Fiction to Cinema
Sadly, I started this post weeks ago, but holiday projects and my 3-year-old keep interrupting.
All year I'd been eagerly anticipating the release of some wonderful stories as films. The results of those efforts were, to my mind, mixed at best. First, the worst adaptation:
Goblet of Fizzle
I'd stayed up till midnight or one for nearly a week before going to see HP and the Goblet of Fire over Thanksgiving break, racing to re-read Rowling's 700+ page tome. I was a-quiver with anticipation, especially since a friend had raved about the film just days before we went.
Sadly, re-reading the book was a very bad move, because I found myself perpetually irritated by the scriptwriter's and director's decisions. I can live with some collapsing of characters to simplify for another medium, but some of the cuts seemed nonsensical to me. The plot was rendered almost unrecognizable. Any tension or subtlety was eliminated with poor pacing and beat-you-over-the-head clues. Rowling's stories stand up quite well as mysteries, with all the requisite red herrings and twisting back stories, if only scriptwriters would let this element shine through.
This film adaptation seemed to be suffering from an identity crisis. It wanted, most of all, to be a teen angst film. While that element is certainly there, it stands to undergird the main theme of the novel--misunderstanding. Misunderstandings abound in the novel: we have false impressions of Moody, Crouch, Bagman, Krum, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory and as usual, Snape. Misuderstandings disrupt relationships between the champions and Harry, Harry and Ron, Ron and Hermione, Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Rita Skeeter exists in the novel to embody the destructive power of misrepresentation and spreading of lies. Without the emergence of this culture of misunderstanding and misinformation, the kinds of evil that abound in Order of the Phoenix would never have gotten off the ground.
In the film, many of these misunderstandings are simply eliminated. We get once more, a gee-whiz-this-is-cool approach (as in the first two films) that looks more at the furniture than the people interacting in a room. Only the third film got at the essence of Rowling's story as a mystery and piece of literature with themeatic elements. I fault the Goblet film most of all for its complete distorion of the core mystery--why is the difficult Triwizard contest so easy for Harry? The film gets it all backwards. In the book, Viktor, Fleur and Cedric are smart, savvy and heroic. Harry simply gets unsolicited help and there's something sinister about this.
My hope is that twenty years from now, a true Potter fan who understands Rowling's themes and vision will remake the films for a new generation. I think contemporary films 1, 2 and 4 are going to hold up about as well as the old BBC versions of Narnia.
And speaking of Narnia...
I was pleasantly surprised by the Narnia film. The film does a good job of contextualizing the children in the 1940s, giving contemporary kids a feel for this historical period and showing the bravery of Brits in WWII. (It also shows that Americans take far too much credit for winning the war, since we sacrificed and suffered far less than Britain.) The interaction among the siblings fleshes them out very well. The girls are far more psychologically interesting than in the book. Overall, I thought the film carried the themes of the book pretty well.
The tension was not quite what it could have been, however. In the book, it builds slowly but steadily. In the film, new scenes are added to build up and release tension in increments, which ends up diffusing the tension overall. I was also disappointed with some of the visual effects. Everything Weta did was magic--the props, some of the creatures and the battle scene. The CG effects were pure Lucas--not quite believably walking on the ground or existing in the same space as the live actors. Sorry George. Weta Digital beats your team hands down.
Overall, it's a worthwhile film, if you're willing to not expect LOTR, but a great kids' film instead.
11.21.2005
Holy roller
Claire loves doing somersaults and attempting more difficult feats like cartwheels. She was recently learning some new fun moves--headstands and crab walking. I left the room to put away laundry and returned to find her in a wonky pose, head down, one leg up in the air.
"Look, Mommy, I'm doing monastics!"
Now there's an order I'd like to visit. And you thought monks just prayed.
Claire loves doing somersaults and attempting more difficult feats like cartwheels. She was recently learning some new fun moves--headstands and crab walking. I left the room to put away laundry and returned to find her in a wonky pose, head down, one leg up in the air.
"Look, Mommy, I'm doing monastics!"
Now there's an order I'd like to visit. And you thought monks just prayed.
11.09.2005
Happy blogiversary to me!
On this day in 2001 I began my blog odyssey. Sadly, I have mostly blogged about very silly things, not too many poems in progress or other zaniness like my descriptor says. I decided to celebrate by reading over some old entries and remembering fun things (and some sad ones) from the past 4 years.
June 27, 2002
"In college I sang in a rock band, did theatre and created a poetry group called the Janitor Poets (we all had custodial work-study jobs)."
I wonder what ever happened to my fellow janitor poets. Now that i'm home compulsively tidying, I see how cleaning can free your mind for creativity. If you wish to become a true poet, I say take up your mop and shine!
Feb. 6, 2003
"I really love the writing on Gilmore Girls. Two days after seeing the new episode, I still chuckle when I remember some of the lines.
This cracks me up:
Lorelei to Sherry: Just don't look at the baby too closely until they clean it up, or you might think you gave birth to phlegm."
I'm not sure the writing is quite as zippy this season....
Feb. 5, 2003
"I hate how dementia has taken my Dad from me, and that neither Joel nor Claire will ever know my other Dad, the smart, funny, gifted, creative, fix-everything guy."
This saddened me especially last week, when I remembered the anniversary of my father's death on Nov 2, 2003.
April 13, 2003
"The network execs at Fox must be smoking crack. How else can you explain a show like "The Pitts"? Its central comic concept about a family of accident-prone losers is about as funny as a train wreck. I can't say I've managed to sit through an episode yet. I think I'd rather watch a whole season of "Charles in Charge" reruns than one episode of "The Pitts." The ads for the show are so painful the thirty second exposure makes me want to run from the room and call the nearest psychiatric center to schedule electric shock treatment."
That show was on the air for a month, I think! Sense wins again.
Aug 31, 2003
"This evening I returned a video to the video store. As I was leaving, a car full of nuns pulled into the parking lot.
What do you suppose they were going to rent? The Sound of Music? Sister Act? My guess? The Fast and the Furious. :-)"
Dec. 14, 2003
"Listening to the radio during breakfast, we heard a long segment on the capture of Saddam Hussein. At one point in the broadcast, a crowd reacted to the news with clapping and cheering.
In response, our toddler daughter kicked her high chair tray, clapped and said 'woot!'
Or should that be w00t? Only 16 months old, and she's picking up Internet chat slang. Thanks bq."
Feb. 24, 2004
"Boohbah makes Teletubbies look like Shakespeare. I really think you need to be under age 2 or a drug user to fully appreciate it. Almost no talking occurs during the program. For a good portion of the show, a glowing ball with a rainbow trail bounces around while children's voices say "Booh-bah" repeatedly and giggle.
The ball eventually lands and these five freaky creatures come out. They have turtle-like retractable kewpie-doll heads--but no mouth or nose--and bulbous bodies in rainbow shades. These creatures would have been the stuff of nightmares for me as a kid. They never, ever talk. They just roll their eyes from side to side with a clicking sound. Creepy. They do occasionally squeak and sing five-note chords. And they dance a lot. In fact, about all they do is dance. How children are supposed to learn anything from watching these singing rainbow freaks gyrate and sway is a total mystery to me."
Such fun, but that's enough for now....
On this day in 2001 I began my blog odyssey. Sadly, I have mostly blogged about very silly things, not too many poems in progress or other zaniness like my descriptor says. I decided to celebrate by reading over some old entries and remembering fun things (and some sad ones) from the past 4 years.
June 27, 2002
"In college I sang in a rock band, did theatre and created a poetry group called the Janitor Poets (we all had custodial work-study jobs)."
I wonder what ever happened to my fellow janitor poets. Now that i'm home compulsively tidying, I see how cleaning can free your mind for creativity. If you wish to become a true poet, I say take up your mop and shine!
Feb. 6, 2003
"I really love the writing on Gilmore Girls. Two days after seeing the new episode, I still chuckle when I remember some of the lines.
This cracks me up:
Lorelei to Sherry: Just don't look at the baby too closely until they clean it up, or you might think you gave birth to phlegm."
