In Memoriam...

This past week has been one of the most bizarre and eerie weeks, due to the number of celebrity deaths. Obviously the most shocking death of all was that of Michael Jackson.
As a child, I was completely fascinated and smitten with Michael Jackson. I would regularly inform my parents that we needed to move to California, so that I could marry Michael. I would watch his music videos in awe and would repeatedly peer into my Viewfinder at my Thriller reel.
Through the many changes of Michael and allegations against him, my feelings for Michael had changed. He was no longer the magical person I once saw him as. I had mixed feelings for him. I began to feel guilty if I didn't change the radio station when one of his songs played, for fear that I was listening to the music of a pedophile. While I may never know if the allegations were true, I do know that Michael led a very difficult life. In fact, the media has continued to make it difficult to allow him to die with any dignity.
However, I am choosing to remember Michael as the man who brought a bit of magic to my childhood with his music, incredible dancing, and charisma.

Friday Fun Flix!

A commercial for my favorite grocery store...

My Pretentious Summer Reading List

Remember those days as a student, when the glorious days of summer break had finally arrived? Then, horror of horrors, you receive your required summer reading list for the next school year! Well, I feel enough time has passed that I can finally admit that I actually enjoyed those required summer reading lists. I realize that this makes me somewhat of a dork, but I'm at the age where I don't care. In fact, although I am sadly no longer a student, I have continued providing myself with my very own summer reading lists. So, today I would like to share my pretentious summer reading list!

1. Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins
Tom Robbins has been one of my favorite writers for a long time. I even named my cat, Jitterbug, after his book Jitterbug Perfume. I've been told by some that Still Life With Woodpecker is one of his best, and seeing as its a love story that takes place inside of a pack of Camels, I'm very excited to read it!
2. Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Lately, I've been infatuated with memoirs. Since, I've been fascinated with the interviews I've seen of Ayaan Hirsi Ali it seemed only appropriate to add her memoir to my summer reading list!
3. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Since I have yet to read a piece of Russian literature, I figured I would choose this classic as my first. Although, this book is slightly intimidating with its total of 923 pages, I am determined to finish this before the fall!
4. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
This is a Pulitzer Prize winner with Virginia Woolf as one of the main characters! Plus, I'll be able to watch the movie afterwards. What's not to love?!?
5. Dark Place by Gillian Flynn
I was hooked when reading this Chicago writer's first novel, Sharp Objects. Her writing is dark and haunting, and I love every word of it! I'm very excited to read Dark Places and am even more excited to see her speak at the Printer's Row Literature Fest tomorrow afternoon!

Friday Fun Flix!

This is dedicated to the cat in heat that keeps hanging around outside of my apartment building.

Thank You Cigarette Tax Hikes

Yesterday, I hit my two month milestone of being smoke-free. I had finally had it with the Cook County cigarette taxes being raised every 2 days (at least that's what it felt like) and decided to quit on April 1st, the same day a pack of cigarettes went up in price to $10 a pack in Chicago. So, today I would like to share with you some of the things I have noticed in the past two months since I have quit smoking.
1. Although I am using the nicotine patch, I did at first find myself having some nicotine cravings. However, I did not break down in tears unlike the last time I tried to quit smoking, cold turkey!
2. I was not able to drink coffee until about a month after quitting. It used to be impossible for me to start my day without first having my two cups of coffee, which were accompanied by at least two to three cigarettes. I knew that if I continued with my coffee routine, sans cigarettes, I would want to punch someone in the face! I am proud to say that I am now back on the coffee and am not experiencing violent urges.
3. Smokers do not want you to succeed at quitting. Whether I was stressed out at work or under the influence of alcohol, certain friends, who will remain nameless, were very quick to offer a cigarette as comfort. However, my determination to remain smoke-free was too strong for their sabotage!
4. 7-Eleven employees are still trying to get me back on the Marlboros. No matter how many times I tell my beloved local 7-Eleven pals, that I will no longer be needing my daily pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights, they continue to offer them every time I patron their store.
5. I am still jealous of smokers. I can't help but feel pangs of jealous anger when I am around smokers. While, I quietly enjoy the second hand smoke I am still pissed that I am not smoking with you.
6. I find it funny that I'm grateful they raised the taxes on cigarettes, because it was the final push I needed to quit. I was well aware that my smoking was a disgusting, unattractive habit, but I loved it. I had been wanting to quit for a while, because I was scared of the damage I was doing to my lungs. Once I heard of the tax hike, I knew I could no longer justify spending my hard-earned money on such a harmful habit. Thank you Crook County!