THIS 'N THAT

The snow was deep and messy, then it became slick sheets of ice, and now it's all melted. We had a lovely family Christmas and all went well.
Now it's time to plan for the New Year.
I want to make some lists.

MY TOP TEN FAVORITE MOVIES OF ALL TIME:
In no particular order right now.

*Moonstruck - Pop I love 'im
*Casablanca - In all the gin joints
*Dirty Dancing - Baby
*Pulp Fiction - All of it except the french girl
*Zorba the Greek - This french woman I love
*Gone With the Wind - Oh Rhett
*The Big Chill - Every minute of it
*The Shawshank Redemption - Same
*Sixteen Candles - She got her guy and Long Dong
*Sunset Boulevard - Norma's back


Others that could be on the list:
*What a Way to Go - Shirley McClain
*Lilies of the Field - A-a-men, A-men, A-men
*Risky Business - Just take those old records off the shelf
*White Christmas - We'll follow the old man, wherever he wants to go
*To Kill a Mockingbird - Atticus Finch and Scout and Jeb
*Harold and Maude - Ruth Gordon
*Miracle on 34th Street - Court room scene
*Never on Sunday - Ilya and Homer
*Romy and Michelle - Post it notes
*The Green Mile - It's got it all

HOLIDAY RANT

It's all snowy and cold outside today, two days before Christmas...


so I decided to finish wrapping the presents. I started by going to put away a roll of non-Christmas wrap in the wrapping box under the bed. It was really dusty under the bed, so I thought I'd swiffer it and vacuum off the swiffer, and just do a little vac job on our room so that I could wrap in a cleaner environment. Just then I heard the Freecycler who was coming to pick up a silicone potholder, come to the door. Well, this Freecycler offered to bring us homemade Toffee, so I headed to the door to get the toffee so it wouldn't freeze. On the way, I turned on the iron so that I could iron one of the gifts to make it especially pretty when the present was opened. I thought it would be nice to listen to some Christmas music while doing all these tasks, so I came into the office to get the iTunes fired up on the computer, because I never put the Christmas music on my iPod. So I sorted by Genre, and only 1 1/2 of my Christmas CDs was there. So I searched and sorted all kinds of different ways, and it turns out that last year, I had put all of my Christmas CDs on iTunes, but they were all labeled differently. I found each and every tune, and Get Infoed it into the correct catergories and with the correct labels. This took probably an hour, now that I look at the clock. Then I made a special Christmas playlist which I'm listening to now. It's really nice, too, and I figured out how to shuffle within the playlist. All of this only did me half good, though, because guess what, my iPod IS SYNCHED TO MY OLD COMPUTER!!! I'll have to repeat the whole process to come up with a playlist that I can use downstairs with my iPod on Christmas day. I went downstairs and got the toffee, and then put on my coat and boots to get the newspaper, stepped out the door, and that wonderful Freecycler had put the paper right outside the door for us. The toffee was incredible with toffee, pecans and chocolate. I went to the kitchen and ate my leftover Tiropita and a glass of milk for breakfast and read the front page of the Trib. Nothing New. SoS. Straightened up the kitchen, went to the living room and moved my chair out of the way of blocking the Christmas Tree

so that when I put the wrapped presents under the tree I could enjoy seeing the full length of the tree. Now I'll go and wrap those presents. Oh, except I can't because first I have to swiffer under the bed! And iron that gift and the ironing pile. Oh well, the Tiropita was good. And you wonder what I do all day. Oh, and what do I really only want to do today? Finish my red skirt that I made yesterday, custom tailored for me for Christmas and Valentine's day and lined, too. It turned out beautifully. And make a purse out of that felted Eileen sweater that I posted a photo of here months ago. The Christmas Carols are adding some festivity and confusion to the day, but I need them for distraction. I just remembered why I went into the living room that time when I moved the chair. To get the space heater because it's so cold up here. I have extension cords and take the heater around the house with me to try to ward off the cold. I probably have that thing where your extremities are always cold.

BOOKS & THOUGHTS

The Girls Who Went Away by Anne Fessler is "The hidden history of women who surrendered children for adoption in the decades before Roe v. Wade". So here we have another little awful secretive part of history, perpetuated by people worried about what others will think. Story after story about pregnant young girls who were sent away by their parents to have their babies in secret, give those babies away, then come home and "forget this ever happened". Of course, they didn't forget, and the events affected their lives in many many negative ways. Thank God things have changed.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is pre-teen reading about a girl who is her own unique self. Narrated by a boy at school, it lets readers come to their own conclusions about the events in the book.

I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe - Tom Wolfe writes and writes and writes each excruciating detail, and gets into his characters' heads, and does a lot of editorializing as a writer. This is a story about a small town girl thrust into the big world of a major university, and more than that, it makes a big deal about college behavior that hasn't changed in 30 or 40 years. Since the beginning of time there have been pretty small town girls, confident wealthy and sorority girls, fraternity boys who drink, and athletes who are not the most academically proficient. Where has this guy been? Still, there were a few times when I couldn't put this one down. Go figure.

