we have about four cherry trees starting to bloom. so cool!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
“wow, it’s another good song!”
Back in the Mix Tape days, I mean, when there really were cassette tapes, I had a habit of somehow managing to be surprised when song after song of music I like would play from a tape I’d made. On one level, of course, I knew I’d made the tape to contain just the songs I particularly enjoyed at the moment I made it. On another level though, it still somehow seemed like a string of incredibly good luck that my favorite songs were playing. When you listen to the radio, it’s all haphazard. You might listen for hours and not hear anything that would make you want to sing along. What kind of crazy world is it where you can special order music? Who am I to dictate the order of songs?
The iPod of course, takes this thrill to another level. All my favorite stuff in there, and then I can hit “shuffle.” What will be up next? Graceland? The Indigo Girls? that new CD I just loaded? I was on my way home just now, and the audio book I was listening to was too skippy (darn public library discs!) so I pulled out my iPod and shuffled I had to skip a head through a bit of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and a few Celtic instrumentals to get to something singable. Namely “Virginia Woolf” by the Girls. Great. I enjoy being the third Indigo Girl on that number, and magically, somehow the next song that popped up was “Verdi Cries,” by all those Maniacs. And I said, out loud, to myself, in the car, “Wow!! Another GREAT song.”
Then I laughed at myself.
~ by meteowrite on February 13, 2007.
One Response to ““wow, it’s another good song!””
1.jenn, I still do that with my iPod. And when I’m at work, I feel compelled to follow it up with: Of course it is, it’s my iPod.
You know, in case someone was actually listening to me and needed to hear me admit that I am a big dork.
jean said this on February 14th, 2007 at 10:40 am
The iPod of course, takes this thrill to another level. All my favorite stuff in there, and then I can hit “shuffle.” What will be up next? Graceland? The Indigo Girls? that new CD I just loaded? I was on my way home just now, and the audio book I was listening to was too skippy (darn public library discs!) so I pulled out my iPod and shuffled I had to skip a head through a bit of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack and a few Celtic instrumentals to get to something singable. Namely “Virginia Woolf” by the Girls. Great. I enjoy being the third Indigo Girl on that number, and magically, somehow the next song that popped up was “Verdi Cries,” by all those Maniacs. And I said, out loud, to myself, in the car, “Wow!! Another GREAT song.”
Then I laughed at myself.
~ by meteowrite on February 13, 2007.
One Response to ““wow, it’s another good song!””
1.jenn, I still do that with my iPod. And when I’m at work, I feel compelled to follow it up with: Of course it is, it’s my iPod.
You know, in case someone was actually listening to me and needed to hear me admit that I am a big dork.
jean said this on February 14th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Friday, February 9, 2007
fictional mortality — part one
I’m reading a book, and a character died. I won’t get into the details, so I won’t ruin things for folks who might read the book, and really it’s not important. I thought the death of a particular character served no literary purpose. I get it, sometimes people die, in real life and in fiction. I have no problem understanding that. But in this case, I think the author had no business killing off a particular character, in that it didn’t make the story more interesting. It didn’t make me believe more in the characters. Anyway, it got me off on a long line of thought about authors killing off characters. Which I’m going to break down into blog chunks, if you will. You see, I’ve prepared an outline in my journal. But I don’t have the stamina to write it all out at once.
So let’s start at the beginning. I asked myself (and now I’m asking you, the half dozen or so of you who read this) “Who was the first book character I remember losing?” and “Who was the first author who really got me when they killed off a character?” I think Charlotte was the first character to die in a book I was reading. She was a spider, I don’t remember being particularly broken up about it. I mean, sure it was sad, but she was a spider. Spiders die all the time. Even talking spiders, I assume. A lot of the other classic kids books with death scenes, I don’t think I ever read. Or I didn’t read them until much later. Old Yeller, never read it. Little Women, not until I was in college if you’d believe it (that great scene in “Friends” where Rachel’s reading “The Shining” on Joey’s recommendation and he’s reading “Little Women,” and they get mad at each other and try and ruin the endings? Good times.) I only read Bridge to Terebithia a few months ago, and by then I knew how it ended. Just like I know the key points of “The Sixth Sense” without ever having read it.
The first one that really made me sad? I think that would have been several years after Charlotte’s Web. I think it might have been Mathhew Cuthbert, in “Anne of Green Gables.” And then shortly after that, Emily’s dad, in “Emily of New Moon,” and that happens right out of the gate, in chapter two or something.
Wow, on an unrelated note, I just helped a little girl find a book on a famous female ornithologist. Way to be into female ornithologists!
~ by meteowrite on February 9, 2007.
