Tres libros

Interesting. I have three duplicate copies of books I have yet to read. What could it mean? To whit:

Crochet Castle and Nightmare Abbey, Peacock

The Book of the Courtier, Castiglione

The Red and the Black, Stendhal

I have also located the titles of the other three works yet to be read for the From the Stacks Challenge:

The Gift, V. Nabokov

The Three Musketeers, A. Dumas

Cousin Pons, H. Balzac

In the meantime I have read the following two books:

Nocturnes, John Connolly (404pp) A collection of otherworldy tales or rather worldly stories which involve aspects which would be inexplicable if one did not know the world of Lovecraft and Faeirie. The Erlking was deliciously creepy and The Reflecting Eye reminded me of Charles DeLint's story Mulengro.

Black Swan, White Raven, Ed.Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling (366pp) Fairy tales ala Anderson, Lang and Grimm told with a modern perspective. I found the beginnng tales okay but the volume picked up towards the latter half. The True Thomas story is the oddest I've come across so far: not neccessarily in a bad way. I do disagree with the story The Three Dwarves and 2000 Maniacs being sourced at Snow White. According to The Blue Fairy Book, ed. A. Lang, it is called Toads and Diamonds. ***CV

little shop of...books?

I like to read. I like to browse book shops and find intriguing premises to take home and coddle. Pleasant habit no? Not dangerous. Rather edifying. So why, oh why after rearranging my room today did I discover 33 new unread books?

Do they breed? On what pray tell do they subsist?

I now have at least 200 unread books. Not counting the ones I borrowed from the library today. I think that's a bit much. Especially when I have actually culled the herd before reaching the above total.

Shhh? Do you hear them?

"Read me Chittavrtti. Read me!"

Guess I'll be going now. Bye. ***CV

Solstice

Dark Lord of Derkholm, Diana Wynne-Jones (505pp) Can I just say, I really like all the DWJ stories I've read so far. They are so full of human-ness. In this particuar story I found myself recalling bits of fairytales I had read; not because of the main characters, but, because of all the extras, the third and fourth characters. There is something so delightful in a story which cares as much for its redshirts as it does for its MCs. I did fear someone would be sacrificed and was mightily relieved when that did not occur. A friend recently shared that his favorite character in this story was Callette. I found that Scales was mine: such a crochety granpa type ;)
**
And another appropriate read for this solstice eve:

The Wild Hunt, Jane Yolen (180pp) A story in which one comes to doubt the virtue of light and the wrongness of dark. ***CV

Meanderings

Found that book I was looking for. At the same time I found a miser's purse already in progress. Huh. I think I know what pattern I was following but I will probably frog it as I'm not sure where I stopped. Pretty though as it's in sarlet thread with gold.
**
Picked up the two volumes of Angel Sanctuary I was missing, today. Now I have 1-17. (And I'm thinking of getting GodChild but I'm not sure.) Apparently there will be 20 total in the series. At the same time I intended to get a copy of A Christmas Carol, of which there were ten the day before yesterday. Today there was one. What the...? Sudden rush on stocking stuffers? Moved to prime location? Usually there is some sort of notice about where to find the book that's been relocated.

Oh well, no copy means no copy.
***
Came home after class and an hours reading in the cafe (It was packed! at 10 in the morning?!) to a five hour nap. How can having nothing to do tire one out so much? Maybe I need to do a cram session on the STR and make every pair for the year end grade A.

