January 2013 – Of Bears and Boating

Embarrassment of Riches Challenge – January check-in

At the beginning of the year, I decided to participate in the Embarrassment of Riches reading challenge hosted by Author Patricia Burroughs. The goal of the challenge is to make a dent in that stack of books I’ve intended to read, but never found the time.

This month I read:

The Cold War – A New History by John Lewis Gaddis – This is non-fiction and as the title suggests, a historical overview of the Cold War from its postwar inception until its end in the early 1990s. It was a fascinating read and I enjoyed Gaddis’ easy writing style and occasional sarcastic barb aimed at those leaders he felt lacking. *cough cough Kennedy cough cough*

Slightly Dangerous – Mary Balogh – No one have a heart attack. This is indeed a romance novel. I do enjoy a good romance every now and then. This one I particularly enjoyed, probably because it is a take on Pride & Prejudice. I like it so much I might put in the “will read again” stack.

Moscow Rules – Daniel Silva – This is the 8th or 9th installment in the Gabriel Allon series I’ve been working my way through for a while now. I must say, it was not my favorite – I would even go so far as to say I didn’t like it. Yikes. I hope I’m not coming down with a case of Silva fatigue. I have to get through book 12 or 13 (I’ve lost count) before the next one comes out this summer.

My goal is silver so I’ve read 3 out of 24.

I’ll take that considering I can be a painfully slow reader.

So, what are you reading? What’s in your TBR stack?

Happy Birthday, Dad

My dad passed away almost six years ago. Today would have been his birthday. In celebration, I’m sharing with you a few of his favorite songs – songs that make me feel close to him.

Enjoy.

Things I learned this week

I learned this week:

…that Historical Geology is not going to be a cake walk.

From the course material:

“The study of sedimentary rocks can involve many scientific disciplines. Considerable knowledge of mathematics, biology, and physics is required to fully understand the mechanics and processes associated with weathering, transportation, lithification, the preservation of life forms, and the postdepositional alteration and changes that may occur.”

My horror at seeing the words “mathematics, biology, physics, and required” strung together in a cohesive sentence was only compounded by my professor’s declaration that Historical Geology is not for the “faint of heart.” And, just when I thought for sure it couldn’t get any worse, I spied logarithms in lab assignment number two.

Excuse me while I vomit.

It seems college algebra has risen from its darkened mire to torment me once again.

Of course, maybe it won’t be so bad. The first thing I thought after I typed the word “mire”: low energy environment; muddy sediment with fine clay particles; decaying animal and plant matter; peat; bituminous coal.

…that I have been paying out-of-state tuition for the last several semesters even though I live in the state, and haven’t moved since my house burned down in 2006 – which was prior to my enrollment. It took two full hours to convince them I haven’t been commuting in from some faraway place every semester – you know, to take advantage of their renowned education opportunities.

I’m not sure this is the spirit of efficiency Max Weber had in mind when he penned the six characteristics of bureaucracies.

…that Roger Federer has made it into the semi-finals of the Australian Open. This is usually the point where he lets me down and has his ass handed to him by Rafe Nadal. But maybe there is a ray of hope this year. Federer’s chief rival is out with a knee injury. Could this ensure victory for my favorite aging Swiss tennis pro?

I think. Maybe. Yes.

Wait? What’s that?

Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer today to move into the finals at the Open?

Damn it.

Update: Federer lost his semi-finals round to Andy Murray.

<facepalm>

Update 2: Djokovic defeated Murray for the title. I’m okay with that.

…that Beyonce Knowles – aka Mrs. Jay Z – likely lip-synced the national anthem during President Barak Obama’s inauguration. Big freaking whoop. I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here, but do I need to remind the media that there are more important things happening in the country and around the world? Don’t make me list them again. I’ll do it, you know.

…that I have been nominated for a couple more blogging awards. I am getting behind in my acknowledgements. Let’s see if I can fix that.

From jazzytower over at thoughtsandentanglements, I received a nomination for the Beautiful Blogger Award.

From Kevin at nittygrittydirtman, I received a nomination for the Liebster Award.

From Kitty over at kittyb78, I received a nomination for the Versatile Blogger Award and the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

If you guys keep this up, I’m going to get a very big ego and begin to channel my inner Sally Field again. You know how messy that got last time.

