Hitchhiker's Guide: the Movie

I was so hoping this movie would be good!

Considering the film has yet to be released I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I'm disappointed. I base this on the fact that in the film Zaphod Beeblebrox has just one head. (And of course we all know he has 2. I mean if the BBC could do it...) Admittedly he does have three arms...but still if the filmmakers are not true to the books on this fact, how many other liberties have they taken? Yes, Marvin is depressed, and depressing. And Vogon poetry still is fatal. But they have changed the "hyperspace bypass" into a "hyperspace express route". Is this to Americanize it? I hope that doesn't mean that we'll lose Douglas Adams' wonderful British sense of humor. But it was a letdown just to hear it...Are they afraid we can't figure out what a bypass is? Its a shame it took years after Adams' death to get the production finished. Perhaps if he were part of the team it would be different. Anyway, it remains to be seen whether or not I'll spend $$ to go see it; or wait til Movies 10 for a cheaper view; or even just wait til it comes out on video and get it free from WPL.

National Library Week

Fun Fact from the ALA: Reference librarians in the nation’s public and academic libraries answer more than seven million questions weekly. Standing single file, the line of questioners would stretch from Boston to San Francisco.

Happy National Library Week. No one warned me so I didn't plan any festivities. But its nice to know that libraries gave themselves a week for recognition. (Of course now if we could only get better funding...) Maybe I'll dress up today in honor of that, and see how many of those seven million questions I can answer!

Its also Poetry Month...And while I'm not really big on poetry (unless its limericks or Shel Silverstein), I do like the Academy of American Poets website when I'm looking for poetic info.

Angry Housewives

Over the weekend I finally finished reading Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. I admit I picked it up because of the title. The first chapter (Prologue) started in a hospital room, with reminiscing, so that should have been my first clue that it wasn't all laughs. But all in all I liked the book. The basic premise is a group of diverse women, who all live on the same street, start a book club (eventually know as Angry Housewives Eating BonBons). Or at least they call it that because they do read a book each month. But its clear that it is more of a support group, or just a terrific group of friends and the book is just an excuse to get together once a month. Its interestingly told as each chapter has the point of view of a different person (the host of the month). And the book spans several decades, so you experience the growth of the characters, as well as their families. And all the laughter and tears that come with it.

My strongest feeling now though is jealousy. I wish that felt a sense of belonging like that with a group of people. Not that they had a perfect relationship, but they were close knit. And I don't think too many people today have that feeling of belonging. I know growing up we did have a bunch of kids in the neighborhood we hung out with. The Moms knew each other and socialized too. In my neighborhood today we are just acquaintances, and that's the few people I know. Even the women I do see regularly have all become so busy (myself included) that we don't take the time to really talk to each other. Is this why the whole world is becoming so Me oriented? We just don't make enough time for others? And maybe why we feel so lonely even in the midst of people, because we don't share enough of ourselves?

Trying not to think of a Pink Rhinoceros

One of the things that keeps coming back to me from my recent reading of A Hat Full of Sky is the part where Tiffany says that something is "like trying not to think of a pink rhinoceros". Mistress Weatherwax is able to do just that. But after pondering it Tiffany asks, or rather tells, her "I know how you kept from thinking about a pink rhinoceros, you don't know what one looks like do you?" I was thinking that pain is like that pink rhino, if I don't tell myself not to think about it, then I don't think about it at all. But as soon as I exhort myself to stop dwelling on the pain...it becomes a pink rhinoceros. Unfortunately, I not only keep thinking about that pink rhino, but about other stuff too.

Okay so I'm not really making sense am I? Its just that the day in, day out, sinus headaches, sciatica, hip joints aching, just general fibro pain, etc. sometimes take their toll. I found myself almost in tears last week (and I never lose control) just thinking how wonderful it would be for just once to not be tired and achy.

Pit of Despair

Ah, gentle blog reader. Perhaps you have missed my perceptive insights and comments this past week? (Although since I rarely have perceptive insights, I doubt that). But alas, I have been down in the depths of despair, in the throes of mindless introspection (yes, that trap), busy with day to day reality, and in need of mind-numbing distraction. In other words, I could not blog for there was nothing in the brain to share. Perhaps in the coming days I can once again find it in me to blog about the everyday wonders or even frustrations of my life. I promise to try.

