Friday, May 16, 2008

Confession

I have something to say that I know many of you will not like. Here it is: I do not enjoy the television show The Office. I have watched possibly two full episodes and portions of several others, among them the big season finale of the show last night. I understand the point of the show. I know what they are going for. Frankly, I just think there is too much (call me a prude) inappropriate material on the show. And the ineptness of nearly all of the characters is really annoying. It's all too much for me. Trying too hard to be different. There are moments that are truly entertaining, but they are too few for me to devote whole half hours to it on a regular basis.

Maybe some of you like it for the same reason I enjoy watching "John and Kate Plus Eight" sometimes. Tyler always asks "Why do you want to watch a show about a house full of crazy kids and parents feeling overwhelmed when you live that everyday?" And the answer is, "Because it makes me feel better to see other people feeling overwhelmed and seeing other children breaking down. It makes me feel not as alone in the world". So, those of you who are office bound could feel the same way. Perhaps to you the sight of all of the completely incompetent characters on that show makes you feel better about your work lives filled with incompetent co-workers. Those of you who don't work in an office, I have no justification for.

There. Now you know. Are we all still friends?

Monday, May 5, 2008

Read This

First, hello to my new readers who have found me through the magic of the internet. It's good to hear from you!

Now, on to my subject for the day...

I've been thinking a lot about reading lately, because it's something that I really enjoy and don't get to do too much of. Some days I feel that I will burst if I don't get to fill my head with someone else's ideas and I scan my shelves for a book - any book- that I have read fewer than three times. You see, I'm a re-reader. I have read some books more than twenty times each. I use reading in much the same way I used to use music - to invoke a mood, a feeling, to bring me back to a good place. I'll read a favorite passage here, a funny scene there, and feel better about life. But, as much as I like re-reading, there are moments when I yearn for something not as familiar. Since I rarely peruse the library these days I'm stuck with my limited at-home library. The other day I picked up a book I haven't read for a couple years and read it over again. It was fantastic. I remember thinking it was good, but it was better than I remembered it.

It's a book my friend Mendy sent to me some years back. One year we exchanged books for our birthdays I think. (Side note: No one is to feel offended if they have never received a birthday book from me. I'm not proud of it, but I never remember birthdays now and haven't for quite some time. Mendy can attest to the fact that this book is the only birthday present she's ever gotten from me.) I sent her "At Home in Mitford", which is a fabulous curl-up-on-a-rainy-day-for-a-cozy-read book/series, and she sent me "A Woman Of Independent Means", which is a fabulous book. I highly recommend it for all who have not read it, especially Sara as it deals with some husband management issues and wifely concerns that I think are timely, even though it takes place two generations ago.

I'm currently reading a recommendation of Rachel's: L.M. Montgomery's "The Blue Castle". I just got it at the library today (being in Logan I can go places like that by myself. It's super). I can't imagine not having read it, since I thought I had covered all Lucy Maude's territory years ago. This book does seem vaguely familiar, but so far it's new enough to make me wonder if I've read it or not. Either way, it is great. I plan to read several of the books recommended from all of you...as soon as I get the time!