I’ve recently done several things with my books — first, I ordered a few books I’ve been interested in reading (in spite of the dozens of books I have and have not yet read).  Also, I rearranged the books in the house to have rough categories.  I am hoping that makes finding a particular book I want to read easier to find, which is should.  Lastly, I unpacked two boxes of books I had stored away for a while and I intend to unpack all books from boxes over the coming weeks.  I’ve always had a large number of books, but it’s time to purge a few of those.  Purging is always a nice feeling, so I’m not anticipating any problems exactly.  If pushed, I could let go of at least half of the books I currently have out on shelves, so I shouldn’t even be terribly pressed for space.

Here are a few books I’m excited to start reading.  Some of these are new to me & some are books I’ve had for years and I just haven’t gotten around to reading yet.

Memoirs

These are some newer memoirs I’ve been excited to get into.  Even though I rarely keep up with celebrities, I do enjoy a good celebrity memoir.  Jim Grimsley is one of my favorite authors, and I’m very excited that he has released a memoir.  The subject is pretty heavy, but necessarily so.

Fiction

I have such an extremely long list of fiction books I want to read, but these are sort of queued up as the next ones on the list.  I have read books by Graham Rawle and Bob Smith before, but the other authors are all new to me.  I hope for some good things.

Novels by Raymond Queneau

I’ve really enjoyed the Raymond Queneau books I have read in the past, and I have a few others to try.

Poetry

Since I’ve been working on my own poetry, I’ve been into reading poetry more than normal.  I’ve read some pretty interesting stuff so far; these are the next three on my list

Two things have been bugging me for the past few days. First, Lori. Yes, I know — this drama is tired and I need to stop dwelling on it. In an effort to make clear what I feel, I have posted the lyrics to both of my “Lori songs” (both by Scissor Sisters). The first, Mary, is the way I felt when Lori was still around. It was the relationship we had. I miss that time. The second, Almost Sorry, is the way I feel about Lori now. It is darker and cynical and fairly accurate about the anger I have built up.

The other thing bugging me is the death of the real Mary (from the song). Having never known the woman, hearing that she died was very sad to me.

Mary

I love the tone that’s in your laugh
Gasping for an extra breath
Waiting for the time to pass
I believe in days ahead
Don’t spend another night alone
Cross and wishing you were dead.

Mary, you shouldn’t let them make you mad
You hold the best you can
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I’m always gonna live to be your man.

I’ve had it easy now you see
When I’m down you’re always there
Standing by to comfort me
Someday we’ll go round the world
I’ll make the journey so sublime
I know you’re not a travelin’ girl.

Mary, you shouldn’t let ’em make you mad
You hold the best you can
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I’m always gonna live to be your man.

Cause I’d give everything I have
Forget all the things that bring me joy
If you could have one day of
Pure and simple happiness
Until that moment comes
I’ll be here where I’ve always been
I’m gonna be your friend
Until the day I die.

Mary, you shouldn’t let ’em make you mad
You hold the best you can
And Mary, after all the pain is gone
I’m always gonna live to be your man.

Almost Sorry

if anyone was headed for the gates of hell i knew you’d be first
i used to picture your obituary and i wished you the worst
the danger of the playground
the radio said you drowned
and i’m sorry
almost
almost sorry

no sympathy is given to the perpetrator charged with the crime
im willing to admit that it feels good to be a victim sometimes
and i wont ever get to thank you for the terrible things you said
’cause i’m sorry
almost
that you’re dead to the world
where i hoped you would be
never imagined you’d live on in me
you gave me destination but i paid for the ride
the place you punched my ticket left a crater inside
where i cried (he cried)
where i cried (you died)

where i cried from the bruises
learned to live with the scars
now you live in the mirror
when i look there you are
you’re the shadow on the faces of the people i meet
have you claimed eternal shotgun in my passenger seat
well i’m sorry
almost
almost sorry

sometimes the best design is done by damage
the accident can cease
the rainbow still looks pretty when it bleeds

Featured Image Art: illustration of a Faerie Kacheek (Neopets)

Still Awake!
I cannot sleep and I feel like crap. I think I am getting a cold. THIS SUCKS. I didn’t leave my house at all yesterday thinking that might help. It did not. Now, I missed all the rain yesterday and I am still sick. Blah. One of these days my body will work correctly.

Music Recommendations For Meghan:
Elgin Park : Elgin Park
Jude : No One Is Really Beautiful
Jude : King Of Yesterday
Scissor Sisters : Scissor Sisters
Rufus Wainwright : Want One
Wheat : per second, per second, per second…every second
Fuck : Cupid’s Cactus
The Triplets Of Belleville soundtrack
Jim White : No Such Place
Blur : Best Of

Featured Image Art: Sanrio character Badtz-Maru

originally posted on Xanga

Music:
Since I love music so much, let me share my top tens with you all… sorry if this is boring. I will have stuff going on in my life soon!

Top Ten Albums (current)
1. Scissor Sisters : Scissor Sisters
2. Keane : Hopes And Fears
3. Lisa Loeb : The Way It Really Is
4. Peplab : Drive
5. Jem : Finally Woken
6. Wheat : per second, per second, per second… every second
7. Madonna : Ray Of Light
8. Robbie Williams : Sing When You’re Winning
9. Jude : No One Is Really Beautiful
10. Reindeer Section : Y’all Get Scared Now, Ya Hear!

Top Ten Songs
1. Take Your Mama : Scissor Sisters
2. Pornstar : Peplab
3. Now I Understand : Lisa Loeb
4. Angels : Robbie Williams
5. 24 : Jem
6. Comfortably Numb : Scissor Sisters
7. Nothing Really Matters : Madonna
8. Slow : Kylie Minogue
9. Laura : Scissor Sisters
10. Amazing : George Michael

Top Ten Artists (all time)
1. Madonna
2. Robbie Williams
3. k.d. Lang
4. Duncan Sheik
5. Jude
6. Scissor Sisters
7. George Michael
8. Dixie Chicks
9. They Might Be Giants
10. Cher

Featured Image Art: album covers

originally posted on Xanga