The first book I have purchased for myself (other than textbooks) in a long, long time.

I sustained a black eye at the MSTRKRFT show this week.

It was a great show, so no matter. I've worn it like a merit badge. It's actually been pretty amusing - every day's a different color.

Except for this Saturday, when to my chagrin, I had both a baby shower AND a family event to attend.

Now, Baltimore has made me into a very casual girl.

Exhibit A: the new sneaks.

But a colorful shiner is just too tempting a target for future gossip fodder. I know how people work.

So, close to $200 later, I'm the proud owner of more fancy makeup, and a renewed sense of my ability to blend in and snob with the best of them. As the cliche goes, priceless.

Spring is usually my least favorite season to go shopping. All those brights and pastels...shudder. But J.Crew is treating me right!

sneakers shortlist

February 2008 - the books

*Friend of My Youth, Alice Munro - Excellent short stories.

*At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays, Anne Fadiman - From the author of one of my favorites from last year, Ex Libris.

*Seven Types of Ambiguity, Elliot Perlman - Loved this. An Australian import with a changing perspective.

*Into the Silent Land: Travels in Neuropsychology, Paul Broks. Interesting, but as I read on, I realized I prefer my neuroscience and my philosophy a little less intertwined.

*Bowl of Cherries, Millard Kaufman - Loved this. Smart, funny and completely bizarre.

*Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, Jenni Ferrari-Adler - Pretty enjoyable collection of stories and essays on pleasures and pitfalls of eating alone. Murakami's "The Year of Spaghetti" is included.