A snuggle between the covers

On weekends I like to do things a little differently. Enjoy!

Today I thought I’d share some of what I’ve been reading in the last week or so, with very brief comments. Something may spark your interest. I know I’m always looking for good things to read, and a lot of these I picked up on displays at the library.

We Are All Fine Here by Mary Guterson, 2005. This was a fun little mid-life crisis novel. I really enjoyed the writing style, and I’d love to have coffee with the author sometime. The book was a scream.

there’s a (slight) chance I might be going to hell: a novel of sewer pipes, pageant queens, and big trouble by Laurie Notaro, 2007. Nothing is capitalized in the title, so I kept that convention here. This book was so much fun that I’ve put myself on the waiting list for all of her other work. It’s got a quirky bizarreness that reminds me a little bit of a Scooby-Doo episode (without the annoying voices). Loved it.

Chicken Feed by Alma Fridley, 1998. Fun British mystery with a lesbian theme. Enjoyable fluff.

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend, 1982. I read this when it first came out, and I’ve read every sequel. I was very excited to see it again in the library, and loved it just as much the second time around. It’s poignant and funny as all hell. Absolute joy for anyone teenage years and up.

Queer Street (2004) and Sayonoraville (2003) by Curt Colbert. Loved these novels, which are old-fashioned style private-eye novels set in 1940s Seattle. They are just the kind of thing that I love to read, and would love to write. They reminded me a lot of the old Dell map back paperback novels. I can’t wait to read other works of his.

See you tomorrow!

See Sir Ian Holm in drag

On weekends I like to do things a little differently. Enjoy!

I watched a delightful little film the other day. I’m borrowing DVDs from the library, and the randomness of the selection has brought some movies to my attention that I had not noticed before. My latest find was The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (Gillies MacKinnon, 2000). This fun movie is about an older woman who suddenly decides to reunite the band she played in during World War II.

I love that era, and the music, so I knew I would find something good in the movie. I also found it quite funny. Dame Judi Dench returns to a role she’s played many times, that of a feisty old dame. I could watch her be feisty for hours. Olympia Dukakis reminds me here of her role in Moonstruck (Norman Jewison, 1987), one of my favorite movies.

There are too many stars to list them all, although in the end, the names don’t matter. I really enjoyed this film, and you might, too.

See you tomorrow!

Taking things easy

Today my blog is going to be a lot shorter than usual, because I’ve been fighting with some nasty germs and they’ve got me feeling a bit low. I can’t even taste the soup I made yesterday, but I know a few days of rest will have me feeling a lot better. I’m so glad I can’t infect people over the internet! It’s time to leave the computer and go back to bed. See you tomorrow.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

172. Next time you’re not feeling well and trying to do your normal workload, give yourself a little break and take a rest.

Quietly gushing about gazpacho

I seem to be losing my voice today, so I’m glad for the silent nature of typing. Something seems to be going around, and the germs have started to hit me full force. I am suddenly craving soup.

I absolutely adore soup, and it’s one of those things I find incredibly comforting. When I don’t feel well, I want soup, tea, and a cozy blanket. Those essential luxuries can cure a lot of what ails a person, or at least make life a bit nicer during the rough spots.

I don’t generally use a recipe for the soups I make. I have done so, and my cookbooks have yielded some excellent and tasty broths, but I find I do just fine tossing things into a pot and adjusting as I go. Soup is marvelous for absorbing whatever happens to be fresh at the market, and I like to throw a small handful of an interesting grain into the broth. Kasha, oatmeal, and millet all make excellent additions, as long as you keep the handful small. I’ve learned my lesson over the years—too many ingredients make a soup that turns into pilaf by the next day. Even those experiments were never a complete loss—I’ve made some yummy pilafs in this manner. I love the element of surprise that this cooking method adds to the mix. My soups are usually very tasty, but they vary subtly with each batch. My taste buds are never bored.

Homemade soup makes me feel more domestic, too. It’s not hard to make, but it makes me feel like I’ve really cooked something. No matter how simple a soup is, I always feel like I’m really nurturing myself with its brothy goodness. That’s a nice contrast, as I often just throw something together quickly for a meal. Soup makes me feel like I am worth the effort it takes to make myself something yummy. If I’m feeling ambitious, I make up a pan of cornbread, too. Cornbread is inexpensive, easy to make, and it tastes fantastic. I’ll probably make both today, and sip my way back to optimum health. It’s the least I can do for myself.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

171. What makes you feel nurtured and taken care of? Take the time to do one of these things for yourself today. After all, you’re worth it.

