So I find myself becoming one of these. It started out gradually and something I was able to stop for a long time. I was one of those people who was like "Naw I don't need the brand new techno gadget out there. I'm fine with my basic Nokia phone that just calls people."
Then it graduated to texting, which now is pretty much my chosen way of contacting people. Not that I don't mind talking to people directly; it's just that with my work schedule and what I need to do during the day before I go into work, sometimes it's catch as catch can. Anyways for awhile I went back when I had the pay as you go phone. The the hubby was like "Let's get a plan". Then we went to Sprint and then I had a basic walkie talkie phone. So I had calling, texting, and walkie talkie.
Then the first year and upgrade came and I got a Clutch (which is essence is really a crap-tacular phone that I did NOT recommend at all considering I've had it for about two years and it had to be replaced with a refurbished one twice....the second of which I had to pay for). But in our honeymoon period I adored my Clutch. I was able to get on Facebook; check my email as well as text and talk. It was amazing.
Then hubby asked "Do you want a Kindle?" for which I was resistance for a long time. Not necessarily becasue I'm anti e-book because in my opinion a book is a book. Whatever you read it online, on your computer, on a tablet or in paper format you're reading and that's a win in my column. Hell if you can stand to have people read to you, even listening to books on tape (or now CDs) is considered reading. It was because I thought it was too expensive (and it was at the time) and I couldn't imagine ever wanting to read a non-paper book. Then I saw my friend who had one and she kept waxing poetically about how awesome it and how much money she was saving on books. And I turned to my husband one day and was like "Yes I want one".
So I got it for Christmas and I adored it. Between all the freebies and just having the ability to browse Amazon books (provided there was a wireless signal) I was on it all...the...time.
Then they brought out the Fire and I was all o.0 I put off buying it forawhile since I never wanted to buy first generation anything. I've read places it leads to badness and bugs and kinks and complaining. No thank you. So I waited a few months and finally get one with the tax refund, thus securing my position in tech-whoredom. Why do you ask?
Because even though I use it for most everything, including readings (which was a surprise to me since I thought the backlit would hurt my eyes) and games and I can't put it down until it pretty much makes a duck noise to let me know it's drying....I won't give up my other Kindle.
/hangs head
I know. Most people are like "Why have both?" And the only thing I can think of is....I like it. I like having both and why not? They were both given to me and they're mine. Plus as much as I love the Fire...the battery life on it is only 8 hours. :( But the fact that even though I have a tablet that does the same thing as my Kindle does, I don't want to give it up even though I can only really read and browse the storefront on it. This is what secures me a position as a techno-whore.
Now when/if I get a new laptop (or notebookor whatever they're called now) I will be cemented into it because then I will be plugged in every which way. Then there would be no real need for a smartphone LOL. Maybe at least I can keep that part of me pure.
Who am I kidding? I really want a GTC or Galaxy. /facepalm
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Random Updates
So update on all that is me. I've been (again) horrible about keeping up to date with this but I think I'm going to make more of an effort (again I say) to try to keep this updated. Not only to keep my writing ability from getting rusty but I do miss writing and just blogging in general. ^_^
Anyhow the first major update is I got a promotion and raise at my job!! Yay!! It's a bit bittersweet to be honest--for those of you who watch the news my company laid off 600 people at the end of February and honestly everyone is still kind of adjusting from that. A lot of my friends were the ones who let go, people who have been there longer than me, so I had and still do have a bit of survivor's guilt.
But I am soooo happy about my promotion not only because it means more money but because I feel like I'm actually moving up and that there is a chance for this to go on. This is the first job that I feel I'm actually very good at and that I'm valued at. I love my job and I love the customers (most of the time). And I love the company I work for. Yeah we're in a rough patch but ultimately through random things like the picnic, end of the year of the office party, and random gifts throughout the year, this company has shown they appreciate their employees more than any other company I've been with or heard about.
Sure I did okay in daycare but the main problem there was the pay (which sucked) the parents (who were on occassion very mean) and the company where I felt just like a number. There is also the idea that I was raised and as such come from a different idealogy of parenting/child caring than what is prevelant now. I don't believe kids like they're equals all the time because they're not. Yes you can have a dialogue and difference of opinions but at the end of the day you're the adult/parent and what you say goes. I know most people hate hearing it (until they actually become parents) but the whole my roof my rules is still accurate. Once Trio gets there and I know he will I have no problem telling "Hey when you're on your own and you're working and using your money to pay your bills then do whatever the hell you want. Until then what I say goes." /shrugs
I also do not believe in not saying "no". The reason they have for this is because "it's negative".....of course it's negative it's suppose to be! When you're telling a kid no it is because they're do something dangerous or something you've told them not to do. No is so abrasive that I think it is what makes a kid stop and actually listen and stop as opposed to the "Oh no you may not do that" and or whatever it is.
