Dead tired and delirious

It's my day off today so I finally have the chance to do things I used to do daily like check my mail, my blogs, do laundry and visit my grandmother. It's simply mind-boggling how little time or should I say energy, you have to do these simple and mundane things when you work. Maybe it's just me (and it probably will be) but the past few days have been the most exhausting and frustrating of my short and uneventful life making me wish that my dull and carefree pre-work existence could go on forever. Oh, how I miss waking up and having no clue what to do for the next 16 hours. For those who still have this lifestyle, cherish it even though it may seem boring now.

Anyway it's been a very tough week, physically and emotionally. Besides having a few minor breakdowns, I've also been run off my feet. The job basically entails walking around for 8 hours a day either pushing carts, unpacking or doing heavy lifting which I'm not used to. A lot of idiotic (for lack of a better word) tasks pop up that I really wasn't expecting like checking the labels on every single book and I do mean every single one to check if there's a G on there somewhere which means I have to type it into the computer so other branches know we've got too much stock.

Naturally seeing as I don't know the inns and outs yet, they're giving me as little responsibility as possible and are making me run around the shop all day in order to get familiar with it but stimulating or even interesting it sure as hell ain't. Luckily this means I don't have to help a lot with the cash register as we are already got off to a rocky start. Damn you technology! I'm just hoping it'll become fun or even remotely satisfying soon.

At least now I've got the time to reboot and as silly as it sounds, catch up on some reading 'cause every night I come home, eat and go to bed. Each attempt I've made to read this week ended up with me staring, literally staring at a page for 15 minutes. I'm that tired. And it's about time I finish Norwegian Wood. New Moon has also finally arrived and I'm dying to get my teeth into it but I've also got my book club book (As I lay Dying) to start and finish before next weekend. So many books so little time...

Drama queen

Although there's always music playing on the background, I rarely listen to it. For some reason it's really hard for music to capture my full attention, the fact that I'm tone deaf might have something to do with it. If it doesn't have a distinct beat or melody I simply don't register it. The only way for me to recognize a song is through the lyrics seeing as music to me and I know I shouldn't say this is often just noise. This is especially embarrassing when your sweetheart is playing you a few songs on his guitar and you have to try your darndest to actually hear the difference but three plus years later I'm staring to get a hang of it.

Now don't get me wrong I love music but I'm just a little challenged in that area. This is also why I like my music either upbeat or very dramatic. I have to admit that I'm a drama queen in everything but I just love songs that slowly built up to an explosive gut-wrenching climax. Now there's something to hold on to. I also love slow melodic music, especially when I'm reading seeing as it calms me down and isn't that intrusive but that just justifies my point that unless it's "in your face" I can't make heads or tails of it. Sad but true.

Now a couple of weeks ago I was playing Bejeweled on my pumpkin's laptop (I still haven't kicked the habit) while his Itunes was on and suddenly, despite my focused state, a song sippled through that wasn't really that catchy but it had a distinct melody: Girl in the War by Josh Ritter.



I immediately had to have it so I copied it and a few other of Ritter's songs onto my Ipod. Amongst them was a song that I now listen to about 10 times a day and baring in mind that it also lasts 10 minutes means that for at least 100 minutes a day I am utterly swept away by the amazing lyrics and simple yet breathtaking dramatic sound of Thin Blue Flame. Seeing as music seldom has this effect on me, I just had to share it.

Buying my little heart out

Now that I am officially employed, the fun can really start. Tomorrow will be my first day on the job and will probably be a busy one seeing as I've got a lot to learn. I finally know what my departments are going to be and I've already started doing some research, foolishly thinking I'd never have to do homework again.

The biggest section will be fiction which I'm pretty excited about. I'll have to create their selection which alas has to 80% bestsellers (Khaled Hosseini, Nicci French,... that sort of thing) but I can fill up the other 20% to my own "commercial" liking. Sadly but even more shockingly it seems that I don't know a lot about Dutch literature so I'm going to have to brush up on that.

