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Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins - (I just realized that I forgot to read the travel guide about Burma.) Bamboo People is about two young boys, one a city boy, one a village boy, now a refugee, caught up in a war they didn't want. It's youth fiction, so it's written with a simple sensitivity about the essential goodness of people. I loved it.
I leave on my trip tomorrow, and am still a little amazed that it's happening. Going to a whole new place for the first time in such a long time. I'm taking a little break from packing to write this, but have decided to go with the carry on size suitcase. It's a bit of a challenge, but I'll wear and use every thing I take. At least that's the plan. I think I'll post one picture on Instagram each day of whatever was the best or most or representative of that day. So at the end of the trip I'll have 12 memories of the trip forever. If I had a new computer, I'd post them here on herheartonhersleeve, but I don't, so Insta it is. The picture thing is way out of control, but there are pictures galore, so no one will ever have to wonder what I looked like! And with this blog, they won't have to wonder what I did or what I thought. They probably won't care, though. Which is fine. I don't even know if I care! I wonder if I'll ever return to these words to read them again. And how I'll feel if I do. And there you have it, I'm still thinking like a 13 year old. No wonder I like subbing in middle school better than elementary. What do you think, future self?
Twilight over Burma My Life as a Shan Princess by Inge Sargent - As a college student in Colorado, Austrian Inge Sargent fell in love with a student from Burma. She married him, and when he took her home to his country, she discovered that he was a prince, and that she was to be the new Princess of Hsipaw. Her story is beautiful and she lived an idyllic life until her husband, Sao Kya Seng was swept up in the tragic events of Burma's 20th century history.
Burma Rivers of Flavor by Naomi Duguid - Naomi has explored Burma for many years, concentrating on foods and flavors. Her book is so much more than a cookbook. I've learned about what to wear, how to pronounce letter combinations, and other nuanced information that will enrich my travel experience. For me, an easy travel guide.
I do have a Burma travel guide in my pile of books, but I'm avoiding it. It will be full of useful guidance, but I find guidebooks to be too much, because one can't see it all. I've come away from trips disappointed that I missed something that I wouldn't have known I missed if I hadn't read the guide. So did I miss it, really? Dance to the guide or dance to my inner spur of the moment? A combination of the two works best for me.
I just found out that there is a recent movie based on Twilight over Burma. I hope I can track it down and watch it before my trip. We probably won't be visiting that part of the country, but I'd love to see the story come to life.
Smile as they Bow by Nu Nu Yi - Continuing on with my Burmese reading list, Smile as they Bow is an unusual novel about the yearly Taungbyon Festival near Mandalay. Hordes of people come to the festival to celebrate and pray to the nats, or spirits of the festival, as well as the two Taungbyon brothers, for whom the festival is named. The main character is Daisy Bond, a trans woman who presides over a portion of the festivities by entertaining celebrants and leading processions through the Grand Palace. She was born U Ba Si, but lives as Daisy. Her efficient servant Min Min takes care of her and runs the business of her life. If it sounds complicated, it's because it is. In real life I'd find the whole spirit party festival gambling worshiping thing disconcerting, so it's great to be able to experience it by reading about it, instead of going to it. The author tells the story from the outside as well as the inside of both the named characters' lives as well as the attendees. It's a short but wild ride through an entirely unique experience on the other side of the world.
It's less than two weeks until I travel to Burma. I've started to put aside some clothes to pack and to think about whether I'm checking a larger suitcase or carrying on my smaller one. Not thinking about the long flight at all and haven't thought about anything more than that I want to have reading material at night. It's tempting not to take my phone or ipad but they both provide such entertainment on flights, that I probably will. Each book I read gives me another insight into the country and people, but I know I'll still be surprised in so many ways. Wait, what? not take my phone? It's my camera, so of course I'll take it. That's how long it's been since I've travelled.
A Well-Tempered Heart by Jan-Philipp Sendker - This sequel to The Art of Hearing Heartbeats was the perfect book to read in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Burma. 10 years after she first visited Burma, Julia goes back on a mission to discover the source of a troubling voice in her head that she is certain is not her own. The ensuing stories that are interwoven with her own are beautiful and moving. Her brother U Ba's wisdom coupled with the stories somehow inspire me to be more zen. One step at a time. Life might be all about attachment and what it means, and life is definitely about love. Read it.
A couple of weeks ago I made a reservation to go to Myanmar with my friend Nancy, then realized my passport wouldn't be valid because it was going to expire 4 months after I returned. Yes, you read right. Passports don't really expire on the date on the passport. They effectively are expired for most travel 6 months before the date on the passport. So I rush applied for a new passport, and it arrived in a week. Now I have to get my travel Visa, and I will be good to go. Somehow, ever since I made the plan to travel, I've been more at peace than I've been in ages. In preparation for the trip I have books to read about Myanmar, mostly fiction, one about food, and maybe a history or two. It's very exciting to be going to a completely new place. I don't want to know too much, same as before I read a book or watch a movie. I want to experience it with as much freshness and newness as possible. If there is a place that "must be seen" sometimes that isn't a place I really need to see. I have no idea whether it is still possible at this stage of my life to return from a trip changed and inspired; it happened all the time when I was young. We shall see.
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer - Trainwreck was sweet, but usually Amy puts me off with over-the-top "inappropriateness". I enjoy inappropriateness as much as the next person, but we all have our delivery preferences, and I'll take South Park over Amy. That said, I enjoyed her book! She's fresh, irreverent and honest. About everything. And then she's funny. About everything. She gives you chapters with titles then delivers. It's a very organized book and I appreciate that.
