Some bookish thoughts... and a very large fish

First, here's my dad. And his very large fish. My dad is a very talented fisherman (can you be *talented* at fishing?). I have no other photos to post so thought I would post this one since it's making me smile.

Anyway, a few bookish thoughts...

* I started to read Happiness Is An Inside Job by Sylvia Boorstein (upon recommendation from my aunt). It's basically about Buddhist loving-kindness meditation and how to use it in everyday situations. Which seems like it would be a nice book to read, right? Instead, it's making me feel very anxious and uncomfortable. I'm not sure why. The more I read, the worse I feel. So I'm putting it down. Maybe I'm just not feeling like I should read anything that is telling me (or even kindly suggesting) that I ought to be doing something else on top of everything. Also, I really don't need any reminders that life is fleeting and I need to stay in the moment. That is right in front of my nose all the time, thank you very much. So... maybe it's not what I need right now.

(however, coincidentally, there have been a few times in the past few days where I've seen strangers who look very very unhappy -- walking by me, stifling sobs, that sort of thing -- and because I read about doing this in the book, I send them some loving and comforting thoughts and energy. So maybe it's doing me some good anyway)

* I'm also reading The Picture of Dorian Gray on Daily Lit. It's really great. It's a little odd to read just a few paragraphs a day, however. I'm not sure how much I like the format of getting only a small snippet of something every day, with no way to keep reading if you feel like it. I was also reading Emma that way, but I think Austen is best read in giant chunks because it's difficult to keep everyone and everything straight if you aren't immersed in it. Do you know about Daily Lit? It's fun.

* I have to get to the library this weekend. I need to get my book club book, and I'm out of anything else to read. I'm reading Free-Range Kids which is really funny and fascinating, but it's not exactly relevant to my life since I have no kids... however, it's passing the time until I can get to the library!

In other news, the janitors at my job apparently vacuumed up the cord to my heating pad (which I keep on my lap at all times because it's freezing in my office) . When I got in this morning, it was absolutely filthy and had that burned-vacuum smell. You know when you accidentally suck up a cord or string or something? That horrible smell (and sound)? Yeah. It was disgusting. It still smells terrible, too. I had to get one of those Mr. Clean sponge thingies and scrub it down because it was so filthy. Yuck.

I've been in a strange place lately. Just feeling somewhat disconnected -- but that's not really it. I feel like there is something brewing. Plans to be made, etc. Probably just thinking about the stuff I alluded to in my previous post. I feel very busy and very preoccupied with plans. Not that I'm really making any plans... I'm just planning on making plans. You know how that is?

It's interesting because I feel very centered, very certain of myself (which is awesome after spending the last 15 years feeling so unfocused), and I feel like I have a number of very viable paths ahead of me. But I haven't quite stepped onto one yet -- I'm in that just-before stage. I'm just watching to see what's going to be the first one, as they shift and vie for the #1 slot. It's all very interesting in a super-detached way.

And finally, we are rewatching all of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you have not seen this series, put it on your Netflix list STAT!! It is *so* good.