Speaking of books...

here's a bit of the 'canon per me'.

Guilty, Mr. Mencken...

"There are people who read too much: the bibliobibuli. I know some who are constantly drunk on books, as other men are drunk on whiskey or religion. They wander through this most diverting and stimulating of worlds in a haze, seeing nothing and hearing nothing."

Well, maybe not quite the seeing and hearing NOTHING part... but...

(That reminds me, I need to get on reading some Mencken.)

I am... a reader. I read. A lot. And quickly (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare, something that requires some 'deep' attention). I read over breakfast, on the bus (unless I get carsick), at lunch, and sometimes a chapter or two after dinner if there's nothing good on telly. I average anywhere between two to five books a week (unless it's Dickens or Shakespeare or something along those lines). I love the library, because it means I can read everything I want and not have to reinforce my floors.

I work around medical folks, who (as a rule) are no slouches when it comes to the gray matter. You'd figure that the sight of the written word wouldn't inspire much comment. You'd be wrong. "... is that ANOTHER book?" "Weren't you reading something different yesterday?" "You sure read a lot."

Sometimes I'm made to feel like there should be a 12-step program for me. But the first step is admitting you have a problem. I don't. I'm perfectly content in my freakishness, my bibliobibuli-osity. I'd carry a membership card if they were issued.

I AM a book junkie. "Hell is other people"? Screw that -- hell is other people and nothing to read. I'll read the nutritional information on a cereal box if there isn't anything else around. I don't remember when the black squiggly things below the pictures became words, but they've changed my life. I love being taken away to other places, meeting new people (interesting, not interesting, and downright irritating), experiencing things I never could (or would never care to)... without even leaving the house. Those black squiggly things have become a huge part of who I am, and I will not apologize.

I... READ! (cue fanfare)

Randomosity 1.0

So far this week, I have discovered the following things:

1. "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" is like reading Dickens without the payoff. Given up after about 1/3 of it because it dragged and (because the library lent me a hardback) I was about to rupture something.

2. Sarah Silverman is just about the least funny human being on the face of the earth - and that includes the Pope (who I can't imagine even smiling). This after I didn't even watch her at the VMAs (too old - hey, I'm old enough to remember when MTV actually played, oh, MUSIC VIDEOS so take a step back before I pummel you with my walker) but I did happen to read a transcript of her opening monologue. Why does this woman get asked to host things, again? NOT. FUNNY. An online buddy put it best:
"Her entire schtick is "Vagina abortion ass rape Holocaust grandma-rape chink gonorreah. Oh yeah, I said it. Are you shocked, middle America? Are your comfortable, narrow minds totally blown by my outrageousness? No? How about this: September 11 orgy anal-rape-with-a-crucifix cunt spank Pol Pot genital sores. [ingratiating oh-did-I-do-that smile]" (tm wilderness, thanks!)
Her 15 minutes are SO up.

3. J'adore Setanta Sports on my dish... except, woe is me, it was just a PREVIEW. Curse you, DishTV, for hooking me on The Full SPL, live EPL action and the Rugby World Cup before pulling the rug out from under me. WOE. (Dang, man, Aussie Rules is the bestest thing to doze off to -- assault with intent to maim while wearing weird sleeveless shirts? The strangeoid way the refs confirm a point? Perfection.)

4. Top Gear is being rebroadcast on BBCAmerica. This makes me happy. I'm no gearhead by any means (I'm more 'pretty, shiny thing go fast YAY!') but now I wanna be famous just so I can be their 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'. Or The Stig. I could totally be the Stig, guys -- call me!