My coworker wrote a book. It is a kid's book, and his sister illustrated it. She is a phenomenal watercolor artist. And, he's a wonderful writer. Together they have made a masterpiece about Drop, a drop of water, and how he travels through the water cycle. I love this book! Each familial set of nieces and nephews will get an autographed copy for christmas this year. And, we'll have one too.
Check it out! He's a geologist and a NCSU graduate. We went to field camp together!
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Monday, October 4, 2010
elf on a shelf
okay, friends, you better get yours early before #1 they sell out, and #2 christmas season is here!!!
http://www.learningexpresstoys.com/index.php/shop-by-age/toys-for-ages-3-4/the-elf-on-a-shelf.html
http://www.learningexpresstoys.com/index.php/shop-by-age/toys-for-ages-3-4/the-elf-on-a-shelf.html
Thursday, March 25, 2010
he's not autistic, but...
by tenna merchent, M.H.
this book caught my eye in the new-release non-fiction section at the local library on one of my rare visits to an actual library.
i have no worries that either of my children are autistic. but it was the "but..." part of the title that got my attention. the book was somewhat interesting, i had trouble putting it down to be honest. i found her style of writing to be easy to read and more like she was standing in front of me, talking to me. what happened to her son and to her must have been difficult to go through as both a mother and a person, but none-the-less they made it through. i found to have in common with her a sense of generic doctors where you are in-and-out and you don't really get anything specialized, where nothing alternative (or homeopathic) is considered, and antibiotics and immunizations and growth charts are pushed as the norm.
i did finish the book with a sense of her personal growth (she seemed very weak as a person in the beginning) and towards the end she did become more of a fighter and a believer. i am not sure if i could "trust" some of the medicine-type practices she did during the course of her and her son's treatment, but i'm glad it worked for her. i believe with her hard work and perseverance, and constant prayer, God healed them. i believe she wrote a book, a true book, about a modern day miracle.
i just wanted to put my favorite quote from the book, which i think summarizes the book pretty well - both her struggles and her recovery in here.
this book caught my eye in the new-release non-fiction section at the local library on one of my rare visits to an actual library.
i have no worries that either of my children are autistic. but it was the "but..." part of the title that got my attention. the book was somewhat interesting, i had trouble putting it down to be honest. i found her style of writing to be easy to read and more like she was standing in front of me, talking to me. what happened to her son and to her must have been difficult to go through as both a mother and a person, but none-the-less they made it through. i found to have in common with her a sense of generic doctors where you are in-and-out and you don't really get anything specialized, where nothing alternative (or homeopathic) is considered, and antibiotics and immunizations and growth charts are pushed as the norm.
i did finish the book with a sense of her personal growth (she seemed very weak as a person in the beginning) and towards the end she did become more of a fighter and a believer. i am not sure if i could "trust" some of the medicine-type practices she did during the course of her and her son's treatment, but i'm glad it worked for her. i believe with her hard work and perseverance, and constant prayer, God healed them. i believe she wrote a book, a true book, about a modern day miracle.
i just wanted to put my favorite quote from the book, which i think summarizes the book pretty well - both her struggles and her recovery in here.
"...i have observed this phenomenon in many practitioners. they believe theirs is the only approach that will work. this man believes everything is caused by our emotions. he was like the guy who only has a hammer, so he thinks everything is a nail. it has been my experience there are many ways to approach the body that are beneficial.."
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
migraine help.book
i've read a book about migraines and i actually learned a few things!
the book was called "the everything health guide to migraines" by paula ford-martin and the most interesting part of the book was the headache-free diet. it goes full-circle back to the blog i wrote the other day about food allergies. in it i had a link about how to figure out what you are allergic/sensitive to. the first thing this chapter said to do was figure out your triggers. it is the same method. http://www.wholeapproach.com/diet/allergies.php (along with careful label reading after you figure what they ALL are.) and a side note here from my aunt - she and her daughters are doing the daniel diet (from the bible) for lent and she said that she's had NO migraines since she started it... so, it must be something in meat, sugars, breads, processing and preserving of foods that was giving her the migraines. she's going to slowly add back to see what causes them (sort of a reverse elimination diet) - i think that is a great idea and am now considering the fast for maybe a 14 or 21 day cycle to see if it helps me (of coarse, combined with much meditation and prayer - maybe i can figure out a few things)!
so, anyway, here are a few things from the book. in HER words (consider this all quoted):
GLUTAMATE is an amino acid and is the natural form of MSG found in grapes, spinach, some aged cheeses, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - why it causes migraines: MSG is created when protein is broken down and fermeted; particular bacteria excrete glutamic acid that is then filtered and added to salt to create the substance known as MSG. MSG works by simulating the taste buds into making food seem more appealing. potential reasons for its triggering power include the fermentation inherent to the MSG making process, and the possiblility that MSG actually alters brain function by affecting the behavior of seratonin.
