myschyf | Oct. 30th, 2005

I know there are reasons for abridging things. Hey, I tried to read Les Miserables in an unabridged version...there are *definitely* some things that need abridging. But I still hate it. Not because I feel the need to read every single word an author decides needs to be in a book. I'll skip bits that seem to go on too long or just aren't interesting me. But that's *me* doing the choosing. Someone else doing the choosing, even if they're doing it exactly as I would, kind of makes me itch. (Not abridging in general, abridging wrt me.)

Why is this an issue right now? 'Cause I've a subscription with Audible and it can be a challenge to find non-abridged books that I want to listen to. And these aren't huge tomes...which makes me wonder even *more* what they're takin' out. *le sigh* My brain makes such problems for me. *hand to forehead*

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Trader Joe's now has *two* kinds of Hazelnut coffee on their shelves. I've test-drunk (I still think we should petition for drinked to be a real word) the new kind (which comes in a *very* nifty can that I think Sammy will be pleased to use as a pencil can, once emptied.) and it is quite good. As much as I like the other kind, this one is a bit heartier and the coffee comes through a bit sooner than the hazelnut. I like it.

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I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife. I *really* like the story and the style in which it is written. I know I like it 'cause I'm keeping it with my sewing things, so I don't read it too quickly.

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One of the best things about Jeff's commute on the train (besides the remarkably low-stressiness of the whole thing) is that now he has time to read if he likes. In the past couple weeks he's finished Anansi Boys and is well on his way to finishing Thud!. It's so cool to be able to discuss the books when they're fresh in both our minds.:)

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Neil on watching the actors in Beowulf being filmed:

If I had to compare it to anything it's like watching the characters from Tron performing Shakespeare on a minimalist set. Only it's not like that at all.

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On the local freecycle list: Looking for Misc. Is that *anything* like Waiting for Godot?

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Winamp is still trying to communicate...it's back to playing lots of Phantom of the Opera. As much as I like the soundtrack, why can't it try to communicate with Sondheim?

And I don't *care* how much Phantom it plays. I'm not digging a river downstairs!

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Okay. Honestly. It just played Phantom and is now playing James Taylor.

Maybe it wants me to persuade James Taylor to sing cuts from Phantom. I really don't think he has the right voice for it...and hey, if Winamp wants it, shouldn't Winamp be the one to ask?

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My hair is a deep ruby red again. (I couldn't sleep after Jeff left for work yesterday morning (he gets up at five thirty), so I figured I'd use the time.) I'm *very* pleased. Especially since I've been meaning to dye it for a month now. Just never got around to it.

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Jeff's birthday cake (fudge swirl cake w/peanut butter buttercream frosting & Ghiradelli semisweet chips sprinkled in the center) was a complete and utter success. And I think I'll always be disappointed with chocolate cake that *doesn't* have peanut butter frosting from now on.

Unless mocha is involved.

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Thank you for your kind words and marvelousness in my "Tell me anything" post. I was hoping no one was seething with hatred for me, but y'all make me smile, a lot.:) I'll try to answer each comment individually, but wanted to put this here so y'all knew I'd read them. (Post is still open, btw. 'Cause I'm usually quite bad at knowing if I should comment on a post after a few days. How old is too old?)

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[Poll #601256]

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{Edited to add:}

Oh! I forgot!

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