(please, don’t stop)

Thanks to Jazzy, Kevin, and Kitty. Go check out their blogs. I’m sure you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Okay, as always these things come with rules and regulations. I’m going to try to combine them to save space and time. First, here are some interesting – or not – facts about me:

I am a hardcore grudge holder. I’m still mad at the snot-nosed brat who broke the personalized license plate my dad gave me for my bike when I was ten. Her name is Melissa, and she is the devil.
Last summer, I taught myself how to swim. I’m not going to be competing in the next Olympics, but I can get myself from one end of the pool to the other without drowning.
I still prefer traditional print material to digital, though not because I think physical books are somehow superior. I just can’t seem to remember to charge my eReader.
As an introvert, I find a lot of social interaction exhausting and awkward. I’m learning to adapt, though there are times when I wish I had a t-shirt that read: “Do this introvert a favor and shut the hell up.” Too much? I’ll have to work on that.
I am addicted to the History Channel – H2, not the one that plays hours of Pawn Stars and Top Gear, the other one that plays marathons of Ancient Aliens. A girl has to have standards, right?
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a Marine Biologist – until my dad told me I would have to board a boat, sail out onto the ocean, and dive into the water. You know, with all those scary things that live underwater. Yikes.
I love picture frames. The only issue – I tend to forget to have photos printed to put in them. So, all around my house you will find frames displaying generic photos of people I don’t know. I’m looking at one right now on a shelf in my office. I should fix that.
I like to cook, but I hate cooking dinner.

Okay. That’s all I’ve got. I’m not all that interesting.

Now some questions from Kevin:

What is your favorite time of day and why? My favorite time of day is first thing in the morning, just as the sun in coming up over the horizon. I love the stillness that comes with dawn. For me, there is nothing more peaceful.
How and when did you first discover your passion, whatever that passion is? I first discovered my love for writing in the third grade when I penned a short story based on the Aesop’s Fairytale the Tortoise and the Hare. I wrote it as a class assignment, and it wasn’t received well, but the process really did foment my passion for the written word.
Hopefully, you’re familiar with The Breakfast Club for this question. When you were in high school, in which social group did you best fit? I suppose I was a social misfit, though likely not in the true sense portrayed in the movie. I was always introverted, unpopular, and walked to the beat of my own drum.
Where do you write your posts and why did you choose that place? I write anywhere I can find a quiet corner: at school in the common areas between classes, gymnastics practice, the bagel shop, the coffee shop, the library, the carpool lane. Just about anywhere and everywhere.
What always makes you laugh and why? This is going to sound cliché, but my daughter makes me laugh. She is probably the funniest person I know. Sarcastic, witty, insightful, cynical, silly – she’s the whole package. I look at her sometimes and wonder how I got so lucky.
If you could appear on a televised talent show, what would your talent be? Oh, geez. I can wiggle my ears. What kind of show do you go on to highlight that talent?
Which flower reminds you of happiness? Big fat yellow sunflowers, bluebonnets, and poppies.
What is your favorite book and why? Pride & Prejudice. What’s not to love?
It is important to eat your vegetables, but which vegetable to you always resist/avoid eating? I honestly cannot think of a veggie I will not eat. Fruit on the other hand – I hate apricots and mangos.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? I love to curl up in my favorite chair, with a cup of tea, and read something frivolous.
Who is one celebrity, past or present, you would like to meet – what would you ask that person? Jennifer Garner. I’d love to ask her why she keeps making all of those pathetic Rom-Coms. Put us all out of our misery and bring back Sydney Bristow.

Passing these along is tough. Not because I don’t know anyone deserving, but because I know a lot of people who are. I’m going to stew on this for a while.

…this week’s awww moment of the week is brought to you by a girl and her dog.

Things I learned during the holidays – and an award

“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be.”

– George Carlin

I learned during the holidays…

…that snow on Christmas is nice.

Lingering snow the day after, is not.

I’m not a winter person. If given a choice, I’d pick 105 degree summer heat over frozen precipitation any day of the week. Unfortunately, the weather Gods don’t always take my preference into account when doling out snow days. Such was the case on Christmas day. It hit early in the afternoon, just as we were sitting down to lunch. The flakes were big and fluffy, and set a pretty scene. A bit of Christmas magic. That’s never a bad thing. However, I’m a big believer in the power of moderation. A quick burst of snow, followed by a rapid melt is ideal. That way by the time I have to get out – because it’s all about me – the white stuff is gone. It’s not that I’m incapable of driving on it – I lived in Iowa one winter in the early 90s. You learn to adapt or you don’t leave the house for 6 months. No, I’m more concerned with the other guy’s driving ability. Unfortunately, mother nature was not in a giving mood and the temperature the next day did not rise above freezing. I left my house prepared to be overwhelmed by stupidity. I was not disappointed. Ten minutes into my commute some jackass in a super sized SUV swerved in front of me and slammed on his brakes just as we were about to pass over an ice-covered bridge.

These are the moments in life when I wish I had a real Bond car.

…that after whipping up nearly 25 dozen cookies, 50 mini pumpkin pies, and 6 batches of fudge I am so over baking. Totally. I may never bake again. Ever.

On a bright note, I only gained back 3 of the 10 lbs I lost during the semester sampling all those baked goodies.

…that Kim Kardashian has a little Kanye West cooking in the oven. O.M.G. Like, that is, like, so cool, you guys.

Oy.

