free falling fun(?)

Inversion workshop today where I confront my fear of falling over backwards while attempting an unsupported pincamayurasana (AKA forearem balance). So it was 1,2,3 allyoop whap, fall flat on my back. Try again and again and again. Well at least I'm learning to fall right?
***
Current tally; 10,065

Latest news is that to be on schedule one should have 25K by the 15ht which means oh about 3,750 a day from tomorrow on.
***
***
One: Where’ve you been?
Two: What do you mean?
One: Where’ve you been?
Three: I don’t know what you mean
One: Where. Have. You. Been.
Two and Three: Oh
One: Well??
Two: Well if you would insist on contracting your words you must understand that one has trouble….
One: Oh come off it
Three: (sulkily) Oh very well. Just having a bit of fun.
One: So?
Two and Three looked at each other before bursting out as one: We’ve been down the Dumbwaiter!
Amazed One said: You mean its back?
Two and Three: Yes! Isn’t that fab?

One: Do you all remember the last time the dumb waiter appeared?

Two and Three considered the question, which was rather a challenge for them as they were such present living individuals. To have to think about something either in the past or future context rather placed a damper upon their fun loving natures. They thought it a bit unfriendly of One to ask it of them. But than that was One for you, always a stick in the mud. They might as well humor him.

Two: Well as I recall….
Three: The last time the dumbwaiter appeared….(surprised) We couldn’t go down him at all!
Two: Not without….
Together: (Hilariously) Flattening him like a pancake!

Two and Three rolled around the floor in a cascade of hilarity while One looked on stone faced and Four began perusing her feet for fleas. After a few moments Two and Three lay gasping for breath and wiping the tears from each others eyes.

Two: Okay.
Three: So what’s your point?
One: (through clenched teeth) My point is, if the Dumb Waiter has reappeared as a dumbwaiter someone new must have entered the Keep.

Two and Three: Oh

And after deep and serious contemplation of the serious consequences of such information, Two and Three looked at each other again, shrugged their shoulders and turning to One said simultaneously,

Two and Three: And?

Sighing quietly to himself, One turned to Four and asked her if she remembered her friend the dumb waiter who had not been around for a while. At this question Four brightened and said,

“Oh Charlie? Yes of course I remember Charlie. S/he was such fun. Is s/he back? Can we go visit Charlie before seeing Mistress?” ****CV

tally ho

Current tally: 7,035 words. This means I should write 13K this weekend *chuckle* should, uhhuh right.

**
I joined the From the Stacks challenge 'cause I have two, count 'em 2, months to read five books. So doable. Not like that crazy 60+ in three months. My selection consists of:

The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova

The Gift, Vladimir Nabokov

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

Scarlet and Black, Stendhal

Cousin Pons, Balzac

***

Still rereading Sunshine, Such a fun, fun, story. Lessee, I'm at the part where Rae has invited Maude to stop by and have some Killer Zebras on the house. (Marie might know the part I mean.) 'Course this is right before the part where Rae goes seeking Con and, um, *disturbs* him. ***CV

poiple

Purple prose? it's practically Tyhrrian :)

Two passing Wits

Three: Ho there! Bobby Watson innnit?
Two: What? Bobby what, Son?
Three: Not what son. Watson. Which Watson are you?
Two: Witch son?
Three: No. Which Watson, not witch son.
Two: Oh.
Three: So?
Two: Sew?
Three: Yes. So which Watson?
Two: Sew a witch, what, son?
Three: What?
Two: Right What should I sew the witch, son. I must say. I am surprised that you can tell that I’m a tailor.
Three: A Taylor?
Two: No a tailor.
Three: Oh a tal-er.
Two: No a tailor!
Three: A tail-er?
Three: Oh now that’s a good one
Two: You think so?
Three: Rather!
Two: Think Cat would like it?
Three: He might. Mistress wouldn’t that’s for sure
Two: You’re right there, but she doesn’t like much does she? It’s hard to tell with Cat though.
Three: Say, where is Cat?
Two: Dunno. Haven’t seen him in ages.
Three: Well that’s not good….
Two: Well it’s not bad….
Three: And if it’s not bad….
Two and Three: It’s a bit of alright!!

Laughing giddily Two and Three first cha-cha-ed then fandango-ed their way along the corridor and then, with a whirl and a toss that would make any top to toe double wide shouldered jitterbug daddio turn green with envy and fear, they disappeared, plummeting into the depths of the Keep’s dumbwaiter.

Tally:5,416 or a third of where I should be ;)***CV

down the dumbwaiter

The NaNo-ing proceeds apace. I had 2,451 words as of last night and tonight I have 4,029. (which is less than half of where I should be *shrug*). I find I write more when my characters tell each other stories. So far the most talkative ones have been Cat and Spider.

Spider knits by the way.

Three and Two are a couple of comedians from the Ionesco/Python school. Be afraid ;)

**
I just found all this really interesting information about Vincennes and the D'Coucy estate. Who knew such fascinating places existed? I want to go to France now.

***
I also picked up two books today: one of Remedios Varo's work and that other is A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman.

Inspiration don't you know :)***CV

baba nam kevalam

So, if someone you knew, liked, and trusted offered to pay your entrance fee for a meditation seminar would you accept? What if you had 8,ooo words to write and the seminar occurred during your writing time?

So 1,202 words in 1.5 hours and the Cat has appeared. Poor Crystobell >:) ***CV

un-/orthodox

I should note for the record that my entry in NaNoWriMo is based upon a series of sketches I've already been writing. So I'm considering them to be my nonword count prologue. Which means even if I say it's part of my story it is not part of my word count for the month of November. (Yikes! 10K to write this weekend!)

I've recieved some feedback about the writing (voice, characters, style) and I want to put out a question to whoever is interested in responding. What is the difference between orthodox and unorthodox writing?

I've really never heard these terms before. I love learning new things :)***CV

Castle-ing the Keep

Cast of characters, so far:

Crystobell
Solitude
Mistress
He
One, Two, Three and Four
Critic 1, Critic 2
She
the Fish

dusty chandeliers

Okay, four more rows on Skully and then I can turn my attention to NaNoWriMo. Thank you to those who gave their thoughts about using previous characters.

My understanding is it is okay to use stuff you have already thought of just not stuff you have written. That said I can finally figure out who is this mysterious Fish in a short I have begun.

Have I mentioned my fondenss for the absurd and surreal?***CV

chivalrous shark

Only 24 more repeats to go. But, when one starts purling the knits and knitting the purls it's time to take a break. Blocking will likely be tomorrow. Which is just as well as Dia de los Muertos is Wednesday and Thursday.
**
I couldn't figure out why I was feeling so sore today and then I remembered; Donkey kicks! Oh now I understand. One way of doing handstands without a wall assist is to practice jumping(hands on the floor) with two legs together at once. I've spent a majority of handstand practice in class doing that. Today I actually felt a shift in balance :)
***
There's this great song called the Ballad of the Chivalrous Shark. It's a bit grisly and highly ironic. Just how chivalrous is a shrk who will not eat women and children but does eat men? The tune is similar to That Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze.***CV

los calavera

Five and one half repeats done - and is my wrist sore.(The picture is the original swatch created by the designer: it is not my work)

I was concerned after the first two repeats that the shawl/scarf would be on the short side, but when I see it now ... I guess lace expands as you make it. One of the instructors commented today that it reminded her of papel picado (the cut paper often displayed on Dia de los Muertos of skeletons having a good time).
**
NaNoWriMo starts in three days and I have not the least idea of what to write. Well I do. But it uses somethng I have already written which is forbidden according to the rules. I wonder if characters can simply move into another story?
*** CV

gyre and gimbel

There may be a slight change in costuming. I'm not sure yet. As I was working on my fourth repeat and feeling the sensations of a three hour sit in a wooden chair and considering whether I really appreciated the Cult blasting along with espressos or not, it occurred to me that I could be an historical person anytime but only on Hallowe'en could I represent what All Hallows is about.
**
STR club stuff arrived today. I would like to say that this is the first skein where I honestly feel I could do something with it. The others are pretty but they represent a side of the colour wheel that I am least attracted to. Winter and Autumnal (which this skein is not) colours I can work with. Pastels not so much.
***
Scariness overheard while walking to Trader Joe's:

1st 20 something:(with no irony) "I've got the best costume!"
Her friend: "What?"
1st 20 something: "I'm going to be Strawberry Shortcake!"

Ok that decides it. I'm being a creature of the night! Now where's that scythe?***CV

dribs and drabs

So I just checked out the BMF site to see the new colours: when did it become so expensive?! I remember being shocked (shocked! I tell you) when Simply Socks was charging close to $19 for a skein of Opal Rainforest at a time when I could buy the exact same thing for $14.95 at my local shop.
**
Today was another full early morning class: ahhhh :) After which I wound another skein of Rubyslippers as I am starting my third repeat. I figure I have enough yarn for six repeats, though I would prefer eight .... Any one have blocking tips? I have never blocked lace before.
***
At the library I found two books about Granuaile O'Malley so I checked them out. Research doncha know ;)
****
AS of the last chapters read in the Halloween Tree we had gargoyles running towrds Notre Dame after a serious exposition on religions toppling other religions. Propagandinst, me? Though as I read this tale I seriously recognise the foundations of some of my core beliefs resurfacing****CV

when the child is ready.....

