Shopping Mojo

Mom & I spent the day shopping and I was on fire. My mission: to find some fun new jewelry, a new brown purse (to replace my 10-year old one which seems to be showing its age), and a brown winter hat.

Not only did I find exactly what I was looking for (on mega sale), I found a charcoal gray wool coat 50% off at Macy's. There was a button missing but as I tried on the coat, I found the button in the left hand pocket. At the register, I asked if I could have more of a discount on the coat due to the detached button, but the cashier said no. Then after chatting with me and Mom, the cashier said, "Well, I'll go ahead and give you another 10% off." Whoo hoo!

When we stopped at the bookstore to use a 40% coupon I had for any book, we were treated to free coffeecake and chai tea samples as we walked through the store. At the checkout, the clerk said, "Oh, looks like you have $5 in reward bucks you can use."

Lastly, we were driving down the street on our way to lunch when I scared my mom to death. "OMIGOD!" I chirped. Poor Mom. I couldn't hide my excitement as I eyed a Sonic drive-in. Sonic, my old Nashville haunt. In Michigan. Of course, I had to stop and get a cherry limeade, for old time's sake.

I told you...I was on.

Mom told me that I should've bought a lottery ticket that day.

Currently Reading...

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

I'm fascinated by this book.  The story's narrator is Death.  The protagonist is an orphan girl named Liesel who lives with her foster family in Nazi Germany just as WWII begins.

Liesel learns to read and write and becomes obsessed with collecting and reading stories.  In the meantime, her foster family takes in a Jewish man and hides him from the Nazis.

Has anyone else read this one?

Favorite reads of 2008

Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series

A friend of mine recommended these books when he found out I enjoyed mysteries.  I started reading The Closers in May and proceeded to raid the library the rest of the year to read every story that centered on Detective Harry Bosch.  Set in modern day LA, Bosch is a fantastic cop who runs into villains on the street, in the bureau, and in his own heart.

The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry

by Kathleen Flinn

This was a gift from a friend and an early '08 read.  I loved reading another person's adventures in culinary school, especially since she was in Paris.  Ah, Paris.

Twilight

by Stephenie Meyer

Everyone knows about this series now.  I read the first book over the summer; couldn't put it down.  I really enjoyed the lead character, her smarts, her angst, her clumsiness, her heart.

Loving Frank

by Nancy Horan

I couldn't stop thinking about this book after I'd read it.  It's a fictional biography of sorts of the woman with whom Frank Lloyd Wright had a long-term affair.  Mamah Cheney was a woman ahead of her time and the relationship between her and Wright was scandalous, yes, but also mesmerizing.  Reader beware:  The story does not have a happy ending.

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri

A beautiful collection of short stories by the author of The Namesake.  I'm in awe of this author.

The Life Before Her Eyes and Snow Angels

by Laura Kasischke and by Stewart O'Nan

Heartbreaking and powerful adult fiction.