The second biggest section is a genre I don't know anything about (aren't I perfect for the job?) seeing as it isn't exactly my cup of tea but it's very popular, namely crime fiction. So OK, I've read Dan Brown and I vaguely recall reading a Grisham book long, long ago but that's as far as it goes. I'll probably spend the rest of the day Googling crime authors just to know who's hot and what to order. It's a challenge since I don't really know where to begin but who knows, I might even (god forbid) start to like the genre.

My third section will be cooking. Seeing as I really started to get into cooking and Nigella Lawson last year, I think this could be fun. I am going to make it my mission to offer a broad and tasty range of culinary delights that go far beyond the infamous S.O.S. Piet.

My final section is a mish mash of a few different genres that were too poorly represented to each have their own nook namely arts and culture, how sad is that? This wall basically contains everything ranging from art (in it's widest sense), lifestyle, interior design, history and even biography making it an even bigger challenge than crime fiction as my knowledge of these subjects is somewhere between basic and none existent.

That's about it I guess, come tomorrow I'll by buying the books (I'm actually getting paid to buy, hurray!), trying to sell them by creating colorful displays and advising customers and finally if things get really busy I'll have to assist on the cash register which I'm kinda dreading.

For now, I'm going to enjoy my last free day by sitting back and doing some much needed Googling.

Jitters

The past few days have been pretty hectic meaning I had a lot of paper work to sort out and I did a lot of waiting. It's like I've transformed into an "adult" overnight which is pretty accurate really seeing as getting a job is the most responsible thing I've ever had to do. And since this evening I'm also (officially) co-inhabiting with my sweetheart. There's no denying it, I've got the paper to prove it.

Tomorrow I'm going to sign my contract and will finally find out what I'll be doing for the better part of my days. Besides being excited I'm also really nervous and dreading the fact that this weekend will be my final real weekend of the year. But I'm going to start my day off tomorrow by going to the bank to change my account and to get insured for all kinds of obligatory things like fire and accidents apparently. I'll also have some healthcare issues to figure out and more insurances to commit to and finally I will be closing my pre-marital savings account (don't ask) seeing as I've just entered in the biggest commitment I'm capable of.

Basically my final days of freedom have been pretty dull which is a shame really because I've got this voice in the back of my head that's yelling I should enjoy myself while I still can (and while I'm still young) but somehow I'm not quite registering it. Instead of making the most of my last days I'm already regretting that I haven't. Suggestions? Anyone?

It hasn't been all bad though. This week I bought my very first lunchbox amongst other lunch related items. It's strange but I've never really had one but seeing as I'll be gone for 12 hours a day I'm gonna need a lot of food. What can I say, I love to eat.

Queen of f***ing everything

I don't know if you've ever noticed the images on the left hand side of The City but I simply adore those vintage pictures with snazzy, bold and funny slogans hence my love for Anne Taintor objects. Not only did I get a beautiful card with one of her sayings on it but my sweetheart also got me a wonderful coffee mug with my latest image which I'm dying to share.
Bare in mind, seeing as he got it for me, it's his opinion not mine as I'd never be so blatant about it ;)

Challenges

I was making a list today, writing down everyone I had to contact to inform that I am now employed: health care, union (yes people, I joined a union), unemployment office,... If that wasn't already bad enough, I'm also going to change my address again meaning I've got to contact my bank, post office, insurances, everyone who still sends me mail,... and last but not least my internet shopping accounts, very important.

My last week of "freedom" will probably be spent getting all kinds of papers and documents in order which is a very daunting task. I will have to start paying bills which besides my cellphone and Visa I'm not really used to. I've already asked my mother to make a list with all the bills you'd normally get and all the different kinds of insurance that I'd have to take and apparently there are a lot of them. Challenging prospects indeed.