Today one of the children came to me, first thing and asked,"Miss- will you teach me to knit today?" What is so worthy of remark? Could it be because this child, who is now a second year, all last year; whether friends or I offered; refused to have anything to do with fiber work? Could it be that fiber work has always been rather put aside in favor of other more academis subjects by parents and colleagues? Or could it be that this child, who is a covert perfectionist, when determined upon something will let nothing get in his way and an agreement is an agreement?

Yesterday I taught him to cast on, which meant that afternoon he wanted to take needle and yarn home to practice, which I couldn't do (they were DPNs) so his mom bought him a pair of needles that night and this morning he brought in a needle filled with cast on. (I didn't count but it looked to be 100 loops)

So this afternoon we were all set - as per our appointment, when he had to fulfill a previous commitment. He did, sighing heavily, but when he returned oh my! My co guide just mouthed, 'He wants to knit: NOW!' Too funny.

Yes he did successfully knit two stitches before the afternoon was out***CV

bits and bobs

The creator of skully responded to my email :) She says the chart is correct but the written pattern may be off, so, for the last ten or so rows I've been following the chart. This works fairly well until a row is supposed to end mirror wise (a reflection of the start) in which case I have to *ouch* use my brain. This is how I learned to follow crochet charts and I love those so I figure this reading of a knit chart is good for me.
**
The class finches have been laying eggs, in a tilted nest, so the eggs have rolled: out; but, I lifted the nest, so maybe an egg will stay in: now.
***
We're reading the Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury for read aloud: SO MUCH FUN. We just left England with the god Samhain smiting everyone (well, the sinners) with his scythe and turning them into minature creepy crawlies.
****
I've been rereading Sunshine *squee!* Such a good story :)***CV

good grief

"AAAAAAAAugh! I can't stand it....."

Well, I feel better.

I knit ten rows on Skully before class, ran into an issue on row 11 but put it aside as class was starting. Came back out and started to work on it again: for 1 and a 1/2 hours. Ended up ripping back 12 rows.

Went and sat in a cafe and have completed 55 of 56 rows. I am so putting in a lifeline after row 56.*****CV

Ramachandra ki Jai!

Today is a celebration of Rama; of Lakshmi; of Durga and of Kali (depending upon which part of India you choose to represent). Many many years ago my class told the story of Rama's victory, with Hanuman's aid, over the Demon lord Ravana. If you have never read the Ramayana I highly recommend it. There are several versions available which are not the full epic. I started with William Buck's version and am now reading volume four of the series as represented by Ahsok Banker.

Rama, like Krishna, is an avatar of Vishnu - just to give the dear reader some context :)
**
This afternoon I finished writing my version of the skully pattern as per the chart. I have also knit 30 of 56 rows, but, I have a row to unknit in order to fix a situation in row 29 which resulted in 73 rather than 75 stitches.

Friday on my way to work I left the envelope with all my pattern notations at the bus stop. I called the studio as soon as I realized what I had done. When I went back after work it had not been found. So I reprinted the patern and started redoing all my notations yesterday.

It does look like lace now :)
***
Last night was Kareoke night again. I had a Spainish Coffee and it was the prettiest thing to watch it being made. Sparklers and flambe and all. Very Cinnamony ;)Made up for the lack of cider. I WILL find a place that serves cider though. I am determined.
*****
Above is a picture of a pose which is becoming a favorite of mine. (NB while referred to as crow in classes it is actually crane posture.) Corvae and Cranes happen to be two of my favorite animals :) ******CV

stuff

Nancy Bush was fun. Such a reassuringly normal presence. It felt like a gathering of realy mellow knitters. I highly recommend attending one of her classes if you have the opportunity. I left early due to a concert so I did miss out on the last two hours.
**

Setting out to attend the class was quite fun though. I took the train out to an area of Portland I had never been to before - very suburban, and then promptly transferred to the wrong bus. Fortunately I thought to check with the driver if he was going where I wanted to go and it turned out to be in the opposite direction. So he let me off and I walked back to the train station. Did I mention it was raining? That I was wearing my very open toed sandals? No? I was. Anyway, after much crossing and recrossing to various bus islands I finally found the one I was supposed to be at.

Then chatty boy, "I'm gonna hit on this girl till she goes on a date with me" showed up tailgating a girl he must have set upon on the train. (Poor girl). So he starts making all sorts of side commentary, to impress her with his sociability I guess.(Um dude? It's like not even nine in the morning what is up with the bar speak?) Then he started acting all chummy with the older gentleman waiting in the bus shelter, asking him "What's up old dude?! You a fisherman? You got money? Where you keep it Old dude?"

Then chatty boy decided it was too mellow in the shelter so he started wandering away. When he left the older gentleman said, "About time. He's got way too much energy". Then the bus came. Chatty boy rejoined us and promptly started chatting up the bus survey taker.
***

Krishna Das: "It's all stuff. When you got stuff, you're happy. And when you don't have stuff you're unhappy. Then when you have stuff you're unhappy and you're happy when the stuff goes away. But really, it's all just stuff."

Wise man he.

****
Oh. I frogged skully this afternoon. I did recast on. This time? I'm just gonna read the chart. *****CV

oh skully my skully

riiiiiip! That is the sound of a sixth skully being frogged.

*rustle*rustle* "What the - !" *grumble *scrich*scrich* "Who the h...!" And this is the sound of written directions being compared to a chart.

With a cast on of 75 stitiches (not 57) and careful comparing of chart with writings I have had to cast on an additonal two stiches on the third row due to a missed K1 needed to psso of the preceding two slipped 2tog . Further I have had to mark for myself just what are the repeats to be repeated out of four lines of directions. Doing this I have so far knit 11 rows today and matched the instructions. At this rate it wil not be done in time.

Someone reassure me that it gets easier in the full repeats once you have done one 56 row set.

On the positive side I have met an Englishman who learned to knit from his mum, possibly persuaded a reluctant ex knitter to help me knit halloween pumpkins and I have met all sorts of knitters by simply KIPing this project.
**
Tomorrow I go to the Nancy Bush class and then on to Krishna Das.
***
Today a man in a red dress, red and black stockings, sporting a red football helmet was searching NW 23rd for a pink bunny in a red dress. I wonder if they found each other?
****
Who put the 'de' in de Balzac? Well it wasn't dear papa despite protestations that it was present on Honore's birth certificate:

"In this ungracious world of ours, unfortunately, matter-of-fact documents have an odious habit of displaying inquisitive hostility to the most flourishing of legends invented by poets;..."

Stefan Zweig, Balzac

*****CV

a reward

"However dificult it may be to knit into one piece the demi-god who gave birth to a world and the fat man who revelled in childish puns, the effort must be made."

Andre Maurois, Prometheus The Life of Balzac

I got 2, count'em two! Balzac biographies for less than ten dollars :)

Of course I needed both of them! What are you implying? I don't think I like you shaking your head that way. Yes I can handle all the books I have so far. It's like I only have ..... excuse me a moment.

(looooong pause)

....well it's my choice, so there!***CV

and along came Skully

The gift of one and a half sox is a marvellous thing :) Well, it is when some of your classs works on it before gifting you and then promises to have the pair all finished before next week.

So the gift was given and retrieved for finalising. Yes the children did help, either in sewing the toes closed or in knitting some or in gift wrapping. One child even played secret agent by getting the acompanying card signed by all the other members of our community.
**
Tomorrow there will be no mad dash for the bus as it is a day of teachers working but no children. So I will actually be able to attend a full class including: savasana. Wow!
***
I have been soooo good this week. I heard about three books that sounded fabulous (The Siva Puranas; Salon Fantastique; and the Blue God) but have I visited the book temple? Have I browsed the aisles of libro-ation? No.

I think I deserve a reward :)
****

Oh and what is this Marie Antoinette film I keep reading about?****CV

beating the clock

As a once famous cat said: "Aaaaak!" I have died. But I took someone with me so that's alright then.
**
Moving right along I have put skully on hold because yesterday I found out today was a coworkers b-day. Not much tme to make sonething eh? So I halved the SOD and finished one today (thank goodness she was out). So maybe I can finish the other tonight.
***
Excitment and public transport. I left class later than usual due to a slow clock and just caught one bus in time to reach my next stop, and after running just miss my connection. However, the driver behind the bus I needed remembered me from a previous trip so she told e to jump on and we'd catch up. We chased my connection and he kept pulling out just as we reached the stop, or another bus would pull in front of us and slow us down.

For some reason my driver kept calling the way my connecting bus would appear to come to a stop but really be slowing and not picking up passengers a "California Stop". Well I think all us SF'ers can heave a mighty Amen in the direction of MUNI for inspiring such a statement.

So at the last possible joint stop, afer a ten block chase, with my driver honking away (BTW the trimet buses have no rear windows) she pulls in behind my connection with me in the stairwell just waitng for the doors to open...and...they're...OFF!

Pardon me! Pardon me, oh disembarking one but: I MUST CATCH THIS Bus NOW!

So, yeah, I made it to work on time ;)***CV

yo ho ho

In the Secret Agent one of the characters has supposedly blown himself up outside the Greenwhich observatory while another character is in search of the perfect detonator and ... didn't I say this story set in late 18 - early 1900's is amazingly contemporary. Well either that or things don't change.
**
I finished Bloody Jack: In the Belly of the Bloodhound on Sunday and if you enjoy plucky heroines sailing on the high seas, singing in taverns while attending posh boarding schools you might want to check it out. I have to say though I preferred the first two books in the series more.