Talk To Me - A great little movie about a Washington DC disc jockey in the 1960s who took that city by storm, and became its voice during times of turmoil. Don Cheadle rarely disappoints, and in this movie, he is Petey Greene. Really good.

I've been thinking about what's next for my blog, and for me in the next year. New topics. New doings. New something!

VACATION AND MY VACATION READS

We've just returned from a little road trip to Florida for Thanksgiving. We left on an overcast Saturday morning with CarBunny watching over us as we drove. Here's the intersection of Lake and Locust as it looked that morning. Some people go to AAA and get maps and triptics and all sorts of paper when they go on a trip. Which is what we did until a few years ago when I participated in a market study about Rand McNally Road Atlases. That's when I realized that all we need is our trusty little road atlas and nothing else. Well, maybe the GPS and a few notes on the locations of some of the outlet malls. For a longer trip, such as the one to California, it's nice to have the large Road Atlas because it gives close up detail about the major cities. We hadn't even cleared the city limits of Chicago before Peter fell asleep and Steve wanted to wake him up to tell him that Steve had spotted the first car he was going to buy for Peter when he got his driver's license: Pretty sweet, huh?

We always take along the car pillows, covered in the appropriate fabric for a road trip. At the first stop for cheap gas in Indiana, just over the border, I found a new candy for my lemon loving son.

Two days of driving, and we were in Palm Beach Gardens. Perfect sunny 75 degree weather. Worth the drive. I went on a short beach walk under the pretense of going to the Publix for pumpkin egg nog, whole milk, couscous and some other supplies not commonly stored in my aunt's pantry. Gotta love a beach walk in Juno Beach. There were surfers which is something we don't have on our beach, and which gives a new depth of enjoyment to the walk.
The next afternoon we went to a late lunch at Brio, and I had my favorite which I really think had pesto and sundried tomatoes on it last time, but no matter, it's always delicious: See, I can micro-blog! I suppose I could have taken the photo before I took a bite, but sorry, I was starving.

OK, lets get this show on the road. Then we went to Naples, where all my photos are of the family, but I can dig up a photo of our clams at Steamers from last year if anyone wants to see them. Mmmmm. They are just like the fried clams that Howard Johnsons used to serve in the 60s and 70s. Oh, and in both places, we bought Publix Chocolate Triple Threat Premium Ice Cream. Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with fudge ribbons and little fudge cups. Put some warm marshmallow topping on that and you're good to go. Yes, I gained 5 pounds on this trip. The last highlight was when Steve took my car down to "O MILES TO E" which meant that we supposedly couldn't drive one more mile without running out of gas. He'd taken it to 3 miles to E a couple of trips ago, but it turns out that at "O MILES TO E" there are still at least 10-12 miles left based on about 30 MPG. Good to know, but I wouldn't want to test it in cold weather. Take a look, and this will end our little blog journey, or journal, or whatever.

The Invisible Wall - by Harry Bernstein is about Harry's family when they lived in England in the early part of the 20th century. The invisible wall ran down the middle of the street in one of the poorest neighborhoods of the city. The Jewish families lived on one side of the street, and the Christian families lived on the other side of the street. Harry tells such great stories. They stay with you for a long time. He also wrote another book that I've reviewed called The Dream. Who needs the cover of the book.?...There's Harry himself. He's a nonagenarian writer.

Then We Came to the End - by Joshua Ferris ~ Here's a different kind of a read. First of all, it's written in the 5th person which we loved. He writes about life in an advertising office in Chicago and we grow to like and know each of his characters as if they were someone we work with and know in that way that you know people you work with. I didn't want this one to end, but of course, then we came to the end. There is a special dynamic that occurs in offices, and we now have a small regret that we never experienced life in an advertising office. Mad Men is as close as we've gotten. And we actually worked in small offices at University of Michigan, at the Sales Manufacturing Association, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and at Kahn Realty. We've worked in large offices at Ford Motor Company and on Temp Jobs. We'd define small offices as those with two administration people such as receptionists and secretaries, and large offices as those with many secretaries, many floors and maybe even a few receptionists. Yeah, this is a good one. If you decide not to listen to us, and not read this book, then at least go to this website about the book for a laugh. Skip the Intro. We liked the video best.

TWO MOVIES AND A PLAY

August Rush: This is the best movie I've seen in ages. August Rush has it all, and it's a movie for everyone. It's about this boy who hears the music. That's all I'll tell. Just see it and you won't be sorry. It's all there...good story, watchable actors and performances, music, all the emotions down and up. I give it my highest recommendation.

