What happens if you ask third graders to identify their ethnicity…
Month: June 2012
Three sentence movie reviews: Snow White and the Huntsman
I took advantage of a nice day to sit in a dark theater and contemplate my Chris Hemsworth thing. This was not a “good” movie, but I greatly enjoyed it, including the costumes, the special effects, the very sullen Snow White and a wonderful, scene-chewing (in the best way possible) Charlize Theron as the evil Queen. Oh yes, and a grimy Huntsman.
Let’s have a bonus poster, just for fun:
bonus poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2012/snow_white_and_the_huntsman_ver2.html
Bike ride.
I took the long way to St. Johns because it was such a nice day. I got extra time to contemplate the nice day while I waited for the train to pass. I came upon the train midway through and still counted over one hundred cars.
A view of the slough. (It rhymes!)
Don’t go here on the bike path. Happily, I’m almost to my destination.
Yep. The Willamette and Columbia are still confluence-ing here, at Kelly Point Park. I like to go and check on them every once in awhile, just to make sure.
Blue skies and power lines just past Kelly Point Park. Soon after that I took a wrong turn and made my ride longer than it needed to be. But it was such a nice day, I was happy.
Three sentence movie reviews: Crocodile Dundee
I mentioned in passing to Matt that I had never seen this film and it soon after arrived from the library. The film being over 20 years old, I was a bit leery that we would get some good racist humor, but it was a surprisingly progressive film and also was pretty funny, even after all these years. Now that I’ve seen it, clearly my life is complete.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1986/crocodile_dundee.html
Rose Festival Parade 2012
Saving seats for the Rose Festival Parade. I’m from the blue chair to the end of the blanket.
After much time saving seats, Mom and her friend Tanya arrived. Then Rick arrived with S & K. Kids at parades are much fun so there are many pictures of S & K and none of Mom and Tanya.
Trying to get both kids to look at the camera.
There’s a parade going on, but who needs parades when you have rocks behind you?
Because then you can take the rocks…
…and put them in the bike helmet!
Attempt at self-portrait with myself and K. It captures neither of us, but does get a bit of my mother.
This weird yellow guy hung about, trying to excite the crowds. He was a bit creepy and eventually moved on. He seemed to not be actually affiliated with the parade, just a random all yellow guy looking to motivate people to cheer.
K had the eating thing down.
S took a break from rock-moving to have a snack.
They lasted a long time, but eventually it was time to go.
In case you missed the Rose Festival Parade, here it is, in less than three minutes.
Making pita bread/chips
I’m off to the Rose Festival Parade tomorrow, and I’m bringing along Hummus and Pita Bread. I’m making my own pita bread from my new favorite cookbook Make the Bread, Buy the Butter. It’s so exciting!
Pita balls ready to roll.
Pita balls rolled and ready for the very hot pizza stone (pita stone?)
Finished pitas. I think my stone was hot enough that I needn’t have baked them for very long. In the recipe, she recommends eight minutes. My first batch, baked for that long, were nearly burnt. I kept reducing the time baked, but they all went from dough, passed quickly through bread and into chip form. The author mentions she can’t get hers to puff, but all of mine did. I’ll try again next time with very little cooking time and see what results they give. These were very, very good.
Three sentence movie reviews: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
This was a much better movie than the previews led me to believe (although the previews did that annoying thing of harvesting the best jokes, so said jokes weren’t funny by the time I saw them in context) and it was chock full of women! I thought there were flaws, but not deal-breaking ones and all the actors are the kind of actors that make acting look so easy. I also enjoyed the persistant positive speech by the hotel owner, no matter how bad things were.
Essay: My favorite time of year.
It’s my favorite time of year and it is because of the
light. When I was growing up, summer was my favorite time of the year. It was hot and sunny and I got to swim every
day and turned a nice brown color. Now I
live in a place where summers are mostly sunny, but rarely hot and often I
don’t even bother to own a pair of shorts because the weather does not require
them.
Also now too, I’m an adult and don’t get to swim every day
even if it was warm enough to compel me to.
