Go and read it here:
http://www.cjbecker.com/love_after_love.htm
(Ignore the centered spacing in the above layout, it really should be left justified)
I came across this poem while reading O, the Oprah Magazine. I immediately clipped it. Its brevity meant that I could stick it to a 3x5 card and add it to the stack of quotes that sit on my desk at work. It's still the only poem in that stack.
Like last month's selection, this poem is one that brings me back to myself. I can spend a lot of time being distracted by what isn't in my life, and I need reminders to be redirected back to the fact that what is in my life, is lovely.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Books read in April
I felt like there was a ton of non-fiction this month and not much fiction, but it seems that is not the case.
Read
Kindle
Paulann Petersen
Petersen is Oregon's current Poet Laureate and so I figured I should read up. I liked her site-specific poems written on her travels, specifically "Dawn" and "Navigation"
Note that 1) Kindle also happens to be the name of a reading device made by Amazon.com and 2)Paulann Petersen doesn't have a big presence on Goodreads, so I was not able to find the book on the Goodreads site and publish this review.
How to Grow More Vegetables 7th Edition
John Jeavons
I bought the sixth edition when I bought my house in 2007 and my first garden flourished despite the thick clay soil. This edition clarifies the vast amounts of information in it by providing concise step-by-step procedures for many common intensive gardening tasks.
The Grow Biointensive method is a bit of a form of gardening for wonky people who like numbers, but I like the idea of creating a closed system, even if it means sacrificing good "vegetable" space to grow your own "browns" to be composted. I think this method is a good self-sufficient method and I like the focus on sustainability (grow your own compost, save your own seed, use your own muscles for the work) and the emphasis on continually building up the soil.
Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
Fun young adult novel about a girl sent off to spend her senior year at a boarding school in Paris, France where she mostly ignores the charms of the city and simultaneously pines for two unavailable boys. In other words, acts like a typical teenager. This was thicker than most YA books, which I found to be a plus.
My Name is Memory
Ann Brashares
First the bad: I had Elton John's annoying treacle of a song "Daniel" in my head during the time, and for weeks after, I read this book. The main character's name is Daniel, and the song just wouldn't leave. In fact, there it is again. Sing along with me: Daniel my brother, you are older than me, do you still feel the pain, of the scars that won't heal, your eyes had dies, but you see more than I, Dan-i-el you're a star in the fact of the sky...
Also the ending was tremendously bad. As I was finishing the book I was very angry. Unlike the first 90% of the book which was gripping, it was entirely unbelievable and badly executed. It was as if the author had suddenly been taken prisoner by people who wanted a very specific ending and held the author at gunpoint until she wrote it. It may have also been a botched set up for a sequel or a series.
Those two things aside, this was an awesome book. I loved the premise (Daniel can remember all his lives staring in 500 AD and moving forward. He keeps encountering a woman named Sophie throughout history, and he can remember and recognize her, but she does not remember or recognize him) and the book itself was fascinating as it jumped around through time. Even only halfway through reading it, I recommended it to everyone I saw. One person took me up on my recommendation and read it within the week. "I have a bone to pick with you." she said when she saw me next. She thought it was a horrible ending too. But we both liked everything up until that point and if you like random historical fiction, this is the book for you.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Read for Kenton Library Book Group.
I thought I may have read this in the past. It turns out that I had read it, but in the abbreviated classics for children version where there was a picture on the left page and the text on the right.
This is a very sad book. In fact, I would argue that Shelley failed completely at writing a scary story and instead excelled at writing the saddest monster story ever. Still, it's very easy to read, especially for something written in the early 1800s, and the book group connected it to a lot of modern issues. I found it interesting that there is not much description of the monster, even though most people in the USA, if asked to sketch Frankenstein, would draw a very similar picture. We can thank the movies for that.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie
Hi-lar-i-ous! There is no reason why you shouldn't read this book as it is smart, funny, short and has great illustrations. It's an excellent narrative too, expertly crafted to kick you in the stomach in a few different times by someone who knows how to tell a story. For the white readers out there, it's a good window into poverty and one picture of life on an Indian reservation, which is a rare picture in today's literature, both adult and YA.
