Redeeming the Days

I long for summer vacation nearly every day of the year (when it's not summer vacation, that is). It's like a rich and delicious dessert. Fresh raspberries, hot fudge.... Splendid. Everything is green and lush. The air seems cleaner. And the days are longer. God, I love that. Waking up to sunshine. Staying up late. One summer's motto was "everyday is a weekend" or maybe it was "everyday is a new adventure." At any rate, I have had a summer vacation for the past 28 years. It's become a sort of "thing" with me. However, I have one wee small fear. I am afraid of "wasting" the summer. Not living it to its fullest.

Yesterday was my first official day of vacation (since it was the first "work" day I've not had to actually work) and what did I do?

I went to school.
Sigh.

Some habits are hard to break. I even ate my lunch in the break room and discussed school life with teachers who are teaching summer school. What the heck is wrong with me? It's not that I couldn't stay away, actually. I had a purpose and that was taking a correspondence course test in my film study class that will enable me to be "highly qualified" to teach a class I've already taught in previous years. Good times.

After I did my test, I actually decided to do some things that I might not have had time for during regular business hours and golly that was when summer really began.

I went to the bank.
I paid my rent.
I got my oil changed.
I bought groceries.

It was a regular riot. Then I went nuts and watched a movie in the afternoon.... the middle of the day, people. Later in the evening I did manage to check out a new restaurant in town to celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite "look out, here come the guns" 24 year olds.

This morning when I woke up I made a pledge not to let a day go by without finding some way to make it a celebration of summer vacation. Today I had lunch at Happy Joe's.... ummmmm pizza buffet. And then I went to Marci's and we gave ourselves manicures and pedicures. Ahhh... I think this is a good start. (Here is a pic of my fingernails.)


I hate my feet. But I like them better with polish.

Creative Cooking Concept.2 La-la-la-la Lavosh

It's come to my attention that there are people who have never experienced the delights of Lavosh. And some who have never even heard of this. It seems to be something that restaurants around here have on the menu: one can order a Lavosh pizza or an artichoke-spinach dip with broken pieces of Lavosh for dipping or spreading the yummy dip. My grandma used to buy this when I was a child so I guess I've always been aware of the existence of Armenian sesame seed cracker bread.

Making a pizza from it is my favorite use. You simply cover the piece of Lavosh with Havarti cheese and your choice of toppings and heat until the toppings are warm and the cheese is melty (you can broil or simply use your regular oven features). Voila. Cooking I can handle.

Clever Cooking Concept.1 Puzzle Cookies

I can't remember how I got here.... in my aimless web-wanderings, but I bookmarked this as something to look into. I love this idea. Puzzle shaped cookie cutters. I could really have fun with these. Here's the blog that mentioned them. Here's where you can buy them.... muji

More Flowery Goodness

Clever Crafting Concept.10 Knit a Wig

I actually believe it was this project idea that inspired me to want to relearn how to knit. I am still not quite ready to take it on, but I love it.... love it... love it.

This is another project from the ever-crafty Megan at Not Martha. Her site is truly a wealth of cool ideas and great links. (From manners to uses for white vinegar to instructions on how to paint a room.... she's very helpful.)

The directions for her hallowig are here at knitty.com

My Trip to the Nut Lab

Last Thursday, on what could not have been a busier day, I took a little trip to the Nut Lab. Actually the Human Nutrition Laboratory in case you were getting any ideas. In the past I've participated in studies that pay a stipend for human guniea pigs. I am always willing to to do things like take iron supplements if cash is involved. If only there was as study that would pay me to take calcium. (something I know I should do, but can't seem to start).

The iron study was alright. Some participants get placebos and others get the real thing. It's not hard to know if you've got the real thing if you know anything about what iron does to the body or to your food on the way out. I was in that study for a few months and took a daily supplement and returned to the lab each Monday morning for them to take my blood and to drop off a stool sample. Dear God. This woman will poop in a bag for money. (it's true.... but it has to be significant money and benefit science) There was a bit more to all that study but for the most part that captures the wonder and horror of it all.

