Bloggers on the bookshelf

First, I should apologize: This is not a book blog and yet every entry as of late seems to be book related. I didn't plan this but you have to understand, it is very cold in Michigan during the winter. Meaning, I am indoors more than usual and there are only so many indoor activites one can do... and the boyfriend, Nate, is also very busy these days. Although we are both excited for our Lost party tonight. (I'm calling it a party even though only one other person is invited and that person may or may not be able to make it...) So, you see, this is not a book blog and I'll return to posting new material in the future. Like how I went about discovering the cure for cancer, or a look inside my high school yearbook... This is all content I have been saving. You'll just have to wait for the day in which I post it. Moving on...

This year I have several books I'm looking forward to from some of my favorite bloggers. The first on my list is Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson. This title will be released on June 17, 2008 (in the US).



You can read Petite Anglaise's personal blog by going here. She is an Englishwoman who has made her home in Paris for the past decade. Her life is a bit Bridget Jones-esq, but without all the annoying aspects of Bridget Jones personality (Bridget Jones I find annoying, while Petite Anglaise I find charming and clever). Also, her stories of French life are reason enough to read her blog.

The second book on my list is Things I Learned About My Dad: Humorous and Heartfelt Essays by Heather Armstrong (Editor). This title will be released on April 29, 2008.



You can read Heather Armstrong's personal blog by going here. Of course, I probably don't need to put up that link or mention Dooce because everyone and your dentist is already reading her blog... But, there is a chance my Mom will be reading this entry and won't know about Dooce and will find the link helpful. This book is a compilation of essays dealing with fatherhood that has been edited by Dooce. I like the idea of examining fatherhood but maybe that's because I have a very odd father myself, who currently spends his days between the treadmill, computer and chessboard.

Dooce has a second book, that deals with the postpartum experience of having her first child, that will be out later this year. I must admit, I am more excited about the second book. I'd rather read an entire book by Dooce herself than a series of essays written by countless authors who (in my opinion) are not nearly as talented or interesting. I'm sorry if that sounds mean or horrible but I think there is a reason why Dooce is nominated for Best Writing of a Weblog and continues to shine as an excellent writer.

This third book has been out for some time now but I wanted to mention it anyway: No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog by Margaret Mason.



I gave this book to my sister, T, for Christmas and before wrapping it had the chance to read glance at its pages. This is the perfect gift for the blogger, be it the novice blogger who is just starting out, or the blogger who has written on the web for years but is running out of fresh, provocative material. I feel better knowing this book is on my sister's bookshelf which is about a 15 minute drive away. This way I can return to it in times of emergency, or I could always call my sister on the phone and say, "Quick. Give me #21," and she can fill me in over the phone. A thoughtful gift given? I think so.

Cellphone novels hit Japan

TOKYO — Until recently, cellphone novels — composed on phone keypads by young women wielding dexterous thumbs and read by fans on their tiny screens — had been dismissed in Japan as a subgenre unworthy of the country that gave the world its first novel, “The Tale of Genji,” a millennium ago. Then last month, the year-end best-seller tally showed that cellphone novels, republished in book form, have not only infiltrated the mainstream but have come to dominate it.

Of last year’s 10 best-selling novels, five were originally cellphone novels, mostly love stories written in the short sentences characteristic of text messaging but containing little of the plotting or character development found in traditional novels. What is more, the top three spots were occupied by first-time cellphone novelists, touching off debates in the news media and blogosphere.

“Will cellphone novels kill ‘the author’?” a famous literary journal, Bungaku-kai, asked on the cover of its January issue. Fans praised the novels as a new literary genre created and consumed by a generation whose reading habits had consisted mostly of manga, or comic books. Critics said the dominance of cellphone novels, with their poor literary quality, would hasten the decline of Japanese literature.

Continue reading Thumbs Race as Japan’s Best Sellers Go Cellular, by Norimitsu Onishi.

My roommate, who is involved in Japanese Studies, sent me this article. Is this a glimpse into how the world of literature may change as technology changes? I don't know. I'm so old-fashioned I tend to turn up my nose at the fact my nephew is listening to audio books on his iPod RATHER THAN reading actual books. (Shocking! I know!) Oh, I suspect, his parents want him to be a lazy reader or maybe children's books no longer appear in book form... So, being as old-fashioned as I am about reading my mind can't really comprehend cellphone novels. Yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend, who is also my age, and during our conversation he juggled between text messaging his friends and discussing the woes of his love life and I, during that same conversation, did not even glance at my cellphone. So perhaps I am the last person one should ask regarding opinions involving new technology... but my friend, on the other hand, might be the person to ask.