I'm not sure the writing is quite as zippy this season....
Feb. 5, 2003
"I hate how dementia has taken my Dad from me, and that neither Joel nor Claire will ever know my other Dad, the smart, funny, gifted, creative, fix-everything guy."
This saddened me especially last week, when I remembered the anniversary of my father's death on Nov 2, 2003.
April 13, 2003
"The network execs at Fox must be smoking crack. How else can you explain a show like "The Pitts"? Its central comic concept about a family of accident-prone losers is about as funny as a train wreck. I can't say I've managed to sit through an episode yet. I think I'd rather watch a whole season of "Charles in Charge" reruns than one episode of "The Pitts." The ads for the show are so painful the thirty second exposure makes me want to run from the room and call the nearest psychiatric center to schedule electric shock treatment."
That show was on the air for a month, I think! Sense wins again.
Aug 31, 2003
"This evening I returned a video to the video store. As I was leaving, a car full of nuns pulled into the parking lot.
What do you suppose they were going to rent? The Sound of Music? Sister Act? My guess? The Fast and the Furious. :-)"
Dec. 14, 2003
"Listening to the radio during breakfast, we heard a long segment on the capture of Saddam Hussein. At one point in the broadcast, a crowd reacted to the news with clapping and cheering.
In response, our toddler daughter kicked her high chair tray, clapped and said 'woot!'
Or should that be w00t? Only 16 months old, and she's picking up Internet chat slang. Thanks bq."
Feb. 24, 2004
"Boohbah makes Teletubbies look like Shakespeare. I really think you need to be under age 2 or a drug user to fully appreciate it. Almost no talking occurs during the program. For a good portion of the show, a glowing ball with a rainbow trail bounces around while children's voices say "Booh-bah" repeatedly and giggle.
The ball eventually lands and these five freaky creatures come out. They have turtle-like retractable kewpie-doll heads--but no mouth or nose--and bulbous bodies in rainbow shades. These creatures would have been the stuff of nightmares for me as a kid. They never, ever talk. They just roll their eyes from side to side with a clicking sound. Creepy. They do occasionally squeak and sing five-note chords. And they dance a lot. In fact, about all they do is dance. How children are supposed to learn anything from watching these singing rainbow freaks gyrate and sway is a total mystery to me."
Such fun, but that's enough for now....
11.04.2005
Time goes
We recently joined Netflix, largely because they offer so many great television series that our local video stores simply don't carry. The past 2 weeks, I've enjoyed watching through episodes of "As Time Goes By" with Judi Dench as Jean and Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel. The humor is largely understated, though occasionally they throw in a very eccentric character or bizarre situation. I love Lionel's 85-year-old father who collects pop culture items like jukeboxes and frequently uses the catch phrase, "Rock on!" :-)
I look forward to catching up on BBC series that only occasionally appear on PBS: Chef!, The Vicar of Dibley, All Creatures Great and Small, Good Neighbors. Of course, we'll probably get some movies too...eventually. Any film suggestions for an Anglophile like me?
We recently joined Netflix, largely because they offer so many great television series that our local video stores simply don't carry. The past 2 weeks, I've enjoyed watching through episodes of "As Time Goes By" with Judi Dench as Jean and Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel. The humor is largely understated, though occasionally they throw in a very eccentric character or bizarre situation. I love Lionel's 85-year-old father who collects pop culture items like jukeboxes and frequently uses the catch phrase, "Rock on!" :-)
I look forward to catching up on BBC series that only occasionally appear on PBS: Chef!, The Vicar of Dibley, All Creatures Great and Small, Good Neighbors. Of course, we'll probably get some movies too...eventually. Any film suggestions for an Anglophile like me?
10.31.2005
Another update
Thanks for your continued prayers for my relative who attempted suicide last month. He was moved from a medical floor to the psych unit a few weeks ago, though he is still on a feeding tube for nutrition. The doctors have changed his medication from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication to one that stabilizes bipolar disorder. He doesn't have an official bipolar diagnosis, but this medication experiment may prompt one. Some of the literature I've read says antidepressants will make a bipolar patient worse, and he appears to have reacted that way.
The more researchers study bipolar disorder, the more they find a continuum of symptoms, particularly in the manic phase. Not all bipolar patients will behave as if they're "king of the world" while having a manic episode. Some will be agitated, paranoid, unable to sleep or concentrate, or have thoughts swirling like a hamster running on its wheel. The more I read, the more I marvel at the mystery of the human mind.
The best news I've heard yet is that my relative's care team is developing a plan for his release from the hospital that will involve a month of day treatment. Our big fear was that he would be under-treated and sent home too early with no support in place, with disastrous results. The developing plan sounds very promising.
Please continue to pray for his continued progress in therapy and good results with medications. Pray for his wife and daughters to be stengthened and filled with hope.
Thanks for your continued prayers for my relative who attempted suicide last month. He was moved from a medical floor to the psych unit a few weeks ago, though he is still on a feeding tube for nutrition. The doctors have changed his medication from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication to one that stabilizes bipolar disorder. He doesn't have an official bipolar diagnosis, but this medication experiment may prompt one. Some of the literature I've read says antidepressants will make a bipolar patient worse, and he appears to have reacted that way.
The more researchers study bipolar disorder, the more they find a continuum of symptoms, particularly in the manic phase. Not all bipolar patients will behave as if they're "king of the world" while having a manic episode. Some will be agitated, paranoid, unable to sleep or concentrate, or have thoughts swirling like a hamster running on its wheel. The more I read, the more I marvel at the mystery of the human mind.
The best news I've heard yet is that my relative's care team is developing a plan for his release from the hospital that will involve a month of day treatment. Our big fear was that he would be under-treated and sent home too early with no support in place, with disastrous results. The developing plan sounds very promising.
Please continue to pray for his continued progress in therapy and good results with medications. Pray for his wife and daughters to be stengthened and filled with hope.
10.09.2005
Delight from Denmark
Last night, Joel and I watched a film called "Italiensk for Begyndere" (Itallian for Beginners). I vaguely remember seeing previews for this at an art house theater back in our pre-kid days. While it was marketed as a comedy for American audiences, the film defies genre classification, as do most films from this studio.
The first character we meet is Andreas, a young pastor sent to temporarily fill the pulpit in a suburban town's Danish national church. The former pastor was removed from his post because he became unhinged after his wife's death and assaulted the organist. Pastor Wredmann continues to lurk around the church, shouting atheistic ideas during services and generally terrorizing the congregation, which has shrunk to a handful of elderly women and the paid staff (verger and two choristers). The verger, a middle-aged woman with a checkered past of drug addiction and robbery, encourages Andreas in his work to revive the ailing church that helped her build a new life.
Andreas stays at a local hotel, where he meets the receptionist, Jorgen and Jorgen's work friends, Finn and Guilia, who work at the restaurant. Jorgen's boss wants him to fire Finn, a handsome but surly fellow who regularly insults customers. Jorgen sees Finn as a lost soul--an orphan with a troubled life--and procrastinates firining his pal. Guilia is young, Italian, and infatuated with Jorgen, though he's too sunk in gloom about his failings with women to notice the woman in front of him.
The film progresses as we see the characters going about everyday tasks. Finn picks up the restaurant's bread order from the bakery, and we meet Olympia, a young woman who's so incredibly clumsy it's funny only once, and thereafter quite poignant. We follow her home to see how she's bullied and cowed by her cranky, bedridden father. Andreas goes for a haircut to Jorgen's hairdresser and we meet Karen, who is also saddled with an abusive, ill parent. In Karen's case, it's a mother who complains of chronic pain and seems to lash out because of it.
Many of the characters converge at a nightschool course on Itallian. When the teacher has a heart attack, the class is in crisis. As they seek a way to continue, the characters' lives become entwined in interesting ways full of love and second chances.
