I began bleaching at the age of 11, since I had a very hairy upper lip and felt embarrassed about it, particularly amongst the non-hairy Brits, where I grew up. Later, at the age of 13, since no bleach was to be found here, where we moved at the time, I reluctantly started tweezing. For man years this was great. Loved it. I tweezed every other day. But by the age of 26, I realized that this had been THE biggest beauty mistake ever :glare:. My upper lip hairs were now the same texture as my eyebrow hairs. Tweezing had most definitely changed their texture. No child should feel embarrassed about hair and stuff and should do what they feel comfortable with. I would not get too legalistic about such stuff. Seriously. At this age, I would recommend bleaching, waxing, depilatories, etc. As she gets older, electrolysis is the absolute best. BTDT. Gone forever! :D ETA: I personally would never, ever recommend shaving the face. Eventually, it will feel stubbly. I'm a former trained and fully licensed beauty therapist, electrologist, etc. Just in case anyone thinks I don't know what I'm talking about. ...

I'm beginning to consider reading these genres again. Pure entertainment and great fun! :D I don't want to sound rude or anything, but I haven't read these types of books since high school, when we all used to swap romance novels and sneak reading time during boring classes. I think I'm going to treat myself soon. :)

Stacia, you can come anytime, with or without Moby Dick. Preferably without, so we can chat and laugh. :D :grouphug:

IQ84 is on my wish list. I love that view. :) Thank you. Been wondering about this one. The author of the one I read didn't have the greatest things to say about it, but I might give it a try. This looks almost exactly like the view from our home. This is the beach right near our home (across the street). Cujo is so cute! :D

Shawne, I thought of you and your idea to start a Pound-a-Week Thread. I would love to do such a thing. I would never say what weight I am, however :tongue_smilie:. Just how much I lose or gain in a week. Rebounding is fabulous and so beneficial for overall health and the lymphatic system also. I can share lots and lots of info if anyone's interested. My rebounder came with a DVD, but I really dislike it. A bit weird and cheesy. I do very basic moves and saw a few You Tube clips for ideas. I just bounce and do arm lifts, arm circles, waist twists, very basic stuff - all to my favorite music. I also watch my computer do a photo slide show, which makes me all nostalgic for when our dc were smaller, etc. :) There might be some good DVDs at Total Fitness DVDs - use the coupon code "10off" to get a discount. I'm keeping my exercise to a very bare minimum these days, since I'm trying to lose weight. I have found that my intake is, unfortunately, far more important when it comes to weight loss, than exercise. Not thrilled about that at all, since I love to eat. :tongue_smilie:

Yep. I hear you. :D :grouphug:

I know. Isn't it great? :lol: Leotards and all that 80s workout stuff. The yoga routine looks phenomenal, but the pictures keep making me laugh. Yes. I believe that if a book doesn't engage me in the first 10%, I either give up on it, or possibly try again later. Life is too short to read books that are not enjoyable in some way. Reading should not be drudgery. I've added this to my wish list when you mentioned it a few days ago. Love the cover. :)

:lol: Oh dear. :tongue_smilie: She's already had the funniest way of describing her teenage s@xual escapades with the former Governor of CA - Gray Davis. :lol:

Early this morning, I did rebounding, which I absolutely love. Tina, are you enjoying the Bar Method? :)

I love stories like this. I love people like her. What an amazing story. :) I mean, heck, if they told me I only had a year to live even after chemo, my attitude would likely be, "Why bother going through chemo?"

I've heard of this and my good friend raves about it. I've always been skeptical. But now, I'm very interested.

