I just got an e-mail.
The King of Attolia* is waiting for me in my mailbox.
I'm now somewhat tempted to ditch all the responsible things I had planned to do today and read instead.
*the book, obviously. The alternative would be a little creepy.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I love books!
So yesterday I went to check an e-mail account that I use solely for signing up for stuff. One of the things that's associated with that e-mail is my Amazon account. And in all of the unread messages there was one reminding me that I had a refund coming from an order that never arrived to me. So, I had $17.96 to spend on Amazon. :D
First I bought The King of Attolia because I have the other books in the series and I WANT that one. Then I bought Gentian Hill by Elizabeth Goudge because it's always been one of my favorites and I don't own it. Good thing I only bought two books, because shipping was quite high.
So in a few days I will be receiving a package. With BOOKS in it!
First I bought The King of Attolia because I have the other books in the series and I WANT that one. Then I bought Gentian Hill by Elizabeth Goudge because it's always been one of my favorites and I don't own it. Good thing I only bought two books, because shipping was quite high.
So in a few days I will be receiving a package. With BOOKS in it!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Passion
I just finished watching "Amadeus"--and before you music majors (are there any of you out there?) or general music history buffs jump down my throat, yes I know it's a fictional story without much of the truth about it. It was still interesting. And it was Mozart. Mozart is my comfort music. Seriously, I'm having an awful day, I start listening to Mozart, it gets better.
But that's not what I wanted to talk about.
See, the thing I noticed about the character of Mozart in the film was how much he was committed. Sure, he was interested in a lot of frivolous, worldly things and frittered away his time and money. But he also spent hours working and working and working. He was passionate about his music.
It strikes me that I need some of that passion. Not that I need to kill myself by working too hard. But I need to care, not just exist. This applies in my spiritual life and in whatever I do as well.
[NOTE: For those of you who haven't seen/heard of "Amadeus," I'd probably approach it with caution. There are definitely some FFW scenes.]
But that's not what I wanted to talk about.
See, the thing I noticed about the character of Mozart in the film was how much he was committed. Sure, he was interested in a lot of frivolous, worldly things and frittered away his time and money. But he also spent hours working and working and working. He was passionate about his music.
It strikes me that I need some of that passion. Not that I need to kill myself by working too hard. But I need to care, not just exist. This applies in my spiritual life and in whatever I do as well.
[NOTE: For those of you who haven't seen/heard of "Amadeus," I'd probably approach it with caution. There are definitely some FFW scenes.]
Saturday
Pretty nice day today. Went to Saturday Market this morning with Jessica and bought apples and farm fresh eggs. The man I bought the eggs from could seriously have been friends with my parents thirty years ago. Also, he has an ADORABLE daughter who was wearing a darling smock-dress-thing.
I haven't gotten anything like as much as I needed to done today, but I did clean up a bit and work on my paper a little. And then we went out to dinner--sushi, very delicious. It was at this place where the sushi is on plates on a conveyor belt and you pick out the ones you want. They're priced according to plate, so the red plates are $1.25, the yellow plates are $1.65, etc. I ate a fair amount and ended up paying about nine dollars, which is not at all bad for good sushi. I ate almost all the $1.25 plates and they were quite yummy. Especially the crab salad.
I haven't gotten anything like as much as I needed to done today, but I did clean up a bit and work on my paper a little. And then we went out to dinner--sushi, very delicious. It was at this place where the sushi is on plates on a conveyor belt and you pick out the ones you want. They're priced according to plate, so the red plates are $1.25, the yellow plates are $1.65, etc. I ate a fair amount and ended up paying about nine dollars, which is not at all bad for good sushi. I ate almost all the $1.25 plates and they were quite yummy. Especially the crab salad.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
I'm in love
with John Donne. (I think I'll end up being the girl who cried wolf...someday I'm going to make a real, honest to goodness Announcement, and everyone will zoom by it because they'll think I'm just being silly again. Anyway, John Donne.)
No, but seriously! The man was incredible. He wrote about faith and love and death, some of the themes that devolve into cheesiness and cliches most often, with wit, humor, and extremely original images. And not the sort of images that you read them and go, Oh back when they were writing them they were fresh, but now we're used to that sort of thing. No, no, no. His words are just as fresh four hundred years later as they were the day he penned them.
Holy Sonnet 1
Thou has made me, and shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste;
I run to death and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday.
I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh.
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me
That not one hour myself I can sustain.
Ty grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.
(Adamant is a magnetic stone.)
See? Amazing.