MSG can be found in most flavored potatio chips, corn chips, pretzels, salad dressings as well as prepared food (fast food, snacks, sauces, soups, chicken nugget breading, asian cuisine).
flavor enhancers that have similar properties to MSG and may act as triggers in the same way are:
BHA, BHT, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein HVP or hydrolyzed plant protein HPT, modified food starch, carageenan, and maltodextran
color additives can be a trigger and the book says that FD&C #5 (tartrazine dye) is one. it can be found in soft drinks, candy, medication (both prescription and OTC) - and used to make other colors (orange, green, maroon, etc.) so be sure to ask the pharmacist about color additives if you are trying to exclude that one.
sugar and sweeteners: when you eat sugar, your blood sugar rises. migraineurs tend to be more sensitive than most changes in blood sugar, thus the rapid change may trigger a migraine. it can be avoided by limiting intake of refined sugars.
aspartame appears to lower the levels of serotonin in the body which can trigger or worsen a headache.
comfort foods:
chocolate contains phenyethylamine, a histamine, has been linked to migraine. you can substitute carob (a legume) for chocolate: it has no caffeine.
meats and barbeque: sodium nitrate, food preservative: cured meats, sausages, bacon, pepperoni, hot dogs, jerky, commercially dried fish: all triggers. (we don't eat these things in my house. well, except bacon. i do try to find the uncured kind when i buy it though. they are all triggers for me.) also consider that fried chicken from chain resturants are loaded with MSG (like the breading at chick-filet, as well as the breading at every fast food place where you get chicken nuggets if you are buying them for your child!)
soup: check for MSG, even broth.
mac and cheese: aged cheeses contain tyramine, an amino acid that is a potential migraine trigger. aged cheese such as parmesan, pecorino romano, asiago, and hard cheddar tend to have the highest concentration of tyramine, so those shoudl be the first ones to eliminate from your diet. it is possible to continue enjoying dishes such as macaroni and cheese but avoid using aged or moldy cheeses.
supermarket tips:"whole food diet" - whole wheat, brown rice, low fat dairy, frish fruits, veggies, and fish high in omega 3 FA, diet clear of fried foods and refined sugars. shop on the perimiter of the store.
Dairy: fresh milk, butter, cream - yogurt and sour cream are fermented and contain tyramine, as well as aged cheeses.
fruit and vegges: some fruits contain naturally substances that can trigger an attack: citrus fruits contain tyramine, bananas contain both histamine and tyramine, avacado and spinach also have histamine and tyramine. dried or dehydrated fruits may contain sulfites, a trigger. phenylethylamine foods included cheese, chocolate, citrus, cocoa, and red wine. tyramine containing foods include aged cheese, beer and ale, fava beans, nuts, olives, pickles, red wine, salted or cured meat, sauerkraut, sour cream, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and yogurt. histamine containing foods are aged cheese, beer and ale, banana, citrus, eggplant, fish, pineapple, red wine, spinach, strawberry, tomato, and yeast.
i won't even get into alcohol or caffeine... we all know to avoid that!
so if you have time, check out that book from the library. it was quite interesting. they even have it at the youngsville library - it is like one of the 101 they have on their shelves there. that is the smallest. library. ever.
the book was called "the everything health guide to migraines" by paula ford-martin and the most interesting part of the book was the headache-free diet. it goes full-circle back to the blog i wrote the other day about food allergies. in it i had a link about how to figure out what you are allergic/sensitive to. the first thing this chapter said to do was figure out your triggers. it is the same method. http://www.wholeapproach.com/diet/allergies.php (along with careful label reading after you figure what they ALL are.) and a side note here from my aunt - she and her daughters are doing the daniel diet (from the bible) for lent and she said that she's had NO migraines since she started it... so, it must be something in meat, sugars, breads, processing and preserving of foods that was giving her the migraines. she's going to slowly add back to see what causes them (sort of a reverse elimination diet) - i think that is a great idea and am now considering the fast for maybe a 14 or 21 day cycle to see if it helps me (of coarse, combined with much meditation and prayer - maybe i can figure out a few things)!
