Farmer Ted's thought process

Farmer Ted's godson's 3rd birthday is this weekend. However an actual celebration will be postponed until July, to which Farmer Ted had this comic response:

I hope you are not planning to delay Cosmo’s actual birthday because I happen to know that he is counting down the days until he is able to legally visit the Cactus (and Graineys at 1 AM, of course). Presently, we are at 6573. This would be very disappointing to him and would force him to go to the black market for Cactus-entrance credentials (Nevada or otherwise).

On the other hand, delaying a birthday would be pretty sweet to me. I propose that I will delay my next birthday until 2491, which, not coincidentally, is the same date the Buck Rogers emerged from some sort of stasis on the TV show named after him.

What is Reading, Fundamentally?

What is reading, anyway? Novels, comics, graphic novels, manga, e-books, audiobooks — which of these is reading these days? Are they all reading? Only some of them? What are your personal qualifications for something to be “reading” — why? If something isn’t reading, why not? Does it matter? Does it impact your desire to sample a source if you find out a premise you liked the sound of is in a format you don’t consider to be reading? Share your personal definition of reading, and how you came to have that stance.

(Two weeks late for Reading is Fundamental week, but, well…)

Today is my last day of school. So I find it funny that this is fundamentally an education question. As a teacher I think every time we read anything, (a cereal box, signs, or bumper stickers), it qualifies as reading. I'm always having the children in my life read out loud. Be it menus or recipes it helps their reading and vocabulary so much. Personally, I don't like children reading manga, at least at school, because I'd rather see them reading larger blocks of paragraphs. I suppose I should just be happy they are reading anything with all the video games out there.

I consider magazines, cook-books, and audiobooks reading. Overall I'm pretty lax when it comes to my own stance of reading.

The weekend ahead...

FF: 191

Appetizer

What is the nearest big city to your home?

I thought I lived in a big city. Salt Lake City?

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

No comment. I'm not letting my mad skills leak out on this question.

Salad

Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

Golden. Long. In Japan it was an issue because people wanted to touch it. I've been approached about selling it. Heather, my hairdresser, thinks I have a secret to keeping it shiny. It needs a haircut.

Main Course

What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

Clean record however I am not a legal driver at the moment...oh the rebel in me!

Dessert

When was the last time you had a really bad week?

Two weeks ago. I try not to think about bad weeks or days anymore. They are too draining.

Happy Anniversary

Dear Jamier (a.k.a. Beef Jerky Vegetarian),

It's been one hell of a year for us eh? After a year of not speaking to each other our immaturity at a funeral of all places forced us back together where we should have always been. Do you remember the wake? When I kept sliding the flowers between us so I wouldn't have to look at you? It was pretty funny now that I think about it. I don't think Mack was bringing me beers fast enough! Anyway we've had some good times. I thought we could re-live them for a moment. But first we need some music. (Press play now!)

• I can no longer watch a basketball game after you argued with the ref over LOGIC! You were trying to inject logic into the game! It was beautiful!
• Remember our George Michael Faith night?
• Our wise and gossipy discussions on crap. But you have to admit, it's usually good crap.
  
• Homeless man at our table discussing life and hitchhiking.
• That time we found you in the rose bushes after a needed cigarette run? Or was it beer?
• New Year's and Caddyshack (Bitch! You stole that game from us!)
• Our secret fear of our thighs...(who else could I admit that to?!)

And everything in between. Happy Anniversary sweetheart!

Blast from the Past #4

As promised, this is a letter from my brother during his incarceration. It's dated 5/15/03. I sent him a lot of mail so that he would have something to look forward to. Mostly they were silly cards. He was transferred frequently so I always heard about the new place. I suppose crowding in prisons will do this to some.



Dear folks,

How is it going for you folks? I am doing well. I no longer have a job, and am waiting to get into school. This place is different from any other institution. We don't have movement every hour like every other place. We have to share our gym and yard. So it makes it difficult to get into a routine. So I found myself playing a lot of cards and watching some pretty dumb TV shows. My cellie doesn't shower and he doesn't ever leave the room. He follows me like a lost puppy dog. It gets pretty bothersome. I have learned to have patience. Without those I would be in all sorts of trouble. I am on a softball team. The league starts in a couple of weeks. The living conditions are alot different from the movie. There are no open barred cells. Those are in the K units. Here we have a solid door with keys it seems pretty laid back. I have sent you some visiting forms you must fill them out and return them for an approval before you can visit. If you choose to visit be prepared to get searched. I don't have a big selection of classes to choose from so I take what I can get sorry I haven't wrote in awhile. I am just getting settled I miss you guys, and enjoy the cards.

Love you,

M

Books v. Movies

Books and films both tell stories, but what we want from a book can be different from what we want from a movie. Is this true for you? If so, what’s the difference between a book and a movie?