3s?

Do bad things ( or even good things) really come in 3s? Like at the library: first Kim, then Marvin, then Sheryl, leaving or retiring. I can deal with that ( or at least I am dealing). Then last week, the well publicized deaths of Terri Schiavo, and then Pope John Paul II. Should I be concerned about another high profile death to mourn? But now there's my microwave which works (sort of)only if I coax it and unplug it to reset...and then there are the beeps when no one is even using it. And yesterday the washer which refused to spin (oh yeah I need to get a repairperson for that. Yuck). So which appliance will it be now? I just can't wait to find out. Maybe it will be the fridge, which will disappoint Elizabeth if she's not here to shop for a new one. Or maybe the dryer and we can buy one of those new 2 in 1 washer/dryer combos. Or maybe nothing else will break, (and no one else will die this week) and we'll know that 3s is just an old wives tale. (Hey, I'm an old wife, what should I believe?)

Its raining, Its pouring...I wish I was snoring

I awoke this morning to the sound of rain on the windows, glad only that it was not ice. And it has kept up steadily throughout the day. The kind of rain that looks like it will never end. That feels like it will never end. I feel as if I have never seen the sun, and as if the rain could be my own tears. I don't understand how I let the weather control my melancholy, but there you have it. It does. I can find no optimism in the rain; no good news; and no vision for the future. Perhaps I should just head off to bed now, and hope that morning brings relief, or at least a peak at the sun.

Now if only I didn't have to deal with time as well. We lose that hour tonight, and no matter how much sleep I get, my body always knows its gone. Sigh.

I've had it with this hair!

I decided this morning that I just could not stand my hair any more. It was too long, and always in the way, especially in the pool (and besides I'd broken yet another hair clip). So I came home and cut it! Unfortunately it was a little uneven the first time, so I had to trim a little more. But I'm very happy with the results now. Very easy to care for! And I'll save so much time in the morning. See the results here.

Terry Pratchett recorded books

So here's the thing, I can't review books. I know what I like, but I stink at telling folks about it in any coherent manner. (Unlike the Queen at watat.com who is a marvelous reviewer). I do however heartily recommend anything by Terry Pratchett, especially the unabridged recordings. So, anyway, it all started a year ago when my daughter requested that if we had to listen to a recorded book in the car could it be Terry Pratchett? I agreed, but to my dismay found that MCLS has precious few of Mr. Pratchett's books on tape or CD. Well, we listened to Reaper Man, a wonderfully funny story about Death (you know, the guy with the black cloak and scythe). And of course we were all hooked (even the Dad and little brother). So now, having finished A Hat Full of Sky, and therefore all the sound recordings of Terry Pratchett in MCLS, what is left for me to do? I have tried with limited success to actually read the books, but I find that if I can't hear them in Stephen Briggs voice I don't totally get it. Time to stuff the suggestion box at WPL...and maybe even do a personal intervention.

Jump right in

Last week Dawn encouraged me to enter the pool the "right way" as she just plows right in despite the cold water. So I waited for her to move out of the way and just cannonballed in. Well, you know, it works! Don't think about the cold, don't inch in one toe at a time, don't be tentative, just jump right in! I've entered the pool that way each class day since, too. So now I am trying to adopt this philosophy for all the other things I hate to do, because I know that once I'm in I will just get the job done. Gotta go with what works.

March Madness or is it just insanity?

When I was in college going to basketball games was a free and exciting winter social activity. It was great fun to root for the Flyers, especially during those winning years...but that ended when I graduated , moved away (and no longer got free tickets). So how do I find myself now in the midst of NCAA Tournament madness. In a word, Joshua. Somehow Steve and I spawned a child who is a crazy sports nut. Pick a sport, any sport, and he will watch it, tell you all about it, know all the rules, and even care who wins. So in the last few years (maybe since he learned to read and write) we have had the family NCAA tournament contest. Every year I watch my kids do better than me at picking teams. I say I don't care, but I have to admit to being VERY disappointed that the team I picked to go all the way and win the Championship had the nerve to LOSE in the Second round on Sunday. Of course this now leaves me rooting for some other teams, which is okay since I love to root for the underdog (lower seed teams), but knowing all the while that I can't win the family pool is such a bummer. Again, I'm not really sure why I care at all, but I guess its because Josh brings out the competitor in me. Or because I hate to see him gloat at my expense. Next year maybe I really should pick my winners just by their mascots, I would at least enjoy rooting for them. (Course that is why I picked UConn to go all the way...I love those cute Huskies...the dogs, not the players). Or use my crystal ball to predict upsets. Go Vermont!