I also stated Pinnochio in Venice last night. It's odd. I'll have to read a little further before saying anything more.
***
So row 20 of skully matched the pattern specs perfectly, unlike eighteen of the preceding rows. I just reprinted the pattern so I most likely will rerip and start again. Since I'm using BMF sockweight on #6 needles this really isn't as bad as it sounds.

Thank you Inky for researching helpsites for me :) Those stockings by Severina are fabulous!***CV

the island

Well Secret Agent is certainly an interesting read. It is by the same Conrad as wrote Heart of Darkness but I haven't read that so I don't know how similar or dissimilar the two stories are. So far there has been much physical description of the characters, vague discussions about making the public more aware of security threats by staging an incident and ... hmmm this turn of the 20th c. book appears more and more modern as I read.

**
Moving right along I have ripped out Skully five times so far. For some reason the repeats are never complete and always end in the middle of one of the parenthetical pattern bits. Has anyone else knit this pattern? If so could you explain what is going on? I found the pattern as a link on the Knit like a Pirate site.****CV

bookbookbookbook

So did Monty Python ever make up a song for books the way they did for Spam? Wouldn't that be great for all us literary types?
**

The local library had a used book sale today and I couldn't find a thing! Not to buy that is :) Kidding. There really wasn't all that much which I knew I would read and lots of stuff that looked good because it was inexpensive. I did find a copy of Uncle Pons (Balzac), a collection of Saki stories, a Malraux, and Germinal by Zola. At $.50 each I think I got a deal. Then I found all thse great writing books. Simple ones like Punctuation and Spelling dictionaries. And a fabulously simple primer on types of poetry according to metrics :)

Of course I didn't want the book emporium to be sad and feel ignored (oh you know you have bookitis bad when you start assigning senticence to shops) so I stopped at Powell's. No Plot? No Problem! was in stock -finally. And while browsing for Victor Hugo I found Pinnochio in Venice by Coover. It's about Pinnochio during his later years when he is grown up and returning to his original wooden state.

I also found a story by Conrad called Secret Agent.

***
Skull shawl is so not happening with the BMF club skeins. None of the colours were right and the one I liked? It has splits every few feet or so. I'm glad I swatched.

I will be using BMF but it will be from my stash: Sand and Ruby Slippers. Now if only I can get the pattern straight without having to rip out each new row. ***CV

the blue salon

I returned the Saint-Simon book. Waaaay too much detail. It was like asking someone what outfit they were wearing anad then being told all the types of warp and woof threads and the origin of each microfiber. Fascinating on one level but I am far away from that level and want to peruse the elevator buttons first thank you very much before making a decision *whew*

So now I have The Age of Conversation about the origin of all those fabulous salons in early 17th to 18th century France. It even mentions Madame Sevigne :) and some de Balzac character who is not Honore...well then who IS he?!

***
As to the skull shawl I'm busy playing with the colour scheme. Any one who has been receiving the BMF skeins as part of the club will know what I'm working with. I have not used any of the skeins for socks. And I'm thinking that these colours are going to be mighty interesting together but I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. 'Course it could be the Cedar Creek colour way which is making me itch. Blue green and gold brown are so not my colours of choice.

I think I'll undo all those keyring bits and swatch them to see how they do or do not get along.
****

I saw the coolest posable furry spider in a store today! Verrry creepy***CV

only the rich get in debt

It would seem that Parisian society of Balzac's time was not that different from the society of Louis the (insert your favorite roman numeral). I started reading a book about Saint-Simone and so far I have learned that if you wanted to be among the higher ups you needed to spend money and dress snazzy and go into serious debt.

Hmmm but maybe that is what we do today?
**
Bloody Jack: In the Belly of the Bloodhound is in my hot little hands :) As are many other uncounted books and perhaps I shouldn't mention the library sale happening this weekend where I might find many Balzacs I otherwise wouldn't own .......
***

Sockwars: my target is down, my assassin is finished and mailing: it is a race now. However since I joined the Day of the Dead KAL I will be working on my skull shawl in festive shades of BMF. Yes all skeins received so far from the Rockin' Socks club shall be used :)***CV

language arts pet

True English Nerd
You scored 81 erudition!
Not only do you know your subjects from your objects and your definite from your indefinite articles, but you've got quite a handle on the literature and the history of the language as well. Huzzah, and well done! The English snobs of Boston salute you.

***
there were some items on this test that seemed out of place: but it is a lovely painting :)***CV

on hold

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

NaNoWri Mo is almost ready for sign ups, but, not, quite, yet. *sigh*. So I will flip through my new library books, delight in my newly purchased Krisna Das ticket :) and ponder exactly how would Grace O'Malley dress for Halloween?***CV

supermellowman

Well, I think I just needed a few days after finishing Lost Illusions before starting anthing new. I am happily involved with Old Goriot and the social initiation of Rastignac into Parisian (you better have money to throw around and be a snazzy dresser) society.

I was chatting with one of the parents the other day and got lots of suggestions of authors to investigate. The next day he thoughtfully brought two of the suggested authors so now I don't have to buy and possibly not like :) One was Neal Stephenson and the other Roald Dahl (who, yes, I have read but his childrens works not his adult offerings).
**
Didn't prevent me from stopping at Powell's today though. Fragile Things, the new collection of Neil Gaiman's short stories is available (but Bloody Jack IV is still in the warehouse :( . I also picked up Master and Commander; and Rose and the Beast by Francesca Lia Block.
***
Then I went to the dance disk empourium. A new Nick (owned not produced) Henry's Dream; Frank Black and the Catholics; Breeders, Pod; Echo and the Bunnymen, Flowers; and Cocteau Twins, Head Over Heels.
****
There's going to be an H.P. Lovecraft movie tribute for Halloween. It looks like so much fun :) This might make up for missing Neil on tour.*****CV

S.of D. bulletin

Casualties are to be found everywhere. Attacks are from the ground and the air and are identified by a peculiar fuzziness. Beware soft packaging and all express or priority labels.

Some victims have described the symptoms as alpaca like or striped. More information will follow as it becomes available. Agent Look On the Bright side signing off***CV

are you blueish?

You don't look blueish. I, however, am. Or rather my hands are. Slight accident with the blue food colouring *oops*
**
The chocolate cherry kareoke sox are on their way as of today :) I'm working on a siamese pair now (brown and cream).
***
As to whether I don't also think of Oliver Reed or Raquel Welch well yes I do but for some reason more often I see the villains. Honestly the name Fouqquet is just so odd and whenever I hear it I think of Number 6 saying it in The Man in the Iron Mask.

I loved the scene where the musketeers are sneaking through the Sun King's celebration late at night. Or when their having lunch in the middle of an all out siege of a Protestant holdout. Course the King's laundry was pretty fun. Then there is the battle in the church where Lee is killed either on or near the altar. Or the watermill...or the first submarine experiment..or teh human chess set.....

I've said it before: if you have only seen the most recent Musketeer film "Hie thee hence and get the real deal" 'cause that sho' nuff wasn't it ***CV

salt taxes

My henceforth to be called Kareoke Chocolate Cherry socks are done :) Now to actually get to a post office *bleh* I meant to do so today but a staff meeting kept me later than expected. Meanwhile I'm attempting the Sock of Doom on some OJ coloured trekking.
**
This week is National Banned Books Week. In honour of which I read aloud part of, A Wrinkle In Time, and later this week plan on reading some, Tom Sawyer to the children.
***
I've started paying attention to Madame Sevigne and I keep telling myself that Charlton Heston is NOT involved (even though there is frequent mention of Fouqquet). The Threee Musketeers and the Four Musketeers films made a very large impression on me. So when I read period French history Richard Chamberlin shows up, along with Michael York, Faye Dunaway, Geraldine Chaplin and Heston, not to mention Christopher Lee.
****
For some reason Virabhadrasana II is becoming a struggle while Rajakapotasana and Bakasana are becoming doable: go figure***CV
CV

Swift swifter swiftest

The sockwar has begun and thanks to Hurricane Gordon the lines of communication have been compromised: It's every socker for themself!

*g* I can just hear the air raid sirens going. I figure with the way the challenge has been set up no one can "win" but everyone gets a pair of hand made socks in which case everyone does "win". Oh, call me agent look on the bright side :)

Meanwhile, in the den of Kareoke, amidst the swirling smoke of a non smoke free environ as strains of King of Pain, Ring of Fire, Enjoy the Silence and ABBA were blasting full throttle I knit upon my Sock of Doom. While comrades consumed uncounted tequila shots and engaged in bizarre dance practices (y'all know I may be exaggerating for colour, right?) I puzzled over the code which was my pattern.

(So if a bartender tells you that knitting a sock is "hot" do you consider that irony? Or maybe there was another agent and this was a distraction technique.....)

I left the carousal at half past 11 and ended up walking home. Various persons along my path told me, or perhaps their invisible companions -or more likely the nearby garbage cans, that "No bus tonight" and "Don't stop. It's Almost Halloween".

May I suggest when crossing a bridge which is under reconsrtructuion, hence putting the pedestrian walkway into oncoming traffic, and it's late at night, and the bridge has no illumination, to reconsider ones way home?

