if I don't get my books it's going to be "applicable" that I kick Wal-Mart's ass

I hate Wal-Mart.  Again.  I was thinking how convenient it was to get Wal-Mart gift cards for Christmas because that meant a) I didn't actually have to enter the store to purchase things, and b) I had a wider selection than the crappy-ass Nora Roberts and John Grisham books they actually have sitting on their shelves.  (Of course I bought books.)  Most of my order arrived in two different shipments, including three DVDs and a book I couldn't find anywhere--Borders, Barnes & Noble, school library system, public library system--so I was all, "Yay Wal-Mart."  Which was stupid.  Because the other two books I ordered were supposed to be here a week ago and still haven't arrived, and the info in their confirmation e-mail and on their website is decidedly cryptic.  Tracking number for the shipment is "Not Applicable."  What the fuck is "Not Applicable" in this context?

And I need books.  The Time in History thing I was reading ended up pissing me off because it was written by this prissy academic who felt the need, whenever he mentioned someone else's scholarly contributions to the subject, to explain why their work was inferior to his.  I made it about ten pages.  Good thing it was on the clearance rack at B&N.  I can't finish Everything Is Illuminated at the moment because, as entertaining as it is, it's giving me a headache, because it's barely written in English.  I haven't been sleeping well lately so I have no attention span for that kind of thing.  I tried reading a book about the psychology of serial killers, and something else about how personality tests are crap, but I got bored with both of those after a couple of chapters because I'd pretty much gotten the point.  I did get through Wonderland: A Year in the Life of an American High School by Michael Bamberger, which was a fun, light nonfiction read.  (Emily, you might be interested in their quest to get John Mayer to play at their prom--the footnote to the story is that right after this book came out, at the following prom, he did show up to play a few songs.  I hate to say it, but it might've been damage control in part, since he didn't come across very well in the book.)

Anyway, my realization was that when I'm not happy with my reading material, I get cranky and stressed in general.  Which further supports the theory that I have an serious addiction here.  I've moved on to The Golden Ratio by Mario Livio, which is about math, of all things--actually, the number phi--and is actually pretty promising so far.  I kept picking it up and then deciding I couldn't afford it in B&N for like a month, so finally I decided to just buy it already.  And Gina, I also have If on a Winter's Night a Traveler sitting on my shelf, next in line, so I should be good for a while.  I have my fix.

Finally, for your amusement: Engrish.com, which is--well, you'll have to see it for yourself.