Odyssey Redux

We had a wonderful celebration to mark the successful completion of another Odyssey of the Mind season. And to acknowledge that for some of us it might be the last Odyssey, (or at least the last at St. Rita School). I invited folks to come and bring Ice cream Sundae fixings, assigning each grade a different item, so we had a terrific variety, and plenty to go around. (And I didn't have to shop for the masses...) Then the sixth grade Odyssey team members presented some spontaneous problems for everyone to do, from little kids to adults. It worked out really well, and was very fun to watch everyone interacting. The parents finally understood what the kids had been doing for months on those Thursday afternoons, the younger kids got a taste of how much fun spontaneous can be, the team members found out that parents can be creative too, and the 6th grade leaders showed that they had been paying attention all along and were thrilled to have a chance to turn the tables and be the judges. In other words, it was a success all the way around. Sigh of relief.

Feast of St. Joseph

March 19th is the day the Catholic church celebrates the feast day of Saint Joseph. My Sicilian grandfather Giuseppe (Joseph) was born on St. Joseph's Day, so its a day we noted in my family. In the Italian culture there is a tradition of the Saint Joseph's Day Table. The story goes like this: in the Middle Ages there was a terrible drought in Sicily and the people prayed a novena to St. Joseph. When the rains came ending the drought they created a special feast day to honor Joseph. The tradition includes a great table laden with traditional Italian foods and included feeding the poor.

We participated in a St. Joseph's Day celebration at St. Rita's tonight. Not only were there a lot of people there, there was indeed tons of food. There was a large alter set up with candles and a statue of St. Joseph. There were also flowers and loaves of shaped breads. The surrounding tables held lots of pastas with vegetables, white pizza, braided breads, frittatas, quiches, greens & beans, deep-fried vegetables, and even salmon. (There are no meats or red sauce at a St. Joseph table). And then there were the desserts! Pizzelles, of course, but also honey balls and sphingi, cannoli, cakes and cookies. We did not have a lot of poor people there, but there was a collection for House of Hope and Comfort Care Home, so that counts. It was amazing how many Italian folks there were tonight, luckily for us sharing their delicious foods. And did I mention the wine? Anyway it was all lots of fun. We stayed to help clean up (the only "young folks" who did) and on the way home Josh thought that was the best part.

Birdcam is back!

For some reason I can't explain I have been fascinated by watching the nesting peregrine falcons on Kodak tower via the Birdcam. Its a down and dirty view into the lives of a pair of falcons. You get to see what they eat, count the eggs they lay, hold your breath until they hatch, and then watch the little birds grow and fledge. The whole cycle happens within a short span of time. Courtship to fledging babies in less than 4 months. There is a certain sense of ownership from watching the birds on a regular basis. Although I must confess that I am not as obsessive about it as most of the folks who comment on the Birdcam discussion board. There are some real fanatics there. For me, I guess I just enjoy watching my little part of nature from the comfort of my computer chair. (And did I mention the Eagle nest in Massachusetts, or the Stork's nest in Germany?)

Procrastination. Let me count the ways

Procrastination. It 's just that I'm not quite ready. I've got something(s) to do first.

1. Blog
2. Sleep ( a little nap )
   
3. Read (Let me finish this chapter)
   
4. Free Cell
5. Eat...just a snack
   
6. Have a cup of tea
7. Snood
8. Knitting...just one more row.
9. Crossword puzzle
10. Spider Solitaire
11. IM
12. Read my email
13. Send some email
14. Shower
15. Cry
16. Call in sick
17. Play dead
    

In the end I just gotta do it.