They did it their way

I’m tired this morning, but only because I had so much fun last night. I met a friend for a drink and we decided to meander on to a local karaoke bar. We were there to watch and listen.

It was enlightening, as always. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve seen a male hipster in a tiny little fedora belting out Helen Reddy’s classic anthem of female power. My friend and I sat entranced as the singer gave all his energy to the line I am woman, hear me roar…. I did karaoke once, and I might do it again. I’m not averse to singing, but sometimes it’s just fun to watch.

Another singer, a drunk blonde in a tiny red dress, squirmed and jiggled every time she sang. All the better to show off her tattoos, I figure. She sang a rousing rendition of The Beer Barrel Polka, although she’d apparently never heard the song before. She did not know the tune at all, and she made up words as she went along. It was enchanting, in an odd sort of way. She termed this feat “karaoke suicide.” She wasn’t the only one to mention this term, either. Another suicide was a fellow who didn’t feel he could handle a song, but decided to sing it anyway.

Others sang badly-mangled versions of Frank Sinatra and Prince with nary a disclaimer. I particularly enjoyed a rendition of Elvis’ song Hunk of Burning Love, and the king’s music was well-represented through the evening. Amidst the vocal terrors were several singers who were quite good.

It doesn’t really matter to me if the people can sing. I admire their chutzpah, the fact that they are having a good time. The crowd applauds even the wretched, and I admire that, too. The tiny little karaoke bar where we sat reminds me of someone’s rec room, with everyone there just to relax. It’s very communal. Around midnight one of the bartenders brought everyone bright pink shots. I asked him why he’d done this, and he said he was bored. It was a fun little surprise. So was the karaoke bar. I plan to go back soon.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

170. Have you ever done karaoke? Why not give it a try? Or perhaps you’d have more fun as a spectator—it’s a cheap night of entertainment, and a good time can be had by all. Enjoy.

And it’s good exercise

It has finally started to rain again here in Seattle, a sure sign that fall will be on its way soon. I couldn’t be happier. A hot and dry city just isn’t the same place. All the trees got a good soaking yesterday, and the sidewalks are fresh and clean. It seems appropriate somehow, since September is traditionally the start of a new school semester. Even though I no longer attend, I always feel renewed at this time of year.

I love the change in climate, but I also love the change in mood. September is more introspective. It suits my personality after the hectic pace of summer. I’ve been busy—I visited my family, I moved across town, and I’ve been job hunting up a storm. I’ve spent the requisite time at barbecues, parties, and outdoor concerts. I even started to juggle again. It’s a hobby I’ve always enjoyed, but I’d set it aside until recently, only occasionally picking up my balls to have a toss.

I picked it up again when I tried Devil Sticks. If you haven’t seen these toys, it’s a bit hard to describe them. The juggler holds two rubberized sticks in her hands, and she uses these to toss a weighted staff back and forth. She must keep the staff in motion and in the air, and a number of tricks can be performed, twirling the middle staff like a propeller, flipping it, or doing numerous catches. I’ve known about Devil Sticks for years, but once I tried it I was hooked. The same toy store where I found the Devil Sticks also had practice juggling clubs, and I decided to get those, too. When I learned to juggle I gave up on clubs, because the ones I had were wooden. I got bonked in the head too many times, and the injuries were adding up. These new ones are light plastic. It’s time to try again.

My return to old tricks seems perfect for the impending season change. I may no longer be in school, but I’m always studying new ways to be joyful. Who’d want to ever graduate from such a fun program?

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

169. Is it time for you to pick up an old hobby? Perhaps you’d like to explore a new one? Consider your options, and have some fun.

Link, should you desire it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_sticks

Slay your dragons

My friend Laurie and I make up words all the time to bridge gaps in the language. A while back she came up with the term techno-damsel. We often use this word as a verb. To techno-damsel is to avoid the use of new or unfamiliar technology, especially if you wait to have the help of someone who is already familiar with that technology. We’re both recovering techno-damsels.

I’m making some headway. Last week I downloaded music for the very first time. Until recently I didn’t have a computer capable of music downloads, and I still don’t have a portable device to play music files on. I have, however, been wanting to make up a CD of some of my line dancing music. I knew that I could do that on iTunes, but I’d never bought anything from the site or burned a CD. I use a computer all the time, but the whole thing made me very nervous. What if something went wrong? What if it didn’t work with my computer? What was I going to do? I just wanted my knight to come along and figure it out for me.

