Humor, My Style

I'm a geek, I know. But tell me this isn't funny. It was in yesterday's paper.

Catching Up

For the last month, I have been, well, in a funk.

Ok, not a funk. But struggling. Emotionally. The hours at the "new" job are kicking my behind. But mostly, I've felt distant.

It has reminded me of when Mother Theresa died and an NPR commentator mentioned that she continued her good works even as she struggled in her inability to feel G*d. That even in her decades of feeling removed and untouched by G*d, she continued to do G*d's work.

Perhaps it's a sign (to me) that this very issue has come up in the last few weeks as her diaries are being published. This notion that those of us who identify as "religious" struggle in our ability to "feel" G*d. That we struggle in the "absence" of G*d.

Of course, we all know the piece "Footprints" and how G*d says that in those times of our deepest struggle is when G*d carries us, but that doesn't change how we felt in that moment.

I have hesitated to share in this forum- for all kinds of reasons. But the simple truth is that I miss the connection of having my friends (all 5 of you) read my rantings.

So there you have it.

Books about Dogs?!

Remember this?
"...I also read "wilderness/adventure" books written by a man whose name I cannot remember. It starts with a K and is likely German or Scandinavian...I think the second letter in his name is a j..."

Thanks, Bibliodiva for supplying the missing letters: Kjelgaard. As in James Arthur (Jim) Kjelgaard.

Ring any bells?

How about books like Big Red, Irish Red: Son of Big Red, Kalak of the Ice?

What's frightening is that when I read the list of his books, I don't actually remember a single one. Did I really read a bunch of adventure books (most of which were about dogs)?!

Not only didn't I have a dog, as a kid I wasn't really an "animal lover" or especially inclined toward dogs. Besides Curly, the neighborhood stray my uncle fed, I'm not even sure I knew any dogs.

No wonder my mother thought I was odd...

not in high school (or in college)

What I'm reading now: Lady Chatterley's Lover. I've never read it and It was on the bookshelf in the gf's bedroom. Besides, DH Lawrence wrote one of my favorite short stories: The Rocking-Horse Winner.

BTW, the gf is a voracious reader. Eclectic too. Oh, and have I mentioned that she thinks I'm adorable?

oh, and

this too. Take note my liBERRYan friends. It was a Blog of Note, even.

Good, Bad, Fabulous

The good news is that the long anticipated Harry Potter book is coming out at midnight tonight.

The bad news is that I was a dismal failure at getting an early copy of the manuscript for Grayson's daughter.

The fabulous news is that she's around to read it along with everyone else. Woo-Hoo!

How Many of Me?

Have you ever googled your own name, only to find someone (of several someones) besides yourself? I know this may frighten those who know and love me, but there are 18 people in the US who share my first and last name, including an (apparently) famous make-up artist.

How do I know? Click here to find out.

Of how many are you?

Montana and Idaho?

In a recent phone conversation, my sister commented that she'd never read a Pultizer-prize winning book. Once establishing that this is untrue, we began discussing books we read as children. Being avid readers, we thought we'd read many Caldecott and Newberry medal winning books.

Well, it turns out that Caldecott is an illustration award (and I certainly didn't read "picture books" past age 7). And as for the Newberry list, boy were we surprised! Sure, some of our books were there, but the list that really resonated for us was the Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Reader's Choice Award.
According to Powells.com, this award was established "in 1940 to promote reading for enjoyment."

Good, good. We liked (ok, loved) to read.

Wanna know how these books were chosen?

"Children and young adults of Alberta, Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington select the winners from nominees submitted by librarians, teachers, students and others."

Alaska? Idaho? Montana?

Are you kidding? Me, nice little black (ok, I started out Negro, according to my birth certificate, and since 1989 I've been African-American) girl is reading a bunch of books selected by the loads of loads of readers out in Montana?

Yeah, yeah- you can talk about the universality of children and reading and all that, but really, what MUST my mother have thought? Yeah, I read Mildred Taylor and even Alice Childress, but I also read nearly every book published by Scott O'Dell, and let me tell you, there are a ton of 'em! I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins!

Montana? No disrespect, but really, how many children were even in Montana in the 1970s?

Aside: I also read "wilderness/adventure" books written by a man whose name I cannot remember. It starts with a K and is likely German or Scandinavian. My mouth keeps saying "Kierkegaard" but I know that's not right. Actually, I think the second letter in his name is a j. Anyone? Bibliodiva? Lisa K? Mellanye?

I really did look, and even went to the children's section of my local libe, but the librarians weren't very nice and seemed perturbed that I was interrupting their construction paper craft project (I'm serious). My library isn't staffed by friendly folk, but I go anyway...

Mail for Mom

Today she got 2 entry packets from Publisher's Clearinghouse, a magazine, and a couple of begging letters.

I got a renewal notice from AAA.

For the 3rd day in a row, my mother got more mail than me. And only one of us is alive.

How pitiful is that?

===

Anyone wanna tell me how to get her name off these blessed mailing lists? And no, she doesn't want to contribute to the American Diabetic Association or renew her subscription to AARP.

New Beginnings - An Update

3 months into my "new" job and I'm back at my primary site fulltime, loving that I finally have an assistant (as opposed to a string of temps) and well, settling in nicely.