Cymbeline
Shakespeare
If someone today had written this story and submitted it for publication it would have been summarily rejected. I mean really! Shakespeare pulls all sort of "oh this just happened to happen at just the right moment" moments and the end was a massive coming together of several random ends. I will never forget in Act 5 when Posthumus falls asleep and is visited by his dead father, mother and even the god Jupiter. Really? Interestingly, that scene was done well in the production I saw, with no dialogue, Posthumus asleep on stage, Johnny Cash singing U2's song "One" and various reunions happening on stage. Sometimes it is best to cut the Bard's text.
The Last Uncle
Linda Pastan
I liked a lot of these poems, including the title poem (All my uncles have shuffled off center stage) and other poems that I made note of. Sadly, my review did not save when I last saved it and I don't feel like recreating it. Thanks, blogger.
Slam
Nick Hornby
Hornby's YA novel about a nice 16 year old boy who meets a nice 16 year old girl and they get to doing what some 16 year olds do. And then things happen. As always, Hornby's astute observations of the life of the average man/boy/woman/girl are spot-on and at times, hilarious. This was a very enjoyable novel.
Why we get fat and what to do about it
G. Taubes
Taubes makes good arguments that some people get to a point where they cannot be of normal weight unless they give up carbohydrates. There's a lot to digest (Hah!) in this short book, and one of the things I really liked was that the author opened by asking the reader to read the book with a questioning mind and, in more than one place, says what he believes to be true and what science points to, but clearly indicates that more research needs to be done.
Other sacred cows slaughtered along the way: weight management is simply a calories in/calories out exercise; obesity is a problem of the mind, not the body; eating read meat causes higher cholesterol; if you want to lose weight you need to exercise more; a high-fiber, low fat diet is heart healthy.
Those who would like more science or discussion of the above cows can also read the author's book good calories/bad calories.
Started and did not finish:
I Think I Love You
Allison Pearson
I really was enjoying both main characters, but the feeling of foreboding was too much. I was getting too attached to the main character and was worried that trouble would befall her in the form of "mean girl" bullying and had to send it back. I could be convinced to pick it up again, if someone lets me know otherwise.
Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella
This was fluffy, and not what I was in the mood for.
The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Greenhouse
Baird
Line drawings and lots of verbal directions to build several kinds of greenhouses.
The Complete Guide to Greenhouses and Garden Projects
Black and Decker
Lavishly illustrated plans and pictures of not only several kinds of greenhouses, but also garden projects including the most beautiful compost bin I've ever seen.
Read
Kindle
Paulann Petersen
Petersen is Oregon's current Poet Laureate and so I figured I should read up. I liked her site-specific poems written on her travels, specifically "Dawn" and "Navigation"
Note that 1) Kindle also happens to be the name of a reading device made by Amazon.com and 2)Paulann Petersen doesn't have a big presence on Goodreads, so I was not able to find the book on the Goodreads site and publish this review.
How to Grow More Vegetables 7th Edition
John Jeavons
I bought the sixth edition when I bought my house in 2007 and my first garden flourished despite the thick clay soil. This edition clarifies the vast amounts of information in it by providing concise step-by-step procedures for many common intensive gardening tasks.
The Grow Biointensive method is a bit of a form of gardening for wonky people who like numbers, but I like the idea of creating a closed system, even if it means sacrificing good "vegetable" space to grow your own "browns" to be composted. I think this method is a good self-sufficient method and I like the focus on sustainability (grow your own compost, save your own seed, use your own muscles for the work) and the emphasis on continually building up the soil.
Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
Fun young adult novel about a girl sent off to spend her senior year at a boarding school in Paris, France where she mostly ignores the charms of the city and simultaneously pines for two unavailable boys. In other words, acts like a typical teenager. This was thicker than most YA books, which I found to be a plus.
