BTT: Quirky

This week’s question is suggested by (blogless) JMutford:

Sometimes I find eccentric characters quirky and fun, other times I find them too unbelievable and annoying. What are some of the more outrageous characters you’ve read, and how do you feel about them?

This one required some thought mainly because I don't read a lot of books with eccentric or quirky characters. At first I wanted to say that I don't read a lot of fiction but then the eccentric parents of Jeannette Walls's memoir The Glass Castle popped into my mind. Walls does an excellent job portraying them in a fashion that leads readers to see how unstable they really are. I found myself identifying with Jeannette because my father can also be described as an eccentric, unstable man. (We have alien landing pads next to the barn.) So while her parents were eccentric they weren't too unimaginable for me.

I was completely annoyed by Anne Tyler's character Bitsy Donaldson in Digging to America. A woman who craves multi-culturalism, an environmentalist, and who has no problem telling people how they should live their lives. Bitsy drove me bezerk! She is just too much. I could not believe how she constantly preached to Zibar on how she should raise her daughter. Like suggesting Korean children's stories, soy milk, or looking down on her for changing her daughter's name from Suki to Susan. Bitsy also criticized Zibar for working instead of being a stay-at-home mom like herself. I usually have issues with such preachy characters or people. And I normally steer clear of parents like these at school.

I am just starting The Almanac of the Dead by Leslie Marmon Silko for the third time. While the book is close to 800pgs, which isn't bad, there are so many crazy, almost unimaginable characters involved that one really has to keep up with the plot to make sense of everything. This time I am actually mapping out the character connections. I remember trying to read this in college. Alex Kuo, my professor, quoted Simon Ortiz who said something along the lines of "if its fiction, you'd better believe it." I always think of this quote when reading literature that seems so off the wall, and this book is definitely up there. I'll be in touch about my feelings of these characters soon.

Finally, I hated all the characters in Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair. All of them added up to such a ridiculous book. I found them to be very annoying and weird, which is most likely why I did not enjoy this much raved about book.

Snow Day

I woke up ecstatic this morning because we have a SNOW DAY!! This means that I can catch up on studying and Lost before tomorrow night, or find amusement in things like this.

Random

This should keep me entertained for awhile.

Stupid Drivers

There is snow in Idaho. Imagine that! Snow! Here, in Idaho! WOW! And when there is snow it seems like all the stupid drivers come out. This morning it took 40 minutes for four miles! Farmer Ted could've run to work and back in that time!

I grew up with snow every year. I learned how to drive in snow that had not been plowed. I've had all wheel drive and 4WD vehicles and know when it is suitable to up the gear. I know how to put chains on and also know that if chains are required on the pass I ain't going! What peeves me is the number of drivers who don't seem to know how to drive in snow. These same drivers fall into a number of categories:

1.) 4WD-Jerks: They seem to think that since they are in a vehicle with 4WD they own the road and have a small probability of causing an accident. While there are many 4WDrivers that do know how to drive in snow there are many that jumped on the SUV trend and have no freakin clue. They seem to believe that just being in an AWD or 4WD vehicle they can command the road. I would like to know how many of them know how to switch into 4WD and when the use of it would be helpful. A dusting of snow does not call for 4WD. And so they drive like idiots, sliding around, not stopping safely, nor watching the driving of others. They give you looks of "why are you in a little car on the road! GET OFF!" as if being in a mini-van-SUV is the only way to travel in icy conditions.

2.) The Clueless: These individuals purchase a 4WD vehicle and have no intention of learning how to actually use 4WD. This always bothered me in places like Las Vegas where there is no snow or muddy conditions and I often wondered what the purpose of 4WD was. Why have one when you're not going to use it? This morning I was behind a Land Rover who couldn't drive. It was going less than 5 mph and was so slow, in slush where there should be no problems. WHY?! LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT!

3.) Bugs n Metros: JUST SAY NO! When there is ice covering the road please understand that your low weight ain't gonna cut it when it comes to stopping and going. LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL! Please! Applying more gas isn't going to necessarily get you moving when you're on a sheet of ice!!

And finally, understand that being too cautious can also cause accidents. If you're not comfortable driving in snow, in Idaho, where yes there is snow then try to find an alternative option. Or move back to California.

Deborah Oropallo

There is not much that happens in Idaho that excites me. Seriously. But I was thrilled to learn that Deborah Oropallo's work is currently exhibited in Ketchum at the Gail Severn Gallery. I first heard of her work on NPR and unlike most stories on art, Oropallo's sounded so interesting I found myself surfing the net for images. I like how she overlays portraits of well-known men with images of everyday women. I'll admit that some of her work does not appeal to me but there are those that do such as Captain's Mate, Pillage n Plunder, Cowgirl, and Helle's Belle's (both seen above). I like staring into the several layers and deciphering the images separately. What I don't like is having to travel to Sun Valley to view this exhibit.

Decisions

When deciding between Midget Wrestling and basketball normally the decision would be easy, anything but basketball. When deciding between Farmer Ted's godson, Cosmo, at the basketball game and midget wrestling the decision became more difficult. Its not everyday that such fine artistic performances visit Idaho. What should I choose?

Basketball. However I was not allowed to wear Farmer Ted's letterman's jacket to the game. And I was not allowed to bring books or crafts or toys. Although I did get lucky in that Cosmo played his harmonica during halftime. It was the best harmonica playing from a 2.5 year old I've ever heard! Beat that midget wrestling!

Death Star Canteen

Because SOMEONE doesn't enjoy Star Wars, but I bet that SOMEONE would enjoy this.