I also participated in an easy study that involved no blood or feces. Instead this one involved a series of "mood and reaction surveys" given before and after drinking a glass of room temperature water with varying degrees of copper content. One survey was administered when I arrived to create a baseline of my "mood." One was done fifteen minutes after drinking the water. One was given an hour after drinking the water. One was done by phone 24 hours later. In this study I came to the Nut. Lab once a week for a couple months.

One might think that getting paid to drink a cup of water shouldn't be too difficult. What does copper content matter anyway? Uh. It does. Apparently women are more sensitive to the taste of copper in water and so they wanted to test the levels of comfort by seeing our reactions to the taste. Sadistic bastards. One cup was completely copper free and the rest were a range to the maximum daily amount they would allow. So each day, the anticipation was overwhelming. Would I get the copper-free cup today or would I get the heavy hitter? Well, the day I got the heavy hitter, I knew it. In less than the 15 minutes I grew increasingly uncomfortable until I actually threw up. Clear, water, right back in the glass. It was astounding. Copper matters, people!

The current study, Body Composition, involved no real risks. Well, none to my body, just my self esteem. I did start my day by pulling up to the Lab's back alley and handing a brown paper bag with a urine sample to a lady standing out back smoking her cigarette. That wasn't standard procedure, I don't think. But when she said she could deliver it to the lab... somehow I trusted her. Go figure. Well, good news. I am not pregnant. Apparently because this study involves some radiation they have to test all the women to be certain. The study is trying to identify a valid field method for measuring body composition: the amount of muscle, bone, fat, and water in the body. It's useful for assessing risk for various diseases and conditions.

This study, like the water one, didn't pay a lot. But I only had to be there for one hour.... so I guess it's still more than I make at my job on an hourly basis. Of course my job doesn't require me to have electrodes strapped to my hands and feet or to wear a swim cap and spandex. It took three people to get that swim cap over my hair and I noticed there were NO mirrors in that room. Deliberate, I am certain. I won't go into all the technicalities, but I did get a bone scan (retail value $800, according to the lady who administered it) and I can get the results sent to my doctor. So I am guessing I WILL be taking calcium pretty soon when we discover I am already experiencing osteoporosis... Sigh. The coolest part was sitting in this thing they call the Bod Pod. I felt like I was on my way to Earth from the planet Krypton. Or that I might pass Mork making faces at me through the clear plastic window on this strange egg shaped fiberglass contraption. I am sure the blue swim capped conehead and spandex added to the alien effect.

Next week, I am going to start donating plasma again.

Powerless to Resist This Siren

After a year of staring lustfully at my students'ipods, I finally decided to splurge.

I love music but I find that I rarely feel the urge to listen to an entire CD and so compilation discs are much more fun for me. Then, I also have a tendency to listen to favorite and familiar songs MUCH MORE than new ones. Of course that doesn't stop me from desiring and buying new music all the time. Hmmmmm... After downloading 7000 songs or so songs from my OWN collection (a grueling task), I realize I have great stuff already hidden away on the lesser played tracks of my CDs.

About two weeks ago I was all set to buy an ipod of similar size and ability when I read a review on the Amazon site for the similar Creative product: Creative Zen Vision M. I checked out their site. Read a review. Consulted a friend. And promptly made my purchase. I do not regret it.

Clever Crafting Concept.9 Book Display

A while back I bought this plate rack. I can't actually remember why. I don't have any kind of collector's commerative plates or any fine china that is worthy to be diplayed in such a manner. However, the possibility remains that I bought this FOR THIS PURPOSE... somehow I doubt it. I am pretty sure I simply stumbled across this one by accident as I do most of my good ideas.

I use my "plate rack" as a book display for my Little Golden Books that hold such a happy place in my heart. I like to switch them periodically (for seasons and for fun) and my very favorite is this one... Charlie.

It was a book I had a child and lost over time. A year ago, this little number showed up as gift from a friend who pays attention. I was so thrilled.

almost there.... any day now... on the horizon

Ahhh yes. Summer vacation. I can't wait.
Three more days and counting.
I promise to write more interesting blog-goodies for you soon. Yearbooks arrived today. Graduation is in two days. I'm busy grading and purging files (I have the contents of a four drawer filing cabinet spread out everwhere) and organizing a year's worth of MS Word files on my computer network so I can burn a back-up disc in case of well, something. I have done OODLES of stuff so far so I do feel good about life and the end of the school year, but the week isn't over yet.

