to die for! Even Josh, who does not like pumpkin anything, couldn't put them down! I must get the recipe! It was the perfect Sunday and hope to have many more just like it to follow!