so, anyway, here are a few things from the book. in HER words (consider this all quoted):
GLUTAMATE is an amino acid and is the natural form of MSG found in grapes, spinach, some aged cheeses, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - why it causes migraines: MSG is created when protein is broken down and fermeted; particular bacteria excrete glutamic acid that is then filtered and added to salt to create the substance known as MSG. MSG works by simulating the taste buds into making food seem more appealing. potential reasons for its triggering power include the fermentation inherent to the MSG making process, and the possiblility that MSG actually alters brain function by affecting the behavior of seratonin.
MSG can be found in most flavored potatio chips, corn chips, pretzels, salad dressings as well as prepared food (fast food, snacks, sauces, soups, chicken nugget breading, asian cuisine).
flavor enhancers that have similar properties to MSG and may act as triggers in the same way are:
BHA, BHT, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein HVP or hydrolyzed plant protein HPT, modified food starch, carageenan, and maltodextran
color additives can be a trigger and the book says that FD&C #5 (tartrazine dye) is one. it can be found in soft drinks, candy, medication (both prescription and OTC) - and used to make other colors (orange, green, maroon, etc.) so be sure to ask the pharmacist about color additives if you are trying to exclude that one.
sugar and sweeteners: when you eat sugar, your blood sugar rises. migraineurs tend to be more sensitive than most changes in blood sugar, thus the rapid change may trigger a migraine. it can be avoided by limiting intake of refined sugars.
aspartame appears to lower the levels of serotonin in the body which can trigger or worsen a headache.
comfort foods:
chocolate contains phenyethylamine, a histamine, has been linked to migraine. you can substitute carob (a legume) for chocolate: it has no caffeine.
meats and barbeque: sodium nitrate, food preservative: cured meats, sausages, bacon, pepperoni, hot dogs, jerky, commercially dried fish: all triggers. (we don't eat these things in my house. well, except bacon. i do try to find the uncured kind when i buy it though. they are all triggers for me.) also consider that fried chicken from chain resturants are loaded with MSG (like the breading at chick-filet, as well as the breading at every fast food place where you get chicken nuggets if you are buying them for your child!)
soup: check for MSG, even broth.
mac and cheese: aged cheeses contain tyramine, an amino acid that is a potential migraine trigger. aged cheese such as parmesan, pecorino romano, asiago, and hard cheddar tend to have the highest concentration of tyramine, so those shoudl be the first ones to eliminate from your diet. it is possible to continue enjoying dishes such as macaroni and cheese but avoid using aged or moldy cheeses.
supermarket tips:"whole food diet" - whole wheat, brown rice, low fat dairy, frish fruits, veggies, and fish high in omega 3 FA, diet clear of fried foods and refined sugars. shop on the perimiter of the store.
Dairy: fresh milk, butter, cream - yogurt and sour cream are fermented and contain tyramine, as well as aged cheeses.
fruit and vegges: some fruits contain naturally substances that can trigger an attack: citrus fruits contain tyramine, bananas contain both histamine and tyramine, avacado and spinach also have histamine and tyramine. dried or dehydrated fruits may contain sulfites, a trigger. phenylethylamine foods included cheese, chocolate, citrus, cocoa, and red wine. tyramine containing foods include aged cheese, beer and ale, fava beans, nuts, olives, pickles, red wine, salted or cured meat, sauerkraut, sour cream, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and yogurt. histamine containing foods are aged cheese, beer and ale, banana, citrus, eggplant, fish, pineapple, red wine, spinach, strawberry, tomato, and yeast.
i won't even get into alcohol or caffeine... we all know to avoid that!
so if you have time, check out that book from the library. it was quite interesting. they even have it at the youngsville library - it is like one of the 101 they have on their shelves there. that is the smallest. library. ever.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Indestructibles
For Christmas, one of the gifts Holly got from her Aunt Katelyn were these books called "Indestructibles" - obviously they have them at Tookie's Toys. She gave them two, but they prefer one of the two - the one titled "Wiggle! March!" about animals on the farm. (Holly actually likes them both, but Kendal likes this one, thus creating a tug-of-war for this one which provides me with a method of testing durability for these books as you will soon see.)
