Book Addict Breakthrough

As you all know by now, I am a Book Addict. I love 'em. I love to read them. I love to buy them. I love to borrow them. I love to touch them, smell them, feel a good solid hardback in my hands or on my lap. Fiction, history, science, romance, women's studies, current events, sociology, psychology, religion, quotes, plays, poetry, analysis, you name it - I love it.

So I had a breakthrough today, of which I am quite proud. (A moment of silence, now, for my breakthrough. Thank you.) I went to the campus bookstore to seek out a biography on Houdini that I've had my eye on for a few weeks. The bookstore carried it in hardback, for $29.95. Ouch. My friend PJ says, "go to Barnes and Noble, you have the member card, right?" Oh, good idea, says I. Later, I'm thinking, I should check amazon.com to see if I can find a used copy (more environmentally friendly, as well as wallet friendly). So I looked it up. I found lots of used copies, so I decided that when I got home tonight, I would order me one. When I got home, I had a further flash of brilliance and decided to check booksfree.com to see if they carried it. [Booksfree.com is like netflix for books - you pay a monthly fee, put books on your list, and they mail them to you. You read them, put them in their little return envelope, mail them back, and get more. Ad infinitum.] And I was in luck, as there was the object of my desire. So I added it to my list. So now, everyone is happy - me, my wallet, and the earth. Oh, and booksfree.com.

(And the heavens opened up and the angels sang.)

Holiday at Sea Perch

Cliff and I just returned from our weekend on the Northern California coast. It was perfect. Of all the places I've been in the world so far (admittedly, not very many), to me this part of the world is uncontested for beauty, and for spiritual and sensual refreshment. By sensual I mean it pleases all the senses. It smells of saltwater, kelp, and earth. It sounds of waves and seabird cries. It tastes of pine, eucalyptus, and fog. It feels springy beneath my feet, soft against my skin, and cool against my body. It looks like heaven - greens, golds, grays, blues, and soft whites.

I feel like a new woman.

Good lord, what a day.

The full moon and the gusty winds, combined with finals week, means everyone is squirrelly. Good lord.

Stay calm

It's a super busy week for me. I'll be holding on to my "happy place."

Have a good week!

An open message to the young women of my city.

Dear lovelies,

You do not do yourself any favors by dressing like skanks and hoochie-mamas. I don't want to be able to tell if you have waxed recently or what kind of undies you are wearing. I also do not want to be that closely acquainted with your cleavage. And lastly, I do not want to lose any more sleep wondering how you are able to maintain your modesty if you drop something while wearing those short short skirts. (Or thinking about what kind of germ transfer there is on that bus seat, which I now get to sit on.)

I don't care how hot it gets, please. I beg you. Put some clothes on.

With respect,

a page from her book

Herstory

We have a new Assembly Speaker in California. Her name is Karen Bass, and she is the first African American woman in the nation's history to lead a legislative house.

Got that? IN THE NATION'S HISTORY.

Right here. In California. In her acceptance speech, she urged lawmakers to toss aside partisanship and "harness the power of our common humanity." She said, "We have to toss aside the boxes we put ourselves in, and the labels we place on others, and come together to get the job done."

This is woman's wisdom. And I say, finally. A story I can get behind. A story that gives me hope. A story made for history books, out of her story.

We put a man on the moon, why can't the internet transmit scents?

The jasmine is blooming.

What can I say...

"Taters of the Lost Ark"

I took it to work and laughed each time I looked at it. Worth every penny of that impulsive $14.99.

Did I mention I love Fridays?

Look at what TH made for dinner:

Chicken and vegetable udon soup. Low fat, low-salt. High flavor, high satisfaction.

Both TH(the hubby) and TS (the soup) are keepers, I believe.

Something about this just seems wrong to me.

I'm all for families. I don't choose to breed, myself, but I don't resent those who do (most of the time). My hat is off to parents - the hardest working, longest suffering group on the planet. "I believe the children are our future..." Oh, sorry.

But something about this just seems wrong to me.

What could it be?

