Book Booty

I've added more books to my stash. I'm such a sucker for books. I realize that this might seem to go against my goal of reducing my stuff. Aren't books just more stuff? Well, perhaps to another person they would be. But for me they are food for the soul.

But in keeping with my philosophy, I do tend to get rid of them once I have read them. I pass them on so that others can enjoy them, & so that I don't have to find a place to put them. Also, I tend not to re-read books only because there are so many out there that I want to read that I see re-reading a book as a missed opportunity to read something new. If only I could read faster!

So, this weekend I took another pile of books over to Bookman's. They gave me $30 in trade, which I promptly spent. Then I stopped at Goodwill, looking for some shoes. I left with some jeans & a book. I also stopped by the Tempe Public Library in hopes of a job. No dice, but I got a couple of books from their sale corner anyway. All told, I brought home nine books to add to my shelf.

Here are my new additions:

Amy Tan, The Opposite of Fate (2003)
Edward Abbey, The Monkey Wrench Gang (1975)
Elizabeth Kostova, The Historian (2005)
J. Maarten Troost, Getting Stoned with Savages (2006)
Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner (2003)
Robert Hellenga, The Sixteen Pleasures (1995)
Thalia Zepatos, A Journey of One's Own (1992)
Yann Martel, Life of Pi (2001)
In Search of Adventure, A Wild Travel Anthology (1999)


If you want to see what I'm currently reading, or to read my comments on books I have read, check out my book blog.

The Kar is Kaput

I bought this car last March for $2400. The price was high & I knew it at the time, but I was ready to be done with the car search. I had spent several days driving around in my friend Jay's pickup, looking at cars, asking my friends to go with me for their opinions. I was ready to be independent again with my own car.

In the beginning, I had problems passing emissions, but that was taken care of by my favorite mechanic. In the summer, the AC didn't work when the outside temperature was over 100 degrees (that's a problem here in Arizona). & I've always had a problem with the clutch, occasionally having to get it adjusted.

The last time I got the clutch adjusted, the mechanic said that the next time it starts acting up, I would have to put in a new clutch. Since it's a 4-wheel drive vehicle, that means about $700 for a new clutch.

So now my delimna is this: Do I replace the clutch in a piece of crap car? Do I buy another car? If I buy another car, do I buy another piece of crap car? Do I buy a decent car which will have to be financed? Do I lease a car?

I can't really afford any of these options, so maybe I'll go back to not having a car at all. My roommate does it, & he seems to be able to work it out just fine. With the light rail on its way, maybe I can get away with it until I figure out what I'm doing with the rest of my life.

Stuck Cat

There has been a cat in the tree in my backyard for the last several days. He meows & meows like he really wants some help. The neighbors came over yesterday to try to help get him down. Elva, one of my roommates, climbed up the tree to try to coax him down. But he only moved farther away from her. I guess we're going to have to endure his constant meowing until he gets hungry enough to come down on his own.

Just like everything else in life: No matter how much you want someone else to save you from your mistakes, in the end, you can only save yourself.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for:

Loving friends & family

A roof over my head

Food in my belly

A healthy body

&

The opportunity to make mistakes.

Tired

Whew! I guess all this excitement has worn me out. I went to bed last night at 9:00 with a headache, which I don't normally get, & didn't get out of bed until this morning at 8:30. Hopefully this weekend will be a restful one.