Why working in a library is a ministry

We had a discussion on Sunday morning about Stewardship; giving time, talent and treasure to the glory of God, often by helping someone in need. Included in the use of our talent was the discussion of how a job (paid or volunteer) can be a form of giving. The more I thought about it I realized that much of my job does include ministering to other people. Quite frankly everyone who comes into the library is looking for something. Sometimes they even know what. The simplest examples are those who need a book to read or study. We help them find one and they go. But things get more complicated with those who need information, and those who need help learning to find information. Teaching computer skills to folks is a prime example of helping fill a need by empowering people to help themselves. Then there are the unemployed folks who just need to tell you about their job search. And the homeless people (yes, even in Webster) who just want a warm place, a friendly face and a way to keep in touch with the world. There are very many lonely people who just want some human interaction and a listening ear. Lots of seniors fall into this category, even the married ones who just need to get out of the house for a little while. And there are the immigrants. Some of them are still learning English and need our resources; others have children they bring to use the library (and who often translate for them). We also aid those who have physical or mental disabilities, but who come to use the library resources. Wow, its no wonder that some days I feel like I'm a social worker, teacher, psychologist and library assistant all rolled into one. But those are also the days I go home feeling like I've gotten more accomplished than pushing paper around. And the days I feel more rewarded than by the paycheck I bring home.

Twelve-Year-Old-Son-itis

I am suffering from Twelve-Year-Old-Son-itis. It doesn't make it any easier to bear, but I hear there's a lot of it going around. The symptoms include: frustration, exasperation, exhaustion, more frustration, screaming, incoherence, did I mention frustration, and lack of sleep. Why is it that they can recite sports scores, game summaries, entire lines of dialog from movies, words to every song they have ever heard, funny stories the teacher told...But they cannot remember the book they need for their homework, that they even have homework, that they are supposed to unload the dishwasher, that I asked them to pick something up/put it away/throw it away? Arghh.

Blogger's Block

I can't decide what to blog about today. I have a headache and therefore every thought I have is apparently colored negatively. Its not that I mind ranting in this venue, its just that all my thoughts today are self-negative, and I don't really feel like baring myself this morning. Perhaps something wondrous will occur today that I can share in a brighter frame later.
So until I get past this block I apologize for my boringness. Have a nice day!

Whew! The sigh of relief from a job (well) done

I did it! I survived the Odyssey of the Mind competition without losing control. I was tense as all get out, but I held it together till the end...drum roll please. The team I coached in Stunt Mobiles, despite a rocky performance (and a bad case of nerves) held it together to finish fourth in their division. I was massively excited that they ended up with ribbons, because I know I worked hard for it! Okay, they did too. In fact they endured me, so they doubly deserve those ribbons. What I gave them, when it was over, was bubble wrap to pop. And God bless them, they were thrilled with it (well I did promise...).

The best news of the day at our house was Joshua's team's second place finish. They were awesome! They put together a terrific performance and saw it through with no hitches. And then, and this is most important, they also did well on their spontaneous! In fact that's the third thing to be thrilled about...After months of Thursday afternoon spontaneous practices the three St. Rita teams that got ribbons (top 5 finishers) also finished within the top 5 for spontaneous! So maybe practice really does help make perfect (well better anyway, even if not perfect).

As for me, after an hour in the Jacuzzi I was relaxed enough to finally sleep...and to dream about next year....

"Servants of the Map"

Well, I've finished reading "Servants of the Map" and I've just gotta say "why"? ( Obviously my view is in the minority and I'm just showing my ignorance. Just look at those reviews.) I will have to admit to my shallowness and say I much prefer reading for enjoyment, rather than forcing myself through a book that really doesn't hold my interest. Or makes me wonder what the author was trying to say, or prove. Maybe she was just expressing her own insecurities through her characters. The book is a series of short novellas, and it wasn't until the last that I found myself drawn into the characters. She's tied some of the characters tenuously to others, in other stories, but I felt like I needed a map to keep them straight. In other words it required too much thinking. And then I was forced to think about why she bothered. I guess its good that I had some thoughts when I was done, since I am supposed to participate in a discussion on said book, but if my thoughts are not coherent (and mostly emotion based) is that enough? I much prefer my current "fun read" Casual Rex by Eric Garcia. No brainpower necessary. (But it gets great reviews too. Maybe everybody does on Amazon.)