Lately I've really slowed down on the blog - in part because my computer has really slowed down. It's 9 years old, and Firefox no longer works on it. It takes a minute to fire up (I remember the days when a minute to fire up would have been excellent!) and I haven't configured it to the cloud, to photo stream or even my phone. And now bringing a picture onto the blog is a crapshoot.
I'm still subbing, and still enjoying it. It's a close to home job, students are great, teachers and staff are dedicated to excellence, and most days I feel like I might have made a small difference for being there. And because it's teaching, it's not really a job, it's a calling, so the days that I actually impart information are the best. My favorite sub jobs are the specials: library, tech, music, gym, english, social studies and instructional aid positions where you work with small numbers of students to help them do well in their classes.
I've also started a new job as Background Talent (that's what we call Extras in the business) on TV shows and movies that are made in Chicago. It takes me all over the city at all hours, and sometimes I work and sometimes I wait to work. It's not glamorous but it appeals to my flexible schedule. Two jobs isn't easy though. Especially if you want to do anything else. I've been on Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, worked Chicago Med but didn't appear as far as I know, worked Chiraq but my scene was cut even though I eventually saw it on Facebook, worked on Patriot, waiting to see if I'll be seen, worked on Exorcist, waiting to see if I'll be seen, worked on a little post pilot comedy, waiting to see if it will even be on let alone whether I'll be seen (I think I would be seen if it ever hits a screen). Worked on Empire, waiting to see if I'll be seen. Working on the new show, Chicago Justice tomorrow, as a lawyer. It's cut into the beach walks, the shopping, the organizing, the creativity that I claim to crave, and even the TV watching. The DVR was up to 98% at one point. I've watched it down to 71 as of last night, but tonight is Sunday, so here we go again! One night I was really tired, and made a reservation to go to Myanmar with my friend Nancy and her family. It's going to be an amazing trip, and I hope it jump starts my old love of travel. So that's the latest - now let's see if I can get the right size picture of Amy Schumer's book to upload in the right place. Why does simply continuing to write my blog have to be stressful? Why? Oh, I forgot to mention that she's got a fabulous title and book jacket, and I like the Tiffany blue inside cover pages, too. Thanks, Amy. I liked your book a lot.
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert - This is the story of Rachel, who started her life as a carefree child in Old Honolulu in the late 1800s. When she was 7 years old her life took a drastic turn; she was forced to start an entirely different life on her own and apart from those she loved. She's one of the most resourceful characters you'll ever meet, and her story and adventures, told against the background of true events in Hawai'i in the early 20th century are remarkable. I loved this book, its characters, and its history.
Sisters - Amy Poehler and Tina Fey rarely disappoint, and while this movie wasn't a box office smash, it's one to catch on HBO - Sisters is sassy and sweet and quirky and dumb and funny. Think Stepbrothers meet Project X.
A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi - This was a fine book to read on vacation when I didn't need an excellent story holding me back from getting up and out to breakfast. It's the story of a couple who use a surrogate mother to carry their baby, only the surrogate is in India, at the House for Happy Mothers. I'm happy to know what I learned here, but the best readers for this book are people who are considering using an Indian surrogate. It's modern and sweet.
Said vacation consisted of Steve and I driving a car to SLO, and then helping Peter to make a few changes to his new room for Junior Year. It turned into a sweet transformation - new paint, carpet that we laid right over the old, new desk that I scored on Craigslist, took off the closet doors and recessed the dresser, etc. It was like a Design on a Dime episode, and I hope Peter now knows how to do it for himself in the future. That's a vacation for us. I also played a lot of Pokemon Go after Steve left, and it was great company, not to mention fruitful, since there are different common Pokemon out west. I'm up to 94/150 on my Pokedex!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - For some reason, I thought this would be a novel of southern families and disfunction. Instead I found myself reading a novel about love and goodness in a time unimaginable. Is it possible to survive in a post apocalyptic world? How would it be done? What would the dangers be? This novel, another of Peter's high school english reads, attempts to answer those questions. It's written with a richness and thoughtfulness that lends itself to many themes and discussions. Couldn't put it down.
American Mysteries Great American Mystery Stories of the 20th Century - The Franklin Library - This book has been on my shelves for years! It's a beautiful leather bound volume with gold trim, but it's really the words on the pages that make it so good. These short stories are from my favorite era before technology but after cars and telephones - the 1920s - 50s. The stories are simply but richly told and each one is unique and truly ends. If you read it, make sure to read the bio about the author right away either before or after you read his or her story. I didn't know that the bios were there until I finished the book and found them, but they would have enriched the experience even more. I savored this one. I'm trying to choose a favorite story or two, but cannot - they all stand the test of time and great storytelling.
The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler - Another and I hope my last for awhile, teen read. Not sure who mentioned it - Laura? - but since I read it you don't have to. Unless you like a San Francisco sophisticated-and-think-themselves-witty high school clique who push the envelope at every turn. Flannery Culp is the narrator and protagonist along with her friend Natasha and the remaining six: Jennifer Rose Something, Lily, Gabriel, Douglas, Kate, V._______ and interlopers Flora and Adam. It's way too long considering the story, so have at it if you still would.
Doubt A Parable by John Patrick Shanley - The small cast is composed of two nuns, a priest, and a mother of a catholic school middle school student. This is a disturbing play on many many levels. It's about mistrust and intuition and lying and suspicions. And then on top of that it's about race and religion. I think it's good and it goes fast. At the end, you think you might not be in doubt, but then you think about it and wonder about the shadow of a doubt. I wish I had read it closer to the time that Peter read it for high school english class. The discussion on this one had to have been impassioned.