I've been having a hard time finding any books that I really love and that are worth my time and energy. Last week, I finished: Cage of Stars - very disturbing parts. Just okay. Only read it because a good friend wanted me to. Someone who usually knows my reading tastes really well. :confused: Raquel Welch - The Raquel Welch Total Beauty and Fitness Program - love this. It's a 1984 yoga book. Very 1980s-ish and really fun to look at all the photos :D. Very useful. I hope to implement this program/some/most of the yoga poses whenever I can get my behind in gear. Dear Fatty by Dawn French - Normally LOVE Dawn French (Vicar of Dibley, as well as French & Saunders). This book had some funny parts, but wasn't nearly as funny as I had hoped. A bit of a let-down. Then I started a few books and gave up on them after a while. They failed my 10% (and more) rule). Either my timing is wrong and I cannot focus, or the books just aren't for me. Fair Game - loved the movie with Sean Penn. Was really eager to read this. But almost every paragraph has the word "REDACTED" in it, making it very difficult and annoying to read. Not particularly well-written either. The Politics of Truth - written by the husband of the above. Not very engaging either. Slaughterhouse Five - couldn't get into this at all. I really, really wanted to. I re-read the first 15% twice. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention - too depressing. Very, very sad. Nice to read his background, the fact that his mother was Grenadian and all. But just really painful to read. I cannot handle such stuff since having kids. For example, I read Roots before having dc. I don't think I could easily read it now. Also, I think this one was a bit too textbook-ish for my taste. I would love a really good Malcolm X bio. Murder in the Marais: An Aimee Leduc Investigation, Vol. 1 - I was very eager to read this. I LOVE this neighborhood in Paris. Boring read at the moment. Maybe I'll try this one again later. I just started one that was free on my Kindle and is really quite funny so far Cybill Disobedience. I don't usually do well with free books on the Kindle.

:grouphug: Sorry. :tongue_smilie:

I agree that that's the purpose of the thread - to encourage us to read AND for the round number. Many times I read more than 1 book a week. Many times it might take me much longer. I was in no way suggesting to change the name of the thread. :confused: I mean that that is my own personal goal. :D It just seems to me that some get stressed out over the number. Personally, I seldom count our read-alouds. I seldom even remember to include them in the weekly thread.

Yes, my dh watches lots of TV, far more movies, and online reading than do I. And yes, he definitely watches more than 52 shows a year also. :lol: The only books my dh will read are those by Malcolm Gladwell, stuff related to his business, and classics. I love keeping a list also. Fairly new with me. I wish I'd started doing so years ago. Good Reads is wonderful. :)

:iagree: on both counts. :) I don't usually do a book every single week. I post there and I read the posts for suggestions. I have said numerous times that my "goal" is 26 books per year. 2 reasons: Cost (no library here and I have to buy every single book) AND Time. I think it's sad that so many seem to be fixated on the number of books. I find that quite disappointing. One loses the joy of reading. Who cares HOW MANY for crying out loud? :lol: Just read and enjoy. Why get fixated on the numbers? I'd rather read 10 absolutely brilliant books a year and enjoy them than read 52 so-so books. Also, people have differing views of what constitutes fluff. Last week, someone mentioned that The Book Thief was fluff (or something like that). Some disagreed. It's all subjective. To me, just read and enjoy. This is not a literature class. :D

You should post there :). Seriously. Fluff, children's books, it's all reading anyway. It's not called the "Classics-a-Week Thread" or something. ;)

I just remembered that my friend's mom was diagnosed with (I don't know what stage) bre@st cancer over 20 or so years ago. She refused chemo, etc. Went all-natural. Don't know the details. But I do know that she has been cancer-free and is living a very healthy life. She tests her pH daily - every single morning. Cancer cannot thrive in a neutral or alkaline environment. She also lymphasizes daily - dry body brushing, rebounding, etc. That's what's worked for her.

