Ariel Factor Birdoff's Blog

Hello, everyone. It's been a while. It's currently 2020, which is a dumpster fire. As I am attempting to cope with one full time job, two freelance positions, two graduate courses, and of course two beautiful twin toddlers, I find myself with a lot of time to spare. Just joking, but apparently I had enough time to design a small pattern. As I am trying to offset the "Pandemic 15", I thought I would make and share this diet friendly cookie. Low in calories, high in fiber! See what I did there? No? I need to sleep. Anyway, here is Butter Cookie with Sprinkles: 
COOKIE (make 2) 11 HDC in Magic Ring. Join with sl. Ch 2 (counts as a stitch throughout), HDC in same stitch. 2HDC around (22). SL to ch. Ch 2, HDC in same stitch. *HDC in the next two stitches, 2HDC in next stitch* repeat (33). SL to ch. Ch 1 (counts as a stitch), 3 sc in same stitch, sl in next two stitches, *4sc in next stitch, sl in next two stitches* repeat (11 bumps) Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing. SPRINKLES With yarn or embroidery floss and a needle, sew small "sprinkles" onto RS of one cookie. With RS facing out, sew cookies together, making sure to match up the bumps. Weave in ends or hide them inside the cookies.Please, do NOT eat this cookie.

I am a cis woman. I am married to a cis man. I am in a heterosexual relationship. I am not heterosexual. Too often, people are defined solely by the relationships they're currently in.

If a woman who only dated women, marries a man, people might say that being gay was a phase, and that she had always been straight. If a man dated only women, and ended up with another a man, he must have "turned gay". If a person dates people of all genders, and ends up in a monogamous relationship with someone who identifies with one of the gender binaries, that person did not "finally figure out their sexuality", they simply chose the person they love.

No matter with whom you are romantically or sexually involved (or not involved), your sexuality is whatever YOU define it as. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Happy National Coming Out Day! 
♥️

Welcome! 
Ariel Birdoff is, indeed, nerdy, wordy, and over thirty. She is the author of pop-culture nerdy poetry book: NERD!VERSE, and is currently living the dream working as a School Outreach Librarian at the New York Public Library's MyLibraryNYC program. Ariel also freelances as an editor, proofreader, book reviewer, and organizer. When she is not busy working, she can be found making things out of yarn, binge watching television, reading copious amounts of YA literature, or referring to herself in the third person. 
Ariel is also the founder, singer, and manager of the wizard rock band Madam Pince and the Librarians. You can download much of their music for free. Ariel recently released a music video with Dandy Decadance for HufflePride!


Besides Nerdy, Wordy, and Over Thirty, Ariel writes for several other blogs:

HUFFINGTON POSTSesame Street Celebrates Children's Book WeekSESAME WORKSHOPSesame Street Swings by the LibraryNYPL5 YA Books You Seriously Need to Read5 Poems to Read Aloud for All AgesWolf, Iron, Blood: An Alternate History YA Duology from Ryan Graudin

Hello, old friend. Life as an Outreach Librarian has been pretty busy lately, and I haven't had a chance to blog. That, and I recently got married.


Remember that guy Adam I met at Jewish Speed Dating a few years ago?

2012: The Good, The Bad, and the @#&$!: I did not know it at the time, but the Jewish boy I met at the speed-dating-event-I-went-to-only-to-please-my-mother, would soon find a place in my heart.  Adam and I really hit if off and have been together for several months now. In fact, we have just returned from our first vacation together, and I have a really good feeling about him.

Apparently it was a great feeling because I married him. (!!) Our ceremony and reception took place on May 15, 2016 at the Royalton Mansion in Roslyn Heights, NY. We had about 200 guests for a Reconstructionist ceremony, a pescatarian dinner, and a raging dance party. I know it sounds like your run of the mill fancy-pants Long Island Jewish Wedding... and it definitely was... but it was also the Geek Affair of the Century. With Funko Pops of Dumbledore, Locutus of Borg, and Dalek Sek, copies of all seven Harry Potter books, a TARDIS card box, a book cake, and hand crocheted Hufflepuff and Slytherin bride and groom cake toppers, it was certainly the nerdiest thing we'd done all year, and we attend NYComicCon.