My Name is Memory
Ann Brashares
First the bad: I had Elton John's annoying treacle of a song "Daniel" in my head during the time, and for weeks after, I read this book. The main character's name is Daniel, and the song just wouldn't leave. In fact, there it is again. Sing along with me: Daniel my brother, you are older than me, do you still feel the pain, of the scars that won't heal, your eyes had dies, but you see more than I, Dan-i-el you're a star in the fact of the sky...
Also the ending was tremendously bad. As I was finishing the book I was very angry. Unlike the first 90% of the book which was gripping, it was entirely unbelievable and badly executed. It was as if the author had suddenly been taken prisoner by people who wanted a very specific ending and held the author at gunpoint until she wrote it. It may have also been a botched set up for a sequel or a series.
Those two things aside, this was an awesome book. I loved the premise (Daniel can remember all his lives staring in 500 AD and moving forward. He keeps encountering a woman named Sophie throughout history, and he can remember and recognize her, but she does not remember or recognize him) and the book itself was fascinating as it jumped around through time. Even only halfway through reading it, I recommended it to everyone I saw. One person took me up on my recommendation and read it within the week. "I have a bone to pick with you." she said when she saw me next. She thought it was a horrible ending too. But we both liked everything up until that point and if you like random historical fiction, this is the book for you.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Read for Kenton Library Book Group.
I thought I may have read this in the past. It turns out that I had read it, but in the abbreviated classics for children version where there was a picture on the left page and the text on the right.
This is a very sad book. In fact, I would argue that Shelley failed completely at writing a scary story and instead excelled at writing the saddest monster story ever. Still, it's very easy to read, especially for something written in the early 1800s, and the book group connected it to a lot of modern issues. I found it interesting that there is not much description of the monster, even though most people in the USA, if asked to sketch Frankenstein, would draw a very similar picture. We can thank the movies for that.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Sherman Alexie
Hi-lar-i-ous! There is no reason why you shouldn't read this book as it is smart, funny, short and has great illustrations. It's an excellent narrative too, expertly crafted to kick you in the stomach in a few different times by someone who knows how to tell a story. For the white readers out there, it's a good window into poverty and one picture of life on an Indian reservation, which is a rare picture in today's literature, both adult and YA.
Cymbeline
Shakespeare
If someone today had written this story and submitted it for publication it would have been summarily rejected. I mean really! Shakespeare pulls all sort of "oh this just happened to happen at just the right moment" moments and the end was a massive coming together of several random ends. I will never forget in Act 5 when Posthumus falls asleep and is visited by his dead father, mother and even the god Jupiter. Really? Interestingly, that scene was done well in the production I saw, with no dialogue, Posthumus asleep on stage, Johnny Cash singing U2's song "One" and various reunions happening on stage. Sometimes it is best to cut the Bard's text.
The Last Uncle
Linda Pastan
I liked a lot of these poems, including the title poem (All my uncles have shuffled off center stage) and other poems that I made note of. Sadly, my review did not save when I last saved it and I don't feel like recreating it. Thanks, blogger.
Slam
Nick Hornby
Hornby's YA novel about a nice 16 year old boy who meets a nice 16 year old girl and they get to doing what some 16 year olds do. And then things happen. As always, Hornby's astute observations of the life of the average man/boy/woman/girl are spot-on and at times, hilarious. This was a very enjoyable novel.
Why we get fat and what to do about it
G. Taubes
Taubes makes good arguments that some people get to a point where they cannot be of normal weight unless they give up carbohydrates. There's a lot to digest (Hah!) in this short book, and one of the things I really liked was that the author opened by asking the reader to read the book with a questioning mind and, in more than one place, says what he believes to be true and what science points to, but clearly indicates that more research needs to be done.
Other sacred cows slaughtered along the way: weight management is simply a calories in/calories out exercise; obesity is a problem of the mind, not the body; eating read meat causes higher cholesterol; if you want to lose weight you need to exercise more; a high-fiber, low fat diet is heart healthy.
Those who would like more science or discussion of the above cows can also read the author's book good calories/bad calories.
Started and did not finish:
I Think I Love You
Allison Pearson
I really was enjoying both main characters, but the feeling of foreboding was too much. I was getting too attached to the main character and was worried that trouble would befall her in the form of "mean girl" bullying and had to send it back. I could be convinced to pick it up again, if someone lets me know otherwise.