Or would that be too much like HS?***CV

Hugo and Diane

I blame the cold weather for my being unable to get out of bed at a decent hour. Of course, being on vacation affords the perfect excuse. So, not much accomplished today. Weeded a bagful of clothes from the closet (do not live too close to thrift shops for the article you would never buy at full or sale price beomes a must buy at three dollars). I think closet weeding should become a daily practice for a while.
**
Apparently I've been reading the preface to The Toilers of the Sea and that is why it so very topographical. I may need to create some sort of reference to refer (oh that was redundant wasn't it?) to when the actual story starts. Is this typical for a Victor Hugo book?
***
So this afternoon I started Dark Lord of Derkholm. (Thanks to VH's story I know what a holm is ;)

A book with griffins: what is not to like?***CV

just me and chanticleer

The thing about going to an early morning class is that, suddenly, you are up and about early: way before anything is open. I do not think I like it. I must find things to do if I insist on attending predawn practice. Thank goodness Powell's was open at 9; for most certainly the library was not.
**

A Harlot High and Low, H. Blalzac

History of the Thirteen, H. Balzac

Bleach vol. 1

Angel Sanctuary v.16

Then I went to a cafe and knit, which took all of two hours, then I came home after thrifting again (New Docs for only ten bucks!) did washing, shopping and reading.
***
A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libby Bray (403pp) YA must mean intimacy and dramatic death. I can see how readers of the Bloody Jack series would enjoy this book for itsMC is a strong and willful female lead who rebels against society's rules about what sort of person she should be.I found the use of "I" hard to bear for the first half of the book (But I had just finished a Hawthorne novel so...). Also the references to theosphy, goddess cults, and the setting of Victorian England was a bit much for me. Having already gone through a Victorian/occult obsession it was very easy to nitpick the story. I might read the second in the series if it's at the library. I would not put it on the class shelf though.****CV

Overdue Book 2

The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne (245pp) I am slowly realizing that one aspect I enjoy about much of the later 19th century books I read is that the stories are simple and the descriptions detailed. It is as if the environment is a metaphor for mankind and therefore the actions of the characters are not elaborated upon for their surroundings are proof enough. I first realized this while reading, A Tale of Two Cities, and was reminded of it with this last book. There is a thoughtfulness and highly metaphorical aspect to the tales which allow human beings to be simple and profound at the same instant. Thus, The House of the Seven Gables is not a deeply convouluted and tragic story and yet it is intimately connected to both its past and present in a tragic manner. Lots of references to mesmerism, metaphysics and self perception (this is the most ironic I have found Nathaniel to be - I loved it) and a sweet happy ending, umm, if you think the bad guy should get his desserts of course.

Oh and punctuation in page long paragraphs: absolutely fabulous.
**
Another lazy day so I started a Great and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray. Hmmmm. I think I'll reserve judgement until I've finished it. I do need to check up on my Overdue Books Challenge list. I can't recall if it was The Gift or another Nabokov I was supposed to read.
***
For the KTC project I'm crocheting a miser's purse. Golly for A Christmas Carol do you think it's appropo? Now to find the pattern book***CV

answers for anonymous

The middle english book I used is, An Introduction to Middle English by Simon Horobin and Jeremy Smith. While it does present the evolution of english from Anglo Saxon on, that discussion is an overview and the heart of the text is concerned with Chaucerian english. There is lots of phonemic and graphological speak. It is not an elementary age text by any means.

The fortune kittie pattern is from the blog Just Jussi. I didn't felt mine. I just knitted them, stuffed them with some colored fleece, crocheted collars and strung lucky coins on the collars.
**
Oh lazy lazy day. I woke up in time to go to class but didn't. Instead I hung out and started reading the House of the Seven Gables. I'm halfway through.

Then I went to the local thrift store and wandered. I went in to browse their paperbacks then simply walked the aisles. Surprisingly I didn't find any must have clothes so I headed back to the book section and decided to read the hardback titles. Oh my goodness! They had Black Swan, White Raven ($2) another volume of the modern retellings of fairy tales put out by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. Now I have four in that series :)

I also found, A Great and Terrible Beauty ($2) which has been recommended but I haven't really been interested in reading. But, for less then three dollars I got it. And I also picked up, The Celts ($2) by Gerhard Herm. Normally I'm leery of historical peoples type books but there is a section on The Great Cattle Raid of Queen Maeve so I risked it.
***
40 hits? Fortune kitties are that interesting?****CV

disappearing cat

Stayed up until 1:30 am knitting then had two still left to do. Woke up at 5 am thinking, " I could stay and knit all of them before work, including embroidery and stuffing; OR, I could go to class and maybe get the sewing done. I go to class and sit in the lobby and think, "Well I could just sit in the lobby and get it done or I could take class." I take class and rush out (as usual to be on time for work) and wait and wait and wait for the bus. So I start making legs again and the bus is late and crowded but I finish all the legs on my second bus: but no faces or stuffing.