I had never heard of such books. Kendal wasn't a chewer or a tearer, so he never even needed anything like it. We could trust him with paper books.
Holly, on the other hand, she's ruined more "expensive" books than I'd like to even acknowledge. And when I say expensive books, I mean hard-back, non-board (paper) books that generally cost more than a few dollars. (I realize also that board books do cost more than a few dollars too, but, they are MADE for kids to chew on - and they aren't tear-able.)
Anyway, to my point. These Indestructible books are awesome. They claim to be "chew proof, rip proof, tear proof, grab-able, pull-able, bendable, and 100% washable." I'm here to say that they are 100% accurate. They are made of some sort of fibrous type material (more of a coated fabric than a paper, though it feels like paper more than like fabric, thus thin and holding its shape like a book) - sort of like paper money (except waxy feeling). Holly and Kendal have walked on it, skated with it, chewed on it, fought over it (pulled it), sat on it and tried to grab at it, shut the door on it, etc. and i've also washed it (in the sink with dishwashing liquid just because of the whole hand foot and mouth thing...).
Also, this book is just pictures. No words. This seems weird at first, but, really, how many babies can read? Words in a baby book are just for the grown-up reading it to them. I like the lack of words because it allows me to make up my own words. Kendal and I just like to talk about the animals - Which one says moo? (He flips through and finds the cow.) Can you find the animal that eats hay? (He'll find the horse.) What does the goat say? (He'll find the goat and then we'll talk about the goat.) The colors are vibrant and the the discussions we've had over it have been spectacular.
Besides, since the book is only 2 months old and has had a tough work out still looks like new.
The next time you go to a baby shower and don't know what to get: I whole-heartedly recommend picking up one or two of the "Indestructibles" books for the baby-to-be. The mother will thank you. These WILL be a favorite!
"Wiggle! March!"
Indestructibles by Kaaren Pixton
Indestructibles by Kaaren Pixton
I had never heard of such books. Kendal wasn't a chewer or a tearer, so he never even needed anything like it. We could trust him with paper books.
Has your child chewed off
the corners of his/her books?
the corners of his/her books?
what about tearing the pages?
Holly, on the other hand, she's ruined more "expensive" books than I'd like to even acknowledge. And when I say expensive books, I mean hard-back, non-board (paper) books that generally cost more than a few dollars. (I realize also that board books do cost more than a few dollars too, but, they are MADE for kids to chew on - and they aren't tear-able.)
Anyway, to my point. These Indestructible books are awesome. They claim to be "chew proof, rip proof, tear proof, grab-able, pull-able, bendable, and 100% washable." I'm here to say that they are 100% accurate. They are made of some sort of fibrous type material (more of a coated fabric than a paper, though it feels like paper more than like fabric, thus thin and holding its shape like a book) - sort of like paper money (except waxy feeling). Holly and Kendal have walked on it, skated with it, chewed on it, fought over it (pulled it), sat on it and tried to grab at it, shut the door on it, etc. and i've also washed it (in the sink with dishwashing liquid just because of the whole hand foot and mouth thing...).
I don't know if you can see it,
but the center seam is sewed in place.
Very sturdy.
Even I can't pull the pages out.
but the center seam is sewed in place.
Very sturdy.
Even I can't pull the pages out.
Also, this book is just pictures. No words. This seems weird at first, but, really, how many babies can read? Words in a baby book are just for the grown-up reading it to them. I like the lack of words because it allows me to make up my own words. Kendal and I just like to talk about the animals - Which one says moo? (He flips through and finds the cow.) Can you find the animal that eats hay? (He'll find the horse.) What does the goat say? (He'll find the goat and then we'll talk about the goat.) The colors are vibrant and the the discussions we've had over it have been spectacular.
Besides, since the book is only 2 months old and has had a tough work out still looks like new.
The next time you go to a baby shower and don't know what to get: I whole-heartedly recommend picking up one or two of the "Indestructibles" books for the baby-to-be. The mother will thank you. These WILL be a favorite!
A note from the author:
"Dear Babies:
These books were made for YOU!"
"Dear Babies:
These books were made for YOU!"
