The Tao De English Major

That's nice- I am now posting once a every four weeks- go, Karin!! Good Lord, you would think I could take the time... oh, wait, that's right- time!! That thing I never have enough of, that thing they say is an illusion anyway. I enjoy posting and am not exactly sure why I haven't of late. Funny story- I watched Miss Austin Regrets (Austen? I forget) and got online soon after. The way I was writing was so funny, so reminiscent of that time. It was great. So, I have hired some people in the store and I will be out of the store more than usual- out marketing or driving a carriage or yes, occasionally, I will probably be found lounging in the park. I am still looking to hire some people, so definitely get in touch with me if you are interested in some part-time work. New 'employees' are automatically signed up for the Lending Library and can borrow 3 books at a time per month- deal of the century!!
So, I have a Facebook account for the store now- well, actually, I did before, but couldn't post comments from it and I mean, really, what's the point of FB if not to tell everyone what you're thinking about! So, now, instead of The English Major Bookstore, I can be found under English Major. I always think it's pretty funny when names like that haven't already been chosen. Anyway, in addition to new people in the store, I have been shelving and categorizing and getting rid of old books, putting new ones on the shelves. I just got in a bunch of stuff regarding The Tao De Ching, including a copy of the book itself as well as all kinds of people's take on the book, including Alan Watts'. Lots of new paperback fiction, history- all kinds of stuff- oh- new Art books!! Come and check it all out at your leisure and meet my newest representatives of The English Major Bookstore- they all seem as glad to be here as I am to have them!!
Let's see- personally, I was reading the only novel that Ranier Maria Rilke ever wrote called The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge. I have been a huge Rilke fan for ages, but never knew he wrote a novel. So, I was pretty over the moon about it and was enjoying it immensely- it's the kind of book that you have to put down every now and then and just kind of reflect and be like Radar on the old M*A*S*H episodes, when he's all reflective about Bach, "Ahhhh, Bach!" You just kind of sit for a second, thinking, "Ahhhh, Good Ole Rilke." Never disappointing, other than you know that it is the only novel you'll ever read by him which is a little bittersweet. But Then!!! About a month ago, I sold my only copy of Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and was slightly torn about selling it- kind of asking they guy who bought it," You sure you want this?" So, never having read it and knowing it is at the top of the list for a lot of people's Favorite Books Ever, I had a copy come in, so I have decided to share reading time between Carson and Rilke and am enjoying both. Got up early the other day to go for a beautiful walk in 67 degree weather, then realized I could just blow off the walk and read all morning, which, of course, I did.
Hope all is well in ya'lls worlds!
As always, come take a carriage ride and support your local bookstore!
http://www.carriagetoursofmemphis.com/

Loved 'The Invention of Lying'

Watched this movie last night called The Invention of Lying and just had to reccomend it. It's about a world where no one lies, where you believe everything everyone tells you because you know they are telling you the truth. Then, smeone invents lying. It's great! I love movies like this, not really sci-fi, but fantasy like. It was fantastic, in both senses of the word.
I had last night off and was shelving books till about 10 p.m. I went through about ten boxes, one of which was from the back of the store, which, if you know anything about the bookstore, you know the back is chock full of boxes of books. The other nine or so boxes were books that were brought in in trade over the past few months, so there is a lot of new stuff on the shelves, in all cataogories, stuff that I am, quite frankly, pretty excited about. Not that I am not excited about what's already up there, but the new stuff is pretty cool. Quite the description, huh? But it's accurate, so what can I say? Come check it out and if you're going to Reba and George tonight, have fun and take a carriage ride!!

I am the Master of my Fate!

I have a grey, hooded sweatshirt I like wearing, but don't wear very often. This is one of those days that it just feels entirely appropriate to wear a grey hooded sweatshirt. The beginning of a new work week for me, my Monday, if you will. I have plans to put more books for sale online as well as empty about 8 boxes of books that have been brought into the store in the last 6 months and promptly went into storage. I also plan to write and make a Green Smoothie. That is the essential me, in a nutshell. Exciting, huh? Kind of riveting, aren't I? Glad you checked my blog? Well, I will leave you with a life- enhancing quote from Best Quotations For All Occasions, edited by Lewis C. Henry, @ 1951.

First, a random one:
Think of your forefathers!
Think of your posterity!
- John Quincy Adams, 1802

Another random one, for sheets and giggles:

It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
-W.E. Henley, Invictus

Yeah! And one about writing, or literature or supporting your local Used Bookstore:

Come to The English Major Bookstore
for the English Major in Everyone!
-Me
:) Take care, have a great day and read more books!

I am, Still.

This is an FYI about some new books I just got in and have shelved:

1. I got about 10 or 12 comic book/ graphic novels, most of the Batman and Robin related. They are bound so they aren't really comic books, but that's the only way I could describe them.

