Ok, this really should be titled “Prized Possessions – Book Collection/RANT about Kindle.” 

I love my books.  I enjoy flipping through pages and seeing passages or sentences that I highlighted.  And when I re-read the book, it’s always interesting to me to find new passages previously read without having my pen highlight them; ones I cannot let let slip by on the second go-round.  These books are like the reference tools for my life.  Virtually everything you need to know about me is contained on my bookshelves.  The card catalogue of my life starts at “Big Bad Bruce” and ends with the entire collection of Yeats poetry. 

I cannot imagine giving away or selling any of my dear books.  Further, I feel my copies are too personal and vaulable to be lent to friends.  At the same time, I would never borrow a book from a friend because of my temptation to mark it up. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the Kindle, it is the complete antithesis to everything I have stated above.  It is basically like an iPod, except for books– you download a “book” and read it on a little handheld screen.  No turning of pages, no tabbing corners down. 

How gratifying is it to complete a book on screen?  There is no closing of the book proudly after finishing the last page and reflecting on the story.  You just “power off.”  Like I need to spend more time staring at a screen.  What happens when you are at the climax of the plot and your battery dies??  Can you honestly picture yourself getting into bed for the night to read on your Kindle before dozing off? 

And what about the cost?  The Kindle costs around $300.  Do you know how many physical books I can buy for $300?  Enough to fill my house.  I buy most of my books now used on Amazon.  (RECESSION TIP!)  You can get a pretty decent book for $1, and if you don’t care about the condition, ONE PENNY!  I like to make sure there is no writing so the books I buy usually run me around $2… but that is still a steal!

I believe they claim that there are highlighting capabilities, but is that really the same?  I like to visually see all my books sitting on the shelf and then decide which to pull down to peruse through.  I do not need to be sorting through various folders and sub-folders on a device the size of my hand.  That’s hard enough on my iPod. 

But I guess I’m just old fashioned.  Hell, I still get the newspaper delivered to my door every morning. 

Pet Peeve of the Day: The delusions of Jim Hendry and the rest of the Cubs organization. 

Quote of the Day: “Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart, and his friends can only read the title.” –Virginia Woolf

Lately I’ve been looking for more projects to embark upon, knowing I may not have much time come fall.  I was inspired by this project from simplemom.net so I decided to pick up some decoupaging supplies at Jo-Ann Fabrics (note, never go here or to Michael’s without a coupon that can be found every Sunday in the paper).  I got a blank canvas (on sale!), some Mod Podge, brushes, and pretty paper.  I decided I would make this canvas to go in my bathroom which lacks any decoration.  I also got a cardboard “E” to decoupage as well.  I have completed 4 projects so far, all of them are super easy and look great.  Who knew you could use decoupage to create hip artwork instead of just collages of images from Teen Heartthrob and Tiger Beat magazines?!  You can create these too– all you need to do is know how to cut and glue!  Plus, this is a very recession friendly way to decorate!  Plus you’ll have original items no one else has!!  My favorite!

Below is my canvas.  All I did was take scrap-booking paper, cut it in circles (using a candle holder as a stencil; they’re not perfect but what is…), and arranged it on the canvas in an order I liked.  Then I mod-podged each circle on, and covered it with a final layer of mod-podge.  Next time I will paint the canvas first but I didn’t have any paint this time around!

I wanted to make something using the images from the Rider-Waite Tarot card deck because I love them.  So, I used Google Images and printed out some of my favorite.  I didn’t know what to put them on, but I decided on a cross since 1) I like crosses and 2) that would be sweet combining the pagan imagery with a traditional Christian symbol.  I don’t recommend decoupaging over printed images as they kind of fade, but this worked out ok.  I made the cross out of an old cardboard box I had, and I like that it is imperfect.

This is my cardboard E:

And, a picture frame (the pic is hidden to respect my mate’s privacy):

So I’m on a decoupaging tear!  This is my next project– I already found an awesome window at an antique store for $10.  There are so many great ideas I have and scouring Goodwill and Salvation Army for items to decoupage (mirrors, picture frames, small pieces of furniture, etc.) will ensure I keep this a low cost hobby!

Pet Peeve of the Day: When there is a line in the ladies room, and I go into the next available stall only to find there is no toilet paper.  The lady (bitch) who just came out knows I will be using that stall next… where’s the heads up??? 

Quote of the Day: “Be as sick as you want, just give me a goddamn bass line!” –Eric Cartman

I just want to give a BIG shout-out to my girl over at Bargain Briana because I’m so excited about what I have learned!  I used to absolutely hate CVS because I never got over the whole Osco becoming CVS thing.  But she has taught me the money-saving (and sometimes money-earning) ways of CVS.  Whether you have a job or not, saving money is truly awesome.  Thanks to her site, I got 3 boxes of cereal, 2 Colgate toothpastes, 3 Clean & Clear products, 4 Febreeze products, and 2 CoverGirl products at CVS for $24!  With a little time and know how, you can do the same!  A tutorial is here.

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Biggie and I met an awesome Vietnam Vet at Summerfest named Cas.  He was obsessed with this song… Legendary.

