I’ve been seeing a lot of posts today around the theme of “Biggest Turn-Off: ‘I don’t read’” or “Reblog if you love to read”…

Every time I see posts like that I’m reminded of two different times in my adult life when girls who I have been head-over-heels in love with have broken up with me BECAUSE I love to read. They both literally told me that after being with me they had come to realize that they want to be with a guy who doesn’t read. And sure enough, their next boyfriends were both dumb jocks who were very open and proud of the fact that they don’t like to read.

Neither of these girls seemed like shallow, illiterate types. They were both very interesting, vibrant, seemingly well-rounded people. We met in college and they would always say that the reason they didn’t read for pleasure was because they had to read so much for class. 

It’s strange how you can share a year of your life with someone and then watch them suddenly reveal such an odd and extreme aspect of their character that you had no clue about….

What a lovely day. I walked over to the park, sat by the pond, watched the ducks, and read my book in the sun for a while. Then I had a nice long chat with a very kind and interesting old man who invited me to share a bench with him. And then on my walk back home I got a couple shots of espresso on ice and sat out on the sidewalk and people watched for a while.

I think I’m gonna hang out at Fresh Pot more often late at night. I like spending time out in public places where I can be anonymous and read my book but still enjoy the presence of other people in the background. Plus it’s just around the corner and the vibe there is really nice for reading (seeing as it’s inside a bookstore and all).

One of my roommates is a terrible conversationalist, so everybody avoids talking to him. The only problem is that whenever someone does decide to engage him, he’s so desperate for human interaction that his voice gets REALLY LOUD, takes on a desperate, almost angry tone, and he goes on and on and won’t let the other person get a word in edge-wise. He’ll go on talking for hours if you stick around that long. If you want to leave the conversation, no amount of “okay, well I gotta go” will work on him. He ignores it and keeps going. You literally just have to turn and walk away from him while he’s talking and he’ll keep going long after you’ve left the room.

For some reason my other roommate has decided to engage him tonight and even with my studio headphones on, playing music, I can still hear his indignant ranting reverberating from the kitchen, through my bedroom walls, and into my bones. 

I really need to find a new place to live.

P.S. - Remember that other 60 year old hippy roommate who always honks and squeals on his saxophone and sings operatically to reggae music played at half speed? Well, his girlfriend and him have been making the most disturbing sounds while they have sex lately. They’ll be going at it, creaking and grunting and moaning and then he’ll start giggling, high-pitched, like an evil leprechaun while she goes “ho ho hoooo” over and over, in the deepest voice she can manage, just like Santa Claus. I’m not even joking.

This morning I stopped by my neighborhood doughnut place. It’s in this really cool old house with a fireplace and comfy vintage chairs and it’s just a lovely place to sit with a coffee and fresh cinnamon doughnuts.

As soon as I walked in, the cutest little 3 or 4 year old girl stopped dead in her tracks and just stared at me in awe. She was so adorable too. She looked just like a mini Sophia (eelum) and was wearing this little vintage peacoat and flower skirt and shiny black shoes. I gave her a kind smile and then looked away but I could see out of my peripheral vision that she was still staring. I looked back at her and smiled again and waved at her and her parents, who seemed pretty amused.

Then after I got my coffee, I sat down next to the fireplace and she walked right up to me and started chatting away like we’ve been friends forever and it just made my day. It’s moments like that when I really wish I was a dad. 

Her outfit sort of looked like this:

Except that she was wearing a blue peacoat that looked like this:

I just downloaded a bunch of artsy French films but I don’t have the energy to read subtitles right now so I’m watching Salt for the millionth time instead. Angelina Jolie is so badass.