Eastside Hippie

$450 on textbooks? *choke* The bright side is that I’ll get about $100 back when I return one of the history books. 2 full textbooks were listed for the class and they look to be the same book, just one is a newer revision. Since I am not sure which textbook the instructor actually wants, I’ll have to buy both. I should also see if they are buying old textbooks back still. I forgot to do that when I left last quarter, but honestly I had other things to worry about.

$450. Ugh.

Also, how the heck am I supposed to carry 6 textbooks next week when I’m on crutches? Carl is picking me up from school while I recover from surgery, but I have to lug the books from the pick-up counter to two separate classrooms before he arrives with the car.

We’re waiting for our friend Ian to arrive so that we can go out for dinner.  I want so badly to lay down on the couch while I wait, but I know that as soon as I do, I’m out for the night.  Carl curled up on the floor to supposedly play with the puppy but he fell asleep.  I am jealous.  One of us needs to stay up to wait for Ian.  8pm on a Friday night?  I wish I had gotten a nap in earlier.

I am really looking forward to seeing Ian though.  We always have good conversations.

Maybe I will make some tea and read my book.  I’m almost done with The Maltese Falcon.  If you’ve heard of Sam Spade, this is the book he came from.  I had no idea when I started it.  Next up:  The Thin Man by the same author.  In the stack to be read:  The Selfish Gene (so I can give it back to Todd), Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, and 1999 by Morgan Llywelyn (just published!).

My books were delivered! In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I have 3 1/2 books on the shelf to read before I can get to these two, but I’m excited anyway!

Ronan let me sleep until 7:30am. I think this is the longest I’ve slept in for a month. I have a lot of studying to do, so I should get on that.

I slacked off big time in January. I finally managed to pick up the next two books from Time’s All-Time 100 Novels list.

• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett

Ishiguro also wrote The Remains Of The Day, which was adapted into a film staring Christopher Reeve and Anthony Hopkins. Hammet also wrote The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon. The book I borrowed from the library has all 3 stories.

I’m still reading What To Eat and Todd loaned me Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene. I need more hours in the day.

Original link.

I’ve almost devoured Food Politics. The current discussion is about fortifying foods with iron and other supplements and how the FDA has tried to limit what can and can’t be used to advertise a product. I’m not sure I will ever look at a package the same way again. Also, I can’t wait to get home and flip through What To Eat for the really good “sound bites”. For Christmas and my birthday I’ve received 3 cookbooks and a book about basic digital camera photography. We were given a few bookstore gift cards that I can’t wait to use as well. If this keeps up, we’ll definitely have to pick up another bookshelf before summer hits. I need to utilize the library more often.

I updated the Top 100 list. 15 down, 85 to go. I have A Handful of Dust waiting at home, then I’ll grab 3 more from the library probably Wednesday. (As an aside, I just read that a movie adaptation was filmed and starred Judi Dench. Haha! I need to find this!)

If you haven’t picked up on this by now, I love books.

We did our personal Christmas a few days early. Carl gave me Marion Nestle’s Food Politics and What To Eat. I cannot wait to devour these books. Be on the lookout for “soapbox” posts. Marion Nestle is the writer who prompted me to give up on artificially flavored coffee creamers (Coffee Mate) by comparing it to liquid margarine. I haven’t touched the stuff since.

I gave Carl a clock for Christmas.

Advice and tips for first time home buyers.

6 reasons to slow down while eating.

Why Self Actualization Requires Exercise.

Identify and Kill Your Food Cravings.

**edit to add: Seattlest posted one of my photos**

I spent 2 hours at the gym stretching, doing my best Jane Fonda imitation (leg lifts), weights, and working that elliptical. The orthopedic recommended that I get my quads in the best shape I can before my surgery (first one in August most likely) to help speed my recovery, so I’ve started a weight routine that is positively boring. I am not lifting/pushing/swinging more than 30lbs on any of the 5 machines, slowly building these muscles up.

Of course I was starving when I finished. I came home to make a huge salad (mixed baby greens, red bell pepper, carrot, celery, cucumber, sunflower seeds, no dressing), but then I saw the cookies from last night. *shakes fist* I sent most of them to work with Carl but I had one for breakfast already. I grabbed one more, inhaled it, and I’m now sitting here, stuffed with salad, eyeballing the last one.

On an unrelated note, I’m reading the first book I picked from the 100 book list (posted last week) called An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser. It’s fantastic. I’ve also learned some new vocabulary:
Anent: in regard to; about; concerning.
Putsch: a plotted revolt or attempt to overthrow a government, esp. one that depends upon suddenness and speed.
Vim: lively or energetic spirit; enthusiasm; vitality.

‘Tis, by Frank McCourt. His writing is so raw, perfect for my imagination.

(for my reference)

(There is more where this came from … )