I really loved the non-Hollywood feel of this film. The characters seem so ordinary, doing normal jobs, suffering losses and hardships that are common in life. Strangely, this is what makes them compelling. The drama and tensions are organic, never forced. Only one scene had the potential to be Hollywood-style drama--when Andreas confronts Pastor Wredmann. His confrontation is so peppered with love and grace for his broken predecessor, I know Hollywood would never film such a scene. Why is it in American drama, characters can't resist zinging a few home truths? Both pastors are widowers in this film, but Andreas doesn't even mention that he was able to keep his faith in the very same crisis that shattered Wredmann spiritually. Andreas' faithfulness to his calling as shepherd of the flock is rewarded in satisfying ways.
Even if you resist foreign films, give "Itallian for Beginners" a try. Its quiet charms will surprise you.
Last night, Joel and I watched a film called "Italiensk for Begyndere" (Itallian for Beginners). I vaguely remember seeing previews for this at an art house theater back in our pre-kid days. While it was marketed as a comedy for American audiences, the film defies genre classification, as do most films from this studio.
The first character we meet is Andreas, a young pastor sent to temporarily fill the pulpit in a suburban town's Danish national church. The former pastor was removed from his post because he became unhinged after his wife's death and assaulted the organist. Pastor Wredmann continues to lurk around the church, shouting atheistic ideas during services and generally terrorizing the congregation, which has shrunk to a handful of elderly women and the paid staff (verger and two choristers). The verger, a middle-aged woman with a checkered past of drug addiction and robbery, encourages Andreas in his work to revive the ailing church that helped her build a new life.
Andreas stays at a local hotel, where he meets the receptionist, Jorgen and Jorgen's work friends, Finn and Guilia, who work at the restaurant. Jorgen's boss wants him to fire Finn, a handsome but surly fellow who regularly insults customers. Jorgen sees Finn as a lost soul--an orphan with a troubled life--and procrastinates firining his pal. Guilia is young, Italian, and infatuated with Jorgen, though he's too sunk in gloom about his failings with women to notice the woman in front of him.
The film progresses as we see the characters going about everyday tasks. Finn picks up the restaurant's bread order from the bakery, and we meet Olympia, a young woman who's so incredibly clumsy it's funny only once, and thereafter quite poignant. We follow her home to see how she's bullied and cowed by her cranky, bedridden father. Andreas goes for a haircut to Jorgen's hairdresser and we meet Karen, who is also saddled with an abusive, ill parent. In Karen's case, it's a mother who complains of chronic pain and seems to lash out because of it.
Many of the characters converge at a nightschool course on Itallian. When the teacher has a heart attack, the class is in crisis. As they seek a way to continue, the characters' lives become entwined in interesting ways full of love and second chances.
I really loved the non-Hollywood feel of this film. The characters seem so ordinary, doing normal jobs, suffering losses and hardships that are common in life. Strangely, this is what makes them compelling. The drama and tensions are organic, never forced. Only one scene had the potential to be Hollywood-style drama--when Andreas confronts Pastor Wredmann. His confrontation is so peppered with love and grace for his broken predecessor, I know Hollywood would never film such a scene. Why is it in American drama, characters can't resist zinging a few home truths? Both pastors are widowers in this film, but Andreas doesn't even mention that he was able to keep his faith in the very same crisis that shattered Wredmann spiritually. Andreas' faithfulness to his calling as shepherd of the flock is rewarded in satisfying ways.
Even if you resist foreign films, give "Itallian for Beginners" a try. Its quiet charms will surprise you.
10.08.2005
Update
Sorry to keep you in suspense. I had the flu Saturday, Sunday and Monday and struggled all week to catch up with work left undone while ill.
My relative had surgery last friday to repair his cheekbone and jaw. The surgery was quite long, but the doctors were relieved to find that his cheekbone was not shattered by the gunshot, but just fractured. They put the bone to rights using plates and pins. He will have his jaw wired for nearly a month so the bones can heal.
Right after the surgery, two of my siblings went to see him and said they were amazed that he did indeed still have a face. He was very puffy and bruised, but far more intact than they expected, considering the nature of the injury (birding shotgun at close range). He wrote notes begging for doughnuts and hoagies and other treats he won't be able to have for some time. The doctors are unsure of whether he will be able to chew again or will need to be tube fed indefinitely.
This week, he was moved out of the ICU and is on a trach that enables him to talk. Meetings with a psychiatrist have begun anew.
Please continue to pray for his physical healing, and especially for emotional & spiritual healing and renewal. His wife and daughters are devastated emotionally and also covet your prayers as they cope with the long-term ramifications of his mental illness.
Sorry to keep you in suspense. I had the flu Saturday, Sunday and Monday and struggled all week to catch up with work left undone while ill.
My relative had surgery last friday to repair his cheekbone and jaw. The surgery was quite long, but the doctors were relieved to find that his cheekbone was not shattered by the gunshot, but just fractured. They put the bone to rights using plates and pins. He will have his jaw wired for nearly a month so the bones can heal.
Right after the surgery, two of my siblings went to see him and said they were amazed that he did indeed still have a face. He was very puffy and bruised, but far more intact than they expected, considering the nature of the injury (birding shotgun at close range). He wrote notes begging for doughnuts and hoagies and other treats he won't be able to have for some time. The doctors are unsure of whether he will be able to chew again or will need to be tube fed indefinitely.
This week, he was moved out of the ICU and is on a trach that enables him to talk. Meetings with a psychiatrist have begun anew.
Please continue to pray for his physical healing, and especially for emotional & spiritual healing and renewal. His wife and daughters are devastated emotionally and also covet your prayers as they cope with the long-term ramifications of his mental illness.
9.29.2005
Despair...and grace
Tuesday, one of my close family members took a shotgun to his head...and survived. I'm still somewhat in shock, but beginning to grieve. It's outrageous. Crushing.
He's got a very significant injury to his face, but not to his brain. His wife found him two hours after the incident, significantly bleeding but amazingly still conscious. He was Med-evac-ed to a large regional hospital Tuesday night and is currently in the ICU, heavily sedated and on a ventilator.
I can't fathom how he is still alive. I also can't even begin to fathom a good outcome from this. Even an emotionally stong person can fall into deep depression from a facial disfigurment, but someone suicidally depressed? How much more despair can he take? He's currently a pastor without a church, and despite being in psychiatric care for some time, obviously has not been improving.
The first round of surgeries to rebuild his shattered jaw and cheekbone are scheduled for tomorrow. Please pray for the family. He and his wife have two daughters in their 20s, the older is rooted in a church family, the younger is spiritually seeking. Pray for us all as a family, especially my widowed mother, who's been very hard hit by this.
He's broken, but he's alive. I don't understand, but I believe God has more in store for him.
Show us your way through the dark valley, O God.
Tuesday, one of my close family members took a shotgun to his head...and survived. I'm still somewhat in shock, but beginning to grieve. It's outrageous. Crushing.
He's got a very significant injury to his face, but not to his brain. His wife found him two hours after the incident, significantly bleeding but amazingly still conscious. He was Med-evac-ed to a large regional hospital Tuesday night and is currently in the ICU, heavily sedated and on a ventilator.
I can't fathom how he is still alive. I also can't even begin to fathom a good outcome from this. Even an emotionally stong person can fall into deep depression from a facial disfigurment, but someone suicidally depressed? How much more despair can he take? He's currently a pastor without a church, and despite being in psychiatric care for some time, obviously has not been improving.
The first round of surgeries to rebuild his shattered jaw and cheekbone are scheduled for tomorrow. Please pray for the family. He and his wife have two daughters in their 20s, the older is rooted in a church family, the younger is spiritually seeking. Pray for us all as a family, especially my widowed mother, who's been very hard hit by this.
He's broken, but he's alive. I don't understand, but I believe God has more in store for him.
Show us your way through the dark valley, O God.
9.26.2005
Limited atonement gone awry?
Claire and I were working on a note to Grandma (my mother) today, and she asked why her grandmother is in Texas instead of Florida right now. I explained that she's working in the office of a Christian radio network that broadcasts into Mexico so that Mexican people can learn about Jesus.
"I don't want that," Claire said.
"You don't want people in Mexico to hear about Jesus?"
