Planning Ahead

Normally, I buy the U of M's planner because I appreciate that all of the important dates are listed: drop deadlines, holidays, finals, etc.  However, I just looked up this year's "Gopher Guide," and it is ugly as all get out:

Why on EARTH would someone think this was cute?!

So, I'm officially on a mission to find a cute, affordable, practical planner.  I love these planners from Letts of London, but I can't for the life of me find a picture of what they look like on the inside.




I definitely think the first design is my favorite, but what do you think?
xo

Bibliophile

I just requested six, yes six, books from the library.  Wanna see?



Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
The first of a series, Case Histories recounts the solving of three mysteries by Private Detective Jackson Brodie.  I love me some mysteries, and the fact that there will be more books to read once I finish this one will be great!




Model Home by Eric Puchner
I found out about this author through www.thestaffrecommends.com (aka my new fave website)'s list of best books of 2010.  The reviewer's summary ended in, "Absorbing, emotional, funny. Can’t recommend it enough." That makes it worth reading, right?





The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Yeah, I definitely found out about this one thanks to an interview with the author on The Daily Show.  Apparently, everyone else in Minnesota did, too, because I'm the 207th person to request it...maybe I'll get to in October.  Anyway, the premise sounds really cool: Ronson used a diagnostic test to identify psychopaths in American society, and a lot of them were Fortune 500 CEOs...eek.




Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose
The author has a fitting last name.  Also, I've been trying to write more often lately, and I thought this might provide some inspiration.




Ron Carlson Writes a Story by Ron Carlson
Ron Carlson, a well-know short story author, provides insight into his writing process.  Comes highly recommended for writers (professionals and hobbyists).




Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
This is the third novel in the Ender's Game series.  I just finished Speaker for the Dead the other night.  These books are not only compellingly suspenseful, they also use a future society to examine the United States' current political situation (particularly regarding international relations).  I'm a few people down the list for this one, too, so I'm hoping it has a quick turnaround!




What are you reading right now?  Any recommendations?
xo

I sleep with a mouthguard

"Guard" is an odd word, spelling-wise. In no way would you suspect that it contained a "u." It doesn't require one, and in no way is it pronounced. English is a fairly stupid language that I'm cursed with relying upon above all others.

This is what my mouthguard looks like, except my case is red: via

This is attempt number 5,248 at encouraging myself to write more often. I keep hoping that I'll get caught up in the romantic notion of a hand-written journal, but it just doesn't work for me. By the time my writing catches up with my thoughts, the two things are no longer at all related, and I've lost whatever (potentially) sensible material existed therein.

- - - - -

I have a Katy Perry song somewhat stuck in my head, which is unfortunate on many levels, the worst of which being that I only know about one line. It's on repeat. It's not great. I mean, it wasn't at all good to begin with, and its reiteration is just cementing the fact that it's garbage. Really catchy, fun garbage.

Thank you, Katy, for encouraging me to drink "too many shots."

I should go to sleep, as this is just an introductory rambling in the hope that I will continue on in the future. However, at the moment, my eyes hurt. I will probably read for awhile after posting this, but that's irrelevant; book-induced eyeball pain is much less severe than computer-induced eyeball pain.

Have a lovely evening xo