Oh well.

I get to work and find out that there is no school because there is no heat.

So I sit and knit and embroider and stuff and we do have class, 'cause the heat comes back, and all the children got their solstice fortune kitties *whew****CV

angaless

Off with their legs!

I completed my mission of nine kittie bodies with capitas only to have a brain freeze when it comes to making the legs. Aaaaargh! *Fine* They shall be wobbling weebles if I can't unfreeze my brain by tommorow morning.
**

"I know what your thinking about," said Tweedledum; "but it isn't so, nohow."

"Contrariwise," continued Tweedledee," if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."

Lewis Carrroll, Through the Looking Glass

Pig and Pepper

A trip to the library equals: the Old Curiousity Shop (C. Dickens), Colonel Chabert (H. Balzac) and the Complete Works of Lewis Carroll. I was going to read Dostoyevsky but my goodness he is depressing and Tolstoy? No thank you.

I wonder if I can actualy finish them before they are due?
**
Speaking of finishing, my mission which I guess I chose to accept, is to complete nine kitty torsos with heads before class tomorrow. I have five with heads, two and a third torsos so I guess I should get to work.
***
Have a poem that startled and disturbed a friend when she took her daughter to see Alice in Wonderland (the scary part was she only got part way in asking me, "Do you know about the scene in Alice in Wonderland with the baby-?" And I quoted this entire poem):

Speak roughly to your little boy,

And beat him when he sneezes.

He only does it to annoy,

Because he knows it teases.

I speak severely to my boy,

And beat him when he sneezes.

For he can thoroughly enjoy,

The pepper when he pleases.

So yeah, I knew***CV

and one for the purse

"Hey! Aren't you reading Balzac?"

Huh? I just sat down in a seat made for three (yeah me, that girl and her purse, 'cause a purse needs an entire seat don't you know) and the bus is moving and I have a fortune kittie wrapped around my fingers with the bag the kittie is escaping from hanging from my wrist and a scarf wrapped around me 'cause the rain is seriously dripping in spite of the muffler and you asked me what? Who are you?

Oh, you're the person from two months ago on the bus heading the opposite direction when I was reading Balzac. Okay.

Nothing like starting off the morning with the game: Name That Obscure Bus Rider.
***
So, kitties. I have three torsos, one torso with head, one two limbed kittie and I am running out of yarn. I think I will have to frog one torso in order to capitate another and then dig up some similar weight yarn. My kitties are going to be a lovely combination of mint green and cream it appears: snow tree grinning fortune kitties :)
****
Meanwhile a child wishes to write a modern poem in Middle English. Fortunately we were learning about Chaucer last year so I do have a Middle English Intro. book *whew*CV

grim grimmer grimmest

Goose Girl: Ah Falada dost though hang there?

Falada: Princess, if thy mother knew thy pain, her heart would surely break in twain

**

The Pillow Friend, Lisa Tuttle (335pp) Agnes Grey is a lonely girl with a disturbed mother and a tendency to escape into reliastic fantasy. This story is melancholic but so well written I could not put it down. I wonder if the fairy tales told in early Parisian salons were of such a dark nature. Many fantastic figures appear not least of which is a golem. For those who love animals beware the white horse section. For those who love fairy tales this is the first modern book (it is set in Texas during the later 20th century) I've read that mentions Falada. And now that I think about it, anyone who has seen The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, may have a macabre sense of deja vu while reading this tale.
***

Well Robin Moore stepped up and said "That woman is my wife."