Atonement: With a title like "Atonement", this movie could have been about almost anything. It won some awards at the Oscars a few years ago, so I was excited to finally fire up the DVR and watch the show. All I knew going in was the blurb I read just before it started. Something along the lines of "a 13 year old accuses her sister's lover of a crime". OK, so that doesn't sound too promising, but in light of the awards, etc, I gave it a chance and watched the whole thing. It's very average, not the best story and I never came to care about the characters, although the accused lover seemed to be a great guy.
Save your time and watch August Rush instead!

Grey Gardens: I'd seen the documentary, and was fascinated in a voyeuristic way by the two Edies. Which I guess is how everyone is fascinated if they like and want to get this story. What could it possibly be like as a musical performed on the stage? If you like the story, then it could be great! The musical is in two acts, and act l takes us back to the hey days of Grey Gardens, and provides the background for what we eventually see in the documentary and Act II. Most of the audience was not familiar with this obscure bit of popular culture, but it didn't seem to matter. I think everyone enjoyed it.
Marvelous. I thought I'd type in Grey, just to honor Grey Gardens.

READING ALWAYS READING

Evidence of Things Unseen - By Marianne Wiggins. A love story about Fos and Opal, a couple who lived in the years between the First and Second World Wars. Books set in the 1920s have always been my favorite, and this one does not disappoint. Fos and Opal would be the ages of my grandparents, but they were born in this country, so it's not an immigrant story, but a story about a period in histsory in North Carolina and Kentucky. Like Shadowcatcher, the craft and art of photography is woven loosely and tightly through the story. In Shadowcatcher, we see the pictures, and although I would love to see even one picture of the characters in this book, they come so alive that they'll be locked in my imagination for a very long time. This was so good, that the other night I was up until almost 3 AM unable to stop reading, until I was finally so tired and so near the end of the book, that I finally had to sleep. When I awoke, all I could think about was the story until I came home from dropping off at school and finished it. So now it's done, and there is the inevitable letdown that comes after reading such an intense and amazing book. Day one after the book was very creative. Today is day two; I started another book this morning, by a familiar
author, so reading should be OK as soon as I get into it, but I know that my heart will be in Evidence of Things Unseen for awhile.

GETTING IT ALL DONE

So I've been sewing! I took a class in pattern drafting, which is where you learn how to make your own pattern fit to your body's measurements...this is the basis for making custom clothing. My grandmother knew how to do this, and made beautiful clothes, although by the time I was ready to learn her skills, she had lost most of her vision, and was no longer able to sew. She would crochet afghans using thick yarn and large crochet hooks. She created for as long as she was able.
The class proceeded very very slowly for someone who already knew how to sew. (me). In that class, by the time I had a complete muslin skirt pattern, it would have cost more than $1000!. Yes, I said $1000. I had taken the class with a friend, and she and I decided to teach our selves the rest of what we needed to know in order to draft our custom patterns. I'm pleased to say that after just a few more weeks of getting together and measuring, cutting, fitting and sewing, today we will each have a gorgeous skirt that fits like a dream!

Here's a little pop of color. These flowers were centerpieces at a lovely and fun wedding we recently attended. Don't they make you smile?
The Crowd Sounds Happy A Story of Love, Madness and Baseball by Nicholas Dawidoff - This is the memior of Nick, who grew up in the 1970s in New Haven, Connecticut. It's a great title, and the book honors that title with his story of life as the child of a single mom and somewhat functional mentally ill father. His love of baseball saw him through.

FORGOT A BOOK - OH NO!

I've forgotten many books, I'm sure!
Various Positions: A Life of Leonard Cohen by Ira B. Nadel - The final installment of my Leonard Cohen reading, I read and finished it last August, but forgot to mention it here. This is all you ever wanted to know about Leonard's life and times. At times maybe MORE than you wanted to know, but mostly complete, and possibly accurate. Because how can someone really really write about someone else. All you have is the outside of the subject. The inside would have to come from an autobiography or memior. I liked the parts about Leonard's life on Hydra.

MORE BOOKS -

The Knock at the Door: A Journey Through the Darkness of the Armenian Genocide - Margaret Ajemian Anhert wrote this book to honor her mother and record her story. Every one of these stories is remarkable, and as long as writers keep writing them, I will keep reading them. In 1915, the first Genocide of the 20th centure took place in what is now Turkey. The turks accomplished this under the confusion of the first world war which was occupying the attention of the world powers. "Turkey for the Turks" was the political expression of the day, and under this umbrella, Armenian and some Greek Christians from the inland of the contry were told to leave their homes. They had already
lost the men between the ages of 16 and 60 - they were arrested under false pretenses and then taken outside the villages, made to dig their own graves, and shot to death. So the death marches consisted of women, children and the elderly.
Margaret's mother Ester spent a lifetime telling her daughter these stories, weaving a tale of a childhood interrupted. The stories of life in the village before the Genocide are my favorites, because they tell me what my own grandmother's life might have been like in her village. In my grandmother's case, the catastrophe of 1922 was when the turks came to the coastal areas of Turkey to eradicate the Christian population and literally pushed them into the sea. Today in Smyrna (Izmir) there is a statue of Attaturk on a horse pointing to the sea showing that he wanted all the Christians gone.
To this day, Armenian and Greek Asia-Minor descendants are actively keeping this history alive, and continuning to put pressure on the Turkish government to acknowledge their actions in 1915 and 1922. So far, the Turks say nothing happened.