I still like summer, even the “bring a sweatshirt” variety that is
Portland, Oregon, but now my allegiance has switched to late spring.
even if it was warm enough to compel me to.
I still like summer, even the “bring a sweatshirt” variety that is
Portland, Oregon, but now my allegiance has switched to late spring.
Sometime in late April or May it begins to get light very
early. When I am a steady exerciser, I
am a morning exerciser. I also seem to
gravitate to paid employment that begins early.
This means that I get up very early to exercise which, for the past six
years, has meant being out the door by 5:00am.
early. When I am a steady exerciser, I
am a morning exerciser. I also seem to
gravitate to paid employment that begins early.
This means that I get up very early to exercise which, for the past six
years, has meant being out the door by 5:00am.
Let me tell you that for most of the year, 5:00am is
DARK. I wear a reflective vest, I peer
through the dark of night and I’m going to have to eventually wear some sort of
light on my head to better see the many things that can trip me up. Most of the year, it is hard to get up at
5:00am. It is dark, and cold, and rainy
and I just want to sleep for a little bit longer.
DARK. I wear a reflective vest, I peer
through the dark of night and I’m going to have to eventually wear some sort of
light on my head to better see the many things that can trip me up. Most of the year, it is hard to get up at
5:00am. It is dark, and cold, and rainy
and I just want to sleep for a little bit longer.
However, sometime in late April, the light shifts and I just
start waking up. First at five o’clock,
then earlier and earlier until my eyes pop open at 4:30 with no trouble at
all. I also need less sleep. During the dark months I fall asleep by 9:30,
and battle every morning to drag myself out of bed. When it gets light early, I’m up until 10:00
easily and my eyes automatically open at 4:30. I
also have more energy.
start waking up. First at five o’clock,
then earlier and earlier until my eyes pop open at 4:30 with no trouble at
all. I also need less sleep. During the dark months I fall asleep by 9:30,
and battle every morning to drag myself out of bed. When it gets light early, I’m up until 10:00
easily and my eyes automatically open at 4:30. I
also have more energy.
I attribute this surge to my left over agrarian
genes—telling me to get up, get out and till the fields—get the corn planted,
the chickens fed, the gardens weeded and watered. It makes me wonder if I’d be happier shifting
my sleep pattern to follow the sunrise, sleeping in later in the winter,
getting up earlier in the late spring and early summer. This will probably not be a thing I will ever
get to experiment with until my retirement as the jobs I seek have firm start
times.
genes—telling me to get up, get out and till the fields—get the corn planted,
the chickens fed, the gardens weeded and watered. It makes me wonder if I’d be happier shifting
my sleep pattern to follow the sunrise, sleeping in later in the winter,
getting up earlier in the late spring and early summer. This will probably not be a thing I will ever
get to experiment with until my retirement as the jobs I seek have firm start
times.
It’s a brief period, this magic time of light. By mid-July the morning runs begin their
slide into complete darkness and I am left to enjoy the (comparatively) warm
and (comparatively) dry mornings for the rest of the summer. Then the rains come and it is another long wait for my favorite
time of year.
slide into complete darkness and I am left to enjoy the (comparatively) warm
and (comparatively) dry mornings for the rest of the summer. Then the rains come and it is another long wait for my favorite
time of year.
One of my favorite “Hidden in plain sight, Portland.”
Every spring I’m delighted to walk by this parking lot at the corner of Burnside and SW 6th Ave. At some point, someone planted these yellow roses around the perimeter of the lot. Despite the fact that no one cares for them and they are surrounded by a busy street, a transit mall and asphalt as far as the eye can see, they bloom every year and smell fantastic.
Cars surround them, both moving and unmoving.
I’ve never taken cuttings of any plant to propagate, but these roses might just make me learn how to do that.
Essay: Summer Reading recommendations.
Someone just asked me for summer reading recommendations and
I’m happy to oblige! Her parameters?