I have lots and lots of info for cancer. Mostly for prevention, but I know that if I were diagnosed, I would follow the dietary and lifestyle advice to a t, as much as possible. If anyone wants the info, I can post it. To me, you can't lose anything by following a healthy lifestyle. I know that I would probably seek conventional and natural ... I guess. Someone here mentioned the Moss Report. I've heard of it also. Here are some of my notes. IF YOU HAVE CANCER Don’t make snap decisions. Take your time to look at your situation and talk it over with your doctor who will be your primary physician. Don’t rush into any treatment, as tempting as it may be. There’s usually enough time to evaluate one’s condition and start making some decisions. It’s not a time to panic or rush into the first, second, or third therapy that sounds good. Occasionally, a cancer is aggressive. In this case, decisions need to be made quickly and treatment should begin immediately. That’s rare. Usually, there’s time to step back, take some deep breaths, and begin to do some research and better understand your specific condition. Ralph Moss, one of the most highly regarded cancer treatment researchers, writes the Moss Reports and numerous books on alternative cancer therapies. He’s constantly following up on new research and updating his data base and reports For about $300, he sends you a lengthy report on treatment for your specific diagnosis. He includes scientific studies that back up his reports. The fee includes follow-up sessions and you can use the service indefinitely. CANHELP can also help you get a different view of your condition and options. This report is more expensive than the Moss one above. Opt for the less expensive option if you do go with this. The fee includes one year’s worth of personalized phone consultations. You get a lot of personal attention and info for your money. You’re paying for expert recommendations and evaluation – your report is tailored to your diagnosis, age, history, stage of cancer, and any complicating factors. It also will give you info on fad cures and scams. Cancer needs sugar to thrive. Also, a lack of oxygen and deep breathing can lead to cancer. Cancer flourishes in the absence of oxygen. If you introduce plenty of oxygen into your cells, you will reverse the growth of cancer by suffocating the tumor. Oxygen therapy is a good alternative method worth looking into. It’s a standard practice in many of the alternative clinics that specialize in cancer treatment. When you withhold sugar and flood the tissues with oxygen, you will starve or suffocate the cancer. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is one way of flooding your tissues with oxygen. Good HBOT chambers are expensive. Make sure any doctor you see for this therapy is well versed in its application for cancer. It’s important to always take good quantities of any antioxidants if you’re using any oxygen therapies. Acupuncture has demonstrated benefit to cancer patients in the following areas: Pain Management: Acupuncture is very effective for managing pain related to tumors, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and inflammation. Immune System Modulation: Acupuncture increases blood cell production and enhances Natural Killer Cells and Lymphocytes which leads to increased immune response and decreased risk of infection. Inflammation: Acupuncture reduces the pain and swelling related to inflammation. Nausea and Vomiting: Acupuncture has been shown to reduce the intensity and frequency of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Dry, Painful Mouth and Throat: Acupuncture has been shown to decrease these side effects allowing the patient to be able to swallow, eat and drink normally, protect the health of the teeth and gums and reduce the incidence of infections, pain and swelling in the mouth and throat during radiation therapy. Sleep: Cancer patients suffer sleep disruption and insomnia due to post-surgical discomfort, anxiety and depression and physical pain. By relieving these symptoms the cancer patient is able to get the deep sleep and rest required for recovery and healing. Quality of Life: Eugene Mak, MD, a board certified oncologist states that acupuncture " can also add to the patients' sense of well being and decrease the malaise associated with any chronic disease, especially cancer....and imparts a sense of well being and accelerates patients' recovery." Acupuncture is recommended to cancer patients at the Mayo Clinic and at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Today, many oncologists refer their patients for acupuncture treatment to manage cancer symptoms and cancer treatment related symptoms. Many cancer treatment centers now have Licensed Acupuncturists on staff to help patients manage the many challenges of the cancer journey. To find a qualified acupuncturist http://www.acufinder.com Reach out to at least two friends for support (logistical and emotional) during times of stress, even if it's through the internet. But if they're within arms reach, go ahead and hug them, often! Evidence now shows that many small tumors of cancer cells are perfectly well contained by our body’s natural defenses and often even disappear on their own. Cancer is not a one-way street. Small tumors may appear, grow a bit, and go away. What this means is that life-style factors that weaken or strengthen such natural defenses may play a major role in whether early tumors develop – or not – into a dangerous disease. BOOKS The Anti-Cancer Book is the best, by far - the author, a physician, was given a very short time to live. By following natural and regular methods, he lived for about 20 years more than expected. The Cancer Survivor’s Nutrition and Health Guide by Gene Spiller Alkalize or Die You Can Conquer Cancer by Ian Gawler – amazing story recommended by Dr. David Servan Schreiber The pH Miracle D-Glucarage: A Nutrient Against Cancer by Dr. Thomas Slaga The Grape Cure by Johanna Brandt Questioning Chemotherapy by Ralph Moss – an excellent book that serves as an excellent companion to your doctor’s suggestions Herbs against Cancer by Ralph Moss is a wonderful book to read instead of running off and trying every herbal therapy you hear about

This has been my experience also.

