Has anyone read The Book Thief? I bought it on Friday and have been engrossed. I'm about 250 pages in so far and it's got me thoroughly hooked. If anyone else has read it, I was hoping for some thoughts about whether Death is a corporeal being in the book or a spirit that just has a shape of some sort? He refers to himself as a 'he' so if he has a gender, does that come with a body? Or is he just a spirit? Thoughts?

I am so in love with California. I love finally being somewhere that you truly feel is home. Currently still job-hunting. I'll admit that I get frustrated at times, but you know, job searching is never a quick thing, even when the economy is great. Well, unless you're my mother. Sometimes I question whether or not I should have become a nurse like I once thought about doing, but then I think...no, I'm too much of a History geek to have majored in anything else. I know the job I get soon more than likely won't be in my field. And I think all of dealing with job search woes are entitled to be frustrated, but I refuse to give in to the ridiculous fear-mongering going on in this country in regards to the economy, because all that does is make everyone more depressed. And so, I refuse. The economy is not great right now, we are in a recession, things are gloomy. Why must we be reminded of this every single day, multiple times a day? This too shall pass, and in the meantime, let's all try to balance optimism with a bit of healthy cynicism and pragmatism. I'll get a job; I won't get one tomorrow, maybe not even this week or the next, but eventually. If I started thinking otherwise, then I would truly doom myself. And to those of you also job searching, really don't get down. Don't. That's the worst thing you can do. Keep going and keep breathing, and just remember not to stop.

I am wishing all the best for you, poppets, we're all going to be all right. Trust me. :D