Clever Crafting Concept.8 Fingerpuppets

You knew it was only a matter of time, right? I have a passion for finger puppets. I am not sure why. They just seem so darn cute to me. I have some I bought in Spain a few years ago and I plan to try to craft some like that so perhaps in the future I'll have my own pattern on here. Instead right now I have a link to a great finger puppet distributor-- Manhattan Toy Company.

And some how-to links.... Here's one for how to knit your own. I mean, she's got suggestions for making a wombat or a kookaburra for heaven's sake. She also has a pattern for making Teletubbies puppets.

Here's another knitting pattern and the pictures to prove their cuteness. They are called "finger puppers" and were designed by Kerrie Rycroft and featured on Knitty.com.

Slightly less technical are the paper or felt puppet patterns found here.

These look like regular old puppets rather than the "finger variety," but they were too cute to pass up. This one requires a pattern purchase, I think. Though they might not be all that hard following the basic directions here.

O-two.... I love you.

This is Willy Mason. Here's his website. One day ages ago I heard this song on the radio and it took eons for me to figure out the title and the artist of this tune. People don't generally know what you are talking about when you say... you know.. it's that one song that goes... "da dahhh da da dahh.... something about oxygen and ritalin and you know...."

Hmmmm.

Well I don't know what I think about this fellow. He looks a bit young. I've been accused of being ageist. I just hate that a lot of famous people are now a lot YOUNGER than me. Sigh. What I do know is that I like his song. Oxygen. If you go to his Myspace here... you can listen to the song. (the video is on his website but I actually prefer straight up music... but hey, that's just me)

Clever Crafting Concept.7 How to Make a Soft Toy

photo © Cotton Strudel

Directions for how to make a soft toy can be found on Molly Chicken.

I actually discovered this link via Cotton Strudel who does lovely, lovely work.

Here is her completed Andy Pandy and blog post on him.

Meanwhile on a related note.... Cotton Strudel has another delightful creation.... one my mother would LOVE.... Aurora the giraffe. The little girl in me that leaps at the sight of these darling stuffed and sewn creations. Check out her friends here.


photo © Cotton Strudel

I must make one observation.... and that is how wonderful the NAMES of these blogs are. They are delicious, inventive and beg to be explored.

Clever Crafting Concept.6 Photo or Art Display

I saw this posted on Anh-Minh's site last February and copied it so I might try it out this summer in my leisure. Or at least try out a variation on the theme. (Its original location is here.) I have huge white walls in my apartment that are blank and ready for the decorating. The high ceilings make for an awkward sort of dilemma in that I haven't really known what to hang or how to do it to achieve that aesthetically pleasing look I am always after.

Of course momentarily I contemplated getting "single wallpaper" to fill that large blank canvas. I think these are a riot. Read their blurb.

People do not like living on their own.
Still many of them do.

Flatmates might get on your nerves...
Lovers too.

They don't bother scattering bread crumbs all over the place, they leave the kitchen in a big mess and always insist on watching boring TV programs.

The single-tapete is the complete opposite: it is always friendly and doesn't smoke, it likes watching "Friends" with you for the 100th time without ever complaining, it doesn't leave dirty socks lying around, it never protests against your ideas, and it always looks fresh and attractive... even when, from time to time, you can't help losing your temper!

Talking to yourself ? – Well, never again! And if once again someone pities you for the fact that you have been living on your own for many years, you can always say: "Why? I've got someone!"

The single-tapete shows attractive, original-sized individuals, in different situations at home. It’s a photographic wallpaper, which is easily removable and – very practical! – it can always be reused when moving house.

No one ever needs to stare gloomily at empty walls again!

The main website is here.