The Clintons vs. Obama

Jonathan Alter reported in Newsweek that Senator Edward Kennedy and Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman and former Clinton aide, have heatedly told Bill “that he needs to change his tone and stop attacking Senator Barack Obama.”

In the Myrtle Beach debate Monday night, Obama was fed up with being double-teamed by the Clintons. He finally used attack lines that his strategists had urged him to use against Hillary for months. “It was as though all the e-mails were backed up,” said one.

When Hillary tried once more to take Obama’s remarks about Ronald Reagan out of context, making it seem as though Obama had praised Reagan’s policies, he turned sarcastic about getting two distortionists for the price of one.

“I can’t tell who I’m running against sometimes,” he snapped at Hillary, obviously entrapped and psyched-out by the Clinton duo.

On a conference call with reporters yesterday morning, Obama did not back off from his more aggressive, if defensive, stance. The Clintons, he said “spent the last month attacking me in ways that are not accurate. At some point, it’s important for me to answer.” Recalling that Hillary had called mixing it up the “fun” part of politics, he said: “I don’t think it’s the fun part to fudge the truth.”

Bill has merged with his wife totally now, talking about “we” and “us.” “I never did anything major without discussing it with her,” he told a crowd here. “We’ve been having this conversation since we first met in 1971, and I don’t think we’ll stop now.” He suggested as First Lad that “I can help to sell the domestic program.”

Click here to continue reading "Two Against One" by Maureen Dowd.

There has been a lot of talk lately on The Clintons running as one, or of Bill stepping in to fight for Hillary. Many have concluded it is unfair and such tactics should be avoided. Others have pointed out it is sad that Hillary, a possible candidate for being the first woman president, must look to her husband in order to achieve such a position. Here are my thoughts on the matter:

The Clintons have always been a duo when it comes to politics. Hillary was influential in Bill's campaign and presidency, so why wouldn't Bill be influential in hers? Also, even if you don't like The Clintons one will have a hard time arguing that they are not political savvy. They know how to run a campaign and win. (Of course, this is not to say Hillary will win in 2008. Things are very much so up in the air.)

My second thought is: Obama needs to stop whining. "They are picking on me!" is not going to win over voters or establish his credibility. If he can't handle The Clintons picking on him then he should probably just stay at home and pen another novel rather than running for president. Or, he could always wait a few years and establish a political record and then run for president... Just a thought.

If you have time I recommend reading The Onion's take on this issue.

Alexander McCall Smith

Let's talk about Alexander McCall Smith, shall we? He has been an author on my "To Read" list for some time now but between all the busyness in my life and other novels I've been reading (or listening to in the car) I've never managed to work him in. Until now.

On Saturday, April 19 he will be in Ypsilanti, Michigan at Eastern Michigan University. His talk is scheduled for the evening and will probably be packed with hoards of screaming fans. My sister, T, will be one of them I'm almost certain. I need to read his entire works now, of course, so I can be prepared for this event. That way, when he shakes my hand or gives me a kiss on the cheek I can be the well-read fan rather than the clueless blonde who merely showed up at random. And yes, I would prefer the kiss over the handshake because this is Alexander McCall Smith we're talking about.

Here is a recent photo of the author:

Alexander McCall Smith with Jill Scott, the actor who plays detective Mma Ramotswe in the film. Image from the Daily Mail.

And here is a photo of him in a kilt for good measure:


I should also mention Alexander McCall Smith lives in the same neighborhood as JK Rowling, although he moved there first. I imagine they must swap scone recipes and writing tips often. He may even be writing Rowling's next novel for her.

"Joanne, leave your next novel to me... I've always wanted to write fantasy."

"Okay, but only if let me select the next setting in your book. I'm tired of all the stories involving England and Africa. I say, put your new series in Siberia."

This is how I imagine their conversations. I am starting with The Isabel Dalhousie Novels first. Then I'll move on to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Twitter

I added my Twitter updates on the sidebar. (Look right under the ABOUT section.) Here are details from a recent conversation involving Twitter:

"I have Twitter now."

"Oh, what's that?"