Friday, September 4, 2009
goodreads
...makes me want to read!
if only there were more time in the day. or, i had one of those personal reading lights. its hard to read when i'm bunking with a light-sleeping, knocked out baby. ("light sleeping" meaning: one who wakes easily and one who is sensitive to light.)
time travelers wife. the movie does not look interesting. but, the previews do make me want to read the book. i'm sure they destroyed the text by making it a blockbuster. um, when is the road supposed to come out? i still want to see that as a movie.
melissa and amy - 4 and 5 stars for night? hum. it is really not my style of book, i'm not into holocaust type tooks. but, that makes me want to read it. :)
loving goodreads!
if only there were more time in the day. or, i had one of those personal reading lights. its hard to read when i'm bunking with a light-sleeping, knocked out baby. ("light sleeping" meaning: one who wakes easily and one who is sensitive to light.)
time travelers wife. the movie does not look interesting. but, the previews do make me want to read the book. i'm sure they destroyed the text by making it a blockbuster. um, when is the road supposed to come out? i still want to see that as a movie.
melissa and amy - 4 and 5 stars for night? hum. it is really not my style of book, i'm not into holocaust type tooks. but, that makes me want to read it. :)
loving goodreads!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
traveling light
"a wedding is reenacted in which we hear the thoughts of the bride and groom. the groom enters, laden with luggage. a bag dangles from every appendage. and each bag is labeled: guilt, anger, attogance, insecurities. this fellow is loaded. as he stands at the alter, the audience hears him thinking, finally, a woman who will help me carry all my burdens. she's so strong, so stable, so...
as his thoughts continue, hers begin. she enters, wearing a wedding bown but, like her fiance, covered with luggate. pulling a hanging bag, shouldering a carry-on, hauling a makeup kit, a paper sack - everything you could imagine and everything labeled. she has her own bags: prejudice, loneliness, disappointments. and her expectations? listen to what she is thinking: just a few more minutes and i've got me a man. no more counselors, no more group sessions. so long, discourgement and worry. i won't be seeing you anymore. he's going to fix me.
finally they stand at the altar, lost in a mountain of luggage. they smile their way through the ceremony, but when given the invitation to kiss earch other, they can't. how do you embrace someone if your arms are full of bags?"
my sister mailed me a book called traveling light by max lucado about 2 or 3 weeks ago. i've been reading it page by page... and it is a good book, but i just don't have a lot of time to read these days. however, the first chapter REALLY grabbed me.
this book, naturally, came at a perfect time (and i know that is why she sent it) of loosing a job, etc. when my stress is high. and though i pray often (not often enough) and feel like i so give my burdens to my Lord, the few hours of sleep i get at night because of laying away with a working brain lends itself otherwise.
anyway, if anyone is looking for a good book, althought i've not finished this one, i can relatively positively say that it's gonna be a good one. :) thanks sis!
"for the sake of those you love, travel light.
for the sake of the God you serve, travel light.
for the sake of your own joy, travel light.
there are certain weights in life you simply cannot carry. your Lord is asking you to set them down and trust him He is the father at the baggage claim. when a dad sees his five-year-old son trying to drag the family trunk off the carousel, what does he say? the father will say to his son what God is saying to you. 'set it down, child, I'll carry that one.' "
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
baby book recommendations
i just thought that since i was doing this for one of my pregnant friends, i'd post this on here for anyone else who was considering books for their infant/toddler.
here are kendal's favorite books as of 22 months:
belly button book! by sandra boynton
animal babies on mountains by kingfisher publications
animal babies on the farm by kingfisher publications
goodnight moon by margaret wise brown
mommy loves by anne gutman and georg hallensleben
mommy hugs by anne gutman and georg hallensleben
daddy cuddles by anne gutman and georg hallensleben (this is his FAVORITE favorite book)
daddy kisses by anne gutman and georg hallensleben
polar bear, polar bear, what do you hear? by bill martin jr.
brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? by bill martin jr. (we always say the teacher in the back is mamaw, and then we pick out his friends out of the children on the last page.)
panda bear, panda bear, what do you see? by bill martin jr.
how do you make a baby smile by philemon sturges
and the train goes... by william bee (this was one of the first books he laughed to. now he just wants to say "train" and "choo choo" on every page.)
llama llama red pajama by anna dewdney
the very hungry caterpillar by eric carle (he most likes to poke the holes with his fingers...)
five little monkeys jumping on the bed by eileen christelow (this one we have memorized... )
he also loves most anything with sesame street on it (this started with the books that shannon and jon gave him for his birthday last year). though we never watch sesame street, he just has a liking for elmo and cookie monster and grover. especially grover.
its funny, though, that he never really liked the touch-and-feel books. holly, however, already likes them. all the usborne "that's not my..." books that we had for kendal (that he never would touch), well, holly LOVES those!
