Some of my current diversions...

I'm going to take that reading list off my sidebar, because I haven't changed it since I put it on. Really, I do read quicker than that. Although I'm currently overwhelmed by the 20 some books sitting above my desk waiting to be read and processed into research papers, the two books I'm really reading are:

The Lexus and The Olive Tree, by Thomas L. Friedman. Yes, it's on globalization and it probablly will make it's way into a paper, but it still counts as 'fun' reading, because I'm enjoying it. Its, let's say, less academic. In other words, readable!

Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham. I just got this from the library today. I LOVED the Hours, and the movie was really just icing on the cake. So, according to a few blogs, his new book is similiar, this time structured around Walt Whitman. I'm going to take it to the sea, sit in the grass, and read it under the sun.

For music, I'm enjoying a few new cds: Drunkard's Prayer by Over the Rhine, which I knew I would love, and I do. Michelle made me a great cd with Feist and Arcane Fire. I'm not sold on Arcane Fire yet, but I love Feist. I trust Michelle to point out the really great Canadian musicians, becuase otherwise my cd collection would be a little US heavy. And finally, I'm very impressed with David Crowder Band's Sunsets and Sushi. I was so sick of 'worship music' I thought I would never be able to buy one of those prepackaged American cds again, but thankfully, Sunsets and Sushi was excellent (and entirely different.) Okay, so I'll put the David Crowder Band onto my list of all-time favorites.

For television, I delight in a weekly episode of Monarch of the Glen. Other than that, I'm trying to limit my TLC intake, because as some of you know, once you start, TLC can suck 3 or 4 hours out of your day without you noticing. But, While You Were Out I consider to be worthy of my precious time. Finally, a new show I've just fallen in love with is Slings & Arrows. Yes, Slings and arrows, like from Shakespeare. It's a Canadian show on Showcase, about a Shakespeare festival, like Stratford. It's filmed mostly in Toronto, I think, the last episode I recognized the lobby of the Phantages Theatre (I suppose it's called the Canon now, but that's just sad). It has Paul Gross and Rachel McAdams (The Notebook) in it. It's hilarious, and just so very Canadian.