The Sixteen Pleasures - by Robert Hellenga. A book about a book is usually a good story, and this is no exception. It takes place in the mid 1960s, told in the first person by a young woman who goes to Florence, Italy to help recover and restore books that were damaged by a major flood. The Sixteen Pleasures is the name of a book within a book that she finds in a convent, and may be the only copy in existance. It's a good little read.


I Was Told There'd Be Cake - Essays by Sloane Crosley. The best thing about this book is the title. Unfortunately, I really wanted to read the essay with that title, but there isn't one! The essays are about funny situations in the life of 20-somethings. Honest and clever, these stories are a little too long, but leave me wanting more. Cake, probably. Sloane, when you're up for reprint, put a slice of chocolate cake on the cover.

READ READ READ I LOVE TO READ!

The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar - This summer while on vacation in Detroit, I noticed that my sister-in-law was reading a book that she couldn't put down. I've only ever seen her read newspapers and magazines since we're usually so busy when we get together. She was even losing sleep to read! This was big, so as soon as I got home I read The Space Between Us. I love stories and novels about life in India. (Maybe if I ever do one of those Genome Studies cheek swabs, I'll find that my ancestors came from that part of the world 15 centuries ago!) This novel is about the lives of different women in different generations and varied economic circumstances. Thrity Umrigar knows her people well; she shares the special dialects, expressions and idioms of Indian speech. She includes the reader as an insider to this culture and its conflicts between the old ways and ideas and modern life.
On a simpler note, don't miss it if stories about women are what you love.


A Freewheelin' Time -A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties - Suze Rotolo - Suze is an artist who lead an unusual life from an early age, including her family life, school life and work life. She's most famously known as Bob Dylan's girlfriend who appears with him on the cover of his 1963 The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album. I enjoyed reading her recollections of that life and those times.



The Dream (A Memoir) - Harry Bernstein - Harry Bernstein is a wonderful author. His story, simply and completely told is about his mother's dream to make a good and better life for her family by moving to America from England in the early part of the 20th century. His tale involves the grandparents, parents and children in his familly; an independent lot with enough people and personalities to keep you turning the pages. His grandfather was an especially fascinating person. Harry wrote this book in his 90s, and he writes with simplicity and eloquence, reminiscent of the best William Sayoran family novels.




So what's going on in my life that I haven't been minding my blog?
I'm creating my website, but it's slow-going.

I took a pattern drafting class, so that I could learn how to make custom clothing for myself. This six week class was really for very beginning sewers. The instructor was a perfectionist which I thought would help me to flourish, but at this stage of the game, I want to be told verbally about perfection, not have to use class time to do simple sewing steps over and over and over again.
As a result, I'm planning to get together with two friends during the time that class would meet, so that we can complete the muslin sloper pattern that we cut out in class. Our plan is to carefully teach ourselves how to taylor, fit and sew a skirt perfectly custom made to our measurements. I've got all the instruction books, and one of the friends is excellent at following written directions. The other friend is a practical idea person, and I'm the one who knows quite a bit (after all) about sewing. We'll give my sewing machines a workout.

I also have the dining room table covered with beads and completed earrings that I've been busy making. The plan here, is to sell jewelry on that unfinished website! Or somewhere.
My designs are simple and pretty, (if I do say so!) made mostly with coin pearls and other fresh water pearls. I'll post some photos here in the next day or two. My next step is to make some bracelets and necklaces.

Then, to really complicate things, I've got fabric galore to use in a myriad of projects. Including the fabric I bought at Vogue Fabrics today when I went there to take a small class in Madeira Applique. I need to Madeira Applique something fast so that I don't forget how to do it! The instructor said that one of the most important things is a pretty sewing area. Not too cluttered, but one that invites you over to the machine to sew. I'm about halfway there. My computer screen is also a TV, and with iTunes, it's my music center too. However the computer really eats up my time, and adds to the paper chaos of the room. At least after this blog I can return Freewheelin and The Dream to the library, thus removing them from my desk.

Then there's the economic crisis and the election. And all the TV Shows waiting to be seen on the DVR. And going to sales on the weekend. And making healthy tasty things to eat. And making unhealthy tasty things to eat. And the garden which is in a current state of extreme neglect. And sailing sometimes, too. Keeping up with the pictures I take. Figuring out iPhoto, iWeb, iTunes (I actually have this one figured out) iDVD (haven't even tried it yet, so this is filler).

