Last Sunday Hubby and I checked out a local used bookstore. We both love wandering around the aisles of shelves crammed with old books looking for hidden treasures. In particular, I enjoy looking for out of print books and get a thrill when I find one. It actually makes me want to jump up and down shouting, but then I realize that it's subjective and only myself cherishes my "new" book.
While this particular local used bookstore was good, there was something missing. Maybe it was that the aisles were too narrow and made me claustrophobic, or perhaps it was a particular smell that permeated the shop -- Hubby and I decided that it was the smell of garlic due to the adjacent restaurant. What this used bookstore clearly wasn't was Half Price Books.
The Half Price Books store that we used to frequent in Texas was big, not massive, but it had wide aisles that two people could be looking on either side of the shelf with no major space issues. There was a bench by the 'latest' books and magazines racks that could help you peruse and make decisions while sitting. The sections were clearly marked and organized. I could spend a couple of hours at Half Price Books, especially considering the amount of time it took me to go through all the discount racks outside the store.
Now there is a Half Price Books location about a 15 minute drive from where we live, But it is less than half the size of the one in Texas. The first time we went there I thought "is this it?". I went to the back of the store to see if there was a section we missed but there wasn't anything else. It was a huge disappointment. Hopefully they will expand over time. Until then, we'll have to search for other used bookstores.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why All the Palin Hatred?
Just don't understand all the hatred for Sarah Palin that still exists. Why should anyone care about her anymore since she is no longer running for VP? Let it go. David Letterman was rude, but hey, he's getting old and trying to remain relevant with all the young talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.
Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.
Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.
I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.
Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.
Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.
I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Baking
I've been thinking about baking banana bread since watching this season's premiere of 'Weeds' on Showcase the other night. Just not sure if I have all the ingredients, so it may become a banana cake.
Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.
Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.
I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.
Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.
Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.
I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Life After People
Last month I was having diffulty falling to sleep and counting sheep just was not working. I quietly turned on the television so as to not wake up Hubby but there wasn't much on in the wee hours. All I can say is thank God for Comcast On Demand.
As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.
Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.
I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.
As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.
Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.
I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.
Friday, May 29, 2009
'Jon & Kate' Sickness
What is the national obsession with the TLC show 'Jon & Kate Plus Eight'? I just do not understand the fascination with watching a couple that have a set of twins and then were crazy and had sextuplets through invitro fertilization. Why would anyone watch this show?
Okay, I admit that I caught an episode while on the treadmill at the gym because there wasn't much else on at 11am. It was amusing to watch her shop for groceries and made me feel glad that my grocery bill would never amount to as much as hers did. But I had to turn the channel when she interacted with her husband at a toy store when shopping for birthday/Christmas gifts. She spoke to him like he was one of her children. It was embarrassing and I felt uncomfortable for him and I had to change the channel. If I spoke that way to Hubby our marriage would be over and vice versa. Perhaps couples should watch this to see how NOT to treat your spouse. Honestly, is anyone really surprised that this marriage is on the rocks?
After watching this trainwreck of a marriage does anyone in the United States still want to tune in to watch more episodes? I only feel pity for their poor offspring who will have this unfortunate chapter of their lives captured on film forever. Jon & Kate need an intervention immediately to save their children from years of therapy later on. Let's do them all a favour and not watch this horrendous show.
Okay, I admit that I caught an episode while on the treadmill at the gym because there wasn't much else on at 11am. It was amusing to watch her shop for groceries and made me feel glad that my grocery bill would never amount to as much as hers did. But I had to turn the channel when she interacted with her husband at a toy store when shopping for birthday/Christmas gifts. She spoke to him like he was one of her children. It was embarrassing and I felt uncomfortable for him and I had to change the channel. If I spoke that way to Hubby our marriage would be over and vice versa. Perhaps couples should watch this to see how NOT to treat your spouse. Honestly, is anyone really surprised that this marriage is on the rocks?
After watching this trainwreck of a marriage does anyone in the United States still want to tune in to watch more episodes? I only feel pity for their poor offspring who will have this unfortunate chapter of their lives captured on film forever. Jon & Kate need an intervention immediately to save their children from years of therapy later on. Let's do them all a favour and not watch this horrendous show.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Packing
I've really got to start packing. At this point our bed is covered with clothes, but I still haven't dug out the suitcase. Instead, I've been busy buying music from iTunes and watching a documentary on PBS, 'We Shall Remain', about the 1838 relocation of Cherokees from Southeastern US to Oklahoma territory. Must start packing.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Trip
I'm starting to get excited about the upcoming trip home later this week. Unfortunately, I'm not as enthused about packing; in fact I hate packing. Packing makes me irritated, and so I tend to procrastinate and that makes it even worse.
