The Time Has Come to Look for the Snowdens of Yesteryear

Yes, friends, that is correct. It is January, and every January, I read my favorite book, Catch-22, by the late great Joseph Heller. I've been doing this since my senior year of high school, so I guess that makes this the eighth year. Does anyone else think "eighth" looks really weird when you type/write it?

My freshman year of high school, I was in my journalism class when Bahar told us that several parents were attempting to have three books banned: Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, and Catch-22. Naturally, I went out and bought all three. You know, come to think of it, the word "Fahrenheit" looks kind of weird, too. No, I'm not on drugs. At least, I'm not on any good mind-altering drugs. The Gabapentin, which I started again Monday, has some weird neurological side effects, and it occasionally makes me an idiot. These things happen.

The frustrating thing right now is that I can't find the book! I have three copies. One is at Vicki's (last year's reading was a bit delayed due to the giant shitstorm that was my life), one is here, and then I have the best thing I ever bought: a signed copy with gold-leaf pages. I don't read that copy. It's mostly just to look at. I bought it with my first Starbucks check.

So now, I must look for this book, which is going to be quite difficult considering my lack of mobility. Then, my friends, I will delve into the world of Yossarian, our favorite anti-hero.