If there’s one thing Southern gals know how to do, it’s gab. Silly or serious, all it takes is a glass of iced tea and time. Pull up a chair, kick off your shoes, and make yourself comfy…get ready to dish!
Newbery Update: 1920s
This year’s reading project is to read all of the books that have been awarded the Newbery Medal. After scanning the list, I realized that I’ve only read a dozen or so of the books, the earliest of which was written in 1949 (Marguerite Henry’s King of the Wind). So delving into the list at the beginning seemed a good way to tackle it. As I progress through the list, I’ll review my thoughts on each decade’s choice (the Medal was first awarded in 1923) and select my favorite work from each decade.Let’s just...
read moreThis Is Why Banks Are in Trouble
I’m currently at war with one of my credit card companies. A few months ago, they decided to jack up my interest rate from a reasonable 7.9% to a just-this-side-of-outrageous 19.9%. Since my payments are withdrawn automatically, I didn’t know anything about the switch until I got a special note telling me my payment was late. Hmm. So I check the statement, and sure enough, I’m apparently “late” because my payment–which was safely larger than what the 7.9% rate required–wasn’t quite enough to fit...
read moreThere Is That…
Today’s Animal Crackers comic has a point. Thank you, Fred Wagner, for the obvious (and necessary) message! Now back to work…
read moreCuts to Education Never Heal
Donned my red T-shirt this morning to protest ongoing cuts to Florida’s education budget. It’s interesting that whenever things get tight, legislators in this state sharpen their axes and hack away at schools. They’re making noises about rolling back the class size amendment because “it’s too expensive”–but not a peep about rolling back the pregnant pig confinement regulations, or last year’s Amendment 1 (which got us into a chunk of this mess). Schools are already bleeding, but instead of...
read moreTen Favorite Ethnic Foods
Chicken Enchiladas (Mexico)Chicken Marsala (Italy)Wonton soup (China)Coq au Vin (France)Fish and Chips (Great Britain)Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce (Vietnam)Crème Brûlée (France)Forfar Bridies with HP Sauce (Scotland)Black Beans and Rice (Cuba)Empanadas (Jamaica)
read moreWhy We <3 Hugh
He sings! He dances! He’s gorgeous! He’s Hugh Jackman, and he was a needed tonic for the Oscars. I have to say, this year’s ceremony was one of the more visually interesting ones in years. From the set design–gorgeous Swarovski crystal curtain/big band club atmosphere/actual set design to explain set and costume design–to the changes in format–five previous winners saluting this year’s nominees–it was fun to look at. There were other surprises, too. Who knew Anne Hathaway had that much voice?...
read moreHappy Valentine’s Day
For more great “cartoons drawn on the back of business cards” by Hugh MacLeod (he’s using this one as a wine label for his company, Stormhoek), check here.
read moreThe Soundtrack of Your Life
Tagged myself at Macy’s blog, Random Ravings…this is kind of fun! If your life were a movie, what would the soundtrack be? Here’s how it works:Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)Put it on shufflePress playFor every question, type the song that’s playingWhen you go to a new question, press the next buttonNo cheating and doctoring your list to make yourself look cooler than the person you took this fromOpening Credits: “Groovin’” by The RascalsFirst Day at School: “Back Where You...
read moreHaving a Genius
Good friend and partner in crime (and art) Katherine Garbera sent me a link to this brief lecture by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. In it, she discusses the creative process, and one observation really struck me. She was discussing how Greek and Roman cultures viewed the artist has having a genius rather than being a genius. The Renaissance idea of individuals being the geniuses (genii?) puts too much on a particular person, especially when you account for the “utter maddening capriciousness of the creative...
read moreTen Favorite Children’s Movies
The Emperor’s New Groove – The Disney folks get some Warner Bros. irreverence, to great effect. The Rube Goldberg involving a floor polisher, a pillow, and a beehive cracks me up every time–and I’m easily at 50+ viewings. Priceless!Beauty and the Beast – You did know I was a hopeless romantic, right?Big – For anyone who’s ever wished they were older, and for everyone who remembers why it’s great to be a kid.Lilo and Stitch – Gorgeous animation (love those watercolor backgrounds!), humor,...
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