• Is it the fact that this woman is basically a walking uterus?
• Is it that the father's name is Jim Bob? And they're from Arkansas? (would I feel the same if they were from a different part of the country? One that is more "educated"?)
• Is it that they have named all their offspring with names that start with "J"?
• Is it that there are so many children in this country and this world who are orphaned, unwanted, and in need of a good home? It seems like they should take some of those kids in before they have more.
• Is it the suspicion that the older kids are taking care of ("parenting") the younger kids? Is that fair on them?
• Is it disbelief and cynicism over how one man could possibly provide for all these children (cuz you know that momma ain't bringing in no income)?
• Is it the comment that they will keep having kids "as long as God wills it?" I mean, I personally thank God daily for birth control and healthy surgical sterilization methods. He "willed" those, right?

What do you think about this? Am I out of line for being completely weirded out? Please, someone explain this to me.

And yes, I am aware that my biases are showing, so please don't lecture me about being stereotypical, I should be more open-minded, it's-a-free-country, etc. I appreciate all that. It's just that this life that they're living is so completely unfathomable to me. I need some help understanding it.

Bake Night Strikes Back!

I just love the knight on this flour.

At TH's request, I made scones again. This time I used dried cherries instead of craisins. I also tried to get all clever and cut them with a star-shaped cookie cutter. Hmmm. I guess they kind of look like stars. In another galaxy.

Taste good though. And I bet my coworkers will like 'em.

Sorry, mom

I didn't really mean to hack up that hairball until you got home (so you could see it and not step in it). And next time, I'll try to leave it on the hardwood and not the carpet.

Sheesh. You're so demanding.

OK, now they're gone.

The ratings boxes!! I keep seeing them!! Then they're gone!!

I AM NOT CRAZY.

Ummmm...

Can you experienced bloggers explain to me why all my posts have little "ratings" buttons on them? I did not sign up for these. Can I get rid of them?

35 going on 13

I highly dislike experiences that make me feel like a teenager again. I am not one of those women who is constantly seeking youth. I do not enjoy when people tell me I look younger than I am. Swear to God. People seem to think younger = a compliment. Huh. Try it yourself.

So today, I had a moment that pushed me right back to junior high. I went to this store after TH and I cleaned out our closets. Now, it is a fact fairly universally acknowledged that I have style. I wear cute things, dammit. And TH does not dress like a slob either. So I'm hoping to get some store credit out of two big bags of clothes.

My clothes totally looked like this!!

I don't expect them to buy all, but there are some trendy items in there. I wait for them to call me, and I'm cruising the racks, seeing all kinds of trashy stuff, and some nice things, in the same styles, in better and worse condition than what I brought. Cool. I've got it right this time (having tried to sell before, and realized later that the styles were all wrong). Then, Young Thang Buyer Chick tells me, "I'm sorry, I won't be buying anything from you today." WTF? "The styles are too old." I just bought that shirt at Target two months ago!! What do you mean too old?

I don't want my nice things in your yucky store after all. I hate you! I hate you and your stupid ass-face! (Sorry, accidentally slipped into Corky's City Council monologue from "Waiting for Guffman.")

See? SEE? Right back to junior high. My clothes were never good enough, my look was never right. I was never one of the cool girls, and got through it all with a mix of bravado and chutzpah. But I felt it. Oh, I felt it. And I felt it again today.

I'm cute, right? I have nice clothes, right?

I'm never shopping there again. Hmmmppph.

Young Thang Buyer Chick said, "Feel free to continue your shopping here." Sheah. As if. (Bitch.)

Overdose

Is anyone else besides me sick of all the big-pharm influence? Every time I turn on the TV (which actually isn't that often), during every commercial break there is yet another ad for yet another mysterious, unknown malady that requires you to "ask your doctor" if it is right for you. Um, if I don't even know what the disease is, how should I know to ask my doctor if the medication is right for me?

There are several paths I could take with this starting point.

• Medical model vs. biopsychosocial model of illness. The medical model says, 'oh - symptoms- this pill will get rid of those.' The biopsychosocial model says, 'oh -symptoms - let's see what is biologically caused, what is a product of social influence, and what is emotional (psychological).' Yes, some things work best with a pill thrown at them. Others are more complex.
• Are we overmedicating ourselves?
• What is happening: are we really discovering more ailments, OR are people noticing more and asking for relief (instead of pushing through), OR are the ailments caused by other problems, like obesity, OR are Americans so darn spoiled we just expect everything to be taken care of ("make it go away, NOW"), OR ????
• Is big-pharm out for more money, at the cost of medicating whoever, wherever?
• Is it all just a part of a giant government conspiracy to overdose us to the point of electing village idiots...

Well, now that I've got my panties in a bunch, it's time for my Havidol.