And he drew a silver pistol and a wicked bowie knife,

and he shot the man with the wing-nut ears straight between the eyes.

And Betty Coltrane she moaned under her table.

****

Well the frog-eyed man lept at Robin Moore who stabbed him in the chest.

As Mr. Frog eyes died he said, " Betty you're the girl that I loved best."

The sailor pulled a razor Robin blasted it to bits

"And Betty, I know that you're under the table."

*****

Well Robin Moore said, "Have no fear, I do not want to hurt you.

Never a woman did I love near half as much as you.

You are the bless'd sun to me girl you are the sacred moon."

And Betty, shot his legs out from under the table.

******

(skipped verse)
*******

Betty stood up, shook her head and waved the smoke away.

"I'm sorry Mr. Barman to leave your place this way."

As she emptied out their wallets she said, "I'll collect my severence pay."

Then she winked and threw a dollar on the table.

Nick Cave

***CV

acquisitions

The sailor said, "I'm lookin' for my wife they call her Betty Coltrane."

The frog eyed man said, "That can't be. That's my wife's maiden name."

And the man with the wing-nut ears said, "Hey I married her back in Spain."

And Betty Coltrane crossed herself beneath the table.

Nick Cave

There is no such thing as too many books. Witness the reaction of a child who, when told all I had was books in my house, immediately hugged me and wondered: "When can I come over?"

Therefore I am free of guilt over the following purchases today:

The Pillow Friend, Lisa Tuttle

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Karen Russell

Balzac and the Novel, Samuel Rogers

The Turk, Tom Standage

One kitty almost done. Eight more to go***CV

hello kittie

Yay! My morning teacher came back. She went on holiday to see family and it was a long three days. She made up for it though. Uttana shalabasana anyone?

I didn't think so.
**
Well I certainly have more books than I can possibly read over winter break, however, I just saw that Lisa Tuttle has a new book called The Silver Bough, there are several Wodehouse's I want to read, there is a new Mervyn Peake book out and, there is that collection of short stories about lost girls (retellings of fairy tales in scary, scary ways). Also, I want to read some more of Ian Fleming's stories but I suppose I could borrow those from the library.
***
First however I must get to work on the solstice fortune kitties***CV

errata

What is this "Your new blog is ready"? I don't remember ordering a new blog. Kinda creepy. Like waking up and finding someone in your kitchen, hat in hand saying, "Your car is ready." "Wh-a-a? What car? I don't have a car. Who are you? And what are you doing in my kitchen?"
**
Onto more cheerful stuff. A former student who is now being homeschooled came by for a visit. We sat and knit for an hour. Very nice.
***
Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Jane Yolen (178pp) A collection of short stories involving young persons either from classic fiction (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan) or new charactrs in strange and unusual settings. I particularly like that one about Them, yup no more Golden Arm stories, and the Winter King though it was sad.
****
So many reading challenges are going up. I think I'll stick to From the Stacks this season***CV

Below the Root

Yes all the children who went came back.

I started the End of Mr. Y but it needs a good attention span of time so I put it aside and started Twelve impossible Things instead last night. I'm looking forward to the Neverland story and the dark Peter.

While at the library today I came across a book series that I loved when I was 8 but promptly forgot the author's name. It was about a group of beings who lived under the roots of a forest while above was another group who lived amongst the branches of the trees. It was one of the series where I first felt transported into the author's imagined world but I could never remember who wrote it. (Unlike the Light Princess which is another great story.)

Figures. It's Zilpha Keatly Snyder. I adored ZKS books at that age. I read every one of her books my library had (age appropriate shmage appropriate). The first volume is called Below the Root. I don't know if it would be as good to me now. I'm just happy I found out who wrote it***CV

Ra or Re

Public transportation with young ones is always fun, no? Who else are you willing to accept singing and cross aisle converse from? Surely not the rather fragrant individual who seems to have slept in the back of the bus all night and wishes to share their dreams with you.