And who knew that the Maxx stops running at 12:03? Surely not the lovely threesome, two supporting a third in the middle and one of the men fetchingly accessorised with a pink purse, on the lookout for bicyclists. Thankfully there was no traffic when a member of the party decided to have a little sit down in the crosswalk.
**

I finished Lost illusions last Friday. Oh my. Lucien meets the devil at a crossroads and he's a Spainish Jesuit diplomat. Thus the story is continued in A Harlot High and Low. No copy of which could I find so instead I Pere Goirot which is where the diplomat first appears.

Yet I haven't really started reading anything new yet. I dabbled in the Parisian Sketches followed by the Ancien Regime, then put both aside for The Black Tulip, then Lies My Teacher Told Me and now I'm carrying around the Letters of Madame Sevigne.

*sigh*

Well there's always my Sock of Doom ;)***CV

nudge nudge wink wink

I used to watch Monty Python's Flying Circus whenever I got the chance. I loved the strange odd and surreal dialouges that would come up and the very bizarre skits. One in particular I call the nudge nudge wink wink skit. It's the one where Eric idle is trying to be very worldly in an oh so subtle way about the intimate relations between a man and his wife. One of his lines is "Say no more, say no more. A nudge is as good as a wink."

Imagine my surprise when the country solicitor in Lost Illusions is the recipient of that exact line from a scurrilous publisher.

So the Python Circus read Balzac?***CV

iced cafe aulait

Only 220 +pages left in Lost Illusions (It's 682pp) and I am becoming very scared of the publishing industry, both journalistic and literary. I once thought Hearst had been the supreme yellow journalist but it would appear that he was simply inheriting a very well entrenched tradition. Admittedly in the preface to Lost Illusions there is some mention that Balzac had issues with the small journals of the day, however, those issues were based more upon fact than fancy.
**
What I am observing repeatedly in this second section is how similar the relationship between Lucien and Coralie is with that of the "romantic" couple in the Wild Ass's Skin. Then too there is the resemblance between the chairitable society in The Other Side of Paris with the Cenacle. I do prefer the version of romance in the current read, though the women are rather shallowly drawn. I fear Coralie may turn into a scorned love of Ivanhoe fame (which is why I think Ivanhoe is such a wuss). Perhaps she will stop offering herself as a stepping stone; that would be nice.
***
At the studio one of the practioners noticed what I was reading. His wife is also reading classics so we're going to do a book exchange list. And one of my teachers is reading Murakami for the first time and liking it so I think I'll bring in Norwegian Wood :)***CV

Lucien

So today I went to my a.m. yoga class. Lotsa fun working on sirsasana. One of these days I'll get over myself and not worry about tumbling backwards and knocking the other yogis over like so many dominoes. Yeah. Someday. In twenty years :)

Our teacher did the triangle to extended hand to big toe posture move again. And at the same time said "This is for CV!" I'm .... uh .... flattered?

**
I'm a little over half way through with Lost Ilusions. I do so love books of this period. Perhaps it's the endless Barbara Cartland's I read when I was in the fourth grade,with their psuedo histironic historcalness. I'm having such a good time that after picking up Trilby and The Black Tulip (meanwhile admiring an absolutely fabulous Hanuman statue) I went back on Sunday for Parisian Sketches by JK Huysmans and Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens.
***

NaNoWriMo is in November and I'm thinking of participating****CV

poetry and motion

Trilby, George du Maurier. It would seem that this is the story which started the phrase to "Svengali" someone. This is a fin d' siecle tale in which an artist's model becomes the focus and obsession of a man whose mesmeric and occult influence transforms her into a musical star. I came across this treasure while searching for Daphne D'Maurier :)

The Black Tulip, Alexandre Dumas. Shorter than the Three Musketeers but filled with intrigue and espionage this time combining the seventeenth century fascination for tulips with the mysterious murders of two Dutch statesman.

I am now on book two of Lost Illusions. Lucien and Louise are rapidly becoming disenchanted with each other ever since they left the country and entered Paris societee. There is a scene in book one in which Balzac describes the elite of L'Hommeau as they enter Louise's salon. It would seem that personal relationships and peoples treatment of each other has not changed all that much between 1827 and 2006.

**
In class today we were instructed to move from trikonasana into uthitahastapadagusthasnana.
Ummmm and how exactly? I wondered. So afterward I asked for a demonstration.

Ideas anyone? We were instructed to start from triangle, reach for our back foot and thus enter extended hand to foot posture. ***CV

Dumas

Today I succumbed. I was feeling a little miffed over a very trivial incident so to make myself feel better I walked down to the local independent and bought The Three Musketeers. Yep. Seven hundred + pages of feel better :).

While leafing through the introduction I realized that Dumas is going to be quite a contrast to Balzac. Balzac is a realist writer, very much into details of place and physical appearance. (This is proved by the last three pages I read of The Two Poets in which he describes the paper making process using linen rags versus cotton and all the whys and wherefores).

Apparently Dumas wrote action so well the background vanished, if it even existed to begin with.

This should be fun.
**
I also sent off my last SP8 package***CV

honore

I printed out a list of all of Balzac's works the other night. I had to downsize the font to get it onto two pages (yikes!). However I now have a check off sheet which makes me happy.

I started Lost Illusions the other day. Balzac's brief experience as a printer is very apparent in the first of three stories. According to the intorduction to this volume George Sands makes an appearance as a character in one of the other stories. As a realist Balzac drew upon all his experiences when writing. Which explains his mysterious Polish beauties :)

**
Handwork has been paused for a while. Starting a new year, bank issues and life in general has not been conducive to getting much other than the essentials taken care of. Maybe that 's why reading is happening. And the recent coffee addiction.

I have been managing my early morning practices though.***CV

hero anti-hero villain anti-villain

I am so loving The Chouans. Just when I think I know what is going to happen, whsssh! Balzac saves the day: Oh ho so that means ..... whssssh! There goes the carpet from under my feet. I have only 10 more pages to go and I still don't know if it will end well or not, or for whom.

Further, I'm not sure who is really the villain and who the hero. Seems rather like real life.

This is great! :)***CV

random reading

While I love a good reading challenge I'd just like to say I feel so freeeeee! Today I stopped at the shrine of all things book and with nary a thought as to what I "should" be reading picked up two new Balzacs (Lost Illusions and Selected Works) and two new Nabokovs (The Gift and Laughter in the Dark).

I have almost finished The Chouans and am very curious if the Marie of this story is the same Marie in another volume of La Comedie Humaine. My confusion arises as this current MArie appears to be Republican and the other Marie was a Royalist.
**
In knitting I found a new link to knitting two socks on four needles. I used to have a link I got through KTC but that one (Two Cats and a Girl) now hooks up to some kind of Disney trip Package site. Oddly enough this new site makes more sense in the pattern to me than the old one did. No I haven't tried it with yarn I just tried the visualising part.

'Course it helps that the new Knitty has an article on it too ;)***CV

making the world wonderful

I've been rereading many of my NVC books lately. NVC is a communication method formalized by Marshall Rosenberg and stands for Non Violent Communication. It is sometimes called Giraffe language (the giraffe is the land mammal with the largest heart).

It really is a wonderful tool. It's not easy to use all the time but so helpful none the less. There are essentially four steps: state what you observe, state how you feel as a result, state your need, make a request.

What I especially like is that simply because one makes a request it is not an all or nothng situation. Both parties get heard and have their needs met. Does this involve compromise? Yes and no :) It's a compromise if one must possess all but not a compromise if one is cooperating to meet everyones needs.
***

In other news I picked up Rupert Thomson's, The Insult today ;) (Yes, I do see the potential irony)****CV

java jive

Overheard at the 24 hour cafe.

Worker 1 (as she leaves for the day after consulting with the schedule): I work hard for the money

Worker 2 (doing the Mr. Robot dance and giggling to himself): So hard for it Honey

Customer: But only in Summer time.

***CV

kismet rag

Ragtime has got to be one of the quickest means of cheering a person up (or maybe that's only me :) When ever I listen to Scott Joplin I have keystone cops, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Chaplin and the '20s crew at my directorial discretion.
**
I've started attending early morning practices and it's wonderful so far, I only hope I can keep it up. Crack o'dawn is my, given the choice, going to sleep time.
***
I went to the bank today to figure out was going on. I do so prefer face to face conversations and I was fortunate that I could leave work early. Apparently one of the processing departments is becoming very particular about dealing with paperwork. Interestingly enough after the asst. manager and I reached a resolution, I asked if it was possible that the department would have tried to contact me (phone, email, letter). He said, not likely.

I've been a customer for 9 years. I'd like to remain but with this kind of thing happening I may just start researching alternatives.
****
In cheerier news i received my information for the Nancy Bush Sock seminar:)*****CV

Oh I did one of those which Greek/Roman mythical figure are you and I was Orpheus. Hmmm didn't he get shredded by some rather drunk individuals? On the other hand, Cocteau's Orphee is fabulous :)

wheels of....

Yesterday I got the best back to school gift ;) Something to learn from, something to spend my first Saturday of the school week lazily devouring, something aromatic, and something giggly. Marie of A Knit's Tale sent me a felting kit with plant dyed wools and needles:) I don't know how to felt: something fun to learn! She also sent me Dark Lord of Derkholm to add to my growing collection of Diana Wynne Jones books. Also, a lovely, lovely sampling of amber incense with an absolutely beautiful amber coloured leaf incense holder which I stared at for far to long: it's soooo pretty. And my favorite, if I could choose a favorite which I can't but if I had, to then the spider book mark. It was the first thing I saw and made me laugh out loud. S/he's sooo cute I don't know if I could bear to use shim and possibly lose shim.