2. I got a copy of Donna Tartt's The Secret History, which I really liked and enjoyed much more than her second novel, The Little Friend.

3. I have put some really interesting books in the Entertainment section having to do with Operas and the appreciation of them. One describes the basic premises for all the major and important operas throughout time, I would suppose, not knowing when opera actually started!

I am. Still looking for PT help, that is- Thursday nights especially, from 4-9. Let me know if you are interested or know someone who is!

"I am."

"I am."

That is a new meditation technique I have found very centering. Instead of listening to your thoughts about what you are, you stay in the present moment and you just are, telling yourself, "I am." Love it.

Still accepting applications for part-time day and evening work. Please come by and talk to me if you are interested or tell whoever you think might be interested to stop by or call.
Book wise, I just got in five fairly recent (one is @ 2009) political science books, two of which are by Bob Woodward. I also have some really interesting opera books I plan on shelving tomorrow and if anyone is interested, all of the Sweet Valley High books I have are going to Salvation Army on Thursday, so if you are interested, come scoop them up. Actually, as a reward for whoever it is that reads my blog, I am sending about 6 or 7 boxes of books to Salvation Army, so if you get here before they do, which is sometime on Thursday, you can take your pick. I also have some clothes donated to me that I will be sending along as well.

Finished Cape Random by Bernice Morgan and can't wait to get her sequel. My Mom is reading The Book Thief and like everyone, says it is awesome. I am reading Irving Stone's Lust For Life, about Vincent Van Gogh. I seem to love stories about male artists. Not sure why. I am also almost done with Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. And, truth be told, I am in the middle of 64 other books as well. I read Edward Albee's The Zoo today, which I have read before, but still found disturbing, and am in the middle of another play from a book called Famous American Plays of the 1950's. Can't find the book right now or I would tell you the name of the play. That is that. Too cold for carriage driving, warm enough for reading and writing, meditating and Netflix. C'est la vie.

I survived The Valentine's Day Blizzard 2010

I Survived

The Valentine's Day Blizzard

2010

I did survive The Valentine's Day Blizzard, if anyone cares. I'm getting t-shirts made up. I don't care if the snow only lasted for two hours and may not have technically been a blizzard, it felt like one and I made it through alive. Last night was the worst carriage driving weather I've ever been in, in five years. It was so bad, it was funny. The streets downtown that dead end into the river are absolutely brutal on cold days, but last night, with snowflakes the size of my palm and 20 mph winds, I couldn't help laughing. It was unreal! But I survived with no lasting injuries, just bone tired and worn out. Writing this blog entry and reading are the only two things I am doing today that are book related. Or horse related, for that matter. Oh, and this entry has nothing to do with books other than the fact that I am reading several of them. Started Where Angels Fear To Tread by E.M. Forester even though I am am the end of Cape Random by Bernice Morgan, which has taken an interesting turn in the last quarter of the book. I suppose I will have to muster the energy to turn pages, but that is all the work I am doing today. And dehydrating Eggplant Bacon. I know, eggplant what?? I am very excited about it and since it's my day off, I don't have to explain anything to anyone. Feisty, huh? Did I mention it was my day off?

She Loved Words

That's what a friend of mine told me is going to be on her tombstone when she shuffles off this mortal coil. I thought that was great and have decided to copy her. If she is dead and gone, I figure, then she won't be able see that my tombstone! I love words- It's great! Faith is a new favorite of mine. It is supposed to be the antidote to fear and the only effective way, actually, to combat fear. Fear that I might not win Powerball, that's a legitimate fear, right? Well, then, I will just have faith that I will win and that will be that.
At the store, wow, I have had a massive amount of help shelving books- there are many, many new books on the shelves. I am still accepting applications for Thursday- Sunday nights, 4-9 p.m., commission only (but a substantial commission, based on experience). You won't be required to do much which will offer you plenty of time to get to know what books I have which will, of course, increase your sales. That is the job in its entirety- let me know if you are interested.
What else? Reading a book called Cape Random by Morgan somebody- sorry, I don't have the book in front of me- and am enjoying it. It's set in the early 1880's and concerns an English family who had to leave England and arrives in Newfoundland and what they experience during their time there. It is kind of Little House on the Prarie-ish, except with a little more death. The amount of thrift and plain old hard work that went into survival for them makes me look at the easy-peasy life I live. When I want clean clothes, I just go wash them. I don't have to be sure I work all summer and fall in the hopes of being able to trade enough fish for detergent. I thought about putting the book down when I was about 100 pages into it, but am glad I didn't. I was slightly boring, but has picked up since then.
Raw food potluck is tonight at Whole Foods- 7 p.m. Bring or buy a dish there worth $5. Usually, there are amazing foods and wonderful people.
Other than that, I would have to say, everything else is same ole, same ole. As a carriage driver, this is the slowest time of the years, January and February, so every day that brings us closer to Spring is a good day!
Take care.