Kind of light, or really good. I
read a lot of books like that. Pick up
any of these books and settle in for a good read. Note. If
you take me up on my recommendation and read one (or many) of these books,
please arrange for a date to chat about your feelings about the book. We can have tea.
My top three:
(Curses! All by men
and mostly about men. See below if you are looking for books by women about
women)
and mostly about men. See below if you are looking for books by women about
women)
The Art of Fielding
Chad Harback
It is new. It is
about college baseball, but you should read it anyway, even if you find baseball
the most boring thing in the world. The
reason you should read it is that Harback is amazing at creating characters you
instantly care about after only three pages and his syntax is delightful. I
copied 12 separate passages from the book into my “quotes” feature on
Goodreads. Mike Schwartz will forever
live in my heart.
about college baseball, but you should read it anyway, even if you find baseball
the most boring thing in the world. The
reason you should read it is that Harback is amazing at creating characters you
instantly care about after only three pages and his syntax is delightful. I
copied 12 separate passages from the book into my “quotes” feature on
Goodreads. Mike Schwartz will forever
live in my heart.
One Day
David Nichols
A very good premise in the book realm that was (sadly) made
into a so-so movie. Check in with the
two main characters on the same day in July for twenty years, from their early twenties
to their early forties. Funny, and
packed with astute observations about life’s passages during those twenty
years.
into a so-so movie. Check in with the
two main characters on the same day in July for twenty years, from their early twenties
to their early forties. Funny, and
packed with astute observations about life’s passages during those twenty
years.
Freddy & Fredericka
Mark Halprin
This will be a book I recommend to many people and no one
will read it because it is very thick and the author is very wordy and spends
five pages setting up a joke. Why do I
think you should read it? Because the
jokes are very funny and so you are happy at the massive set up. Because it is fun to see the USA through the
eyes of an exiled English Crown Prince and his wife. Because it is about the honor you find in
labor. Because I still choke up thinking
about different parts of the novel. It is summer. You have time to read a long
novel. Invest in this one.
will read it because it is very thick and the author is very wordy and spends
five pages setting up a joke. Why do I
think you should read it? Because the
jokes are very funny and so you are happy at the massive set up. Because it is fun to see the USA through the
eyes of an exiled English Crown Prince and his wife. Because it is about the honor you find in
labor. Because I still choke up thinking
about different parts of the novel. It is summer. You have time to read a long
novel. Invest in this one.
You’ve been meaning to check
out this “YA” thing?
out this “YA” thing?
YA Series Recommendations
The Hunger Games (Hunger Games/Catching Fire/Mockingjay)
Suzanne Collins
It is a big hit movie, before that it was a big hit book
series. The hero is a heroine and she’s
flawed and confused and muddling her way through a fabulous plot. There are tons of parallels to our modern
lives. It is good reading and there are two more movies coming, so you might as
well read the books now.
series. The hero is a heroine and she’s
flawed and confused and muddling her way through a fabulous plot. There are tons of parallels to our modern
lives. It is good reading and there are two more movies coming, so you might as
well read the books now.
YA Series that is not the Hunger Games
Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue
Kristen Cashore
This is another series with strong heroines. I
recommend this with the caveat that it took about 150 pages of Graceling for
everything to click, but then I was all-in, in that “avoid chores” way. Also, just for fun, it is interesting to read
reviews of these books on Goodreads because a lot of people are offended by the
(very mild and uncontroversial, in my opinion) sex. Should people be that scandalized? You will have to read the series to give an
opinion.
recommend this with the caveat that it took about 150 pages of Graceling for
everything to click, but then I was all-in, in that “avoid chores” way. Also, just for fun, it is interesting to read
reviews of these books on Goodreads because a lot of people are offended by the
(very mild and uncontroversial, in my opinion) sex. Should people be that scandalized? You will have to read the series to give an
opinion.
Have you not read anything by John Green?
An Abundance of Katherines
The Fault in Our Stars
John Green
John Green, as you might know, is one-half of the Vlogbrothers
who make being smart incredibly cool.
