Arby's and Books

It has been a couple weeks since my last blog...all my random visitors must be disappointed. Well I am back, I guess. Writing a blog has started to seem a little like work. I sit at a computer all day typing emails, so you can understand my reluctance to spend additional time staring at my computer screen. I would much rather stare at my television screen, more comfortable seating.

First point of business: Arby's roast beef sandwiches. How is Arby's not the most popular fast food restaurant? They pioneered the curly fry (in my opinion), offer a delicious, healthy sandwich (don't tell me otherwise, I don't want to know), and I can't even imagine a world without Arby's sauce and Horsey Sauce. Since I can't have White Castle our here on the left coast, I have to say Arby's is my favorite choice for fast food. Many may argue that In N Out is better, but in my opinion I can make as good as a burger at home. For a fast food franchise to top my list it has to have that unique characteristic of being difficult to replicate in your own kitchen.

My top five fast food restaurants, not limited to my current geographical constraints
1. White Castle
2. Arby's
3. Taco Bell
4. In N Out (constrained by it french fries)
5. KFC


Last year I had a goal to read at least 24 books, a kind of new years resolution, and ended up reading almost 30. It became somewhat expensive because I have this awful habit that I need to buy the books and keep them on my shelf as kind of a trophy (I don't think I have been in a library in the last 4 years). Even worse I end up loaning out or giving away my favorite books and a couple months later regretting it then slowly adding them to my Amazon shopping cart to get over the $25 order total to get free shipping. Anywho, I was thinking that I could keep a log of some of the books I have read to help me keep track, and actually remember some of the details about the books. Here's what I can remember I have read so far this year.

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night: This book is about an autistic child investigating the murder of his neighbors dog against the wishes of his neighbors and his own father. This book is a relatively easy read as the narrator is a fifteen year old. Overall, I enjoyed unique perspective and interesting quirks of the narrator and found the mystery and general plot of the story lacking in substance. For all I know that is exactly the point of writing a story like this, so thumbs up.

Eleanor Rigby: This book is my favorite Author's (Douglas Coupland) latest book. I think it is pretty difficult to explain his books, but the premise is the narrator gets a call from a hospital because a complete stranger to her just checked in with a medic-alert bracelet with her name and phone number. Like most of Coupland's books, the story is centered around a dysfunctional family with a unique history filled with strange connections. However, I was confused by the ending of this story...there seemed to be some reference to enlightenment or even a character being "god-like". Whatever it was, it went right over my head. Since I like Douglas Coupland so much I would say read it if you like his other books, but I would more highly recommend his other books.

Middlesex: This book is great. It the story of a young girl who grows into a man. The best part of this book, in my opinion, is the great story telling about the history of the Stephanides family. I was slightly less enthralled with the book as Cal was a teenager, but overall a very addictive book.

Angels and Demons: Similar to Da Vinci Code, this prequel is very difficult to put down. Again the main character, Landon, is in an outrageous situation and of course will end up saving the day and getting the girl. A good weekend read if you have nothing else to do.

Blink, The Power of Thinking without Thinking: Just started this book last night and it was very difficult to put down. This book is about how we know things we don't yet consciously know we have figured out. A great example in the book is a study done on gambling. Subjects are given 4 stacks of cards, two read and two blue. The red cards all have higher payouts, but much worse downsides. The blue cards are more consistent winners and in the long run the only way the subject can make money. The subjects are consciously able to say the blue cards are better after 50 cards, but sub-consciously it is after only 10 cards that people start avoiding the red cards. Just fascinating stuff. I haven't read enough to properly discuss the book, but look forward to reading more tonight. I

think that is all the books I have read so far this year...may be one that I am forgetting. That is all for today.