Now, while getting married and being nerdy was certainly the focus of the event, I want to tell you about the lessons we learned while planning. Actually it's one big lesson. There are two very important words that go into planning and having a wedding. You might think they are: "I do," (which are very important, admittedly)  but they are actually: "FUCK IT". Seriously.


Society thinks you should have a certain weight of paper for your invitation? Fuck it. It's paper. Your florist tells you that the lavender flowers you ordered had to be sent back and replaced with different flowers at the last minute? Fuck it. They're flowers. The groom forgot his funky polka dot dress socks that we spent hours picking out? Fuck it. Borrow someone else's socks. These two happy words gave me and Adam one of the happiest days of our lives. Even when the wind gusts were so strong that we had to move our long-planned "secret garden" wedding indoors 20 minutes before go time. Fuck it.


So, while "fuck it" was definitely our mantra for the entire event, what we really meant was "As long as we get married today, it will have been perfect." So, I guess "I do" really are the two most important words after all. And here I am writing this whole thing... fuck it.  

2015 has been a fantastic year for young adult literature. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading my way through historical fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, graphic novels, and more. While the year is certainly not over, I feel the need to share these exquisite examples of wonderful YA literature.

In no particular order, I give you:

Madam Pince's Top 10 YA Books of 2015(so far, anyway)An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir Sexy, thrilling, star-crossed high fantasyLooking for a deliciously well-written "Game of Thrones for Teenagers" type book? Look no further! Utterly absorbing and wholly original. One of the best books I've ever read... period! 
Black Dove, White Raven by Elizabeth Wein WWII, Italy, Ethiopia, race, and stunt pilots!Elizabeth Wein has written yet another incredible historical novel that will teach readers about the culture and history of Ethiopia, the resilience of young pilots, and the bond of family. 
Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy  by Noelle Stevenson Friendship to the MAX!Feminism! Supernatural creatures in the woods! Hardcore ladytypes! And what's up with the creepy zombie boys? Whether you love comic books or not, this one's for you!
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson Subversiveness. Science. Symbolism.Superheroes too goody-goody for you? Are their sidekicks nauseating? Well, what about supervillans? And what about their shape-shifting, ass-kicking, brilliantly evil sidekicks? 
Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx  by Sonia Manzano From the South Bronx to Sesame StreetA beautiful memoir. With simple, heartfelt prose, Sonia Manzano tells the difficult story of her life in New York City before becoming Maria on Sesame Street.
The Rest of Us Just Live Here  by Patrick Ness Don't you hate it when your high school blows up... again?Ever wonder about the other kids in your YA novels? You know, the ones that the story doesn't happen to? This is about them. The Hired Girl  by Laura Amy Schlitz Feminism and religious diversity in the early 1900'sA quintessential historical fiction story, written in journal entries about a poor farm girl in 1911 who runs away to live in the big city. In case you were wondering what life was like for an American girl of 14, battling with the world's views on the role of women in society, Laura Amy Schlitz's story lays it out perfectly.Dumplin' by Julie Murphy This book will make you happy with who you areA body-positive, humor-filled story of Texan teenage "fat girl" who enters the Miss Clover City Beauty Pageant. Willowdean Dickson's self confidence and love of Dolly Parton will charm readers everywhere.Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin Non-fiction never read so goodDo you feel things about Lyndon B. Johnson? Richard Nixon? Do you know about The Pentagon Papers? If the answers to these questions aren't "YAAAASSSSS" or "I can't even!", then read this book. You're welcome.Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson Historical Fantasy? Magical Historical Realism?Leah Westfall can divine gold. To avoid unwanted attention, Leah keeps her "gold sense" a secret. However, when her parents are murdered, and her gold is stolen, Leah must use gift and her strength to go west on her own.