When people tell me that they are bored or don't know what to do with themselves, you now know why I cringe. Probably no one reading this is one of those people, but if you are, then go get yourself some projects! Read something! Go for a walk! Get some projects! Watch a movie! Do something creative on your computer! Organize something! Yeah. Just please don't call me and tell me you have nothing to do. There is always something. You can come over and clean my house for one, because I clean my own house, too, except that I don't. Whew! Did I need a little rant or what?

A FIVE HEART REVIEW and GREAT MOVIES * THE BOOK THIEF * SWIMMING IN AIR * NIGHTMARE ALLEY * HAIRSPRAY

Here's that Five Star Review I mentioned in my last post
*****
The Book Thief: by Markus Zusak is one of my favorite books of the year. This is a beautiful and beautifully written story about Leisel, a German girl who moves to a small town near Munich in 1938. I couldn't put the book down. The narration, the characters, the landscape, the story....it's all here. It's an intense and emotional read.

Swimming in Air: This is a short film about women and life experiences by Janice Tanaka. I met Janice through through ebay and a subsequent telephone chat about living in the Chicago area. She sent me a DVD of her work Swimming In Air, and I've watched it a few times, each time noticing and learning something different. It was fun to watch it with a group of friends one evening.....that night the dinner conversation kept returning to themes from the movie. Thank you for the film, Janice, and above all for making us think.

Nightmare Alley: My favorite channel for old movies is TMC. I recorded this one ages ago, and watched it the other night. Wow! Tyrone Power plays the good looking and ambitious circus announcer with Joan Blondell as the big hearted mind reader who also reads tarot cards. Just a fabulous movie, typical for its time, and typical of why I've always loved these movies. Clicking on the link above will take you to the original trailer....just enough to whet your appetite. You'll never hear the word "geek" again without thinking about Nightmare Alley.

Hairspray: Here's another favorite movie. The original 1988 version with Ricki Lake was so great that I was unexcited to see the new version with John Travolta in drag as Traci Turnblad's mom. The original Hairspray played as if it was made in the early 1960s with a cool mood and a kind of truthfulness. It was first a movie and then a musical.
Last night we watched the new version, based on the stage play, and it was delightful!
First it's a musical and then its' a movie. It's upbeat and modern and totally fun. Loved it.

PLAYING WITH GROWN-UPS

Playing With Grown-Ups by Sophie Dahl - There is a sub-genre to the Disfunctional Family Lives genre of reading material. It's the Disfunctional Mother group that began with Mommie Dearest. (It may have begun before Mommie Dearest but that would take a few minutes of research which I don't have time for at this moment). Playing With Grown-Ups is a great little read. Since the mom is so sweet and fun, one doesn't realize the genre until near the end of the book when things in the house really really begin to disintegrate. I liked that about this book. That I liked the antagonist. We all do, which is what makes her so tricky, and makes the book so readable and different from your run of the mill mom-bash.

The weather is here today, day after Labor Day, so I'm off to the beach for a walk and a swim and to finish a wonderful wonderful book. Watch here for a 5 star review.

MORE LEONARD COHEN

I'm still listening to Leonard Cohen. I love this music, although when I was home in Michigan, and listening to it with others in the room, it did reflect an extremely melancholy sound. Like very very slooooowwww. Still there is nothing like I'm Your Man for the most romantic song, Tower of Song for a song a about life, and Hallelujah for a song to make you think. So I read this darling little book called

HYDRA and the Bananas of Leonard Cohen by Roger Green who lives on Hydra, and whose home overlooks the garden of Leonard Cohen. Roger is the British Bard of Hydra, and wrote a poem, and then he started annotating and reflecting and expanding on his poem for a year and came up with this book. I think it's about bananas and people. It's sweet, but you wouldn't have to read it unless you were in an obsession.

and then there was

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen - This is a video made in 1964 by the Canadian National Film Board about their native son. He was 29 years old, and he reads his poetry, and they follow him around town, and generally create an early A&E style biography about Leonard. He's very likable.

It's gone so far that I've checked out a piano book of Leonard's music, and have been playing the songs, too. If I can get one to sound halfway decent, maybe I'll make a little blog recording of Chelsea Hotel. It's nice and slow and pretty easy to play.

FOUR BOOKS & A MOVIE

Nine Powers to Transform Your Life - by Nicolas Nobile - This might be the only book you need if you've been thinking about reading Gary Zukov, Eckhart Tolle or any of the other wonderful authors who are teaching the ways toward a fulfilled and true and happy life. It condenses to the essence those important choices that one can make to live pure and well. I believe that the power is within each one of us, we just have to find it and use it. This book helps one to define the powers. There is something to read and quote on each of the pages of this inspiring book.

I Capture the Castle: This movie was recommended by my friend Susan while perusing the library shelves of movies that begin with the letter I. Surprisingly, there are a number of wonderful films beginning with I. But I digress. If you love Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters and other authors of that ilk, and if you love a quirky story that takes place in another time and in another country, here's one you'll love too. Cassandra, her sister Rose, and their family live on no money in a broken down drafty castle outside of London in the 1930s. There is seemingly no chance for a romance with a substantial young man until two Americans show up one day. Mmmm, this is a lovely story.

