eReader review

I have borrowed an eReader to play with and see if I like it. Well, I know I like it, but do I really like it enough to BUY one?

I am around it all day at work. I sell it like it is candy, but for myself - the girl who is secretly sniffing books because the smell of print and paper is fantabulous - can I convert to a machine in order to read my books???

In really spending time playing with it, I have come to find out is that it can be distracting. I don't have time to read because I am too busy doing other things on it, like checking my email and reading blogs. I love the color magazines on it. I would love to have a bunch of magazines, but when I have had the subscriptions, I don't make time to read them. They just end up piled up in some corner, never read. But on the eReader, they seem so much more manageable.

The consistent time I read is before bed. About an hour or two before I go to sleep, I crawl into bed and grab a book. It is there that my body learns to rest and get tired. My mind is also occupied, which usually (crossing my fingers here) tires out the final bits of my awake brain. I like this routine. It really helps when I close at work and don't get home til late and need to get up early the next day. I, then am not up forever. I am able to actually go to bed and routinely, get tired.

Last night, I downloaded Fallen by Lauren Kate.


I just finished reading Falling Home by Karen White and was in between books. I started to read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, but I hate to say it - it is out of my normal reading genre so I am struggling to stay focused. I know that while reading, by just pushing a button, I can switch over and read a blog or check the internet. I really want to read Unbroken, but feel I may need the book to really stay focused on this - I mean it is a HISTORY book. It will take all of my focus. I was never really adept at retaining history information and I am sorry now, especially now, because there are so many things I would like to know that I know I should know because I vaguely remember being taught in school. I think I may need to start my eReader experience with a lighter, easier to read book.

I am lucky too because by borrowing the eReader, I can buy anything on work's dime. I can download a million magazines or newspapers or books - whatever I want and I don't have to pay for it. When the time comes, if it does, that I buy an eReader, I will then be responsible for paying for my content. I am also, on the side, busily adding free content to my online eReader account so that, if and when I buy, my eReader will have lots of things in the library to begin with.

Ahem, I completely digress.

So far here is what I have come up with -

PROS -

• the prices of books are drastically less, even with coupons
  
• I won't have to carry around 15 pound books depending on what I am reading
• I can carry as many books as I want and it is still the same size and weight in my bag
  
• I won't have books hidden in the closet, resting on my nightstand, bleeding out into the family room and every other room (including my car)
• I can keep all my books on my eReader and since I rarely reread a book, I can delete any time I want to
• I can lend a book to anyone who has the application (whether they have an eReader or not)
• I can be a total tech snob and I can check my email, read blogs, etc on the eReader
• I can highlight, check the dictionary and bookmark any passage or page I want
• I can read with Saint sleeping next to me and not have a friggin spotlight on the book in order to see clearly
• There isn't a messed up dark crease in the book that I continually can't read due to reading at night, with only a booklight
• I can prop the eReader up by sheets and blankets and not have to hold it open
• I can see all of the page at once and turn with the flick of my finger
• if I lose or break my eReader every book I have ever bought is on the internet account, so my replacement eReader will automatically upload my library
  

Cons -

• I won't feel the weight of a book, the smell of the paper and ink
• I can't resell my books back to the used bookstore
  

So the verdict?

I love the eReader. It did make my eyes feel a little strained and I did develop a slight throb of a headache last night. I am not sure if this is because I am SO TIRED (it's been weeks that I have really had a good sleep) that my body was begging to fall asleep, meanwhile my brain was getting addicted to Fallen and wanted to stay up and read. I am thinking I would like to borrow the original eReader and see if the e-ink screen makes a difference, but I have let my boss know that I would like to keep the eReader for at least a few more days, hopefully giving myself enough time to contemplate the eye strain, if there is any because I woke up this morning having slept a very nice six hours, which as of late, is very good.

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Upon searching for covers, I am a BIG fan of the skins that are so incredibly artistic like this one by DecalGirl and I can't believe they sell covers that stand up like a frame. LOVE IT!!

an eyebrow raising event

For many years now I have been fascinated with getting an eyebrow ring. Yes, you read that right. I have wanted an eyebrow ring. The other day on my way out of town, after the holiday, I convinced Saint to go run a quick errand with me. We made a stop at my favorite tattoo parlor and had them insert an eyebrow barbell. It is a slightly curved half ring that basically only the top silver bulb and the bottom bulb show. One is above the eyebrow and the other is below.

YES, I GOT ONE!



I knew when I was considering this that I work in retail and may get to work only to have my boss tell me to take it out. I was prepared for this. I was ok with this. But this is the first time I have worked somewhere where it is such a casual environment. I am surrounded by tattoo'd, pierced and very different types of people. I felt like this was a good time as any to give it a try.

Honestly, I am not even sure it will stay. I like it. I am having fun with it and would like to replace the simple silver bar with a bar with small diamonds on each side, once the swelling goes down. The guy who did the piercing obviously did such a good job because there has been no bleeding, no puss and no discoloration. It is simply swollen. I guess it would help if I slowed down and remembered that I did this and not catch it on my shirts or hit it when brushing the hair out of my eyes.

But it is on my face and I hate when people make comments and it is impossible for people to NOT make comments. That is just the way it is, especially when working in retail. Everyone has an opinion. Go figure.

I also wonder if I am too old to pull it off. I have know people who maybe need to grow up and look a bit more adult like, but that is just culture talking. I hate that whole assumption that we need to look or be like something in order to be considered accepted.

I broke down and told my father over the phone because I was worried about the next time I saw him. He was disappointed and a bit pissed. Not surprising, I had a feeling. Saint thinks he may just be concerned with the impression on my 14 year old niece. Yes she does like tattoos and piercings, not that she has any and I do know I have made an impression on her. Haven't figured out how to talk to her about it. It is hard when, even at my age, I want my parents to support me and approve of me, so I am bummed about my dad. I figured my dad would tell my mom, but maybe not. I appreciate that Saint said he loves it and says it's sexy - now that is shocking because I never, not once, mentioned that I wanted one to him.

So far the people at work have had nice things to say about it and my boss is totally fine with it, though he has said if our district manager says no, I will have to take it out. One guy at work actually said, "I never noticed your piercing." This isn't like a new wave of craziness. It is just something I have wanted to do and now seemed like a good time. I am not going to run out and get a bunch of tattoos or other piercings. Especially when every time I barely touch it, it pings with small pain. This is just a simple and small thing I did for myself. Cool thing is, I can totally cover it up with my bangs.