Thank you Marie :):) I'm sad Neil is coming on a weeknight. I would LOVE to see him in Berkeley or Menlo Park. I expect a full report ;)
***

*sigh* Then the bank decided that I didn't really deposit my pay cheque, which I thought I had done last THURSDAY. What!!

I did exactly what I have done my entire 20 year working career and NOW they tell me it's the wrong thing to do. So apparently I need to go talk in person to the bank where I made my deposit (when? I work those hours) after I receive my cheque back in the mail. So Friday? Saturday?

But that's Okay, according to the helpful CSR (when I explained I had checks coming through and groceries to buy), because I have overdraft: so please go ahead and charge up a storm we'll only charge you an additional overdraft fee every time you do purchase something.

I need that spider to make me laugh now. Hmmm, maybe I could felt a voodoo dolly? While waiting at the bank? ***CV

kareoke sailor

Aaaah. Labor Day weekend. A time of bbqs, trips to the beach, seeing lots of movies and Kareoke in the back yard! No. Not my backyard. The backyard of my house neighbor.

So tell me: does one really need a mic for an area no bigger than 500 sqaure feet? A yard in which normal conversation can be heard by someone in an apartment four floors up?

Apparently one does. Kareoke starts at 7. I leave my apartment at 9 ' cause it's going into third rounds (perhaps an attempt at a choral?). I go to the 24hour cafe and order an iced coffee (heavy, heavy on the soy) and take my book to an outside table, turn on the discman and am happy, happy :)

Well, maybe not as happy as the man who was trying to find the sleeve to his suit jacket. At least he put his drink down first. Maybe he was a sailor on leave? He was walking as if he hadn't found his land legs yet. I'm really glad he didn't walk into the parked truck, it was close though. I hope he made it home. *****CV

finis

(SRC/P) Piers the Ploughman, William Langland (315pp) Another good title would be How to Sleep Your Way to Heaven, but I guess in our culture moderne that title would be misconstrued. Man I like to sleep but I don't know if everytime I fell asleep some medieval virtue came to speak with me if I would like to sleep as much as I do now. What I really enjoyed about this tale aside from the really catchy names, was how mnemonic it was. If you knew this tale from beginning to end then you would be a very well versed (heheh) person indeed.

(SRC/P) Storm Thief, Chris Wooding (310pp) This is another by the author of The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray and Poison, both of which I read earlier this year (Poison is a part of the challenge list). I think Wooding is finding his voice, or I am finding his later voice more pleasurable. In The Haunting... there was a lot of stuff going on. It was good but overwhelming. Poison ended somewhat predictably. Storm Thief is like Orwell meets the Terminator meets Noah's Ark: in a good way.

(SRC/P) The Aleph and Other Stories, JL Borges (210pp) Ah Borges :) I once told how Borges mentioned that writing a review of a book rather than the book itself was so much more practical, and time saving. In this collection of stories he takes that thought and applies it to history. Throughout these stories that are asterixs , which in most writing indicates footnotes. Not so here. Stories have the look of fact but none of the substance. Delightful! I always thought history texts should be viewed skeptically.

(SRC/P) Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman Haruki Murakami (334pp) Can I just say that this came out on the last days of the challenge. What a fabulous way to end it :) Spaghetti, cryptic comments, 100%s, cats, neverending corridors, wells, swimming pools and absurdity. Thank you Haruki :) I promise to avoid all crab restaurants in the future.
***
Now I can read the Historian (yes Carrie it's in paperback now) in peace***CV

SRC/P complete

(SRC/P)The Messenger, Lois Lowry (169pp)
(SRC/P) Ten Nights of Dream; Hearing Things; The Heredity of Taste, Soeseki Natsume(203pp)
(SRC/P) Invitation to a Beheading, Vladmir Nabokov (223pp)
(SRC/P) Goodbye Tsugami, Banana Yoshimoto (186pp)
(SRC/P) The Eye, Vladmir Nabokov (104pp)
(SRP) The Wrong Side of Paris, Honore Balzac (208pp)
(SRP/C) Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte (337pp)
(SRC/P) Bad Seed, Ian Johnston (305pp)
(SRC/P) Elementals, AS Byatt (230pp)
(SRC/P) the Giver, Lois Lowry (179pp)
(SRC/P) Strandloper, Alan Garner (2oopp)
(SRC/P) Moominvalley in November, Tove Jansson (175pp)
(SRC/P) Thebes at War, Naguib Mahfouz (242pp)
(SRC/P) Love and Longing in Bombay, Vikram Chandra (268pp)
(SRC/P) The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Patricia McKillip (247pp)
(SRC/P) the Wild Ass's Skin, Honore Balzac (285 pp)
(SRC/P) Poison, Chris Wooding (273 pp)
(SRC/P) The Monk, Matthew Lewis (442 pp)
sub total 18 books and 4,276pp as of July 2, 2006
***
SRC/P) Asleep, Banana Yoshimoto (177pp)
(SRC/P) A Kingdom Divided, Rupert Thomson (336pp)
(SRC/P) Liquor, Poppy Brite (339pp)
(SRC/P) Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words, Jay Rubin (289pp)
(SRC/P) The Book of Revelation, Rupert Thomson (260pp)
(SRC/P) The Empire of Ice Cream, Jeffrey Ford (319pp)
(SRC/P) One Thousand and One Ghosts, Alexandre Dumas (156pp).
(SRP) The Tarot Cafe, Sang-Sun Park (176pp) manga
(SRC/P) Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman (334pp)
(SRC/P) When Fox is a Thousand, Larissa Lai (236pp)(SRC/P) Coram Boy, Jamila Gavin (328pp)
(SRC/P) The Sunbird, Elizabeth E. Wein (184pp)(SRC/P) Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones (380pp)
(SRC/P) The Perilous Gard, Elizabeth Marie Pope (280pp)
(SRC/P) Look at the Harlequins, Vladmir Nabakov (253pp)(SRC/P) The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon (487pp)
(SRC/P) Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore (444pp)
(SRC/P) The Lust lizard of Melancholy Cove, Christopher Moore (304pp)
(SRC/P) Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde (383pp)
(SRC/P) Uncle Silas, Sheridan LeFanu (444pp)
(SRC/P) Leave it to Psmith, PG Wodehouse (328pp)*
(SRC/P) A Perfect Red, Amy Butler Greenfield (338pp)*
(SRC/P) A Passage to India (362pp)*
For a 2nd subtotal of: 23 books and 7,137ppTotal to date: 41 books and 11,413
***
(SRC/P) Deep Secret, Diane Wynne Jones (375pp)
(SRC/P) Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, Cory Doctorow (315pp)
SRC/P) Soft!, Rupert Thomson (307pp)
(SRC/P) Dogsbody, Diana Wynne Jones (261pp)
(SRC/P) Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (317pp)
(SRC/P) Ada, or Ardor, Vladimir Nabokov (606pp)
(SRC/P) New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (563pp)
(SRC/P) Amrita, Banana Yoshimoto (366pp)
(SRP) Lupin III vol.II, Monkey Punch (179pp)
(SRP) Lupin III vol. I, Monkey Punch (190pp)
(SRC/P) Miss Wyoming, Douglas Coupland (311pp)
(SRC/P) Pale Fire, Vladimir Nabokov (315pp)
(SRC/P) Take Joy, Jane Yolen (182pp)
(SRC/P) The Summer King, OR Melling (369pp)
(SRC/P) King Ink, Nick Cave (164pp)
(SRC/P) Storm Thief, Chris Wooding (310pp)
(SRC/P Piers the Ploughman ( 315pp)
(SRC/P) the Aleph and Other Stories, JL Borges ( 210pp)
(SRC/P) Blind Willow Sleeping Woman, Haruki Murakami (334pp)
third subtotal of 19 books and 5,989 pages
***
grand total 60 books and 17,402 pp

(final four summaries are in the post finis)***CV

dos libros mas

(SRC/P) King Ink, Nick Cave (164pp) At last a collection of Nick's lyrics along with images of lyrics in progress. Whoa what interesting umm printing. Also included are a couple of one act plays that Nick wrote along with Lydia Lunch. Apparently the two of them didn't get along so well. Lydia is a pretty strong prescence and so is Nick. I think I'm glad I was on the West Coast when they were doing their thing on the Eastern Sideboard.

(SRC/P) The Summer King, OR Melling (369pp) The second volume in a series of tales which take place in modern Ireland involving the fey. It would seem that, while the series is connected (I'm waiting for vol.III), each story involves different characters, except for the fey right? What a wonderful treat to discover Grace O'Malley (the Irish Pirate Queen) plays a significant part in this story! I started reading a biography of her over the summer and now I'm inspired to return to it :)

I have now met my SRC challenge of 51 books. BUT that doesn't mean Mistress Chaos can relax: I'm still reading ;) ***CV

limited omniscence

I've decided to let my building manager know I'm interested in any top floor vacancies.