John Green also happens to be quite talented at writing YA novels. Abundance
has Math! And footnotes! And is
funny! TFIOS is the funniest cancer book I’ve ever read.
who make being smart incredibly cool.
John Green also happens to be quite talented at writing YA novels. Abundance
has Math! And footnotes! And is
funny! TFIOS is the funniest cancer book I’ve ever read.
Feeling Sorry for Celia
Jaclyn Moriarty
Are you looking for a loosely connected series about girls
who attend a girls’ high school in Australia? Do you like books made up of
letters? This here is the series for
you. Cecila is the first book, but if you are going to
just read one of the four, my favorite was the third one: The
Murder of Bindy Mackenzie
who attend a girls’ high school in Australia? Do you like books made up of
letters? This here is the series for
you. Cecila is the first book, but if you are going to
just read one of the four, my favorite was the third one: The
Murder of Bindy Mackenzie
Book that you need not
actually read:
actually read:
The Disciples
James Mollison
Pictures! So
fascinating! The photographer took
pictures of fans at different concerts and then knit 10 representative samples
into one big photo. It’s incredibly fun
to page through this book. In the back
he has a short paragraph about each concert which makes the photos even more interesting. And you can open the book to random pages and
ask someone what concert they think the fans are attending. It’s a book and a game!
fascinating! The photographer took
pictures of fans at different concerts and then knit 10 representative samples
into one big photo. It’s incredibly fun
to page through this book. In the back
he has a short paragraph about each concert which makes the photos even more interesting. And you can open the book to random pages and
ask someone what concert they think the fans are attending. It’s a book and a game!
General Fiction:
Just read this. Don’t question me:
The Elegence of the Hedgehog
Muriel Barbery
When I talk about this book people become uninterested so
I’m not going to tell you what it’s about.
I can tell you it’s translated from the French, has two women—really one
girl and one woman—that I loved and that everyone in book group related to this
book, even the men. It was a big hit at
book group and you should just read it.
Note that I did not like the last chapter AT ALL, but until then I loved
it.
I’m not going to tell you what it’s about.
I can tell you it’s translated from the French, has two women—really one
girl and one woman—that I loved and that everyone in book group related to this
book, even the men. It was a big hit at
book group and you should just read it.
Note that I did not like the last chapter AT ALL, but until then I loved
it.
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
Aimee Bender
This was one of my top favorites last year. I loved the magical realism of this novel and
I still think about the main character now and then. What if you could taste what people were
feeling when they made you the food you were eating?
I still think about the main character now and then. What if you could taste what people were
feeling when they made you the food you were eating?
Downtown Owl
Chuck Klosterman
There are a lot of Chuck Klosterman haters out there and let
me say that I’m not one of them. I love
his nonfiction and I found a lot to like in this novel about a small town in
North Dakota. I was not prepared for the
ending, which left my face twisted a bit into a skeptical look, but until then
I was delighted because Chuck Klosterman is a funny man with a unique way of
looking at the world.
me say that I’m not one of them. I love
his nonfiction and I found a lot to like in this novel about a small town in
North Dakota. I was not prepared for the
ending, which left my face twisted a bit into a skeptical look, but until then
I was delighted because Chuck Klosterman is a funny man with a unique way of
looking at the world.
Three Girls and their Brother
Theresa Rebeck
This was such a delight and is a perfect summer read. Three sisters become “it” girls and this book
follows each one of them—and their brother—in turn. This book features great commentary about our
tabloid society and wonderful voices and characters.
follows each one of them—and their brother—in turn. This book features great commentary about our
tabloid society and wonderful voices and characters.
Historical Fiction
I read a lot of historical fiction because it feeds my
history major “needs” without making me work through informative nonfiction
tomes. Ps. I’m a nerd! I put them in order chronologically for you.
history major “needs” without making me work through informative nonfiction
tomes. Ps. I’m a nerd! I put them in order chronologically for you.
Trask
Don Berry
Early Oregon history with former mountain man turned
restless settler setting out from too-crowded Astoria with two Native Americans
in tow to explore the Killamook country.