Twenties Girl
Sophie Kinsella
This was fluffy, and not what I was in the mood for.
The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Greenhouse
Baird
Line drawings and lots of verbal directions to build several kinds of greenhouses.
The Complete Guide to Greenhouses and Garden Projects
Black and Decker
Lavishly illustrated plans and pictures of not only several kinds of greenhouses, but also garden projects including the most beautiful compost bin I've ever seen.
Three sentence movie reviews: Source Code
This movie combines the best ideas from the movie Groundhog's Day and the TV show Quantum Leap* to create a taunt action flick that also brings up bigger questions such as what it is to be human and alive. Directed by the same man who brought us the fabulous movie Moon, (and if we continue to get a quality story from him every two years, I will be a happy lady) this is a very well crafted movie with excellent acting. It has the bonus of leaving you with something to discuss with your movie going companion on the way home, so don't miss it.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2011/source_code.html
*Quantum Leap fans, don't miss the Scott Bakula voice cameo! It comes near the end.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Three sentence movie reviews: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
This movie is a textbook example of why it is not a good idea to do a scene-by-scene recreation of a work of literature.* Everything moved very, very slowly. Still, it was fun to see a very young Rupert, Emma & Daniel and the quiddich scene was great.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2001/harry_potter_and_the_sorcerers_stone_ver2.html
*Interestingly, I saw this when it came out and enjoyed that aspect of it. Not so this time.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
20MPDC 4/26/11
Thursday 4/21
There has not been a lot of 20MPD motivation this week and I am starting to get the "this is dumb, I'm going to drop it" feeling. But I manged to rally today. I posted a new item on Craigslist and re-posted three other items that had expired without selling. If you are interested in 3/4 of a box of slug and snail repellant for $1.00, I'm your lady right now. I need to decide how many times to re-post something before moving it over to the free section. Right now one re-post feels okay, I'll check in again if the items don't sell this time around.
I went back to my Harvest Helper wordpress site and mucked around with my remaining time. It feels really different than blogger and is very confusing now, but I will keep exploring.
Monday 4/25.
The weekend did not bring a lot of 20MPDC motivation, either. So here I am on Monday. Today I posted another item on Craigslist. All my re-posts and Thursday's new post haven't had any bites. I spent the rest of the time reading about Wordpress blogs for the Harvest Helper site. It's becoming a bit more comfortable.
There has not been a lot of 20MPD motivation this week and I am starting to get the "this is dumb, I'm going to drop it" feeling. But I manged to rally today. I posted a new item on Craigslist and re-posted three other items that had expired without selling. If you are interested in 3/4 of a box of slug and snail repellant for $1.00, I'm your lady right now. I need to decide how many times to re-post something before moving it over to the free section. Right now one re-post feels okay, I'll check in again if the items don't sell this time around.
I went back to my Harvest Helper wordpress site and mucked around with my remaining time. It feels really different than blogger and is very confusing now, but I will keep exploring.
Monday 4/25.
The weekend did not bring a lot of 20MPDC motivation, either. So here I am on Monday. Today I posted another item on Craigslist. All my re-posts and Thursday's new post haven't had any bites. I spent the rest of the time reading about Wordpress blogs for the Harvest Helper site. It's becoming a bit more comfortable.
The importance of understanding compound words.
I had a great write up for this sign. But blogger "fixed" a problem I didn't have by "rolling everything back" to Wednesday, destroying all the posts I published on Thursday, (which were mostly recovered, thanks to a quick thinking Sara) and obliterating all my drafts. Thanks blogger. I won't be attempting to recreate my writing. You can just imagine it for yourself.
At the Fred Meyer on Interstate photo printing area:
At the Fred Meyer on Interstate photo printing area:
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A peek inside a building--from the street.
I've always like the look of this building. It's on the corner of SW 10th & SW Main, and the ground floor houses a Bike Gallery location. The upper floors seem to be apartments for seniors, or at least that was who I always saw sitting outside when I walked past.
