It's a party in the USA.

By which I mean HAPPY NEW YEAR. I am happy to report that I have spent the first day of the new year watching the extended versions of LotR with my estimable father, which is almost making me wish it was last winter semester, because I miss my Tolkien class. Greatest class ever. Anyway, GOOD TIMES HAVE ABOUNDED today and why haven't I seen these movies for two years hello. Also I have been doing crosswords. And taking down the Christmas tree, which is very very tall.

Also what happened today is we thought my dumb dog ate some rat poison she found in the extra wing, so she got to spend today throwing up in the backyard because we forced salt water down her throat. Sad for her. Poor dumb dog that I love. So here is a cute poem about dogs and love. For some reason the collection I have only has a part of this poem, but I can't figure out what parts got cut out of it, so...go figure.



Falling In Love is Like Owning a Dog

First of all, it's a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives a sense of security:
when you're walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain't no one going to mess with you.*

Love doesn't like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you're all wound up and can't move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

-Taylor Mali

*unless you are Patrick Swayze, in which case you will get shot and die even though you are in love, which will likely result in an awkward three-way makeout scene involving your ghost, Whoopi Goldberg and Demi Moore. Gross.

So here are some pictures of some things that I love, including my cute cute dog:



Aw see she is cute.



And of course I love these people.



Picture edited by Josie. You go, Josie. You go.
AND OF COURSE I also love these people:



In a photo I think Jon took that I stole off our lovely England blog. Sorry for being an internet thief. AND AGAIN:







Also I think Jon took one of those pictures and Tiffany probably took another; they were on my facebook page, yey. I took the last one, though. Hee.

And of course, where would I be without any of these lovely people?




Dear Ellis is, alas, not pictured. She was probably taking the picture.

In conclusion, Happy New Year, my dearlings.



Probably I would have more pictures of even more people who I love if I ever took pictures of anyone besides myself.

I will conclude this inspirational post with these inspirational lines:

In place of a dark lord, you would have a queen.
Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the morn!
Treacherous as the Sea!
Stronger than the foundations of the Earth!
All shall love me and despair.

Hearts!!