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This post was inspired, as most things in my life have been, by Alice Bradley.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading, on my new Kindle Fire.

Even though I’ve had an e-reader less than a month, I already don’t understand how anyone can read regular books.

“I like paper books,” a friend told me when I tried to shame her into e-reading.

There’s always one. Probably when books came out there were all these people who were all “I prefer cave etchings! I guess I’m just old-fashioned.”

But not me.

I like that it’s light, I like that I can have a kazillion books on it and can read what I want depending on my mood.

For example, on the subway, I’ll often read Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant. I’m reading this seemingly endless series of books because Young “I don’t like to read” Ladrinka is reading them. He’s a few books ahead of me and every evening he asks me what part I’m up to and then nods knowingly.

When I’m on line at Starbucks, I’ll glance at Bossypants. I’ll be honest. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It’s a good read because it’s TINA FEY! But.

At home, I just started Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austern? Austen? I can’t keep track of all these up and coming sensations. I don’t quite believe that I’ve never read it before, but I can’t remember doing it. To my horror, I know that I did read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a few years back and I’m not even a zombie person. THAT I KNOW OF.

I’m also really enjoying Tigerlilly’s Orchids by Ruth Rendell. I’m a huge (ok, of size) Ruth Rendell fan– and this mystery-suspense novel is a real treat. Thank you to the lovely Wendi for recommending it.

Speaking of mystery-suspense, I recently finished Laura Lippman’s The Most Dangerous Thing. It has all the elements that I like. Childhood friends, a mysterious death, The Big Chill-type reunion years later. But it fell flat for me. I wasn’t satisfied. Which I’ve been feeling a lot with Lippman lately. I think it’s because What The Dead Know was so strong and compelling that I haven’t found anything else of hers that has lived up to it. Dilemma.

I’m looking for recommendations especially in the mystery/suspense. I like books that are mysterious and suspenseful but I just can’t read ones that have a private investigator. A childhood spent with Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot will do that to you.

Any ideas?

Are you reading anything wonderful? Or anything not wonderful? OMG, do you even know how to read?!

You’ll be relived to know that yesterday’s clogged toilet dilemma was resolved when Husbandrinka came home and taught me how to flush the toilet. Apparently, I haven’t been holding the handle long enough. He said I have to hold it until I see “the whirlpool action” which makes toilet flushing sound almost exotic. I’m very worried that the fact that I had to be schooled in this subject means that when people ask “who is the idiot for whom self-flushing toilets are designed” the answer is Marinka.

But anyway.

To celebrate my new toilet wisdom, I am sharing some Up Close and Personal Q&A over at The Mouthy Housewives. There’s even a photo! Of me!

And more great news (for me).

I joined the Million Moms Challenge Community as a Community Leader. I am honored to be invited and a little bit nervous. Hopefully there will be no toilet flushing test or anything.

Today is my first conversation over there, about the challenges that sometimes come with breastfeeding. It’s a different thing than what I usually do, so I hope you’ll visit me there.

Have a great weekend! (Is it me or was this week endless?)