3 Responses to “fictional mortality — part one”
1. I think killing off minor characters is an author’s way of neatly getting rid of them once they serve no real purpose. I actually got that idea from “Anne of Green Gables”, if you recalled that writing group that Anne started with her girl-friends, one of the girls (Diana perhaps) would kill off the characters because she just didn’t know what to do with them…and I think that real authors do that, just so they can concentrate on the important characters and events that are going to happen.
silverneurotic said this on February 9th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
2.I’m not sure exactly where this notion stands in relation to the mainstream, but I’ve always heard/assumed that the only really acceptable way to kill off a character is if the character seems to kill himself off. That is to say, that any time an author says something like, “Hm, maybe I’ll kill this character now,” he’ll be in the wrong, whereas saying something more like, “Oh, no, I think this character is about to die,” he’ll be in the right. And I was also under the impression that this was the generally held opinion on the topic.
elletrice said this on February 10th, 2007 at 9:33 am
3.The first bookish death I remember was, of course, crucial to the story–Arthur’s death at the hands of Modered. It was some childrens version of the great story, and it got me started on a lifelong trek into the Arthur cycle. I keep looking for “alternative endings”, but of course there aren’t any that make sense, or at least there weren’t until Finovar.
Goodyear said this on February 12th, 2007 at 11:02 am
So let’s start at the beginning. I asked myself (and now I’m asking you, the half dozen or so of you who read this) “Who was the first book character I remember losing?” and “Who was the first author who really got me when they killed off a character?” I think Charlotte was the first character to die in a book I was reading. She was a spider, I don’t remember being particularly broken up about it. I mean, sure it was sad, but she was a spider. Spiders die all the time. Even talking spiders, I assume. A lot of the other classic kids books with death scenes, I don’t think I ever read. Or I didn’t read them until much later. Old Yeller, never read it. Little Women, not until I was in college if you’d believe it (that great scene in “Friends” where Rachel’s reading “The Shining” on Joey’s recommendation and he’s reading “Little Women,” and they get mad at each other and try and ruin the endings? Good times.) I only read Bridge to Terebithia a few months ago, and by then I knew how it ended. Just like I know the key points of “The Sixth Sense” without ever having read it.
The first one that really made me sad? I think that would have been several years after Charlotte’s Web. I think it might have been Mathhew Cuthbert, in “Anne of Green Gables.” And then shortly after that, Emily’s dad, in “Emily of New Moon,” and that happens right out of the gate, in chapter two or something.
Wow, on an unrelated note, I just helped a little girl find a book on a famous female ornithologist. Way to be into female ornithologists!
~ by meteowrite on February 9, 2007.
3 Responses to “fictional mortality — part one”
1. I think killing off minor characters is an author’s way of neatly getting rid of them once they serve no real purpose. I actually got that idea from “Anne of Green Gables”, if you recalled that writing group that Anne started with her girl-friends, one of the girls (Diana perhaps) would kill off the characters because she just didn’t know what to do with them…and I think that real authors do that, just so they can concentrate on the important characters and events that are going to happen.
silverneurotic said this on February 9th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
2.I’m not sure exactly where this notion stands in relation to the mainstream, but I’ve always heard/assumed that the only really acceptable way to kill off a character is if the character seems to kill himself off. That is to say, that any time an author says something like, “Hm, maybe I’ll kill this character now,” he’ll be in the wrong, whereas saying something more like, “Oh, no, I think this character is about to die,” he’ll be in the right. And I was also under the impression that this was the generally held opinion on the topic.
elletrice said this on February 10th, 2007 at 9:33 am
3.The first bookish death I remember was, of course, crucial to the story–Arthur’s death at the hands of Modered. It was some childrens version of the great story, and it got me started on a lifelong trek into the Arthur cycle. I keep looking for “alternative endings”, but of course there aren’t any that make sense, or at least there weren’t until Finovar.
Goodyear said this on February 12th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Monday, January 29, 2007
It’s still too early
Back when I was working my 4 day work weeks at UCSC, I had to get up pretty early in the mornings. I didn’t mind, exactly, ’cause I had that extra day off, but still….to get to work by 7, I had to meet Sarah at 6:40 in Scott’s Valley, which meant leaving home no later than 6, which meant getting up no later than say, 5:20 am, which meant my alarm was starting to beep around 4:30 in the morning. I made it work, but I remember thinking, “You know, 7 a.m. would be a civilized time to wake up. Still nice and early, plenty of day left at that point, but not obscene. Not like 4:30 a.m.”
It’s still too early. I rolled out of bed, after much deliberation at 6:37 this morning. And I was awfully crabby about it. Even after I reminded myself about how just a few months ago, it was 4:30, and how I’d said “If only I could get up at 7.” And, truth be told, two days a week now, I don’t have to be to work until 11. That’s just one short hour before noon. On those days, I pretty much just sleep until I wake up.