Garden Spells - by Sarah Addison Allen - Here's a fun summer read about two sisters and their life in Bascom, North Carolina. It's a magical rather old fashioned tale set in modern times. Everyone knows about everyone else in town, and the families have a history together that seems to repeat itself generation after generation. Just delightful. Take it to the beach and indulge.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - by Jean Dominique Bauby - I'd been wanting to read this one for ages, and there it was in front of me on a shelf in the library one day. I've always wondered about the meaning of the title, since this is an autobiography about a man with "locked in" syndrome. That mystery was cleared up very quickly, and there followed a true and poignant story, not unbearable to read, but not quickly forgotten. Maybe not ever forgotten. Yes, read this book.

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon - Recommended by my friend Sue, and unenthusiastically received by my friend Susan B when she saw me checking it out at the library, this is essentially a historical fiction romance. It's about a 1940s British post war bride named Claire who time travels to 1700s Scotland and finds adventure and another love. She's a practical sort who adapts quickly to her circumstances. I love the Gaelic dialect that the author employs to give personality and resonance to her characters. It's charming if this is your genre. I may not read the rest of the series. As much because I don't love a series in general unless it is on TV. And even then, I miss it, but don't have huge regrets about it when it wraps up. (Sopranos, John From Cincinnati, Seinfeld etc.) Something new always comes along that I like just as well.

THIS 'N THAT

I'm Your Man: This film about Leonard Cohen and his music intersperses musicians and folksingers performing Leonard's music and talking about Leonard with interviews of the composer himself. He's charming, intelligent and honest. I'm still listening to the music all the time, and have a couple of books lined up to read after I finish one called Garden Spells which promises to be a sweet little read.

TV Shows: The Flipping Out finale was great last night. I love these people. Saving Grace is ramping it up this season. Holly Hunter is amazing and over the top and it all works. Mad Men is starting slowly....I hope it builds. Project Runway is pretty low key.There is some talent this season, but not like the last two seasons in terms of new and exciting looks. Stella is my favorite, so I hope she stays in the game for the duration. I love her.

Chicago Tribune: I read this paper cover to cover every day. I opened it up last Monday to find that they've decided to eliminate the daily TV Guide. What a pain!
In the meantime, the Sunday Guide is a full sized newspaper section that is user unfriendly. This is just insult to injury. I continue to read this paper because of the local news coverage and the comics. Lets talk about what they've done to decimate the comic section. Basically we still have Brenda Starr and Dick Tracy; I think because they are both written by local Chicagoans. Brenda Starr is actually written by a Tribune columnist. I fear that if Mary Schmitch ever leaves the Tribune, that will be the end of Brenda. The comics I miss are Gasoline Alley, Hi and Lois and Beetle Baily. Dear Abby was on the comic page for years, and she's gone now, too.

The weather is here this summer. It's been gorgeous outside. Sunny and warm for days on end. Time to go for a walk! Is the Love Heart Turning at the top of my blog distracting? For a long time it didn't turn, then my nephew came over and put something called VCS on my Mac, and the heart started turning. I love that graphic! I tried to make it smaller, but couldn't figure out how to do it without possibly losing the heart altogether. What a nice little blog about nothing today!

The Garden of Last Days: by Andre Dubus III - Different people from diverse cultures and usual and unusual walks of life come into contact with each other throughout this book by Andre Dubus III. He puts the reader in these peoples' thoughts, and we become sympathetic to their concerns and problems. I think that some readers could be very angry while reading this story, but it truly is a tale of life in America. Dubus gets into the heads of his male characters in a way that sometimes bogs me down. I'm not as bogged down by the females, probably because he is a man, and can't go all the way there into the thoughts of a woman the same as he does with men. Hmmm. I recommend this novel to the open minded reader. Are you ready for the thoughts and actions of a muslim hijacker, a woman who dances at a men's club, an angry young father and more? Here you are.

MAD MEN - THOSE MADISON AVENUE AD MEN

I'm hooked. Mad Men is the best! It takes place in 1960s New York and centers around the complicated life of Don Draper. From the smoking and drinking, the muted racism, the psychiatrist who secretly reports the wife's sessions to the husband, extra-marital affairs, office sexism and beatnicks, to the scene where the little girl comes into the room with a cleaners bag over her head and the mom does nothing, this show has it all. It's loaded with awful double standards, yet these people had a lot of personal freedoms. I just watched the first 10 episodes on On Demand, and I have a few more to go before the new season starts next week. I can't wait!

