A Few Things, In No Particular Or Coherent Order

I am on book two of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Not only did I purchase this book in Barnes and Noble yesterday, I purchased this young-adult FANTASY book, which is kind of unprecedented for me. (I read only one Harry Potter book and that was because it was assigned to me in an Adolescent Lit course.) I have to admit, I was downright embarrassed when I had to shuffle over to the customer service desk and ask where these particular books were stashed—"I already looked in Science Fiction, Romance and just regular Fiction, but I can't find it and can you please respond in a whisper so no-one hears this conversation?"—and then the very loud-voiced, couldn't-manage-a-simple-whisper customer service workers answered with, "Oh! Twilight! It's right there! But, I think Eclipse, the third book, isn't available in paperback, but New Moon may not be either. Which book are you actually looking for? I can take you right to it, if you'd like." I resisted the urge to shush them frantically and managed an, "I got it covered, thanks!" but not before dying. On the spot. I was an English major! I spent an entire month of school dissecting and falling in love with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. I wrote a twelve-page paper on the symbolism of the English countryside in Remains of the Day. Just this year I read Pride and Prejudice and cried when it was over because has anyone ever loved another person as much as Mr. Darcy loved Elizabeth Bennet? But I picked up Twilight (the first book) on a whim, after seeing the trailer and—OH MY!—I'm hooked. Edward and Bella? I CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF YOU TWO. A vampire loving a human loving a vampire. All the self-sacrifice and resisting the urge to suck your girlfriend's blood all the time (totally brings me back to early Buffy). I'm actually heading to Los Angeles tomorrow to attend a pretty large trade show for the book industry where there will be a ridiculous amount of free books for me to snatch up. I will have more reading material come Sunday than I'll know what to do with and all I can think about is does Bella ever become a vampire? Does Edward ever break down and nibble on her a little bit? So, anyway, what are you reading these days? And does it have you as obsessed as these books have me? AND ARE YOU TOTALLY JUDGING ME FOR MY CHOICE OF READING MATERIAL? (I plan to read Water for Elephants after this series if that redeems me at all.)

::

So, today I received some interesting spam. The subject line read "what a stupid face you have Jennifer." And although I was kind of taken aback—has Devland Ching even seen my face? If so, have I seen his/hers? That's a name I'm sure I'd remember—I was even more intrigued at this person's marketing strategy. Insulting your audience, that's a new one, and I work in marketing. Perhaps there's someone out there who is just insecure enough to click on the e-mail to see how to make their face look smart or quick or witty instead of stupid and, really, I will say it's a vast improvement over sending me an e-mail with nine typos (intentional or not) in the subject line alone. I'd rather you insult me with adjectives than incorrect grammar.

::

Like I said above, I'm leaving town tomorrow—leaving the DVR in my husband's care and taking far too many shoes since that pesky baggage-check fee will be covered by my company—and I've left this site in some pretty capable guest-posting hands while I'm away. So capable in fact, I'm almost giddy about having their words on my site. There may be printing and framing involved when I return. Anyway, enjoy them while I'm gone.

::

Now, I want to share with you a dress I have in two colors and I love so much I wore it both Saturday and Sunday (around mostly different crowds; NATALIE YOU SAW NOTHING). It really is the most comfortable, well-fitting, inexpensive summer dress, and IT'S ON SALE. I have black and berry chutney and the only reason I don't have wheelbarrow (which, come on, is just gray) is because it wasn't in my size. Dress it up! Dress it down! Pair it with flip-flops or snazzy espadrilles! It really is my new favorite find and when I woke up on Monday, I was actually sad I couldn't wear one again. Mike said that would be pushing it and also kind of gross.

$20 online! (Although, oddly enough, I got the black on sale for $14.50 over the weekend. Apparently Old Navy is slashing prices and then rethinking things, hoping no-one will notice. Interesting.)

::

Finally, Top Chef is on tonight! Come on Spike! (I, personally, think Richard is taking this season, but you really never know which is one of the reasons I absolutely love this show. The other is all the food.)

Comments

[Raven]

I totally read books from the young adult's section. FAERIE BOOKS! I love them and HAVE NO SHAME. Be shameless with me J! I love Holly Black's Tithe, in fact. I will have to go get that one now. I love me some vampires :)

[Rhi]

I'm going to start insulting people in all my marketing campaigns. I think it's a winning strategy :)

[Natalie]

I will try and go to the galleria, now that you've given me a reason! :)

[jodifur]

If I order that in three colors will you make fun of me? Or tell am I being to much of a copycat? I really think I could throw a jacket on that and wear it to work.

[Heather B.]

I think one of your guest posters might end up writing a long diatribe on pets and why she doesn't have any because they're messy and they puke on the floor and she will write about this because it's all she can think about. Be sure to matte and frame that post. It'll be a Pulitzer Prize piece of prose one day.

[slynnro]

Come on- it's Richard all the way!

[Maryann]

Love the dress - wish I could order it but I have some scarrage from an unfortunate rash on my back that I'm not really comfortable showing yet. :( In fact, every dress I like lately, has a v in the back.

I totally got that "stupid face" spam on my Google account! I laughed out loud and actually clicked on it to see if it was actually someone I knew. When it asked if I wanted to download something, I knew enough to stop at that point.

