Joys related to buying things. Shallow? Maybe... but when you examine what I've bought, it probably just makes me look like a nerdy jock. (Oxymoron?)
1. Running shoes. They will hopefully help my poor feet through training for a half-marathon and 10-mile obstacle course. In happy news, I am
easily hitting 2.5 miles (yes, a
small victory, but it is certainly a victory for me). In sad news, my shin splints are killing me this week. Back to the elliptical and bike it is. Someone motivate me to properly heat and ice my shins. Also, I need a lesson on how to wrap my feet. [Note to self: Remember to bring tape to school.]
2. Gloves + Headband. I love me some Tennessee seasons, but I am still so much a Florida girl (where our four seasons are hot, hotter, hottest and hurricane). Running in 40 degree weather is rough on the extremities. I'm excited to use my new gear when I can ditch the elliptical and bike once again.
3.
Fully Empowered by Pablo Neruda. I bought a bilingual version, which will help me practice my Spanish and my translation skills as I compare the English and Spanish. I was excited to find that I had no problem reading the Spanish versions and even enjoy them more. They are more musical. Originals are always better than copies, no?
Here's a glimpse from the poem "La palabra."
"y no hablar es morir entre los seres:
se hace lenguaje hasta la caballera,
habla la boca sin mover los labios:
los ojos de repente son palabras."
4.
The Last Train to Memphis by Peter Guralnick. Peter was one of my favorite professors in undergrad. I learned a lot about non-fiction creative writing in the two semesters I took his class... including the fact that biography is
such a fascinating genre. It is interesting to see how author biases factor into "non-fiction" writing. That's what makes it "creative." For example, I am sure whatever biography I would ever write about Elvis (of course, it is unlikely this will ever happen) would be so different from what Peter has written. I am excited to read his work and wish I had done so sooner. Better late than never, though?
5.
All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. This is really forward-looking, mainly because I am very excited about reading this book. I've heard wonderful things about it, and it's been sitting on my mental "To Read" list for the past few years. [*Note: There are about a million books on my "To Read" list... and that may be a conservative estimate. Le sigh... English major.] Dear fellow Legit Lit friends, how do we feel about having this on the group's "To Read" list next semester?
6.
Living L'Arche by Kevin Reimer. L'Arche is an international organization that was founded by Jean Vanier in 1964. It is a network of communities for people with intellectual disabilities and those who volunteer to live with and assist them. From the synopsis of the book: "This book shows that compassionate love involves work, and risk, and commitment, but offers the possibility of transformation." I've been wanting to learn more about the L'Arche communities ever since I first heard about them last year. My younger sister (a.k.a. my favorite person in the world) has Down Syndrome and stories like this especially touch my heart.
So, if you would like to judge me on my purchases, feel free. But remember... English major.
