It feels so good reading good again...(props to REK)

I have to preface this by saying that my sweet Mommy was here visiting us these past few days (she was in town for work, so it wasn't all fun & games, but it was a joy to have her here anyway!). As my Mom tends to do, she gave me a little spending money "just because" for me to buy a few new things to wear as I prepare to re-enter the work force full time. I was very appreciative of this allowance, but semi-dreading going clothes shopping as we women tend to do when we aren't at our ideal size. So I went to Walmart instead...very dangerous to do with cash in your pocket; Walmart will take every penny. After loading my basket with Slimfast and Lean Cuisine I somehow found myself in the book section. I felt a little odd because the only books I've purchased or read over the last year and a half have been Dalton's baby books and numerous books on parenting (which by the way I now believe are mostly garbage!).

Anyway, I decided that it was high time my literary dry spell come to an end. So I bought three books: "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, "Freakonomics" by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, and "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr. Dobson. The last one may very well be the only parenting book I don't consider useless. In fact, it was recommended to me by my sister-in-law Rachel and I would highly recommend it to anyone else dealing with the joys and challenges of raising a boy.

I finished the "cheese" book about an hour after I bought it. It is a great quick little read that just about everyone can take something from. If you struggle with adapting to changes (at work, home, wherever) this is a great book to read.

I am a little more than half way through "Freakonomics" and I've been having a hard time putting it down. Matter of fact, it's sitting right here next to me so I can pick it back up when I'm finished raving about it! If anyone else is reading it or has read it...let's discuss! It's so enlightening and thought-provoking. If you haven't read it, you should. I imagine it will soon be required reading in many sociology and economics classes in universities all over the country, if it isn't already. It is a more in-depth read...some things I read over three or more times before moving on just to make sure I read what I thought I did. It is mind boggling, really.

I read a statistic in Reader's Digest that 1 in 4 adults will not read one single book this year. That's 25% of us! I have to admit I put it off way too long, but I am so glad I decided to start reading for leisure again. I challenge us all to avoid being part of that statistic! At the end of the day, I am getting so much more out of reading these books than I would have gotten out of a few new blouses...something to think about it.