Oh, and what passes for being creative on this show isn't even up to current pre-school creativity standards! Too funny. There is lots and lots to think about here.

http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/about/

BEHIND THE SCENES IN RESTAURANT KITCHENS

Kitchen Confidential: by Anthony Bourdain - Chef Tony writes about his "adventures in the culinary underbelly" and leaves nothing unsaid. His autobiographical account of life as a NYC chef is an engrossing and fun read. He's been around a couple of blocks, and tells an unvarnished truth about himself and the business he loves. He has a Travel Channel show called No Reservations, and some of that ironic personality comes through. I enjoyed the show about Saudi Arabia once I got used to his slight monotone. His sarcasm is refreshing, though.

I once spent two weeks as an intern in the busy kitchen of a major hotel in Chicago, so some of his stories come as no surprise. Our head chef was a huge crusty frenchman, feared and revered by everyone in the hotel. At the time I just didn't get it. I thought the sous chefs wielding their chainsaws in the freezer were the heroes. The long hours, low pay, stressful deadlines, and lack of much of a life outside the hotel didn't work out for me; it was a fun year, but I'm still looking for that high paying stress free job where you don't work many hours and have lots of time to do what you enjoy. Hmmm....maybe blogging is the answer.

WATCHING TV

I think it's time for a new category on the blog. I watch a lot of TV. I've loved watching since I can remember. With cable and a dvr and a nice big HD flat panel TV, it's possible to indulge in any TV any time. The quality of the picture is incredible and magnetic. Here's what I'm watching lately:

Flipping Out: This is a reality show about a neurotic rehabber in LA who flips houses. He's OCD, a perfectionist, did I mention neurotic in a lovable way, and really knows his business. He has great friends who love him and tolerate him and support him in spite of his quirks, which makes him just like anyone, which is probably why I find him so likable.

Project Runway: We're into a new season, so I don't know yet know the players, but it's a fun time getting to know everyone. The last two seasons included fabulously talented contestants designing fabulously inspired clothing. On a budget, under crazy deadlines, and surrounded by the competition all the way. I've come to love and respect Tim Gunn. He's one of the great stylemasters of our time.

What's My Line: That's right. I set my DVR to record it on GSN every day, then each night I watch Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallon and Charles Daley as the panel moderator guess the "lines" of the guests. Each show features a famous mystery guest. For this segment, the panel covers their eyes and must figure out the identity of said mystery guest. All the stars and personalities of the day appeared. My favorites have been Elizabeth Taylor (when she was married to Michael Wilding I think), and Elenor Roosevelt. The best.

Saving Grace: Just started a new season. Holly Hunter plays a police detective with some issues of her own. And she has this angel who has his hands full with her. I love this show. This is not your parents' detective story. 'nuff said.

Mad Men: It's on On Demand, so I just started watching last season at the recommendation of my neighbor who I think this is the only show she watches. She's really fun and smart and artistic, so I knew it had to be good. The Mad Men are the Ad Men of Madison Avenue circa 1960. Everybody's smoking and drinking and engaging in other non-appropriate politically incorrect and maddening behaviors which were considered normal and cool in those olden days. It's good stuff.

More To Come. (Remember? REMEMBER???)

ESME AND ESME

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox: By Maggie O'Farrell - There is this reshelving cart at the library where the newest books are usually placed in order to tempt library regulars to check them out right away. That's where I saw this intriguing title. Intriguing of course, because of For Esme - With Love and Squalor which I will always love. Anyway, the Esme in this book is as interesting and rich as the original Esme. This story is a double story about two women discovering each other and discovering how their lives are connected.

THE CALDER GAME

The Calder Game: by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist - I've just finished Blue Balliett's latest book for pre-teens. Inspired by the art of Alexander Calder, this mystery takes place in Woodstock, England. It's a great story designed to get a young reader thinking in creative ways about art, travel and problem solving. The author always includes a map/diagram of the setting at the beginning of the book, although this map didn't include the main square where the Calder sculpture was placed and then disappeared. Brett Helquist's illustrations are always nifty, evoking the mood of the scenes and characters. I've never been able to find the hidden letters and codes in the illustrations; they must be very buried, or so much in the open that I completely miss them! Here's a quote from the book by a real person named Banksy: "Nobody ever listened to me until they didn't know who I was."

NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR

Nineteen Eighty-Four: By George Orwell. For a few days now, I've been blue and blah and in a general funk of a mood. I'd been racking my brain to figure out why, and trying to be outwardly nice as much as possible. This morning, I figured out what it was. As I finished this book, I felt a weight lift off of me. I felt the air clearing, and the fog was gone. This is one depressing story! A HUGE downer of a book. There are great big doses of torture, betrayal, brainwashing. In spite of myself, I wonder if a movie was made....Wickipedia is happy to oblige... Apparently there are 1956 and 1984 film versions of the book. Looks like I'm not done with this story, yet! So, did Orwell predict what might come to pass? He writes about something called Doublethink:
"...the essential act of the Party is to use conscious deception while retaining the firmness of purpose that goes with complete honesty. To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed..."
This is what President Bush and our government have done with regard to the war in Iraq.

