I was listening to Hillary Clinton's interview on Sunday's Meet the Press and when she said that she does not see it in her future to be president in 2012 (and probably ever), what did I do?

I started to cry.

And I am really, really, really undecided about whether or not I've quit the show. I have very little desire to see what happens, barring a small inkling of curiosity. I just... harummph. Not sure if Jack, Ianto, and Gwen alone will hold my interest...

I'll probably wind up checking it out because I'm weak-willed.

BUT! I have gone through Mansfield Park a second time, and I liked it more than the first. I must say, so many people don't like Fanny Price, but I do. I get her. She's shy. She's timid. She's pretty much afraid of people and of being noticed. There's nothing wrong with that. Yes, she can be a little annoyingly perfect and self-righteous, but that doesn't bother me.

Who bothers me is Edmund Bertram. Ugh. What an insufferable, righteous, dolt. He takes so much pride in doing good and judging those whose character he deems poor, yet he treats Fanny pretty shitty throughout the book. Ugh. So my least favorite Austen hero. Mr. Knightley gets shit for being about his lectures and whatnot, but Edmund Bertram definitely is way worse in MY book.

And I wish Fanny and Henry Crawford had worked it out. I think they would have been good for each other. Mr. Crawford would have treated Fanny like a queen, and she was such a good influence on his bad-boy self. Plus, they're sex life would have been AMAZING. No way are Fanny and Edmund having fulfiilling sex. No way. He's way moral for that kind of fun stuff.

Please let me know ahead of time the next time you need to drastically reduce my water pressure. This way, I might be able to plan my showers according to your schedule.

Also, could you not block both entrances to our parking lot? Thanks.

Much Obliged,

Teresa

P.S. Please stop breaking my internet too.

I finally finished Little Dorrit. I started watching it with fervor a couple of months ago, and then on episode 13 (out of 14), I stopped. There was no particular reason for it; I just suddenly lacked the motivation to finish it up.

Tonight was the night that I decided to finally conquer the final hour and a half of it, and I'm so glad that I did.

Finally all the questions about Little Dorrit and Mr. Clenham and the creepy French dude and everyone else was answered, and it was a happy ending to boot!

I still can't decide whether or not I like Dickens and his stories--I'm resolved to actually read him this year. Yes, I will conquer a Dickens book. I did very much enjoy this story though, and perhaps my next costume drama will be more Dickens. Perhaps Our Mutual Friend...

Where the fuck is my Meet the Press audio download?

Many thanks,

Teresa

And I've only read 14 books thus far. My goal is 50, so I really better get cracking. I mean, 14 isn't so bad and there are some pretty lengthy ones in there, but I would really like to hit 50.

 I have been counting audiobooks because I don't think there is anything wrong with taking in books in such a manner, and I am also allowing rereads of certain books. Reading is reading, eh? Though I've only had 2 rereads, and one of them was A Wrinkle in Time, which I hadn't read since 6th grade and about which I remembered very little, so I don't think that really counts.

This is all my way of musing over the need to get cracking and reading (I make it sound like a chore, but I really do love it), but am lacking in motivation to actually do so.

Tonight, do I scour the internet in search of stream for WEC 41, OR do I plop in front of the TV and watch Neil Patrick Harris host the Tony Awards?

I am very seriously conflicted about this. On the one hand: Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown!

On the other: NPH!!

But... Violence!

And yet... Singing! and Dancing!

I'm pretty sure that I just might be one of the few individuals conflicted by this choice tonight.

I was always told that I would become more conservative as I grew older, but it seems to me that I keep leaner further the the left as time goes by. I'm pretty much okay with being a bleeding heart, which is a label at which I used to shudder.

"Anndd wee mussttn'tt looose ourr sensses of humorr," Mrs. Which said. "Thee onnlly wway ttoo ccope withh ssometthingg ddeadly sseriouss iss ttoo ttry ttoo trreatt itt a llittlle lligghtly."

Madelein L'Engle
A Wrinkle in Time

Depsite the odd spelling of Mrs. Which's odd way of speaking, this quote sums up the philosphy by which I live much of my life.

My arms are exhausted. I worked them out so hard that I had difficultly exerting any actual control over them today--especially in the shower. Washing my hair was a hell of a task and I lifting my razor was nothing short of a mighty feat. I was seriously concerned about my losing control and severely cutting my armpit all to hell. Needless to say (but I'm gonna say it anyway), I did not shave my bikini line.

Do nuns get excited about having a good sex dream, or do they just get all depressed about what they're missing out on?

Also, do nuns have sex dreams?

Sorry. That has been building up the entire month of May. I think it's passed now (I hope).

What the fuck exactly is the difference between a "marriage" and a "civil union" in the eyes of the government?

Thank you.

I have never gone head-over-handlebars until today. My lovely older brother kindly replaced the rear inner tube on my bike today, I gladly accompanied he and Carmen on a bike ride. I also introduced Neville to the concept of running along beside the bike. Boy, he seemed to love it!

Well, at one point I wanted Neville to slow down because he was just so gung-ho! We were going down a hill and my rear brake hand was occupied by his leash. So I hit my front brakes only, and I hit them much to hard.

I felt myself heading over my handlebars. It was like it was happening in slow-motion, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. Next thing I know, I'm sprawled out on the ground, my ankle twisted among my bike with a couple of skunned up hands. I got up, brushed myself off, and (naturally) checked to see if anyone saw my moment of grace. Nobody did, as Carmen and Big Brother had gone ahead on a detour of a couldesac, and only came back to see me all scarred up.

Big Brother laughed and laughed and laughed and declared his great disappointment at having missed the sight.

Personally, I'm just glad that I finally didn't break a fall with my face. Couple this with the fact that nobody saw my wipeout, and I actually consider it a win of a situation.

Yep. My tiny town has become home to the very first case of swine flu in Minnesota. Now we are being bombarded by reporters. The middle school is shut down because the girl who has it is a student there. So now on all the street corners there are camera people and reporters and young children on bikes. It's very odd.

I went to the bakery today for no real reason, other than I'm a fatty who was craving some delicious glazed doughnuts. Inside was a lady with a camera talking to the lady behind the counter. Then, when it was my turn to order fromt eh lady behind the counter, she started filming me! I had no makeup on. My hair was still wet from the shower. I was buying a bunch of fattening, albeit delicious, goods. None of this is relevant to swine flu. Yet, I have a horrid feeling that I'm going to wind up on the news tonight. Arrgh.

It's nowhere near the circus in town as back in 2003 during the school shooting, but still. GTFO.

And I wish the middle schoolers would stay home and quit spreading their swine flu germs all over town.

My puppy is the greatest puppy in the history of puppies.

We went to the dog park today, and though there was only one other dog there, Neville ran around with a look of pure joy on his face. He let the Golden Retriever sniff his butt and did his best to goad the bigger dog into playing with him. He sniffed all the smells and didn't eat any of the rogue poop that some irresponsible owner didn't pick up. When he was following the other dog to the other end of the park, he routinely stopped for a moment to check and see where I was at. When I called for him, he RAN right back to me.

He is now all exhausted and worn out. What a sweetheart my puppy is!

So Kristin Chenoweth's autobiography is out today. So is Tamora Pierce's new book. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies came out last week. All books that I want to own and read right now! I can't afford to buy three brand new books. Sigh.

Plus I have about a hundred books to finish as is. But, but... Cheno! Tammy! Mr. Darcy! Zombies!

A trip to Barnes and Noble may be in order...