Surely this is true for my mother too......

if there are any heavens my mother will(all by herself)have
one. It will not be a pansy heaven nor
a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but
it will be a heaven of blackred roses

my father will be(deep like a rose
tall like a rose)

standing near my

(swaying over her
silent)
with eyes which are really petals and see

nothing with the face of a poet really which
is a flower and not a face with
hands
which whisper
This is my beloved my

(suddenly in sunlight
he will bow,

& the whole garden will bow)

-- e.e. cummings

DRAWN to this site!

I have stumbled across this site from time to time... I am not an artist or illustrator by any stretch of the imagination yet I happen to love looking at the art of others. I am amazed by it all. This site is a multi-author blog dedicated to illustration, art, cartooning, and drawing. Here are some of the contributors. I am adding it to my blogroll but I wanted to introduce it first.

Note the link to Gum Blondes on one recent post. I just thought these were amazing... the way they are made is the best part.

Clever Crafting Concept.5 52 Projects

This is a blog by the same title as a book that I've been recommended by more than one person. 52 Projects. It's clear I need to look into both.... the blog and the book. Here's me, passing the idea on to you as well.

Looking at the blog, I can already see there are oodles of good links and ideas. Inspiration is brewing.... Can it invent some time to actually try all these fun ideas?

Radio Rant

This morning on the way to work I listened to an exchange by two local morning hosts who got on the topic of teachers in some roundabout way... one started by citing how much he loved all his teachers and another said something about how influential the teachers in his life had been... then a statistic was tossed out... Something like 46% of new teachers will leave the profession within the first five years of teaching. I tried to look up the stat and ran across this response to an interview question on the ASCD site...

Ted Hershberg says, "We face really dramatic challenges. We've been beneficiaries of two major commission reports on teaching as a profession: the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future and the Teaching Commission. What's absolutely striking in those studies is that of the 3.4 million teachers currently in this country, 2 million are estimated to leave the profession in the next 10 years and—this is what's so fascinating—three times as many through attrition as through retirement. So, the numbers are one in every three teachers leaves in the first three years, 46 percent leave in the first five years and the profile of the "leavers" is [a] somehow better, by what measures they use I am not clear, stronger profile than the ones that stay. It's 50 percent higher, this attrition, in the urban districts, so you're into the mid 60s, mid to high 60 percent turnover. So, one thing you have to do … one huge set of challenges is, How do you stop this attrition? And, to me, that's all about changing the nature of the teaching profession."

These young men on the radio meant well, they talked about median salaries for teachers in the US... the national average is something like $46,000 and in places like rural ND it's much less.... then they pointed out that if only teachers were valued beyond the kudos we verbally pay them... and instead they made the million dollar salaries celebrities make.... if only.

The thing that gets me is how often I hear this sort of thing. An awful lot of people seem to think this way and yet no one seems to be able to figure out how to make it happen. Is it because in the past women were, by and large, the primary gender for the teaching profession and in our country women aren't valued monetarily... or they aren't expected to need to earn a profitable wage... after all, "her husband is a farmer ... what is she going to do? Quit? And everyone knows she doesn't need to work?" I think that perhaps school boards know exactly what they are doing. This issue isn't all that simple... and I've heard some thoughts from the other side too... but when it comes down to it, the part that bugs me the most is people who are so adamant that teachers deserve so much more but aren't really doing much to make that happen. It's not as if we are totally powerless... of course if teachers don't advocate for themselves, why should we expect anyone else to, regardless of the tremendous influence or gift (no kidding) they have bestowed on so many. In fact, wouldn't most kids think of that as their right... like the entitlement we feel toward so many things in this world?

If you want to make a difference. Start by voting and vote smart. Get involved with your school board. Attend meetings... read the minutes... pay attention to who is elected and why they are there. Stop talking about it and start doing something.

Clever Crafting Concept.4 Snow Globes

Snow Globes
reprinted from here.

The shimmering magic of snowfall is always transfixing, whether it’s outside your window or inside this classic toy. Homemade globes let you create a wintry scene straight out of your own imagination. Almost any jar works for this project: Baby-food, pimiento, and olive jars are good choices. Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen tips are available at many floral-supply stores. If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the epoxy dry. Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter and a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from falling too quickly. Don’t add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it’s flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again—and let it snow.

Here's another source for directions.