But children? That is another story entirely.
**
Big controversy this afternoon about evangelicizing your fellow student when they don't wanna be evangelacized.
***
Picked up my fortune kitty bells and coins today****CV

cheshire moon

I got thanked by an author for one of my mini reviews today. I had to reread what I had written to mak sure it was what I thought I had said. Wow.
**
It felt like prom at work today. One child brought in two dozen pink roses and another child brought in carnations: half a dozen white for my co-teacher and half a dozen pink for me.

We're off on a field trip tommorrow via Public Transportation. I do hope it's not adventurous. ***
I think I've decided on my solstice giving this year. I'm making fortune kitties. (I have a convoluted reason. Crescent moons always make me think the night sky is smiling in a cheshire cat grin. Since winter solstice is the longest night I like to think the cheshire moon grin is cheering on the sun. Thus grinning fortune kitties.)***CV

dos libros

Two more reads purchased today:

Eats, Shoots and Leaves

The Botany of Desire

I consider these work books as well as general reading.
**
The Chess Artist by JC Hallman (328pp) While parts of this book involve the history of Chess the main context is the author's introduction to the game, his interest in it from a historical standpoint and finally his journey with a chess master friend to Kalmykia in search of chess' place: is it an art, a science, a religion? During the course of his seach for an answer I gained the impression that Chess has descended from a game of social standing to one that is now engaged in by unwashed psuedo intellectuals. This may not have been the author's intent. Yet, after many, many descriptions of the members of various chess clubs it is the one over riding visual I am left with. The tale fluctuates between historical anecdote, autobiographial expositions and discussion of specific playing pieces. It is an interesting read which does not glorify the game itself.

Hikaru No Go vol.8, Yumi Hotta. Hikaru is in the run offs for the Insei playoffs. It is now that he realises many different people atempt to become proffessionals including *gasp* motorcycle riding adults. Will he be too intimidated to play well or will he succeed in winning the necessary three rounds?

What? You thought I'd tell you how it ends?***CV

*gasp* she's wasting Time!

lalala! No writin' means time for readin'

Hikaru No Go vol.8

The End of Mr. Y, Scarlett Thomas

Children of the Wolf, Jane Yolen

Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast, Jane Yolen

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After, Patrica Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

The Chess Artist, JC Hallman

and time for knittin' ***CV

epiphanic commute

Portland bus etiquete.

Rule 1: If you stand within a bus shelter and do not move a bus will pull up and the driver will start harangueing you because you did not wave him on.

Rule 2: If you deboard a bus and see your connection stopped at a red light and make eye contact with the driver at the same time waving him to wait: he will take off without you.

Huh. Seems like HS to me where if you act coy the boys flock but if you are direct they run screaming. Who knew bus drivers and HS boys share the same psychology?**CV

and Mate

Total Tally 50,216 words and 135 pages

I think the Keep is gone. Not sure. There was a tremendous burst of phosphorescent fire (maybe the golden fleas?) and then I stopped writing, just before the epilogue. There will be an epilogue for sure. I started to write it and said:

"No. I want to go home now." So I did. I think my muse understood.

My first NaNo and I think I did okay. I didn't obssess, I took breaks, but I didn't slack off either.
**
New Nick Cave album in March: the Grinderman :) Don't know about that moustache Nicks got though***CV

do gargoyles weep?

Current tally 47,823 words 130 pages (one day left)

Everyone is gathering inside the Keep as the maze is playing Mother May I and not following the rules! It's taking all the giant steps forward, and upward, it feels like. And there is a strange green flickering fire that has appeared in the West Ballroom.

At this point I'm giving up on knowing how it will end. I have approximately 2,200 more words left: I'll let the story tell me how it ends. I have such very clear images of two very differnt possibilities.
**
It's been a lot of fun to do this challenge. I started just for the fun of it and I don't think I would have been disappointed if I ended in the 20Ks now. But being this close. it seems silly to not reach the full out goal.****CV

Check and....

