inspiration where you find it

"All these books and not one 'inspirational'."

What a sad thing to overhear in the book aisle, don't you think? To have such a narrow definition of "inspiration" is very nearly sinful, imho.

For myself, I managed a small haul from the 80%-off sale on books (salvaged Borders inventory) at a local discount store:

Knitting by Anne Bartlett
Inca Trail: Cusco & MachuPucchu by Richard Danbury
Climbing the mango trees by Madhur Jaffrey
Lamb: the gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood pal by Christopher Moore
Wild Meat & the Bully Burgers by Lois-Ann Yamanaka
The diaries of Adam & Eve by Mark Twain
River Midnight by Lilian Nattel

... for the sons:

Simple foods for the pack: more than 200 all-natural, trail-tested recipes by Axcell, Kath & Cooke
Bobby Fischer teaches chess

and for hubby:

The New York City cab driver's joke book (vol. 2) by Jim Pietsch

birthdays & numbers

A couple years ago, I mentioned to my son that on 07-07-07 I would be 52, 5 + 2 = 7. I like playing around with numbers that way... what I realized today, is that it works this year too (as it has since 2005 & will next year): 2008? 5 + 3 = 8. When I have to remember what year I was in which grade of school, I've always been able to look at the grade-year, for example, I was started 1st grade in 1961, started 8th grade in 1968, started my sophomore year of high school (10th grade) in 1970. Being born in a year that's a multiple of 5 is handy for calculations.
I received my gifts from my sister and father and opened them first thing this morning before heading off to work: the book, from my sister, was Sky Burial

and I am anxious to read it. There were also multipl e-cards in my mailbox this morning. I have a lovely red-violet rose, fruit and sugar-free chocolates from my co-workers.
So far, a lovely day... oh, yes... DH indulge my purse fetish by telling me to purchase both I found yesterday rather than chosing between the two. Ain't he a sweetheart? He also treated me to breakfast Sunday morning.

working cozy

A few days after I began my job, I posted photos of my bare cubbie. Although it's not quite so sterile looking now, here is how I like it best:

surrounded by books,
24-oz. coffee mug & sweater close at hand

These photos were last month, but it's much the same today except that cart on the left is totally full -- though the coffee mug has been empty since 9AM.
Happy Friday on Thursday, everyone... and may all y'all have a safe Independence Day weekend.