My perusal of books I feel that I ought to have read but haven't gotten around to it continues, and yet I am still stuck in a genre rut that I can't get out of. No Burgess, Maugham, Ellison, Pynchon, or Heller for me, oh no. I suppose what I'm admitting is that I just finished yet more James (The American) and am thrilled to delve into yet more Austen (Lady Susan...the only Austen work that I have yet to read). My only consolation (besides the fact that I know that I will soon run out of James, Hardy, Dickens, Wharton, and Forster to read and will therefore be forced into new territory) is that I enjoy them. Yes, I am a literary hedonist. Mock me if you will.

I don't have too many glorious plans this weekend. Of course, let's not forget my primary occupation these next four days, which is to hope for another six weeks or so of sweltering weather so that I will not mind the brain-numbingly cold showers I am resigned to take for that duration. Guess I should have done something about that $1,000 gas bill, huh? Bills schmills is all I have to say. I'm determined to enjoy my summer, natural gas or not, and I will try and take comfort in the fact that I'm conserving valuable resources.

Of course, if my electricity is turned off, that's another story.

I believe the weather this weekend will be beautiful, so I'm adding a few bike rides and outdoor imbibing of spirits to the list of things that I absolutely must accomplish this weekend. I have a very informal wedding to attend on the third, and as for the fourth, well, that's already causing some controversy. I hadn't really planned much other than seeing my family and spending the evening with friends. Only now LJ wants me to hang out with his friends, and though I really don't want to, I'm trying to figure out a way I can avoid it without hurting any feelings. We'll see how that goes. I think I feel a cold coming on...

I've also resigned myself to the fact that I must return to the world of the dually-employed. Besides my little gas problem, I realize that I'll never be able to change/improve my lifestyle without more financial backing, and since I see not a winning lottery ticket nor a suitor with a large inheritance in my future (no lodgers at Netherfield Park for me), I must earn it myself.

The injustice of it all.

And as I'm feeling relatively mischievious today, and as I can't find anyone here at the office to indulge my desire not to earn my wages, I must now search elsewhere.