Sophisticated Dorkiness is now officially coming to you from small town Minnesota.
Things have been quiet around here for the last several days because Boyfriend and I — with the help of family and many great friends — were in the process of moving 425 miles with a U-Haul full of stuff and one cranky cat. We left Madison on Wednesday, arrived at our new home on Thursday, and have been settling in ever since.
My sister, who is studying to be an architect, came up over the weekend and helped me out with all of the decorating things that Boyfriend couldn’t care less about — a new bedspread, curtains, area rugs, mirrors, and the little things that take a space filled with furniture and make it feel more like home. I’m really happy with the way things are coming together; I’ll have pictures soon, I promise.
My favorite space has to be the room where we put my desk and all my bookshelves. It’s small enough that almost every wall is covered in tall shelves, making it about as close to a library as I’m likely to get in the near future. Unfortunately, I ran out of space for all my books, so I am on the lookout for one more shelf to finish out the space before everything is settled and I can hang the last of my art work.
I start work at my new job — editor of a small town weekly newspaper — tomorrow morning. I’m a whole bundle of nerves about it, but I know it’s going to be great. This is exactly the job I wanted to have; I am so blessed this opportunity came my way and that my family, friends, and boyfriend were so supportive about taking it.
As part of keeping my nerves calm, I spent the time I had to read during the first few moving days re-reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I’ve re-read this one a few times before, but every time I end up seeing something new. On this read, I was struck by what a good job J.K. Rowling does building the world of her series. Sure, the explanations and background are sometimes a little clumsily done, but on the whole she sets up her story and the rules of the world these characters live in really nicely in the book. The action of actually going after the Sorcerer’s Stone doesn’t happen until way, way late in the book, which is interesting since that’s the part I remember most clearly from reading it.
Right now I’m torn between a few different books. Part of me wants to keep with the Harry Potter kick and start on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Another part is being pulled back towards nonfiction, particularly Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden by Brook Wilensky-Lanford, which has one of the most awesome covers I’ve seen recently. I also have a strong urge to pick up my copy of Tom Perrotta’s new book, The Leftovers, but I’m a little worried the book will be too emotional for me right now. With all the craziness going on, I need a book that’s emotionally gentle (Thanks to Iris on Books for that explanation of comfort reading).
In any case, that’s the general reading/life update for the moment. Boyfriend is off camping for the next week, so I am going to have plenty of time to get caught up with all the blogging business I’ve neglected over the last several weeks (So. Many. Reviews.) Happy Sunday!
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I vote for Harry Potter. It’s the ultimate comfort reading. That’s the kind of reading I’ve been doing, as I prepare for the students arriving and my student departing.
Oh man, kids going off to college is always hard (for everyone!). I was a mess, and in need of comfort reading, when I first started.
Glad u are in your new place now. Cat HATE car travel don’t they. Hope he/she settles in nicely. Good luck with the new job; you’ll do great!
Hannah really did hate being in the car — she yowled at me indignantly most of the drive.
Glad to hear the move went smoothly! Good luck tomorrow, but I am sure you’d be totally fine 🙂 You’re lucky that you are here now with the good weather! July has been so hot and muggy.
I say, try the NF, if it doesn’t grab you interest, then put it aside and go back to HP for comfort reading.
The weather has been pretty nice since we got here — definitely not has humid and hot as it’s been in Madison lately. I think I’m going to switch between Paradise Lust and some fiction, depending on my mood.
Good luck tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll do awesome! 🙂
Oh, wow! That would be so fun to be a newspaper editor. Good luck!!
I think it is going to be fun! It’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time now.
YAY!!!! Welcome to Minnesota! What an exciting time for you! I want to hear all about the job!
Thanks Sheila! I’ll post some more about the job once I get settled and figure out what I’m doing 🙂
I hope you settle in easily! Good luck on your first day on the job; it’s such an exciting time!
That does sound like a perfect job. I am sure everything will turn out fine! Good luck!
Also, I would choose rereading Harry Potter, but of course it is easier to recommend the comfort read to someone else and not yourself. I somehow always skip over the second book. The basilisk scares me.
I can’t remember much of book two, except for the big conflict at the end with the basilisk, which is super scary. That’s the same thing that happened with HP book one too.
Moving is so much work and so exciting all at the same time. I know you’re going to rock that job – I have complete confidence in you! I hope your day is going fabulous!!
Moving is so stressful. But it sounds like you have a dream job. I just hope that cranky cat is adjusting well. Cats do not usually like change, but once they settle in, all is good. Just give them a good window to the world with plenty going on out there. Good luck.
Hannah seems to be finally calming down and settling in. She’s been asleep on my big comfy chair almost since the minute I got home. It’s adorable.
It’s always nerve wracking starting a new job, but I’m confident you’ll do great. Sounds like a fantastic opportunity.
Congrats on the new job, a successful move, and I’m sure you’ll do great in your new position. Have a great day today, and I can’t wait for the pics of your new place!
I’m so excited for you about your new job! I’m sure you’ll be great at it. And your new home sounds great.
I love not living in an apartment. Having to deal with a lawn and snow removal might get old, but it’s so much quieter than having upstairs and downstairs neighbors.
So glad to hear the move went well and that you are settling in nicely! It’s nice that you’re going to get a fresh start in a new place and at a new job… I hope today is the start of something fantastic!
Thanks Steph, me too!
Glad you are settling in well!
I’m glad to hear that the move went well, welcome to new home and new job, and all the best!
Hope you had an exciting and promising first day and that you had the perfect book to slip into your bag to keep you company amidst all the newness.
I have been reading some great books lately. The office takes long lunches, so I’ve found some extra time during the day to read.
Deep breaths! You’re going to do great at the new job!!
The job sounds amazing and I know you will do awesome at it! It’s so exciting that you have your dream job!
I’m always surprised at how late the plot of Sorcerer’s Stone kicks into gear, because what I always remember most vividly from the book is how totally, completely shocked I was to find out who the villain was. But you’re right, the bulk of the book is devoted to worldbuilding. When I reread, I zip right through those parts because they’ve become almost as familiar as the real world to me, after all these years!
That’s true, I did read through this one really fast. Everything in the beginning seems so obvious now 🙂
Hope the new job is going well!