story time

This book:

Oh, my goodness. This is what I did all weekend.

I don’t even know what to say about this book besides AWESOME. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion. I found it super witty, emotional, intriguing, and all those meaningless words people use to describe good books. It’s about a teen boy’s experiences growing up in the South in the 70s, but it touches on much larger, very real issues like racism, religion, love and sexuality. I laughed constantly, and I don’t know how many times I told Brian this book should be made into a movie. I really just loved everything about it except that it ended.

I am not what I would call an avid reader by any means, so when people start talking about authors they just love, I back out of that conversation. However, I am beginning to unintentionally create that very list of authors in my head. Mark Childress will be on it; I can tell.

Friday, I went to the bookstore, and I left with 3 books, all of which I’d never heard of before. I will talk about the others later. I tried to start one of the other two, but it’s just not what I expected, and the other will be started very soon because I’ve read another of her books, and I loved it, too, so I have high hopes for that one.

GOOD THING: 4 day work week!
BAD THING: lake plans have been thwarted

grand re-opening

The pool’s finally open again! Whatever kind of weird crack it had in it has been fixed, and I was officially the first person back in it today. Booyah.

ho hum

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the best movie I’ve seen in a while. You might want to check it out. Lots of memorable lines from this one!

Know what else is good? This book:

I know sounds and looks cheesy, but it really is a great book to read. It’s really short and easy to read, and it makes a lot of sense. Plus, at the end, there is a quick quiz for both husbands and wives that helps pinpoint your primary love languages to help you know what you’re dealing with. Presto! I’m not much for sappy things, so don’t be scared. It’s really not bad.

Oh my! I’ve been forgetting Good Thing/Bad Thing. You people are supposed to remind me!

GOOD THING: I won this month’s round of putt putt with my parents.
BAD THING: major head/jaw/neck ache tonight

do the wave!

I just bought this last night:

It’s the Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser, and it’s for cleaning my face. I decided to get this because my face thinks I’m 13 again and has been breaking out way more than normal, and I’m sick and tired of it. I got really frustrated about it last night, got mad at myself for not making a dermatologist appointment yet, and decided to do something about it myself. I made a quick run to the drugstore and bought this and a few other related things. I had originally wanted some other new contraption that was a big super duper version of this, but it was well over $100. When I heard of this for $12-$15, I figured it was worth a try. I’ve only used it once, but it was fun to use, and I think it did a good job. I will know more in a week or so!

The little device is the perfect size to fit in your hand, and it’s shaped well for that and blah blah. It takes one AA battery (comes with it) and a disposable pad that basically velcroes to the front. It came with 14 of the disposable pads, which all have soap on them that you just have to run water over to “activate.” Or, you just need it wet so it lathers just like any other soap “activates.” Fancy stuff. Anyway, that’s about it, and I think it’s pretty neat. They come in pink, green and blue, but the two stores I looked in only had pink ones, which is so stereotypical and gross. I found one blue one at the very back of the shelf and snatched it! I really wanted green, but you know – girls love pink, and boys want blue, so why would they want to stock green? Gender colors make me gag.

Here are some funny quotes from its website:
“My gentle vibrations help open pores, so my tingly foam can go 10x deeper to remove more dirt, oil and makeup than traditional cleansing. I totally win!” Yes, it’s bolded on the site.
“Q:Can I use the Wave in the shower? A: Yep! I’m water resistant, so you can use me at your sink and in the shower. But I’m not waterproof, so don’t use me at the bottom of the ocean.”

recommendation

Dave B’s new blog entry (June 13) is a poem he wrote, and I love it. I wish everyone would read it and get it. Read it yourself!

see what i’m saying?

I’m watching a show on a condition named synesthesia, and it’s fascinating. Here’s a description I found online:
Synesthesia is an involuntary joining in which the real information of one sense is accompanied by a perception in another sense. In addition to being involuntary, this additional perception is regarded by the synesthete as real, often outside the body, instead of imagined in the mind’s eye.