Friday, June 12, 2009
friday five - reasons i'm still up (rather, up this early on a friday)
its 12:17 and friday is freshly here... why am i making my friday five already???
1. nathaniel had a late meeting, so generally speaking i can't sleep unless he is home. if i do sleep, i usually have a nightmare, so since i know he's on the way home, i'll just wait.
2. i just finished the road (book club meeting tomorrow night!). hey - i recommend it to all of you guys who read my blog! really! if i liked it, then you will (plus it only took me a total of about 3 or 4 hours to read the whole thing).
3. too much caffeine earlier today (breakfast was dunkin donuts!)
4. just fed holly (11:30pm)
5. i have a migraine and i'm waiting for my meds to work. this may be because i haven't the opportunity (or drive) to actually eat supper tonight. this makes 2 nights in a row = no dinner. not because i am not wanting to eat, just haven't had the time i suppose. tonight i was too into this darn book!!! (well, that and bedding babies!)
Thursday, January 8, 2009
while reading to kendal...
tonight i was sitting in the rocking chair with kendal in my lap and reading him books.
i opened one that i unfortunately have not read more than the first few pages... it is a book that kendal's aunt kathy gave to him this past summer when she was here for the walbring family reunion. it really is a cute book, i'm not sure why i haven't read it before now except that it has paper pages and i was afraid that kendal would tear them.
anyway, i was admiring the creative stories and graphics used in the book, which by the way is remy charlip's "arm in arm" and i got to this page:
lol i immediately thought of nathaniel and amy... and then kathy. it would have been nice to know them growing up. i bet they had lots of neat books like this.
one day, we will get a pete and repeat. even if they are just 2 fish.
this book reminds me of another book that someone once gave me... i wonder if i can find it because i can't remember what it is called! something about a sidewalk...
lol i immediately thought of nathaniel and amy... and then kathy. it would have been nice to know them growing up. i bet they had lots of neat books like this.
one day, we will get a pete and repeat. even if they are just 2 fish.
this book reminds me of another book that someone once gave me... i wonder if i can find it because i can't remember what it is called! something about a sidewalk...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Beauty's Overrated
i forgot to put in my favorite line(s) from both the movie AND the book...
at the time, sarah barely registered the comment, giving herself up to the strong sensations flooding her body. later that night, though, it came back to her: beauty's overrated. He'd meant it to be comforting, but at three in the morning it had precisely the opposite effect. he had a beautiful wife, a knockout, and she was sleeping beside him right now, their legs intertwined beneath the covers. and where was sarah? wide awake in the dark, listening to the wheezy tedious breathing of the man she no longer considered her husband. beauty's overrated. only someone who took his own beauty for granted could have been able to say something so outrageously stupid with a straight face.
finished a book...
in 2 days finished Little Children by Tom Perrotta. if you remember, i blogged about the movie several weeks ago. finally i tracked down a franklin county owned version of the book (at the library with the weirdest hours ever... like only open from 1 to 5 3 days a week...), i checked it out, and i could not put it down! it took me 10 day (of the 14 it is checked out) to get started, but when i did i breezed right through it. it is a very good book, much like the movie (which was also quite pleasurable, probably due to the staring in it...)
so if you need a quick read, pick it up. i would recommend watching the movie, also, because the movie has a different (and better) ending. the book isn't nearly as disturbing as the movie was (there is a child molester in the story). before i know i mentioned that i didn't really like kate winslet in the movie (her boobs are so ugly) but actually, they picked a great person to play the part - in the book she has the same qualities, as well as bushy eyebrows (just like the real person!)
anyway, i recommend both.
on a totally separate note...
this morning kendal tasted his first rock. i was watering the tomatoes and he leaned over to reach a piece of smoky/iron quartz that was sitting on the rail (it had been cleaned numerous times with the water hose, nathaniel finds "cool" rocks and usually cleans them and sits them on the rail for all to see). anyway, kendal picked it up, put it right in his mouth, and then spit and dropped the rock (almost on my toe!)
p.s. my keyboard batteries are running low so if i am missing a letter here and there, that is why.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
girl with a pearl earring
this months book club meeting was my month to host, and my month to pick a book. i picked girl with a pearl earring by tracy chevalier.