Can't wait to see my friend Amanda. We're going for dinner on Thursday evening and it will involve lots of alcohol, news and gossip. The sad thing is the forecast calls for cold, rainy weather that day/evening. What to pack?
Can't wait to see my friend Amanda. We're going for dinner on Thursday evening and it will involve lots of alcohol, news and gossip. The sad thing is the forecast calls for cold, rainy weather that day/evening. What to pack?
Friday, May 8, 2009
What's Up With Elizabeth Edwards?
Unless you've been living under a rock, you have heard that Elizabeth Edwards has written a book about her husband's affair. All the media outlets are giving her air time to promote it so that people will run out and buy a copy. What I want to know is: what drives her to do this?
If I were Elizabeth Edwards I would keep all of this private. Time has a wonderful way of burying scandals until they become footnotes in history. New scandals emerge to shock the population and gradually we forget past transgressions. Lie low and the tabloids will drop the subject, but if you try to capitalize on your scandal by writing a book then be prepared for the glare of media scrutiny. The National Enquirer, which broke the original scandal, probably has already paid hacks to follow Rielle Hunter around trying to get DNA.
Oh, Elizabeth, when will you realize that your man let you down, and if you take him back you must accept all the dirty laundry: skanky woman he cheated with and the possible child he fathered. But, most of us wash the dirty laundry in private and do not write books and go on 'Oprah'. Does she need: money, fame, sympathy?
If I were Elizabeth Edwards I would keep all of this private. Time has a wonderful way of burying scandals until they become footnotes in history. New scandals emerge to shock the population and gradually we forget past transgressions. Lie low and the tabloids will drop the subject, but if you try to capitalize on your scandal by writing a book then be prepared for the glare of media scrutiny. The National Enquirer, which broke the original scandal, probably has already paid hacks to follow Rielle Hunter around trying to get DNA.
Oh, Elizabeth, when will you realize that your man let you down, and if you take him back you must accept all the dirty laundry: skanky woman he cheated with and the possible child he fathered. But, most of us wash the dirty laundry in private and do not write books and go on 'Oprah'. Does she need: money, fame, sympathy?
Thursday, May 7, 2009
All is Lost on Lost
Last night's episode of 'Lost' still has me baffled and questioning what the point is for this season. It has been explained that the six must go back to the island to save it, but Locke and Sun are in the present while the other four are in 1977. The beginning of the season was interesting when Ben and Locke were trying to get the six to go back to the island, but the second-half has been, well, a tad boring. Here's hoping that they wrap up this year with a huge cliff-hanger and the writers make next season more action-packed without giant plot holes.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Phineas and Ferb
Last weekend Hubby was at a photography workshop around Yosemite and I tagged along. While I didn't actually attend the workshop with him I did the 'Lost in Translation' thing and hung out at the hotel we were staying at. I indulged myself and went to the spa for a facial. When I went back to our room I soon discovered that the channels on the tv were either sports or children's programming. Somehow I found myself watching the Disney channel's marathon of the cartoon 'Phineas and Ferb'. Shockingly, I could not switch the channel as I became more and more engrossed in this crazy cartoon.
At first, I thought it strange that Phineas had a triangle for a head, but after an hour I stopped noticing it. I was amused by the bizarre and outlandish inventions the step-brothers create in their backyard, and how they never get into trouble because their parents never discover their antics.
Since arriving back home I have been searching for the Disney channel and --gasp-- recording 'Phineas and Ferb'. Hubby thinks I've gone loony; he laughs and shakes his head when he checks the DVR recordings and sees 'Phineas and Ferb'. Perhaps now my niece and nephew will think I'm cool.
At first, I thought it strange that Phineas had a triangle for a head, but after an hour I stopped noticing it. I was amused by the bizarre and outlandish inventions the step-brothers create in their backyard, and how they never get into trouble because their parents never discover their antics.
Since arriving back home I have been searching for the Disney channel and --gasp-- recording 'Phineas and Ferb'. Hubby thinks I've gone loony; he laughs and shakes his head when he checks the DVR recordings and sees 'Phineas and Ferb'. Perhaps now my niece and nephew will think I'm cool.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
When an ipod Just Isn't Enough
Word has it that President Obama, who is visiting the UK for the G-20 Summit, presented Queen Elizabeth with an ipod. Apparently, the aforementioned ipod was loaded with photos of the queen during her last visit to the United States, but what kind of gift is an ipod to a reigning monarch in her 80s? After giving the Prime Minister of England a boxed set of classic American movies on DVD (that were apparently non-compatible with British DVD players), this is another indicationn that the White House is in dire need of a top-notch protocol officer...or perhaps a staffer that could give more thought and substance to these official gifts. Do they really believe that DVDs and ipods are not availble overseas?
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