It’s still too early. I think, when it comes to getting out of bed, it will always be too early.
It’s still too early. I rolled out of bed, after much deliberation at 6:37 this morning. And I was awfully crabby about it. Even after I reminded myself about how just a few months ago, it was 4:30, and how I’d said “If only I could get up at 7.” And, truth be told, two days a week now, I don’t have to be to work until 11. That’s just one short hour before noon. On those days, I pretty much just sleep until I wake up.
It’s still too early. I think, when it comes to getting out of bed, it will always be too early.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Mystery Garden
This is one little corner of the garden at our new place. Paperwhites, I think they are, which kind of reminds me of Barrow-wights, but that’s way less appealing. The flowers smell divine! They are the first thing to pop their heads up. I took this photo about a week ago, now this plant has a friend, just on the other side of that batch of lavendar you see behind the paperwhites.
It’s such a thrill, this mystery garden of ours. I have no idea what’s out there. Well, I have some ideas. The former tenants, or someone, was a fair friend of agapanthas. Those are springing up all over the place. And there is a promising collection of jasmine lining one of our fences. But what other things will come peeking out of the ground as the spring goes on, who knows? I want to get out there and poke around, but it’s not really time yet. I don’t want to disturb something that might turn out to be amazing. I think, in one of the raised beds out back, I’ll plant things that would be good for cutting. I might have gorgous flower arrangements all summer long! Well, one step at a time. Right now I just wander out there in the mornings when I work late, and smell the paperwhites.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Hark the Horn of Gondor Rings
Really, this is one of those “picture is worth 1000 words” times, but the cameras aren’t exactly unpacked yet. So until they are, you’ll have to bear with my description.
The bookshelves in the living room sat empty for a few days, just where the movers left them, until I got around to some boxes of books. Of *course* I started the library with the Tolkien collection, boxes LOTR1 and LOTR2. And that’s as far as I got for a few days. Just your random Elvish texts and the movies, and of course, the happy meal toy I got on the way home from my very first trip to see FOTR, Boromir and his horn. When you push a button, he says “You carry the fate of us all little one,” (hey, there are layers to what I’m about to write that I didn’t even see till I typed that.)
Last weekend, Nathan’s mom Cheryl visited with a burst of enthusiasm for unpacking, and several housewarming gifts. She filled the rest of the bookshelves for us, and set up the Nativity Set she brought us. Right there on the Tolkien Shelf, next to Boromir. So now, we have Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, some Wise Men, and HARK! Boromir of Gondor, obviously sidetracked on his way to Rivendell. It’s quite simply, perfect.
AHA! Thanks to the sharp shooting of LLCoolberg, we do indeed now have a picture.
Thanks Cheryl and Lisa!
~ by meteowrite on December 11, 2006.
One Response to “Hark the Horn of Gondor Rings”
1.
Jenn, I must confess. At first gander, I could not pick out which of these icons is not like the others…one of the icons is doing its own thing… as the song goes. Is Cheryl up to speed on her happy meal toys? Or did she assume that Boromir was a wayward shephard in search of a manger posse to hang out with?
jean said this on January 23rd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
The bookshelves in the living room sat empty for a few days, just where the movers left them, until I got around to some boxes of books. Of *course* I started the library with the Tolkien collection, boxes LOTR1 and LOTR2. And that’s as far as I got for a few days. Just your random Elvish texts and the movies, and of course, the happy meal toy I got on the way home from my very first trip to see FOTR, Boromir and his horn. When you push a button, he says “You carry the fate of us all little one,” (hey, there are layers to what I’m about to write that I didn’t even see till I typed that.)
Last weekend, Nathan’s mom Cheryl visited with a burst of enthusiasm for unpacking, and several housewarming gifts. She filled the rest of the bookshelves for us, and set up the Nativity Set she brought us. Right there on the Tolkien Shelf, next to Boromir. So now, we have Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, some Wise Men, and HARK! Boromir of Gondor, obviously sidetracked on his way to Rivendell. It’s quite simply, perfect.
AHA! Thanks to the sharp shooting of LLCoolberg, we do indeed now have a picture.
Thanks Cheryl and Lisa!
~ by meteowrite on December 11, 2006.
One Response to “Hark the Horn of Gondor Rings”
1.
Jenn, I must confess. At first gander, I could not pick out which of these icons is not like the others…one of the icons is doing its own thing… as the song goes. Is Cheryl up to speed on her happy meal toys? Or did she assume that Boromir was a wayward shephard in search of a manger posse to hang out with?
jean said this on January 23rd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Monday, November 20, 2006
My Un-vacation Ends
I was very clever. I scheduled 10 days, TEN days between my last day at ILL and my first day at LGPL. Ten days. You should see the list of things I was going to achieve. It was a beautiful list. I was going to re-watch every episode of the West Wing. I was going to finish reading all the books remaining on my YALSA book list. I was going to start reading a new list of kid lit, so I’d be ready for those shifts on the reference desk in the kids room. I was going to pack up the whole apartment, since we’re moving. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, I had TEN DAYS. After eight years of working, I treated myself to ten days off. Then it turned into 11, as my start date switched from today to tomorrow. ELEVEN DAYS.
