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1. If you do not use your turn signals when driving, it means a) that you are self-centered and not thinking about any of the other drivers out there at all, and b) that you are an idiot because a good chunk of car accidents are caused by OTHER DRIVERS.  I get irrationally upset about this sometimes.  At the moment, I am feeling very calm about the idiotic, self-centered drivers around town so I just wanted to make a note of this.

(But for real, use your turn signals for crying outloud!!  Sometimes I wish I lived somewhere with a subway.)

2. Oh, did I mention that I finished reading Hannah Coulter?  I don’t think I did.  Went to Cafe Coco the other night, but only stayed about an hour – long enough to finish the book but not long enough to get a coffee refill (just as well since I wasn’t sleepy until 11 as it was).  I had neglected to check the weather, as usual, and realized that we had tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings only after a gust of wind knocked a tree limb onto a car parked in front of the coffee shop.  I packed up and left shortly thereafter, not being one who enjoys driving through inclement weather.

But anyway, the book was sooooo so good.  I absolutely LOVED it.  I left it at home or I would type up some of my favorite quotes.  I loved the book for several reasons, but one of the biggest was the picture that Berry paints of a community – of a “membership,” and of belonging to a place and to a people.  It’s so easy these days to isolate yourself from other people, and to not care about the place where you find yourself (physically).  I rent my house, so I don’t really want to put the time and effort forth to really care for it like I would if I owned it.  And I have always been a loner, so it’s second-nature for me to go off by myself instead of interacting with real people.  I tend to read about people in books or on the internet, rather than getting to know them one-on-one.  Which is my fault, and not something that I’m proud of.  I find that it’s actually somewhat difficult to talk with people one-on-one, though, because for whatever reason, people are caught off-guard when you open up to them and try to get them to open up to you.

Anyway.  I need to spend more time reflecting on the book, and I would like to go back and re-read it at some point.  I think I might do Jayber Crow first.  Or I might switch to some Asimov, as I’ve been meaning to do for a couple of years now.  Or, I’ve also been thinking about picking up the book of Nabokov short stories again – or even reading one of his novels.  Should give Pnin another shot.  I might go to Cafe Coco again tonight, as when I try to sit down and read at home I regretfully don’t get very far before I’m distracted by something.  (This is especially true with Ryan being there….)

3. Have been wishing to be back in Windermere with Katie lately.  Since I can’t do that, it makes me want to explore new places in Nashville, or go on a road trip.  (Alas, I’ve been trying to be fiscally responsible lately – after spending $50 at the Southern Festival of Books last weekend…ha….. – which means not going out unless it’s cheap, and not going on any road trips unless they are also cheap.  Plus I don’t have anyone to go on road trips with me anyway, as all my friends are busy… grumble.)

4. Ooh!  I forgot!  There are 5 pay periods this month, so I’ll have an extra pay check!!  I should really go back to forgetting about that, though….  Use it to save up for a new computer or something.  If anyone wants to get rid of a perfectly well-functioning Macbook, let me know.  I’m not getting anything with Windows again.

5. I haven’t seen Stephen in about a year (biggest exaggeration ever, but I enjoy hyperbole), and my indifference for the CMA awards has moved into a personal displeasure at their existence.

6. I need new glasses.  Or new eyes.

7. Have started (finally) brainstorming Christmas present ideas.  This year won’t be as much of a failure as last year – though I think you people liked your gifts last year at least moderately well.  But I’m going back to making stuff this year.  And I would like to be working on that right now, instead of passing the time by writing boring blog entry lists.  Once I’m finished (i.e. run out of things to ramble about), I think I’ll start making a list of supplies that I need (etc).  I’m fairly good at lists.  Or anyway, I enjoy them.  Organization and all.

8. Actually, I think I’ve run out of stuff to ramble about now.

EDIT: Just saw this on FB, and it goes perfectly with point #2. I really would so much love to build a village like this, maybe Pegram area, or Joelton?  Totally do-able. 

Decided my last bloggy was far too whiny.  You people don’t need to be reading that rubbish!