this book is fantastic, but mostly i think i like it best because it is a story based on and about art, and a young dutch girl's love and appreciation of art. interestingly enough, on tracy chevalier's website, she discusses her inspiration for this book: "The idea for this novel came easily. I was lying in bed one morning, worrying about what I was going to write next. (Writers are always worrying about that.) A poster of the Vermeer painting Girl With a Pearl Earring hung in my bedroom, as it had done since I was 19 and first discovered the painting. I lay there idly contemplating the girl's face, and thought suddenly, "I wonder what Vermeer did to her to make her look like that. Now there’s a story worth writing." Within three days I had the whole story worked out. It was effortless; I could see all the drama and conflict in the look on her face. Vermeer had done my work for me."
i sure wish i could paint a picture like that. whether in words OR in art.
well it had great reviews by the book club attendees also. this is our first book that EVERYONE liked. we all agreed that although it isn't the "best" book we've ever read, it is quite pleasant to read and the pace and the story keep you interested from cover to cover.
incidentally, a movie has been made based on the book. i watched the movie probably 5 years ago and i liked it when i saw it. i also liked the book.
so... who else has read it? how did you like it?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
my version of thurber...
one of my long time favorite books is names thurber's "the thurber carnival"
this book is a collection of short stories, essays, and collections from times past... in particular, my favorite part is called the pet department. here are two excerpts from the pet department:
Q. No one has been able to tell us what kind of dog we have. I am enclosing a sketch of one of his two postures. He only has two. The other one is the same as this except he faces in the opposite direction. - Mrs EUGENIA BLACK
so anyway, nathaniel and i had an email 'transaction' today that reminded me of thurber's pet department. here goes it:
(incidentally, this is called a pee tree)
Cats that live a majority of their time outside, are deemed permitted to use culverts, leaf piles or mulched areas. Cats living predominantly inside must use a self contained kaolinite filtration system.
Since you, presumably, are human and thus have opposable thumbs unless you have been involved in an unfortunate pruning accident may not use the "old oak tree." You are required to use a water wasting device that will transport your waste to a leaky tank in your backyard which will hopefully make it through your pump tank to the drip lines by your "old oak tree", unless the power wires have been cut. As to whether or not you close the lid when finished, refer to your husband.
this book is a collection of short stories, essays, and collections from times past... in particular, my favorite part is called the pet department. here are two excerpts from the pet department:
Q. No one has been able to tell us what kind of dog we have. I am enclosing a sketch of one of his two postures. He only has two. The other one is the same as this except he faces in the opposite direction. - Mrs EUGENIA BLACK
A. I think that what you have is a cast-iron lawn dog. The expressionless eye and the rigid pose are characteristic of metal lawn animals. And that certainly is a cast-iron ear. You could, however, remove all doubt by means of a simple test with a hammer and a cold chisel, or an acetylene torch. If the animal chips, or melts, my diagnosis is correct.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. We have a fish with ears and wonder if it is valuable. - JOE WRIGHT
A. I find no trace in the standard fish books of any fish with ears. Very likely the ears do not belong to the fish, but to some mammal. They look to me like a mammal's ears. It would be pretty hard to say what species of mammal, and almost impossible to determine what particular member of that species. They may merely be hysterical ears, in which case they will go away if you can get the fish's mind on something else.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------so anyway, nathaniel and i had an email 'transaction' today that reminded me of thurber's pet department. here goes it:
(incidentally, this is called a pee tree)
A: The dog doesn't need a permit because she prefers to poop on the carpet.Q: i have to pee and i want to do it outside. could you write me a permit for a one-time pee out by the old oak tree? my cats also like to pee and poo outside. do they need a permit? will i get fined if i take my dog down to the creek and make her pee and poo right next to the water? what if i give her a bath outside and the water drains into my yard? do i need a permit to do that too? i'm using biodegradable soap!
Cats that live a majority of their time outside, are deemed permitted to use culverts, leaf piles or mulched areas. Cats living predominantly inside must use a self contained kaolinite filtration system.
Since you, presumably, are human and thus have opposable thumbs unless you have been involved in an unfortunate pruning accident may not use the "old oak tree." You are required to use a water wasting device that will transport your waste to a leaky tank in your backyard which will hopefully make it through your pump tank to the drip lines by your "old oak tree", unless the power wires have been cut. As to whether or not you close the lid when finished, refer to your husband.
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