DOUBLE NERD SCORE

Newlywed nerds, one beagle, and a cat.

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"While lacking a breakout hit like last year’s biography of Steven Jobs, independent bookstores are reporting that sales are up this year, Leslie Kaufman reports. Rather, they say a range of unexpectedly popular titles, including Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior” and Chris Ware’s complex graphic novel “Building Stories” have made up the slack. The picture was more mixed at Barnes & Noble, the nation’s largest book chain, which is investing heavily in digital books, and solid but not stellar growth in digital sales." This quote is from the roundup of articles called the "Breakfast Room" which links to full articles. My link is the full article.

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Paleo Challenge

My digestive track and I have been having some problems lately. I'm gurgly more often than not. So, what's a girl to do what change up the norm and see what works and what doesn't. First Experiment: Paleo I'm still on the fence about this as a long-term option. A part of me can't help but think of Atkins. But that's why I want to give it a shot, explore it and make a decision for myself. I have a dear friend with gut issues who swears by it (and her doc does not fuss at her, either). I'm definitely okay with the idea of less grain. I will not lie though, wine, cheese and a baguette is a treasured summertime pleasure. And beer is going to be tricky. I'll try to rock out to cider and wine for a bit. Or I could always drink less, there's an idea. I don't think the husband will mind the influx of meat into our home (I was working carefully to avoid a Malorie Archer moment there. But I will still make him grains to have on the side of his meals. (Duder cannot have pasta without a piece of bread or there would be a revolt). Last night's dinner was a home-run for the Paleo/Not Paleo Team¹: We came home late after house viewing (!!!) and have drinks at our local. Normally if I have a little buzz I will quickly suggest takeout since my lazy factor rises at a startling curve. But with Paleo, the takeout options are few and far between at best. So, I heave-hoed into the kitchen and veered off-course of our scheduled meal. Instead of Sweet Potato & Chicken Salad (there were a few grocery errors¹ I discovered) I baked off two chicken breasts, one sweet potato (halved) for myself, cooked off enough rice to last James for two meals, wilted half of a bag of spinach and reheated the leftover ratatouille from Saturday night. And before I say that it was delicious and all were happy I want to say that I'm very thrilled that my husband likes ratatouille (and goat cheese)! Also, obnoxious photo of said deliciousness to follow -- I'm less afraid judging from the current rankings of the NPR Food Porn Poll.

______________________________________________________________________ ¹Baseball jargon just for the hubs.

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I bit the bullet

I'm reading The Hunger Games. Now I can make fun of it (or not) based on an actual opinion and not just hearsay.

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It is probably be incredibly taxing on the eyes after awhile but I would still count pixels that I know are penguins voluntarily until my eyes turn red and my fingers twitch.

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Relaxy Saturday

It's usually pretty slow at my bookstore on a Saturday morning. I've grown accustomed to sipping coffee and catching up all of my internets. I do the usual slough, Facebook, news, Tumblr, comics, and then resist the urge to watch "Midsomer Murders" on my phone.

It's such a teeny store, a niche market for sure, but the subject matter is still quite foreign to me. I was never raised with Christianity but here I am recommending books for Confirmation gifts -- nothing too dogmatic, not complicated writing, friendly, etc.

It's a teeny place in terms of square feet, too, but we are jam packed with texts! I had to draw myself a little map of all the sections (Church History, Monastic Studies, Theology, Justice & Peace and so on). It's nice to feel like I've gotten familiar enough to suggest things and point people in the right direction. I guess it's as close as I will ever get to being a librarian, har har. My new responsibility is to input books into the inventory which I find to be really fun (nerd alert!)

[bellalinguista-deactivated20231]

If you’re really nerdy enough, linguistics is very sexy.

Phonetics professor (via bellalinguista)

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Time to Pack the Boxes

Well, it looks like the hubs and I are going to have to move. Sigh. Our landlord has decided to raise our rent, which, after five years I can't speak a word against. He is a very sweet guy and although its a little sad it may be time.

It's harder for James than it is for me. This was his "first place". His bachelor pad straight out of college. It's where he came home after his first day teaching, not just subbing anymore, the first day of his career. It's where he checked the internet for dates and left, hoping to meet the girl he would marry. It's the house he slumped back to when he <I>did</I> meet his future wife - who, at the time had a boyfriend. Across the street, and visible from the front window, is where we had our first kiss. It's the house I moved into and he lived with a girl for the first time. It's where we came home after our wedding. It is, our first home, as much as a rental can be.

I've moved so often in my life that it's like water off a duck's back. In the last seven years I have lived in five places in this neighborhood alone! The only really difficult aspect of leaving our house is memories of my Dad. The last time I saw him before the second stroke was when he came to my birthday party last year. There is one little spot in my living room where I picture him sitting, talking to the dog and I still dissolves into tears.

But, it's time to start fresh and new. We are newlyweds, afterall, this is part and parcel I guess. And now I get to envision other floor plans and kitchen organizing — everyone knows how much I hate that!