Am reminding myself now that if I don’t like something about my life, I need to just buckle down and change.  It’s that simple.  Some questions have difficult answers, but this is not one of them, and yet I try to make it more complicated than it is because I am lazy.  I like to conveniently forget that I have full responsibility for myself and my actions, and for how much I take of the world — and how much I give back.

AND SO.  I am going to clean my house today.  I thrive in a clean, orderly, neat house.  I also need to get out of the house and go read more.  Not only will this help me to appreciate my home more than I do when I laze around playing Skyrim in my PJs all day, but it will also get me out of my nice little comfortable rut where I pet cats and don’t do laundry.  I’ve nearly finished Hannah Coulter (which I recommend that EVERYone read – it is amazing and has made me cry now at least twice), but I have so so sooo many more books to be reading.  The Southern Festival of Books was this weekend, and Stephen and I went; he spent most of his time at a lecture, but I want to slowly peruse all of the booths and be able to take my time.  It was a really lovely day – overcast and grey but sprinkling only every now and then.  The only thing that could have made it more perfect was an outdoor cafe and some flowers.

So that said, in addition to cleaning up, I might hit up a coffee shop after work to do some reading.  If nothing else comes up, I’m going to plan on that.

Listening to the Best of Arvo Part this morning.  Somewhat incongruous with the sunny fall day outside, but from my seat it might as well be snowing.

This music (Summa for String Orchestra at the moment) is so heart-wrenchingly beautiful.  It makes me want to lie on my back in the middle of a field, or in the middle of the woods – somewhere away from other humans.

I know…about 50% of my entries are to complain about the fact that I’m stuck in an office until 5pm.  Sorry.

Slow as molasses Friday morning.  Seriously trying not to die, and obviously have been successful so far but am not hopeful about the afternoon.  May be my last blog entry ever.

Instead of finding busy work for myself (which would probably only help hasten my demise), have been thinking about reorganizing my kitchen.  I love my kitchen, and I love my kitchen equipment and all that.  I do not love the way my kitchen is set up now, though.  I don’t love my kitchen table, even though I do love it’s color and the color of the chairs.  Needs to be smaller.  And less cluttered.  It tends to be a catch-all for, you know, all.  Should work on being more organized in that aspect.

Brainstorming more shelving ideas…like installing wall shelves and moving the kitchen table (somewhere?  where?  my house is already too full!  anyone want to trade a kitchen table for a cute little island or kitchen cart?) …..maybe moving the bookshelf I currently have in the kitchen – and painting it too.  Starting to dislike my cutting board display because I feel like it takes up valuable wall real estate.  Want to reorganize my cabinets and remove some cabinet doors, to make the kitchen feel more open.  Granted, would have to put them all back together whenever I move, but should I let that stop me from enjoying the space now?

Might go to Big Lots on my lunch break, to see what kind of stuff they have that might be useful.  Also to help me not to die.  It’s a grey fall day outside and I really wish I could do something about the horrible fluorescent lighting in this office.  I’m sure they’ve done studies to show that office workers who are miserable are tamer…easier to control…etc, because this lighting just puts me into something of a coma if I’m not actively busy.  Coma.  Can barely move anything besides my fingers and eyelids.  Barely.

Going to wait another hour to take lunch.  And then going to take a full hour because my soul needs it.  If I didn’t think it would be frowned on, I would be reading a book or crocheting and not comatose.

Also have been perusing Pinterest for kitchen ideas which was not a good call on my part, as it so far has had these effects on me — 1) it’s depressing because my kitchen is small and lack-luster (which isn’t even true), 2) it’s depressing because I’m at work and cannot actually work on my kitchen right now, and 3) it’s given me one or two ideas.  But mostly the first two.

I’m going to do keyboard proficiency tests until 12:00.

Edit:

OK, so what’s the point in doing more now?

Sorry guys, boring day.  Had decided to start discretely sketching instead of wasting time on reddit or Pinterest, but then my mechanical pencil broke.  I was actually enjoying my afternoon, until now.  Must remember to bring more pencils to work.  I’m disappointed because not only am I going to have to spend the rest of the afternoon staring at a screen, but also because I actually was liking the way this sketch was turning out.  Bah.

“The puddles looked like holes in the dark sand, apertures onto some other heavens that were gliding past underground.”  (Nabokov, “Sounds”)