Confessions of a One-Track Mind

In the spirit of back-to-school, what is your favorite book that you had to read as a student?

Treasure Island. As far as I'm concerned, that's the ONLY good thing that happened in 6th grade. Our teacher was a 24-karat asshole, I have no other good memories of that year, but the adventures of Jim Hawkins are a shining exception.

What that when my love affair with pirates started? I think so. I know the plot was all fresh to me when I read it, although I'd vaguely heard of Long John Silver in passing. Oh, the suspense as Jim hid in the apple barrel! The humor of Ben Gunn and his craving for cheese! The atmosphere of creaking sails and the scent of gunpowder---one of the enduring classics of literature for a very good reason!

I've seen various adaptations, including Treasure Planet (rather interesting, I thought), but the book is still the best. Although I still have the hardcover I got in 1974, I also have it on my Nook. It deserves to be carried into the future.

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Haircut is NOT what I asked for and I'm extremely unhappy about that. IDC if AI says she thinks it's cute and that it shows how much weight I've lost. It reminds me of the style my mom wore for my entire memory of her, and it looked better on her than it does on me. Grrr.

Dark Shadows: Meh. It was over the top camp. It would take itself seriously for a couple minutes, then go veering off into la-la-land. I expected a little tongue-in-cheek, which I would've been fine with, and I'm sure the cast had a great time making it, but I was massively underwhelmed. Tim Burton can do creepy---what happened?!

Which was why, afterward, I wandered into "The Raven". That was moody and dark, more like what I would've wanted DS to be. It reminded me of the RDJ Sherlock Holmes movies, aided by John Cusack. He's all broody and angsty as Poe, searching for his lost love, who's been kidnapped by a maniacal fan. The fan is committing murders out of Poe's stories with little touches of his own, and demanding new stories from Poe in return for the next clue. Not scary-scary, but nicely suspenseful.

Discovered to my extreme joy that I can now wear size 26 pants. Wept for joy in the changing room at Fashion Bug! Tried some 28s, which looked like I was off to ride my little pony, there was so much fabric flapping at the thighs. Woohoo! I remember being highly upset when I was stretching out size 32s and couldn't find 34s anywhere. And these aren't stretch pants, either---they're woven and have a button-and-zip waistband. Go, me!

Very small crowd at church yesterday---seven people!---but we all knew each other, so it was cozy. PJ gave each of the ladies present a red rose---mine is residing in a glass in my bathroom where I'll see it every time I go in there.

Was up til OMG!AM reading Locked In, the new Tom Clancy. Thankfully, he's gotten away from quoting tech manuals on the hardware at length, as in earlier books. Alas, now he's introducing eight thousand characters to keep track of, complete with backstories and subplots and so on. Me complaining about backstories?! You know it must be serious. Still, I enjoy following his recurring charactrs, which was why I was up til OMG---there was a hostage/torture situation with one of the RC's, and I was freaking out. Arrgh! Vry intense! Now I'm on pins and needles for the next one.

Otherwise, same stuff, different week. TTFN.

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I have done ALL THE SHOPPING. Although I forgot to bring the box of chocolates earmarked for my hair stylist with me when coming out and will need to obtain more. Other than that, though, I don't need to go into any crazy-filled stores before Monday.

I'm at the library. They called me saying one of my requests was available, so I dashed out (thus forgetting the chocolates) and now have Son of Neptune to read while I am NOT shopping. Am feeling well-rewarded by The Universe, because I came very close to buying it outright three times this week. (Price club I have shiny new membership to is cheapest by about three dollars.)

Speaking of rewards from The Universe, I helped J out last night---she needed to return something at Target---I ran in to save her having to fuss with unloading the chair. It took maybe three minutes, which is less tyime than it takes to unstrap the chair work the lift. Then we collaborated on a trip to the dollar store so she could get wrapping paper---and I found The Libertine, a Johnny Depp movie I've never gotten the chance to see, on DVD for a buck.

At 2:30, I have a haircut scheduled. Tried to get in last week, but it just didn't work out. Saturday I had the lunch/movie date with Big Red, Sunday I had church, and this was the next thing she had. But hey, at least I can afford it, and won't have to keep swiping my hair back and grumbling.