There seems to be renovation happening, which means I get to peek inside from the street.
Without their windows, the apartments look small, but cozy.
There seems to be renovation happening, which means I get to peek inside from the street.
Without their windows, the apartments look small, but cozy.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sign
Down the street from the Northwest Classical Theatre Company where we saw a fabulous production of Cymbeline.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Three sentence movie reviews: Hanna
Hey look! A movie entirely focused on two very strong and interesting women! This was fabulously acted, tense throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2011/hanna.html
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Farm in truck.
I happened to glance out the window of the Max and caught a glimpse of...What was that? The Max had sped by, but I kept watch in hopes that the object would catch up at the next stop and indeed it did.
The plants were planted in dirt and the rows were covered in burlap, I assume to keep the dirt from blowing away. There was even a trellis for peas. I read about truck farming specifically the movie Truck Farm, but this was the first one I have seen.
It's a truck farm!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
20MPDC Check in 4/19/11
4/13 and 4/14 were eaten up with gardening.
4/15. Spent more time reading about knife sharpeners. I didn't put anything on Craigslist because I'm out of town for a day. I did have a nibble on an item, which if followed through (only an "if" for Craigslist as people are flaky) I will have an extra $5.00.
4/16 Craigslist guy did come thorough and I'm $5.00 richer. I now have grossed $8.00 which is nearly one first-run matinee movie. Or two second-run movies plus a box of Jr. Mints. But more importantly, it's a tiny step toward the knife sharpening gear I need to implement the knife sharpening business.
4/17, 4/18 & 4/19. Apparently busy with other things.
4/15. Spent more time reading about knife sharpeners. I didn't put anything on Craigslist because I'm out of town for a day. I did have a nibble on an item, which if followed through (only an "if" for Craigslist as people are flaky) I will have an extra $5.00.
4/16 Craigslist guy did come thorough and I'm $5.00 richer. I now have grossed $8.00 which is nearly one first-run matinee movie. Or two second-run movies plus a box of Jr. Mints. But more importantly, it's a tiny step toward the knife sharpening gear I need to implement the knife sharpening business.
4/17, 4/18 & 4/19. Apparently busy with other things.
Can people read this well labeled recycling bin?
I spotted this fancy new recycling bin on the way to my bus stop.
As you can see, it's very clearly labeled. But can people follow directions?
I spy a potato chip bag (neither newspaper, nor magazine) plus two cups in the top section.
In the "plastic bottles and metal cans" side I see two plastic bottles, but three cups.
In the "glass bottles" side I see one glass bottle and one metal can (but no cups.)
As you can see, just writing on the object what you want it to be used for does not always work.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
20MPDC 4/12/11
Wednesday 4/6/11
Evening meeting left me with little time, certainly not 20 minutes. I took a picture of an item to put on Craigslist and that was it.
Thursday 4/7/11
I posted an item to Craigslist and took a picture of another item. I spent the rest of the time reading tutorials on SharpeningSupplies.com and I watched a video. The tiny amount of research I've done over the past few weeks has me confident that I can learn how to sharpen knives.
Friday/Saturday 4/8-9
Nothin!
Sunday 4/10/11
I took another picture and posted another ad on Criagslist. I edited my Harvest Helper flyer and watched a few sharpening videos. I want to purchase a stone set, but I am resisting until I do more research.
Monday 4/11/11
Picture? Taken. Item? Posted. Harvest Helper? New blog created. Wordpress explored a bit.
Evening meeting left me with little time, certainly not 20 minutes. I took a picture of an item to put on Craigslist and that was it.
Thursday 4/7/11
I posted an item to Craigslist and took a picture of another item. I spent the rest of the time reading tutorials on SharpeningSupplies.com and I watched a video. The tiny amount of research I've done over the past few weeks has me confident that I can learn how to sharpen knives.
Friday/Saturday 4/8-9
Nothin!
Sunday 4/10/11
I took another picture and posted another ad on Criagslist. I edited my Harvest Helper flyer and watched a few sharpening videos. I want to purchase a stone set, but I am resisting until I do more research.
