Thursday, July 29, 2010

Eat, Pray, Love

I started with a nonfiction book more because it was the most readily available than anything else. I wasn't sure that I'd like it at first - not because I don't like nonfiction, because I do, but because I'm not generally impressed by my-life's-journey stories, nor do I trust "popular" to be the same as "good."

But this book was so good.

It's divided into 3 parts - Italy, where the narrator learns to enjoy life, India, where the narrator learns to appreciate life, and Indonesia, where the narrator learns to live her life. Her philosophy is interesting and convincing - and, I'll admit, I really enjoyed the short section in which she describes a weekend in Florence. Every other line, I was thinking "I did that! And I did that!"
But really, the whole book had a similar feel. Even though I haven't physically been anywhere else she went, the narration of her emotional/spiritual journey is so well done that it's hard not to identify. Eat, Pray, Love is an exploration of... if you'll excuse the reference... the answer (or perhaps the question) to life, the universe, and everything.

The ending caught me by surprise. I want to say it was abrupt, but I'm not sure I can. Just as I was thinking "wait, that's it?" I was also thinking, "of course that's it; there's nothing more to say." I like that there's no where-do-I-go-from-here summary. The whole book was about finding balance so that she doesn't need to know or worry about that, so it's fitting to just stop there, with thanks to the people who helped her along the way.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sweet

Guess what? Today, I got paid for sleeping on books. The only way it would have been better was if they paid me to read them.

I worked until a little after 8:00 last night and was back at 6:30 this morning. I worked on shelving and unshelving, took a break to sleep on books, then, for a change, did some REshelving.

Perhaps I should explain.

We got a delivery today, and once the truck unloads, someone has to stay with the boxes to make sure they're not stolen before they all get moved into the store room. I was lucky enough to get guard duty - and then the manager who was moving them (because no one else was available) got sidetracked onto managerly things. So I relaxed on the boxes and waited, and the 11:00 call went something like this:
"It's 11:00 and Michelle is now on this, Ash you're on this, Nick's still there, Bibi's starting there, so-and-so finish that, etc... oh, and Michele's in the basement, I have to go get her."
"The basement?"
"With a shipment."
"Oh, I thought that's where we kept people who didn't sign up enough Borders Rewards or something."

I ended the day by making a good start on a project Kelly had: the graphic novels are currently in order by sub-category, then alphabetically by author, but need to be rearranged to alphabetically by title, with no sub-categories. All 6 bays of them. It was actually kind of fun... yeah, I know: I'm weird.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Bestsellers

My reading list, generated by the NY Times Bestseller list:
1-3. Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy
4. Nora Roberts' The Search
5. Chris Cleave's Little Bee
6. Linda Lael Miller's Austin
7. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro's Private
8. Justin Halpern's Sh*t My Dad Says
9. Anthony Bourdain's Medium Raw
10. Drew Brees' Coming Back Stronger
11. Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love
12. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin's Three Cups of Tea
13. Chelsea Handler's My Horizontal Life
14. Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton's The Very Fairy Princess
15. Simon Beecroft's Lego Star Wars
16. Jane O'Connor's Ooh La La! It's Beauty Day

Yes, the last three are kids' books. No, I will not be reading the best selling advice books, mainly because at least one of them is about being pregnant, and that would just be odd. I wasn't sure about the advice books to begin with, and with that added incentive not to read them... well, my list's long enough, right?

So. I'm starting with Eat, Pray, Love, which I've borrowed from Borders. It's due back in 2 weeks, but I'll probably have it done long before that.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

I like this job

Worked on the cash registers today - the training turned into covering the noon rush because John didn't have enough people to replace us, and we were already there, so...

There's a lot going on, but it's fun. I think I'll get the hang of it after a week or so - it's just trying to answer all the questions. I'm not that familiar with the store yet. Or the neighborhood. Or what book won what award last year...

I get to work again tomorrow - I'm going in early to help with inventory & stuff. I've got a locker, but no time card yet.

Went grocery shopping after work today. I bought myself some hamburger to put in the spaghetti, and now I'm excited for dinner, so I better stop typing and go cook.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Books! Books! And... no books?

I started at Borders today - I was so excited, I was an hour early getting off the T, but I hung out at the library a little.

Then I headed towards Borders - still early - and realized the farmer's market was there! So I went around the square and checked out all the stands, and the peaches looked good but the plums looked really good so when I passed them again on my way home I bought some.