"Oh, only the cool kids are using it... Do you want to join?"

"No."

How to photograph your pet

When I was a child I wanted to be a veterinarian or zoologist very badly. My love for animals was so great my family ended up taking in pets on account of me. My parents are not exactly animal lovers, so I did not inherit this trait from them. They tend to view animals as animals and not as creatures that can be cuddled with or trained or loved in close proximity.

I continue to love animals and am very passionate about photography. However, taking photos of animals is not always a walk through the park. Often there is constant movement to deal with. Or if I am taking a photo of my sister's dogs they like to lick my face in the process or they will move closer in order to inspect the camera... "Sit still" doesn't always register. So, here are the strategies I use for pet photography:

1.) Take more than one photo. Like maybe 100 at one time in order to get 3 adequate photos.
And (I can not stress this enough):
2.) Get close. How close? Very close. So close you can smell your dogs malodorous breath or you can hear the vibrant purr of your cat. (Interesting enough, these two strategies also apply to taking photos of people.)

Here are a few examples:






Of course, there are other methods for taking amazing pet photos that do not involve close-up photography... but that will have to be another discussion for another time.

Male models are creepy

In the past I have documented my aversion to American Apparel models. I suspect they are depressed and in desperate need of counseling and/or medication. This look, for whatever reason, I do not find appealing. Well, I just stumbled upon something that makes American Apparel models look like Goldilocks in comparison. I have included images from a recent Paris fashion show. (The entire gallery is here.) And as you can see, the world of male models is quite... What's the right word for it? Oh yes, scary. I would also like to know when this level of paleness became fashionable? Many of these models are even paler than my boyfriend and who knew that was even possible?

NYC art installation

Remember The Gates in NYC back in 2005? Well, this summer the city has an all new art installation in store. Four giant waterfalls will be placed in the city for three months. The artist is Olafur Eliasson, who has created waterfall installations in the past.

I look forward to seeing this installation in person this summer when I visit my sister, who is true lover of art.

(Via Kottke)

Dress up your burned CD

From time to time I will burn CDs to give away as mini-gifts. Last year when Nate moved away I was a CD burning machine. I would provide him with new music (or podcasts) for his frequent road trips back and forth. Usually I pulled out my Sharpie marker and drew a simple design on the actual CD. Nothing too fancy, as my drawing skills are limited. Today I came across a beautiful CD Packaging Kit. I love their designs and am thinking this would be useful. Here is a small sample:




And if pink is a little too much to stomach all at once:



You can find the CD Packaging Kit here and here.

The Minotaur

I’ve been experimenting with listening to audio books (mostly while driving) and my newest audio selection is The Minotaur by Barbara Vine. An Amazon review summarized the novel as follows:

“Barbara Vine (a.k.a. Ruth Rendell) is back with yet another fascinating psychological portrait of what could be called the ultimate dysfunctional family. A young Swedish caretaker (Kersten, pronounced "Shastin") is sent to work for the Cosway family, four unmarried daughters and a disturbed son who are ruled by the apathetic 80 year old Ida Cosway. They live in a rambling ivy covered mansion which features a mysterious maze inside a locked library. Kersten soon finds that the family members pretty much hate each other and their lives are governed by sexual jealousies, secrets and lies.”

There are countless aspects of this story that intrigue me. It is a Victorian gothic novel set in modern times. There is a mystery involved. The family is quite eccentric. The home of the Cosway family reminds me of the setting for the recent film, Atonement. I also keep imagining scenes from The Secret Garden.

In addition, there is a labyrinth within the home that is a gigantic library and the walls of the labyrinth are made up of books… How exciting is that? I imagine this scene but darker, far darker and with dust and cobwebs in place.

The narrator, British actress Sian Thomas, is excellent. Her voice is perfect for the novel and is what I would describe as lovely. She is British and is it is a British novel so I think the word lovely is spot on.

Throughout the first half of the novel they continue to reference the geode. I figured out it was a physical thing but this is where my mental knowledge ended. Tonight I looked up the answer. A geode is essentially a beautiful rock formation. *Whew.* I can rest easy now. You see, while driving I can’t stop and look up information… so I end up sorting it out in my head, which in turn distracts me from listening to the story…

While listening to audio books I always feel like I am missing important details. With a mystery novel I know I am missing important details. This could be because I am driving and to some extent paying attention to the road and in turn my listening comprehension decreases. Oh, if only I would ignore the road and listen to the story in full, complete detail! I’m sure I would have solved the mystery by now. Instead I’m still trying to put all the pieces together.