Monday 4/11/11
Picture? Taken. Item? Posted. Harvest Helper? New blog created. Wordpress explored a bit.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
20MPDC Check in 4/5/11
3/29. Finished blog post about 20MPDC. With the minute remaining, googled "how to be a professional knife sharpener" and discovered that more people search "how to be a professional knife thrower" than "knife sharpener."
3/30. Made flyer for harvesting business. Not sure of a good name for the business. Am letting it marinate. Read up on knife sharpening on a web site and found another good source of information and supplies (which are not cheap!). Briefly contemplated taking a picture of items for sale and rejected that idea.
3/31. Took pictures of five things to sell on Craig's List. Will upload the photos with the usual weekly photo upload. Spent 11 minutes reading about knife sharpening. The Paper Wheel system seems in my price range. Will keep reading.
4/1. Spent the entire time reading about knife sharpening. I learned to fold a paper corner to show me the primary edge face and the secondary edge face. April and May will be used to read about sharpening so that I will have a good idea of what would be the best investment of my money.
4/2, 4/3 Busy with other things
4/4. Forgot to write down what I did, but if memory serves, posted an item to Craigslist and spent the rest of the time doing something that I cannot recall. Ah, it's coming back to me now. I was looking for a detail map of the Kenton neighborhood and got distracted on the library web site.
4/5. Sold item on Craigslist and am now $3.00 richer! What an excellent boost of confidence for this project! I have decided to take a picture of something to sell every day and post something to sell every day. I posted a new item and spent some time reading Leonard Lee's Complete Guide to Sharpening. I read the chapter on kitchen knife sharpening. Leonard Lee is pretty funny and reassured me that sharpening kitchen knives is easy! Example: "Most kitchen-knife users seem to be satisfied with the condition of the knife as long as the cutting edge is keener than the back of the knife. The tolerance for dull knives is amazingly high in most kitchens."
In the few minutes remaining. I checked out Wordpress as I am thinking about having a web site for my harvesting business.
Well done, me!
3/30. Made flyer for harvesting business. Not sure of a good name for the business. Am letting it marinate. Read up on knife sharpening on a web site and found another good source of information and supplies (which are not cheap!). Briefly contemplated taking a picture of items for sale and rejected that idea.
3/31. Took pictures of five things to sell on Craig's List. Will upload the photos with the usual weekly photo upload. Spent 11 minutes reading about knife sharpening. The Paper Wheel system seems in my price range. Will keep reading.
4/1. Spent the entire time reading about knife sharpening. I learned to fold a paper corner to show me the primary edge face and the secondary edge face. April and May will be used to read about sharpening so that I will have a good idea of what would be the best investment of my money.
4/2, 4/3 Busy with other things
4/4. Forgot to write down what I did, but if memory serves, posted an item to Craigslist and spent the rest of the time doing something that I cannot recall. Ah, it's coming back to me now. I was looking for a detail map of the Kenton neighborhood and got distracted on the library web site.
4/5. Sold item on Craigslist and am now $3.00 richer! What an excellent boost of confidence for this project! I have decided to take a picture of something to sell every day and post something to sell every day. I posted a new item and spent some time reading Leonard Lee's Complete Guide to Sharpening. I read the chapter on kitchen knife sharpening. Leonard Lee is pretty funny and reassured me that sharpening kitchen knives is easy! Example: "Most kitchen-knife users seem to be satisfied with the condition of the knife as long as the cutting edge is keener than the back of the knife. The tolerance for dull knives is amazingly high in most kitchens."
In the few minutes remaining. I checked out Wordpress as I am thinking about having a web site for my harvesting business.
Well done, me!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Is this rude?
I attended a professional development workshop today about brain-based math learning. This woman was on her computer the entire day. Well, the entire part of the day she was there, as she left early. At first I thought she was taking notes, but I soon realized she was spending her time online shopping. So my questions are 1) Why did she even come as she was not at all paying attention and 2)Is this rude, or just an acceptable modern use of time under the guise of "multi-tasking"?
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