A Thing of Beauty

There she is.  Isn't she a beauty?  The Barnes and Noble Nook - an electronic book reader.  I've been planning to get one for a while, ever since a friend started researching readers and learned that the Nook is compatible with e-books available for free through libraries.  Of course I wanted to buy some books;  but free is so much better, especially for books that I'm only going to read once.  


However, I keep putting off purchasing one.  I think the problem is I really love books.  Just like in a previous post where I talked about the tactile experience of magazines, I feel the same way about books.  And also there are older, out-of-print books that I would like to have that just aren't available in electronic format.  On the pro side of the issue, I can travel with thousands of books, which really comes in handy when you fly.  Not only are you limited to two carryons, but you have to schlep everything around yourself and books can weigh a lot.


To buy or not to buy, that is the question.  I'm going to keep mulling it over and will let you know when I make a decision.. 

Partly Guilty

A few weeks ago, while I was in Tampa, I was without a car for the day and I decided to take the 15 minute walk to a grocery store near our condominium.  It was a hot day, so at the checkout lines I searched for a nice, cold bottle of water to quench my thirst.  It's a somewhat small store, really an upscale branch of a large chain, and I saw only one cooler.  Inside, my choices consisted of different types of vitamin or flavored water or imported Evian.  


I don't know about you, but when I'm thirsty, I want water in my water.  So, I grabbed the bottle of Evian and was whisked through the checkout line.  I knew I was going to be in trouble by buying that bottle.  My husband detests bottled water.  I'm actually on board with him on this one because it really is a tremendous waste of resources.  Plus, if you know anything about bottled water, you know that it's no better than tap water and often IS tap water.  Just plain tap water that has been filtered, something you can do in your own home.  I worked in the bottled water industry when I was a young woman, before it became so popular, so I've been aware of this fact for many years and never got too caught up in the craze.


When hubby got home that night, he immediately spied the bottle and wanted to know why on earth I bought not just bottled water, but imported water.  I almost told him I bought it because I thought it would impress people, but thought better of it, so I told him the truth.  I was out and about, and got thirsty.  


Bottled water does sometimes have a function, such as when you're caught away from home without a reusable cup or bottle.  Although I suppose I could just used the drinking fountain; that's what we all did when we were growing up.  But I did justify this purchase by saying it was a very nice bottle, with a handy fliptop cap, and that I would be reusing it.  (Now I don't want to get into the whole debate about plastics, food, and health.  I'll save that for another potential post.)  I had the idea that this bottle would accompany me around town, to the gym and yoga class, and on errands.  Unfortunately, my fliptop broke and the bottle is useless.  Now I realize how silly my purchase really was.

Finally - The Reveal

I've been putting off this reveal for several reasons.  First, I'm lazy; I had to take the photos, upload them, and then edit them to a size suitable to my blog.  Second, I'm not a good photographer (and I think my camera isn't the best, either).  This is something I'd like to remedy someday.  Finally, the room really isn't finished.  I want to buy or make some type of window treatment for the window seats and add some matching pillows, as well.  I have a few decorative items I need to get out of storage and add to make it a bit more homey.  One obstacle that I need to overcome is that all four walls slope, making it impossible to hang any art, so the room looks a bit bare.  


Regardless of all that, here are the photos:

Now I have a place to do yoga, exercise, read, study, do crafts, and, most importantly, nap without interruption.

Ode to Weeds

A couple of weeks ago,  I spent quite a bit of time pulling weeds in my flowerbeds.  I have all kinds of excuses as to why I let it go so long, but the bottom line is I still had to pull them.  As I was doing this most unpleasant chore, I was struck by what a marvel weeds really are.  Looking at the variety of weeds we have, I noticed almost all of them spread out in a crabgrass-like fashion.  And I realized that, unlike cultivated grasses and plants, many weeds were designed to prevent erosion.  Once a weed seed gets purchase and sends roots into the soil, it spreads out like crazy over bare soil.  Imagine what the earth would look like without such plants in the wilderness:  barren, eroded hills.  Now I've developed an appreciation for the lowly weed.  I just wish it would find somewhere to grow besides my yard.

Quote for the Day

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."

~Robert F. Kennedy

Random Post

My sister recently discovered this old photograph of our Great Aunt Agnes, our paternal grandmother's sister, when she was a young woman.  We were both struck by her beauty and I wanted to share it.

Magazines

Last February I took a vow for Lent in which I wouldn't spend any extraneous money until Easter.  You can read about it here.   One of the items I gave up was magazines.  Magazines call to me, at grocery stores, book stores, drug stores, everywhere.  The headlines and glossy pages seem to grab me.  However, what usually happens is I feel disappointed once I've finished perusing it.  My Lenten vow taught me that not only could I live without magazines, I could save quite a bit of money as well.  Lately, I've noticed my old habit creeping into my life.  Oh, I always have excuses - I'm traveling and don't have anything to read; this is a health magazine so it will improve my life; and on and on.  It seems that all magazines now mention their web sites in columns and articles, often for specific areas of interest.  It's got me wondering if going to the web sites and gleaning the information provided will satisfy my need for magazines.  Is it the information contained within the publications that fill a need in me?  Or is it  the slick, glossy photographs that mesmerize me?  Or is it just a tangible need to feel the weight of the magazine in my hands?


Does anyone else have this desire for magazines?  Does going to web sites provide the same satisfaction?