*Sidenote: I tell Trio stop or freeze as opposed to no when he's about to do something really dangerous like run in the street. Read it in a parenting magazine and honestly the difference in the words makes him stop*.
Anyways that's enough randomness. I have to leave myself ideas in other blogs. I think the next one will be about my brand new toy the Kindle Fire vs. my other Kindle. Yay technology!!
Anyhow the first major update is I got a promotion and raise at my job!! Yay!! It's a bit bittersweet to be honest--for those of you who watch the news my company laid off 600 people at the end of February and honestly everyone is still kind of adjusting from that. A lot of my friends were the ones who let go, people who have been there longer than me, so I had and still do have a bit of survivor's guilt.
But I am soooo happy about my promotion not only because it means more money but because I feel like I'm actually moving up and that there is a chance for this to go on. This is the first job that I feel I'm actually very good at and that I'm valued at. I love my job and I love the customers (most of the time). And I love the company I work for. Yeah we're in a rough patch but ultimately through random things like the picnic, end of the year of the office party, and random gifts throughout the year, this company has shown they appreciate their employees more than any other company I've been with or heard about.
Sure I did okay in daycare but the main problem there was the pay (which sucked) the parents (who were on occassion very mean) and the company where I felt just like a number. There is also the idea that I was raised and as such come from a different idealogy of parenting/child caring than what is prevelant now. I don't believe kids like they're equals all the time because they're not. Yes you can have a dialogue and difference of opinions but at the end of the day you're the adult/parent and what you say goes. I know most people hate hearing it (until they actually become parents) but the whole my roof my rules is still accurate. Once Trio gets there and I know he will I have no problem telling "Hey when you're on your own and you're working and using your money to pay your bills then do whatever the hell you want. Until then what I say goes." /shrugs
I also do not believe in not saying "no". The reason they have for this is because "it's negative".....of course it's negative it's suppose to be! When you're telling a kid no it is because they're do something dangerous or something you've told them not to do. No is so abrasive that I think it is what makes a kid stop and actually listen and stop as opposed to the "Oh no you may not do that" and or whatever it is.
*Sidenote: I tell Trio stop or freeze as opposed to no when he's about to do something really dangerous like run in the street. Read it in a parenting magazine and honestly the difference in the words makes him stop*.
Anyways that's enough randomness. I have to leave myself ideas in other blogs. I think the next one will be about my brand new toy the Kindle Fire vs. my other Kindle. Yay technology!!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Banned Books
The week of September 24th-October 1st is National Banned Books week. What this basically is, is a protest against books that others have tried to get banned for various reasons and most hard-core readers like myself usually encourage and try to read as many banned books in that week's time.
I do not like that people try to get books banned and that's putting it mildly. I mean, there's a difference between not letting your child read something and then basically telling other people what they are able or should let their children read and that pisses me off. Don't tell me what I can and can't read and what I should let my child read. That's for me to decide and I will when the time comes.
Case in point I wouldn't let my daughter if I had one read the Pretty Little Liar series or the Gossip Girl series. Point blank, I don't like the subject matter and I don't think they're for the audience that they pretend to cater to plus it's not necessarily something I would want my daughter to think of as cool and try to emulate. To me it's the same thing as the people who don't let their children read Harry Potter or the Twilight series because of what they deem as the occult references in your book. You don't want to read Harry Potter? Fine; but don't sit up here and tell me that my child shouldn't read it if I choose to let them because while I don't think the girl's series I mentioned is appropriate for a teenager doesn't mean I'm going to say "Hey your daughter shouldn't read them either and I'm going to work to make sure no daughter can ever!!" /shrugs It's your daughter do what you will with her.
And the things about banned books and books that are forbidden is that it only makes people want to read it even more. My dad told me in middle school I could no longer read romance novels but I still found a way and snuck them. So I realize without someone having to tell me that if I had a daughter and she wanted to read those books she probably would I just hope she would be as smart about it as I was (or at least as smart as I think I was) and hid it from me well enough to where I do not see them laying around and she better use her own money to buy it (meaning money from the jobs she does). Anyway that's a tangent for another post LOL.