I had similar musical issues when I lived in SF but the people above were really reasonable and always let me know it was okay to come and remind them if the decibal level was too much. It's only within the past month that it has become so loud here. Too, it appears a bf has moved in.
**

(SRC/P) Take Joy, Jane Yolen (182pp) I read this interesting book last night, by Jane Yolen, about writing. When talking about voice she demonstrates the over blown bardic voice through a tale of a barbarian having tea with the queen :) Now when I talk about my readings I can say whether the point of view is Omniscent, First Person, Limited Omniscent or Objective. And she includes some interesting plot summaries which are, well, anything but plot summaries. Myfavorites are:

Where is the big bad wolf when you really need him (Animal Farm) and
Yo! Fro give the mountain the .... oh never mind
***

(SRC/P) Pale Fire, Vladimir Nabokov (315pp) A poet dies and his last work is in the hands of a trusted friend for editing and glossing. Why then is the story more about the editor and his agenda then the poem itself? Could it be that some academics are more about the author than the subject? Could it be that glossing poems is more about the glosser's agenda then the poem itself? Can we trust interpreters to be objective? How do we really know an expert is an expert?A really good story for the cynic in all of us :)

(SRC/P) Miss Wyoming, Douglas Coupland (311pp) I'm going to look for more of this author's work. An amusing but at the same time serious story about beauty queen pagents and hollywood boy wonders, but it ain't no F. Scott. I said before that the story reminded me of Rupert Thomson and Christopher Moore. A really enjoyable read.

(SRP) Lupin III vol. I, Monkey Punch (190pp) In which we are introduced to this playboy thief and the wonders that are the world of male 60's mod. A collection of shorts in which Lupin reminds me of a lanky Sean Connery (alas no knitwear modelling)

(SRP) Lupin III vol.II, Monkey Punch (179pp) In which we meet Fujikomine, Lupin's buxom lover /competitor in expert crime -if she can beat him and beat him so much the better. Also are Jigen and Inspector Zenigata. For some reason this one seemed more crude (hah! it IS Lupin, what am I thinking?) than the first volume. Powell's was sold out of vol III so I have to wait (le sigh)***CV

Poe-tic

Listen how carefully, how reasonably I can tell the tale.

I shared the building with several others. True we did not communicate frequently nor in overly sympathetic ways; still, ours was a convivial community. We held open doors for one another, exchanged plesantries, took turns on the stairways and let others ascend in the elevator that would only accomodate two before protesting in a tremulous and somewhat irritating manner.

So we spent our days and nights: leaving for our various daily tasks as dictated by the hours of employment which, not unexpectedly considering the diverse group we represented, were not identical. Nor I hasten to add should they be. Thus by neccessity our hours of rest and relaxation, which were achieved in disperate ways: some prefering solitude and quiet, others indulging in companionship and musical assemblies, still others in cinematic escapades; also occured at varying times. There is nothing to lead one to suspect any disease in this surely.

And yet, there was a faint rythmic pulsation, which at first I barely noticed so trivial and ephemeral did it seem. Also when I attempted to locate its source it was difficult to ascertain its location, was it above me or beside? Perhaps it came from some place else all together. And so I shrugged it away busying myself in various activities.

However, as time passed I became aware in the upper layers of my mind of this steady beating, pulsing ... 'tis nothing I laughed to myself. Tis only a passing motorist indulging in a current musical fascination. It will pass.

It didn't. Lately in fact it has become more noticiable. It permeates my night. It pervades my early morning. I have ascertained that it comes not from the outside nor does it generate from the rooms beside or below me. It comes from above.

While I know now that I am not mad, why would you think me to be? Most certainly I shall become so unless I can still this unquiet bass beat.

Any advice?
**
In other news I signed up for sock wars :)***CV

zembla

First things first. For those wondering what bhekasana looks like I give you:

Now imagine that posture while lying on your back. (Ideally ones palms are flat on the tops of the feet as well as fingers pointing forward. This is why it is called a practice ;) Oddly enough this yogi reminds me of David Life, but I know he's not.
**
The Circle of Fifths is an arrangement of musical scales including flats and sharps. I love the music that we cover in class but it can be confusing at the start. The circle of fifths is one of the last things we show chilren who are interested in music. It's not last because it is suppose to be but because there is so much information included in the lesson itself ( information which is given through earlier presentations). Sure I'll give the lesson if someone requests it but I will not expect somone to "know" it if they haven't had the previous material. Nor would I presume they won't "get it" unless they have had the previous lessons.
***
I'm currently reading a story which really brings home the point that if an expert critques a subject that doesn't make the expert objective by any means; or a real expert.****CV

impossible is impossible

The colours I'm using for the Traveller's bag are lilac, spice, pumpkin and an off white that I believe is called pearl. I went back and picked up the Hempathy 6 and will either exchange or keep the Hempathy 3 originally purchased.
**
Sewing is my life at the cottage. Well, that and sorting nomenclature :)
***
I'm thinking about joining Sockwars, but I'm not sure if I should.
****
Suptabhekasana (upsidedown frog posture): impossible you say? Then how come two in my class could do it?*****CV

cheerio cat

Well there has been a lot of activity regarding New Moon lately. For those curious as to the meaning of la tua cantante it means "your singer". The phrase ocurs towards the end of New Moon so I can't talk about it or risk spoiling the story. Sorry. Check out Stephenie's site or the Twilight Lexicon , or the Twilight group on MySpace for more information.
**
I'm almost finished with Miss Wyoming. However, it would appear that I am not the only one who does nothing but read, *cough* mistress of chaos*cough*. But Ihave four more to meet my SRC challenge and two for SRP
***
Musical sorting today. Anyone care to elaborate upon the differences between: intervals, accidentals, and the circle of fifths?
*****CV

stuph stough or stuff

Well I found another reason to have fun with Coupland's book ,Miss Wyoming. One of the main characters has a lot happen to her in Oregon. Very clever KTC pal ;) When I last left Susan she was eating a cold cheeseburger while locked inside a McDonald's garbage bin.
**
I cast on for the traveller's bag last night but my circs were 24" instead of 20" so I transferred the cast on onto DPNs. On the bus I reminded myself that, yes, fairisle and stranded work was originally done on DPNs so it must be possible to do in these modern times as well.
***
I sent my KSKS pal a belated thank you tonight for a wonderfully amber themed package :)
****
We are at work from 8 to 8 almost everyday so far setting up so I'm going to try the 6am class this Friday. My coteacher and I have been having so much fun the past few days I guess we were due for a "bleh day" which we had.

So, think of Calvin and: bleh.*****CV

tag

(SRC/P) Amrita, Banana Yoshimoto (366pp) see previous post for review.
**
Long hours setting up make cv a very tired girl. I missed class tonight becuase of set up so I'm planning on going to a morning class tomorrow***CV

SRC 47 SRP 49

stirring the seas

I am struggling with Amrita. And I think I've figured out part of the problem: the book blurb.

According to the bb this story is about a woman trying to regain her memories (after falling down a steep flight of stone steps which resulted in an injury requiring brain surgery). I disagree. True that is part of it, in a very far reaching manner, but I say it's more about a woman discovering what it is to be present. Part of which occurs when she re-experiences (in very ditto paper and the smell of white out ways) past events. Also, this is the most introspective of Banana Yoshimoto's books I've read, and that is saying something as they are all pretty inward directed.

Then there are the ghosts (but I did laugh out loud when Sakumi and Yoshio were watching a scary tv series and suddenly the door bell rang), the albino scuba diver, the friend who dresses like a call girl, the sea cucumbers who are really dead japanese soldiers, and the whole dating your dead sister's boyfriend affair.

And characters tend to scream instead of shout, yell, cry out, or other wise speak in non dulcet tones. What is up with that?

I'll finish it as I am more than halfway there but it is a struggle.

la tua cantante

(SRC/P) New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (563pp) To answer a few questions I started reading at the cafe at 2:20 but I started reading at the train stop, so ... 2:05?) I finished reading at 2:20 am after restarting at 9pm. Total time elapsed: 8ish hours.

*Spoiler*Spoiler*Spoiler*Spoiler*

If I am to talk about New Moon then everything is a spoiler, except perhaps that it is definitely a middle of the series tale. The first was Twilight which I like almost as well as Sunshine. I enjoyed New Moon but there are definite personality changes going on and some events worry me about how fanfic like they were. I do love that Bella got a motorcycle. I adore Jacob (if only because I dated someone almost exactly like him and he too was an absolute sweetheart, and rode a motorcycle and was mechaniclly inclined and *sigh*). So spoiler avoiders go away NOW.

Bella and Edward seperate over a birthday incident. Bella is emotionally shattered, to the point where the following three months are utterly blacked out of her memory. I really liked the way this was conveyed by each successive page simply titled with the name of the month - very cinematic) She decides to live dangerously and in so doing manages to revive the voice of her beloved. Meanwhile things on the La Push Rez are getting out of hand (or are they?) Just what are these mysterious animal prints so unlike a grizzly but too large for a wolf? And just what will the Volturi do after their dining pleasure? (A whole town operated by Vampires - the Volturi - and consequently the safest place from vampire ravishment) We have to wait until Eclipse to find out. And that is why I say it's a middle of the series read. It updates you and then sets you up for the next one. Twillight could be a stand alone. Not so New Moon.

**

Yesterday afternoon as I was reading New Moon (and working on my Loilita knee highs) I met Maura. Maura ws visiting from NM and saw me knitting and came in to chat. The secret password?

"Opal?"

(I nod) Yep

(she holds her bag) "Koigu"

I had never met her before that afternoon but we sat and chatted and she showed me how to cast on toe up and even gave me a pattern she had written for the process (so sweet!) I told her about a sale happening at a nearby purveyor of wooly wonders today and she brought some friends. While at said sale I found some hemp for a pattern (Thank you Hope for reminding me of the Nancy Bush traveller's bag) so I will try that later. ***CV

beware the werebear

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Purchased at 2pm.
Started reading at 2:20.
179pp/563pp read by 5pm.