IODINE More than 90% of us are low in iodine and adrenal fatigue is often linked to an iodine deficiency. Today's environment makes it almost impossible to get the amount of iodine you need. 1. There's very little iodine in the soil. So unless you're eating a ton of iodine-rich foods like kelp, seaweed and shellfish, you're not going to get much iodine from your diet. 2. Many salt companies have stopped adding iodine to table salt. 3. Food manufacturers have stopped using iodine in baked goods and are using bromine instead. Bromine (a halogen) competes with iodine to get into your cells. So the more bromine you consume, the less iodine you get. Unfortunately, many foods today (primarily baked goods) are loaded with bromine. 4. Our water supply contains chlorine and fluoride, both of which are halogens. Again, halogens compete with iodine to get into your cells. And you can't avoid chlorine and fluoride simply by drinking filtered water. That's because you get a hefty dose any time you bathe, shower, soak in a hot tub, or swim in a swimming pool. 5. Most conventional doctors never test for iodine deficiency. They figure there's no need to test iodine levels when they can just test your thyroid function instead. The problem with this is that the most widely used thyroid test, the TSH, is wildly inaccurate. Reason: While the TSH measures thyroid hormone, it can't tell the difference between active thyroid hormone with iodine and de-activated thyroid hormone with bromine or chlorine or fluorine. So the test shows you have plenty of thyroid hormone. But most of the thyroid hormone isn't doing its job! CORRECTING AN IODINE DEFICIENCY: I think it was Dr. Nan Fuchs who wrote: “I've had women come into my office who look like the poster child for underactive thyroid. They're overweight, they're losing their hair and eyebrows, their skin is dry, and they tell me they feel cold all the time. Yet when their doctor gave them a thyroid test, it came back normal! When I put these women on iodine supplementation, their conditions improve dramatically. Their skin improves, they stop losing their hair, and they finally lose that excess weight — and keep it off.†The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent other serious diseases and symptoms connected to an iodine deficiency. The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus). Increase your intake with mineral-rich sea vegetables (agar, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame) at least twice a week. You can eat as much seaweed as you want. Brown seaweeds are highest in iodine. They include all forms of kelp. Fucus, also known as Bladderwrack, is considered to be the best for underactive thyroids. Hijiki and Sargassum are two other forms of brown seaweeds. Red seaweeds include dulse, nori, Irish moss, and Gracillaria. Since toasting doesn’t affect seaweed’s iodine content, you can eat it dried or dried and toasted. Toast some in the oven or in a dry frying pan to see if you prefer that taste. You can also powdered seaweed to your food or add larger pieces of seaweed to soups, grains, or vegetables. Seaweed should be an enjoyable addition to your diet, not an unpleasant experience. If you simply don’t like its taste, you can get it in capsules. Use 5-10 grams of mixed brown and red seaweed for thyroid problems. This is about 1 ½ teaspoons per day. If you’ve been told that your thyroid is borderline-low, eating seaweed makes sense. But remember, you need to eat seaweed every day or take iodine in a different form. Not all seaweeds are safe to eat. Some come from polluted waters. Be more cautious and talk to a naturopath if you’re on thyroid meds and want to try seaweed. Use iodine-rich Seaweed Gomasio to season your food. Instead of using seaweed to boost your iodine levels, you might consider taking an iodine supplement. Iodoral is a very good one. I get mine from amazon and love it. :) You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C. Studies show that women who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day for normal breast function. If you’re heavier, you may need more. Start off slowly over a 4 week period. Take 1 pill for 30 days Then 2 pills for 30 days Then maybe 3 for 30 days Then 1 in morning and 1 in evening for 30 days Can then go back to taking 1 or 2 a day to maintain Your body will know....listen to it... One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet. Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine. When we take 50 mg of iodine/iodide a day, it acts as an adaptogen, regulating various body functions. Substances that interfere with iodine Chlorine – present in most city water supplies – unless you de-chlorinate your water, you are being exposed to thyroid-lowering gases whenever you bathe, shower, or have a drink of water. Fluorine Bromide or Bromine – found in some pesticides – try to eat organic whenever possible Bromide is even used in some asthma drugs Mountain Dew, Fresca, and orange Gatorade all contain bromide in the form of brominated vegetable oils. Drinking beverages with bromide causes low thyroid function in some people. These toxins are in our water, hot tubs, non-organic foods, and some soft drinks. If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body. Aspirin, blood thinner meds, and steroids can result in iodine deficiency thyroid problems. If you’re taking these, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function. Our cortisol levels tend to be highest in the morning. If you’re stressed, morning is the best time for you to use two stress-reducing techniques: meditation and exercise. But don’t push yourself and over-exercise. This perpetuates your stress cycle. Walking, swimming, biking, low-impact aerobics, gardening, and dancing are easier on your adrenal glands than running. If you’re too tired to exercise, don’t do much. Listen to your body and take a 10-minute walk instead of a longer more strenuous workout. Mild to moderate exercise from 4-6 times a week will help lower your cortisol. And it takes only 10-30 minutes of prayer or meditation to help break the stress cycle.