The issue here is and has always been with me the audacity of people. Who are you to tell me what I can't read and what my kids can't read? That's a very personal choice and when people try to ban books, in my opinion they're working towards some type of dystopic society where Big Brother is always watching and monitoring what you do and read. It's so easy to not pick up a book you don't like and not read it. I do it all the time. I dislike the Anita Blake series intensely simply because of the subject matter of the (I think) fourth book. But I just choose not to read it; I choose not to recommend it to my friends; what I don't choose to do is work to get it banned and removed from the shelves because that's not the way I work. Some people love that series personally I just can't stomach it.
So if you don't want to read Harry Potter because don't like the references to magic fine. If you don't want to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because of the violence in it fine. If you don't want to read Huck Finn because of the repeated use of the "n" word fine. Just don't tell me I can't.
And in honor of Banned Books week, at some point I will be reading a banned book like I have done for the past few years. If you want to join me do so. If not it's alright I won't hold it against you.
Unless you try to make it so no one can ever read those books. Then we'll have issues.
I do not like that people try to get books banned and that's putting it mildly. I mean, there's a difference between not letting your child read something and then basically telling other people what they are able or should let their children read and that pisses me off. Don't tell me what I can and can't read and what I should let my child read. That's for me to decide and I will when the time comes.
Case in point I wouldn't let my daughter if I had one read the Pretty Little Liar series or the Gossip Girl series. Point blank, I don't like the subject matter and I don't think they're for the audience that they pretend to cater to plus it's not necessarily something I would want my daughter to think of as cool and try to emulate. To me it's the same thing as the people who don't let their children read Harry Potter or the Twilight series because of what they deem as the occult references in your book. You don't want to read Harry Potter? Fine; but don't sit up here and tell me that my child shouldn't read it if I choose to let them because while I don't think the girl's series I mentioned is appropriate for a teenager doesn't mean I'm going to say "Hey your daughter shouldn't read them either and I'm going to work to make sure no daughter can ever!!" /shrugs It's your daughter do what you will with her.
And the things about banned books and books that are forbidden is that it only makes people want to read it even more. My dad told me in middle school I could no longer read romance novels but I still found a way and snuck them. So I realize without someone having to tell me that if I had a daughter and she wanted to read those books she probably would I just hope she would be as smart about it as I was (or at least as smart as I think I was) and hid it from me well enough to where I do not see them laying around and she better use her own money to buy it (meaning money from the jobs she does). Anyway that's a tangent for another post LOL.
The issue here is and has always been with me the audacity of people. Who are you to tell me what I can't read and what my kids can't read? That's a very personal choice and when people try to ban books, in my opinion they're working towards some type of dystopic society where Big Brother is always watching and monitoring what you do and read. It's so easy to not pick up a book you don't like and not read it. I do it all the time. I dislike the Anita Blake series intensely simply because of the subject matter of the (I think) fourth book. But I just choose not to read it; I choose not to recommend it to my friends; what I don't choose to do is work to get it banned and removed from the shelves because that's not the way I work. Some people love that series personally I just can't stomach it.
So if you don't want to read Harry Potter because don't like the references to magic fine. If you don't want to read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because of the violence in it fine. If you don't want to read Huck Finn because of the repeated use of the "n" word fine. Just don't tell me I can't.
And in honor of Banned Books week, at some point I will be reading a banned book like I have done for the past few years. If you want to join me do so. If not it's alright I won't hold it against you.
Unless you try to make it so no one can ever read those books. Then we'll have issues.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Time, Time, Time
Oh how I wish I had more of it.
But then again who doesn't. My issue is that even with the (now) later shift that I work and weekends (real weekends mind you Sat/Sun) off I still feel like I don't have enough time to do what I want.
Like write: although that is also more of a computer thing. I like typing so when I write, whether it's blogging, an article for Associated Content (although now I think it's Yahoo something) or a story, I prefer typing to writing longhand. Reason for this is with writing longhand I get tired a lot quicker plus my penmanship is not that great. So somethings get lost in translation and yes I'm a big enough of a person to admit that I have looked at something I have written myself and been like "What the hell is that suppose to be?" But the issue is the last story I was writing (which was going to be a teenager novel driven for girls) I had written about one quarter to one third when my ancient laptop I got my first year of college in 2001 (God bless it) CRAPPED out on me and I lost most of the progress. I'm sure I can salvage most of it but I'm nervous about trying to do it on the laptop. Albert has been after me to get a new one anyways so when we can afford it I am gonna get one and just start saving it on a flash drive so I won't have to worry about too much of it disappearing. Because as much as I want to write and as much as these ideas fight in my head I do not like putting so much effort in it only to have it go to waste.
