Hermiting

This has been a major socializing weekend with some amazing people. I am now social butterflied out.

I've just had a lovely few hours spending quality time with my tv (I recommend the miniseries "Slings and Arrows", a behind-the-scenes drama about a theatre company), and look forward to a fabulous evening in the company of a good book. If you don't hear from me until Thursday, it's because I am enjoying my fortress of solitude so very very much.

Friday I'm going on an actual vacation - so if anyone is going to be in Toronto and I haven't already talked to you, get in touch - maybe we can meet up at Tim Horton's!

The upside of poor service

Liz and Rachel and I went to Copa tonight because we were craving burgers and margaritas. It took, I swear to god, 45 minutes or more to get our food after placing our order. There was much muttering going on at the table about the service, and we actually mentioned it once tables seated after us got their food before we did. At the end, however, our waitress brought us free margaritas and comped Rachel for her meal (it looked pretty inedible from where I was sitting). Never underestimate the power of free drinks to placate disgruntlement.

The problem is that Copa makes great burgers, so we can't boycott the place. You just have to expect piss-poor service every once in a while.

End of an affair

A deep and passionate love affair ended this week. It only lasted a short time, but I fell hard. Even though workplace romances are frowned upon, I could not help myself. It all ended today when I discovered that my love had vanished. I tried to console myself with another, but it was a weak, rebound fling that ultimately meant nothing.

I am, of course, talking about Hershey's Kissables. They appeared in the staff vending machine a few weeks ago, and I became obsessively fond of them. I had to get a pack every day at work, even though I usually do not buy junk food. It was a glorious, illicit, delicious time, but when I went up today to get my fix, the vending machine stock had been changed. I had to settle for Reese's Pieces, which just don't measure up. I ate them, but inside I was mourning my Kissables.

I suppose this is a good thing in the long run. I really don't need to be addicted to vending machine chocolate. It was good while it lasted, though.

Book title of the week

What would Machiavelli do?

Lovingkindness only gets you so far...

Christmas in May

A colleague of mine went to paradise this past weekend. And by paradise, I mean BEA - Book Expo America.
At BEA all the publishers gather to woo booksellers and librarians with new offerings. Hundreds of authors, thousands of books, and so much free stuff you need a U-Haul to get it home.
My wonderful colleague came back with boxes and boxes of free books, including tons of pre-pubs that won't even be published for months. And she shares!
I have stacks of books on my desk, with the promise of more coming when she finishes reading them.

My favourite title so far:

Goy Crazy by Melissa Schorr

Storytelling

Last weekend I was asked to tell a story. I'm not a children's librarian, so I don't have a repertoire of ready stories to pull out and tell, but I do have one or two favourites that I can pretty much recite word for word. So I went rummaging through my brain and came up with Robert Munsch's Paperbag Princess. My mum bought me this book when I was little because it had a strong heroine and it was one of my regular read-aloud bedtime books when I was a kid. If you have little girls (or if you're just a little girl at heart) and haven't already bought a copy of this book - run out and get it! It's fabulous and funny and has a great message and is written by Robert Munsch - one of the best kid's writers alive.



Oh, and evidently when I tell the story I get a California accent. I didn't even know I knew how to do a California accent. I learn new things about me all the time.

Spoiled!

Someone (and you know who you are!) posted on her blog the results of last night's Amazing Race finale, even though she knows that the rest of us are getting together and watching it tonight and we don't (didn't) know the winners. And she knows that I regularly read her blog.

Grrrr.

Bad, bad friend!

UPDATE: She says she emailed us this morning warning us not to read it. I never received that email. But I'll give her the benefit of the doubt (plus, she'll beat me up if I say nasty things about her)

UPDATE 2: She's planning on posting a screenshot to prove she sent the email. I BELIEVE YOU! It's not your fault the email didn't reach me and I read your blog every day. I'm just bummed that I'm spoiled. I'm going to hope that some time/space warp will occur tonight and the results will be different.

UPDATE 3: Her last email: "...I tried to warn you. Who would have thought [work] have intercepted the mail! I am sorry. But you do not know what happen anyway. How and what! So watch the show. Don't be bumm. Sorry, I can hynotize you if you like"

Harry and the Potters

I was supposed to go to a Harry and the Potters concert tonight at the World Cafe Live. Instead, I am going home and crawling into bed to try and stave off getting even sicker than I already am. That sucks.

On the bright side, they'll be back in Philly on August 17, so I'll have another chance to see them, and by then I might actually have read the last two Harry Potter books.

If you've never heard of the band before take a look at the description from the band's website:

"The idea is that the Harry Potter from Year 7 and the Harry Potter from Year 4 started a rock band. And now, no one can stop the wizard rock."

How much geeky fun is that!?

And on the rain topic...

I apologize for the fact that it will probably rain in Philadelphia today. I forgot my umbrella at home. It is a proven fact that whenever I forget my umbrella on days with even the slightest chance of showers I will inevitably be rained upon. It's just the universe's way of letting me know that it notices me, I guess. Anyways, sorry.

On a lighter note I present to you my book of the week:


Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys

I'm a huge Neil Gaiman fan from way back. I discovered Good Omens because of Terry Pratchett then the Sandman graphic novels hooked me in deeper. And "The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish" is one of the best picture books I've read.

I read Anansi Boys this weekend and really enjoyed it. It takes a bit to get into it, but becomes addictive very fast. The book builds from the base of the Anansi stories from West Africa. Fat Charlie Nancy's dad has died and his heretofore unknown brother Spider has shown up and stolen his job, his fiancee, and his life. Now Fat Charlie has to figure out a way to get Spider to leave him alone and go away.

If you want a funny book with depth and scope, this is a great read. You really can't go wrong with Neil Gaiman.

The mystery of rain

It rained all night last night and I walked in to work this morning in the damp and post-rain wetness. About midway through the walk, I began to wonder why, in one of the largest cities in the United States, does it still smell like earthworms after it rains? I expect that back home, where everyone has a front yard and there are poor waterlogged earthworms everywhere on the sidewalk so that you have to constantly look down to avoid them. But here? With no real dirt bordering the sidewalks? It confuses me.

Oh, and hello all of Jeremy's LiveJournal friends!

How books make (or don't make) money

I recently read this description of the economic life of a mass market book. Very interesting reading, especially if you have a vested interest in seeing how books are published (or like me, you're a librarian who just like to know things in general).

C is for Cookie

A few weeks ago I went to V for Vendetta. Liz and I thought it was really good, Dot and Marianne thought it was kind of silly. We think there might be a generational difference in how we saw it.

But whether it's silly or prophetic, it's definitely funnier with Muppets!