Published on : 2018 (translation) || Format : print || Location : Japan One line review : Keiko would rather behave exactly as others expect her to so she doesn't disappoint "society", and so she works at the same convenience store without changing anything about her life, but very soon the same society expects her to "upgrade" (change career and find a husband), except there is no manual on how to do these. ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why. I found that arrogant and infuriating, not to mention a pain in the neck. Sometimes I even wanted to hit them with a shovel to shut them up, like I did that time in elementary school. But I recalled how upset my sister had been when I’d casually mentioned this to her before and kept my mouth shut. Thoughts : When I started reading Convenience Store Woman , I had no idea what to expect. The synopsis does not give a
Good morning readers! What did you guys in the US of A do during this long weekend? Whatever it is, I hope you all had fun. I usually like talking about one specific thing for Sunday Salons, but this is one of those days when I don't have anything specific. So I'll just bulletize (yes, this word doesn't exist, but you get the gist) my week, while I wait for the drooliciously fragrant French Toast baking in the oven.
- We didn't do anything specific this weekend - the wet weather during the first couple of days made them mostly stay-at-home days, other than allowing for the occasional jaunt outside. Yesterday, however, we visited our friends in Raleigh, having a pretty good time.
- This past week was my first summer hour week this year and it went a LOT better than ever before. I'm usually irritable and sleepy the first week but having started waking up earlier the previous week for a morning walk, I was able to bounce right into work by 7 am. This week, however, is a whole different story - I have been sleeping more than I should, so I'm sure I'm going to be irritable and sleepy this week instead.
- Speaking of our morning walk, the husband and I got hold of two of those Fitbit Flex wrist devices that we have been eyeing for a while. It tracks your daily activity level - you can decide your target daily goal (10,000 steps, 3000 cals, etc) and the LED lights on the device display gives an idea of your progress. It's wickedly awesome - the first couple of days, the husband and I were intent on being the first to hit our goal. Since then, though.....
- Yesterday, we watched The Heat with our friends, and if you haven't watched it yet, or weren't planning to watch it - let me tell you - you absolutely should watch it. It is definitely one of those movies you will enjoy with your better half or your close friends or siblings. People were laughing out loud in the theater, not worrying about interrupting others' movie experience, because everyone was doing it anyway. I've always enjoyed Sandra Bullock's movies and this time she takes comedy to a totally different level. But really, the star of the movie is Melissa McCarthy - she was just ah-mazing! I can't begin to express how often I kept waiting for her screen time and hoping she stays in every frame. Long after the movie, we were still quoting lines and reliving laugh-out-loud moments from the movie. The husband also enjoyed it tremendously, so this is definitely not a movie just for the women.
- This past Wednesday was my birthday. At this point, I've stopped counting my years - I've just realized that I'm entering the 30s next year (humongous gulp) and am not looking forward to it. However, the presents were great - they make any year feel better that your age. The husband gifted me Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close as a camouflage for his even awesomer gifts - a lovely beautiful pair of blue earrings and, wait for it, a full year subscription to The New Yorker magazine. I've been eyeing the mags for a very long time, but the price of the subscription kept turning me off. But now, I'm so thrilled I'm getting them and can't wait for my first copy. The brother gifted me Janet Evanovich's The Heist, which is book one of a different (non-Stephanie Plum) series and that one sounds wonderful too. Our Raleigh friends gifted me a stacked mug set that I'd seen around a few times and liked a lot - so it was wonderful to receive that.
What is happening at your end?

Comments
I added you as a friend on fitbit - at least I think I did.
I want to see the earrings! :)
Happy belated birthday sugar!
Here, I didn't read today, but napped and now probably my wife and I will watch something via Netflix. Lately, we've been watching a show called The New Girl with Zooey Deschanel, but who knows what we'll watch tonight? We'll see.
I have had a nice weekend. Four days gives you enough time to do errands, take naps, read and then have some fun. I spent the entire day moving stuff around since we are getting U-verse next weekend. We have been satellite users for years and years so this will be different.
I am reading Night Film but haven't yet read any of it today. Not yet. I prefer to read that one at night.
Happy belated birthday! Want to trade birthdays next year? You can have my 40th, I'll gladly swap, lol.
I like the wrist band - now do keep going with your good intentions! :-)
The 30s are making me upset, I'm not sure how the 50s will make me feel. It's a nightmare.