Speaking of challenges I've decided to enter a few reading challenges online. I've been blogging for a year and a half now but I have to confess that I don't follow a lot of blogs myself. One of my new year's resolutions was to do so and I've noticed that a lot of blogs about books and literature frequently have these challenges where you read a certain amount of books of a particular genre, length, author,... and blog about them. Sometimes, there are even prizes to be won. So seeing as I want to become a more "rounded" blogger, I've enlisted in the Graphic Novels Challenge and Feelin' Chunky to begin with.

The Graphic Novels Challenge especially caught my eye seeing as it is a genre that (thanks to my pumpkin) is really starting to tickle my fancy. I've already read one, Black Hole, this year which was rather good and for my birthday I got a graphic novel that has received nothing but praise and prizes since it's publication in 2003, namely Blankets by Craig Thompson. I only started reading yesterday but I have to say that this simple coming of age story (the author's memoir actually) is already heart-breakingly beautiful. The multitude of drawings are magnificent and the story is tender and painfully honest making my levels of compassion reach new heights. I can't wait to read what happens next.

Sadly, I didn't finish The White Tiger although it wasn't bad, I just wasn't in the mood. Although it's becoming more and more distant, Twilight is still a lingering memory that still hasn't arrived!

27, a new era has begun

I had a lot to celebrate this weekend. Firstly, I turned 27 yesterday and secondly, I was offered a job on Friday. After almost seven months of rejection and self pity, my journey towards employment has come to an end. It still hasn't fully sunk in yet but it will probably all become very real when I sign my contract this week. I'm not 100% sure of what the job (creating the selection, displays,...) actually entails but it's a start and I'm working with books so overall I'm very pleased and just a little scared seeing as a frustrating phase in my life is coming to an end and I'll be embarking on a scary new territory. In other words, I will finally have grown up.

Nervous wreck

I spent some quality time with my mother today who insisted on seeing Australia at the cinema so she, accompanied by a couple of dozen women, could gush over Hugh Jackman who simply can't keep his shirt on. That being said, if I looked like that I wouldn't keep it on either. Overall the movie wasn't bad, just a tad too long. 3 + hours apparently exceeds my attention span.

Anyway, I was actually hoping to start in New Moon today (the Twilight sequel) which was going to arrive any day now. I decided not to read anything new after finishing Black Hole (interesting, entertaining, beautifully drawn yet confusing graphic novel by Charles Burns) yesterday because I knew I would throw this book aside as soon as I got my clutches on New Moon. However, my mother did bring an exciting booksized package with her this afternoon but alas, no such luck. Well, yes and no actually. It contained Eclipse, part three of the series. What are the odds? Anyway, seeing as it will take a few days before I get the next batch of mail I reluctantly decided to give The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga a try. It won the Man Booker Prize last year so how bad can it be, right?

I just need as much distraction as I can get seeing as I'm really nervous about tomorrow, my third interview with the bookstore. They keep calling me back so that's a good sign but nobody has actually said I've got the job so... anything's possible. I just hope they don't call me back a fourth time 'cause that would be just ridiculous. That being said, fingers crossed.

Coraline

Last night I sat down on the couch, covered myself with a blanket and read Neil Gaiman's Coraline from cover to cover while sipping a cup of mint tea. It's my second Gaiman book but I got it for Christmas and was in a rather fantastical mood and seeing as my Twilight sequels haven't arrived yet I decided to give this a go. And I'm very pleased I did.

Last year I read Neverwhere which introduced me to Gaiman's deceptively simple style in which he creates spellbinding worlds and truly engaging characters. He is very original when it comes to making alternate universes but storywise I found him lacking. I've never been a fan of fantastic fiction but for some reason I am intrigued, especially seeing as every review I've read of his books was full of praise.

I guess Stardust is probably the most popular book that he has written seeing it was also turned into a fun and freaky movie a few years ago starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro and Claire Danes. Those who are familiar with his work will probably love him for his epic comic, The Sandman.

