Non Sequitur Box

One thing I have not discussed on this website is my love for classic point-and-click adventure games. I wasn't a true gamer like my brothers, but I loved games with puzzles. I enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, science, mysteries, and these games with challenges. What started with Myst and Riven expanded to the Broken Sword series (I've only played the first two) and Adventure Game Studio, a game engine created by Chris Jones ( http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/ ). In high school, I tried to make my own game, which was soon interrupted by college and other responsibilities (How did I have so much time to draw so much, learn a new program, run, do my homework, and complete all my chores while going to school 45 minutes away from where I lived? When did I sleep?). Now, on sick days, all I do is play adventure games if I feel well enough to sit up and think. In this month, I've played through quite a few games (for cheap, mind you). Available for download on GOG.c...

In January, I read $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau. It is a book about beginning your own startup on minimal costs. Guillebeau uses many examples throughout his book, from children running a garbage service aboard a medical ship to a man who sells mattresses (and delivers them by bicycle). As someone who likes to daydream and taunt the idea of starting my own side business, I found the book to be a good resource. The stories are inspiring (from losing a job to "making it" on your own), especially when you can picture yourself in that person's shoes. I constantly found myself thinking, "If she can do it, then I can do it too!" Guillebeau doesn't sugarcoat the issue of starting your own business. He interviews people on what worked, what didn't work, and what changes had to be made. He emphasizes that it will take a lot of time and real work to achieve a goal. I liked that...

In October, I read Kings of the Road: How Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar Made Running Go Boom by Cameron Stracher. It was recommended to me by one of my running friends, Matt. It was the first novel about running that I read, and I absolutely loved it. I love running, but I hated history class. I think if history class revolved around running, I would have liked it more (and I might have retained some information; I had Jack explain Watergate to me on our historical Georgetown/Rosslyn run yesterday...now I'll probably always remember what Watergate is just because it was discussed on a running route). As I read this book, I couldn't help but smile and get excited about events as they unfolded. It was like reading a book or watching a movie when you know the ending, but you enjoy re-reading or re-watching it. I kept telling my boyfriend, "Oh! Hey! Listen to this..." as I read a paragraph from the book. The book covers how Frank Shorter, Bill Rod...

I didn't write my book review for April, so here it is--in May. In April, I read the second book in the Flavia de Luce mysteries series. (You can read my review on The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie on the blog too.) Once again, I urge you to read this series! In The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley, Flavia de Luce, our eleven year old sleuth chemist in 1950's England, has a run-in with Rupert Porson, a famous puppeteer and "Mother Goose" when their van breaks down. I myself began to long to see a live puppet show as I read Flavia's account of watching a performance of "Jack and the Beanstalk." It seemed magical. All good things come to an end, as I am told, and that is true in the second performance of the story, when Rupert Porson comes tumbling down onto the stage dead instead of the giant. I've given away enough! Read the story! Flavia continues to try to torture her sister (and I'm tempted to try some of ...

My friend Steph recommended to me  The Sweetness at the Bottom of a Pie : A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley. I am glad I took her advice! I grew up reading Alfred Hitchcock, Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I loved mysteries! This book is the first in a series of books by Alan Bradley. The series focuses on Flavia de Luce, an eleven year old girl with a love of chemistry and poisons. She is growing up in 1950's England with her two sisters and her father in a grand old mansion.  Flavia spends much of her time in her laboratory, in which I took tremendous delight, as I used to have my own chemistry set and microscope set growing up (best gift ever from Santa). I absolutely LOVED science. It fascinated me. Now that I work as a "scientist," in addition to Flavia's intelligence, I realize how little I know about chemistry (and science in general). I'm looking for some good courses to take for professional development now...just so Flavia can...

Sketch: Teddy Roosevelt. Click for larger image. I love going for destination runs or playful runs. Today I went for a run to Theodore Roosevelt Island between Rosslyn, VA and Georgetown, MD and Washington, DC. It can be reached from the Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia. On the island are some dirt trails, and in the middle is a massive statue of Teddy himself. I needed to see Teddy today. As I ran up, I realized I never read the quotes on the memorial. I stopped, waved hello to Teddy, and did 10 motivating burpees at his feet. It's my way of saying, "Damn. You are one motivating man!" After that, I took a few minutes to read the memorial stones. Here is what they read: NATURE There is delight in the hardy life of the open. (African Game Trails, 1910) There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm. (African Game Trails, 1910) The nation behaves well if it treats the natural res...

