Melonade

I don't know anyone who could actually use this right now, but I really, really want one.

Hi, my name is Mel, and I'm a bookaholic.

According to bookpedia, I am the proud owner of 199 books (You thought it would be more? I did, too. I may have missed some.) Some of those I've had since grade school, when I used to keep my scratch-n-sniff homework stickers in the covers. (Trust me, it was cool at the time.) Some of them were brand new hardback releases when I bought them; others are second- or third- or fourth-hand books from garage sales and end of the semester fundraising book sales.

I still have all of my college lit books. I think it's wrong to sell them. I couldn't consider selling any of my books at my parents' garage sale this summer-- I even rescued a couple of books that my sister wanted to sell. When I was younger I relinquished all of my old Nancy Drew books to a garage sale. I still regret that, because I wish I could read them again. One day I will live in a house that has a room just for books. I read while waiting in traffic, standing in line, getting haircuts, taking baths, sitting in restaurants.

B & N has been sending out oodles of coupons lately, so I took them up on their offer and bought three new books last night. I think my total new purchases for the last month are around 10. And no, I haven't read them all. Not even close. I thought I would try to read a book a week, but that probably won't happen. I just can't seem to stop. And last night I realized how smart those book people are. They send out emails advertising a new book, and then set up a big display of said book right at the entrance. And you can bet that we see the emails, are intrigued, and dash off to the store ASAP. That coffee and new book smell that hits you at the front door-- that is my drug of choice.

So here I am, surrounded by all these books that I want to read, and I'm a bit conflicted.
I want to read, pretty much all the time. I think if I could trade sleep for reading, I'd do it.

And then I remember that there is a real world, and I should participate in it.

I think that I should stop buying any new books until I've read at least half of the new 10. If you see me at B & N, make sure I don't buy anything new.

Of course, there's always this...

Enjoy your day.

On Saturday I nearly drowned in a sea of crimson and cream. Am I the only one who finds it odd when the mall is full of families decked out in matching Soonerwear? I feel bad for these people who are so consumed by something so...trivial. There. I said it. Football is trivial.

I know why we call it Labor Day, but I wish it was called Non-Labor Day so we could all try to relax a bit more. This is probably true for a lot of people: every time you get a holiday or a vacation day, you try to cram as much work into it as possible-- all those things you think you never have time for on regular days. This just means that we are even more tired when we have to return to work, and dare I say it, probably a little grumpier than usual. Next time you have a holiday, try to do absolutely nothing. Think of it as your own personal Sabbath.

On Tuesday at B&N, a kid (I say kid, I mean college freshman, most likely) sat at the table next to mine, took out his massive textbook and calculator, opened the book, and was sound asleep within about 2 minutes. His head rolled to the side a couple of times, he would wake for a few seconds, and then be right back to sleep. Poor guy. This is why I don't do math in public.

This is the second week of no tennis, and I think it's starting to get to me. I had become accustomed to getting my weekly dose of therapy/aggression release on Wednesday nights, but now I have no such outlet. It's very different from the blog-therapy or Starbucks therapy. Instead, I went to IHOP with friends. I saw a creepy guy with a camera walk into the men's room and walk back out about 30 seconds later. I am wondering how many phone numbers he got off the wall.

I think we should implement a sick day for when you're just sick of work. I know some people could take advantage of this (like people who are suspiciously sick every Monday) but for the rest of us, it would be a nice respite during the week. If I were an employer, I would definitely have Sick-of-work Days.

I need a clean slate. I wonder if they sell those on eBay. Today is the start of a new phase of Mel, and it will be good.