Ever seen a 6ft Frog?

Yeah, I haven't either. But I just read this short story about 6ft Frog that fought a huge worm underground and saved Tokyo from a devastating earthquake. He asked for help from this guy. It was a good story. More I think about it, the more I like it. I only have one story left in this short story book. And I don't have a book lined up to read next. So sad. I have 2 books on hold at the library, but neither is in yet. Hmmmm, it bites.

And my Netflix are lagging because of the mail and the holidays. I actually went to Hollywood Video last night and rented 2 movies. I feel kinda guilty spending that much money, but I need something to keep me busy at nights after class while I'm waiting for my new books to read, my latest Netflix and all my TV shows to come back.

I'm taking this martial arts / self-defense class. I try to go 3 times a week (usually only go twice though, but I'm going to try to start going more). I went last night and there were three other boys there too. One is new, but has definitely had some martial arts training before. Not bad. Another, I see every once in awhile. He's really good and pretty nice. Never been bothered by him. But this other guy is really creepy. I think he's fairly young, maybe 22 or so. I think he's almost a black belt and sometimes my teacher lets him teach the little kids' class before mine. So, he totally thinks he's tough shit. Anyways, there was this one point that I was standing between this creepy boy and the new boy. We were practising some kicks and punches while in a line. Well, both boys on either side of me, were puffing loudly with each punch and kick. I actually had to bite my lip from laughing. All I kept thinking was that it sounded like I was in some kind of wind tunnel between these two. It was actually really funny. Then, later, I was paired up with the creepy boy practising some move or another. And he actually mumbled, "You smell nice". I shot him a glare and asked what he said, he just shook his head and said, "Nothing". It was creepy...

Then I went home and watched, "Must Love Dogs". I needed a good romantic comedy, preferably with John Cusak. It was okay. Definitely not as good as, "Say Anything". It was okay. Even though, it's all cutesy and life will never be that way for me, it still gives me hope that one day I might meet a guy that I will fall for that much (and he for me, of course). I guess it's that hope that keeps me going. That and the fact that I'll be able to defend myself if I ever need to, from my martial arts class...

A Bell Jar for you...and one for me

I finished The Bell Jar over the weekend. Now, I'm reading some more short stories by Murakami, in a book entitled After The Quake. About the Bell Jar...every time someone asked me what I was reading and I'd tell them, they always said "Ooh, how depressing". Okay, I'll admit that the book is a bit depressing. Our protagonist (if that's what you can call her) is on a downward spiral. And even in the end, it's unclear whether she actually makes it or not. There is some hope, that's for sure. Plath does try to administer that bit of hope to us, even throughout the time while Esther is trying to commit suicide.

Truthfully though, I didn't find it all that depressing. I found it very insightful. I'm sure most women (and maybe even some men) identified with our protagonist, Esther. She's definitely not a bad person. She's more "normal" than most people I know. I liked that she had many different sides. She felt an awful lot and I felt all that with her. I really wanted to talk to her, help her, and just be there for her.

A good one to read over the holidays! Yeah, well, my holidays aren't the happiest, so I suppose it definitely goes with how I'm feeling anyways. I just hope this New Year will bring a happier note to my life. There are definitely some things I really want to change about myself. I guess now is the time for me to take that inventory and try to actually do something about it.

Another Book Down

I finished Daughter of Fortune on Sunday night. It was a good book. Not too sure about the ending though. I wanted more. Kinda left me hanging, even a little much for my taste. I like open-ended endings, but this one seemed a bit too open-ended. Not nearly as bad as the Russian authors I've read, but it was (unfortunately) pretty damn close.

So, now I'm reading The Bell Jar. Yeah, I have never read it before. So far, I'm enjoying it. I like the writing style. Simplistic, but rather elegant at the same time. Not simplistic like Hemingway (of whom I'm not a fan of), but pretty good.

I'm really enjoying it; however, it hits home a little too much. Like, I'm finally realizing how neurotic I actually am. Not that I didn't know before or anything, but at times I think that I may really be minimizing it. I don't know though.

Work has been super busy and I've had this drafted for a few days now, so I'm just going to post it. Until next time...

Food for Thought

I'm reading Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. Very interesting stuff. I love the history intertwined with the story. About the Gold Rush and how California really became a melting pot. I lived in San Francisco for almost 5 years and this book is chronicling how people from all over the world got gold fever and went to San Francisco. It's pretty amazing to think about. And she gives such great descriptions of what was happening at that time, with all different cultures combined. It's pretty amazing, actually.

This book has been a great way for me to take a step back from life. It's getting to me again. Life, I mean. I can't figure out what's really bothering me. There are quite a few things, but I feel that there's something bigger. It's probably the same old thing that's been plaguing me, the fact that I really don't know what to do with my life. And, of course personal issues don't help. One day I'll look back on this all. I just can't wait for that day.

Been thinking about that too. Like looking back on where I was 5 years ago and 10 years ago. What I've learned. How things weren't that bad. All that stuff. Gives me a bit of hope for the future. I just have too much on my mind lately. Kinda interfering with work even, which isn't great, but happens from time to time.

My book is the only thing that takes me away from it all. That and Grr. She's pretty good about that too. Although, she doesn't listen so well. :)

Well, speaking of work, I must get back...

Books & Festivities

Just finished that Steve Martin novella. It was really good.

Now my co-workers are being all festive. I can't believe I actually remembered where the x-mas lights were stashed. My old boss used to buy an x-mas tree each year and have us decorate. Kinda funny. I randomly draped some lights around my cube. I'm not that festive, usually, so it does feel a bit odd when I am.

I'm hoping this weekend is nice. Looks like rain, which I like. I just hate driving in the rain. Oh well.

