Book Club

Hey now, a post that finally relates to the title of this blog! You have probably been thinking, with all of my 5 blog posts, when the H is this girl going to write about books she's read... And now I am. Well, kind of.

My former co-worker and now friend decided to start a book club. I don't know how it came up, but it was going to be her neighbor and her, and some other girl from law school, and me. And as she has been telling people about it, more and more people have joined. I don't know how many women are doing the damn thing, but it's going to be great.

I've never been part of a book club before. Truth be told, I'm a little nervous.

What if there is some underlying symbolism I didn't even come close to picking up on? What if there is historical significance and the main character is actually a representation of the Cold War or something?

I'll let ya'll know how it goes!

grumpy at work

I hate it when I have a good day - I could even say a great day - and then it all goes to trash in the last hour.

Maybe I am just grumpy.

Maybe I am just having one of "those days".

It still sucks.



(I just I should specify with "work day".)

Toasted Marshmallow

I haven't gone into a Bath & Body Works in a long time. Too many smells. Too many women wearing aprons offering me baskets and telling me store offers. (I get easily overwhelmed.)

A couple weeks ago I went to the mall to get some work clothes - I don't think I got anything - and walked past the BBW, which was having a sale on their 3-wick candles. It was all of their "treat" candles. I went in thinking I would not be impressed and I would get a couple pumpkin candles like I did last year.

I WAS WRONG.

Salty Caramel - duh
Cinnamon Glazed Donut - duh
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie - duh
TOASTED flipping MARSHMALLOW - OMG

Best purchase of the year (probably)

I have worked all of my life, so I really don't have any hobbies. - Stephen Hill

Oh, Stephen. I have studied all of my life, so I really don't have any hobbies, either.

When I graduated with my bachelor's degree in 2007, I decided I would start picking up some hobbies. My mom bought me a sewing machine for graduation and I meddled around with it a few times. I made some simple curtains for not one, but three different apartments that year (2 were mine, was my beloved friend, Gianna's - come to think of it, I think I still owe her a window or two worth of curtains).

I also fixed the inseam of a pair of pajama scrubs. and I made "Stockings" for Christmas two years ago. They are "stockings" in quotation marks because they are just rectangular and not actually stocking-shaped.

But I have been in school since the fall of 2008 pursuing my second degree, so my "hobby" of sewing pretty much took a turn for the dusty and forgotten.

This summer I decided I would try to knit. My needles, 1 ball of yarn, and copy of Stitch 'N Bitch are still waiting for me to take another go at it.

I have obviously continued to read for pleasure - now on book number 23 for the year (this number would be more impressive, but I re-watched all episodes of Parks & Recreation, The Office, Glee and Grey's Anatomy... and now I am starting Mad Men on instant Netflix. I can't really be proud of getting rid of cable television, but have watched this many TV shows in the same year....)

I am going to start working on a quilt this month. I need to figure out the logistics of it and then sit down and actually start it.

And one of my more elusive (and hipster) hobbies - owl hunting. That has DEFINITELY picked up this summer when I went on a solo road trip and stopped in a couple different antique malls through Mississippi. And etsy.com.

One of the many owls who have made it to my living room this summer:

______ Books A Year Challenge!

I joined goodreads.com in November 2007. In 2008, I participated in a "group" challenge of 50 Books A Year. I read exactly 50 books (for leisure) that year. I finished the last of the Harry Potter series on New Year's Eve. Since 2008, I have been slacking in the reading department.

I can blame going to school and working, but to be honest, I was a little lazy. We had cable (with HBO for crying out loud!) We bought a house and put a lot of time in house-stuff. The time I had, I wanted to be lazy with. I kind of forgot about the joys of reading and reading and reading until my eyes get heavy and I fall asleep with the lights on, burning bright.

NOT THIS YEAR, FOLKS. I am fighting my laziness (it is still very, very prevalent on my days off though). I finished school this May (hopefully for a long, long time) and now I have a job where I only work 3-4 days a week. This means that I have a LOT of free time.

Free time = Reading.

This year, I have set a goal to read 30 books. Currently, I am reading Room by Emma Donaghue and it is my 24th book. (According to my goodreads reading challenge, I am 10% ahead of schedule. I will probably read more than 30 books this year, which will help me set my challenge for next year.

I know you!!!!

Before I graduated with my second degree (the one that I actually use now in my profession), I worked at a law firm. Right down the street from the law firm was this seemingly dingy, hole-in-the-wall chinese/vietnamese food restaurant. And I love it. It is cash-only and so so so so tasty.



The girls I work with and I would go at least once a week. It was that damn good (and economical!)

It got to the point where the gentleman working at the front counter who would take our orders would know us just by our order (even when we were calling it in!) It would go like this:

Guy: Chinese Wok Express.
Me: Can I place an order for pick up?
Guy: Go ahead.
Me: I would like chicken w/ broccoli w/ white rice -
Guy: Hi. How are you?
Me: I'm good. And-
Guy: I know. Crab rangoon and soda to go.
Me: Yep! Thanks.
Guy: $5.75. Be ready 10 minutes.

I LOVE that he remembers me. I don't work downtown anymore. I am no longer 1 block away from the best chinese food in town. Actually, it isn't even on my way home and I don't get off in time to go there before they close for the night. So when I do get to go (like today) - it is a magical little treat. And the guy still knows me!

It makes my day!

Vacation-ing!

I am lucky enough to have a job that allows me to have 6 days off in a row without having to use any vacation/personal/sick/fake-sick days.

I am also lucky enough to have family who live 15 minutes from the beach.

I am also lucky enough to have a car that can take me 834 miles down there and then 834 miles back. (With some stops along the way, of course!)

I'll have a real post when I am actually home! Until then, nothing but smiles from the road!