Pet Peeve of the Day: The smell of paint

Quote of the Day: “If you saw 2 guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins the most?  I’d say Flippy, wouldn’t you?  You’d be wrong though.  It’s Hambone.” –Jack Handy

Summerfest in Milwaukee starts tomorrow!  I went last year for the first time and it was awesome!  I can’t wait to go again this year.  If you have never been, I highly suggest you try and make it out for at least a day.  It runs 6/25 to 7/5.  Here are some highlights:

Marcus Monroe.  My favorite juggler.  His show is on the main strip area at the main entrance.  They are usually every hour or so.  Do not miss this!!  Unfortunately it looks like I will be missing him this year as his website only lists him as being there until 7/1.  I’m going after that.  Not cool.

Adult tickets range from $8 to $15 depending on when you go.  Perfect price for these recessionary times!

For that admission price, you can see any of the following: The BoDeans, Better than Ezra, Blues Traveler, Lupe Fiasco, Heart, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Wailers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Roots, Huey Lewis and The News, plus many other bands that may possibly become your new favorite!

For an additional price, you can catch these acts at the Marcus Ampitheater which is located at the very end of the Summerfest grounds: Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Kiss, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney (you can guess who I’m going to see!), The Fray, and Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyrd.  (Some of these may be sold out).

Aside from the music, there is plenty else to do: watch a strongmen competition, ride the Sky Glider that goes across the main drag of the festival, take a break from beer and drink a martini at Jo Jo’s, browse the marketplace for an awesome t-shirt or an ankle bracelet, and of course there is also the obligatory people watching (it’s GOOD up there in the Wisconsin heartland let me tell you!)  Also, you will not go hungry here.  There is sooooo much food, from BBQ to Pizza, Burgers to Shish-Kabobs.  It’s a couple cuts above your regular fair food but don’t worry, the standbys such as corn on the cob and funnel cakes are also available.  I don’t know what the prices are this year, but from what I recall last year, the beer and food were not as expensive as you would imagine; it all seemed very reasonably priced.

So really, you have no excuse NOT to go to Summerfest.  Unless you live really far away I guess.  I like to take the Amtrak there from Chicago instead of dealing with all the traffic on the way to Milwaukee.  If you wanted to just go for a day (since hotels are sold out) and plan on drinking, Amtrak is the way to go!  They run trains to and from Milwaukee/Chicago all day.  Plus, who doesn’t love a good old fashioned train ride?!  For more information about Summerfest, go here: http://www.summerfest.com.

Pet Peeve of the Day: Humidity

Quote of the Day: “Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and no one got scared.” –Jack Handy

Three of my favorite things in this world are cameos, covers, and Tom Petty.  Kenny Chesney hit that trifecta this past weekend, leading me to avow that that was the best concert I have ever been to.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because the awesomeness really started 24 hours before the show.  Biggie and I went to the Cubs game on Friday afternoon and I mentioned beforehand how awesome it would be if Chesney was the “guest coductor” for the 7th inning stretch.  Turns out… he was!  Check.  Then, the guy sitting next to me who is convinced my name is Elsie (pretty much everyone out there thinks that’s my name…sweet) told us that Chesney’s tour bus was parked in Wrigleyville.  Biggie and I decided to make it our mission to find what bar Chesney was partying at after the game.

His bus was parked outside the Wild Hare.  A quick sweep of that bar, and no Chesney.  So despite out morals, we ventured into Sluggers, Cubby Bear, and Murphy’s.  No Chesney.  But I did take a picture of me with his tour bus and I opened the door to it but unfortunately Biggie stopped me from walking onto it.  Which is probably for the better, because I certainly didn’t want to spend Saturday night in the clink. 

It was spent instead, at Soldier Field!  There were a whole bunch of bands playing before him so we just tailgated in the parking lot until a little before Chesney went on.  The crowd provided some excellent people watching– it was definitely a diverse group, lots of young people.  Suburban. 

So we eventually made our way into the show.  From the moment Chesney took the stage (via a little chair lift thing that hovered above the crowd), he rocked all night.  He played all the jams, and it was super high energy and exciting.  Plus, from the seats we had, we were able to see Navy Pier’s weekly firework show during Chesney’s set. 

So, as to the cameo– Ryan Dempster came on during “Back Where I Come From.”  Legendary.  You could tell there were a lot of Sox fans in the stadium…  I think their inferiority complex was taken to a new level at that moment.

The covers– Chesney left before the encore for maybe 2 seconds.  He came back and played the Eagles “Take it Easy,” SMB’s “The Joker” (did not smell any pot the whole time during this show… go figure…) Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”!!!  Marley’s “Three Little Birds”  and Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good.”  I should note that a lot of the fans had no idea what these songs were, which was pretty weak. 

But all in all, it was an awesome show, an awesome Chesney filled weekend.  If you want to have as awesome time as I did, step one would be to start listening to some Chesney.  May I suggest: “When the Sun Goes Down” “Beer in Mexico” “I Go Back” “Young” “Back Where I Come From.” Just pick up “Kenny Chesney LIVE!” and you’ll have everything you need to be awesome on that CD.  Next up is Summerfest and I can’t wait to see him again.  If I were you I’d get your tickets ASAP.

(You’re welcome Nibbles).

Pet Peeve of the Day: My failure to get posts up

Quote of the Day: “Have no fear of perfection.  You’ll never reach it.” –Salvador Dali