Read a Book.

While the markets were falling and I was supposed to be shopping around online for a birthday gift, I started looking for books for myself. The mind wanders when you don't want to think of your dwindling retirement accounts. Maybe I don't want to admit the hit my money's taken. So instead of retiring in 30 years, I'll retire in 40. What's another decade of toil? Ugh. I guess I'm supposed to say, "At least I have my health. My youth."

So my shipment arrived and all the books I bought were used this time. It just felt right. They are all in very good condition, so why not? The cookbook had an inscription in it, which delighted me more than it would bother another person. It was a good experience not buying from a gargantuan corporation for once. It felt good trusting the little company to send me something quality at a fraction of the usual cost.

My order included the newest Sedaris book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames. I began reading it already and I'm not disappointed to discover that I've read a few from this collection of essays in the past. It's inevitable if you have more than a passing knowledge of Sedaris' work. If you pick up the New Yorker from time to time, listen to This American Life and read The Best of American collections, no doubt you have seen some of these before. I didn't mind it because it was kind of a relief for me. For one thing, I can finally let those old New Yorkers go into the recycling bin. Also, it's been awhile since I picked up a book; I do so much of my reading online now. It's easier and faster to read newspapers and magazines online, but I've also begun reading books online too. I dig the convenience but it's putting a big strain on my eyes. I forgot how nice it is to read a book before going to bed instead of watching late night television or a DVD I've seen a million times. Inexpensive entertainments are what I'm into now. It's forcing me to be a little more creative in how I spend my time which is good because the last thing I'd want to do is go to a...well, anywhere you would buy something. It is depressing watching other Americans having to make tough decisions about what they can afford to spend their money on or--and I think this is nearly as bad--people using their money foolishly on things they don't need.

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It took a long time the last time I had to buy a loaf of bread. I stared at my choices. All the cheaper loaves were the over-processed junk food ones. Anything remotely healthy (wheat, whole grain, multi-grain, etc) were well over $4 and as much as $5. I blurted out to no one and everyone and the breads and any employees within earshot, "You are killing me. Who can afford this?" A middle aged white lady standing in the aisle that I didn't notice earlier said that she was also struggling with these choices.