Less than two weeks to go before my vacation begins! I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to it. I have even started a small pile of clothes and things I might take with me. And I have a mental book list going, too. In light of my plans to whittle down the reading pile, I will mostly be choosing reading material from my in progress books. I do plan on taking Sandra Dallas's Fallen Women (which I have on order as it is coming out in paper just before I leave) with me. Dallas lives in Colorado and has a number of books set there (and I have to read at least one 'Colorado' book). I had started Fallen Women earlier in the summer but then had to return it to the library only partially read (curse those quick due dates and books that can't be renewed). I'm looking forward to getting back to it. It's set in late 19th century Denver. Since proper go-away vacations don't roll around very often for me I think I will allow myself one 'new' read as well. Maybe a RIP book since it will officially be RIP reading time. But who knows, maybe something else will have caught my eye that I absolutely must read now. I think a little splurge for vacation is allowable.
I am down to the last 100 pages in my Simenon and Hill novels and hoping I can finish one or maybe even both this weekend. Two books finished means I get to start a new book. At the moment I am contemplating adding Lauren Willig's That Summer to the reading lineup, or maybe Amy Tan's The Valley of Amazement. Restricting myself (or trying to anyway) to waiting to start new books is going to be very challenging. And then two books from the nightstand pile get to graduate to the bookbag (and daily reading) selection. But no worries, I won't be so very rigid with my reading, but I still want to focus and whittle (my new mantra--focus and whittle, focus and whittle).
I have a new challenge. My book buying habits have gone as wonky as my reading. I give in to temptations so easily. I am going to make a concerted effort not to add to my TBR piles (wish me luck, as it is easier said than done), and stick to either writing down titles that sound good (to investigate later) or trying to find them at the library. (The problem with library books, though, is I have to give them back sooner than I can manage to read them). Who knew books and reading could pose such a serious dilemma in my life.
My credit card is going into retirement for a while (it deserves a much needed rest). I have cancelled my Soho Crime subscription and am contemplating cancelling my Audible subscription, too. While I have unused tokens I can't cancel or I will lose them. (As an aside--I had no idea that audio books could be 'returned' and exchanged for something else--I've returned two that simply didn't pan out for me so am now back up to four tokens).
I still get monthly Melville House novellas, and I am not sure I can give them up, even though I have done a horrible job this year keeping up with them. For less than $13 a month I get two new books, which seems such a good deal. And I have to have something nice to look forward to each month. Book mail is like an addiction and I am sure I will go into withdrawal without something nice in my mailbox.
And that leaves my TLS subscription, which is also billed monthly. Keep it or not. Again it is not a substantial cost, but when I am trying to trim my bills each month every little bit helps. It is a weekly newspaper and I do like reading each issue.
Yes, I am truly spoiled when it comes to reading material. How does one learn to be frugal?
With my vacation looming in the near future I have almost forgotten that there is a long weekend coming up soon. I'll have three days off, work the Tuesday after Labor Day and then go on vacation. Five days away from work and I'll be visiting somewhere really beautiful. (Fingers crossed for more autumnal weather). How cushy is that? How many books (granted in progress books) can I finish between now and then?
Some exciting news now. I think I am going to audit a Lit class at the university where I work. I have been ordering books for faculty who need new materials and one of the lists caught my eye. I was thinking that I need to jot down the titles and check them out later. But then I thought why not just take the class? As an employee we get cut rates on undergraduate classes. It's almost a sin that I don't take advantage of the perk. We can take up to six credit hours a semester. I'll only be auditing, so I can read along and participate in the discussions and listen to the lectures but won't have to write any papers or take any tests.
I'm very excited (I have all sorts of nice things to look forward to this fall, don't I?). I only have to wait until Monday, which is the first day of classes, to register as an audit student (students taking the class for credit get first priority for seats--but I think there is still plenty of room). I'll share more about it next week when I am properly enrolled. I have always loved taking classes and going to school and I am really looking forward to this. Who knows, maybe I'll try and take a class each semester and learn something new.
I will likely not be posting everyday (or nearly every day) starting next week. The class I will be taking is on Tuesday nights. I'll have extra reading to do, so I am not sure what sort of schedule I'll follow here. Hopefully before things get too hectic I can catch up on my book posts (I have a small stack of books I still need to tell you about) and blog reading, too.
And one other little note before I settled into the weekend . . . I am thoroughly enjoying listening to Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness. It's great fun and makes my walks go by much more quickly! I totally like Goergie who narrates the story in first person and the actual reader is wonderful differentiating the voices of the various characters!
I'll be back on Sunday with a few short stories. Have a great weekend everyone.