happy place

A $15 parking ticket today means I probably broke even with the used books I bought (versus new), but old books are much more fun. They sure smell better. Used books have a history. The best ones have someone else's marginalia that I will add to, and probably trade back in to the same book store for more books. I bought a few today to keep me company this month. I have missed reading, and I feel like I need to over-compensate now. This is my last week to do so, since I return to work on the 14th and the stress level, workload, essay reading, planning, conferences, meetings, and data collection  will steadily increase again until May, when I can binge again.

This week of break, I have many excuses to just sit and read. After all, cleaning, cooking, or generally moving about would make too much noise and wake my sleeping child in the afternoons and evenings. It's also snowing, and it would be rude to break the silence with work.

I always take recommendations of friends for books, and then I usually work my way through an author's works. I was sad to discover Edward Abbey only wrote a little fiction.

My friend Erin once made me read Tom Robbins, and I loved him. On her recommendation, I started today with Skinny Legs and All and remembered why, as I snorted some sort of herb-infused water today eating lunch. (Not unlike with Chick-fil-A, I now have trouble walking by the Bleubird Cafe in Boise without getting a grilled cheese. I was hungry, and because of the snow and driving the stupid snowball car, it was going to take twice as long. I was just preventing a hypoglycemic meltdown.) I'm realizing this simple trip to the used book store got pretty expensive--parking ticket, lunch...my inability to buy one book...but six isn't bad.

I was, however, annoyed at Robbins for comparing my beloved dogwood blooms to a constipated elf. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I hope I can forget it by Easter.

I started reading The Alchemist yesterday, but am not loving it just yet. I'll keep giving it a chance. The style isn't grabbing me. It's short, at least...hoping it picks up.

Off to book land. Big fat flakes are still falling.