I’ve been so cheated. I got SICK! On day TWO! I was sick the whole week. All kinds of sick. I mean, I understand what happened. It’s like when you take a pass on Jury Duty, because something’s going on in your life, and then when you get called again, somehow, it’s even more inconvenient. My immune system had been trundling along for awhile, letting me get a lot of work done at work, but then, when my vacation popped up, my immune system felt like it deserved a break as well. All kinds of sick. In a generous mood, I started to recover last Thursday-ish, and by Friday, I was doing pretty well. But come on, that’s just a long weekend. That’s not 11 days. I really think I deserve a do-over.
Anyhow, at least I don’t have tuberculosis. I had to go in for a physical for my new job, and I had a TB test. All clear. Whew. That was a close one.
So, tomorrow’s the big day. A First Day of Work. I haven’t seen one of those since 1998, mind you. Totally different millennium. I haven’t really put a lot of time into thinking about it, what with the being cheated of my vacation and all. This morning, before I decided to get out of bed and try and finish my 11-day To Do List in one day, I was remembering an ILL staff meeting we had when Josh was new there. Kim and Sarah and I rolled up to our table with our lists of things to figure out. Josh rolled up to the table with some paper from around the office, for taking notes. We started to build our agenda. Josh held up some paper, one of those print outs from a fax machine that tells you what has been sent to which number, and said “I’d like to talk about the fax logs I’ve gathered.”
In the five seconds or so before we figured out he was kidding, Sarah and Kim and I were all trying desperately to remember what task we’d asked him to do that would require looking at the fax logs. We assumed we’d set him to a project, and the fax logs were a part of it. And then we realized he was just kidding, he was going to take his notes on the back of the fax logs.
I bring it up, ’cause that’s what I’m looking for in an office. The sort of place where it’s just assumed that everyone is on to something, that everyone is working as hard as they can, as creatively as they can. And if you don’t understand why they want to talk about fax logs, it’s just because you haven’t followed their train of thought yet. It’s never assumed that it might be just plain lame to look at fax logs. I’m also looking for a place with a dry, deadpan sense of humor. That always livens up meetings. No fear of silliness.
Time will tell, I guess, if that’s where I’ve ended up.
I’ve been so cheated. I got SICK! On day TWO! I was sick the whole week. All kinds of sick. I mean, I understand what happened. It’s like when you take a pass on Jury Duty, because something’s going on in your life, and then when you get called again, somehow, it’s even more inconvenient. My immune system had been trundling along for awhile, letting me get a lot of work done at work, but then, when my vacation popped up, my immune system felt like it deserved a break as well. All kinds of sick. In a generous mood, I started to recover last Thursday-ish, and by Friday, I was doing pretty well. But come on, that’s just a long weekend. That’s not 11 days. I really think I deserve a do-over.
Anyhow, at least I don’t have tuberculosis. I had to go in for a physical for my new job, and I had a TB test. All clear. Whew. That was a close one.
So, tomorrow’s the big day. A First Day of Work. I haven’t seen one of those since 1998, mind you. Totally different millennium. I haven’t really put a lot of time into thinking about it, what with the being cheated of my vacation and all. This morning, before I decided to get out of bed and try and finish my 11-day To Do List in one day, I was remembering an ILL staff meeting we had when Josh was new there. Kim and Sarah and I rolled up to our table with our lists of things to figure out. Josh rolled up to the table with some paper from around the office, for taking notes. We started to build our agenda. Josh held up some paper, one of those print outs from a fax machine that tells you what has been sent to which number, and said “I’d like to talk about the fax logs I’ve gathered.”
In the five seconds or so before we figured out he was kidding, Sarah and Kim and I were all trying desperately to remember what task we’d asked him to do that would require looking at the fax logs. We assumed we’d set him to a project, and the fax logs were a part of it. And then we realized he was just kidding, he was going to take his notes on the back of the fax logs.
I bring it up, ’cause that’s what I’m looking for in an office. The sort of place where it’s just assumed that everyone is on to something, that everyone is working as hard as they can, as creatively as they can. And if you don’t understand why they want to talk about fax logs, it’s just because you haven’t followed their train of thought yet. It’s never assumed that it might be just plain lame to look at fax logs. I’m also looking for a place with a dry, deadpan sense of humor. That always livens up meetings. No fear of silliness.
Time will tell, I guess, if that’s where I’ve ended up.
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