Previous audio books I’ve listened to include:

Naked, by David Sedaris. This was very easy to follow. Sedaris reads all of his own work.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by JK Rowling. I had already read this (like a true Harry Potter fan, of course) but I listened to the audio version as a refresher. I will listen to Book 8 once it is available from the library.

Do you listen to audio books? If so, when and where?

100 Things About Me- Part II

51. My bedroom has blue walls that I painted myself.

52. I don’t have one favorite color but for some reason I can’t stand purple.

53. I love receiving new book recommendations. Here is a list of recommendations from May 2006. If you want to make a suggestion, please do and I’ll add it my list.

54. There are aspects of my personality that are stereotypically girly.

55. There are aspects of my personality that are stereotypically tomboyish.

56. Often when I meet someone for the first time I am told I have an accent, usually a British accent. (No, I am not British.)

57. I would love to travel more.

58. This year I will be spending time in New York City.

59. This spring I may be going to Hawaii with my parents on a cruise.

60. These upcoming trips are a reminder that I need a digital SLR camera. Right now I’m looking at the Nikon D40.

61. I am bit of a clean freak. I like order and can’t bear to live around clutter.

62. I am fond of Martha Stewart.

63. I enjoy projects.

64. I would like to increase my Photoshop skills.

65. I am not a Mac person but do appreciate the aesthetic beauty of their products.

66. I love to be inside Whole Foods.

67. I also love to go to Target, Ikea and any bookstore.

68. I don’t wear makeup, unless there is an occasion that requires it.

69. I don’t wear a watch.

70. I love to wear earrings, however.

71. My favorite time of year is Christmas.

72. My birthday is at the very end of April.

73. I love cats and dogs equally.

74. I learned to play chess from my father who taught me at a young age.

75. I am looking into becoming a Chinese learner, which means I would help individuals learn, or improve upon their English skills.

76. I have a Facebook account but not a MySpace account.

77. I believe the most exciting thing about Facebook is using it to look into the lives of old friends and classmates who I would otherwise know nothing about.

78. I started keeping a blog in some form or other in 2001.

79. This existing blog started in January 2006.

80. I enjoy looking at the data provided by Site Meter. The world map, which monitors visitors by location, is my favorite. I get very excited when I discover I had a visitor from Belgium or Japan or some other far away country.

81. I use Blogger but am going to switch to WordPress sometime this year.

82. I don’t smoke, or drink.

83. I love idioms.

84. The idiom I use the most is: “Well, I wouldn’t exactly write home about it.”

85. I love the show, Lost, and am anxiously awaiting Season 4.

86. A few other shows I enjoy include: The Office (the US version), Arrested Development, Big Love, The House of Eliot (a BBC show from 1991), The West Wing… and I’m going to stop there before you assume all I do is watch TV. Actually, I rarely watch shows when they air on TV but I am one of those types who will watch a series later on DVD.

87. Even though I live in a state with cold winters, I am a wimp when it comes to being cold.

88. My favorite food is Italian.

89. I planned on learning yoga this year but haven’t kept with it for very long. I need to start putting aside more time for yoga.

90. Often I wish there was more time in the day.

91. Amélie is one of my favorite movies.

92. My favorite movie of 2007 is Little Miss Sunshine.

93. I plan on voting for Hillary in 2008.

94. I voted for John Kerry in the last presidential election.

95. I will try not to write about politics here. Unless my mood changes and I decide, Why not stir up some controversy?

96. My friend, Steve B., would tell you I am a liberal.

97. I have six siblings (three sisters, three brothers) and a Mom and a Dad.

98. I am considering starting a zine. I would start out with one issue (which would operate as a sort of trial issue) and sell it at a reasonably low cost. This project is still up in the air.

99. My favorite flower is the peony.

100. My favorite saint is Joan of Arc.

I will be posting 100 Things About Me Part II very soon... I've just been incredibly busy learning these dance moves with my boyfriend:



We also might need a few extra dancers for the background. Any takers?

Update

You may need to hit refresh. A new banner should load at the top of the page. I created the banner with use of these (very cute) vector brushes. Now that I have Photoshop on my computer anything is possible...

