Books and Being Thrifty.

I just got back from the library, where I picked up a couple graphic novels (for the cleansing of my reading palate), as well as a book on the Dead Sea Scrolls and at the suggestion of another blogger, "A Heart of Many Rooms" by David Hartman.I also started reading Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" this morning, and I'm pretty enthralled with it already (I've started a variety of books in the past week, none of which kept me interested beyond a chapter or so -- hence the palate cleansing graphic novels).

Since my friend Nic is visiting next weekend, I've decided that I'm going to spend no more than $5 this weekend as a way of saving money (remember, in about a month I'm out of a job and in poor-student mode). Of course, I've planned into this that if I spend another dollar at Argo Tea, I get a free $5 on my Argo card! So in reality, I can spend a whole $10 this weekend at the tea shop and I'll be set. On the other hand, I figure I'll spend some time out on the beach or at the harbor reading and really take in some nature time.

This thriftyness and book reading hopefully will play into a few blog posts I have in the works. I want to blog about words (etymology) since I spent some time this past week reading the dictionary (don't ask), not to mention that I found a list of Yiddish words (thanks to a question posted on Twitter by the folks at the Jewish Treats blog) that have worked their way into the American Lexicon. Likewise, I've been reading some essays about Orthodox Judaism found over at the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, which has given me some interesting food for thought. And finally, after a series of conversations with a friend about the place of religion in my (hopeful) future marriage and life with children, I have a lot to say and think about; very much talking out loud -- basically, I seem to attract and am attracted to folks of the non-Jewish variety, typically people with no real hardcore beliefs system (believe in a higher power/G-d, but not super religious, basically apathetic). Essentially, I'm trying to force myself to make a firm decision about whether I will or will not pursue a relationship with a non-Jewish person. This friend said that if you're in love, it shouldn't matter, right? Oy. If only that were how it is.

Anyhow, I just wanted to keep all of my readers (ha! right!) abreast of what's going on in Chavi land. Tomorrow's the Fourth of July and with a day off work, I'm sleeping in, being productive academically, and then heading to the Orthodox shul for synagogue and *hopefully* a Shabbat dinner if I can wedge myself into someone's (ay! I feel so bad doing this!).

Happy Fourth! Be safe, be thankful, be happy, be restful!