Family: My new shift is 6pm-3am which gives me more time during the day with my boys. But it also means that at the earliest I'm not getting to sleep until 3:30. Trying to wake up at 9ish is a heck of a lot harder to wake up from then going to sleep at 2:30. But I make do. I mean it will be easier when school starts and we're no longer watching the Girl, so I'm not going to be at my office for 12 FREAKING HOURS!! Because honestly after about 9 my body is like "B*tch you're suppose to be at home why are you still here?" /sigh Albert says I do well enough, but I always feel like it is not enough. I guess that is the plight of the working mom. Maybe I should read that Chicken Soup that KaCee got before the Book Box shut down (which is SUCH SADNESS but is another blog...once I come to full terms with it).
Of course I always make time for reading. To be honest if I had a computer that didn't occasionally go on strike, I would probably write for about 30 minutes when I came home from work or during my breaks at work. But even with that I feel like I'm not doing enough that I want. I figured out some Kindle math the other day and realized that out of the 107 readable books (by that I mean books you can read straight through not including dictionarys, cookbooks, etc) that I have read 44. It's those darn freebies! One click free book is soooo dangerous for any bibliophile. Oh well.
It's probably all just a matter of getting use to the new shift. Once that happens hopefully most if not all these time worries will not be so worrisome. Until next time Fair Reader.
But then again who doesn't. My issue is that even with the (now) later shift that I work and weekends (real weekends mind you Sat/Sun) off I still feel like I don't have enough time to do what I want.
Like write: although that is also more of a computer thing. I like typing so when I write, whether it's blogging, an article for Associated Content (although now I think it's Yahoo something) or a story, I prefer typing to writing longhand. Reason for this is with writing longhand I get tired a lot quicker plus my penmanship is not that great. So somethings get lost in translation and yes I'm a big enough of a person to admit that I have looked at something I have written myself and been like "What the hell is that suppose to be?" But the issue is the last story I was writing (which was going to be a teenager novel driven for girls) I had written about one quarter to one third when my ancient laptop I got my first year of college in 2001 (God bless it) CRAPPED out on me and I lost most of the progress. I'm sure I can salvage most of it but I'm nervous about trying to do it on the laptop. Albert has been after me to get a new one anyways so when we can afford it I am gonna get one and just start saving it on a flash drive so I won't have to worry about too much of it disappearing. Because as much as I want to write and as much as these ideas fight in my head I do not like putting so much effort in it only to have it go to waste.
Family: My new shift is 6pm-3am which gives me more time during the day with my boys. But it also means that at the earliest I'm not getting to sleep until 3:30. Trying to wake up at 9ish is a heck of a lot harder to wake up from then going to sleep at 2:30. But I make do. I mean it will be easier when school starts and we're no longer watching the Girl, so I'm not going to be at my office for 12 FREAKING HOURS!! Because honestly after about 9 my body is like "B*tch you're suppose to be at home why are you still here?" /sigh Albert says I do well enough, but I always feel like it is not enough. I guess that is the plight of the working mom. Maybe I should read that Chicken Soup that KaCee got before the Book Box shut down (which is SUCH SADNESS but is another blog...once I come to full terms with it).
Of course I always make time for reading. To be honest if I had a computer that didn't occasionally go on strike, I would probably write for about 30 minutes when I came home from work or during my breaks at work. But even with that I feel like I'm not doing enough that I want. I figured out some Kindle math the other day and realized that out of the 107 readable books (by that I mean books you can read straight through not including dictionarys, cookbooks, etc) that I have read 44. It's those darn freebies! One click free book is soooo dangerous for any bibliophile. Oh well.
It's probably all just a matter of getting use to the new shift. Once that happens hopefully most if not all these time worries will not be so worrisome. Until next time Fair Reader.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
10 Years...
is a long time. I know it's cliched and everyone says it but it is.
This year makes 10 years since I've graduated high school. And I am nowhere where I thought I would be when I walked across that stage 10 years ago. (Forgive me if this is a repeat but with it being 10 years and my birthday looming this is what is one my mind).