SUPPLEMENTS Vitamin C is probably the most important vitamin for adrenal function – found in sprouts, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, red peppers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries Magnesium – sea vegetables, nuts, brown sesame seeds, whole wheat (if tolerated), brown rice, peas, beans The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate, although magnesium bound to Kreb cycle chelates (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also good. Avoid magnesium carbonate, oxide, sulfate, and gluconate. They are poorly absorbed (and the cheapest and most common forms found in supplements). Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to magnesium glycinate. B Vitamins – The most important ones are B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6 – whole grains, brewer’s yeast, egg yolks, miso, avocado, liver, soybeans, lentils Calcium – sesame seeds, beans, nuts, collards, kale, broccoli, parsley, sea vegetables, goat’s milk TIMING IS EVERYTHING When you eat is critical. Don't skip meals. Have breakfast before 10 AM Eat lunch around 11 AM Snack around 2 PM Have dinner no later than 6 PM Few bites of a snack at bedtime Regular aerobic exercise and strength training can burn off excess adrenal hormones. But don’t overdo – more than 1 hour, 5 days a week, can overstress your adrenals. Yoga also helps. Meditation, biofeedback, or take a 15-minute time-out every day to reduce adrenal stress. Make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night to keep your stress hormones in check. You must find a way to recharge. There are many ways to unplug from your busy routine. But the most elemental requirement for recharging your battery is addressing your body's basic needs for sleep, exercise and nutrition--because without addressing those, your body won't be able to reboot, regardless of how many breaks you take from your routine. If you feel tired when you first wake up, you probably aren't getting sufficient sleep. It's best to observe how you feel immediately upon waking rather than after you're up and moving around. Be sure your exercise routine contains the four principle components--aerobic (cardio), anaerobic (interval), strength training, and core exercises. Variety is key.