Today I even reconnected with a lab technician I used to work with. I'm excited to go back to working with him (although my current lab is quite good).

Life is good.

LMNOP

Remember a million years ago when I told you I got a huge box in the mail with a tiny bit of quilt and a boatload (ok, boxload) of batting?

Also in that box was one of the funniest books I've read in a long time: Ella Minnow Pea, by Mark Dunne. Fun!

Creating Traditions

My brother came to visit over the weekend. He moved to Boston from Florida a few months ago, and made the trip to Upstate New York to hang out with his big sister. We had a lovely time; it was a nice treat as we had not seen each other in over a year.

While he was here, he asked me an interesting question about my blog. He wanted to know why it's called "G*d's Love" instead of "God's Love". Since I frequently write my creator's name as "G*d" or "G-d" in reverance, I was surprised. Funny how you assume everyone knows what you know (or how you forget that everyone doesn't how what you do).

In any case, it's from Jewish tradition. Not writing God's name is a way to honor
God and God's holiness. Kinda like Christians writing God's name with a capital G, versus when we write about one of the Hindu gods (little g) like Shiva.

Tradition is a powerful thing, and my sister has taught me a bit about creating one's own. Having more reverence with G-d is one I created for myself.

In Memoriam

It's been a year.

Dorothy Macklin Morgan

June 27, 1941 - June 20, 2006

Open wounds stop bleeding but they are often sore for a very long time.

Six Degrees To JK Rowling

Read this, then come back.

Now that you're back-
Grayson and I went to high school together in North Carolina and now she lives in the Netherlands. Her daughter, Meghan, is a teenager and has brain cancer. She cannot do chemo and has been told that she has only weeks to live. And note that Grayson indicates that Meghan will likely be unable to read the book herself on July 21. She already has double vision nearly all the time now, and well, July 21st is nearly 2 months away.

So, how can we make this happen for Meghan?

And yes, I'm serious.

I'm working on my college contacts. Surely librarians Bibliodiva and Lisa K can help with research? Is there a way to reach Ms. Rollins?

Any ideas?

And again, I couldn't be more serious.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

I, apparently, am a chocolate one. And I'm not cutting edge. A shocker, I know.

==

You Are a Chocolate Cake

Fun, comforting, and friendly. You are a true classic, and while you're not super cutting edge, you're high quality. People love your company - and have even been known to get addicted to you.

What Kind of Cake Are You?

Writer's Almanac

Yesterday my friend MHCKnitter sent me a link to this website. Read the poem "A Twice Named Family" by Traci Dant.

It starts:
I come from a family that twice names its own.
One name for the world.
One name for home.

Read it. Then come back and share your reaction.

I'll start:
I love how it ends. The ending especially, reminds me of my group of friends, and how they so easily mesh when I throw them all together. It also reminds me of my gf (who comes from a twice named family).

BTW, I tried to get permission to reprint it, it is being formally reprinted in a journal so Ms. Dant wasn't able to give permission for it to be reprinted any place else (including my little blog).

More Goodies

This is the card that accompanied today's birthday package (#3) from my super-cool, ultra-hip (ok, silly and fun and kind and thoughtful) younger sister. It made me laugh because it's funny in general, and because, hmm, it's so me.



Inside: "There's no one quite like you. Happy Birthday!"

Her written comments included this:
"...your unique perspective on the world makes you fun indeed..."

Unique perspective? Whatever could she mean?
(Did I already confess that when I was a kid,
I wanted to change my name to Jayne Dough?)


And here's what was in today's package:



And because I wanted to show how the Naughty and Nice Ducks flashed when they lit up:

It is real? Or is it Memorex?

Sometimes I like to look at what other blogspotters are up to. This one made me laugh out loud.

I can hardly talk about what other people find fascinating, but fake wood? Of course, maybe I can talk some of my friends into getting matching track jackets...

Birthday Ducks

Ok, so my sister is a nut. I love her, but she is a nut. How do I know, you ask? Because she sent me Teddy Bear pasta for my birthday. And because today I came home to find birthday package #2 from her. There were elegant little packages of bath confetti, salts, and beads.

And these:


They are called Naughty and Nice Ducks, BTW. And they light up! Actually, they flash.


Thank you, Nicole!

====

Oh, today was my second day at my second office. Pretty tame stuff, except that one of my patients, apparently unhappy with my decision to not reline her denture the day I delivered it (and I didn't even make it; the previous guy did), hit me. And no, I am not joking; she hit me. More like a swat, like a spanking.

I am over 40, and today I got a spanking.

Happy B-Day!

The cutest thing: my mobile phone rings, with a number that I do not recognize.
voice: "Sheree?"
me: "yep."
voice: "Hold on"
Then, the most amazing serenade ever: 3 year old twin nieces of my buddy Paula sang Happy Birthday to me. Sooooooo fun!

Here are the birthday gifts Bibliodiva sent. As for Hello Kitty, don't ask. It started in May 2001 and has blown up to rival Sasquatch.

I can't wait to dive into the candy. How fun. I love Pez, but this is cooler. Did you notice that the dispenser is animated?





Oh, and look at the calculator and compact. Hehe.






Oh, and check out the pasta from my sister.





I know, what does it say about me that these are the gifts I get when I turn 41?