First off I was suppose to be a Music Major and be a world famous, or at least well known in whatever symphony I was in, violist, hopefully New York. My first choice of schools was Vassar and the only reason I think I didn't go there was because I forgot paperwork to send it in on time and then the only way to send it in would have been to make it my ONLY choice (as in a legal contract like thing saying hey I'm not applying to any other school so pleasefortheloveofGodacceptme. And I didn't want to do that. So New York was struck out early.
Then I went to UofH and from there I went from a Music Major to an English Major when my Music Theory professor suggested that I withdraw from my classes because (to be blunt) I was gonna fail. I could have aced everything in that class afterwards and still been screwed. And people I have told this story to thought he was a dick but quite honestly to this day I respect him (and I still remember his name; Dr. Snider) for his honesty. Because quite frankly even if I had stayed in music I would probably hate it. I didn't like music theory. I know it may sound silly but I didn't care and I still don't about the theory behind music and chords and the mathematics. I just like(d) to play. I like the music I like evoking emotion from myself and from people and if I had stayed in Music I would probably hate it right now. So violist struck out.
And I didn't anticipate with a child right now. Now don't get me wrong. I love my boy more than life itself and will not hesitate to cut anyone who dares to threaten him and I mean that. But looking back at the young woman I was I didn't think I would be married and with a 3 year old by the time my 10 year reunion was due. I certainly didn't think I would be married to Albert (even as I may have hoped for it <3).
I didn't think I'd be in the career I was in (and yes it's a career). Hell I'm not even sure if 10 years ago I knew what WoW and Blizzard was. And now here I am at a company that I could cheerfully retire from in 40 some odd years.
On a somber note I didn't think I would have to say goodbye to my Dad within 10 years of graduating high school. Like most people I figured I had all the time in the world with him and that he would see my kids (however many there would be) through most of their life like my Granny did with me.
I guess the thing and the point of this whole blog is that we never really know where life will take us. We can plan and map out all we want but at the end of the day wherever we are suppose to be in our life? We'll get there through little steps and changes and shortcuts through the map. And while it may take awhile to get use to, I believe in a Higher Power and that this (as frustrating and heart wrenching as it is sometimes) is where I need to be right now. And while this is not where I thought I would be as the 17 year old girl on the edge of the real world 10 years ago, I could not imagine my life anywhere else.
This year makes 10 years since I've graduated high school. And I am nowhere where I thought I would be when I walked across that stage 10 years ago. (Forgive me if this is a repeat but with it being 10 years and my birthday looming this is what is one my mind).
First off I was suppose to be a Music Major and be a world famous, or at least well known in whatever symphony I was in, violist, hopefully New York. My first choice of schools was Vassar and the only reason I think I didn't go there was because I forgot paperwork to send it in on time and then the only way to send it in would have been to make it my ONLY choice (as in a legal contract like thing saying hey I'm not applying to any other school so pleasefortheloveofGodacceptme. And I didn't want to do that. So New York was struck out early.
Then I went to UofH and from there I went from a Music Major to an English Major when my Music Theory professor suggested that I withdraw from my classes because (to be blunt) I was gonna fail. I could have aced everything in that class afterwards and still been screwed. And people I have told this story to thought he was a dick but quite honestly to this day I respect him (and I still remember his name; Dr. Snider) for his honesty. Because quite frankly even if I had stayed in music I would probably hate it. I didn't like music theory. I know it may sound silly but I didn't care and I still don't about the theory behind music and chords and the mathematics. I just like(d) to play. I like the music I like evoking emotion from myself and from people and if I had stayed in Music I would probably hate it right now. So violist struck out.
And I didn't anticipate with a child right now. Now don't get me wrong. I love my boy more than life itself and will not hesitate to cut anyone who dares to threaten him and I mean that. But looking back at the young woman I was I didn't think I would be married and with a 3 year old by the time my 10 year reunion was due. I certainly didn't think I would be married to Albert (even as I may have hoped for it <3).
I didn't think I'd be in the career I was in (and yes it's a career). Hell I'm not even sure if 10 years ago I knew what WoW and Blizzard was. And now here I am at a company that I could cheerfully retire from in 40 some odd years.
On a somber note I didn't think I would have to say goodbye to my Dad within 10 years of graduating high school. Like most people I figured I had all the time in the world with him and that he would see my kids (however many there would be) through most of their life like my Granny did with me.
