Book review: for Jane Austen Addicts

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict & Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, both by Laurie Viera Rigler.

I read Confessions a few years ago, and enjoyed its fanciful premise: a modern-day woman, Courtney, is transported back to Regency England and finds herself trapped in the body and life of a young woman of the time, Jane.

Imagine my delight to find the "sequel," Awakenings, which tells the other side of the story - Jane's experiences in Courtney's life and times. So the stories are a little fluffy, and there's the whole unrealistic time travel aspect. So what? These books are fun diversions and made me look at life in modern America and in Regency England in new ways.

I see a light at the end of the tunnel....

..... I just hope it's not a train.


It's the end of the semester, which means finals week, which means I am swamped with work and essentially do not get to leave my office for the entire workday. But it ends tomorrow at 5:00 pm, and if you listen closely you may hear my celebratory shouts of elation.

My latest grief group ended Sunday after 5 weeks, so that's done. I won't have to lead this again till Fall, so that's a load off.

I have been fighting a cold, struggling with insomnia, and trying to maintain my sanity without my regular exercise regimen. My health feels a little ragged, but I know this weekend I will have a chance to rest.

Take care, blog friends. Hope the next week or so brings you some relief, too.

An Allergy Haiku

Oh pollen, you bitch
Stay out of my sinuses!
Somebody shoot me.

Personal space. I wants it.

MEMO
To: People who crowd up next to or behind me in line.

Back off.

Ta!
Jen

--------------------------------------------------------------

Seriously? Crowding me will not make the line go faster. Maintain your distance, at least 12 inches but preferably 24 inches, at all times.

Do you not get it? Let me spell it out for you.

• If you can move my hair (which is short) with your breath (which is gross), you are too close.
• If you brush up against my purse (which is held close to my body), you are too close.
• If by turning my head I could give you cooties, you are too close.
• If I can smell your deodorant (or lack thereof), you are too close.
• If by shifting my weight I bump you with my elbow (for which, in all honesty, I don't really feel I should apologize, because I am not the one who caused that unfortunate accident, that is your fault, you rude space-hogging cretin, however MY parents raised a courteous citizen so I beg your pardon), YOU ARE TOO FRICKIN' CLOSE.

I feel I have made my point.

I want to ride my bicycle!

The past two weekends, TH and I have been riding our bikes around the 'hood. Last weekend it was over to the farmer's market. Today we rode over to our city's Living History Day. I love riding my bike. Besides the fact that it is black with pink flames (sweet!), I love feeling the breeze on my face and hearing the sounds of the world instead of being encased in steel and glass. I love racing with the birds and dragonflies. I love the pull of my quads and hamstrings. Yup, I love riding my bike.