I finished reading White Oleander by Janet Fitch almost a week ago, but forgot to blog it.

This was a book that I had started and put down a few times, but this time I actually made my way through it.  I don’t think I would have normally picked this book up…but my sister recommended it. And it pains me to say this, but Oprah’s picks tend to be pretty good books.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the beginning is told from a 12-year-old’s perspective, yet written with an adult voice.  I don’t know what I expected, but there was a strange disconnect between narrator and the actions.

This book is about Astrid - a young girl whose poet/murderer mother is serving a life-sentence in prison.  Astrid is tossed from foster home to foster home trying to figure out who she is, who her mother is, and fighting to survive and stick up for herself.

It’s a depressing look at the foster care system, but overall an uplifting book about the strength of a young woman that experienced a difficult childhood.

What I’m Reading Now: End Zone by Don DeLillo

Arguably the best Whitney Houston song ever.

The last season of ER starts tonight.  I haven’t been following since that helicopter crash on the roof…stupid.

The commercials say that one of the “beloved cast members will take their last breath” during this episode.  I’m guessing it’s George Clooney’s character.  And isn’t the African American guy not on this season because he called someone a fag?

Any other guesses?

Neither of these videos are new, but I’m sharing anway.  The first is the original, the second is the parody.

Here’s the link that I talked about: http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database

I balance my checkbook quite regularly.  I enter every deposit and every withdraw.  Each time I use my debit card I save the reciept and enter it into my spreadsheet (I use Google Docs because I can access it anywhere).

Am I in the minority here?

Daniel (Mr. D) jokes about it being a waste of time…but I have, on multiple occasions, found double charges or incorrect charges because I meticulously compare my spreadsheet to my account balance online.

So, who’s with me?  Who’s with Dan?

This commercial changed my life.  Recognize the little kid?  From Fresh Prince.

Here’s a quick observation I’ve made: soy milk tastes healthy.

Especially when you compare it to the fatty taste of regular cow milk.  Soy just has a clean, light and refreshing taste that makes me feel good.

Comedian Lewis Black rightly points out, however, that soy milk shouldn’t be called milk…but soy bean juice.

Seriously, the dude is BLINDFOLDED!!