I am always struck by the level of relevancy given to the K clan by mainstream media. Call me a killjoy, but I think there are more important things going on in the world than what’s going on their collective uteri.

…that my daughter does not share my taste in Christmas music. Most of my favorite songs were recorded during the early days of rock & roll, and it only makes sense that the holiday tunes I gravitate toward come from that era. Number one on my list is Darlene Love’s Christmas (Baby, please come home). I like to crank it up and sing it proud – from the gut, as loud as I can.

My daughter is not impressed.

Me: The snows comin’ doowwwnnn/Christmaaasss/I’m watchin’ it faaallll/Christmaaasss/Lots of people aroooooounndd…

Megan: Ew, Mom. What are you singing?

Me: Darlene Love. Don’t you just love it?

Megan: Um, no.

Me: How can you not like Darlene Love. She’s the queen of Christmas.

Megan: No, she’s not. Rock & roll Christmas music is so lame. The classics are so much better.

Me: This is the classics, baby.

Megan: <shrug> Whatever.

Brat.

…that I’m getting too old to stay up drinking until midnight on New Year’s Eve – and that’s okay. I was in bed by 10:30 pm, up at 4:30 am on New Year’s Day, and at the gym by 7:30. A fabulous way to begin the year, I think. Much better than sporting a hangover all day.

…that I’ve been nominated for a blogger awards – well three actually, but I’m only going to address one today.

I love blogger awards. They make me smile. It’s an ego thing.

This one comes from jmmcdowell, an archaeologist turned novelist – I think that may be the coolest thing ever. She was gracious enough to pass along the Booker Award to me as a new follower of her blog. Thank you, jmmcdowell! Go check out some of her excerpts from Buried Deeds.

The Booker Award dictates that I list five of my favorite books. I was nominated for this award once before, but never came back to it. I must say, there are so many books I love it is really hard to pick just five.

Here goes:

1. Pride & Prejudice – Jane Austen. I first read this novel in the ninth grade. It was required, and I hated it. I thought it was as tedious as Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter (which I also hated – and still do). When I was in my twenties, I picked it up again, and fell head over heels in love. Since then, I’ve read it at least once a year. My paperback copy is worn and faded, the pages dog-eared and water-logged from too many lazy summer days by the pool lost in Regency England. Pride & Prejudice is a truly timeless love story whose colorful characters are as familiar to me as my own family. And it is one of the few stories I love with a happy ending because there can be no other conclusion for Lizzy and Darcy. I feel all warm and gooey just thinking about it.

2. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold – John le Carre. This is a new addition to my favorites list. I only finished it a few weeks ago. There are so many things that appeal to me in this book. 1. It’s a spy thriller; 2. It’s set during the early years of the Cold War when the wall was new and Khrushchev ruled the Soviets with an iron fist of oppression. 3. It is a tale of conflicting ideologies, and a race to outsmart a perceived enemy; 4. It has a complex main character – Alec Leamus – who struggles with his own morality and humanity while doing what he thinks is best for Queen and country; and 5. There is no happy ending – because a man like Leamus can know no peace. Brilliant.

3. Alas, Babylon – Pat Frank – This classic was also required reading in the ninth grade. But unlike Pride & Prejudice, I was sucked in by the story and the characters from the opening scene to the telling last lines:

“We won it. We really clobbered ’em!” Hart’s eyes lowered and his arms drooped.

He said, “Not that it really matters.”

The engine started and Randy turned away to face the thousand-year night.”

– Alas, Babylon

I’ve always been fascinated by the Cold War and what life might have been like had that conflict turned hot. Alas, Babylon is a fascinating study of the human condition and explores the what ifs of life after a nuclear apocalypse. The raw devastation of this story scared the hell out of me when I was 14. I love that.

4. Little Women – Louisa May Alcott. In 1974, my Nana gave me the entire Alcott series. Of course, I was only two and didn’t appreciate the gift – and wouldn’t until around the sixth grade. I’ve read them all, but Little Women is my favorite. I loved Meg’s quiet resiliency, Jo’s wild spirit, Beth’s gentle heart, and Amy – well…I’m not sure I ever really liked Amy, spoiled brat that she was. I cried when Beth died; fumed when Jo chose the Professor over Laurie even though it was for her own good; and rejoiced at the lives the March sisters carved out for themselves during such trying times. I lost most of that series of books, including Little Women, in the house fire six years ago. My heart still aches.

5. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck. I love this novel. I really do. This was another required reading from early high school – sophomore year. How do you describe Of Mice and Men? Heartbreaking, disturbing, eye-opening. Ultimately, it is a story of friendship and the deep love that comes with it. No, there is no happy ending in this one either. Yes, I like it that way.

Now to pay it forward. I’m going to choose to pass this award onto a few writerly blogs I enjoy. Of course, there is no obligation for any of my chosen recipients to participate.

…that I have no awww moment of the week. It’s been cold, maybe next week.