NUTRITION High-quality animal protein Heart-healthy fats – Omega3s 5-6 servings of vegetables a day Sea Salt Complex Carbohydrates Lightly cooked or raw protein whenever possible to preserve amino acids and naturally occurring enzymes needed to digest food – such as sashimi, eggs, plain yogurt, sushi, goat’s milk and cheese, whey protein, legumes combined with whole grains, seeds or nuts Licorice Tea Seaweeds – nori, wakame, kombu, hijiki Naturally fermented miso without MSG Sprouts Soy Sauce without MSG Carob Ginger Beans combined with whole grains Organic Meats – like lamb, wild meats like venison Alaskan Salmon Bone broths with vinegar added Red and Orange Vegetables Almond Oil Coconut Oil Palm Oil Olive Oil Add a vegetable to your eggs at breakfast: sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or sliced tomatoes Spinach Red Pepper Yellow and Butternut Squash Beets Carrots Millet Brown Rice Quinoa Papaya Mango Plums Pears Kiwi Apples Cherries Black Licorice Tea has adrenal-rejuvenating properties – Traditional Medicinals Organic Licorice Root Tea – only have 2 well-brewed cups every other day since licorice can cause a fatigue-inducing potassium imbalance. After 6 weeks, take a 5-day break before repeating the regimen. 1-3 cycles of this helps most women. Do not consume if you’re pregnant or have high blood pressure. Eat as much fresh, organic raw food as possible (at least one third of your intake), particularly vegetables. Drink plenty of pure, filtered water every day. LIMIT OR AVOID Coffee and Black Tea (including decaf) Juice Sugar Alcoholic Beverages Deep-Fried Foods Rancid Oils, Seeds, and Nuts Soda, including diet soda Processed Meats and Cheeses Chocolate White Flour in Breads, Cakes, Pies, Cookies, and Pasta Cow’s Milk Artificial Sweeteners and Ingredients Fast Food Junk Food White Rice Eliminate processed food, junk food, soda, sweetened drinks, sports/energy drinks, and all artificial sweeteners from your diet. Radically reduce your sugar consumption, and stay away from products containing high concentrations of fructose, such as high fructose corn syrup.

Here's lots and lots of info that I have. In adrenal fatigue, your body overproduces adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones. Eventually, this causes your adrenal glands--your front line stress defense--to become depleted. SYMPTOMS • Absentmindedness • Severe Allergies • Asthma • Stubborn Belly Fat • Increased blood pressure and cholesterol • Unstable blood sugar levels • Chocolate Cravings • Chronic Colds • Unstable moods, depression, and anxiety • Constant Fatigue • Hair Loss • Hormone imbalance • Chronic Illness • Impaired immune function and less resistance to infections • Insomnia • Irritability • Panic Attacks • PMS • Salt Cravings • Decreased Sex Drive • Long Sinus Infections • Unclear Thinking • Weight gain May need a salivary cortisol test To test whether your adrenals are overwhelmed, you’ll need a dark room, a mirror, and a flashlight. In a dark room, face the mirror. Turn on flashlight and hold it at your temple so the beam passes over your eyes. Your pupils will contract. Leaving the flashlight on, observe your pupils in the mirror for 2 minutes. If your adrenals are healthy, the pupils will remain tiny. If your pupils dilate at any point during the 2-minute exposure to light, it means that your adrenals are exhausted. CAUSES Too much cumulative stress Adrenal Fatigue is the result of living with a constantly aroused sympathetic nervous system--living in a perpetual state of "fight or flight." Poor diet Perimenopausal Hormonal Shifts Copper –zinc imbalance affects the adrenals and the liver. Zinc is needed for the production of adrenal cortical hormones, so if zinc levels are low or copper is high, production of these hormones diminishes. The adrenals then aren’t able to rise to the challenge of stressful situations and give the body the get-up-and-go it needs. The recommended daily copper allowance for adults is 2 milligrams – the amount already provided in most multis. Compound that with what you’re getting from copper-rich foods: tea contains about 5 milligrams of copper per 100 grams and cocoa powder is not far behind at about 4 milligrams per 100 grams. You can see how easily your copper intake can build up in the body and interfere with the actions of your hormones and other nutrients. Try to get a copper-free multivitamin. BOOK “Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome†by James L. Wilson

I love fluff from time to time :D. Ideally, I would alternate fluff and non-fluff. I don't think anyone should be hard on themselves about that. I seldom read classics these days or particularly heavy stuff. There will come a time when I will read some classics again, but not now. None of us should feel guilty about reading. I myself would feel guilty for not reading at all. I just can't understand people who never read :confused:. I always have some reading material with me pretty much anywhere I go. It's up to each of us what we choose to read and we should read what brings us joy and happiness. If a classic is going to get you frustrated or whatever, put it aside and consider reading it later - that's my take on it. :) I don't know how I feel about starting a separate thread altogether. I would just continue to post on the current one. I have posted many of my fluff books there and have never felt guilty about it and/or I don't think I've felt the need to apologize about my reading choice.