I may or may not get another post up before Monday, so here's wishing you a festive Whatever You're Celebrating, or a pleasant weekend if you're not celebrating anything. I have assorted gatherings and festivities planned over the next few days, and several packages to open Sunday morning. If the elves would just come in and clean my kitchen, it would all be perfect.

Cool Yule, y'all.

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Which book do you find yourself regularly rereading, and why?

There's a warm place in my heart for Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy. I first ran across it five or six years ago when it was given to me by two different people within the span of a couple months. It's set in Ireland and has a whole raft of well-realized, engaging characters. Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather are trying to establish themselves as caterers. The book is set over the course of twelve months as they cope with the demands of launching a business and keeping it afloat amid personal and professional challenges.

Binchy's writing in general is very much focused on character. Don't look for poetic descriptions of the lovely countryside or more than a sketchy setting of scene; on the other hand, you may feel you know her characters better than their mothers do. I also love her style of exposition. One sentence or paragraph gives concise backstory, and yet it hints that there's a whole 'nother book there that we can only guess at. I'd love to be able to write that way---I think one reason I've reread it so much is because I'm hoping it'll rub off.

That said, I wish publishers were required to add warnings for character death. Let me just say that if you DO pick up Scarlet Feather, you might want to avoid her latest, Minding Frankie. She does in a previously established character, and completely broke my heart. Yes, I know that bad stuff happens to good people in real life, but damn it! Art need not imitate life.

This isn't my only much-reread book, but it's been on my mind ever since I read Minding Frankie.

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Discovered that the Salvation Army (Melbourne) is not open on Sunday, but Goodwill is. Didn't find anything exciting to wear---bunch of skinny little sundresses, phooey!---but I snagged a couple books, including "The Eyre Affair", which I've been meaning to read. Also found a really nice small carpetbag; it's tapestry with a pattern of old-fashioned suitcase labels. Totally worth $4.99.

I've been getting into a book I snagged from the library, "For the Love of Mike" by Rhys Bowen. (Plucky young Irish woman attempts a career as a private investigator in turn of the century New York.) Didn't find any of those at Goodwill, but have checked eBay and discovered that there are quite a few more in the series, which gives me something to aspire to.

Was in Publix and "Still the One" came on the Muzak...whihc made me think of Susie---it was the song she and T danced to as their first dance at their wedding. *sigh*

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After church, WalMart, where I finished reading "The Last Olympian". Yes, it's tacky of me, I know, I own it---but there's a massive waiting list at the library, so I've worked my way through it in three sessions over the last week, and afterward went and picked up a couple things, so they ARE getting my business.

Came home and took a nap, as there was a brief thunderstorm coming through, making it good weather to snooze in. I woke a few minutes before six, had confused thoughts, first that I was surprised it was getting light so early in the morning, next that I'd be nice and early for the food pantry again. Then my brain rebooted and I realized it was still Sunday afternoon.

To heck with it, I said, and dozed back off. And had a dream: I was walking through New York City (or a dream fascimile thereof), and I was horrified to see a loose poodle in the middle of the street. Fortunately, the traffic had stopped for a light, and I called to him. I had a few nervous minutes when he detoured under a tall bus, but he finally came over to me. I grew up with a silver standard poodle; they are quite possibly the most intelligent dogs on earth and the threat to this one really was nightmarish.

He was charcoal gray, clipped in a natural style---clean face and feet and about two inches long all over---and wore a narrow black leather with flat goold diamond-shaped studs. (Yes, I usually DO dream in vivid detail---when I remember it.) The script on his nametag was very ornate---I wasn't sure if it said "Rudy" or "Buddy", but I'm going to say Rudy, because it's more of a poodlish name, whereas Buddy sounds more like a Lab or mixed breed.

There was a fancy gold chain with an open hook on it that I tried to attach to Rudy's collar so I could lead him. It took me a couple of minutes, and he almost wandered away once, but I rigged it so that I could hold the chain instead of trying to bend over and grab his collar and walk like that.

I woke up, and it was a little after 7---new game plan is to pull an all-nighter and hit the food bank early, since it worked so well last week. My sleep schedule is buggered; falling asleep between 4 and 5 and sleeping til 10 or 11. I've tried getting up early, didn't help, tried decaffeinating (involuntary, but still), didn't help.

It's the heat. I mean, right now, it's after midnight and it's still 87F. At this rate, by September, I'll be keeping vampire's hours....


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