So last night I decided to give Coraline a go. It's a children's book but not quite aimed at children if you get my drift seeing as it does get rather scary at times. The book tells the truly captivating tale of Coraline, a young girl who has just moved with her parents into a big old house where she finds a rather peculiar door. Behind it is a portal to... her own house. Yet when she enters it, nothing is as she remembers. Cats talk, rats are spies , the worlds ends at the back of the garden and her parents don't have eyes but buttons. So far so good, your typical fantastic children's fair but then it starts to get really freaky and oh so scary... I have to say I really loved the story. It wasn't what I was expecting seeing as I was a bit hesitant after Neverwhere but it was so entertaining and fascinating that I could not put it down. I'm definitely going to give Gaiman the benefit of the doubt. I'm actually dying to read his latest, The Graveyard Book...

I also can't wait to see the movie which sadly opens in November (for those who live in Belgium at least). It's a 3D stop motion picture directed by Henry Selick who also brought us The Nightmare Before Christmas which already says a lot about Coraline's look and content.

I like lame

I while back I confessed I was addicted to an incredibly simple yet satisfying game called Goldminer. I don't like playing computer games normally but this just kept me occupied for hours. Then Facebook came along and I noticed that I wasn't the only one playing simple and often stupid games.

A lot of people I know were playing Tetris, an equally addictive game I loved as a kid. I hadn't played it in fifteen years so I decided to give it a go. A few minutes later and I was hooked. I played for hours competing with friends and trying to get an even better score. It's embarrassing how serious I started to take it, especially if my pumpkin beat my score. I would literally run to the computer and try my best to crush him. After a while I even started getting a sore neck from sitting so focused for such a long time trying to get as many lines in as I could. But the ultimate low was that whenever I closed my eyes I simply saw bricks falling. I needed rehab and fast.

Now, I am proud to say that I kicked the Tetris bug but am slowly but surely slipping into a Bejeweled addiction. Two weeks ago I discovered that my sweetheart was playing this equally easy and far more intoxicating game where you just have to put three gemstones is a row, as much as you can in 1 minute. It may sound idiotic but I can't stop. I guess a new ailment or another game are my only hope.

Why movies make me want to read

When I was a little girl my grandparents used to tell me stories all the time and introduced me to colorful characters as my beloved Winnie the Pooh, Rupert Bear, Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear,... starting my life long love affair with literature. They also introduced me movies, the Hollywood classics to be precise which also instigated my blossoming affection for the motion picture.

However when puberty kicked in, I lost all interest in stories that took longer than 2 hours to unfold. Movies became the only fictional stimulant that interested me. I even vividly remember than whenever I had to do a book report I'd choose a book that had already been turned into a movie in order to avoid reading. This is the sad and shocking truth, I couldn't be bothered and this attitude progressed well into my early days at university. By then we had internet and I could just Google a summary so I didn't even have to watch the movie anymore. And suddenly after my first two years at UA (University of Antwerp of better yet "Unprecedented Agony") I became interested in books again, literally over night. I couldn't get enough of them. The stories, the authors, even the object just fascinated me.

Don't get me wrong, when I was a teenager I didn't avoid books altogether. It occasionally happened that whenever I really liked a movie, I'd be tempted to read the book in order to relive the movie. How weird is that? Most people usually start out with the book and than watch the movie, knowing it probably won't live up to the expectations created by the book. But no, not me. Movies have often inspired me to read and they still do. I also loved to watch BBC adaptations of the classics: Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Tom Jones, Great Expectations,... which afterwards also made me want to read the novels. If it wasn't for them, I'd probably have read very few classics despite my studies.

The point, I think I'm trying to make is, is that for me books and movies have always gone hand in hand and often really enrich each other. The same is true for Possession, the book I choose for our first book club meeting tomorrow. It was turned into a movie in 2002 starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart. I went to see it because I love Neill LaBute's work (Nurse Betty, The Shape of Things, In the Company of Men to name a few) and to tell you the truth I had never heard of the book before. Once again, I really liked the movie and went out to buy the book a few days later. For some reasons I never read it and probably never would have if it wasn't for the book club which would have been a shame because it was quite good. It wasn't an easy book as A.S. Byatt intertwines a contemporary and a Victorian literary romance into one intricate tale filled with prose, poetry and good old fashioned correspondence.