Some versions recommend bits of egg shell for the snow or mineral oil instead of glycerin. I have all the supplies to make these but have never gotten around to it. My friend Angela tried it one winter and created some really cute ones.

Mrs. Kyle and the Legacy a Library Offered

When I was a child I used to love to go to the library. It was a small one housed in our city hall, and for some reason, had a two book limit on the checkouts. I am not sure if that rule was aimed at irresponsible kids but I was allowed to take as many as I liked and I recall leaving with stacks of books only to return for more the next trip into town. Back then it was all still done by hand.. no computers in this library. The librarian was Mrs. Kyle when I was quite young... she had blue hair and she seemed very old. I remember too, the exact placement of the various books on the shelves. I made my way through most of the book in the juvenile fiction section.

I remember reading series books like the Nancy Drews and the Dana Girls (which I prefered) and then even reading some Cherry Ames Student Nurse or Vicki Barr Flight Stewardess books. The real gems for me in girls series fiction was the Judy Bolton series by Margaret Sutton. Her books were better than Nancy Drew because, unlike Nancy who never aged or changed much at all, Judy dumped one boyfriend and moved on to another... she aged... she moved... she married... life went on in the midst of her sleuthing. I loved it. Her books were written in the 30s and they continued for 38 titles until the 60s. They are set in Pennsylvania. There is a fan site here.

Then like every good girl reader, I read things like Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and its sequel... the Mary Poppins books (meanwhile this looks interesting...) and the Pippi Longstocking books... and then the very best of all... the Anne of Green Gables series that convinced me that living on Prince Edward Island had to be about the best thing ever. I loved this girl and her world and actually mimicked her a lot in play in my solitary farm life. I read all the books in that series and was delighted to learn later on that many others existed by Lucy Maud Montgomery as they were reprinted in the 80s. I think, in the end, I almost prefered the Emily of New Moon series. I really need to reread these books.

Now, the next greatest influence for me was a set of books called Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. The mention of these books often serves up a blank look from even the most devoted readers because they aren't nearly as common as Anne or Nancy. However, there is a Betsy-Tacy society. The books are set in Mankato, Minnesota which isn't even all that far away from where I live. The first four books are aimed at an elementary age but the reading ability ages with the character and Betsy Ray grows up from a child to a married woman in this series. They are pretty "old fashioned" but for some reason these books were a feel good type of read that made me long for a simpler time. And there's a moment in the film You've Got Mail when Meg Ryan's character Kathleen Kelly introduces a young reader to the books. The first time I saw that, my heart leapt.

Finally, a set of books even more rare and apparently unfamiliar to the readership of young girls are the Beany Malone books. These books were set in the 40s in Denver and were written by Lenora Mattingly Weber.

Looking for copies of them now I have discovered they are just about impossible to find for a reasonable price. For ages I sought used copies only to discover it was as if they didn't exist. I returned to my small town library eager to at least make myself believe those books were real only to discover that while my mind had preserved the memory of that library... the interior and the shelving system had long since changed. And now almost ALL of the books I held dear had been weeded out in the discard pile for lack of interest. I almost died. If I'd ever known they might have been in jeopardy I would have given a sizeable donation for those books to keep them there or to remove them to my own personal library.

Since my search for all these titles began the Betsy Tacy books were reprinted in at least three different paperback covers (you know I have all of them, right?) and I actually got a set of the ten books in hardcover (though they don't have the jackets anymore). Talk about obsessed. However, I only have two of the Beany Malone hardcover books. A few years ago while working at Barnes and Noble I noticed that a company called Image Cascade publishing was republishing them. I immediately special ordered all 12 books and now I have the complete collection including the cookbook.

I am not sure why all of this is so important to me. I guess owning them seems important since I worry that I may not find them again...and because they meant something to me once, I like to be able to return to that place even for a time. I worry that as I gush someone will take me at my word and rush out and find these books, read them, and wonder what on earth I was thinking... I can only say, that a childhood me... a little farm girl... fell in love with these books the same way she loved truly wonderful books like The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle, A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Because of that love I hold on tight and am determined that maybe someday I will be able to pass them on to some other little girl and she will love them the same way.