One woman on the show sees all letters in certain colors, and each letter has the same color every time; they don’t just change. On top of that, when she hears words being spoken, she sees them being spelled out (in her colors) out in front of her face, which is consistent with the definition above that says these sensations are often outside the body, not just in someone’s mind. She also has family members who have the same condition, and they have their own color assignments. One man on the show tastes certain foods with certain words. Brian said he would figure out what word brought on a chocolate taste and then just say that word all the time. The man does have a chocolate word, but some words aren’t so becoming. One word makes him taste a combination of celery and toffee, so not everything is that great. Anyway, I guess if you’re going to have some type of medical/neurological condition, this one would be an interesting one.

 

positivity

I promise I won’t turn this into a rant blog. Don’t worry! 🙂

 

GOOD THING: work day was the best of the week
BAD THING: …? whoa

disappointment

I decided to watch the news on BBC the other day. I did this because they cover world news, and they’re not in America. I was interested to see what they were saying on the topic of the U.S. presidential nominees right around the time Hillary stepped down (gracias!). I was hoping for a more objective outlook on all this mess, which is quickly becoming chaotic and will only get worse the rest of the year. Anyway, BBC decided to go to blue collar Michigan (or Wisconsin, can’t remember) to interview some random people and see what they think about a black man being the Democratic candidate. I can’t find a video of it online, or I’d show it to you.

Almost every one of these people flat out said Obama’s race is a major factor in their decision. One guy said something like, ‘I’m not going to lie; I will really have to consider this, because race has always been a factor in this country, and it always will be. I’m not sure he can get the vote here.’

People, give me a freaking break! I am SO apalled at the fact that people in 2008 are having to struggle with the idea of voting for a black man for president. I don’t care if you like his ideas or not; there’s no reason to bring race into this at all. Are people in this country really that ridiculous? I guess they are.

Seems to me, there’s a LOT of stuff that could use a CHANGE around here.

GOOD THING: hump day!
BAD THING: can’t get my work done until others tell me how, and they’re not here

a little somethin’ somethin’

A while back, Casey posted a blog about The Something Store. I would link to his actual blog entry, but I can only figure out how to link to his blog instead of the specific entry. I must be retarded. Anyway, you basically pay them $10 to get SOMETHING, but you don’t know WHAT. Of course, I had to do it. Weeks later, I finally got the package today, and this is what was inside:

A royal blue satin clutch. Mind you, this would’ve matched my prom dress perfectly, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have any more of those to go to (thank God). So, this will now be another makeup bag for my oh-so-many travels (not). I do have to say, it really would make a good, safe place for something while traveling because it has a hard shell. And, there’s a mirror inside, a strap, and a little pocket for cards or whatever. I guess it could’ve been worse. However, this is the slip that came with it:

Note the last part of the slip. I realize this picture is too small to read, but I’m so tired of fooling with these pictures tonight. I can’t get them right. It says, “some items such as electronics and watches may require batteries that are not included.” A watch? That would’ve been sweet! It seems like anything that needs batteries would be sort of cool to get. Anyway, I did it, and it was fun opening the package and laughing at what was inside.

If anyone needs a satin clutch, you know where to find it!

I still think YOU should buy SOMETHING, too! It’s just $10, and it could be funny or awesome! I am sticking with my idea that we should have a Christmas party to which you must bring a gift, and everyone should be required to bring SOMETHING from the Something Store as their gift to exchange. Yes?

 

GOOD THING: Work is over, and I’m about to go play tennis with Brian and my new grip tape.
BAD THING: rain this week maybe!

liquid relief

I have just gotten back from my first Friday afternoon at the pool, and it was wonderful. If any of you are free on Friday afternoons, you’re welcome to join me!

GOOD THING: pool! Friday! free weekend!
BAD THING: the sun is damaging to my precious fair skin haha