Read More: The Metamorphosis and Other Stories

Browsing around at the Goddard Book Fair, I stumbled upon The Metamorphosis and Other Stories. As much as I love Herr Kafka, for some reason I don't own any of his books or stories. At the moment my goal is to collect my favorite books with pretty covers so that when I have my library there is a bit of surprise and joy every time a book is pulled from the shelf. This version fit the bill. Nice, simple, but interesting cover on the outside, my favorite stories on the inside.

Or so I thought...

Unfortunately this version left out some of my favorite stories like 'The Hunger Artist' and 'A Country Doctor'. In their place it put these long rambling, more-essay-than-stories that I couldn't concentrate on for more than a few seconds at a time. So if you were to ask me now what they were about I could merely say a rambling dog and a rambling mole, which sounds interesting, but I assure you they were not.

So in the end I am happy to have 'The Metamorphosis' at my finger tips whenever I want it, but am going to keep my eyes out for a replacement book with everything I want and nothing I don't. Compromises are for suckers and moms.

- Megan Leigh

One New Thing: Joined a Gym!

So far, my exercise routine since this summer has been running plus yoga. I try to do one or the other every day. But with the cold weather, my running has really taken a hit. A lot of times it's either below thirty, and I can't stomach running along the windy Hudson, or it's above thirty and raining, which also isn't very appealing. This is no good!

So today, another rainy, cold day, I decided to bite the bullet and join the gym by our house. It's actually probably the cheapest gym in Manhattan, and it seems undiscovered. Compared to the gyms where I work, or pretty much any gym I've ever seen here, it's empty... no fighting over elliptical machines or treadmills. You can even stay on a machine for longer than thirty minutes! It's heaven! Megan had joined the gym already, so I tagged along with her this afternoon and signed up myself.

I was lucky she was there to show me the ropes. Because I've never really used a treadmill before. Once, when I went to pick out my running shoes, they made me get on a treadmill. But it was a little bit terrifying, and I had to hold onto the sides of the machine so I wouldn't fall off. If you've seen Encino man, and you remember the first parts of the movie where Link enters the modern age... you get the idea. But I caught on pretty fast after she showed me what to do, and I jogged along fine.

One thing that was a little depressing is the fact that Megan WALKS at 3 miles per hour, and I can jog along at a nice pace at the same speed. This was so humiliating, I had to keep upping my speed to show her who was boss. So probably I ended up running too fast! But I didn't fly off the machine, and I made it until the end of my workout. One other thing that is hard about the treadmill is that it is SO boring. I was listening to music, but it wasn't enough. I think because your time is flashing before you in big, huge numbers, it's hard to get your mind off how many minutes you have left to go. Usually when I run outside, my mind wanders and I stop paying attention to the time. I just couldn't do that today. I think next time I use the treadmill, I'll hang a towel over the time panel. And maybe I'll get some new music or try podcasts to keep me more interested, since there is no scenery to help keep things fun.

You may wondering who is in this picture. It's me. Running and yoga has really been a great combination, and my happiness made my hair turn ten shades lighter. Success!

-Kristin

I was really worried about Kristin on the treadmill. She told me she almost fell the only time she's ever tried to use one so I figured she'd abide by mom's motto "slow and steady wins the race'. But then I see her in my peripheral vision continually upping her speed. I had to think of an emergency plan in case she did fall. I had brought along a towel, so that could help keep the blood from gushing from her nose and showering all of us treadmill runners!

There was a girl next to her running even slower. It made me think, hmm... maybe I should give running another go, but on my own terms this time.

It's so nice to have a gym partner. Maybe this will make me get up and go more often!

- Megan Leigh

Must See: Sherlock

After hearing rumors that PBS is trying to capture the young audience with shows like Downton Abbey, I stumbled upon an article that said yes, indeed, that is the goal. The article informed me that the other program they were using to bait the young was Sherlock. Still refusing to believe that I'm an old fogey, I thought this will be a perfect show for this young, hip gal! Although I don't see how Downton Abbey is different than other Masterpiece Classics, except that it is a series, I do see why Sherlock is a different type of TV show. Now, Sherlock is no stranger to PBS it is true. But a YOUNG, creepy eyed Sherlock definitely puts a new spin on it. I've never been drawn into the other series when sitting around, but this one got me instantly. I like the actors (Watson will be a familiar face to most), and I like that there is a good amount of humor as well. One thing that you should be warned about beforehand: There are only three episodes. Sucks to your mother, BBC.