I'll let you know how it ends tomorrow ***CV

villa veen

(SRC/P) Ada, or Ardor, Vladimir Nabokov (606pp) A love story involving two cousins (or are they?) over the course of their entire lives. Nabokov grew up speaking both english and french, later russian when his father discovered that Vladimir couldn't speak it. In much the same vein ada or ardor is a tale told in three languages. Fortunately for me, unlike some of his other works, there are parenthetical moments that allow one to glimpse what that french or russian actually means. Puns, word games, nods and smirks to other literary works make this a very Nabokovian story.

According to the jacket this is the last story Nabokov wrote.
**
I started Vera this afternoon. I sense a similarity between the Van Veen and Ada Veen relationship, and that of VN and VN ***CV

sky cheshire smile

One length of I cord complete. I made 6 feet of it while sitting in a cafe and reading Ada,or Ardor by Vladimir Nabokov.

Speaking of, I picked up Vera by Stacy Schiff (the biography of Vera Nabokov) along with Amrita by Banana Yoshimoto today. Then I come home to find out that New Moon is in stock; why did I not go into the YA section? I know what I'll be doing tomorrow (aside from sewing curtains and linings ;)***CV

did sean connery pose for knitting patterns

I have no idea. Consequently I have no idea how such a question led you to my blog. I'd be interested if you find an answer though. Do tell.
**
In other news Robin McKinley is writing another book (brief pause for happy dance). She will be in fact attending a con with her husband as a GOH; sadly in Liverpool *sigh* But new book means possible book tour means possible USA right?
***
I am sadly tardy on my KSKS making. The deadline for sending is this Saturday. Make way for Icord. Actually I have all the pieces it's just the Icord and lining to do.
****
SRC 44 SRP 46
*****
M/W/F is monday/wednesday/friday and T/R is tuesday/thursday ******CV

scheme

Starting next week I am back to school. This then is my last official week. However, my coworker and I would like to be able to actually lesson plan and not do bad impersonations of U-Haulers by heaving furniture about the room and grunting at each other. So we're taking it in stages this week. She's to come in during the evenings and I have a plan for myself.

This morning I started the plan. I went back to class (8am) and then to the cottage where I proceeded to drag, shift and remove stuff for about three hours. Then I knocked off and went and worked on my peppermint sox. (Well, after a stop at Powell's; Ada or Ardor, Vladimir Nabokov :)

The plan: for every a.m. practice with a teacher I really really like I will go in and work. So that's M/W/F. This leaves T/R for my summer pleasure. Sounds like a good plan to me ;)
**
Oh and the ignose godnose title came from the discovery of a compound by the Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Gyorgi. He published an article about his discovery and when the publication asked for the name of the compound he said ignose (-nose=sugar and ig- ignorant) They didn't think that was funny so he said Okay it is called godnose.

Science publications man, no sense of humour.***CV

dolores haze

(SRC/P) Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov (317pp) Not what I expected. Not that I really knew what to expect. The term Lolita is tossed around quite casually and we all know what it means right? But then those of us who know what it means seldom have actually read the source. I have now.

As I read the story I had flashbacks to a film called "the Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane". It starred a young Jodie Foster and Martin Sheen. I think those two characters; one a young girl living alone due to a fathers premeditated suicide, being harassed by the other, the town pedophile; are simplisticly analogous to the characters in Lolita. Simplistic because Lolita and HH are not simple, they are complex. And, while there is no question as to the morality of the situation there is much to question regarding the true origins of what evolves into a tragedy. Who really is at fault?

It is fiction. It is a story. As readers of such we can ask ourselves: what did I learn?***CV

ignose or godnose

(SRC/P) Dogsbody, Diana Wynne Jones (261pp) I started this last night and finished it this afternoon. I think I really should have seen it being a wild hunt story when Leo's colouring was described. I would like this as a read aloud for the class but there are some bits that I would have to edit out for the youngers; and thank you Ellie for giving me this story. I can see why it's a favorite :) Basic premise a being of power loses his temper with grave consequences and so is baninshed to earth to atone for his "crime" by finding a mysterious object or simply die as a mortal being. The higher being is Sirius and his mortal body is a dog. I really couldn't tell more wihtout taking some of the pleasure of the tale away from potential readers. Just read it. it is a sweet sad story (with a Wild Hunt).

(SRC/P) Soft!, Rupert Thomson (307pp) I haven't heard that much about subliminal advertising in recent years. I do remember it being quite the topic at one time. In Soft! Rupert Thomson again addresses manipulation of the individual, this time through the advertising or manufacturing sector. But the body capitalist is not the only group he brings to the discussion. There is also the manipulation of ourselves whether it be through others opinion or our own self judgement or lack there of. Thre are three main characters: Barker, Glade and Jimmy, Barker is a rough and shady character who seems fated to the life he leads, Glade is a dreamy and lost soul, and Jimmy is an upwardly pushing ad agent who comes up with a scheme to make sales self perpetuating. Ethics? What are those? The scene between Lambert and Barker reminded me of the cafe scene in Murakami's Wind up Bird Chronicles. This is the the third RT book I have read. I'm looking forward to the rest.
**
I am now in a point of transition. Having gone in to work this past week I am no longer in a position of free flowing freedom. Half my thoughts are in or of the clasroom, other thoughts are reminding me it's still summer break officially. But once you start going in, officially doesn't mean much anymore. ****CV

Peppermint sox

Is the SRP still in effect? There has been no update on it since the end of June. Does anyone know?
**
A parent once told me a story about visiting a hotel and her son found something hehad never seen before:

What's that mommy?

It's an iron honey.

What's an iron?

She laughed while saying this to me and explained since she does not iron, well, he had no idea and a very hard time understanding the purpose of such a tool.
***

Is there a law agianst banging on your neighbor's door when the bass is just too loud? I already wrote a note to them a week ago. And I did knock on their door before writing the note only no one heard me (I can't imagine why.)
****

Chai is on strike 'cause I got her the healthy food instead of the junkfood I've been buying for her the past month.
*****

(SRC/P) Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, Cory Doctorow (315pp)
Positive: A canadian author writing about a Canada area. This is one of the many things I like about Charles de Lint. What deLint does for the Glebe Doctorow does for Kensington. AntiPositive: a mish mash of plot devices. I couldn't decide if I liked the book or was reading just to finish it.

(SRC/P) Deep Secret, Diane Wynne Jones (375pp) premise: the universe is loosely shaped like an infinity loop one part of which is called Naywards and the other Ayewards. Depending upon which loop you are located on or closest to, you either do or do not accept magic as a given. This universe is overseen by a group(Archons) who delegates duties to another group (magids). Enjoyable read but I found the lead character a bit difficult to follow. He just went through such a radical opinion shift regarding another lead character with no crux to justify such a rapid switch. I have heard of the concept you often hate the one you love, but still.
******

One of the references cited in A Perfect Red was the story Max Havelaar. It is a fiction about the Dutch coffee trade in Java. (It never really ceases to amaze me how willing people are to oppress each other if there is a monetary profit to be gained). It would seem that this book opened the eyes of the Netherlanders who, until the books publication, had no idea of exactly what was going on. (Sound familiar?) At any rate it is not a book that one would expect to find in the B&N top 20. I was browsing Powell's for completely different books-I had forgotten to keep an eye ou for Max, and guess what I found? ***CV

The seven legged being was a rather larger than usual black widow who, for some reason, was missing a limb. When I put the spider next to a tree it immediately scurried into the root system. I'd be very wary of relocating a wolf spider with just a cup and paper :)

unintended pranksters

Painting can be fun.

I went into the cottage today for the first time in over a month. My new partner has been busy during that time. So when I said sure I'd go in and paint I was not quite expecting what I found. Stuff. Everywhere. Fortunately the paint supplies were gathered, huddled together, on a table; Not quite cowering.

Okay. Lets see. I should tape the areas I don't want painted. Good.Where's the tape? Here tapetapetape. C'mon. I know you're here somewhere. Hmmm.

Much wandering amidst the labyrinth that once was a classroom.

I give up. I have my new toy so, Riiiinnnng. (During the entire conversation I do not stop moving arond the room. I think I felt as if I were in Chartres or something, must walk the spiral path allll the way)

Hi

Hi I'm here

Whaddya think? Too bright?

(We had agreed to doing a yellow trim inside)

It is bright! No, it's cheerful ...ummm where's the tape?

Tape?

Yeah I thought I'd cover the mouldings.

Oh. It's not there?

I don't see it.

Huh.

It worked out. I just tore off the tape previously used and re used it. Then when I'd finished I found the roll of tape next to my coteachers cafe cup across the room from the rest of the supplies. So I hid it :)***CV

Lolita, Vladmir Nabakov
Napolean's Buttons, Penny LeCouteurand Jay Burreson
Multatuli, Max Havelaar
Soft, Rupert Thomson

book free

I have been asked if I do anything besides read.

Why yes I do. I eat. I sleep. I move about in various ways (see yoga in your standard dictionary). Occaisionally I interact with others of my kind - just what kind I will leave up to your very capable imaginations.