I cannot wait to get into a good book with a good warm story that resolves into a happy (or at least hopeful) ending.

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

I love fireworks. Growing up in Detroit, we rarely saw fireworks. Sometimes we'd see them from our driveway over the trees on the outskirts of our neighborhood. They were miles away, visible yet unreachable. Small and mysterious, they seemed to be otherworldly temporary heavenly bodies flashing in the sky.

Then I moved to Chicago! During my first summer in Chicago, I was driving to Evanston from a visit home to Detroit. I had friends with me...Brenda,Libbo (pronounced LeBeau) and Mike. I think we were in two cars. Anyway, we were on Lake Shore Drive just coming into Downtown at dusk. It was July 3rd, and all of a sudden, the traffic came to a complete standstill. All the cars on LSD just stopped. We got out of the car, and looked out over the lake to see that the annual fireworks show had started! We sat on the hoods of our cars and watched the whole show from ringside seats with excellent parking. When the show was over, we got into the car, the traffic started, and we were on our way.

The next night, we went to a baseball game at Comisky Park. The Detroit Tigers were in town to play the Chicago White Sox. I don't remember who won, but I can tell you that the Fireworks Display that night was incredible. I still remember the colorful, vivid, sparkly, unique fireworks of that night. I think the fireworks were sponsored that night by the Jovan fragrance company.

Since then, there have been many many fireworks in my life. (Take that any way you want). The best ones have usually been on July 3 or 4, though, and they took place in the sky, and in the Chicago area, although I seem to remember that there were some beautiful ones on vacation somewhere one year. There was a July 3 when we went out into the lake on a friend's boat, and the fireworks were literally falling on us. One year we watched from our boat in the harbor, and I got some fantastic photos. Another year, they were beautiful from the Glencoe beach. We watched them from a park or field in Glenview with my in-laws for a few years, but there is something about fireworks over the lake that takes my prize for best fireworks venue.

Last night, I made a plan with my friend Michelle to walk over to the beach for the fireworks. It was a great little beach walk. We saw this fabulous sand castle installation. As we walked along, the dusk was changing into night, and the horizon over the lake was beautiful.
I thought we'd sit on a certain section of the beach, but Michelle said that if we went to another part of the beach, the view would be better, and we'd also hear them. So we got there and the fireworks began just as we sat down. Unbelievable!
They were RIGHT THERE in front of us! It was a beautiful show, and I've got a new favorite place from which to watch our fireworks from now on.
Here is a little look at last night's fabulous finale:


Tonight, on July 4th, we went out on our boat to see the fireworks in Evanston. There were 14 of us aboard, and the weather was cool and the lake was calm. We pulled up to our ringside seat, and saw another wonderful show. This one included a number of mini-finales with groups of fireworks. Just beautiful. Photos and Video will be here tomorrow!

Books & Movies

BOOKS
Those Who Save Us: By Jenna Blum Fiction. Yes, yes! Here's one! My favorite book in a long long time. It's unforgettable, especially if you are avid about WWII and holocaust stories. Fiction is my favorite genre, and there is nothing in the world like a book that becomes a part of you.

A Paper Life: If you like a good Hollywood story, this autobiography/memoir by Tatum O'Neal will do the trick. Tatum is a true survivor and I've no doubt about the veracity of every word she writes. Through a rough life, her prevailing attitude is one of innocence and optimism. Her father and her ex-husband could not bring her down. I'm so happy to have read her inspiring story.

Look Me In The Eye - My Life With Asperger's: Non Fiction. Many of us know a serious someone who isn't always easy to talk to or get along with. Often we'll say that the person is shy or awkward if we are nice, or we'll say worse if we are not so nice. Read this book by a brilliant abrupt mechanical guy with an interesting life; his story might help you to be more generous in your thoughts about people. Understanding is enlightenment. Enlightenment leads to a higher civilization. You can quote me on that!

Her Last Death: by Susanna Sonnenburg - Another memoir about a truly disfunctional childhood. Susanna came through it though. There is a certain theme to some of my reading choices!

MOVIES

I'm Not There: I enjoyed this movie. A long time ago, I read a biography of Bob Dylan, and this movie, for me, was the 25 year later continuation of that story. The movie chronicles his life in a roundabout way. Here is a person who has refused to be categorized as a person, artist, musician. He will not be labeled, to the great consternation of the media. He wants to be himself and to express himself, and to let it stand at that. In the film, he is played by no less than six actors, and they are seemingly playing six different people. It's good stuff if you like to think.

Savages: Starring Laura Linney and Phillip Seymore Hoffman, this is a story of the Savage family at a time when the estranged father is widowed and basically unable to care for himself. His unmarried adult children must make arrangements for his care. It's real and tells a story that many many Americans are living through these days.

Dan In Real Life: I love Steve Carrell in The Office, so I try to see all of his movies. This is a particularly sweet one. About a multi-generational family and love.