Current Tally 45,802 words and 122pages (2 days left)

I was so depressed this morning and I couldn't figure out why. I finally realized it's beause the story is almost finished. I really like finding out each day what the characters are up to and after Thursday *sniff*

"But wait", I hear you say (after picking yourself off the floor from laughing about my becoming distraught at saying goodbye to fictional characters) "you can just write another story with the same characters." To which I reply: I think not.

See I'm pretty sure how it will end, I'm just working on getting to that point. And, well, it doesn't look too good. In fact, as Four would say:

Oh, that's just depressing. I want a cheerful story next time.

There is a positive side to what I anticipate. It's just the reader has to be able to see it.***CV

Tracking

Current tally 44,292 words and 119 pages

It snowed today: lots. Then it melted. Tonight it should freeze.***CV

there is a thing which lurks

Current Tally 42, 271 words and 114 pages

Something is in the maze. What it is we do not know. Really. Even I have no idea what it is. I don't think it's a good thing though. It's all kinds of nasty fungus colors. Spider and He are still stuck in the maze. Everyone else got out. Oh dear.
**
The Chess Queen, a feminist speculation on the origin of the queen piece in chess. Fun stories about famous historical queens. Not so sure I accept the author's conclusions though

Separtions by Massimo Bontempelli. Two magical realist tales about mothers and their childen who may or may not be their children. Oddly enough I feel like I'm watching a Japanese supernatural film as I read this book.
***
Next: House of the Seven Gables, ah Nathaniel :)***CV

From the Stacks I

Current tally 40,211 words and 109 pages

Are you bored yet? Have a limerick.
***

there once was a lad named vlad

he did some things that were bad

one of which was

to inspire books like this* 'cause

when you finally met vlad you were glad

Which is true. I do wish Vlad had shown up far sooner than he did. He was interesting. Dude was a book collector (except for the sadistic blood sucking fiend habit) he was a bit of all right. Sharp dresser too. Oh well. I wait patiently for Sunshine II

From the Stacks: Book I
So *the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (704pp) There are lots of bits about travelling into different countries which were interesting and I enjoyed some of the secondary characters she created: Turgut, Stoichev (so cute I wanted him to be my granpa). The vampires were sad. I know in real life I would be terrified of the librarian but ... it's a book and I wasn't scared. Worse I had little to no sympathy for the main characters. I did like the bits of history that made up the investigation and I liked Stephen's tale: especially all the side notes about what part was from version A and what from version B. And I liked the parts that actually had Dracula in it, which was oh that last 50 pages or so.

If you want to read this book it's not bad: just long and slow. I would recommend borrowing it from the library. ***CV

Is there a plot in the house?

Current tally 35,309 words and 97 pages

Yes it takes me over 250 words to hopefully create a rope and save myself from the giant hole I was about to fall into. I still don't know if it will work. Critic I and Critic 2 are rather miffed with me and are demanding their money back. Then they remembered they were in the book for free and now want their time back. *sigh*
**
The Historian. Yeah. Around the 600's it picks up. A little. Not much. But there are only 100+ pps left so it should be done before I go to sleep.

Huh. Is it just me or is there something wrong with thinking that finishing a vampire story right before bed is okay?
***
I am currently being grateful for a challenging person in my life. It has taken me over two hours to see a positive aspect to a phone all I received this afternoon. One is better than none I suppose.****CV

day break

Current Tally (see yesterday)

Yup. No writing today and it feels just fine :) I do not work well under consistent and unrelenting pressure, self imposed or other. I need my breaks.

Went to a two hour class today (Oh how I miss these long classes). It's the kind of class where you feel like you're cooling down but you're not. Very nice.

Then I was headed towards a write-in at Powell's, but after browsing the aisles (Birth of the Chess Queen by Marilyn Yalom and Separations by Massimo Bontempelli) I decided to see if any cafes in my neighborhood were open at all. Found one: five minutes before it closed. Came on home and continued reading the Historian. I'm over halfway through.