Today I:

woke up a 6 (after going to sleep at 2:30)
practiced
answered a message from a friend cancelling the arrangement which was the reason for me awaking at such an unchairitable hour of the morning
knit
fell asleep
did laundry
went to a cafe
went to a yarn shop
rescued a big black seven legged being (Hi Anansi)
shopped
came home
admired my newly reorganized home
ate dinner
read blogs

Thus endeth a day***CV

three more....

As promised.

(SRC/P) A Perfect Red, Amy Butler Greenfield (338pp) A few years ago I came across a book which proposed to tell the history of the colour mauve. I bought it and when I began to read, well ... let's say that I was less then enthralled. I must have read more of it then what I thought though as several aspects of it came up towards the end of A Perfect Red. Who would have thought a little insect could cause so much hubub. My only complaint would be that I had expected a focus on the colour red and there were many digressions (though interesting) into other areas. Ms. Greenfield manages to bring all to bear on her premise. She traces the production of red cloth in particular from its vegatal to its animal stages as well as the staus of both producers and consumers in relation not only to each other but over time. Caste is everywhere.

I may even look for that mauve book again.
**

(SRC/P) A Passage to India, E.M. Forster (362pp) Hmmmm. I almost didn't finish this book. I really have a hard time when people (even fictional ones) act ignorant. I realise that this is a time and a place and people do act that way. However, when it got to the point of the Doctor being accused and put on trial I almost put the book aside. I'm glad I didn't. I would have missed the spectacle at the end and all the associated imagery. I also appreciated a look at India without the seemingly unavoidable pantheon context (Shiva2000 anyone?). Most novels from India and I believe most western views of India are through the filter of multitudinous deities. I appreciated the not untimely reminder that there is much more to the culture of India.
***

(SRC/P) Leave it to Psmith, P.G. Wodehouse (328pp) Such a change from all my other reading to date. So very English and so Masterpeice theater. I kept imagining Patrick Macnee as Psmith ("the P is silent"). I think Psmith in real life would annoy me no end but as a fictional character he was great fun. The dialogue and terms used "Gee" "attaboy Ed" and "Just you start joshing at my poems and see how quick I'll bean you with a brick", are priceless.

Currently reading:
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town; Cory Doctorow
the Age of Homespun, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich***CV

SRP update II

Last check in I had read a total of 18 books and 4,276pp as of July 2, 2006
***
Since then I have read:

(SRC/P) Asleep, Banana Yoshimoto (177pp)
(SRC/P) A Kingdom Divided, Rupert Thomson (336pp)
(SRC/P) Liquor, Poppy Brite (339pp)
(SRC/P) Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words, Jay Rubin (289pp)
(SRC/P) The Book of Revelation, Rupert Thomson (260pp)
(SRC/P) The Empire of Ice Cream, Jeffrey Ford (319pp)
(SRC/P) One Thousand and One Ghosts, Alexandre Dumas (156pp).
(SRP) The Tarot Cafe, Sang-Sun Park (176pp) manga
(SRC/P) Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman (334pp)
(SRC/P) When Fox is a Thousand, Larissa Lai (236pp)
(SRC/P) Coram Boy, Jamila Gavin (328pp)
(SRC/P) The Sunbird, Elizabeth E. Wein (184pp)
(SRC/P) Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones (380pp)
(SRC/P) The Perilous Gard, Elizabeth Marie Pope (280pp)
(SRC/P) Look at the Harlequins, Vladmir Nabakov (253pp)
(SRC/P) The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon (487pp)
(SRC/P) Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore (444pp)
(SRC/P) The Lust lizard of Melancholy Cove, Christopher Moore (304pp)
(SRC/P) Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde (383pp)
(SRC/P) Uncle Silas, Sheridan LeFanu (444pp)
(SRC/P) Leave it to Psmith, PG Wodehouse (328pp)*
(SRC/P) A Perfect Red, Amy Butler Greenfield (338pp)*
(SRC/P) A Passage to India (362pp)*

For a 2nd subtotal of: 23 books and 7,137pp

Total to date: 41 books and 11,413 pp as of August 6 2006 ***CV

*Finished last night and this morning. Summaries in next post :)

summer night

Beautiful weather tonight. I don't normally go back out once I've turned in for the evening but tonight I did. It's clear and still and warm: truly a summer night. People are out on their porches or sitting with friends close to the window in dimly lit rooms. Next to conversation and laughter the only sounds are of gently clinking glasses. Lots of people at the out door restaurants. Just really really pleasant.

I am 40 pages from finishing a Perfect Red; 60 pages from completing A Passage to India and halfway through Leave it to Psmith.

One week left of summer break ***CV

asleep at the needles

This week I have been truly lazy. Instead of going to pratice - I did my own shortened routine at home, I read and cafe'd all week. It is this laziness to which I attribute my ability to nearly complete all the socks I started last year (including my very first pair). There is something about spaciousness of time with no set commitments (which I consider practice to be) that allows me to complete partial projects.

Perhaps stepping off my "assigned reading" has also helped.

**
(SRC/P) Asleep, Banana Yoshimoto (177pp) This is the most introverted of the authors works I have read so far. I suppose the title should have been some indication. I don't think this is the first book I would suggest to someone who was curious about Banana Yoshimoto. The last story did remind me of something I read in Jay Rubin's book about Murakami: mental binding. According to Mr. Rubin this is a condition peculiar to women in Japanese society. I don't know about that; I've experienced something similar. One of the symptoms of mental binding is waking up and being completely unable to move. It can take up to several hours before a person wiht this condition regains control of their body. It is terrifying.

The heroine in the final short sleeps all the time, well, except when she is with her married boyfriend. Even then, towards the end she finds it difficult to wake up for him. I suspected one of the connections that is made clear towards the end about 15 pages before it was revealed. I do like the temp office scene though. It reminded me so much of my own experience as a temp watching people create piles of busywork for themselves, rather than actually doing the work.

***
I signed up for Nancy Bush's sock class in October. Is anyone else going***CV

Divided Liquor

(SRP) A Kingdom Divided, Rupert Thomson (336pp) This is a futuristic novel. Some reviews suggest that it should be in the same section as 1984, Brave New World and the like. I ceratinly had a sense of those works as I was reading; along with flickers of A Clockwork Orange, Murakami, and films by the directors of Delicatessen. The basic premise is that the government of the UK has decided to restructure society so that it is less violent and anti social. Their method? To base a division of peoples based upon their humours - phlegmatic, choleric, melencholic or sanguine. The story then proceeds to follow the life of a child who is seperated from his family due to the rearrangemnet and what happens when borders are crossed.

I'm reserving my opinions on RT's writing until I've had a chance to read a couple of his other books.
**
(SRP) Liquor, Poppy Brite (339pp) Two New Orleanian boys decide to start up their own restaurant but are broke. So what happens when your GM hates you and you find a property to house the resaurant of your dreams only to discover (after you sign the lease) it was the site of a mob slaying? Lite fun read that is very different from her earlier works (and yes I still have my original copy of Lost Souls) I would like to try that Morte de Napolean dessert though.
***
I've decided to just start reading what I want as opposed to sticking to my list. Most of what is left is non fictions and historic (naval, textile). My numeric goal is still intact: 51. But I'm more likely to attain it if I start choosing from ALL my unreads. ****CV

oooh that means I could go reread Sunshine!!!

my own personal eden

WhenI lived in SF there was a cafe I sometimes hung out in on Haight Street. I could never stay there very long because they didn't simply play music, they blasted music. That and the ambient homeless hanging put* on the corner tended to make the cafe a pit stop rather than a relaxation venture.

I bring this up because I have noticed that one of the cafes I go to, recently, has begun to play 80's hits. This could be okay or not depending on how you feel about Echo and the Bunnymen, Bauhaus, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Thomas Dolby, et al. I realized today that the cafe in question is also selling an 80's themed CD. At any rate the music is not played it is bellowed, (as much as electronica can be) it is shrieked (I already said I am not a KB fan) it's produced at club levels sans the buccolic club atmosphere (ie enough beer so you really don't care if your eardrums are perforated or not).

So I leave. I return to my personal, paid for on a monthly basis, abode; seeking solace and serenity. Ahhhh.

*thump * thump * thump * budabumbumbah * budabumbumbah * thump * thump * thump *

What's this? Did I mistakenly enter the realm of four wheeled pink fuzzy dice? Did I just tease and deozone layer my hair into ridiculous elevations? Am I suddenly parading around in a belly baring hip sliding arches breaking ensemble?

Oh. It's my neighbor.

Maybe a Divided Kingdom isn't such a bad idea***CV

*hanging put: really that is a more descriptive term than hanging out for the culture in question don't you think?

Super Frog revelation

(SRC/P) Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words, Jay Rubin (289pp) If you enjoy Murakami's writing and are curious about how his ideas developed (this book won't tell you). What this book does is follow chronologically Murakami's published works and give you some context of his life at the time. It is by no means an up close and personal look. It is written by a prrofessor of Japanese Literature and as such tends too much to the footnotes for my taste. As an insight into the Japanese publishing or rather classification (without being detailed) of literature it was interesting. It also pointed out how closely interrelated are boku and Murakami. I still like the super frog :)
**
(SRP) The Book of Revelation, Rupert Thomson (260pp) Gender role reversal in the abduction and captivity of a person for ones own (or the groups) interests. DO NOT skip to the end even if you feel you kow how it will end. I thought I knew but found it surprising and entirely appropriate. Curiously I find Mr. Thomson's writing reminds me of Josephine Tey. *shrug* They are both British.
***
My unreads are growing again: 31 at last count***CV