I stumbled across a cache of reviews of The Girl’s Guide to Absolutely Everything on the Goodreads website. I’m not terribly familiar with Goodreads as Facebook is about all the social networking I can tolerate (and I rarely log on to Facebook because once I get in I never get out and I kind of feel filthy and time-warpish and violated afterwards a lot of the time). Anyway, there’s something enlightening about reading reviews in a context where people post photos of themselves and seem much less rehearsed and more conversational than they do on Amazon. There’s something rather “I’m writing a review for public consumption” about posting on Amazon, whereas on Goodreads or I’m assuming Shelfari (which I have yet to scour) you’re writing for your friends.

Here’s the exchange that I found fascinating on Goodreads:

(For the record, there is no section on snapping gum in the book. I don’t even know how to snap gum. I was recently having a nostalgic conversation about Chewels, however, and its competitor Freshen Up gum. I noticed Trident is getting into the gums-with-fillings situation, and not a moment too soon. My favorite French gum is Hollywood Sweet Gum, with a crispy vanilla candy coating and mint surprise inside. I am sad that I have run out of my meager supply. I like anything with a secret filling. Which is why I am not ashamed to tell you I am always going to select the powdered donut that may be filled with jelly or maybe cream. Donuts. I only like them when they’re in a big box of many flavors and I get to choose. One solitary donut is not that fun.)

Yes, I know. Where have I been?

1. France

2. Greece

3. Thinking

Not doing much of 3 in 1 & 2 but today, jogging because it’s not cold, for four blessed days at least not cold, it is over 70 and the horrid grayness abated, while jogging I did think okay, Melissa, come on, you can post something short on the blog each day. We will get more involved as the weeks go on, because there’s a lot to talk about, but oh right:

4. Writing

That’s important, 4. 3 led to 4, as it does if you’re lucky. If I’m lucky.

Don’t call me “your friend,” I am not your friend. Don’t call me folks. Don’t tell me that calling Sarah Palin stupid is sexist. Speaking of which, who can explain the new Genius function on iTunes to me? It does seem vaguely genius, but I’ve only created one Genius playlist. It’s probably the most depressing playlist on earth as I told it to start with a Colin Hay song and it dug up 25 Songs to Sob To.

5. Sobbing

Which inhibits 4, of course, but 4 is a good stay against 5. Not that much of 5, but, you know, tomorrow’s another day.

I think this is a good start. To being back. And to say to the readership, the wild & raging readership of Girl’s Guide and beyond, that I’m fast at work. Watch this space.