Books! (and other random topics)

I bought myself a little present, though the money should probably have been spent on something more practical. Regardless, I think it is worth it. So, from Bangzo.com, here's my newest set of those amazing things called books!



I think Jane Austen is fabulous. *sigh*

I went to Hastings the other day and discovered a lot of my favorite childhood classics--books that I either never owned (and repeatedly checked out of the library) or that I handed on to siblings when I became "too old and cool" for them. Well, now I've reverted back and don't think I could ever be too old for a book!

I'm really excited about the deals I got, for all those old classics were around $2 each!

Books are a good investment. Always.

Last night, I shaved Stella's leg. Yep. She has a bald leg. Well, an almost bald leg. The rest of her is as poofy as ever. I had no intentions of making her have the beginning look of a black and white lamb, but she refuses to let me cut any more off!

So, make a note to yourself to never, I repeat NEVER, allow me to be your dog groomist (is that a word? Perhaps I should say fur stylist instead).

Somebody, please help me. I'm a failure at raising a dog. This poor thing looks like a mangy, homeless dog after my attempts at grooming her!

Off to try cooking a new recipe--you know, it's one of my resolutions.

Or not. I just got a call from a dear friend wanting to spend some time with me tonight. And, the wonderful word "tennis" was mentioned, so...cooking will have to be put off another day.

"I'm off to see the lizzard, the loverly lizzard name Lud." <--an exerpt from my mind as it unwinds after a long day of work. I somehow have the image of Bill the Lizard from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland stuck in my head, along with the tune of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Forgive me my oddness. I just can't help it.

My Summer Resolutions

Since coming to college, things I love to do have slowly faded into things I never do. I have gone from a mentality of "enjoy life and the things in it" to one that tells me my hobbies are a waste of time. So, in evaluating who I am now and who I was at 17, I have resolved to revive my interests and stop denying myself pleasure in life. Work is definitely NOT worth having a boring life over.

I resolve to:
[1] Design at least one scrapbook page per week.
[2] Read at least one book (not for school) per week.
[3] Send out a card to someone special in my life at least once per month to let them know how much they mean to me.
[4] Extract at least 500 words of creative writing out of my head every week, be it poetry or short story.
[5] Try out at least one new recipe each week.

I must stop my list at 5, because that alone may be overwhelming with school and work still in the picture!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Two years ago, one of my professors recommended I read this book. It sounded very intriguing, so I scribbled the title in the margin of my notes to look up later. However, it wasn't until recently I found those notes, sparking a renewed interest in the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (a French magazine editor who had a stroke at 42 and suffered from "locked-in syndrome," where he was cognitively in tact, but could only blink his left eye and turn his head). Mr. Bauby wrote this entire book by blinking his left eye as the alphabet was called out to him, one letter at a time.

The girl at the bookstore told me there is now a film based on this book, which was kind of neat to hear about. I think it would be challenging to make a movie in which the main star cannot move or speak.

Anyways, I say all this to get your hopes up...then let you down. I was kind of disappointed with the book. It is good to open our eyes to the fact that this man was still there, 100%, and to begin to empathize with his situation. It is helpful for therapists (speech, physical, or occupational) as well as nurses, doctors, and caregivers, as it shares his comforts and discomforts after his stroke. The book is overall good. It just isn't as good as I was expecting.

It's like my blog: comprised of random thoughts. Though his thoughts came from the mind of a fellow trapped inside his body. The man was very witty and was rather good with words, too. At one point, suspense was building as he spoke of what turned out to be...french fries!

I don't really know what I was expecting, but after watching my professor bawling her eyes out as she read it, I figured it might have the same effect on me, especially since I am most definitely a crybaby. But I did not shed one tear as I read this story.

I just watched the trailer for this movie and realize that the trailer alone is 100 times more vulgar than his book. I only had to use my dark black "censor-marker" a few times in his story. His remarks were usually mild in content, but the trailer for the movie had many, MANY obscenities and even nudity. I repent for having looked it up.

Don't you just love Hollywood?

I think if you are in a medical field and may work with people who have suffered strokes, TBI, or other problems that may render communication difficult, you might find this book interesting and helpful in relating to them.