Amen, sister.

Today someone asked me, point blank, "What do you want for your life?"

I'm a person with dreams and aspirations, but the question kind of caught me off-guard. I've been a little wrapped up in my day-to-day life... I haven't really thought about my next big life goal lately.

This adorable little girl has it figured out:

Ditto, girlfriend.

xoxo
jam

P.S. I do have a job that I think is special. <3

Finally... it's over.

I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again – I LOVE books. I actually list “reading” as a hobby. I even rationalize why I should like some books I don’t… and this is one of those times.

I just finished Reading Lolita in Tehran, and I can’t tell you how happy I am it’s over. For two reasons:

1. It was really hard to for me to relate to since I hadn’t read all the novels that the author uses to illustrate and compare her life in the Islamic Republic of Iran… and

2. I started reading this book before Christmas, and since I got a Nook from Santa, I was excited to start using it!

I don’t want to discourage you from reading this book if you were wanting to; I will say that I think it’s very eye-opening for Western women on some of the experiences of women in the Middle East, particularly in Muslim countries. For example, when I see women wearing veils, I automatically assume they are devout, traditional Muslims, while the author describes being forced to wear the veil by the regime and even losing her teaching job for refusing to cover herself properly. It was an “aha” moment to realize that many people – men and women alike – are not free to express themselves as they truly wish in some parts of the world. And for that reason, I am thankful I read the book.

I just didn’t like it very much.

It’s slow. It’s a memoir where the author doesn’t reveal too much about herself; she spends most of the book making political statements by drawing on literary themes like “hero vs. victim” or “captor vs. captive”… some may love it. I did not.

In fact, the moment I finished Reading Lolita, I downloaded my FIRST NOOKBOOK compliments of my lovely sister who got me a Barnes and Noble gift card for my birthday. (Thanks, sis!)

I am currently reading Water for Elephants, and totally loving it. A page-turner for sure, and I love reading a book before seeing the movie… because usually the movie ruins it.

Speaking of ruining a literary experience, I’ve heard a lot of people diss e-Readers because they think they will ruin the tactile feeling of books or that they will miss turning pages and smelling the ink and paper… I had the same fears.

I’m proud to say there is nothing to be afraid of. My Nook is awesome. I really like reading it; it’s super handy, and I don’t miss any of the old familiar book characteristics.

My sweet little Nook. Pink cover.  My love <3

Don’t get me wrong, I will still geek out over an old library full of hardback books and pages and pages of beautiful typeface. I want these:

Karl Lagerfeld  (Source)

Diane Keaton (Source)

Michael Jackson (Source)

Rod Stewart (Source)

But for the days I can’t curl up on a window seat and pore over old volumes, I’ll take my Nook. And a latte. Thankyouverymuch.

XOXO

jam

My trash... Into treasure!

A few months ago, my beloved MacBook Pro finally went kaput. No screen. Out of nowhere. The problem: about 2 years ago, I came home after an evening out and accidentally knocked a huge mirror off the wall... onto my Mac. The screen edge was dented and few keys were broken off. I cried. Then I bought a replacement keyboard and replaced it with the help of a friend. No harm done, right?

Right. For at least a while.

Apparently this long-ago injury finally did the screen in after the wires fully disconnected randomly. Fixing it would cost about $200 less than getting a WHOLE BRAND SPANKING NEW MacBook Pro. So screw it; I got a new one. That I adore. And love. And cherish. And will never drop a mirror on.

But what to do with the old Mac? I can't really sell it... because no one wants a busted Mac. Plus it's pretty old. So the way I saw it, I had two options: dump it in the trash or take it apart piece by piece for my own entertainment, then dump it in the trash. But someone told me I should recycle it... you know, live green.

I researched what recycling the Mac would entail and lo and behold, Apple would pay me money for my old Mac! After getting a quote on my machine based on its condition (basically, crap), they sent me the box and shipping label, I packed up my old friend, and a few days later, I received this:

For my trash, I got a treasure: $70.18 on an Apple Card!

I will never know how cool it is to throw a laptop from a moving vehicle or to smash it with a hammer... but I am comforted by the following:

$15 iTunes Gift Card. First purchase: Chelsea Lankes's EP "Let Love Be"

iCarPlay Cassette Adapter - because yes, I have an old vehicle. With a cassette player and no Aux Input. Boohoo.

Nike + iPod Sport Kit. Because I don't trust the counters on the treadmill nor do I trust my own judgement of my distance and speed. I like to overestimate. No more cheating ;)

I'm thankful for my new cool stuff; it's like my old Mac lives on in these new Apple toys. Long live the Green Apple. Me and Purple Apple miss you. Thanks for the good times. And the good tunes.

Lessons learned: one man's trash is another man's treasure. And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And one rotten apple can make you a whole basket of apples!

xoxo

jam