I guess the thing and the point of this whole blog is that we never really know where life will take us. We can plan and map out all we want but at the end of the day wherever we are suppose to be in our life? We'll get there through little steps and changes and shortcuts through the map. And while it may take awhile to get use to, I believe in a Higher Power and that this (as frustrating and heart wrenching as it is sometimes) is where I need to be right now. And while this is not where I thought I would be as the 17 year old girl on the edge of the real world 10 years ago, I could not imagine my life anywhere else.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Shopping Local
As the constant readers (few that they may be) who read this blog may or may not know, I live in Pflugerville. In downtown there is a billboard (nearish to Pflugerville HS) that reads shop local and has all the little things in Pflugerville that are owned by Pflugervillians.
I am all about shopping local. One of my favorite places to shop is the Book Box which is a locally owned resale shop. I think I have written a few blogs on this place but it still one of my happy places and Beth the owner knows me and mine by name and face. I love Ncredible Pizza which is also a mom and pop pizza shop in the same shopping center as the Book Box. And with Austin being in such close proximity there are also other many local places to shop so you can continue to support the local economy.
However, there is one local shop that I will never purchase from and (although I might get stoned by other Austinites) I have to get it out..../sigh. Book People.
The first time I walked into the store I did enjoy it. Of course the very first time was years ago in a theatre field trip (don't ask) when all we did was put on a stage production of Where the Wild Things Are for the older GMPs (Golden Myth Players). However I went there for a few signings within the last few years. One was for Christopher Moore when Fool came out and then a Kim Harrison.
I had noticed when I went to see Moore how excessively more expensive the books were there and I'm not talking in relation to the Book Box or even Half Price. They were more then Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and Noble. So while I love bookstores I had to forgo on buying anything that day since I was like "Yeah I can get this much cheaper elsewhere".
But what soured me was when I went with some girlfriends to see Kim Harrison. Most bookstores and authors have the rule that they will sign books other than new releases as long as you buy a book of theirs from wherever they're signing. Totally get and totally on board with it. When I went to see Sherrilyn Kenyon in Dallas a few years back I took three books for my Dad to get signed and bought one for myself as that was her deal.
So my friend who reads Kim Harrison (me and the other girlfriend were just along for the ride) bought the new book there to get signed. Afterwards she goes out to smoke and we linger and look for a few books. My friend has the same reaction I do when she sees the prices there so we decide to just skip out on purchasing anything and head on outside.
My other friend is out there upset and we ask here what happened. Turns out as she was leaving with her book in her hand (she didn't need a bag) an employee asked to see it to make sure it was brought there. She showed it to him and from her telling it he pretty much snatched both out of her hand to inspect it to make sure it was brought there since that is their deal or was for that particular signing. And of course she was upset because he was rude about it and made her feel like she broke the rules or something.
My opinion on this is this: this is why people don't like shopping local. Just because you're an indepenent store doesn't give you license to be a douchebag when people are paying for your wares. I'm like my friend Abbi--I'm all for shopping local and independence if I can only get it there. But when you have a store like this where you can go to virtually any other place (including HEB or Wal-Mart) and get the same book for like 5 dollars less? Then people are going there for the ambiance and just to support a local store. However I will go to a Barnes and Noble, Borders or just order the damn book on my Kindle just to avoid attitude like that and funneling money that way.
It goes back to the whole Maurice's incident. I understand that I am one lone little person. And I understand that not all independent bookstores are like this like the one I frequent here in P'ville. And I also understand days can be bad for some people and others love BookPeople. I'm just not one of those people. Books are high enough as it is without additional two extra dollars for an indepedent bookstore, not to mention where it is located (a good 30 minute drive for me) and it's located in one of the busiest areas of Lamar. When people go to places like this they should be treated like a person that the business is happy to see because they go to places to this simply to avoid being treated like just another walking billfold.
And that's my rant for the day.
I am all about shopping local. One of my favorite places to shop is the Book Box which is a locally owned resale shop. I think I have written a few blogs on this place but it still one of my happy places and Beth the owner knows me and mine by name and face. I love Ncredible Pizza which is also a mom and pop pizza shop in the same shopping center as the Book Box. And with Austin being in such close proximity there are also other many local places to shop so you can continue to support the local economy.
However, there is one local shop that I will never purchase from and (although I might get stoned by other Austinites) I have to get it out..../sigh. Book People.
The first time I walked into the store I did enjoy it. Of course the very first time was years ago in a theatre field trip (don't ask) when all we did was put on a stage production of Where the Wild Things Are for the older GMPs (Golden Myth Players). However I went there for a few signings within the last few years. One was for Christopher Moore when Fool came out and then a Kim Harrison.
I had noticed when I went to see Moore how excessively more expensive the books were there and I'm not talking in relation to the Book Box or even Half Price. They were more then Amazon, Borders, or Barnes and Noble. So while I love bookstores I had to forgo on buying anything that day since I was like "Yeah I can get this much cheaper elsewhere".
But what soured me was when I went with some girlfriends to see Kim Harrison. Most bookstores and authors have the rule that they will sign books other than new releases as long as you buy a book of theirs from wherever they're signing. Totally get and totally on board with it. When I went to see Sherrilyn Kenyon in Dallas a few years back I took three books for my Dad to get signed and bought one for myself as that was her deal.
So my friend who reads Kim Harrison (me and the other girlfriend were just along for the ride) bought the new book there to get signed. Afterwards she goes out to smoke and we linger and look for a few books. My friend has the same reaction I do when she sees the prices there so we decide to just skip out on purchasing anything and head on outside.
My other friend is out there upset and we ask here what happened. Turns out as she was leaving with her book in her hand (she didn't need a bag) an employee asked to see it to make sure it was brought there. She showed it to him and from her telling it he pretty much snatched both out of her hand to inspect it to make sure it was brought there since that is their deal or was for that particular signing. And of course she was upset because he was rude about it and made her feel like she broke the rules or something.
My opinion on this is this: this is why people don't like shopping local. Just because you're an indepenent store doesn't give you license to be a douchebag when people are paying for your wares. I'm like my friend Abbi--I'm all for shopping local and independence if I can only get it there. But when you have a store like this where you can go to virtually any other place (including HEB or Wal-Mart) and get the same book for like 5 dollars less? Then people are going there for the ambiance and just to support a local store. However I will go to a Barnes and Noble, Borders or just order the damn book on my Kindle just to avoid attitude like that and funneling money that way.
It goes back to the whole Maurice's incident. I understand that I am one lone little person. And I understand that not all independent bookstores are like this like the one I frequent here in P'ville. And I also understand days can be bad for some people and others love BookPeople. I'm just not one of those people. Books are high enough as it is without additional two extra dollars for an indepedent bookstore, not to mention where it is located (a good 30 minute drive for me) and it's located in one of the busiest areas of Lamar. When people go to places like this they should be treated like a person that the business is happy to see because they go to places to this simply to avoid being treated like just another walking billfold.
And that's my rant for the day.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Romance Novels
*this is about my guity pleasures that are romance novels. Be warned; there is a purpose but there will be mention of said books*.
So I have a guilty pleasure. Actually I have a lot. The Spice Girls, musicals, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the last one to the point where I could probably teach a class on it.
But once of my big ones is romance novels. I like romance novels. Not so much with the trashy ones (you know which ones are trashy. Like the dime cent ones, the ones you can buy at the dollar store. Yeah those). But there are a few I do enjoy reading. I started reading when I was in middle school until my Dad put a stop to it for a few years until I was a little more grown up and I didn't read them at all for those few years (cough cough: eyes averted). One of my favorite authors of all time is Johanna Lindsey.
The series I read the most about her is the Malory one but there are a few other "series" and stand alones I like. One is called Surrender My Love (don't judge me!) which I love. Sure there's a somewhat underlying theme of Stockholm Syndrome not as bad as in others but I like it. Awhile back I picked up the first book in the series Fires of Winter and I just recently started to read it as I am on my tangible book kick.
And I had to put it down and return it because I will never read the book. I was reading it going..."Was there this much rape the first time I read the book? Because I don't really remember it being that bad". Now it is true that this could have been a subconscious thing and I did notice it then and that's the reason why I haven't picked up the book in years like at least 15. But it's unnerving how some of the sex scenes are in there. If you can handle them those scenes are about fantasy and enjoying it not being forced like forced forced not even seduced. And now I am bit worried about reading the second one in the series to see if it is the same because in the third one there is no forcing of sexual favors upon the heroine.
