Just got back from Barnes and Noble. Sarah's gone until tomorrow night -- whaitewater rafting with work. I was feeling bored and useless, grazing images on the TV like junk food, so to get out of the house I went to the big bookstore. I used to work there, which is a story unto itself.

I am intimidated and inspired by bookstores. There is so much there of interest, so much to read, to learn, to respond to. I looked at books on Art Deco, some Palinhuk novels, a book of Camus' essays, Moby Dick, and read the Ewan McGreggor interview in the newest Esquire (which was rather worthless. You don't learn much new about Ewan other than he had to pretend he was this really slow animal while in acting school and he has a big penis. Seriously.). With all that, how can I pick one thing to read? How can I prioritize? What if I finally start Moby Dick and hate it, or can't get through it? I'm paralyzed, almost, by fear of starting something new, or picking the wrong thing. I get the same way in record stores. I either walk out of there with 12 different things, or I leave with nothing. Given my general financial state, I mostly opt for the later, which leaves me bereft of new material. That, in turn, makes me mad at myself. Yes, I am a mess.

But the trip wasn't totally useless. I got out of the house, away from the TV, and generally feel better about things.

Now, I am going back to the television, but with a purpose. I rented the Dune miniseries. Sarah's not a sci-fi fan at all, so I pick out stuff like that when she's not going to be around to watch it with me.

BTW, the Assault on Precinct 13 remake was not good. Not horrible, but predictable and generally lame. I never saw the first one, but it's John Carpenter, so it has to be better. I was also seriously annoyed that the climax of the movie takes place. . . in a pine forest!!? When did they get forests in Detroit, especially the bombed out crappy part of Detroit Precinct 13 was in?

Alright, enough of that. Off to Arakis and thinly veiled representations of Arabic/Muslim culture in science fiction.