I have a really good example for this question. I have purposefully not watched the movie Atonement because I am waiting to read the book. (Attn: L and J--where's the book?!) I'm usually drawn into the characters more if I read a book. I tend to empathize more as well. It's been a goal of mine to try to read the book version before seeing the movie for at least the last year. So far I'm doing pretty well, that is unless I have no interest in the book and just want to relax via a movie. The Kite Runner is next on Netflix. Even though I somewhat enjoyed the book I think I won't enjoy the movie--just a feeling I have.

One of the movies where I think they got it right was the PBS version of Anne of Green Gables. I love it almost as much as I love the book. So I guess they can get them right sometimes.

On a side note, what I don't like is how Hollywood is now quick to make any good book or bestseller into a movie. If I see a bestseller these days I often ask myself whether I should read it now or put it off. If I put it off too long then there's a movie version. I suppose I'll just have to work harder at disciplining myself on reading the book first!

Remembering Gabe

It's been a year. We miss you Gabe...

Nippon

I was reminded of how much I love(d) Tokyo's vending machines this morning. There is so much I dearly miss about Japanese culture that is difficult to explain to those who have never ventured there. I think I'll plan a trip there next spring.

The Brother

So my brother is in jail...again.... For some reason I'm always the last to find out. I was happy to hear that he called our mother on Mother's Day though. I've been a student for eight years of which my brother was incarcerated for close to six. When I was off getting a degree he was playing chess with a cell a couple doors down, calling out the moves to each other. I still have all the letters he wrote to me. I think this week I'll post one for my Blast from the Past.

Marriage and Laziness

I've received two proposals in my life thus far both by men I dearly loved and still think of often. I'm telling you this because I am at the point in my relationship with Farmer Ted where we THINK we should get married but neither of us are all that interested in the hoo-haa that comes with actually signing something that says HEY, YOU'RE MARRIED!

As we prepare for our next adventure to Vegas we have a zillion things to do and for some reason we've decided that marriage isn't one of them. Crazy, but we are just too lazy to get married with all the other crap in front of us. I'm fine with this because as I've said, I've already had not one, but two proposals (obviously those engagements ended). Maybe it's better this way because Farmer Ted and I can just be that couple that will never marry to our friends. Someone has to be that couple and we play the role extremely well.

Besides, I love my name!

BTT: Manual Labor Redux

Following up last week’s question about reading writing/grammar guides, this week, we’re expanding the question….

Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?

Do you ever read manuals?

How-to books?

Self-help guides?

Anything at all?

Of course I skim the manual, but not read it top to bottom. I keep the manuals in a file drawer, something most people don't do. I have read my car's maintenance manual so I am aware on how to maintain my car. I enjoy reading a lot of how-to books on organizing the house, and life in general. I am always looking for more time in the day to do some annoying chore and sometimes find the tips in how-to guides helpful.

In terms of self-help guides I read them occasionally. I believe it is important to check in with yourself every now and then and see if you're living according to your morals and important character traits. I have to remind myself that I don't want to live a negative life and sometimes self-help books can help put you back on track. I also find that some self-help books can help you strengthen your problem solving and communication styles.

1001

Lately I've been catching up on my Google Reader which is so, so awesome! Today I came across 1001 books and movies I supposedly should read/see before I die. This is in tune with the 1001 places I should visit before I die and makes me wonder if I should attempt the three in unison. Most likely not.

Here are the books I've read from the said list:

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon
• The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
• The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
• Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
• Silk – Alessandro Baricco
• The Passion – Jeanette Winterson
• Beloved – Toni Morrison
• To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
• Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
• Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
• Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
• Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen

I'm surprised at so few, but then again I enjoy more non-fiction and memoirs than fiction. I saw a lot of Jeanette Winterson on there. She is one of my favorite authors; I just haven't read all her books. There were several books on there that I own, just haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I have The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, Bleak House, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Woman in White on my night stand. There just hasn't been enough hours in the day lately.

Blast from the Past #3

I met Susan while in D.C. This was written April 14th, 1998. I had forgotten about the scholarship and the fact that I loved calculus. Hmm....