I think one of the bits of the book that bothers me is that the vampires are cardboard. They are scary, they have long teeth, they do not like crucifixes. And? So I am enjoying the tour of eastern europe. Perhaps Josef will up the excitement, or not.

Interesting that as I was browsing the aisle looking for the End of Mr. Y I saw a new edition of Dracula with a very Nosferatu inspired cover.

'Course what better way to spend a national holiday then reading a vampire book and sipping tea? ;)***CV

vamp-ire

Current tally 35, 050 words and 96 pages

Let's talk about something else shall we?
**

The Historian. Right. I remember reading Dracula. Not the stellar experience. It was all right but not great. Perhaps my expecations were too high. I had seen all the Hammer films, I had seen both Nosferatus; so I had this sense that Dracula must be a GREAT GOTHIC work.

What I read was a ... ummmm ... work. It was a travelogue and it was quiet and the monster was not what he appeared in the films. I suppose one could argue that this is exactly why one should read the book then see the movie. Hard to do when the Dracula myth is so huge culturally.

So the Historian. Deja vu? Considering it is attributing much of its premise to the existence of Drakulya: I'm still waiting to develop some sympathy for the characters. I am enjoying the "book" and "research" descriptions. *shrug* I couldn't get into the Name of the Rose either.

I will finish the story. It's not offensive it's just not riviting. And this may be one reason why I never got into vampire stories. (Sunshine and Twilight excepted :) They seldom realise their potential***CV



I am only up to page 250. It may pick up***CV

Honore si vous plaiz

Well in came a sailor, he had mermaids tattooed on his arms,

Followed by the man with wing nut ears who'd been waitin' in the car;

Robin Moore sensed trouble he'd seen it comin' from afar

And Betty Coltrane gasped underneath the table.

Nick Cave

Current Tally: 33, 528 words and 92 pages (1 day behind schedule)

A little over 2K words today which is not too bad considering that I only worked on it for an hour and a half. I can feel the edges of the wall though. I think I need to describe the setting more as there has been a lot of action and conversation.

It may be that the scene I wanted to work on a few days ago is ready to appear.

All I know is that I've asked Msr. Balzac to take over the next few thousand words with one, possibly two, of his expositions. He has plenty of coffee, a desk littered with hand inked notes, and is suitably attired in his dressing gown and slippers:

Monsieur, appres vous***CV

falada meet charlie

"What's your pleasure," asked the barman, he had a face like boiled meat.

"There's a girl named Betty Coltrane that I have come to see."

"Well I ain't seen that girl 'round here for more than a week."

And Betty Coltrane she hid beneath the table.

Nick Cave

Current Tally: 31, 511 words and 88 pages

At least I'm getting Nick Cave lyrics down. Oddly enough I write more when I listen to his CDs than when I don't. Opposites breed creativity?

The plot she is a draggin'. Perhaps it's because I've reahed past the middle of the word count and that means it's time to start balancing the story, as in figure out how to have a proper ending? Of course proper doesn't neccessarily mean happy. One of my characters commented that not all stories have a proper-typical or expected, ending.

***
I look at my count and notice that I wrote nearly 3,200 words today (in 3hours); but oh getting those words out.

I need to do the same tomorrow to be caught up.

Nine more days.***CV

oblique wardrobes

There was a thickset man with frog-eyes who was standin'at the door,

And a little old bald man with wingnut ears was waitin' in a car.

When Robin Moore passed the frog-eyed man as he walked into the bar

Betty Coltrane she jumped under her table...

Nick Cave

Current tally 28,338 words and 78 pages

There is some movement but not what I expected. Spider and Crystobell have entered the Maze which means Two and Three are terrified that Crystobell is going to tell on them ('cause he can see them pretending to be doorways).

'Course Crystobell may be too busy wondering what is up with those curly slippers?

***
No knitting. Some reading. The Historian is good so far. ****CV

which lady?