Another example is Twilight. As you all know I read the first book and thought it was OK, nothing to gush about but fairly entertaining. I saw the movie this week and absolutely loved it. Granted it's still a girly picture but they changed certain aspects creating not only more suspense but also some humor. And seeing as the movie only lasted two hours, the lovey dovey parts had to be toned down which was my major concern with the book. I even loved it so much that I ordered the sequels at once. I know, I didn't like the book but I'm dying to find out what happens to Edward and Bella thanks to the movie. I know, I'm strange.

My final example of why TV turns me to books is The Witches of Eastwick. This movie already dates back to 1987 but I really liked it when I was younger, although it's been a while since I've seen it. It was based on a book by John Updike, author of the entertaining Rabbit series and known as the "chronicler of suburban adultery". Oh, and he also won a Pulitzer Prize. I've haven't read that many of his books (only Villages and Couples) but I love his characters and storytelling. Anyway, seeing as I like his style and also loved The Witches of Eastwick (despite not having read the novel), I was very excited encounter his sequel: The Widows of Eastwick. Needless to say, I'm dying to find out what happened to Alexandra, Jane and Sukie...

Centennial celebration

I was actually planning on doing a post on Stephen Fry as I'm currently reading another one of his hilarious books but just as I was about to create that post I noticed that the next one I'd write would be my 100th! I can't believe that I've already written that many.

The Sumptuous City was born almost one and a half years ago as an experiment. A lot of people I knew where blogging and I decided to give it a go and see what all the fuss was about. During this time I've had some very productive periods and a few month long silences but overall I had a lot of fun. This blog has given me an excuse to talk about things I normally wouldn't seeing as my ramblings might seem irrelevant, to vent my frustration and share my hopes, dreams and interests with the world. I've come to realize that I really love to write and enjoy making these personal mini articles about things I care about. It may sound sad but The Sumptuous City has given me a certain sense of fulfillment that's been missing for a while. And that's why I'd like to thank my therapeutic little blog in this 100th post for simply being there. And of course you, my readers, I know there are a few out there.

Contemporary and inspirational love letters

When it comes to movies I have a lot of guilty pleasures and one of them is a film that (if you know me) I should hate with every fiber of my being. It's a movie that I've seen about 14 times, I guess, whenever I'm feeling blue because for some reason it not only makes be happy but also incredibly energetic and productive. The movie I'm talking about is 1998's You've got mail.

Firstly, it's a romantic comedy which isn't really my cup of tea and, it isn't even a very good one. It's cute and charming but it is not that romantic and I don't recall laughing even once and still it's an incredible feel good movie, if you're me that is.

Secondly it "stars" Tom Hanks who I basically loath. I know everyone loves him 'cause he's so darn like-able but that's exactly what makes me want to slap him. He has this all American good guy quality about him that just pisses me off. Even when he tries to be bad like in Road to Perdition, he still comes off as nice 'cause he's simply Tom "Love me" Hanks. I didn't always used to feel this way about him, seeing as I actually loved him in the eighties: The Money Pit, Splash, Dragnet, Turner and Hooch, The 'burbs,... True, I was a kid and his movies where exactly on my wavelength but he was funny and dare I say endearing sometimes. But then the nineties happened and they gave him aids in Philadelphia and all hell broke lose, making him serious and self-righteous over night. What a shame... until You've got mail.

Anyway, his costar used to be America's sweetheart aka Meg Ryan, before she had her lips done in a failed attempt to be sexy and basically went from cute to creepy. Oh my, I seem to be on a roll. I told you I had plenty of reasons to dislike this movie.

But now the reasons why I like the movie before you start to think that only pleasure I'm getting here is the utter obliteration of this cuddly little motion picture. What made it a winner for me was the combination of New York and books.