"No. He's MY Jesus."
"But Jesus loves them and he wants them to love him back."
"I don't want to share. They can go away."
Claire says this sort of thing about everything she likes, from strawberries to her dollhouse. I explained that Jesus isn't like Cheerios that can run out if you give some away. She softened her stance when she began to understand, and decided that it was in fact a good thing for people in Mexico to love Jesus back.
I'm still not quite sure what to make of this strange conversation. Should we be working harder to nurture her missionary spirit? Perhaps. I may be making more of it than what it is--a typical 3-year-old's jealous guarding of what is beloved. It sure beats indifference to our Savior and Lord.
Claire and I were working on a note to Grandma (my mother) today, and she asked why her grandmother is in Texas instead of Florida right now. I explained that she's working in the office of a Christian radio network that broadcasts into Mexico so that Mexican people can learn about Jesus.
"I don't want that," Claire said.
"You don't want people in Mexico to hear about Jesus?"
"No. He's MY Jesus."
"But Jesus loves them and he wants them to love him back."
"I don't want to share. They can go away."
Claire says this sort of thing about everything she likes, from strawberries to her dollhouse. I explained that Jesus isn't like Cheerios that can run out if you give some away. She softened her stance when she began to understand, and decided that it was in fact a good thing for people in Mexico to love Jesus back.
I'm still not quite sure what to make of this strange conversation. Should we be working harder to nurture her missionary spirit? Perhaps. I may be making more of it than what it is--a typical 3-year-old's jealous guarding of what is beloved. It sure beats indifference to our Savior and Lord.
9.18.2005
Lookee
I'd complained to Joel that my blog design looked awfully dated, since we haven't freshened the look in more than three years. I was tired of the dark, somewhat busy background and all the boxes.
Silly me. He just went and redid the thing without any help from me at all. He can never resist dabbling in design.
So what do you think? It's for posterity, so be honest.
(If you missed The Princess Bride reference, go watch the film again first, then comment.)
I'd complained to Joel that my blog design looked awfully dated, since we haven't freshened the look in more than three years. I was tired of the dark, somewhat busy background and all the boxes.
Silly me. He just went and redid the thing without any help from me at all. He can never resist dabbling in design.
So what do you think? It's for posterity, so be honest.
(If you missed The Princess Bride reference, go watch the film again first, then comment.)
9.16.2005
Howatching
As ragweed season drags on, making my lungs unhappier by the day, I've been forced to rest more. What a great consolation reading is in my leaden-lunged state.
Perusing my shelves, I decided it was time to give Susan Howatch's The Rich Are Different a whirl. In the spring I tried another of her pre-Christian books, Penmarric, but found it a bit creepy. I guess one should expect that of a Gothic-style family saga. The Rich Are Different (TRAD) has a sequel called The Sins of the Fathers, which gives an indication of Howatch's growing interest in spiritual things. I'm amazed how often religious topics are touched upon in TRAD, published in 1977 and exploring a man's rise to riches on Wall Street in the teens and twenties.
It's quite fun as an aspiring writer to explore the maturation of another writer's craft. Howatch's characterizations get better and better over the course of her career. I think even she struggled with writing in first person. It can be hard to get inside the head of a person who's really unlike you, but the struggle can be worth it because that character's perspective can be crucial. In TRAD, Howatch provides a rather weak section narrated by a conventional society wife, Sylvia Van Zale, who's wealthy husband cheats on her perpetually. The woman also suffers a long string of miscarriages. Howatch doesn't quite get Sylvia, or doesn't know how to get inside her emotional world. She's just not compelling or believable. By contrast, Howatch does an astonishingly good job with an unloved wife, Rosalind Darrow, in The Wonder Worker. Though I can't quite like Rosalind, I can understand her and sympathize. That's good writing.
I'm about halfway through TRAD, a 658-page tome. I'm curious to see how much more Howatch incorporates Christian ideas and themes. And I'm encouraged that even this writer I admire so much took time to reach her current excellence and improved over time. There's hope even for me.
As ragweed season drags on, making my lungs unhappier by the day, I've been forced to rest more. What a great consolation reading is in my leaden-lunged state.
Perusing my shelves, I decided it was time to give Susan Howatch's The Rich Are Different a whirl. In the spring I tried another of her pre-Christian books, Penmarric, but found it a bit creepy. I guess one should expect that of a Gothic-style family saga. The Rich Are Different (TRAD) has a sequel called The Sins of the Fathers, which gives an indication of Howatch's growing interest in spiritual things. I'm amazed how often religious topics are touched upon in TRAD, published in 1977 and exploring a man's rise to riches on Wall Street in the teens and twenties.
It's quite fun as an aspiring writer to explore the maturation of another writer's craft. Howatch's characterizations get better and better over the course of her career. I think even she struggled with writing in first person. It can be hard to get inside the head of a person who's really unlike you, but the struggle can be worth it because that character's perspective can be crucial. In TRAD, Howatch provides a rather weak section narrated by a conventional society wife, Sylvia Van Zale, who's wealthy husband cheats on her perpetually. The woman also suffers a long string of miscarriages. Howatch doesn't quite get Sylvia, or doesn't know how to get inside her emotional world. She's just not compelling or believable. By contrast, Howatch does an astonishingly good job with an unloved wife, Rosalind Darrow, in The Wonder Worker. Though I can't quite like Rosalind, I can understand her and sympathize. That's good writing.
I'm about halfway through TRAD, a 658-page tome. I'm curious to see how much more Howatch incorporates Christian ideas and themes. And I'm encouraged that even this writer I admire so much took time to reach her current excellence and improved over time. There's hope even for me.
9.13.2005
Imagine!
Last week I picked up a little gem of a book from the library called The Gift by John Prater, a picture book with no text at all. The illustrations depict a brother and sister who receive two kid-sized chairs in a large box. They decide the box is far more interesting than the chairs. They climb in the box, close their eyes, concentrate really hard, and find that the box can fly! They sail over their British city and have a number of adventures in their magic box before deciding to return home.
Claire, of course, wanted her own magic box. Hand-me-down clothes from Claire's cousin arrive the next day, providing not only a big box for adventures, but also a pair of "ruby slippers"--red shoes covered with red glitter, probably from an Oz Halloween costume.
Perfectly equipped, Claire loads up Raggedy Ann and Winnie the Pooh and dons her magic shoes.
"When you're ready to come home," I instuct Claire, "just tap together your shoes and say 'There's no place like home'."
She nods solemnly and hops aboard her magic box. Moments later, as I gather laundry, Claire calls from her room, "Mommy! I'm 'maginationing I'm going to find a pirate ship under the ocean!"
Great days of adventure lie ahead.
Last week I picked up a little gem of a book from the library called The Gift by John Prater, a picture book with no text at all. The illustrations depict a brother and sister who receive two kid-sized chairs in a large box. They decide the box is far more interesting than the chairs. They climb in the box, close their eyes, concentrate really hard, and find that the box can fly! They sail over their British city and have a number of adventures in their magic box before deciding to return home.
Claire, of course, wanted her own magic box. Hand-me-down clothes from Claire's cousin arrive the next day, providing not only a big box for adventures, but also a pair of "ruby slippers"--red shoes covered with red glitter, probably from an Oz Halloween costume.
Perfectly equipped, Claire loads up Raggedy Ann and Winnie the Pooh and dons her magic shoes.
"When you're ready to come home," I instuct Claire, "just tap together your shoes and say 'There's no place like home'."
She nods solemnly and hops aboard her magic box. Moments later, as I gather laundry, Claire calls from her room, "Mommy! I'm 'maginationing I'm going to find a pirate ship under the ocean!"
Great days of adventure lie ahead.
9.08.2005
Fuelish worries
This news item worried me probably more than it should:
Natural gas prices could increase as much as 71 percent in part of the United States this fall, raising the prospect of higher home heating costs this winter, the Energy Department reports.