Just finished reading "Certain Girls." Was totally upset by it and had to put it down for a while (I coudln't stand one of the characters), but in the end, I loved it as much as "Good in Bed." I was just planning on ordering the new Mike Taibbi book "Teh Great Derangement" (no, I'm not usually into "smart" books, but heard his interview on "The Daily Show" and most of his encounters with nuts take place in Texas, so I wanted to read it).

http://rackjite.com/archives/1546-Jon-Stewart-Interviews-Mike-Taibbi-About-Reverend-Hagee.html

[slynnro]

Hasty on the post button.

Also, your book cover IS SCARING ME!

And Old Navy pulls the sale/not sale shit on the website all the damn time.

[Camels & Chocolate]

I'd never heard of Twilight until I saw the trailer before the Indy movie yesterday (a trailer which doesn't even reveal that it's a movie about vampires, pretty damn clever). Then, I went to Target right afterwards, and Twilight was on the bestseller stand and there was only ONE COPY left. Insanity. It didn't look like young adult fiction, though, I thought it was for "grown-ups" like us! Let me know how you like it; now I'm intrigued.

[lissa]

Love the dress! Is it still in stores? I'm going to have to check this out tomorrow.

Like I said before I read all of these books fairly quickly and I too was kind of embarrassed, but the are so good! Water for elephants is good too I think you will enjoy it.

[Sharon]

I heart Old Navy! I'm in desperate need of warmer weather clothes, so I'm going to make a visit this weekend. Since I'm in Canada, we might have different clothes, but I do love that dress. Such a vibrant colour!

Right now I'm catching up on my magazine reading, since I haven't read those in a few months. I've got several issues of InStyle and Q (music mag from the UK) piled up, just waiting to be read. I recently finished re-reading all the Harry Potter novels, and am not sure what I'll pick up once I'm done with the mags...

[Kitty]

I've heard good things about those books, but like you, the whole "young adult" stigma gives me pause. That's not to say that I don't still have a few Christopher Pike books in my library, of course. Or, my other favorites from way back when, the Vampire Diaries and Secret Circle trilogies by L J Smith. Trivia...I named myself after one of the lead characters in the Vampire Diaries, though I am not a beautiful blonde. =)

One of these days, I'll have to give them a shot. Oh, and I think I may just need to make a run over to Old Navy to see if I can try that dress on. It looks beyond awesome.

[Someone Being Me]

It makes me so happy that you finished Pride and Prejudice and that you finally saw the good in the book. Or at least the good in Mr. Darcy. Gets me every time.

I just finished The Red Tent which was given to me. I thought it would be boring but I was riveted. It had some parts that made me a little disturbed but was interesting none the less. I was a sociology major though so I don't need the literature to be good or well written. It just needs to be interesting.

Have fun on your trip.

[Miss Cee]

I have also read all three Twilight books, kind of against my will - I don't want to like them, but I do. Oh, the agony.

"All I can think about is does Bella ever become a vampire? Does Edward ever break down and nibble on her a little bit?" Start feeling depressed now because you're not going to find out! Not in those three books at least. If the Bella=vampire thing isn't resolved in the next book I'm going to throw something. Probably the book.

[Kristabella]

I think Richard will take it too. But quite possibly Antonia might sneak up on him.

And in other Top Chef news, my friend works at Starbucks in Chicago and Stephanie came in and he was speechless! I was so mad at him! Apparently she goes in there all the time, so he has instructions to get the scoop next time she's in there!

[Kristie]

I've heard such good things about those books. I was actually thinking of reading them, too. Maybe someone I know (wink wink) will let me borrow them when she's done.

Have a safe flight and have fun. Oh, and try and pinch Mr. Kelly on the tush for me. I don't care if he's gay.

[She Likes Purple]

NO SPIKE ... NOOOOOOO!

[Steph]

That dress is too adorable. I've been looking for a cute summer dress, and for $20 I could definitely do that :)

[Heather]

I love that dress! Bought it full price a few weeks ago in grey. Damn it!

I work at a HS and all the teenage girls love Bella and Edward too. I HAD to read them to keep in touch with what they like..haha..I just so happen to like them too :)

[Nicole]

I have totally placed the Twilight series on my wish list after your recommendation and my subsequent online search. And now I have to go to Old Navy and get that dress! You are an enabler, woman. Total enabler. Hope your trip is lovely!

[Jennie]

I'm on the third book and can't read it fast enough. Maybe I should be embarrassed to admit I read them, but I'm not in the LEAST.

Can you wear a regular bra with that dress? It's so cute!

[sarah]

First I don't judge you for you book choice...I am actually thinking of picking up that book.;)
And I so wish I could get some free books tossed my way I spend sooo much money on books! geek out at the trade show for me wont you?

[water sign]

I saw the trailer for Twilight the other day and if I hadn't read about it here, I would have been so confused!

I think Richard is gonna take TC too, although I'm rooting for Stephanie. A female winner who's a strong chef and seems pretty nice and normal - that would be a nice change of pace!

[The Lisa Show]

I felt the same way about reading Twilight. And reading through it, that part of me would often cringe and burst out laughing. It offends most literary sensibilities, I think. But oh dear god, I LOVED IT. For shame.

[elizabeth]

i'm a little late on this comment, but i just got done with book three of the twilight series today. um, i bought book one on friday, book 2 on monday, and book 3 yesterday...can we talk about how i haven't had a lot of sleep this week because i'm up too late reading books about VAMPIRES?? young adult books!
AND i have a degree in english lit too.
my "excuse" is that i used to teach 8th grade and love YA fiction.

but i love it, i love bella and edward and their story - it's so beautiful! can't wait to find out what happens!