Journey mercies and tanned feet: April 2010

I took a trip to Barnes and Noble today which was a nice little outing on my first non-weekend day back from Haiti. Bookstores are one of the only places I feel I can spend a little bit of money and not be cursed with buyer's remorse. Coming out of Banana Republic, I sometimes feel that I've done something a little bit wrong (something that's not in my budget) and am always thankful for the security net which is the return policy. One learns from reading, right? So, I figure I shouldn't feel bad about spending money on my learning process. I mean, if this weren't the case, I most certainly wouldn't be enrolled in an out-of-state graduate program. I just love bookstores, though. I especially enjoy used bookstores where each book not only gives the reader a story, but also carries a story of its own. I often wonder who turned the pages before me and how the book made its way to what is usually a small, hidden shop.

As usual, I couldn't escape Barnes and Noble with just one book - I found several (even some on the heavily discounted $2 table - you know these will be quality!). I started browsing a book called The Book of Awesome. Doesn't the title just make you smile? It's just a book of little things in life that are awesome. It's full of all the sort of things that just make you giggle. I think this is a clever book. While I believe I'm generally a positive person, I sometimes find myself getting bogged down with the large, difficult things happening in my life and the world - a heaviness I carry with me from recently, Haiti. It's nice to revisit little, daily happenings that are great. Of the few I've read so far, I enjoy these: