Random Things I Like

1. Bubble baths. I can stay in a bathtub for hours, reading, eating, talking on the phone, planning my classes. People keep telling me how bubble baths are horribly bad for my health and I will die a painful death as a result. But at least I will die happy, so that makes it worth it. :-)

2. Peaches. My passion for peaches is borderline obsessive. The months when peaches are not sold are sad and painful for me. I especially love doughnut peaches, and if you don't know what it is, see the picture on the right and do yourself a favor, buy some. They are heavenly.

3. Kindle. I know I have most of the regular readers of this blog sick and tired of my peans to Kindle, so I won't say anything more about it. I only want to mention that I sometimes put it to bed next to me on a special pillow. And if that sounds too weird, remember, I have autism, so I get very attached to objects.

4. Airports. I love hanging out in airports. Every airport has a personality of its own. Some are cold and distant, some are friendly and welcoming. I have many special memories attached to many different airports across the globe. Curiously, my feelings toward a particular airport have nothing to do with how I feel about the city where it's located. For example, I adore Montreal and consider it the best city in North America. It's Pierre Trudeau airport, though, is one of the most unwelcoming places and I have a very strained relationship with is. Detroit, on the other hand, I don't like too much. But I'm in love with its airport. It's one of the coolest places in the world.

5. Potatoes. I think I'm suffering from a serious addiction to potatoes. If I don't eat any for a week, I will suffer withdrawal symptoms. Does anybody know what it is in potatoes that can cause addiction? I'm baffled. Of course, I come from a potato-loving culture, so it isn't that surprising.

6. Sand clocks. I have no idea why but I have been mesmerized by sand clocks since early childhood. When I was little, I wanted one so much that I actually stole it from another little girl. I'm still ashamed of that but I honestly couldn't help it, I just felt that I needed to have it at all costs. Of course, I didn't manage to conceal this theft, which was very embarrassing. Thankfully, my mother was very understanding. She went to talk with the people whose clock I stole and I ended up keeping it with no punishment and no questions asked. And don't worry, I haven't stolen anything since then. Probably because I never met another sand clock that I would like as much. :-)

7. Silver rings. I love wearing silver rings on every finger. My students are so used to seeing me in my rings that once when I came to class not wearing any, a student exclaimed: "Oh my God, are you sick? Where are your rings?" Now I always wear them so as not to alarm my students.

8. Very long books. Whenever I see a book that is 1000 pages or longer, I just have to have it no matter what it is about. Last week, for example, I barely managed to resist the urge to buy a medical textbook that I obviously wouldn't have had any use for. I wanted it simply because it was so beautifully huge.

9. Writing reviews at Amazon. People who are seriously into writing Amazon reviews will understand me when I say that it's a complex and demanding hobby. There are tricks and strategies that hardcore reviewers use to advance their ratings. I only picked up this hobby recently but I'm already learning many fascinating things about Amazon reviewing. Not only is it fun but it also allows me to spend as much time as I like at the Amazon website without blowing my entire salary on it.

10. Lafayette, Indiana. I just love Lafayette so much and miss it terribly. So many beautiful memories I have are connected to this town. There is this Canadian bar, called Sgt. Preston's, and this Indian buffet restaurant that is so amazing. The picture on the right is the view from the window of the house where we used to live in Lafayette. There was this great Russian grocery right around the corner where I would go almost every day. I wish there were something like this where I live now, but no such luck. We have to schlep all the way to St. Louis to get our kind of food. If any of my readers hail from Lafayette, say hi to your beautiful and romantic town from me.