K,

Waz up? Sorry I took I while to write back. It was because I was moving and I just wanted to wait so you could get my new address. I didn't move that far from my old house. My parents just wanted a smaller house since it would only be the two of them after I go to college. I didn't get accepted into UCLA so I guess I'm going to UC San Diego. That's good though because I'll be sort of near my boyfriend. He's going to San Diego State. So you had a cheerleading scholarship, that's so cool! That must mean you're like a psycho good cheerleader. I wanted to try out for cheer my senior year, but I didn't. I played volleyball instead. I wish I would've tried out though. It was so funny because everyone thought I was a cheerleader in D.C. I don't know why. So you're taking analytical calculus. That sucks! I'm in calculus now and I'm doing bad, well I'm doing better that I was at the beginning of the year. I was failing first quarter. I absolutely hate calculus! I'm gonna die in college. I thought it over, and decided that I'm gonna still try to go into medicine. That made my mom really happy. Anyways, I saw "Wild Things" and it was such a good movie. I think I saw it the day it came out. I saw "Grease" in the theatre and I really want to see "City of Angels." I love Nicolas Cage! This girl was telling me that she cried more in that than in "Titanic." I only got teary-eyed in "Titanic" so maybe I'll cry in "City of Angels". I just got off my spring break. I didn't do much but pack, sleep and I went to Disneyland. I hadn't been to D-land for like two years. It was so much fun! I mad my boyfriend, Scott, buy me Minnie Mouse ears. They're so cute. I was wearing them around all day like a real tourist. Being the procrastinator that I am, I ordered my senior pictures just a few weeks ago. They should be done like some time next week. I'll be sure to sen you one. Do you watch Dawson's Creek? You're probably too mature for the show, but I totally love it. I have to admit it is sometimes gay, but I still watch. I watch Buffy too. I still watch 90210, I like Ally McBeal. The show Dharma & Greg is funny too but it's on the same time as 90210. You remind me of Dharma for some reason. I think it's your hair. As you can see I watch too much TV. Well, I'm going now. I hope you're not stressed out with school or anything. Bye!

Susan

If you are a woman...

then you simply MUST watch this!! It is hilarious!

Not much

I spent my last day as a floral designer Saturday and I could not be happier! Although I know I'm good at it it is a very exhausting, stressfull occupation---especially around Mother's Day. Farmer Ted and I made arrangements for Vegas in June and I started working through a legal writing workbook with some new online friends recently. I have several book and movie reviews to post and laughs to share. Hopefully this will be the week to crack into them. I only have 2.5 weeks of school left and I'm hoping they'll fly by! I need a break in routine! Thankfully my summer of watching a set of twins should be relaxing. We'll see....

Something Uplifting

This makes me proud to say I'm from Washington state, and glad to know that small towns still hold good people.

Blast from the Past #2

This letter was postmarked June 14, 1993. I had just graduated the 8th grade! The shaving reference was due to the world's worst perm ever! See this posting if you're lost.

K,

Hi schools fine. Congrads you've graduated! How was the dance? Meet any cute guys? Why did you shave the back of your head? Is it a new fashion faze or something but thats ok if you did. I guess it doesn't matter if Josh is cute or hot because he's not going; his parents decided it was to inconvenient (wow thats a doozy!) Bring your swiming suit to camp and I'll tell you if you look good in it or not, but ya probably do don't worry. I don't have a fax but at camp brin a camera and take a picture of my butt. Why not, I don't care. Did you have any cavities in the dentist? Last check up I didn't have one. WOW I'm a stud!
Screw your friend's boyfriends. I am actually equal to five guys! (strength and all) Send me a school picture of yourself so I can marvel at your hair. (Did you have it shaved or not then?) I already comitted suicide but I'm still alive so I'll read ya soon!

Love,
DB

P.S. What is 5 * 12 / the square root of seven to the fifth power. There is a nice shiny nickel in for it!!

P.P.S. You owe me $10! Visa is accepted!

Events that have taken place recently...

• am playing florist. Have parties and silent auctions to design for. Did the above in record twenty minute time!
• trying to explain that the snakes are not stuck together but in fact mating to children who would rather believe that a stick is holding them together
• wishing Farmer Ted had not found this posting this morning
• finished some reading with reviews to come shortly
• am waiting for my orange juice to arrive
• forgot that my sister had a baby and became the worst Auntie eva! I'm horrible!
  

BTT: Mayday

Quick! It’s an emergency! You just got an urgent call about a family emergency and had to rush to the airport with barely time to grab your wallet and your passport. But now, you’re stuck at the airport with nothing to read. What do you do??

And, no, you did NOT have time to grab your bookbag, or the book next to your bed. You were . . . grocery shopping when you got the call and have nothing with you but your wallet and your passport (which you fortuitously brought with you in case they asked for ID in the ethnic food aisle). This is hypothetical, remember….

In the past I have purchased magazines and thoroughly read the newspaper IF I am not too busy worrying about my family. There have been times where I asserted myself to ask others in the waiting room if I may read their purchased magazines. Other times I have just read through the book summaries and thought of purchasing one however I am always aware that I could purchase the book used or check it out from the library if I just patiently wait. The same kind of situation applies to the airport although I usually have at least one book to read while there.

On a different note I laughed at the Mayday title! Since it actually is May Day! Happy May Day!!