Running with Scissors

On August 3rd, I signed in at 2:45pm the Financial Aid office and took my seat to wait for my name to be called. There was a girl sitting across the hall from me. She was eloquent and poetic as she screamed into her cell phone, "I's been here since 12:30, they's just now seen people from 11 this mornin'!"

Splendid.

Next to her sat a young dad with his toddler son. The little boy was big eyes and a sparcely toothed grin. While he provided to be entertainment for myself and anyone else who's heart isn't made of stone, I was soon bored. I wandered up to the desk to check my status in the list, and found that there were still 4 pages of tired and whiney people ahead of me. I headed outside to call my fiance and complain. (Hey, I was tired and whiney too.)

"Go buy a book." This was the sound advice he gave. And I'm happy he did.

I picked up Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. By the time my name was called by a very helpful Financial Aid assistant, I was halfway through the book. The story of Augusten's completely fucked up childhood sucked me in. I mean, who doesn't like a good story about a self-made skylight, underage sexual discovery, pain killers and reading poop?

While there were many times when I would a.) laugh, b.)cringe, or c.) wish I was doing anything but eating while reading the book, I finished it in just 3 days. I found myself craving more. I needed more humorously told dysfunction. I then proceeded to pick up Dry.

Dry is Augusten's story about finding his own sobriety. I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good laugh. Augusten takes us inside the world of advertising and the world of a drunk who believes rehab will make a great story, and will make him a better drinker.

I've become curious about Mr. Bourroughs, so I've checked out the audiobook of Magical Thinking and his newest book, Possible Side Effects. I'm curious as to what strange place Augusten will lead me next.

Only time will tell.