An Afterthought

I forgot to tell how my Ben Lee concert went! Well, it was wonderful. I think he played almost the entire new album. And he played a bunch of old songs. Lots of audience participation. He was really great. I think I drooled. My friends had fun too. And for a time Jason Schwartzman was standing next to me. I have no idea for how long, I looked over and saw that's who it was. Kinda funny. And then, Ben Lee asked me to marry him and I said yes. Okay, okay, so the last part isn't true, but it could've happened...

Third Time is a Charm

So, here's to my third posting! Well, I've gone through another book, "House of Spirits" by Isabel Allende. It was really good. I'm now reading a novella called, "The Pleasure of my Company" by Steve Martin. Good, so far. I'm enjoying it. A friend of mine let me borrow some books, so I think I'll read those next, while I decide which book from my booklist I should get from the library. Maybe another Murakami book of shorts. I have yet to decide. I think I'll have to take a look at my booklist and figure it out. My boss recommended the original Dune series to me. Maybe I'll delve back into the world of science fiction. I'll have to think about that one.

I don't really like this time of year. The compulsion to shop and buy gifts for people, when you really have no idea what to get them and you don't have much money to spend.

Ready for Seconds?

So, I finished The Forgetting Room on Friday. I then went to the library on Saturday and picked up my two books that were on hold. So, I'm halfway through the short stories by Haruki Murakami in the book titled, The Elephant Vanishes. I forgot how much I love short stories. They are great. They really make you think too. I got really caught up in one called Lederhosen. It's this woman telling someone the story of why her Mom divorced her Dad. It was all because of Lederhosen. So, it got me thinking of things like that. You know, changing your life because of some indiscriminate object or whatnot. Now that I think of it, kinda reminds me of The Stranger by Camus. Didn't Mersault say he killed the Arab because of the sun?

Anyways, that's my readings for now. Lots of thoughts jumbling around in my head. The stories seem to calm my thoughts. And the stranger, the better. Gets my mind off the things that are floating around in my head.

Have you ever noticed the more you think about something, the more convoluted it gets. Seems to happena lot to me. It's all black and white until I really start to think about it. And the more I think, the more grays come into the picture. Makes my head hurt. I guess I'm just wired this way.

Been listening to Ben Lee's newest album a lot lately. Maybe because it's new. I don't know. But I love it. I went to see him play a year ago at the Roxy. It was kinda strange because I was dating this Australian Neuoroscientist boy. I got 2 tickets for both of us to go, for this boy's birthday. Well, he broke my heart a few weeks before the show. I felt I still needed to go see Ben Lee play, so I got a girlfriend to go with me. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Frente was scheduled to play too! The last time I saw them was over 10 years ago at a KROQ Weenie Roast. So, we got there early, grabbed a drink and listened to one of the opening bands (I think there were two). After the band we were listening to finished, someone comes over the loudspeaker and announces that there has been a fire and everyone has to leave the building. No one moved. We all figured it was a joke from the band. So the same guy comes over the loudspeaker and says, "This is no joke, everyone must leave. You can get refunds at the box office outside." So we had to leave.

I was so dissappointed in that moment. I felt that I had been through so much, as it was, just to see Ben Lee play. And truthfully, I had only bought my first Ben Lee album a few months earlier. I had 2 songs on a mixed tape that I loved more than anything (the only Ben Lee I had heard for about 5 years, best break-up songs ever!).

So, we all file outside and get in line for a refund at the box-office. A few moments later, Ben Lee comes outside and apologizes and says he's going to bring out his guitar and play some songs in the parking lot since we are all there. He, then does exactly that. He only played about 6 songs, because one of the guitar strings broke. But it was really awesome, because a lot of people weren't there yet and many people had already left, so there weren't too many people there. He even played a cover of Modest Mouse "Float On", which he said really reminds him of LA. Jason Schwartzman was there, standing along the side too (weird to see him there). After Ben Lee finished, I went up and said hello to him and my friend had her digital camera and she took a picture of us. So, yeah. I got all the money refunded back onto my credit card and that was that. I was home by about 10pm.

It was a strange incident. I hope that doesn't happen this time. Frente isn't scheduled to open for him this time around. But I hope I actually get to see him. Already ordered my ticket. Going to meet some girlfriends there. Should be fun. I sure hope so.

Books & Music...that's me.

My First Blog

Not sure why I started this. To rant & rave or just to have a space on this nifty thing we call the internet. But, as my title suggests, I like books. I think that I must be some sort of anomally, because I don't know many people who read as much as I do. For some strange reason, I have this affinity to read as much fiction as I can. Now, don't get me wrong, I do have a job and I do watch TV and I do have somewhat of a life. But, when I can squeeze it in, you'll find me reading. When I don't have lunch meetings, you'll find me at my desk, eating lunch and reading. And I like to read at night before I go to sleep. I don't feel that I read too much, but because it's more than most people, it looks like I do. But, I suppose if you equate it with the fact that others pick-up magazines and newspapers, when I just stick to my books, doesn't seem like so much anymore.

So, I just finished the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. It was really good. But, truthfully, I'm not sure what keeps drawing me to his books. I think this is the 5th or 6th book that I've read by this author. His books really focus on the human mind. How we think of things and how it really varies with people. Although, when you find a connection with someone, sometimes the thoughts get intertwined.

Well, I'm going to eat lunch and read some more of my latest book. It's a short one, very beautiful. I bought it at the used bookstore. It's called The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock. Reading it while I wait for the library to get in the 2 books I put on hold there (The Elephant Vanishes by Murakami & House of Spirits by Isabel Allende).

First Blog...over & out.