More books

Running with Scissors, Augusten Burroughs
Hilariously disgusting, this book was my bedtime reading. I read a few chapters every night and found the each to be car-crash-rubbernecking interesting. At times, I felt I should look away, skip over this or that part; at other times, I wanted more details. Not the best book I've read lately, but a worthy read. If you like dysfunctional novels, and aren't grossed out by reading slightly homoerotic passages, definitely try this book.

The Mermaids Singing, Lisa Carey
I got this book through reserves at my library and immediately set about reading it yesterday at work. I made it through the fifth chapter (they're short), and then put the book down. Reading it, I couldn't help but be reminded of another similar story and then imagined that at some point, I'd been on some mermaid-myth-Irish-pirate-three-generations-of-estrangement-novel-reading kick. And, I'm just not in the mood for that type of read right now.

Then, I went home, prepared to finished RwS, and spied on my bedside bookcase Carey's book. I had a bookmark about halfway through the book which means either I stuck it in there at random, or I got halfway through the book some 4 or 5 years ago and then called it quits. I'm going with the second option. I'm also returning my borrowed copy and likely selling my personal copy.

A Map of the World, Jane Hamilton
I started this after deciding Carey's book wasn't for me. It's another Oprah pick, which should be an immediate turn-off--yet, for some reason, I cannot stop gravitating unconsciously to the Oprah picks. I'm up to page 35 and I'm slightly hooked... I'll read up through 50 or 75 and see how I feel then.

Next up, Amy and Isabelle, by Elizabeth Strout. I've read good reviews about this '98 book, so I'm eager to see if it is worth the hype.

Chili!

I just finished my entrant to this weekend's chili cook-off and now the pot is simmering in the kitchen. I would've made it Saturday during the day, but I work... With two habeneros, four skinny long red peppers and two little round red peppers (the last two types being peppers I grew over the summer but have long since forgotten their specific varieties), the day and a half rest in the fridge should really cultivate the spice.

After the cook-off, I'll post as close to a recipe as I have (I made this chili on Saturday as a test and I honestly just made it completely different tonight, minus a few key ingredients. But isn't that what chili is supposed to be?).

It's Ladies Night here in Sparksville. Mike's at a Flyers game (his first of a couple this season), so I'm going to curl up with some dulce de leches ice cream (apparently, one of my samplings had a particularly wicked mix of the three peppers) and watch the tube. Oh, and knit.