Thursday, January 20, 2011

Spending Money

I picked up my holds from the library yesterday on my way home from town and when I got here, found that my Kindle was awaiting me at the gate. I plugged it in and read the introductory information but I didn't purchase anything - I was tired and couldn't think of anything I wanted to buy.
This book was the tipping point in my decision as to whether or not purchase a Kindle. I really wanted to keep saving my allowance for an iPad, but Charlie likes to sleep in my lap when I read which means I have to hold the book up over him. This 500-page book weighed almost two pounds so after reading for a short time, my thumbs would go numb and then after a while, my wrists would start to tingle. I have loved Theroux's books and I think I'd like to try one on the Kindle to see if the maps are accessible from the text.

I went down to Sandy's today to have a little tutorial on how to use the functions. Why invent the wheel? I ended up coming home with a couple of the books she's purchased. I've only bought one book for far - Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. I read the first chapter this afternoon on the deck - 46 degrees is okay in late afternoon sun with no wind. I was anxious to see if I could make the notes I would make in a regular book club book, which in the past I've done with yellow sticky notes. I like the note function but won't know if it works for book club until I'm there.
Ian is consulting for a union during the legislative session so I'm stepping up my cooking duties. Tonight was broiled salmon, a small salad and potatoes from the garden. I was sick to see that about a third are rotting due to the abnormal moisture. The other two thirds were delicious! Next year will be different - no two years are alike. Our new neighbors from Ohio are trying to figure out what's a typical weather pattern. Good luck.

When we separated the sectional, this piece, the sofa bed, ended up without an arm as a stand-alone sofa. It's not dire but it is obnoxious that the cushions continue to slide off the end. The set is ten-years old and the other piece has begun to sag. We've decided that we love all the space we've gained without a sectional, so the question is - what's next? I've read a ton on upholstered furniture construction and fabrics. Microfiber is out. Charlie is the hang-up to the ideal solution - leather. We can't declaw him when he lives with three vigorous dogs. Pets!
I spent quite a bit of time in town yesterday doing ground work. I've looked at furniture for weeks but the recommendations always come back to - you have to sit on the pieces. I had lunch with a friend and popped in afterwards to the Penney's home store. It's where we bought our last set, and with SIL Mike's employee discount, I knew I couldn't leave that store out. They're having a 50% sale on Sunday and his discount would be on top of that. This is the line from Lane that I'm interested in but not the color.
This is the palette I would want to order from. This is a discon-
tinued line - I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, we get to spend time with Christina and Alexia and go to lunch afterward. It's all about spending money, so if the only money we spend is on lunch, it will still be a pleasant endeavor. I will just continue to shove the cushions back on the sofa and try not to fall off the end.

10 comments:

Michelle said...

I hate spending money (usually). But I there are some things I've never regretting spending money on; my couch/chair set is one. STILL love the upholstery 15 years later....

Theresa said...

Hmm, well on sofa's and you know I have similar problems with sofa's, dog and cat's and my dogs love nothing more than digging a nest on the sofa cushions.
Not to mention the occasional stomach upset. I can hear the retching a mile away, but no matter I am always 1 second too late. Microfiber wears like iron and washes up fantastic, easy to vacuum too but I don't like the static build up in it. My solution is to go for slipcovers. No matter the what they are upholstered in, slipcovers. I loved my big couch that had been redone and wrapped in heavy weight white canvas specifically for always having a slipcover. Anyway, e-mail me if you want a run down of some fabrics and what to ask about wear and the testing rub scale. I don't think Paul Theroux's books are available on kindle...

Valerie said...

Got this book holder from my son for Christmas a few years ago and love it: Thai Pad The cat sits behind it on my lap.

I'm not much help on the sofa's. If there is one thing that will bother my back, it's sitting on a sofa. We have a total of 3 of these chairs (ahem, not in turquoise). Love them.

Judy said...

I bet you will love your Kindle! I was given a Nook for Christmas and I have loaded it with free books from Project Gutenberg. They have all of the classics in different formats and they are all free! Our library has a great ecollection online, so I have five books checked out and they are loaded on my Nook. Such a great idea!!

It sounds like you have really been enjoying your deck and the sunshine. Just being outside in the fresh air makes a person feel better!

Enjoy your weekend, Sharon!

Jodi said...

Have you tried the "sample" feature on Kindle? That's my favorite! When I browse Amazon, if any books look even vaguely interesting, I send a free sample (usually it's the whole first chapter, but sometimes just part) to my Kindle. That way I always have some reading ideas on the go, but haven't actually spent $ on them yet. Plus I can usually tell from the first chapter if it really is something I'll enjoy reading.

I'm in a similar boat with a sectional. We somehow ended up with part of a sectional in our downstairs rec room. It's fairly new, super comfy, a nice shade of brown, and well made, as it's from Room & Board. It's annoying that there's no arm on one end, but it's at least an 8-foot long sofa (maybe 9?) -- 5 people can sit on it. So unless my ship comes in, it's not going anywhere!

weavinfool said...

I just picked up "The Brutal Telling" at my library yesterday! Great minds....

I started my blog, but no pictures yet. I'll email you the link.

vlb5757 said...

I need to do something about my furniture too. Either reupholster the two chairs I have or buy new ones. Seems pretty sad to me that it might be cheapter to buy new chairs. I love these overstuffed wingback chairs. So I keep thinking about it as the stuff goes more downhill. I have to do something soon. Having dogs who love to be up on the furniture is tough too. I have to find something that will take a regular vacuuming. Decisions, decisions.

Jody said...

That is a great little chair and sofa...I like your choice of materials too.
DH got a Sony E-Reader for Christmas and he just luvs it. We got the E-Reader so he can download Dutch language books.

Leigh said...

Furniture shopping is kinda fun actually, and in the end the decision for us was sitting comfort! So many sofas were just not comfortable! My only complaint was color choice. I happened to be shopping when earth tones were all the rage. I had a hard time liking anything because I prefer cool colors.

Sounds like your Kindle gets a thumbs up so far!

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

I LOVE my Kindle! I have been reading books that I probably wouldn't have picked up at the book store, I don't 'browse' the book store, I go to the section where 'my' books are and thats about it. I've read 'Sweetie' by Kathryn Magendie, 'Medicus: An Novel of the Roman Empire' by Ruth Downie, 'Terra Incognita, also by Ruth, 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' (can you believe I've never read it?), now I'm reading 'People of the Mist' by Henry Rider Hagard. There are others but these are the ones that are outside my box. I also bought a skin for my Kindle, almond trees in bloom. Did I mention I LOVE my Kindle :)