I remember the energy crisis of the late 70's-early 80's very well, and the memories are not especially happy. We were living in a house with all-electric heat, which at the time was the most expensive and least efficient. My parents turned down the heat to 50 degrees and made use of alternate forms of fuel to warm us. Our home had a Franklin stove in the rec room, which got put to use quite a lot. I remember Dad spending a few weekends splitting logs until his hands blistered. Electric blankets were key for sleeping. My folks also invested in two kerosene heaters. I remember an elaborate ritual for dressing on winter mornings--wake, run out to the heater in the kitchen to warm up, dash back to the bedroom and hastily grab clothes, drape clothes near heater to warm while eating breakfast, dress next to heater being careful not to catch clothes on fire. Though the kerosene heaters were fairly efficient, they burned somewhat dirty, leaving a sooty residue on nearby furniture and ceilings throughout the house. Whenever I'm tempted to romanticize previous centuries, I just remember those frigid, sooty years and thank God for clean central heat.
If the news predictions are true, this winter will bring killer heating costs. Wrapping ducts, caulking cracks and shrink-wrapping windows helped a little last year, but we're going to need to do more to not end up in the poor house this winter. I'm thinking electric space heaters may be best when electricity is cheaper than natural gas. They're a fairly safe alternative with a small child in the house, now that cool-touch fan models are available pretty cheap.
This news item worried me probably more than it should:
Natural gas prices could increase as much as 71 percent in part of the United States this fall, raising the prospect of higher home heating costs this winter, the Energy Department reports.
I remember the energy crisis of the late 70's-early 80's very well, and the memories are not especially happy. We were living in a house with all-electric heat, which at the time was the most expensive and least efficient. My parents turned down the heat to 50 degrees and made use of alternate forms of fuel to warm us. Our home had a Franklin stove in the rec room, which got put to use quite a lot. I remember Dad spending a few weekends splitting logs until his hands blistered. Electric blankets were key for sleeping. My folks also invested in two kerosene heaters. I remember an elaborate ritual for dressing on winter mornings--wake, run out to the heater in the kitchen to warm up, dash back to the bedroom and hastily grab clothes, drape clothes near heater to warm while eating breakfast, dress next to heater being careful not to catch clothes on fire. Though the kerosene heaters were fairly efficient, they burned somewhat dirty, leaving a sooty residue on nearby furniture and ceilings throughout the house. Whenever I'm tempted to romanticize previous centuries, I just remember those frigid, sooty years and thank God for clean central heat.
If the news predictions are true, this winter will bring killer heating costs. Wrapping ducts, caulking cracks and shrink-wrapping windows helped a little last year, but we're going to need to do more to not end up in the poor house this winter. I'm thinking electric space heaters may be best when electricity is cheaper than natural gas. They're a fairly safe alternative with a small child in the house, now that cool-touch fan models are available pretty cheap.
9.03.2005
Best children's books
I've had a fun afternoon compiling a listmania list of some of Claire's favorite books from the past few months. It was difficult to limit it to just 25 books! We're now in the habit of visiting the library every week and picking up 7 or more new titles every visit. Some weeks we pick up old favorites. Most titles on the list have come for a visit more than once (unless we own them). I was surprised to see that most of Claire's favorites are for kids in the 4-8 age group. Stuff for younger kids seem to bore my three-year-old pretty quickly. She likes a balance of illustration and text.
I've had a fun afternoon compiling a listmania list of some of Claire's favorite books from the past few months. It was difficult to limit it to just 25 books! We're now in the habit of visiting the library every week and picking up 7 or more new titles every visit. Some weeks we pick up old favorites. Most titles on the list have come for a visit more than once (unless we own them). I was surprised to see that most of Claire's favorites are for kids in the 4-8 age group. Stuff for younger kids seem to bore my three-year-old pretty quickly. She likes a balance of illustration and text.
9.02.2005
My summer vacation
I hope all my blogosphere friends have not written me off as a complete lost cause. I have had a great summer. May was pretty crazy with lots of houseguests. In June I potty trained Claire (be thankful I spared you the blow-by-blow of this rather gross process). I also received a challenge to return to my first love--fiction writing. A close friend gave a tantilizing assignment: in six weeks, produce the beginnings of something fictional for her to read.
I was frankly terrified to even begin the process. I haven't written fiction in about eight years. As of today, I've generated over 30 pages of material, some quite good, some salvagable, and some total garbage. The two most important parts are done--a pretty good draft of the first chapter and a large pile of plot point notecards written and organized to give skeletal structure to what I write. Yes, you heard me right, "first chapter." I've started on a novel, Lord help me. The protagonists are a 15-year-old girl and her 40-something mother who have recently lost Dad/husband who held the family together. The estranged daughter and mother will need to learn to cope without him--and figure out how to be a family of two.
I've also done some short family trips over the summer to the shore and an amusement park, which Joel already blogged about. Since he has the FTP capability and knowledge, it's not really possible for me to "scoop" him on family news. Begging is my only means of getting to share photos. That's the naked truth.
No news on a sibling for Claire. We're entering month 23 of trying. Doctors haven't found any medical problems to treat, so we stopped the invasive testing back in spring. For now we're waiting on the Lord and asking for prayers. Every day I feel more confident in God's great sense of timing because my suddenly sassy 3-year-old takes more energy than I ever dreamed possible. A 4-year or more age gap is looking pretty appealing right now.
I hope all my blogosphere friends have not written me off as a complete lost cause. I have had a great summer. May was pretty crazy with lots of houseguests. In June I potty trained Claire (be thankful I spared you the blow-by-blow of this rather gross process). I also received a challenge to return to my first love--fiction writing. A close friend gave a tantilizing assignment: in six weeks, produce the beginnings of something fictional for her to read.
I was frankly terrified to even begin the process. I haven't written fiction in about eight years. As of today, I've generated over 30 pages of material, some quite good, some salvagable, and some total garbage. The two most important parts are done--a pretty good draft of the first chapter and a large pile of plot point notecards written and organized to give skeletal structure to what I write. Yes, you heard me right, "first chapter." I've started on a novel, Lord help me. The protagonists are a 15-year-old girl and her 40-something mother who have recently lost Dad/husband who held the family together. The estranged daughter and mother will need to learn to cope without him--and figure out how to be a family of two.
I've also done some short family trips over the summer to the shore and an amusement park, which Joel already blogged about. Since he has the FTP capability and knowledge, it's not really possible for me to "scoop" him on family news. Begging is my only means of getting to share photos. That's the naked truth.
No news on a sibling for Claire. We're entering month 23 of trying. Doctors haven't found any medical problems to treat, so we stopped the invasive testing back in spring. For now we're waiting on the Lord and asking for prayers. Every day I feel more confident in God's great sense of timing because my suddenly sassy 3-year-old takes more energy than I ever dreamed possible. A 4-year or more age gap is looking pretty appealing right now.
5.20.2005
Time flies
Our dear boy Berek arrives this evening. It's hard to believe, but his semester of living with us ended almost two years ago to the day.
I've lost almost 15 pounds since then, and my stress level is exponentially lower. I doubt he'll notice that as much as the changes in Claire. When he left, she looked like this:
She had eight teeth and couldn't walk or talk. She ate baby food from jars and drank formula. Wait till he sees her curls bounce as she runs down the stairs, gives him a toothy smile and exclaims "konnichiha!"
Our dear boy Berek arrives this evening. It's hard to believe, but his semester of living with us ended almost two years ago to the day.
I've lost almost 15 pounds since then, and my stress level is exponentially lower. I doubt he'll notice that as much as the changes in Claire. When he left, she looked like this:
She had eight teeth and couldn't walk or talk. She ate baby food from jars and drank formula. Wait till he sees her curls bounce as she runs down the stairs, gives him a toothy smile and exclaims "konnichiha!"
5.16.2005
Bad case of...?
What on earth has happened to my poor child's hands?
I think it is a bad case of the naughties. This is what happens when visiting Grandma takes Claire's room and Claire gets to go camping.
So here goes Claire, zipped into her Winnie the Pooh tent for a nap in the office. Does she sleep? Oh, eventually. But first she must explore.