This is slow to start, but then whips into an action-packed frenzy. It’s also beautifully written.
restless settler setting out from too-crowded Astoria with two Native Americans
in tow to explore the Killamook country.
This is slow to start, but then whips into an action-packed frenzy. It’s also beautifully written.
(Note that in one overly complex sentence up there I used
“too” “two” and “to.” Get me to an
editor, STAT!)
“too” “two” and “to.” Get me to an
editor, STAT!)
Becky: The Lives and Loves of
Becky Thatcher
Becky Thatcher
Leonre Hart
Have you wondered what Becky Thatcher has to say about the
whole Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn thing? She’s
quite a spunky narrator and I greatly enjoyed this book.
whole Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn thing? She’s
quite a spunky narrator and I greatly enjoyed this book.
Jubilee
Margert Walker
So you’re a slave and then suddenly you are not. What exactly do you do next? It’s not like
you’re getting any 40 acres and mule.
This was some very interesting historical fiction about the
Reconstruction era, based on Walker’s research about her own family. It gets a bit wordy near the end, and some
people in book group had trouble with the dialect (though I was not one of
them) but it is worth the read.
you’re getting any 40 acres and mule.
This was some very interesting historical fiction about the
Reconstruction era, based on Walker’s research about her own family. It gets a bit wordy near the end, and some
people in book group had trouble with the dialect (though I was not one of
them) but it is worth the read.
The Given Day:
Dennis Lehane
A sweeping tale set in Boston just after World War I it
includes Babe Ruth as a minor character, a lot of reasons to support your local
union and also the great Molasses Flood.
And there’s some NAACP stuff in there too. There is a lot going on in
this novel and it is very interesting.
Also, no author living does star-crossed love better than Dennis
Lahane. No one.
includes Babe Ruth as a minor character, a lot of reasons to support your local
union and also the great Molasses Flood.
And there’s some NAACP stuff in there too. There is a lot going on in
this novel and it is very interesting.
Also, no author living does star-crossed love better than Dennis
Lahane. No one.
Suite Franciase
Irene Nemirovsky
Maybe, like me, you are kind of done with World War II
novels. Maybe, like me, you should make
an exception and read this one about the occupation of France. The novel itself is amazing. While you are still reeling from how amazing
it is, you read the author’s own story and everything just takes on a whole
level of wow.
novels. Maybe, like me, you should make
an exception and read this one about the occupation of France. The novel itself is amazing. While you are still reeling from how amazing
it is, you read the author’s own story and everything just takes on a whole
level of wow.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows.
Okay, so maybe also you should read this World War II novel
because 1)You learn all about the occupied island of Guernsey which you
probably didn’t know was interesting or perhaps even where it is. Also 2)It is in “correspondence” format and
that is always fun.
because 1)You learn all about the occupied island of Guernsey which you
probably didn’t know was interesting or perhaps even where it is. Also 2)It is in “correspondence” format and
that is always fun.
Science Fiction
Soon I will be Invincible
Austin Grossman
Do you want to read about Super Heroes and Super Villains
and you don’t want to read a graphic novel, but instead a novel? This is your
book! Do you not want to read about
either of those things? It might be worth checking this book out anyway, as it
is quite fun.
and you don’t want to read a graphic novel, but instead a novel? This is your
book! Do you not want to read about
either of those things? It might be worth checking this book out anyway, as it
is quite fun.
Essays
Manhood for Amateurs
Michael Chabon
Unlike his very wordy and lengthy novels (which I also
recommend) these are short essays that are amazing. I wanted to read them out loud to whoever
happened to be passing by at the moment. Usually that was Matt. I think I
managed to restrain myself and read him only two, although his life would have
been enriched if I had read them all to him.
Just go read this. Chabon is a
fabulous writer and funny.
recommend) these are short essays that are amazing. I wanted to read them out loud to whoever
happened to be passing by at the moment. Usually that was Matt. I think I
managed to restrain myself and read him only two, although his life would have
been enriched if I had read them all to him.
