See? I told you I never write anything here. Now head to back to Pajiba to check out some sweet posters and awesome articles by your favorite Pajibettes. And don't forget to click the ads to generate some dough for AlabamaPink's son Little A! He needs edumacatin'!
There was actually a poster misspelled that way in my middle school library.
It's time to revive this sad little blog. Pajiba's Cannonball Read II: Electric Bookaloo: In My Pants: Not Without My Library Card: Mother May I Read With Danger, kicks off November 1st*. I couldn't participate last year, since it was during the vortex of suck and suffering that was my senior year (from which I'm still recovering). The OG Cannonball Read set the bar at reading 100 books in one year. That just wasn't gonna happen, even if I did count all of the books I had read for my thesis. However, to rope in slackers like me, they've lowered it 52 books for Cannonball Part Deux. And it worked! I'm in. I think I can handle a book a week, even though the coming months are going to be a shit show. Also, for each contestant that makes the deadline, a donation will be made to the college fund of AlabamaPink's son. Now that's a damn good incentive. The only downside? A review is required for each book read. Not a daunting task for most, but I'm kind of inarticulate about the things I like/dislike and why I like/dislike them. I express myself better with visuals than with words. And lately, writing much of anything makes me extremely anxious, especially if it's going to be read by others. So there's that. But I'll live... hopefully. Anywhining, I'm fishing for awesome suggestions from you guys. I want to start off with books that have been adapted into films. I've already got High Fidelity and Fight Club in mind since the boyfriend owns them. Any other ideas?
* I start repayment on my student loans on Nov. 1st, too. EVERYBODY PANIC!
I started going to Pajiba over a year ago. I would get linked to one of their reviews every so often but I never bothered to pay attention to anything below the comment line. When I finally realized what a crazy amazing little world of funny, surly, movie freaks existed down there, it became my second home. AlabamaPink's name was one of the first that I started to recognize and look for. She was insightful, funny as hell, and fearless. She was a fighter—battling leukemia (and zombies) with a machete in one hand, a margarita in the other, and smirk on her face. She was heartfelt and candid about her family and her treatment. She was awesome. She never dwelled in the direness of her situation and wouldn't let us do it either. She laughed in stupid cancer's face and told the rest of us to quit bringing the down the room because we were killing her buzz.
The night before Pajiba posted the news of her passing, I caught I quick glimpse of lordhelmet's Facebook status which made mention of it. I couldn't bring myself to scroll down and double check. It couldn't be right. I mean... it couldn't be her, right? I didn't see any change on her blog, so I played ignorant. I have a gift for self delusion. Then the morning came, along with the truth. She's gone and we're left reeling. I bawled. I did the ugly cry. I moped and let out the occasional lament of, "Fuck!", "Shit!", or "Dammit!". Then I picked up my chin and read through some of her greatest hits and remembered that more than anything she'd want us to let it all out and move on—to mourn her with laughter instead of tears.
Her husband and son are in my thoughts. She was a big bright shining light on our corner of the 'verse and we were lucky to bask in it as long as we did. The best thing I can do now is live by her example and pick myself up, keep on moving, and do it with class. Do it triumphantly. Here's to the coolest person I never met.