What's this in mommy's desk drawer? Mmmm, chewy little plastic capsules. Oops, those go to mommy's calligraphy pen and happen to be filled with ink.
So some time later, when mommy wakes up her small girl to come for supper, she finds a child who looks like this:
Said child cries when she's sternly asked "What on earth have you gotten into?" She cries harder when I see that her face and legs are also variegated blue, green, red, and call daddy to bring the camera quick.
"Claire! You've been very naughty!" says Joel sternly, supressing a giggle. "What should we do about this?" he asks me.
"I don't think a time out would really do." I tell him. "It seems to me she's been punished enough."
I'm sure she'll think so. Despite today's long bath and thorough scrubbing, she'll have to suffer through the several days of splotchy, colorful skin before the ink completely fades.
What on earth has happened to my poor child's hands?
I think it is a bad case of the naughties. This is what happens when visiting Grandma takes Claire's room and Claire gets to go camping.
So here goes Claire, zipped into her Winnie the Pooh tent for a nap in the office. Does she sleep? Oh, eventually. But first she must explore.
What's this in mommy's desk drawer? Mmmm, chewy little plastic capsules. Oops, those go to mommy's calligraphy pen and happen to be filled with ink.
So some time later, when mommy wakes up her small girl to come for supper, she finds a child who looks like this:
Said child cries when she's sternly asked "What on earth have you gotten into?" She cries harder when I see that her face and legs are also variegated blue, green, red, and call daddy to bring the camera quick.
"Claire! You've been very naughty!" says Joel sternly, supressing a giggle. "What should we do about this?" he asks me.
"I don't think a time out would really do." I tell him. "It seems to me she's been punished enough."
I'm sure she'll think so. Despite today's long bath and thorough scrubbing, she'll have to suffer through the several days of splotchy, colorful skin before the ink completely fades.
4.28.2005
Close to you...
In a fit of nostalgia, Joel recently pulled out a Carpenters CD. In an instant, I'm wisked away to my lanky, child self. I'm wearing headphones, floating a few inches above a too-large, lavender dentist chair in a nitrous oxide haze. The Carpenters' mellow crooning makes grusome reality split off, transporting me to a warm, sunny land where I swim though the air, flying with the bluebirds and butterflies.
"Sing, Sing a Song" brings back the spooky way my childhood dentist would sneak that huge novacaine needle past my line of sight, shake my cheek while rotating the needle for too long. "Yesterday Once More," tastes of that sickening, somewhat metalic spreading numbness as the novacaine begins to take effect. "We've Only Just Begun" reminds me of my tired jaw, aching from the dentist levering himself to pry out a particularly stubborn tooth. Stangely, I'm "On Top of the World" while biting down on a big wad of cotton stuffed into the now-empty socket. They can take my teeth, but not my spirit.
If it weren't for nitrous oxide and the Carpenters on the headphones, I don't know how I would have survived years of "pre-orthodontia" extractions. I've lost 13 teeth to professional extractions, including some baby teeth, 4 wisdom teeth and my lower 6-year molars.
My poor kid is doomed to terrible teeth, though perhaps not the big teeth/small jaw issue that plagued me. I've got the perfect soundtrack, however, when treatment begins.
In a fit of nostalgia, Joel recently pulled out a Carpenters CD. In an instant, I'm wisked away to my lanky, child self. I'm wearing headphones, floating a few inches above a too-large, lavender dentist chair in a nitrous oxide haze. The Carpenters' mellow crooning makes grusome reality split off, transporting me to a warm, sunny land where I swim though the air, flying with the bluebirds and butterflies.
"Sing, Sing a Song" brings back the spooky way my childhood dentist would sneak that huge novacaine needle past my line of sight, shake my cheek while rotating the needle for too long. "Yesterday Once More," tastes of that sickening, somewhat metalic spreading numbness as the novacaine begins to take effect. "We've Only Just Begun" reminds me of my tired jaw, aching from the dentist levering himself to pry out a particularly stubborn tooth. Stangely, I'm "On Top of the World" while biting down on a big wad of cotton stuffed into the now-empty socket. They can take my teeth, but not my spirit.
If it weren't for nitrous oxide and the Carpenters on the headphones, I don't know how I would have survived years of "pre-orthodontia" extractions. I've lost 13 teeth to professional extractions, including some baby teeth, 4 wisdom teeth and my lower 6-year molars.
My poor kid is doomed to terrible teeth, though perhaps not the big teeth/small jaw issue that plagued me. I've got the perfect soundtrack, however, when treatment begins.
4.15.2005
Giving up
At what point do you feel it's okay to give up on a book that just isn't grabbing you? One of my friends has an age based rule. Teens and twenties need to give a book 100 pages to hook them, she says, while those over 30 should be able to tell within 50 pages if a tome is indeed a waste of time.
I fear I may have given up too much of my time struggling with a book called The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. The author's name itself sounds like a snarky nerd joke--perhaps that should have been a clue. The dust jacket description, however, made it sound fun:
"In Jasper Fforde's Great Britain, circa 1985, time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously. England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic verse is a punishable offense. All this is business as usual for Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection. But when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel, Thursday is faced with the challenge of her career."
Perhaps I've been spoiled by J.K. Rowling, but his attempts at world building are clunky and self-conscious, not fun and flowing like Rowlings'. He also does not even remotely write a convincing female narrative voice.
Hmm, if I'd read what I just wrote in an amazon review, I never would have borrowed this book in the first place. That's arguement enough. Life's too short to waste on books that don't make you feel more alive.
At what point do you feel it's okay to give up on a book that just isn't grabbing you? One of my friends has an age based rule. Teens and twenties need to give a book 100 pages to hook them, she says, while those over 30 should be able to tell within 50 pages if a tome is indeed a waste of time.
I fear I may have given up too much of my time struggling with a book called The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. The author's name itself sounds like a snarky nerd joke--perhaps that should have been a clue. The dust jacket description, however, made it sound fun:
"In Jasper Fforde's Great Britain, circa 1985, time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously. England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic verse is a punishable offense. All this is business as usual for Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection. But when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Brontë's novel, Thursday is faced with the challenge of her career."
Perhaps I've been spoiled by J.K. Rowling, but his attempts at world building are clunky and self-conscious, not fun and flowing like Rowlings'. He also does not even remotely write a convincing female narrative voice.
Hmm, if I'd read what I just wrote in an amazon review, I never would have borrowed this book in the first place. That's arguement enough. Life's too short to waste on books that don't make you feel more alive.
3.31.2005
More on Gaskell
Wives and Daughters is a fascinating character study in the effects of different parenting. The heroine, Molly, loses her mother at a young age, yet matures into a loyal, soft-hearted girl. Her foil and stepsister, Cynthia, loses her father at a young age. Yet Cynthia matures into a woman who is unable to feel deeply or make meaningful connections with people.
One would expect the motherless girl to fare worse, but Molly is more fully human. Gaskell’s point is that a child needs loving care, regardless of the sex of the parent who gives it.
Cynthia’s living mother treats her as a burden from the beginning of widowhood, sending Cynthia off to boarding school at age 4. Every school vacation, Cynthia is left in the care of strangers while her mother travels with the great families that employ her as governess.
The net effect of this continued neglect is a vanity and manipulativeness, someone who cannot ever turn off the charm for fear of rejection. Yet Cynthia is apt to reject others, three suitors in all in the course of the novel. She admits that she’s not really capable of love or deep feeling for others. Today I think Cynthia would be said to suffer from an attachment disorder.
Molly, on the other hand, is blessed to be educated at home by a loving governess. She lives in a community where the women watch out for her, take an interest in her growth, strive to keep up a relationship with her. Though her father is a busy country doctor in the age of nothing but house calls, he works to be as available as he can. Theirs is a relationship of nurture and friendship. Gaskell paints their intimacy by showing father and daughter kneeling at the fireside, making toasted cheese sandwiches and amiably talking about the day’s events.
