Becca’s World

Written in record time, here’s another short WG post. That’s two written in one day! When inspiration hits, I gotta roll with it.

My life is a disaster.

No, seriously, it is. Rob left yesterday, and now we’re down to three occupants in this big house. As if that weren’t bad enough, at our last house dinner a couple nights ago, Martin announced some really bad news.

He thought it was good, and everyone else is acting like it is, but I have no desire to eat and I can’t fight an intense feeling of dread.

Sure, you can accuse me of being melodramatic because I watch a soap opera faithfully. That doesn’t change the fact that Martin is making a mistake.

He’s getting married. He and Tanya met for coffee recently and whatever had come between them before seemed to have disappeared.

Poor, stupid Martin. She hasn’t changed, and he should know it. She still wants nothing to do with any of his friends, though she’s dropped by for a movie with us and said she may “check out” WG sometime.

It’s all an act. I’m sure of it. I know Martin’s not a saint – I live with him, and who better to know a man’s flaws than his roomies – and yet I’m also completely, absolutely, beyond-doubt certain that she’s not good enough for him.

What am I going to do? I don’t think he’d listen to me if I tried to list off the reasons this pairing is wrong. Actually, he would, because he’s great. He just wouldn’t take my strongly-worded advice to heart.

I have to think of a plan. And quick – the wedding is in three weeks (what’s wrong with a long engagement, I ask?) and apparently I’m his best friend, so I’m part of the folks front and centre at the horrible event. (I almost cried when he asked me. Who knew the gym hunk and the librarian would be close friends when we first met?)

I’ve haven’t taken the time to be sure I have all the characters’ names and the facts straight; thought I’d better post this right away because it’s a miracle I’ve even written a single word.

Preceding parts of this tale can be found at the following locations: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V.

It’s been quite a while since I last shared what was happening in my life, so let me give you a recap: I live in a pretty comfortable house with three roommates. Martin and Carrie work in the local gym, training and motivating folks. Rob is the perpetual student, and I’m the librarian. We get along failry well, though I’m often mocked for my love of a (great) soap opera named “Willow Grove.”

Surprisingly, I’ve been joined on the weekends by some of my roommates when I catch up on everything WG. (Too bad there’s no TV handy at the librarian’s desk. Of course, no one would get any service from me during that hour of WG each day…)

Martin was the first to sit down with me, though he commented quite a lot on what he saw as “plot holes” and “ridiculous dialogue.” Maybe he was less interested in the show than having a friend to hang with; heaven knows, his fiancee didn’t fit the bill, but seemed to pile on the stress as she concentrated on her hobbies, friends and career aspirations.

Next came Melissa, Rob’s girlfriend. She moved in with us after she was suddenly faced with a lack of housing options, and though it took a while for her to fit in with the established gang, we all found her a pleasant addition.

Now we’re getting ready for Rob’s graduation from university, and I’ve sometimes had to move my usual WG marathon so we could all work on the plans for a super grad party. Martin has more time now that there’s no longer a fiancee – thank goodness, since she was all wrong for him. And we’ve all pitched in so it’ll be a special time Rob will never forget.

He wants to move away, to be part of a team of computer-savvy folk who will travel all over the world in an effort to bring technology to schools in countries that can’t afford to do the setup themselves. The machines are donated and, in most cases, the schools are responsible for the cost of the techs’ labour. Sounds like a great project, doesn’t it?

Unfortunately, it means we won’t see Rob for a long time. That I’m not so enthusiastic about. I’ve even thought of trying to convince Rob he should take another job offer, one that keeps him here with us. Martin won’t let me do that, so I have to keep my mouth shut and try to be as excited as Rob is when he talks of leaving.

I’m sure Carrie would back me up, but she’s stronger than me and doesn’t need Martin to tell her it wouldn’t be good for Rob. How she handles it, I’m not sure; if the man I loved wanted to go away, I’d stop him or make certain I could go as well.

At the very least, we can send Rob off with fun memories of the day he (finally) finished his schooling.

“Onwards & Upwards” isn’t just another book of quotations to place on your bookshelf or coffeetable to look good; it’s a pleasant gathering of thoughts from academics, novelists, philosphers and celebrities.

Ross has obviously worked hard to compile a volume that isn’t a clone of every other quote book on the market. I was happily surprised by the treasures he set out in his book. Perhaps it’s easy to sway a Jane Austen and J.M. Barrie fan by including at least one tidbit from each author, but I’m equally content with the rest of the material.

This book would be a thoughtful and thought-provoking gift for a friend or family member. While you’re at it, buy one for yourself and see what the fuss is about.

If, like me, you thought the Kanner Lake series couldn’t get any better or more complex after the strong opening of Violet Dawn – well, join me in admitting we underestimated Brandilyn Collins’ talent.

Coral Moon is excellent. No slacking off here, or resting on the laurels of Book One. I found the story intense and even a bit creepy – not the nightmare-inducing kind, but my skin did crawl during some portions.

The characters I loved in Violet Dawn are back in full force, still very realistic and human. And, once again, when I’d finished the last page of the book, I wanted to hop on over to Java Joint, Kanner Lake’s busy coffeeshop, to sit down and chat with the characters. I haven’t had enough of them yet, and I’m really looking forward to Book Three in the fall.

Well, Gilmore Girls is over. Sigh.

It was a good last episode, especially considering the fact that when it was written and filmed, talks were ongoing for a sort of “half season” in the next TV year. Obviously, they couldn’t seal up all plot ends really tight if there might be more to come; but I believe a good job was done to close out this seventh season. In a way, it’s like I haven’t had to say “goodbye” and I can pretend the show lives on another network somewhere. (Although, if that were true and I could change just one thing, I’d rename Liz’s baby. Doula?!)

Song of the day: “Where You Lead” from the Gilmore Girls soundtrack (opening credits)