It's Getting Real (+ books)

Proof that it's getting real:

(1)  I paid my tuition for the Spring semester.  I guess I have to actually go to class and write papers and try to embed myself into the English department so they'll hire me to teach undergrad classes next semester.  So that bunny mama can get a paycheck and afford to like, eat.

Someone pass me the fire water to put in my coffee.

Source

G and I are trekking to campus today to make sure I know where my class is this week.  Turns out I'm not nearly as familiar with campus when I'm not living on it!

(2)  One thing I'm looking forward to about my job at the K-8 school is being able to move around all day.  Goodbye, desk!  Adios, computer!  Phone con?  What's that?  In preparation for all that movement, I've ditched my work skirts and headed to good ole Ross to buy some slacks.  Gotta love a place where you can get a nice pair of pants for like $9.

See those cuff bracelets?  That's my fantastic find from the Stock Show yesterday.  It occurs to me that covering up the tattoo from little eyes is a good idea.  I hate bracelets and probably should have thought about that before getting the tattoo but you only live once and all that.

(3)  I also met with our accountant in order to get ahead of all of these upcoming financial changes.  Are rabbits deductable?  How about the mileage to and from hiking places on the weekends?  That sort of thing.  I even brought my own paper bag to breathe into during the appointment.

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And now for what is quite possibly the last of the frequent books reviews.  School starts this week and I'm not quite sure how the ole "spare time" concept is going to pan out at DaWrighthouse.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Yet another fantastic John Green book, Looking for Alaska.  This is the story of high-schooler, "Pudge," who leaves his Florida hometown to attend a private high school in Alabama, in search of The Great Perhaps.  He finds it, and tons of adventure, in his new roommate and their feisty female friend, Alaska Young.  This is a pseudo coming of age tale, full of sardonic humor, high school pranks, and life lessons.

I have recommended John Green before, and I think you should read this one as well.  This one is also an award winner in young adult literature.  But I just have to say one thing.  Apparently this book is on many high school reading lists and I understand why.  It is written very well and raises many questions about life, our purpose, what kind of person to be, how to face (and overcome) challenges, etc.  But - and I'm going to sound like a prude here - there is one sexual scene that would have burned out my eyeballs as a high school student.  I simply cannot imagine a bunch of 16-year olds discussing this with their teacher.

I think John Green is a superb writer and I'm in the process of getting his other works that I haven't read.  His books are very appropriate for young readers and the unique challenges they face as they leave childhood behind and become adults.  That said, you read them first, then decide if you want the youngsters in your life exposed to this stuff yet...or if they should wait a couple of years.

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve

Have you read any Anita Shreve books?  Apparently she has published several.  I've been holding on to The Pilot's Wife for years now, and recently felt like reading it.  (I make decisions about what book to read based solely on what I'm in the mood for at that point in time.  I'm wondering how this is going to play out in school, what with assigned homework and such.)  It's the tale of a woman who learns that her husband's international flight exploded.  As she comes to terms with her feelings, and tries to hold her family together, new facts reveal themselves causing her to question how well we ever know anyone, particularly those closest to us.

I would recommend this book for sure; it is a page turner and has me wanting to read more stuff by Shreve.  Any recommendations?

P.S. Don't read it on a plane.  Just sayin'.