Then Borders - it's going to be a really cool job. It sounds like so much fun! And books! Books everywhere, all day... and air conditioning too. Their ereader program is really good. They even have a book lending policy for employees... and an employee discount... So many books, so little time.

After Borders, and the plums, I stopped at the library again - intending to start on my goal of reading the entire NY Times bestseller list. Sadly, none of the books on the list were available. BPL, you disappoint me.


snicker

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Saturday

I had lunch in the food court of the mall today - and got dessert at Truffles. I decided I was allowed, since I got a job.

I also decided I should start reading the books on the NY Times bestseller list - seems like a good idea, since I'm interested in publishing. I'll have to go back to the library again sometime after checking the list here, since you have to wait in line to get on a computer with internet access there. It didn't seem worth it, for something that would only take a minute to check.

The 4:00 Saturday mass was downstairs, where it was cooler, and there was music, though it was just the organ and one singer. Afterward I talked to a woman who graduated from Emerson's writing program.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Job Hunt part 3

I've got a job!

I'vegotajobI'vegotajob...

$8.50/hr @ Borders as a bookseller... and she remembered me!

It's not necessarily enough to cover rent... but it's a start!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Feeling Accomplished

I actually was able to get through half my to-do list today.

I'm uneasily reminded of this

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Chores

So it's not quite as cool as I'd hoped, but still cooler - at least until tomorrow. I've gotten myself a bit more organized and plan on doing some cleaning later. Tomorrow I need to go grocery shopping.

I've also been researching recycling in Boston - I'm hoping to find a recycling drop-off, or something, but I can't get any definite information on the internet, so I'll have to call during business hours.

You know, my room looks like a disaster area. Why does cleaning always do that?

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Thunderstorm

It was really hot again today - at least at first. I went back to Border's to get a signed book for Steph, and while I was there one of the employees came over to tell everyone that there was a huge storm and many places were flooding.

He wasn't kidding - when I went back downstairs they were directing people to the other side of the store as they tried to mop up all the water covering the floor between the door and the escalators. I hung out for a while - after all, being stuck in a bookstore of all places is hardly a problem - and found a new Andrew Clements book: Lost and Found. It was pretty good.

When the rain slowed down, I headed home. It was so much cooler! I actually had the energy & the desire to do something besides sleep, so I made a casserole for my next couple dinners and put a couple more hours into cleaning the windows.

I hope it stays this cool. I might actually get a lot done this weekend.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Yikes

Yesterday Steph and I went to see Last Airbender - fun movie, by the way, though it didn't make as much use of the 3D as I'd hoped - and had both lunch and dinner out. Lunch was at Panera's on the way to the movie; dinner was at the mall afterward.

Also, on the way to the movie we stopped at the Apple Store.

We stopped at the Apple Store because my computer was...in a coma. Because, see, after the library Wednesday we came home to watch DVDs and it was hot and I'm clumsy and.... I spilled a glass of water on top of the keyboard.

Woops.

Luckily, my computer booted this morning (to much rejoicing) and so now I can write this blog to tell you how clumsy I am, and that Steph's on her way home and my interview went well.

*loading... this will be a link in a few hours days*

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

I have a job interview!

...and now Steph and I are going to the library.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Indoor Village

Steph & I went to the mall today - lot of fun.

Now I'm going to go hang out with Steph some more...

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Mmm Carrot Cake for Dinner

Yesterday afternoon I applied to Commonwealth Wine & Spirits, which is opening a store next to Kelly's. The interview was rather simplistic: What's your name? How long can you work? What kind of alcohol do you like? Next!

Oh well. The cool thing was that the quick interview allowed me to be home early enough that I actually had a long, friendly conversation with my roommate when she got back from work, before she locked herself in her room again to study.

The museum had a free showing of Dirt (with refreshments!), so I attempted the bus system to get there & back, based on the info I was mailed. It worked... but I still much prefer the subway. Because the subway actually announces stops before it's passed them. Remarkable concept, no?

Dirt was good, though it made me a bit homesick, so I'm glad I'm headed to the farm this weekend. The lack of open nature is going to be my biggest challenge living in a city, no matter how friendly the birds are.

Of course, that brings me to this morning and challenge 2: I was woken by a jackhammer rather too early, and that jackhammer continued running for hours. Talk about starting the day with a headache! Perhaps I should seriously consider earplugs...

Anyway, today is going to be dedicated to getting ready for the farm! Cherries, here I come!