Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sunday Salon


So my life has changed- I've come into the possession of a netbook, one of those miniature laptops that weighs as much as a kitten and can be used for email and word processing. I have a laptop that I love, and as I wrote last week, my only real complaint was its heft. This new little baby solves that problem and provides an easy-to-use, friendly working experience. Even if it is a PC. The only problem I have now is whether to carry it with me all the time or just sometimes!

I have to say, I'm totally in love with it. Two nights in a row now my husband, who also got one of his own, and I have been hanging out in local bookstores typing-typing-typing. He's writing a sequel to the novel he recently finished; I'm just writing my blog posts. But it's fun anyway. And I know it will be a big help to me at conferences and other professional events. Looking around me at Borders last night, it struck me that bookstores are now like full-service nightclubs for nerds. Finally, a place for me!

Otherwise this past week has been busy in the blogosphere with all the kerfuffle around the FTC and their infamous Guides. What it comes down to for me, as for a lot of you, is that I just want to do my thing without being hassled by The Man and I'm willing to comply with the law. Thanks again to everyone who commented, tweeted or linked (or read) my husband's post last week. Now let's all get back to the business of reading and writing about books- what we're all here to do in the first place.

Speaking of books, there have been a ton of great book events in Boston so far this month but between one thing and the next I haven't been able to get to any of them. All my hopes for the month are pinned on the weekend of the 24th and 25th, as I participate in the Boston Book Festival on the 24th and see favorite author Margaret Atwood do a reading from her new book, The Year of the Flood, the next day. I hear that musical performances of the hymns from the book are also a part of the show at some stops; I'll let you know how that all goes. I am really, really looking forward to it!

What are you looking forward to (or back at) this week?

21 comments:

Amy said...

Congrats on your new netbook...I want one! :)

And the Boston book fest sounds like a lot of fun. :)

JoAnn said...

Have fun at the Boston Book Festival...can't wait to read about it. The new netbook sounds awesome!

Anonymous said...

This is fun! I can picture you and your hubby typing away.

Katie said...

The netbook really is awesome! And it makes traveling so much easier! :)

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

My birthday is coming up and I've been hinting---well, suggesting---hmmm, perhaps, pleading for a netbook. My husband's response is that I already have a big laptop and a medium sized laptop; three seems over the top to him. (I also have an iPhone and a Kindle...but I use all these...a lot.)

Molly said...

Love the analogy that Borders is like a bookclub for nerds --- I totally agree!

I plan to look into a netbook as a possible Christmas gift. Sounds like you are really enjoying yours.

Beth F said...

I love mine too!!!

kikifitz said...

I love my netbook. it is just so small and light and easy to travel with.

And I am in total envy of you hearing Margaret Atwood at the Boston Book Festival! Tell her I loved her latest book if you speak to her...lol

caite said...

I love my netbook. it is just so small and light and easy to travel with.

And I am in total envy of you hearing Margaret Atwood speak at the Boston Book Festival! Tell her I loved her latest book if you speak to her...lol

April (BooksandWine) said...

I love my netbook, it really is perfect for travel and for bringing back and forth to school (I use it for lesson plans and also blogging).

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

The netbook sounds like fun. I need something light like that, will have to look into one now.

Literary Feline said...

How exciting about the new Netbook. I've been having problems with my laptop and hubby and I have been considering my getting a new one and letting him use the old one. Going through the process of deciding what kind I want is always such a difficult process for me.

I really appreciated your husband's post this past week, Marie. I didn't comment, but I did read it and even shared it with my own husband. I found it very helpful, including his comments to others' questions.

I hope you have a great time at the Boston Book Festival. I know it's still a little ways away, but I bet you can't wait.

Have a great week, Marie! I need to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Laundry is that never ending chore.

Space Station Mir said...

I'm planning to go to the Boston Book Fest, I'll hopefully be leading a group from my university. I'm thinking of going to the margaret Atwood event as well if it's still open!

Alexia561 said...

Congratulations on your new netbook!

And I like your description of bookstores as full-service nightclubs for nerds. I just wish that we would talk to one another every now and then...*L*

Have fun at the Book Festival!

D.M. SOLIS said...

Well, you already know I love your humor and now your blog. Please follow me as I am following you. Thank you, peace and continued good things for you and your husband in literature and in life. Sincerely,

Diane

Memory said...

Horray for netbooks! I'm over the moon in love with mine. It's so much more portable than my clunky old laptop!

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

"full service nightclub for nerds" LOL!

Yes, there is SO MUCH going on in town this month! Lucky you to be going to the Atwood event ... I hope to meet up with you at BBF.

Michelle said...

I want a netbook but fear that if I get one I'll be sneaking on it at work and at the most inappropriate times. Once again, thank your husband for his time and clarifying some of the FTC stuff it went a long way to calming some who were quite upset/concerned.

Hope you get to the Boston Book Festival. Can't wait to hear about it!

Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) said...

I've been going to coffee shops and bookstores at night to work a lot lately, it's fun! I get distracted people watching sometimes though. Enjoy your new netbook!

Zibilee said...

Yay! I am glad that you got such a cool little computer. I know how exciting new hardware can be, as I just replaced my computer a few months ago. I will also be interested to hear how the Atwood reading goes. I am still trying to find the time to read a few of her books since I read your awesome post.

Serena said...

Congrats on the new netbook. That must be handy though I love my mac.

I wish I could pop up for the Boston Book Festival!

I love this: bookstores as "full-service nightclubs for nerds;" what a great description.