I hate Borders. I especially hate their “buy two, get one free” specials, which never fail to reach out, snag me, and molest me until I select three books to buy. Stupid stupid stupid.

Anyway, I stopped into Borders last week to pick up the Cliff Notes for the Canterbury Tales. I wound up leaving with that, plus three paperbacks, including Chris Buckley’s Thank You For Smoking, which I devoured at work this weekend. I would have prefered to have taken deliveries, answered phones, and made pizzas and money … but it was a very slow weekend.

Hilarious book. Absolutely off-the-wall fantastic. I couldn’t put it down, which made going to the bathroom interesting, to say the least. I highly recommend to anyone who has seen or who wants to see the film, read the book.

The film was great. Witty. Snarky. Wonderful. And with a film that good, you know the book has to be better. It’s common wisdom, no doubt told to you by every English teacher you’ve ever had, the Golden Rule that defines the relationship between literature and the motion pictures inspired by literature: THE BOOK IS BETTER.

Midterms are in full swing on Towson’s campus. This was obvious to me on Thursday, when I got on campus at 8:45 and found parking on the top three decks of the garage. I’m usually on campus no later than 8:30 (my first class is at nine-thirty) and the only available parking is on the top level.

It’s a sad state of affair that I’m more worried about my Roots of Rock & Roll midterm (scheduled for Thursday, possibly postponed until next Tuesday) than I am for Chaucer, which is tomorrow.

We had a brief “midterm review” last class, so I know what to study. How to study? Flashcards and modern-English full-story translations of the text. It sounds stupid, but I want to make sure I re-read the tales in a language I understand, particularly with essays required.

I’m not going to be spared by Middle English, however: there will be a “translation” section. I’m worried about that, but not as worried as I would be if it was a “translation” and “pronunciation” section.

What: The October/November Blogger Happy Hour.

With: Your hosts! Moi (that, uh, means “me”), and Jennetic.

Who: Baltimore Bloggers, Bloggers, Blog Readers, You, Me, The Pope, Prostitutes. Y’know. Everyone.

Why: Blogs. Beers. Bloggers. More beers. What’s not to love?

When: Wednesday, November 1st, 6pm.

Where: Dizzy Issie’s
300 W 30th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

Got Questions? Leave a comment. E-mail me. You’ll figure it out. You’re smart. Or at least, moderately partially possibly possessing of some basic, rudimentary education. Yes, look at you, making fire with two twigs. Brilliant.