I bought a whole bunch of makeup today that should have cost $40 but only cost $20. So that's good, then. I'm pragmatic enough (I would say mildly-moderately, but it'a all relative) and rarely spend money on stuff like that. But I do also have a very sensitive side that lives parallel to the pragmatist, and when my feelings hurt or I feel anxious about the future, it's the only time I ever shop willingly and impulsively. I'm having serious resume doubts so I bought a whole bunch of $5 movies too, but I'll probably take those back tomorrow. Shopper's remorse. Just the movies though, not the makeup. Makeup is a necessity in its own way, I've just found ways around spending actual money on it over the years. I tend to splurge more on food.

I believe that every reader has "apocalyptic" books in their library. Meaning books that have changed their lives or reading habits in some profound way. I think there will be an apocalyptic book series on my blog for the next few weeks.

I will start chronologically. The first book is Charlotte's Web, and I believe the first time I read it I was between 6 and 7 years old. I already had a strange empathy, or compassion, for animals, and this book cemented in my mind the eternal belief that animals communicate with each other and with people. They have souls and make friends and laugh out loud. They are equally valuable as people. Even now, in films or books or poetry or stories, when an animal speaks out loud to another animal or to a person, I do not question it at all. I don't attribute it the listener's state of mind - I don't automatically assume they or crazy, or on drugs, or dreaming. I always assume that the animal just decided to talk.