(no subject)

I went to B&N for some books and ended up spending an indecent amount of money on books, socks, underwear, and a couple shirts at the mall. I mean, 6 months ago, when I was jobless and the starving entrepreneur, I would have gasped out loud at what I just spent in this one spree.

The socks and underwear were becoming, in strictly mathematical terms, the limiting factor in my clothing. There was one shirt I really, really liked (black, with a leather lace-up front) but it was a Kenneth Cole at $56, and I couldn't buy it after already spending far beyond my limit with everything else. Then I found an Alfani white shirt with leather lace-up, at 65% off...almost its evil twin...so I nabbed it. Pirate inspiration seems to be big in men's clothing right now. (I would have prefered the black, though.)

Now, I'm suddenly four books behind in reading.




Four days, smoke free.

(no subject)

So, these Master and Commander books are interesting, but they're very, very authentic. They were written in the 1970s, but you wouldn't know from reading -- you'd think they were written in the 19th century, they are that accurate.

Which lends them a certain style, something like Bronte for good-hearted British Royal Navy men. All the talk of mizzen topgallant staysails and such, yet oh the propriety and honour of the conversations.

I can handle the sails and the shiptalk. I'm not nearly an expert on sailing (I'm a fisherman, so my nautical knowledge is second-hand and usually refers to powerboat sportfishers) but I get by.

The money on the other hand. Guineas and pounds and shillings and crowns and farthings. I barely get by with modern quid, let alone 19th century royal currency. So I did a google search to get a cheat sheet and found an accurate and well explained page...entirely devoted to Regency romances.

So while Jack Aubrey is firing 12-pounders at French privateers, I'm half wondering if, back at home, proper English women are fanning themselves over some vapour-inducing gossip. The other half is trying to place Napoleon's land battles at the particular time.

But it's a fun read.