Just go read this. Chabon is a
fabulous writer and funny.
Detective Series I always
recommend:
recommend:
Kenzie/Gennaro Series
Dennis Lehane
So, in general, I’m not a fan of the mystery as a
genre. It tends to have dead people and
isn’t known for carefully crafted prose and I’m also quite lame at solving them
on my own so I always feel a sense of inferiority when I finish. But if you are looking for a fun way to spend
your summer, spend it with Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. The novels are mostly set in the Boston
neighborhood of Dorchester and begin in the late 1980s. Patrick Kenzie is a smart-mouthed
detective. Angie Gennaro is his tough-as-nails
partner. At some point in the series I
realized I wanted to marry both of them, I loved them that much. Lehane has a good bead on characters and the
books are very engrossing. Also, this is
the same guy who wrote the The Given Day
and see above about what I said about star-crossed love. The series is done now, so you can read
straight through. If you are like me,
you will read straight through and then start again at the very beginning.
genre. It tends to have dead people and
isn’t known for carefully crafted prose and I’m also quite lame at solving them
on my own so I always feel a sense of inferiority when I finish. But if you are looking for a fun way to spend
your summer, spend it with Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. The novels are mostly set in the Boston
neighborhood of Dorchester and begin in the late 1980s. Patrick Kenzie is a smart-mouthed
detective. Angie Gennaro is his tough-as-nails
partner. At some point in the series I
realized I wanted to marry both of them, I loved them that much. Lehane has a good bead on characters and the
books are very engrossing. Also, this is
the same guy who wrote the The Given Day
and see above about what I said about star-crossed love. The series is done now, so you can read
straight through. If you are like me,
you will read straight through and then start again at the very beginning.
A Drink Before the War
Darkness Take my Hand
Sacred
Gone, Baby, Gone
Prayers for Rain
Moonlight Mile
Good books I just tend to
recommend:
recommend:
American Wife
Curtis Sittenfeld
Another book I absolutely adored and can’t get anyone to
read. Won’t you please read it so we can discuss it? This is a novel about a woman whose life
follows a path that will be very familiar to anyone who knows the basics of Laura
Bush’s biography. Why should you read a
novel about the wife of a president of which you perhaps were not a fan? Because Sittenfeld is a good writer and she
writes a very good story. I read this
book a few years ago and still think about it.
read. Won’t you please read it so we can discuss it? This is a novel about a woman whose life
follows a path that will be very familiar to anyone who knows the basics of Laura
Bush’s biography. Why should you read a
novel about the wife of a president of which you perhaps were not a fan? Because Sittenfeld is a good writer and she
writes a very good story. I read this
book a few years ago and still think about it.
High Fidelity
Nick Hornby
For anyone who loves music and relationships. I’ve been recommending this since the
90s. A lot of people have read this, and
they aren’t sad they have read it. I can
also recommend the movie adapted from the book, which is a big rarity.
90s. A lot of people have read this, and
they aren’t sad they have read it. I can
also recommend the movie adapted from the book, which is a big rarity.
Prodigal Summer
Barbara Kingsolver
This is my favorite “thick” Kingsolver book (Animal
Dreams is my favorite “thin” one.)
I fell in love with the characters and the landscape is lush. It’s also a nicely woven tale, though it
doesn’t seem so at first.
Dreams is my favorite “thin” one.)
I fell in love with the characters and the landscape is lush. It’s also a nicely woven tale, though it
doesn’t seem so at first.
The Brothers K
David James Duncan
It’s about baseball, but it’s about so much more. It’s big and dense and sweeping and funny and
sad and tragic and moving and chock-full of amazing words. Every person who has read this book speaks of
it fondly after they have finished it, even people who don’t like baseball.
It’s also set in Camas, so has a local flavor for people familiar with
Portland.
sad and tragic and moving and chock-full of amazing words. Every person who has read this book speaks of
it fondly after they have finished it, even people who don’t like baseball.
It’s also set in Camas, so has a local flavor for people familiar with
Portland.