[yourathenaeum]

Augusta Braxton Baker, librarian with The New York Public Library from 1937 to 1974, blowing out the story hour candle. Baker was a devoted storyteller who developed a groundbreaking list of stories that portrayed African Americans positively and established a collection of African American children’s literature at the New York Public Library. She became the first African American coordinator of Children’s Services at the NYPL in 1961, in charge of youth programming at all eighty-three branches. Her influence touched New York libraries, schools, community groups, the American Library Association, Sesame Street, and the works of authors like Madeleine L’Engle and Maurice Sendak. World-renowned novelist James Baldwin was one of the young men who sat in the children’s room at her first library job at the 135th St Branch. She was born on this day, April 1st, in 1911. You can read more about her life and legacy from the New York Public Library, Wikipedia, and the University of South Carolina. Hear her interviewed and see more photographs of her at work at Speaking of History.

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Too Old

I'm planning my own "retirement" party. I have been working in the same cafe for 8½ years. I was getting exhausted and burned out anyway, and when I lost my father, had the store sold on a day to a new guy, got pregnant, lost the baby and then got married, I figured it's time.

My last day is slated to be on "Star Wars Day" (May 4) and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. I'm ready to move on in more ways than I can say!

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Quiet day at work. Grocery list and meal planning, check. Time to read my book and sip out of my awesome Jane Austen mug that my husband gave me at Christmas!

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The Program's the Thing

I emailed the Department Heads at the two local universities that offer degree-programs in SLP. I explained that I had been studying Secondary English until Dad fell ill. I also noted that I have waited a little while so I could be sure it was my calling and not a knee-jerk (psst! Merrian-Webster's Word of the Day today) reaction to Dad's suffering.

The problem with one school is that it is a cohort program so I couldn't start until the Fall of 2013 and I only need 2 pre-reqs nonetheless (Math and Bio for health majors). The other school, purportedly has a better program, but it MUCH more expensive. But I admit, I want to go there more. I'm now able to get Financial Aid too, so I might as well run with it...?

Oh to be almost 27 and halfway through an amalgam of a Bachelor's degree. #angst :P

[speech-path-way]

Great short description of aphasia and some simple explanation on how it affects the brain

[livefromthenypl]

Engraving of the brain and cranial nerves by Thomas Geminus from the mid 16th century.  On Wednesday, March 28, Nobel Prize winning neuropsychiatrist Eric Kandel will be discussing the brain and how it makes us feel the way we do when we look at art. He’ll be drawing from his upbringing in Vienna, as well as his extensive work in memory.

Tickets are almost sold out, so we advise purchasing yours now!

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It's a rainy and breezy day today. I'm watching all the blossoms fall from the trees outside my bookstore. I keep thinking of one of my favorite films, 5 Centimeters Per Second. I saw it at Otakon five years ago and I'm still getting over it. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I may have to pull out my copy later today.

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Dinner & A Muppet Movie

I have so much to do after I get out of work at 2. We are having two dear friends over for Dinner and a Muppet Movie. The four of us never got around to seeing it in theaters last Thanksgiving and since its been released on video, er DVD, I was determined to get a good dinner party out of it too! Our roommate is out of town this weekend, which is a little bit of a bummer, but at least our teeny tiny dining table will fit everyone. Augh, my dining room/library is such a disaster right now. There are books everywhere! Even my wedding dress is in there right now. This gives me an excuse to make James clean with me. Not that he isn't willing, don't get me wrong, I am a very lucky wife in that regard. He has no qualms about being given a list and having me send him off to whatever corner with a broom. The real trick is to find a recipe for dinner. Last time they came over for dinner I fixed Bacon-Gruyère Meat Loaf With Roasted Carrots and Onions from Real Simple. It was so tasty! Which was lucky, because it was an impromptu dinner party. I was sitting at the pub with them and another friend and had the idea to invite them over. I excused myself and asked everyone to come over in 45 minutes or so, asked James to run and buy some wine, and I ran home and threw the loaf into the oven and did a quick clean-up of all the living areas. Phew! I was a chicken with no head for that hour, I was so relieved when everyone showed up and handed me a glass of wine. But I've found something that sounds amazing. I like that its simple and classic but still sounds like some bold, delicious flavors. I have a brand new cast-iron skillet that will be perfect for cooking the steaks. We only eat meat on the weekends these days, a way for me to feel less guilty about the meat industry (and more importantly to be less financially supportive), save some money, be more green, and be healthy. I was inspired by Graham Hill from a TED Talk in 2010. Cooking vegetarian five days a week is an exploration of some amazing recipes out there. Also, this is my new favorite cooking site. I was googling around for a Muppet Meal and somehow found the Kitchn. It is joining the hallowed ranks of Smitten Kitchen.

[nypl]

Check out Strato Lizzie, the mascot for Transcontinental Western Airline (TWA), pictured here being shown off in her special traveling case at the 1940 World’s Fair cat show. The picture is currently in our World’s Fair collection in the Manuscripts and Archives Division, and is just cute. The description from 1940 says Strato “put in more air hours than most human beings.” No explanation of what the “Cat Realist Society” is, though. Too bad. Enjoy - happy Caturday!!