Since I am knight-free, I made a decision to face my techno-demons alone. I could have waited until one of my more technologically savvy friends had time to help me, but I figured I could manage it. I took a few deep breaths, and faced the wilds of the website. They have extensive written help files, so I was able to figure it out without too much trouble. It worked, and nothing went wrong. I now have my CD.

I’ve faced these challenges before, and I find that the worst part of the problem is all of the nonsense that rears up in my head before I try to do whatever is needed. None of it makes much sense. I learn quickly, and I’m very smart. Once I get started I’m fine, but sometimes I have a devil of a time getting started. Each little victory makes it easier to face the next challenge. Someday I’ll only need the word to describe others. I can’t wait.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

168. Do you put off tasks that involve new technology until you have someone to help you? Try to do one of these items on your own. How bad can it be?

Superior to Rhapsody in Paisley

On weekends I like to do things a little differently. Enjoy!

Sometimes when I want to relax I listen to Rhapsody in Blue, the partly classical George Gershwin composition. I’ve always loved it, although new meanings have been attached to it over the years. I used to watch the news program This Week with David Brinkley, and one of their sponsors was General Electric. GE played a piece of Rhapsody in Blue on their commercial. Now I think of light bulbs whenever I hear a certain section of the music. I also think of the fabulous urban cartoon that was done to the piece in the second version of the Disney movie Fantasia (1999). I love the first version of that movie, done in 1940, and the new version adds new music. The cartoon that illustrates Rhapsody in Blue is set in New York City, and it only adds to my appreciation of the piece. You probably know this music, even if you don’t know its name. If you’re looking for some music to relax to, I highly recommend it (and both versions of Fantasia).

See you tomorrow!

Some soothing goodness

On weekends I like to do things a little differently. Enjoy!

My friend isn’t feeling too well today, and I was able to help him with some simple remedies I know. I can’t tell you exactly where I learned these, because I no longer know. Your results may vary, but none of them are risky to try. I offer them up in case they help you, too.

For nausea, Coke syrup works wonders. You can still find it at some pharmacies, or simply shake up some Coca-Cola—carefully—until it is flat. I no longer use this particular remedy, because I used to be addicted to the stuff, but it works wonders. Ginger works too, perhaps as candied ginger, and peppermint tea does wonders for nausea and for stomach cramps. Papaya supplements are also helpful.

For colds, hot peppers and spicy foods help to drive away the congestion. Besides, spicy is yummy, and it’s nice to have a treat when you’re feeling all nasty. A little bit of brandy and honey in a cup of strong black tea is also quite soothing.

For headaches. Many many headaches are brought about by dehydration. If your head hurts, you might not be getting enough fluids. Drink some water, and then drink some more. This usually helps. Something cold applied to the forehead often provides immediate relief to other types of headaches.

Hope you don’t need this advice right now (or ever)! If you do, give it a try. No nasty medicine to buy, and no harmful side effects to consider, and you might just feel better. Now that’s a win-win situation.

See you tomorrow!

Wilde is so often right

I made another friend at the library today. It’s easy for me to chat with people, and of course I have a natural affinity for other book lovers. Today I had a lovely conversation with a librarian who works in the teen center. This section of the library has some computers and tables reserved for teenagers, but it also has a lot of books I really enjoy. Most of the graphic novels are shelved there, and there’s also a lot of great fiction.

It’s an odd thing. I’d never want to be that age again, but I love young adult fiction. I don’t quite know why, but I suspect that some of it has to do with the themes of the books. I love any book that stresses that a person should be who they are. I think I probably identify with some of the chaos in these books, too.

I also suspect that books for this age group take more liberties with reality. I love fantasy and science fiction, and many young adult books border on the fantastical without stepping all the way into the boundaries of one genre or another. The authors take risks that people writing for adults sometimes don’t. It’s nice, too, that there is sometimes less vulgarity and coarseness within the pages. Vulgarity is the perfect complement to some works, but it’s overused and I find it becomes tiresome.

The librarian I chatted with seemed to be in her twenties, and she was just as enthusiastic about young adult books as I am. When she saw me grab a few titles from the display, she recommended other great reads, and said that she was willing to make up reading lists for interested people. I appreciate that. I don’t have kids, so I don’t always hear about these books through the grapevine.

When it comes right down to it, I don’t think it matters what genre these books fall into. I have one criterion for things I read. Poet Oscar Wilde once said: “It is absurd to divide people into good or bad. People are either charming or tedious.” I believe the same can be said for books, and many of these books charm me. That’s enough.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it:

167. When was the last time you read a young adult book (besides Harry Potter)? Browse the YA section in a bookstore or library and give one of the titles a try. Was it charming or tedious?