Clever Crafting Concept.3 Vintage Fabrics Are Fun

These fabrics are from thrift stores. I find that I can buy very cheap fabric which is perfect for practicing .... sewing and crafting.... however, it's also a great place to find unusual prints. Like the strange Mickey Mouse looking thing below. E. Louise also recommends this site for fabric fun.

Music Fresh for the Picking

Through Daily Candy I learned about this cool new music site called Pandora. I am only just now exploring the whole deal. It appears that you can create a personalized "radio" station (actually one can create up to 100 different stations) of music you like by selecting a song or artist and then Pandora finds like-minded or similar sounding music that exposes the listener to new artists based on interests. And it's free. One CAN pay to have advertising-free Pandora... but so far so good.... You can also click on songs you like and add the them to a favorites page so you won't forget a good one.... Actually their FAQ page explains this rather well.

Clever Crafting Concept.2 Freezer Paper Stenciled Stuff

This is one I am going to try next. I love the idea and I'm told it's not hard to do. I have always been a big fan of tee-shirt creation..... dating back a few years ago when I designed a line of Atari themed tee shirts and bras and panties. Nice. There could be a career in this for me. The cool thing is these stencils could work on all kinds of things.

I discovered this idea on Soulemama's site but she links to Angry Chicken who explains the process. (Little tip... both of these ladies have great ideas for crafts... very inspiring.) Then Hannah started a flicker group which has a lot of examples (both of these pics are from there)....

Then I discovered this link for designing and cutting your stencils ... the directions seem very helpful. Or this source looks helpful too.

Karaoke and Me

In a recent conversation with my friend Sara we explored her love of karaoke and why I fear it. I want to sing karaoke. I do. I think there is the possibility I could be totally amazing... but also a stronger possibility that I would look like a total fool and sound much worse. See, the few times I've been to places where people sang karaoke it has often been either really good singers showing off and they could just sing acapella if they wanted.... or it's been not-so-hot folks who struggle with the words or who THOUGHT they knew the song before they got up there only to discover that it's only one line they knew and no verses.... At any rate, I often find that singing to an accompaniment tape whether at church or at a karaoke bar sounds false and unnerving.

However, I am convinced that if I could invite an audience into my car and I could sing along to a song of my choice at top volume, (as I do when I am alone) with my customary wild abandon, that people would be amazed at my talent. I thought that until one day I tried this theory out. Unfortunately I made two mistakes. I performed for my friend Sarah B who really CAN sing... and I think I may have tried to sing acapella... (with no loud musical accompaniment and the lead singer to follow)

I have a recollection of me singing "Nobody" by Sylvia at the top of my longs and her turning pink with controlled laughter until she couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing tears rolling down her face. I actually think I sang a medley of songs that may have included a Patsy Cline hit... maybe the first few bars of "Delta Dawn." It's not really my fault--actually a youthful me was encouraged by my mother, when sitting around the kitchen table or doing the dishes, to sing along to her 63 Great Country Songs Songbook that included songs I barely knew like "Paper Roses" by Marie Osmond or "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" by Gale Garnett.

And my choice of "Nobody" wasn't a brilliant one because it's not actually all that easy to sing... it's just that I knew all the words and could hear it "in my head." Considering the last time I HEARD the song for real was probably 1983, I may not be totally right on. On a side note, is it not alarming that I can remember every word and nuance of some popular song from my 4th grade year, but have vast holes in my knowledge base in all kinds of other areas? My mind was impressionable and I blew it on memorizing crappy songs when I could have learned Chinese or something.

But this Sara was convinced that I'd love karaoke in the right set of circumstances. She suggested I go to Boomtown Karaoke in Minneapolis that has box karaoke and that would cut back on the whole stage fright because it's just a room with some couches and a big screen tv and two microphones... and you can sing all night with just your friends. Then she pointed out that it's really all about song selection. Unfortunately for me, the few times I have been brave enough to sing they've often NOT had the songs I wanted to sing. Perhaps it's a sign.

Omigosh. You can hear about 37 seconds of "Nobody" right here.