But it got me to seriously thinking. Lindsey's first book was Captive Bride which I read...ONCE. Because I didn't like the hero. I did not like the kidnapping, sex slave, forcing to bend to will thing. Not my cup of tea. I like my heros to be like heros not assholes. It's one of the reasons I don't like the Anita Blake series and I cannot seem to enjoy Tristan from the Kin Harrison series. The love interests are jack asses. In the first Anita book Jean-Claude her love interest blackmails her into helping him. Oh yes that inspires me to want to jump in bed with you sure. /rolls eyes
Anyways getting back to my original train of thought (sorry for getting derailed) it seems that romance novels from the 70's to the mid 80's were a time when women couldn't seem to enjoy sex so the romance novels had to add some type of forced scene in order for them to enjoy it. And it's more than a little unnerving because thinking back on (just taking Lindsey as the example I know more about since she's my fave) it's true. I had to tell a few of my friends today that with the exception of the Malorys and her later novels (like 85 on) I may have to pass on earlier books of hers I haven't read because if it is like that than no thank you. And it is interesting to see the change in romance novels from that time period to now where the heroines were taken in more ways then one. I suppose it is just a sad view of what society was like then but it is promising in that now it is now that way and that romance novels and chick lit (because yes they are different) are some of the best selling novels out there and the women in there are strong.
I am not sure where I was going with this. It could have been an exercise in trying to use my brain and write something analytical like I did back in college without getting graded for it and it needing to be perfect grammar wise. I just hope that in 100 years that people do not base women's writing just on the novels written in the 1970's but instead encompass it all and study it as an evolution because that truly what it is.
So I have a guilty pleasure. Actually I have a lot. The Spice Girls, musicals, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the last one to the point where I could probably teach a class on it.
But once of my big ones is romance novels. I like romance novels. Not so much with the trashy ones (you know which ones are trashy. Like the dime cent ones, the ones you can buy at the dollar store. Yeah those). But there are a few I do enjoy reading. I started reading when I was in middle school until my Dad put a stop to it for a few years until I was a little more grown up and I didn't read them at all for those few years (cough cough: eyes averted). One of my favorite authors of all time is Johanna Lindsey.
The series I read the most about her is the Malory one but there are a few other "series" and stand alones I like. One is called Surrender My Love (don't judge me!) which I love. Sure there's a somewhat underlying theme of Stockholm Syndrome not as bad as in others but I like it. Awhile back I picked up the first book in the series Fires of Winter and I just recently started to read it as I am on my tangible book kick.
And I had to put it down and return it because I will never read the book. I was reading it going..."Was there this much rape the first time I read the book? Because I don't really remember it being that bad". Now it is true that this could have been a subconscious thing and I did notice it then and that's the reason why I haven't picked up the book in years like at least 15. But it's unnerving how some of the sex scenes are in there. If you can handle them those scenes are about fantasy and enjoying it not being forced like forced forced not even seduced. And now I am bit worried about reading the second one in the series to see if it is the same because in the third one there is no forcing of sexual favors upon the heroine.
But it got me to seriously thinking. Lindsey's first book was Captive Bride which I read...ONCE. Because I didn't like the hero. I did not like the kidnapping, sex slave, forcing to bend to will thing. Not my cup of tea. I like my heros to be like heros not assholes. It's one of the reasons I don't like the Anita Blake series and I cannot seem to enjoy Tristan from the Kin Harrison series. The love interests are jack asses. In the first Anita book Jean-Claude her love interest blackmails her into helping him. Oh yes that inspires me to want to jump in bed with you sure. /rolls eyes
Anyways getting back to my original train of thought (sorry for getting derailed) it seems that romance novels from the 70's to the mid 80's were a time when women couldn't seem to enjoy sex so the romance novels had to add some type of forced scene in order for them to enjoy it. And it's more than a little unnerving because thinking back on (just taking Lindsey as the example I know more about since she's my fave) it's true. I had to tell a few of my friends today that with the exception of the Malorys and her later novels (like 85 on) I may have to pass on earlier books of hers I haven't read because if it is like that than no thank you. And it is interesting to see the change in romance novels from that time period to now where the heroines were taken in more ways then one. I suppose it is just a sad view of what society was like then but it is promising in that now it is now that way and that romance novels and chick lit (because yes they are different) are some of the best selling novels out there and the women in there are strong.
I am not sure where I was going with this. It could have been an exercise in trying to use my brain and write something analytical like I did back in college without getting graded for it and it needing to be perfect grammar wise. I just hope that in 100 years that people do not base women's writing just on the novels written in the 1970's but instead encompass it all and study it as an evolution because that truly what it is.
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