Reading Journal

Finished "Jane and Cassandra" over the weekend.

It's a historical fiction about the relationship between Jane and Cassandra Austen. Had I had more biographical facts myself, I would have been able to tell that the events were real, but that the opinions of them were not. (Although, the narrative surrounding Mr. Atkins remains a mystery to me.) I finished the weekend by watching the Pride & Prejudice starring Kiera Knightly and learned that the cast portraying the Bennett family played Sardines in the house before the crew got there so they could learn the layout and take ownership of it before cameras invaded. I also watched Sense & Sensibility with the Ang Li and other director's commentary. All I retained from that viewing (which I didn't pay much attention to, honestly, because they sort of wore themselves out towards the end and it was just the movie playing) was that they used period animals. The commentators were constantly interjecting, "Period sheep!" It was actually quite entertaining.

I've picked up O! Pioneers, which I plan on reading mostly in the gym. Am hoping to finish it before I get on the bus home for Thanksgiving. I also pulled a book off my shelf called Memory Wall: Stories by Anothony Doerr, who, according to the jacket cover, is the writer in residence of Idaho. I haven't actually read more than the cover, though. Bought it when Borders was going out of business.

Reading Journal

I finished Lance Armstrong's autobiography last night. Have I mentioned I've grown to like sports writers? Don't know what it is....I don't particularly care for playing or watching them, but I find reading about them just fascinating.





Anyway...it was pretty good, although somewhat outdated (2000). A bit more cussing than I cared for, but the bits about the racing were exciting. He has an extreme personality (tell me something from Texas that isn't extreme, though) and it made for a fascinating read.





I look forward to starting O! Pioneers a little sooner this year than I have in other years. Oh, well. If I try putting it off for another cycle, I'm afraid I'll be too late.

Reading Journal

I finished "Not Dead Yet" and "So I'm Talkin' to This Guy..." last night.

Both were decent. Not I'd-Rather-Give-Myself-a-Swirly boring, but not exactly enthralling, either. "Not Dead Yet" was at the beginning, and some of "So I'm Talkin' to This Guy..." was pretty good.

"Not Dead Yet" is the story of Phil Southerland, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 7 months. He took control of his diabetes and now heads a bike racing team to raise awareness and funds for solutions for Type 1. The first part is best if you're reading it because your passionate about bikes, while the second is best if you're reading it because you're passionate about diabetes. Lucky for me, I'm into both. Oh, and he looks like Matt Damon.

"So I'm Talkin' to This Guy..." is a collection of short, 2-page op-eds by Rob Borsilliano (or something equally Italian). He grew up in the Bronx and his wife talked him into moving to Des Moines. The last entry really threw me.

Writing Journal

*murrrrrrgh*


That's how I felt about this poem. See, I decline any desire to have any association with what have been described as "nerdy franchises." Not with the people, per se, actually, definintely not with the people. Some of my best friends are obsessed with nerdy franchises. Harry Potter, LOTR, Star Wars/Trek, mostly. My experience is intentionally very limited with each of those. No real good reason, to be honest. We all have quirks we can't explain; I just happen to have chosen this as mine.





Less than a month before a friend's birthday, I saw that someone at work had some Star Wars they wanted to sell. So I bought their copies of II and III, confident my friend's limited DVD collection didn't include these.





Well, with the Project Poem Project I've set for myself, I had to write a poem to accompany the gift. Please be advised that since it's supposed to be this "off."

Spacy Thoughts

When I finally met your (City Name) Biker gang,
Not a one of them was mean.
Yoda is green.

TSO was a great big blast!
You still owe me a set-up—Whadd’ya Know?
How close are you with Hans Solo?

We had just crossed the bridge when you gave me the news:
My car could go no farther.
Luke, I am your father.

When you took a girl to see Pink Floyd live,
Your teenaged dream came more than true.
May the force be with you.

In prepping for my first big ride,
You sold and showed me your slicks.
This has been a Jedi mind trick.

Now you have the second,
And you have also the third.
Jabba the Hut looks like a turd.

Writing Journal

My church is holding an activity for the General Relief Society Broadcast this Saturday. We decided to send out postcards to remind some of our sisters who haven't been getting reminders on Sundays. This is the poem I included with mine.

Get all dolled up in a cute little skirt
And join your sisters for a little dessert.
7 pm is when it all starts.
So please come prepared
To hear stories meant to touch our hearts.

Yeah, not my best.
But it got the job done.