Variety is the Spice

I have been reading some intriguing books lately. "Wishful Drinking" by Carrie Fisher was fun. I enjoy her writing style and have read her other works. Though I usually eschew memoirs and poor little me stories, I admit that I chuckled my way through this one.

I must express my surprise that electroconvulsive therapy (or electroshock therapy if you prefer) is still being practiced in the psychiatric community. I thought that it was considered too barbaric. Boy, did I get an education from Fisher's book. It may be close to a last resort, but the statistics indicate that the hazards are better than the alternative--death. Fisher does a good job explaining the results.

Another book that I devoured was "Madonnas of Leningrad" by Debra Dean describes the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) during WWII. Leningrad was placed under seige by the Germans for almost 3 years. People resorted to eating boiled glue and wood chips. Millions died. The museum has a fabulous website at www.hermitagemuseum.org. I've just touched the tip of the website and can't wait to go back for more. It's a virtual tour using HotMedia. It's fun.

I've submerged myself in oldies but goodies on my Kindle. Eighty cents for four books. Hard to beat. I know--they aren't current NYTimes best sellers but they are some of my favorites. Ya gotta love your Kindle! Even Megan has been using it.

I have fallen in love with a fictional character in "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It doesn't matter which character; I love them all. Even the rich American. He sure was an idiot, but a lot of us are. It's another book influenced by WWII but takes place after the war. So many insights into human nature. A gentle book about a very violent time. A must read.

The craziest part of the holiday is that Len is trying to watch Photoshop TV on his laptop instead of his desktop computer just so that he can be with me while I type this. It must be true luv!

Well, I'm going back to reading. Work calls tomorrow, but I still have 6 hours before bedtime. I've started "The Time Traders" by Andre Norton. It's SF and a small switch from war stories. Eclectic is my middle name.

Absurdly,
Pat

The Absurdity of Revenge

I confess. Yes, two blogs in a row. I confess that I don't understand revenge or the wanton destruction of property. Especially when the property (or service) is designed for people--any people--to use freely and without cost. And for their benefit, education or entertainment.

Tonight two young patrons tilted a large, heavy TV from its stand--four feet high--onto the floor. It wasn't accidental. The TV is in the library's conference room behind closed doors. They looking for something to bother, damage or destroy. And they found it.

I imagine, though, that their joy will be short-lived. Other than a crack in the top left of the TV casing, the TV is fine. It works, it has a good picture and good sound. They were very lucky, because this is a very expensive TV used for ICN sessions. It's not easily or cheaply replaced.

They were also lucky that it did not fall on either of them. The TV is heavy enough that two police officers were needed to put it back on the stand. If it had fallen on one of them they would have been seriously hurt.

They will be banned from the premises of the library--permanently. No more movies, no more computer games, no more. Just no more. It's the end, we are finished with the foul comments, the eye-rolling. We won't need to hush them or tell them that their music--through their headphones--are too loud. They had one free chance too many. It's over.

Absurdly,
Pat