100 Things About Me- Part I

This was harder to put together than expected. I will post Part II tomorrow. At that point my soul really will be naked.

1. I like my eggs sunny-side up and just so. I also require toast for dipping.

2. I have a habit of staying up late.

3. Sleeping in is a guilty pleasure. Also, I’m good at it.

4. My shoe size is 8 1/2.

5. I have a collection of cheap travel snowglobes. Sadly, this collection is currently tucked away in a shoebox in my closet. Also, such snowglobes are getting harder and harder to find. This is the kind I collect.

6. I never win on ebay. I suspect I’m not a very good ebay-er.

7. My favorite tea is Earl Grey. It is also my favorite tea name.

8. I’ve only received one ticket, thus far, in my life and it was for speeding. Do I still speed? Yes. Does this mean I am a rebel? No.

9. I turn up my nose at even the slightest mention of math.

10. I love words and stories. I live for words and stories.

11. I get flustered when people make the statement that there are “math people” and then there are “English people” as if the two are entirely separate categories that cannot cross over. In reality you can be a master of Shakespeare and a master of Calculus. I’m not an example of this but I have a brother who is and he would gladly discuss such matters with you… Actually, he probably wouldn’t have the time for such conversation as he is too busy these days teaching English and Math.

12. I live in Michigan.

13. This doesn’t mean I will live in Michigan forever (even if it sometimes feels like it).

14. My favorite big city in the United States is New York City and Seattle.

15. My favorite little city in the United States is the Town-I-Live-In-Now.

16. In my childhood I would often share the phrase: “Variety adds a spice to life.”

17. In my childhood I was committed to sorting out The Meaning of Life (as in, what is life’s purpose?). I would ask this question quite frequently to others. Input is always helpful on such weighty matters.

18. I was also committed to being a future zoologist or veterinarian.

19. This commitment was replaced when I discovered my true calling: Broadway. My destiny was to be a Broadway actress.

20. In high school my future plans shifted and at that point I decided I would be a writer.

21. I had a high school teacher who told me (in the nicest way possible, I’m sure): “If you want to be a writer you need to practice… You need to learn how to write… You are like a baseball player who needs to learn how to hit the ball with a bat.” After this conversation I cried and cried. It was as if she had hit me with a bat, proving once again the mighty power of words!

22. There is a lesson here, of course: Don’t listen to everything a person tells you. Also, I agree on this matter: if you want to be a writer you need to write. A lot.

23. That same year in high school I won a city-wide award for my writing. I believe the title was Best of Class. From that point on everyone began telling me what a talented writer I am.

24. I was also busy in high school with Forensics and Debate.

25. In case you haven’t already put this together: No, I never managed to make it in the A crowd.

26. In college, like most of my peers, I realized I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.

27. I continued to take classes in the direction of English anyway because wasn’t that what I was supposed to be good at?

28. I also entertained the idea of being a Photographer. I changed my mind later.

29. I continue to take photos on a hobby level. I believe the term for what I am is Amateur Photographer.

30. I will finish college in April with a degree in English.

31. My minor is in Anthropology.

32. My future career is Unknown.

33. Graduate school is still a question mark in my future, as well.

34. I was published in 2005 in a book that is destined for the English canon. My short story that appears in the book I submitted at the age of 14. I was not contacted until many, many years later and had forgotten about the story’s existence during that time.

35. Looking at something one wrote at 14 can be quite a gruesome experience. Knowing you cannot edit or take back what you wrote at 14 is also painful.

36. There was one copy of My Book at my favorite local bookstore and on occasion I would find the time to go in to kiss it and open up the pages to double check on my story. Then a horrible reader must have purchased the book because it simply disappeared from the shelf one day. It has been one month now and the bookstore has not taken the time to restock it. I’m afraid my literary career, however short and glorious, is over.

37. I try to be funny and love to mix in what I perceive as humor. Sometimes it works quite successfully, but sometimes I fail miserably. (Humor is easier to do in life rather than in a blog, I find.)

38. I have a boyfriend who makes me happy.

39. If I were to turn this into a 100 Things About My Boyfriend I would mention he has red hair. And he’s quirky. And he makes me laugh daily. But this is not a 100 Things About My Boyfriend so let’s move on, shall we?