101 Creative Ways to Procrastinate.... Clever Crafting Concept.1 Marble Magnets

This is a little something I picked up from Megan ages and ages ago and have actually crafted as grad gifts for students.... and my Grandma received a set for her fridge to hang up the pics of all the grandkids.... I think my favorite set was a set of Friends faces I did for one of my girlfriends. Rather than reprint her directions, I will simply direct you to them and that way you can check out Not Martha's fun site.

Reading, Watching, Listening..... April in Review

What I Was Reading in April
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathon Safron Foer

Books completed in April
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd
The Public Image by Muriel Spark

I didn't get either of the books I was meant to read/finish/make-up for our book club this month.. It was make up month and I failed to do even that. Oh well. I do hope to finish Gilead someday but there were so many other books distracting me... Instead I read a few books that were quick, fluffy books. And in honor of Muriel Spark's passing I picked up a few titles at the local library to read some of her work. I feel terrible I have never read anything by her before. I didn't really like The Public Image, but I enjoyed The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at least as so far as it made me think and it would have been a good book club book especially one for a group of teachers. I meant to watch the film and still intend to but April passed and I've still not watched it. It had some darker overtones that reminded me of The Dead Poet's Society film and of The Secret History by Donna Tartt (the latter is not a compliment... since I REALLY disliked that book) but it had a feeling that reminded me of it... sort of this idea of close-knit, set apart group led by a teacher who exerted a powerful influence... and then the "betrayal." But in this book it was Miss Jean Brodie that fascinated me the most. Her and her prime. I am still in the midst of Loitering with Intent and that book is rather interesting and has managed to push back the Pirsig book and the Safron Foer title. I guess I will finish those up in May....

What I Was Watching in April
On TV
Desperate Housewives
Grey's Anatomy
The OfficeNot much to say here. I continue to watch these three shows but little else. Some TCM which led to the Gidget watching...

On DVD (owned and rented)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Fun with Dick and Jane
Friends Seasons 9 & 10
Gidget
History of Violence
Casanova
Mrs. Henderson Presents

I have not seen a film in the theatre in ages. I am going through withdrawal. However this was a bad month for movies for me. The Friends stuff is something that I treat myself too-- a kind of comfort food. I didn't have much reaction to Casanova or to Fun with Dick and Jane and I expected more than History of Violence delivered. It was alright, but it didn't change my life. However, I simply loved Gidget. Loved it. I thought that I'd seen it before until I realized what I'd seen was the Sally Field TV episdoes. Sandra Dee was just darling... It made me wish I'd grown up on the beaches of Southern California with some kid named Moondoggie, surfing away the summer. Never mind that I can barely swim. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was well done as they have all been. I really enjoyed it and now I need to hurry up and read the fifth book before it's released in a movie.

The big movie hit for the month was Mrs. Henderson Presents. I really liked this film. Dame Judi Dench was spunky, wonderful and an all-around great character who was fearless in her approach to most everything. And her show was a riot. I would recommend this film for sure.


What I Was Listening to in April

Fleetwood Mac
On the Rumours Album I love every song
In particular though I adore these songs:
Second Hand News
Never Going Back Again
I Don't Want to Know
You Make Loving Fun


Motown classics
I Ain't Too Proud to Beg by the Temptations
Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin
The Tracks of My Tears by The Miracles
The Happening by Diana Ross and the Supremes
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours by Stevie Wonder

Hair: The original motion picture soundtrack
On Hair my favorites include but are not limited by the following:
Air
I Got Life (though I like the Nina Simone version better)
Hair
Easy to be Hard
3-5-0-0
Good Morning Starshine
and of course the songs that bookend the disc.... Aquarius and Let the Sunshine In

Check out the lyrics here.

A Sunday Walk Yields Flowery Things

So here's my latest new thing. I have decided that from now on I am going to focus my walks on the alleys that run behind people's houses. It's very stalkerish and cool. Not only did I feel totally at liberty to stop and take all the pictures I wanted of various natural forms that were in my path or very close to it... but I discovered some crazy bumper stickers or junk stacked by sheds which I didn't photograph but could have. Basically, it's a voyeuristic treat. Alleys are the way to go on a well-lit springy day.