Current Tally: 25, 135 words and 69 pages

I went to the cafe and refused to leave until I had 25K words. In the course of which I was asked by some college students to particpate in a project and read a quote while being filmed. It was a Thoreau quote BTW.
***
I changed fox to Cat. It makes so much more sense that way.
***
Oh it just occurred to me. I have been so busy making sure that all the characters get something to do that I've left poor rabbit out. Hmmmm.
***
Meanwhile everyone else is busy staring at nothing: heh. I made them all feel my writers block. They're all either watching each other, facing a literal blank wall, staring into a bottomless pool, or choosing between two identical doors in a maze Never fear. Two and Three are the doors keeping Mr. stuck in the rose Maze company. He's turning out to be quite smart after all.***CV

an eternity turns

Current tally: 21, 350 words, 58 pages

Is it possible to have too many potential plot points and so reach the state known as brain freeze? I'm trying not to become deeply mystical, but then , golly with Two and Three how could one possibly become even remotely serious?

One of the (many) NaNo dares is to pick a CD and incorporate all of its song titles into a chapter. With the way this story is coming along I'd have no trouble using all the Cocteau Twins titles and it would make perfect sense.

Maybe a new character called peppermint pig ;)***CV

mutterings

Current tally: 19,132 words and 53pages

And where did this Fox character come from? But maybe it's not a fox? Maybe its Coyote instead? I hope it's not Cat trying to upstage everyone else again. We shall see.

I think the minions may be feathered. Still working on verbal visuals.

I was browsing a shop today and found a set of cards that has all my characters on them, so far. Seriously, almost exactly as I've pictured them. So I bought the set.***CV

escher experience

Current Tally: 17,102

So Mr Rose Maze nearly got trapped into an Escher picture (the one with the staircases that go up and down and oblique and never ever stop). So he's having a bit of a lie down where he started from and is deciding which of the other three openings he's going to try next.

Meanwhile my MC has realized that the Rose Maze may actually be in the Keep proper and not some fancy garden outside of it.

I think my next goal is to actually describe what my characters look like. I did for some of them in the prewrite stage (Crystobell and Solitude) which I can't include in my word count. But I haven't made verbal portraits of Mistress, Cat, She, He, Critics 1 and 2, Minions One through Four, Charlie the dumb/waiter, the Librarian, or Spider. I've alluded to Fish and the Latin speaking white rabbit.

If I could do a page each that would bring me to about 57 pages, I have 48 so far.

I also think I have enough characters now. So accept for maybe the odd author tribute (Poe has come and gone) I'm going to see how this gang gets along***CV

maxima calamitas

Current Tally: 15,078 so if I do 10K tomorrow I will be caught up and ahead by 78 words.

**
Latest character is a librarian who was caught shredding some of the Keep's books by Mistress and is now busy gluing them back together. (Hey I'm just writing it and I do believe I mentioned surreal). Mr Stuck in the Rose Maze has just figured out what heavily embroidered robes are good for, unfortunately an invisible Cat has decided to visit him and be helpful. Fish is watching , and there is a latin speaking white tailed rabbit.

I don't think there are any more characters coming but since I haven't reached the half way point yet, there may still be more on the way***CV

oh lewis, merci

Current Tally; 13,072 or 9K words behind

There was a Parent Event tonight, so I snuck in a half hour of NaNoing before hand and added 700+ words.
**
You know what's scary? Realizing through ones own writing exactly how influential that first big chapter book from childhood can be. Mine was Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I look at what I'm writng and I am afeared :)

And my MC seems to be in serious trouble. Either that or Cat thinks he should be the MC***CV

author amuck

Tally: 12,302

One of the characters was rather miffed that he hadn't had a turn on the pages for a while. (Why yes my characters have no notion of a fourth wall, why do you ask?) So I put him in very tall, very thick, very thorny rose maze. He is wearing very curly toed velvet slippers and dressed in heavily embroidered silk robes.

He seems worried.

I can't imagine why***CV

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.
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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.
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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.
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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