In the wake of all the crap that can sometimes be the United States, today I can say that I am DAMN proud to be an American. You guys, I think we did something right! The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled in favor of love and marriage for all its citizens. 
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy delivered the majority opinion with heartfelt words:

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

As well it should. I am amazed it took us this long to get here, but I am so glad we finally made it. 
Before I leave (to go find rainbow things to wear and then go dance in the streets), I want to remember a night not too long ago, when my state (New York) legalized same-sex marriage.  When I heard the wonderful news that night, I began to cry: big, happy tears. A few of the people that I was with asked me why I was so happy. "Are  you gay?" they wondered. As if, only someone who was gay should be this happy about a couple's right to marriage. I responded to their asinine question with a glare, and continued celebrating. What I now realize I should have said, when they asked me if the reason I was so happy was because I was gay, my response should have been: "It doesn't matter. I'm human."
LGBT rights are not solely an LGBT issue. These rights, as with ALL civil rights, are HUMAN rights. The oppressed should never stand alone. Stand for yourself. Stand with others. Stand for the citizens of the world who have a right to be themselves safely and happily. 
"If I am not for me, who will be?If I am only for me, who am I?If not now, when?"-Rabbi Hillel 

 

Welcome! 
Ariel Birdoff is a writer, editor, organizer, librarian, blogger, and devout Hufflepuff. She is currently living the dream as an Outreach Librarian at the New York Public Library's MyLibraryNYC program. Ariel also freelances as an editor, proofreader, and organizer. When she is not busy working, she can be found making things out of yarn, binge watching nerdy television, reading copious amounts of YA literature, or referring to herself in the third person.
Besides Nerdy, Wordy, and Over Thirty, Ariel writes for several other blogs:

HUFFINGTON POST
Sesame Street Celebrates Children's Book WeekSESAME WORKSHOP
Sesame Street Swings by the LibraryNYPL
5 YA Books You Seriously Need to Read5 Poems to Read Aloud for All Ages

Well, Internet, I purchased my own domain. All the recent shenanigans of the wrong (or perhaps right) people getting a hold of other people's domains, have inspired me to purchase my own. Behold: www.arielbirdoff.com. Isn't she beautiful?

Hi there! Remember me? Got laid off in June? Is a giant nerd?

Yep. That's me.

So anyway, a lot has happened since I reminisced about Deathly Hallows back in July. Since things have been kind of hectic, I guess I could sum up the last six months in three easy bullets:
I got a job as an Outreach Librarian at the New York Public Library's MyLibraryNYC department. Can you believe it? ME! A REAL LIBRARIAN!! Check out some of the booklists I've made! I get to read YA and talk about books FOR MY JOB. Stay-tuned for some NYPL guest blogging on must-read books.
My self-published nerdy book of poetry, NERD!VERSE was finally released on Amazon in December! I am now a published poet.
My boyfriend Adam proposed to me on the first night of Chanukah, and I said yes! Now I finally get to admit I've been planning my wedding on Pinterest for the last year and a half! I am officially in DIY heaven. The big day is May 15, 2016
So... yeah. 2014 was pretty great and pretty busy. Here's to a just as fantastic 2015. Hopefully I'll keep up with the blogging a bit more.
My Box of Brand-New Books My First Day of Work
We Made It So Also, this happened.

Today marks seven years since the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I remember sitting and reading, silently crying as I mourned the loss of my favorite characters, as well as the closing of the most magical story I had ever read. But even though the books are over, the gifts that Jo Rowling gave to me are still coming. Harry Potter changed my life. I have friends that I call my family.

I have The Group That Shall Not Be Named to fill my calendar with the most awesome events every month, I have Kelly Zepha Owen and her wonderful family who are so dear to me, it's as if we were blood, I have Adam Rothstein, my partner in all things... and while we didn't meet at a convention, pretty much the only reason we made it past round one of Jewish Speed Dating is because he mentioned the two words that touched my heart (Harry Potter), and I have everyone else in this wonderful fandom family. I am so grateful for all of you. You are all a gift to me every day.

And let's face it. It's been seven years since the end of an era... but the wonderful thing about books is that you can start all over again.