Books I'm reading (or trying to)

I am a pretty voracious reader; I enjoy a good book, high literature, modern short stories, early science fiction, all sorts of different, exciting books.

Since the beginning of the year, I've finished a few books and been at a bit of a loss for my next book(s). I tend to read at least two if not four or five different books at the same time. I've always done this, even as a young girl. I generally have a book in my handbag, a book on my nightstand, and a book in the living room (with an additional book in the car, or one at my desk at the office).

My handbag book is currently Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I've decided to re-read these books for pleasure as well as to retrain my science fiction mind. I just recently finished Deadline by John Dunning, a mystery based off of Mr. Dunning's experiences working at the Denver Post (a local newspaper). His books always keep me reading, and I enjoy the ride. Before that was the Medusa Stone by Jack Du Brul. A far flung, diamond chase across the deserts of Africa and into the politics of the Middle East. I'm the first to admit that I am not always the first to figure out whodunnit or where a mystery is leading, but I enjoy the relaxation of knowing that everything will be tied up in a nice neat bow at the end. Books such as this are mind-candy to me; a palate cleanser of sorts. It's a pleasure to lose myself in the twists and turns of the plot.

I've also recently finished three nightstand books (these tend to wander about the house as I often wish to read more than just a few minutes at bed-time). I think this is where my wandering is coming from, as one book was the finish to a six book series (one of my very favorite series) and another is the third of a series (book 4 is out; but not in my hot little hands).

Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb finished the Tawny Man series, which began with the Farseer Saga with Assassin's Apprentice. I have loved these books from the start, and even bought two of them at full hardback price because I couldn't wait for the paperback to be published. The ending was bittersweet, and left a life to live for the charaters while definitively denying any idea of another visit to this rich world filled with these people I know like my own friends and family.

After I finished Fool's Fate, I delved into the hilarious hijinks of literary detective Thursday Next in The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde. This foray into the parallel world where the Crimean War is still raging in the year 1985, and there are secret government agencies dutybound to protect the sanctity of literature, gives a peek into the Well where unpublished books are kept and generics learn to be characters in books. Highly entertaining and very breezy read. I recommend The Eyre Affaire and Lost In a Good Book (books one and two) first to ground you in the world (which can be discombobulating, so similar and yet so different from our own).

Finally, I read Skywriting by Jane Pauley. I've always liked Jane Pauley; when I was growing up I would watch the Today show with my mom as we got ready for work and school. This was an autobiography; extremely easy to follow, for all the twists and turns her appearingly simple life has taken. I really enjoyed the book.

Now, I've tried to start Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (I just saw Man of La Mancha from NetFlix) and whereas it's a relatively easy read so far (being a reader some 500 years after its inception) the one thing that is troublesome (and only to me, and only as I try to read it before bed) is the vast quantity of endnotes (footnotes are there too, but I don't have to turn to the end to read them, they're right there!) Now, I read Les Liaisons Dangereuses a few years ago with endnotes, and I enjoyed it (not the endnotes specifically, but the book as a whole). I could read it without the endnotes, but invariably I'll come across something that needs the note and then I'll see all the notes I breezed by. So, Don Quixote is more of a lounging book rather than a off to bed type book.

So, I started Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende. So far, I'm a few pages in, and my biggest vision of the book is the great and terrible bed of the POV charater's paternal grandmother. Nice geneology in the front, makes it easy to follow who is who and how they're related. Similar to but of a completely different feel than One Hundred Years of Solitude.

And my mother lent me the latest Grisham, The Last Juror, which of course is tantalizing and difficult to put down. Perhaps this will be my next book. Or perhaps I'll finish it instead of Portrait (rather before it).

If you have any ideas about books to check out, I'd love to hear them.

On the right track

Ok, I have turned in my paperwork for my new 401k, taking advantage of my employers generous matching contributions, and am ready to take aim at the former employer's plan manager's mistake. I did already talk to the plan management company, and they suggested a course of action. However, I also talked to a financial advisor of sorts and have received another recommendation to pursue. And now that I have started my current 401k (I've been lax; been eligible for oh, 22 months now...) my other options are easier to manage.

I feel proud that I took a step in the right direction. The direction of a savvy, forward-looking member of Corporate America. Gotta do what I gotta do.

Television Shows and Netflix

I finally did it; I joined the DVD service NetFlix. I've already got nearly 200 movies in my queue and over 350 discs for tv shows. I like the separate queues you can have, even tho I'm currently the only one who uses this service in my house, I can still separate the tv shows (which take up lots of space with 2 to 6 discs per season or up to 12 for an entire series...) and get my fix of movies and tv episodes (in order no less!).

I don't have cable TV. I used to have free basic cable in my old place. When I moved into my new place over a year ago, I decided that I could afford one new service. I chose DSL. The cable company offered up in my neck of the woods was unknown to me and I didn't want to buy hardware and install a dish and everything. And the nice complex I live in is so new, they don't have an antenna to connect the tv to for better reception. So I have rabbit ears and not even all of the network channels (no WB, some CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, UPN and like 3 home shop network types). And knowing myself, I'd want the shiny digital w/ a tv guide and the music channels and some movie channels which costs more than I care to contemplate.

So now, for a much more reasonable amount, I can rent as many movies as I want, they come in the mail, and I can just drop them back in the mail when I'm done. What marketing genius came up with this idea? I hope they've made a buttload of money off it, because from everything I've heard (I know several people who belong) it's a GREAT service. And it was a lot of fun to fill up my queue (well ok, to put some stuff in there, it's not maxxed out like some people I know...)

Another letter and my 401k

Ok, I received another letter from my Wyoming lady. And two votes to send back a personal letter. I have returned the letters and cards through the postal service, hoping perhaps that the apt number or the address is just a little off and these can be delivered. Here's the deal, if I get another one, I'm going to write a note to the sender and let her know that whoever this woman she is writing is, she does not live at my address and I hope everything can be straightened out.

Two other strange pieces of mail in my box:

I also received a bill from the prior resident that I had received mail for several months ago. It went in the return mail with a note as well.

I also got a nice juicy check from my prior prior company's 401k administrators. I received my quarterly report in January, everything still there, still making a little money, and I know who to contact when I decide it's time to roll everything into my new company's 401k (which I need to start this year). Except, that I got a distribution check for the entire amount of my account (less the vesting they claimed I wasn't due (I was 100% vested, grandfathered in when the company was bought by a bigger one) and less the massive taxes taken out at the time of the disbursement.)

Now, I am not of an age to be expecting to qualify to withdraw from my 401k, nor did I request this disbursement. The only thing I can think of is that they're cleaning up their accounts and I have been separated from this company since late 2000. However, I received NO notice of this and I'm confused and a bit pissed because I had to pay taxes on it; now I can't roll it over w/o penalty; and I had absolutely NO say in this. They have my address, they've been using it to send me the quarterly reports. Nothing I've received from them stated this was a possibility.

Well, I guess tomorrow I'm going to be making quite a few calls (my HR for information regarding 401k laws, the prior company's HR to find out what happened, and finally the lovely 401k administrators.) Hopefully I can get this straightened out and get the money back into the account to be rolled over w/o penalty. *sigh*