When Molly’s father marries Cynthia’s mother, thinking it will help is “poor motherless girl,” Gaskell makes it clear that it’s far too late for Molly to be helped by a stepmother. Her good character is well formed by age 17, as is Cynthia’s weak character. A great tension of the story is whether either girl will be swayed by the new family circumstances so late in “childhood.”
Wives and Daughters is a fascinating character study in the effects of different parenting. The heroine, Molly, loses her mother at a young age, yet matures into a loyal, soft-hearted girl. Her foil and stepsister, Cynthia, loses her father at a young age. Yet Cynthia matures into a woman who is unable to feel deeply or make meaningful connections with people.
One would expect the motherless girl to fare worse, but Molly is more fully human. Gaskell’s point is that a child needs loving care, regardless of the sex of the parent who gives it.
Cynthia’s living mother treats her as a burden from the beginning of widowhood, sending Cynthia off to boarding school at age 4. Every school vacation, Cynthia is left in the care of strangers while her mother travels with the great families that employ her as governess.
The net effect of this continued neglect is a vanity and manipulativeness, someone who cannot ever turn off the charm for fear of rejection. Yet Cynthia is apt to reject others, three suitors in all in the course of the novel. She admits that she’s not really capable of love or deep feeling for others. Today I think Cynthia would be said to suffer from an attachment disorder.
Molly, on the other hand, is blessed to be educated at home by a loving governess. She lives in a community where the women watch out for her, take an interest in her growth, strive to keep up a relationship with her. Though her father is a busy country doctor in the age of nothing but house calls, he works to be as available as he can. Theirs is a relationship of nurture and friendship. Gaskell paints their intimacy by showing father and daughter kneeling at the fireside, making toasted cheese sandwiches and amiably talking about the day’s events.
When Molly’s father marries Cynthia’s mother, thinking it will help is “poor motherless girl,” Gaskell makes it clear that it’s far too late for Molly to be helped by a stepmother. Her good character is well formed by age 17, as is Cynthia’s weak character. A great tension of the story is whether either girl will be swayed by the new family circumstances so late in “childhood.”
3.30.2005
Unfinished business
My Ireland travel journal sputtered out with a partial paragraph for March 19, 1985, yet another piece of unfinished business that will remain so. Though reading the previous entires jogged many memories, there's no way I can call back the final three days of our trip of 20 years past.
I know that we competed in a concert band competition in Galway, taking first place in our division. At the hotel in Galway, I nearly overflowed the tub when I couldn’t get the water to shut off. I sent my roommate to get a chaperone while I shivered, mortified, in my bathrobe, and prayed one of the adult women knew something about plumbing (alas, several men came with one of the women). We did some sightseeing at the end of the trip, including a drive around “the Ring of Kerry” on the west coast, and a stop at the Cliffs of Moher. But so many details are lost to me now.
Unfinished-ness seems a recurrent theme in my life right now. Last week I read through the "end" of Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters, only to find that Gaskell died before completing the book. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read, even though one must use one's imagination to complete the trajectory of the plot. I’d seen a film adaptation before reading the book, and now understand why the film’s ending seemed a little unsatisfying. Andrew Davies did a good job in making the screenplay work for a contemporary audience and the ending he created mostly followed Gaskell’s trajectory. I’m fairly sure, however, that she didn’t intend for Molly’s storyline to wrap up quite so easily. There are inklings in the text that obstacles to her marriage will not instantly disappear, but take many chapters to resolve.
On Good Friday, I sang Mozart’s Requiem with my church choir, a piece he did not complete before his death. From what I’ve read about the piece, several people had a hand in stitching it together. The student who had some of the greatest influence, Sussmayr, was not someone Mozart particularly admired. He merely seemed to be in the right place at the right time when Mozart’s wife Constanze was having difficulty finding someone to complete the piece. The pieces attributed to Sussmyer—-the Sanctus, Benedictus and Osanna—-are perhaps some of the more dull or clunky bits to sing. Purists like Christopher Hogwood of the Academy of Ancient Music jettison the Sussmyer contributions entirely. Despite the hackneyed additions, the piece is extremely moving, a challenge and a joy to perform. Peter Shaffer’s musical Amadeus (later adapted for film) has made the Requiem one today’s best known and most loved classical pieces. (FYI, to hear our performance, go to the archived webcast and scroll down to "3/25/05 - Good Friday Choral Concert")
An odd parallel between the novel and requiem mass setting is the fact that these unfinished works are considered some of their creators’ very best work. Are we to sit and lament the “untimely passing” of Gaskell and Mozart? Perhaps the works they left are an encouragement to all discouraged creators to keep working hard, for even the scraps you leave behind may become beautiful in their time.
My Ireland travel journal sputtered out with a partial paragraph for March 19, 1985, yet another piece of unfinished business that will remain so. Though reading the previous entires jogged many memories, there's no way I can call back the final three days of our trip of 20 years past.
I know that we competed in a concert band competition in Galway, taking first place in our division. At the hotel in Galway, I nearly overflowed the tub when I couldn’t get the water to shut off. I sent my roommate to get a chaperone while I shivered, mortified, in my bathrobe, and prayed one of the adult women knew something about plumbing (alas, several men came with one of the women). We did some sightseeing at the end of the trip, including a drive around “the Ring of Kerry” on the west coast, and a stop at the Cliffs of Moher. But so many details are lost to me now.
Unfinished-ness seems a recurrent theme in my life right now. Last week I read through the "end" of Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters, only to find that Gaskell died before completing the book. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read, even though one must use one's imagination to complete the trajectory of the plot. I’d seen a film adaptation before reading the book, and now understand why the film’s ending seemed a little unsatisfying. Andrew Davies did a good job in making the screenplay work for a contemporary audience and the ending he created mostly followed Gaskell’s trajectory. I’m fairly sure, however, that she didn’t intend for Molly’s storyline to wrap up quite so easily. There are inklings in the text that obstacles to her marriage will not instantly disappear, but take many chapters to resolve.
On Good Friday, I sang Mozart’s Requiem with my church choir, a piece he did not complete before his death. From what I’ve read about the piece, several people had a hand in stitching it together. The student who had some of the greatest influence, Sussmayr, was not someone Mozart particularly admired. He merely seemed to be in the right place at the right time when Mozart’s wife Constanze was having difficulty finding someone to complete the piece. The pieces attributed to Sussmyer—-the Sanctus, Benedictus and Osanna—-are perhaps some of the more dull or clunky bits to sing. Purists like Christopher Hogwood of the Academy of Ancient Music jettison the Sussmyer contributions entirely. Despite the hackneyed additions, the piece is extremely moving, a challenge and a joy to perform. Peter Shaffer’s musical Amadeus (later adapted for film) has made the Requiem one today’s best known and most loved classical pieces. (FYI, to hear our performance, go to the archived webcast and scroll down to "3/25/05 - Good Friday Choral Concert")
An odd parallel between the novel and requiem mass setting is the fact that these unfinished works are considered some of their creators’ very best work. Are we to sit and lament the “untimely passing” of Gaskell and Mozart? Perhaps the works they left are an encouragement to all discouraged creators to keep working hard, for even the scraps you leave behind may become beautiful in their time.
3.18.2005
Limerick and Knappogue
Part 4 of my travel journal of 20 years past.
March 18, 1985
Somehow, Sue and I managed to completely ignore the wake-up call. I finally woke five minutes before breakfast. To make a short story even shorter, I nearly broke the sound barrier dressing, and arrived in the dining room without a minute to spare.
We got the wonderful news that we had taken a superior award in our division at yesterday’s parade. All the practices really had been worth it!
After a good struggle with instruments and luggage, we boarded buses and were ready to leave when we realized my roommate Sue was missing. I dashed back to the room when one of the chaperones summoned me. I had left my curling iron in the room and there was poor Sue, who had been struggling for a half hour just to get her suitcase closed.
Good-bye, Dublin. To Limerick, forward MARCH!
What started out as drizzle became torrents of frigid rain. After 45 minutes, the rain subsided again to drizzle. Conn did his best to cheer us up with some Irish music, which acted more as a lullaby to most of us, and sleep came easily.