40. I am a coffee barista.

41. This does not mean I work at Starbucks. It does mean I will be asked about Starbucks frequently.

42. Do I like Starbucks? You know, I think I’m neutral. There are things I like and things I absolutely detest. I will tell you this: my boyfriend will not spend money at Starbucks.

43. My favorite coffee drink is a latte with a splash of flavor.

44. I am trying to get away from drinking coffee drinks. I would love to become a tea drinker instead.

45. “Would you like a spot of tea?” - I can use this phrase more often if I switch over to tea. “Would you like a spot of coffee?” just doesn’t work.

46. I have been to Alaska twice.

47. I love the Pacific Northwest.

48. I know a small portion of French.

49. I listen to NPR while driving.

50. I have bangs and the upkeep required is a bit like taking care of a standard poodle.

Current consumption

Enjoying on the WWW:

Things I've Bought That I Love, the personal shopping blog of Mindy Ephron. She is a writer/actor on The Office, a show that may never return due to the writer's strike... Okay, maybe I'm being melodramatic but this is my blog and therefore I have the right to assume the worst. The worst being: the show will never return and when this day comes I shall cry. Like a baby. And between my sobs I shall find the courage to blog about it.

If you are not familiar with Mindy Ephron then I suggest you watch this clip that will give you an idea of the character she plays on the show.



Eating:

Banana bread from Be Happy and Healthy. These are mini sized breads that are a tasty and healthy treat.



Reading:

Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose. This book came as a Christmas gift from my Mom. (Thank you, Mom.)



Listening to:

Carrot Pan-flute "Old Castl's moon "(Koujou no Tuki) on YouTube. This is a shining example of the Internet at its best.



Watching:

Lost Boys of Sudan. A friend recommended this documentary to me last year and I finally got around to watching it. I'm still taking in the film and so I don't have a suitable response ready, except: Everyone can learn from this movie. Go watch it.


Waiting for:

January 18. Nate will be one year older and celebrations will be in order.

In case you were wondering about my current mood

I am feeling quite chipper at the moment. Life is good. Here are a few factors that may or may not be contributing to this moment of sheer optimism:

I'll be done with college (for now? or forever?) at the end of April. I will have a degree at that point and will proceed to find a job that will shower me with money. My interest is money at the moment, perhaps later I can move on to saving the world.

My laptop has been reformatted and my room is clean. Organization is complete. (Thank you for your help, T.)

I've been watching Felicity, a show I watched in high school and loved. Watching the show makes me happy. There are a few things that are becoming amazingly clear to me now... I'm not sure if I felt the same way in high school...

(You can skip this next section if you have no interest in the show or my thoughts on it.)

Ben is not worth Felicity's time. It's a bit like Beauty and the Beast in the sense she is drawn to the bad boy but must train him to be good. I say, skip the work and find a guy who is genuinely good to begin with. This doesn't mean she has to be with Noel but at least Noel is domesticated. Ben is not. Also, I am smitten with Felicity's hair. Although I wouldn't want her hair, I decided. Curls are charming-yes-but I wouldn't want the high maintenance associated with curly hair. You can tell my mind has really been debating key issues, right?

I went to a tea class yesterday and learned if you drink tea daily you will basically live forever and stay incredibly healthy. Who knew health and immortality were so attainable in this lifetime? In short, I will be drinking more tea. Loose Tea gave me permission to use her tea rating system which may appear in future posts.

The art of "Thank You"

When I was growing up I could never bear the end of the holiday season for with it came the gloom of returning to life as normal and the burden of writing each and every soul who gave me a present a “Thank You” note. My Mom insisted on this. She would tie me to a chair and table, place a pen in my hand and command: “Write!” I would cry, I would moan, I would try to reason with her.

“Why do I need to send out a thank you note? I said thank you in person when I opened the present… I’m sure they heard me…” I would also point out I had better things to do with my precious time. Like practicing singing for my future on Broadway, or stealing clothes from my older sister’s closet... I never managed to get away from writing thank you notes, although I did manage delaying the chore until February or sometimes March. But even then, I would be forced at some point to obey and the dreaded thank you notes would finally be sent.

Now that I’ve had time to separate myself from my childhood I actually make it a point to continue to send thank you cards in the mail. I enjoy old-fashioned mail and feel this is a form of etiquette that shouldn’t be replaced or killed off by modern rudeness. I have noticed, however, very few individuals take the time to do likewise. Even my niece and nephew get away with not sending out thank you cards. Obviously, their parents have not introduced them to this form of etiquette, so I’m afraid they are simply missing out on all the fun. When they are older and readers of this blog, perhaps then they will learn the importance of this ancient and exciting form of etiquette.