- Megan Leigh

Good Food: Outrageous Brownies

This time I tried the recipe for Barefoot Contessa's Outrageous Brownies.

Now some of you may know that recently I had my yearly physical, and I got a high blood sugar reading. I learned this in a letter from my doctor. A letter that appeared to have been written by a fourth grader whose favorite subject was not English. Pretty much all it said was to cut all sweets out of my diet for the next year. So I have been trying to eat less sugar until I figure out what is going on! Megan spent all day bullying me, though. Telling me to think about my public. Telling me I had to make something sweet so we would have something to blog about today. Finally she wore me down! So the new theme of this blog may be watching a diabetic slowly die from eating brownies. We shall see!

Anyway, the recipe turned out very well. I halved the recipe so it would fit in a standard cake pan. I also left out the instant coffee powder, because of my picky audience. The brownies turned out very rich and fudgy. Yum! Two thumbs up.

-Kristin

Read More: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book, quite a while back, but didn't want to blog about it until I had seen the movie to do a book-to-movie comparison. Unfortunately I missed seeing the movie in the theater by one measly week and had to wait months for it to finally come out on DVD. By the time I finally put the movie in the DVD player, my Harry Potter memories had been shoved to some dark crevice in my grey, wrinkly brain and no good comparisons could be made, but I'll try.

Let's talk about what I can remember of the book first. Again, it was a total surprise how it ended. I was definitely shocked and horribly dismayed in parts. "It can't be, it just can't be!" I remember myself sobbing from 7 feet in the air. No, I was not reading balanced on my floating quidditch stick, but from my well-lofted bed. (If you're wondering, yes the weather is different at that altitude!)

Now to the movie. There was just too much to be crammed into the movie to do the book justice. You didn't get the emotion and suspense. The surprising back stories were glossed over or removed entirely. I guess it was okay, but it was not nearly the same caliber as the book.

Who would have thought that these children's stories would be so darned good?? I encouraged you all to read for yourselves months ago. Who of you have taken my earnest urgings seriously? Witch of your rumps need a visit from my trusty Puma boots to give you a kick in the right direction?

What's next, you may ask? I've read the books. I've seen the movies. Next on the agenda is Pottermore, the online Potter community! The journey isn't over yet!

- Megan Leigh

Read More: The Emperor of All Maladies

Some of you might know that recently I switched fields at work--from studying infectious diseases to working on cancer. Since I am a newcomer to this area, I have so much to learn. So when I saw this book at Goddard's Bookfair, I scooped it up! It is a biography of cancer that came out a couple years ago, and it got pretty amazing reviews. I figured it would be a fun way to learn about the history of cancer research. And it was! It was like a whole class in cancer etiology and therapy, crammed into a riveting book. A Cliff's Note version of cancer's history, if Cliff's Notes were well written and engaging. I don't know how the author did it, but he made centuries of cancer lore fun to read about. I think that even people who aren't particularly interested in cancer would enjoy this book. There are so many insights into how we view diseases, how scientific discoveries are made, how medical policy is made...  And when so many of us will end up battling cancer ourselves, or seeing our loved ones struggle with it, I guess it is good to learn something about it.  Two thumbs up.

-Kristin

Read More: Rancid Pansies

Eleven days into the new year, and I'm already letting myself down in all my goals. I have just now, finally, finished my first book of the year: Rancid Pansies by James Hamilton-Paterson. This is the third (and final?) in a series about Gerald Samper, a ghostwriter and cook of disgusting food (think mice pie). The first book, Cooking with Fernet Branca, I absolutely loved. It had me cracking up all the way through, if I remember correctly. The second and this final book were still both good, but not as laugh out loud funny. I only laughed aloud twice, at the very beginning and at the very end. A nice way to start and a nice way to finish!

This time the book starts after Gerry's Italy house has collapsed down the side of a mountain and he accidentally starts a rumor that the ghost of Princess Di led him and his friends to safety that night. He eventually gets the idea to forget ghostwriting and write a satirical opera about the princess with many a hijinks along the way.

Although I don't give it a 'super' rating, it does merit a 'good', and I say that's a pretty good way to start off the new year!

- Megan Leigh