All those beautiful images of New York just make me want to jump on the first plane out of here to walk the streets, eat a cupcake at Magnolia's and delve into the dozens of book stores. I vividly recall the ridiculous amount of books I brought back last time, a fond memory if I do say so myself. Just the idea of all those books and stores makes me feel all fuzzy inside, especially is you bare in mind that it makes London's fabulous book filled Charing Cross seem like a dark alley.

The story isn't bad either, exchanging emails with a complete stranger who ultimately turns out to be the one, an area I'm familiar with myself actually. It also involves two rivaling bookstores: a small independent shop and a big bad chain store.

Whenever I see this movie, it just makes me want to own a little old fashioned bookstore. It fills my heart with hopes and dreams of creating something of my own, to achieve something tangible to be proud of. Plus I just love the whole vibe of bookstores in general. Except during the holidays, there's always such a relaxed and cozy atmosphere filled with all those potential new adventures and characters that are dying to make your acquaintance. Meg Ryan's Shop around the corner is simply the envisionment of what I some day hope to create. You've got mail simply inspires me during dark and cloudy days when the future isn't as bright as the morning sun.

My life in three sentences

I stumbled across a brutally honest quotation this morning that basically sums up my entire sad existence. It was to the point, confrontational and basically true and even more shocking, written by a science fiction author who usually delves into weird and twisted universes but also has remarkable insight in my own little world. What does that tell you?

I might have been a little lost last year but now answers are hiding around every corner. Anyway, the quote I'm talking about is by H.P. Lovecraft, a pessimist and cynic (aren't we all?) who invented the concept of cosmic horror which basically means that life is incomprehensible to human minds and that the universe is fundamentally alien, an idea he neatly blends into most of his fantasy, science fiction and even horror stories.

And finally the quote in question: "Those who love life do not read. Nor do they go to the movies, actually. No matter what might be said, access to the artistic universe is more or less entirely the preserve of those who are a little fed up with the world." Amen.

Vampire or wuss?

Despite the fact that I've still got tons of books to read and my "obligatory" book club novel which I finally started (one week before our first meeting), I decided to spend my holidays reading Twilight.

Twilight is not my usual fair but occasionally I like to go out on a limb and try something completely different, that combined with the movie ads that are basically everywhere led me to this peculiar choice. No matter where you looked, Twilight was everywhere. All of a sudden people I knew where talking about the movie and the novels which already date back to 2006 and where never mentioned or known to me before. So I decided to see what all the fuss was about, especially when I found out my 60 year old uncle was a fan. I put my well organized reading schedule on hold and delved into the mysterious and gut wrenching world of vampires and teenage romance.

Baring in mind that the target audience are teenage girls, it started out OK. Meyer's style is simple, clear and vivid. The characters are interesting but take their sweet time to open up so that you are left with a so-so mushy teenage love story that slowly proceeds toward a quick yet action packed finish. I expected less awkward lovey dovey eyelash batting scenes and more ferocious bloodsucking, they're vampires after all but no luck there. Basically, there's nothing worse than a vampire in love; the horror lover will just get frustrated and so will the romantic 'cause they know it won't work out but than again they usually love that whole forbidden thing, don't they?

Overall Twilight wasn't bad, just your average boy meets girl scenario where boy just happens to be a vampire, oh well. Maybe my expectations where just too high due to the hype but that isn't going to stop me from seeing the movie next week. The trailer already looks more exciting than the book so...

A happy, healthy and heavenly 2009

I hope you all enjoyed New Year's Eve, had a great time, made some resolutions,... and are looking forward to the year ahead because I surely am. As we speak I'm still surrounded by the positive and encouraging glow of new beginnings where anything is possible and your next adventure is just around the corner. I wonder how long this feeling is going to last?

Anyway, I stumbled on this picture a while back and it's something I've kept in mind ever since.
No matter what your hopes, dreams or struggles might be in 2009:



That's my advice to all of you and to myself of course.