This Christmas I received a card from an elderly woman who is somehow distantly related to me who I send cards to from time to time. Her husband died last year and she currently lives alone. She was also close to my Grandma Winnie. She wrote in her brief letter to me, “You never forget me.” These words jumped out the page at me. They are a startling reminder as to why old-fashioned mail should not go out style and how it can, in fact, move people.

One of my favorite gifts from this Christmas

This Christmas I received a yoga DVD and a cute yoga mat. Both are part of the Gaiam line of yoga products. I know they sell this line of products at many stores throughout the US, including Target. I was very excited about this gift because: 1.) I have an interest in healthy living and 2.) while yoga offers countless health benefits it also offers countless accessory options. At the moment I am more interested in my yoga mat than in finding a sense of inner peace or mastering the Warrior Position. I am also deeply concerned that I do not have a strap for my mat (thus I am forced to carry it around with the risk it will unfold at any second!). Also, I am without suitable clothing for yoga. The other night I followed my DVD in tacky running pants and a Michigan football t-shirt. I'm afraid the sight was quite ghastly. This is the DVD I followed:



And this is what my yoga mat looks like, minus the strap:



I am doing yoga at home, which for some people may not work but in my case I have the right setting and believe I can pull it off. It is too early to predict if I’ll stay with yoga or if this is merely a passing phase in my life, an activity I’ve taken on by a whim that will be replaced by quilting or taxidermy next month. I am going to make an effort to follow the DVD at least a few more times before moving on to something new. And if I do move on to something new I’d like it to be fitness related in some way. Suggestions are welcome.

Puppies and J.Crew

I have a soft spot for sweaters, the prep look and puppies, but never have I envisioned what would happen by combining all three. If you do combine all three you get something wonderful:





Puppies in J.Crew sweaters! I would love seeing these sweaters on my sister's dogs, Chester and Maverick. I dogsit them from time to time and always contemplate dressing them up during these periods. And serving them tea, of course. My sister has a firm belief that dogs should not wear clothing of any sort. One should not anthropomorphize your pet. I agree with her on this issue to an extent but what if the puppy wants to wear cashmere or wool? What do you do then?

The Best of 2007 (in my life, at least)

Trips to Florida in April and July. A few highlights include: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, The Everglades and Key West. I saw a considerable amount of Southern Florida and have developed a deep understanding of why Hemingway spent so much of his later life in the state. Florida is alluring.

Meeting my longtime friend, Steve B. in Chicago before he left for Iraq. He is still in Iraq but will returning in 2008. I’ll be happy when he returns safe and sound. For the record: I may not support the war but I do support the troops.

My brother’s wedding in May. There is something comforting in knowing he married someone I admire and respect. There is also something comforting in knowing he’ll be taken care of. He needs someone to supervise him, believe me.

My boyfriend, Nate, moved back to this area. I missed him terribly while he was away and hadn’t quite adapted to the distance (and by distance I mean 2 ½ hours) so I was thrilled by his return.

In October I sold three photos to Mastercard.com. This is the first time anyone has ever paid me for something I do as a hobby (taking photos). Therefore, I was very excited.

I read more books in 2007 than I read in 2006. I also managed to read notable works. Meaning, I didn’t spend all of 2007 reading trivial smut. The most striking novel I read in 2007 is Lolita, which I enjoyed quite a bit (even though I was initially hesitate about reading a novel that is so risqué).

I became a better cook in 2007. I credit this to the amazing cooking blog, The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

The Harry Potter series is officially over. *Whew.* I finally have a sense of closure after all these years of praying JK Rowling will get to Book 7, finish it and deliver it to the public (rather than hiding it in her Scottish castle or delaying the final release for another five or ten years). I can relax now, knowing the series has reached its end. *Whew.* It really is over.

In fall of 2007 my new roommate, The One From Spain, moved in and she has been a fantastic roommate and friend since then. I’m starting to believe everyone from Barcelona must be kind, intelligent, funny and talented.

My sister, S, moved to Manhattan at the end of 2007. Meaning, I will be taking countless trips to The Big Apple in 2008. I look forward to all the adventures.