Here is another book for the month of March. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg discusses how habits are formed and how they can be changed. I sped through this book because I found the topic interesting. It almost reads like a self-help book at parts. It delves a little into the tactics of marketing and advertising, another topic I find intriguing. I enjoy finishing a book feeling as though I have learned something. Let me share with you some quotes and what I've learned. "...First there is a cue , a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Then there is the routine , which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward , which helps your brain figure out if this particular loop is worth remembering for the future..." This is the basic habit loop. Cue - Routine - Reward. That's a pretty simple loop, but Duhigg gets into the loop deeper. It is not a one-si...

The Police. Click for larger image. I present to you: The Police! Last night while we were playing Agricola, we were listening to music. "Don't Stand So Close to Me" came on, and I recalled memories of crushes I had on teachers. I had a crush on my high school cross-country/track coach/math teacher, my high school chemistry professor, and my college law professor. Jeff. Ron. Adam. Hahaha. I never acted on any of these crushes, but I definitely got called out for a few crushes. Anyways, today I decided to draw The Police and listen to The Very Best of Sting & The Police  for some enjoyment that is not related to working out. I try to work on that--finding non-working out activities that make me happy. I did get in an easy run this morning, and I have a strong 13.2 mile planned for tomorrow, so no worries about my health or fitness deteriorating this week.

John Petrucci. Click for larger image. John Petrucci. Badass. Guitarist. If you want to know more about the man, then check out the most reliable resource on the Internet:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Petrucci Why am I drawing John Petrucci? At work, sometimes we have interesting talks in the break room. This past week, we had a conversation that involved blood types, John Petrucci, and something probably more important. Anyways, I decided I could either doodle a comic about blood types, write about the probability that my father is not type O+ even though eleven of his children are O+, or draw John Petrucci. Seeing as how I'm not significantly inspired to do math or try to doodle a comic conveying information, I went with John.

In continuing my plan to read at least one book each month this year, in March I have just finished reading The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. I finished this book in two days. I'm beginning to like having this Kindle app on my phone. I take an interest in books that address mental illness, like this one. The main character, Pat, has just been released from a mental hospital and is adjusting to life on the outside. He faces different challenges, including learning who is playing on the Philadelphia Eagles team, trying to connect with his father, dealing with Kenny G (yes, the soprano saxophonist), and more. Pat stays optimistic, though, and thinks of his life as a movie that God has planned. He believes that once he improves himself to God's approval, then he will get his silver lining, his happy ending. Pat must learn how to deal with his mental illness outside the hospital. It's not so much dealing with his mental illness that is the struggle but dealing...

This year, I am trying to read at least one book per month. In January I read a book about sales. For February, I read The Martian by Andy Weir. I recommend this book if you like science fiction or just science/engineering in general. My friend Jack bought it for me (best 99 cents you can spend), and I read it on the Kindle app on my phone. I think this has started my e-book obsession! I loved being able to read it anywhere (especially while waiting in lines or standing in the Metro). I've never reviewed a book. Most of my book reviews were just book reports or essays back in high school or college. I also haven't read a good fiction in a while. I've been reading mostly textbooks or professional journals lately. The Martian is about an astronaut (Mark) who gets stranded on Mars. He has to use his knowledge and skills to survive. I enjoyed how the book involved math and science but was so simply written and well-explained (even a caveman would understand the science ...

"Hello World." That's what my first webpage read. Back in middle school, I was a part of the Geocities, Angelfire, and Tripod generation. I'm not sure if they still exist or are as popular as I perceived them to be. I just remember that they offered free hosting, always had advertisements, and allowed me to express myself to the world. I went from the click-and-drag version of Geocities to learning HTML and using Notepad to design my websites. I loved learning HTML. It was the perfect blend of technology and art. I was a bit of a nerd-artist. I became a jock-nerd-artist when I learned the amazing outlet of running in high school. Become a jock-nerd-artist gave me little time to maintain a website, so I deleted my online presence. Now, as an adult jock-nerd-artist, I continue my life as a athlete-scientist-artist. I run marathons, lift heavy (relative) items, rock climb, try to cook, and work as a personal trainer. I read science fiction, play point-and-click adven...