Some of his love poetry is fairly bawdy, but not all of it. He also wrote Meditation 17 which, if you have not read it, is astounding.
In other news, I am trying to avoid the plague that is going around campus. By plague I mean cold type sickness not literally the plague. Although if it was literally the plague Sam would be excited. She likes diseases like I like books. And John Donne.
Also, it was CHILLY today. I even have on a sweater. And my red Attolia earrings. Because they match the sweater, not because it's cold.
It's so funny to look at pictures of myself with long hair now. In some ways I still feel like I have long hair--I keep waiting it for it to whip around the breeze--but I like the length I have it now. It makes me feel younger and older at the same time.
This entry has been rambly and all over the place (which is what rambly means...we like tautologies, we do!) but fear not. It is ending. I am off to cook dinner.
P.S. Pushing Daisies tonight. SQUEE!!
No, but seriously! The man was incredible. He wrote about faith and love and death, some of the themes that devolve into cheesiness and cliches most often, with wit, humor, and extremely original images. And not the sort of images that you read them and go, Oh back when they were writing them they were fresh, but now we're used to that sort of thing. No, no, no. His words are just as fresh four hundred years later as they were the day he penned them.
Holy Sonnet 1
Thou has made me, and shall thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste;
I run to death and death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday.
I dare not move my dim eyes any way,
Despair behind, and death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh.
Only thou art above, and when towards thee
By thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me
That not one hour myself I can sustain.
Ty grace may wing me to prevent his art,
And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.
(Adamant is a magnetic stone.)
See? Amazing.
Some of his love poetry is fairly bawdy, but not all of it. He also wrote Meditation 17 which, if you have not read it, is astounding.
In other news, I am trying to avoid the plague that is going around campus. By plague I mean cold type sickness not literally the plague. Although if it was literally the plague Sam would be excited. She likes diseases like I like books. And John Donne.
Also, it was CHILLY today. I even have on a sweater. And my red Attolia earrings. Because they match the sweater, not because it's cold.
It's so funny to look at pictures of myself with long hair now. In some ways I still feel like I have long hair--I keep waiting it for it to whip around the breeze--but I like the length I have it now. It makes me feel younger and older at the same time.
This entry has been rambly and all over the place (which is what rambly means...we like tautologies, we do!) but fear not. It is ending. I am off to cook dinner.
P.S. Pushing Daisies tonight. SQUEE!!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Not a great day today. Too much to do, not enough of it got done. And there was some personal stuff going on.
On the upside, it was sunny this morning, which is good for my rose bush. It's trying to bloom again (!!!) and I've been worried about the fact that we are entered the Rain. Also received a previously unread Diana Wynne Jones book from the library which is always a good thing.
I'm trying to remember that God is good and not let myself get weighed down in the bog.
On the upside, it was sunny this morning, which is good for my rose bush. It's trying to bloom again (!!!) and I've been worried about the fact that we are entered the Rain. Also received a previously unread Diana Wynne Jones book from the library which is always a good thing.
I'm trying to remember that God is good and not let myself get weighed down in the bog.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
September book list
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: This book is amazing. You should read it, if you haven't already.
The Pooh Perplex: Fake literary criticism on Winnie-the-Pooh. Funny for an English major, but not really interesting for anyone else.
Warlock at the Wheel by Diana Wynne Jones: Short stories. I enjoyed them, but I'd already read several, which made them a little less exciting.
Sylvester by Georgette Heyer: Definitely one of my favorite Heyers. Quite amusing.
Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely not one of my favorites.
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman: Lucy, a diabetic, believes that diabetics were the origins of the vampire myth. Meh.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Reviewed HERE.
Simon the Cold Heart by Georgette Heyer: It was okay, but not a favorite.
Changing Planes by Ursula LeGuin: LeGuin is almost always great (I failed to get through Left Hand of Darkness). This was no exception. A travelogue from different "planes," which you reach only when you're in an airport.
Out of Patience by Brian Meehl: This was a fun read, but nothing more. Kooky band of characters and a Curse.
Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones: Normally, I love Chrestomanci, but this was only okay. Definitely read the rest of the series before this one.
Wild Roses by Deb Calletti: This was hard to read for me. It struck far too close to home in some places.
Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones: YAY DWJ!
Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer: Short stories. I enjoyed them a lot!
Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer: Unusual main characters, but the resolution seemed a tad strained.
The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely a favorite!
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall: Even better than the first book. In my opinion, this one puts the Penderwicks firmly in the ranks of classic children's lit.
Chalice by Robin McKinley: Amazing. Reviewed HERE.
The Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones: Really good DWJ.
The Doctrine of Christ by Bishop Dmitri: This would be very good for a catechumen or someone interested in Orthodoxy, but I didn't find it terribly challenging.
Tales of the Black Widowers by Isaac Asimov: A series of mystery short stories centered around the Black Widower club. There are more, thank goodness, because I really enjoyed these!
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer: Meh.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley: The more I read this book, the more I love it. Even though I keep saying I can't recommend it. And I can't--I'm also surprised every time by how much stuff there is in there. But...I still love it.
The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip: I've tried reading The Tower at Stony Wood several times and have never gotten through it. I think I just had the wrong book, because this one was excellent.
Hidden Turnings ed Diana Wynne Jones: It was okay. Not wild about it though.
The Toll-gate by Georgette Heyer: Another one that was okay but not great.
Erosion by Jorie Graham: Poetry. I didn't like it as well as Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts, but it was good.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: I love this book.
A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner: Nice book, probably about the 9-12 age range.
Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl: I hate to put it quite this way, but this book is in the same vein as Twilight (teenage love, fantasy) but better. Much better.
Instead of the Thorn, Barren Corn by Georgette Heyer: These books are quite similar. I was not fond of either. They're set in about the 1920s.
The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez: Mystery set in Oxford. Meh. I skimmed the last half.
The Pooh Perplex: Fake literary criticism on Winnie-the-Pooh. Funny for an English major, but not really interesting for anyone else.
Warlock at the Wheel by Diana Wynne Jones: Short stories. I enjoyed them, but I'd already read several, which made them a little less exciting.
Sylvester by Georgette Heyer: Definitely one of my favorite Heyers. Quite amusing.
Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely not one of my favorites.
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman: Lucy, a diabetic, believes that diabetics were the origins of the vampire myth. Meh.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Reviewed HERE.
Simon the Cold Heart by Georgette Heyer: It was okay, but not a favorite.
Changing Planes by Ursula LeGuin: LeGuin is almost always great (I failed to get through Left Hand of Darkness). This was no exception. A travelogue from different "planes," which you reach only when you're in an airport.
Out of Patience by Brian Meehl: This was a fun read, but nothing more. Kooky band of characters and a Curse.
Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones: Normally, I love Chrestomanci, but this was only okay. Definitely read the rest of the series before this one.
Wild Roses by Deb Calletti: This was hard to read for me. It struck far too close to home in some places.
Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones: YAY DWJ!
Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer: Short stories. I enjoyed them a lot!
Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer: Unusual main characters, but the resolution seemed a tad strained.
The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely a favorite!
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall: Even better than the first book. In my opinion, this one puts the Penderwicks firmly in the ranks of classic children's lit.
Chalice by Robin McKinley: Amazing. Reviewed HERE.
The Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones: Really good DWJ.
The Doctrine of Christ by Bishop Dmitri: This would be very good for a catechumen or someone interested in Orthodoxy, but I didn't find it terribly challenging.
Tales of the Black Widowers by Isaac Asimov: A series of mystery short stories centered around the Black Widower club. There are more, thank goodness, because I really enjoyed these!
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer: Meh.
Sunshine by Robin McKinley: The more I read this book, the more I love it. Even though I keep saying I can't recommend it. And I can't--I'm also surprised every time by how much stuff there is in there. But...I still love it.
The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip: I've tried reading The Tower at Stony Wood several times and have never gotten through it. I think I just had the wrong book, because this one was excellent.
Hidden Turnings ed Diana Wynne Jones: It was okay. Not wild about it though.
The Toll-gate by Georgette Heyer: Another one that was okay but not great.
Erosion by Jorie Graham: Poetry. I didn't like it as well as Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts, but it was good.
The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: I love this book.
A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner: Nice book, probably about the 9-12 age range.
Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl: I hate to put it quite this way, but this book is in the same vein as Twilight (teenage love, fantasy) but better. Much better.
Instead of the Thorn, Barren Corn by Georgette Heyer: These books are quite similar. I was not fond of either. They're set in about the 1920s.
The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez: Mystery set in Oxford. Meh. I skimmed the last half.
Comments
I just went through the entries on the first page and responded to comments there. So if you left me a comment in the past few weeks and I hadn't responded, I probably have now.
Planned for this weekend:
~The September book list
~Why I don't like the idea of listing traits for your future husband to have
Planned for this weekend:
~The September book list
~Why I don't like the idea of listing traits for your future husband to have
Thursday, October 02, 2008
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