What? Another new layout?

[ichinichinemasu]

That's right! We rode skyline drive through the Appalachian Mountains yesterday, and there were droves of butterflies. Just butterflies everywhere! Naturally I took tons of pictures. One of which is my new background image. And my new background colors are...green and pink. Who'd have guessed?

Anyway, this weekend was fun. Despite the death-inducing heat. Oh yes, I might have died. But I didn't. Monticello, the home of our beloved Jefferson, was beautiful. It was...picturesque, for any 18th c. buffs that happen to read this journal. It took him a very long time to plan and build. For one thing, it's on top of a mountain. For another, he changed his mind halfway through the process and rebuilt it in the manner of the French during that time period, where the building is actually three floors but it looks like two. Like so:

They say that Jefferson loved Monticello so much he didn't even want to leave to run for president. He espeacially liked to play with the gardens. They also say that his ghost still wanders the halls at night. He just loved it that much, I guess. If one is inclined to believe in ghosts, I think it's sad. He did so much good, after all.

Skyline drive was great not only for the butterflies, but for the mountain views and all of the untouched nature. The woods felt like some fairy-land out of lotr or Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. It was breathtaking, really, and probably something I won't see again.

Oh, and, speaking of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, you must go read it!! Right now! I am almost to the end (I read it through my vacation), and the last two hundred pages are absolutely *orgasmic.* Oh, god. It's good. It's written in the style of Jane Austen, with mysticism that parallels closely to lotr or Harry Potter, and the characterizations are amazing. I heart my Strange. I would create a community for the book, except I don't know how. And I don't know who would read it, except for me. But I am obsessed... In fact, it's so good, Newline has recently licensed it for a movie. They are having the man who did the screenplay for the 1988 Les Liasons Dangerous write it at this very moment. (Was that the good version? I hope.)

EDIT: Oh, I actually found a community. Scratch that.

Comments

[merisunshine36.livejournal.com]

Your new layout is so pretty! That's an awesome foto you took! Monticello is awesome, my high school was designed after it and one wing looks exactly like your pic.

Still miss u!!! Have you read Saiyuki Gaiden? I've downloaded the first volume and I'm in lurrve, haha.

[ichinichinemasu.livejournal.com]

Yay, thanks! So far, I've changed my layout three times...

Oh wow, your high school was designed after Monticello? That's crazy! Also cool.

Oh, I love saiyuki. Like whoa. I have all of the volumes that are released in the US, if you ever want to borrow. I've read some of Gaiden, too. But I don't think all of it. It's pretty, ne?

I miss you too! Three weeks until school!

because I've nothing better to do

[merisunshine36.livejournal.com]

...and because you care, this is my high school!

Re: because I've nothing better to do

[ichinichinemasu.livejournal.com]

Ooo pretty! I wish my high school was this nice!

[fragilentity.livejournal.com]

YAY! that sounds like awesome fun! i love the new layout it's beautiful! and that pic in front of Jefferson's house is absolutely amazing! that's a good camera ya got there. i hope to get one of my some *someday*! that book u were talking about sounds good too. i think i'll raid the online catalog and find it. whoa my head hurts. *falls over*