As we crept closer to Limerick, Conn told us why many villages’ streets are so winding. According to ancient superstition, if you were followed by a spirit while on horseback, taking a turn followed by another turn would cause you to lose the spirit. Thus, most cities’ main street into town is S shaped.
The weather in Limerick was, putting it bluntly, the pits. When the buses came to a halt, we were forced to charge across the busy street, then clamber up a narrow staircase (quite a feat for us percussionists) and sit in a tiny classroom and wait and wait. Out on the street, the wait continued. An ill wind blew Matt W’s way [trombone]—he had a bad reaction to a cinder that blew in his eye. Luckily we had Dr. E.; “the show must go on.” Once on the parade route and into the judging area, hats were blown off, flags were blown out of the colorguards’ hands and we were all soggy, freezing and miserable. None of us were too surprised that we didn’t place in the top 3. The only thing on our minds was getting to the nice, warm hotel and out of our wet clothes. Marching season was officially over.
Limerick Inn was, in my opinion, a high point of our stay so far. Sue and I each had our own double bed—nice and firm with a huge, snuggly comforter. Our room was huge and tastefully decorated, perfect for guest who came…and came.
I think Rick [saxophone] and Noel [trombone] spent more time in our room than in their own. I soon found out why. Most of the guys got tiny rooms with huge closets, which are neato, but fairly useless for a two-night stay.
Rick was the first to discover tin whistles for sale in the (hooray) hotel gift shop. Soon several people followed suit, including Noel. The two of them decided to use our room as a practice room, which drove Sue and I right up the wall!!! When they got tired of making atonal screeches, Rick decided to play football with my teddy bear Perky. This was merely annoying until Sue got in on the act and whoops—they decapitated the poor bear. Ah well.
Soon it’s time to get dressed for the medieval banquet. I’m bushed. After boarding the bus, we’re off to Knappogue Castle and a new adventure. Conn started us on a sing-along, which got pretty silly. In no time flat we were at the castle.
Candles flickered in the corners and a few of us huddled around a turf fire. We were greeted by Jerry the butler and the singing lasses, all in costume.
The banquet hall was perfect—the heraldic banners and shields, the wooden tables and long benches, the torchlight. Aaaah! I loved the silly bibs we were forced to wear. The food was magnificent and of an unending supply.
And the entertainment…oh, the entertainment! Singing and playing and dancing—lovely lilting voices, the soothing harp, those dancers with lightning-fast feet! If I could control time, this moment would have never ended. But it did. With yearning regret we left fair Knappogue to make the trek back to the Inn. Sigh.
Conn knew how we felt. Another songfest would cure us for sure. Jeff O. [drill instructor] grabbed the microphone and had us nearly rolling in the aisles with classics such as “Teenage Cremation” and “Under the Boardwalk.” Mr. L [band director] sang “New York, New York” and, yessir, Mr. F. [chaperone and friendly xylophone fixer] sang “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” We were absolutely crazed at this point.
The Inn? Already? Awww!
Part 4 of my travel journal of 20 years past.
March 18, 1985
Somehow, Sue and I managed to completely ignore the wake-up call. I finally woke five minutes before breakfast. To make a short story even shorter, I nearly broke the sound barrier dressing, and arrived in the dining room without a minute to spare.
We got the wonderful news that we had taken a superior award in our division at yesterday’s parade. All the practices really had been worth it!
After a good struggle with instruments and luggage, we boarded buses and were ready to leave when we realized my roommate Sue was missing. I dashed back to the room when one of the chaperones summoned me. I had left my curling iron in the room and there was poor Sue, who had been struggling for a half hour just to get her suitcase closed.
Good-bye, Dublin. To Limerick, forward MARCH!
What started out as drizzle became torrents of frigid rain. After 45 minutes, the rain subsided again to drizzle. Conn did his best to cheer us up with some Irish music, which acted more as a lullaby to most of us, and sleep came easily.
As we crept closer to Limerick, Conn told us why many villages’ streets are so winding. According to ancient superstition, if you were followed by a spirit while on horseback, taking a turn followed by another turn would cause you to lose the spirit. Thus, most cities’ main street into town is S shaped.
The weather in Limerick was, putting it bluntly, the pits. When the buses came to a halt, we were forced to charge across the busy street, then clamber up a narrow staircase (quite a feat for us percussionists) and sit in a tiny classroom and wait and wait. Out on the street, the wait continued. An ill wind blew Matt W’s way [trombone]—he had a bad reaction to a cinder that blew in his eye. Luckily we had Dr. E.; “the show must go on.” Once on the parade route and into the judging area, hats were blown off, flags were blown out of the colorguards’ hands and we were all soggy, freezing and miserable. None of us were too surprised that we didn’t place in the top 3. The only thing on our minds was getting to the nice, warm hotel and out of our wet clothes. Marching season was officially over.
Limerick Inn was, in my opinion, a high point of our stay so far. Sue and I each had our own double bed—nice and firm with a huge, snuggly comforter. Our room was huge and tastefully decorated, perfect for guest who came…and came.
I think Rick [saxophone] and Noel [trombone] spent more time in our room than in their own. I soon found out why. Most of the guys got tiny rooms with huge closets, which are neato, but fairly useless for a two-night stay.
Rick was the first to discover tin whistles for sale in the (hooray) hotel gift shop. Soon several people followed suit, including Noel. The two of them decided to use our room as a practice room, which drove Sue and I right up the wall!!! When they got tired of making atonal screeches, Rick decided to play football with my teddy bear Perky. This was merely annoying until Sue got in on the act and whoops—they decapitated the poor bear. Ah well.
Soon it’s time to get dressed for the medieval banquet. I’m bushed. After boarding the bus, we’re off to Knappogue Castle and a new adventure. Conn started us on a sing-along, which got pretty silly. In no time flat we were at the castle.
Candles flickered in the corners and a few of us huddled around a turf fire. We were greeted by Jerry the butler and the singing lasses, all in costume.
The banquet hall was perfect—the heraldic banners and shields, the wooden tables and long benches, the torchlight. Aaaah! I loved the silly bibs we were forced to wear. The food was magnificent and of an unending supply.
And the entertainment…oh, the entertainment! Singing and playing and dancing—lovely lilting voices, the soothing harp, those dancers with lightning-fast feet! If I could control time, this moment would have never ended. But it did. With yearning regret we left fair Knappogue to make the trek back to the Inn. Sigh.
Conn knew how we felt. Another songfest would cure us for sure. Jeff O. [drill instructor] grabbed the microphone and had us nearly rolling in the aisles with classics such as “Teenage Cremation” and “Under the Boardwalk.” Mr. L [band director] sang “New York, New York” and, yessir, Mr. F. [chaperone and friendly xylophone fixer] sang “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” We were absolutely crazed at this point.
The Inn? Already? Awww!
3.17.2005
St. Pat’s Central
More from my travel journal…
March 17, 1985
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Up at the crack of dawn, we dressed and made our appearance at breakfast. Corn flakes and juice, followed by bacon, mutton sausage and eggs became an all-too-familiar breakfast. After loading the buses with instruments, everyone donned uniforms and boarded. To Dublin, Ho!
Conn told us of an ancient superstition about magpies, those huge crow-like birds of Europe. If you see a single magpie and wave to it, you’ll have good luck all day. If you see two, you needn’t wave, that is automatically good luck. If you wave to three magpies, you’ll have a girl child, and waving to four will bring a boy. We got caught up in the amusing Irish superstitions, to say the least—we waved at every big, black bird we saw for the rest of the week.
Entering the city, we stopped waving at magpies and started waving at the magnificent people. Everyone waved back, even some of the dignified guarde (policemen). We really got a kick out of that. With a little coaxing and much waving, we urged a peddler to come over to the bus and sell us Irish flags. Now we had flags to wave, as well as hands.
After lining up, we were in for quite a wait. A group of curious, kilted bagpipers came over to talk to us. They were intrigued by American saxophones, and we were intrigued by their bagpipes. One of the bagpipers challenged John S., and alto saxophonist, to a duel. We called it a draw.
The time finally came to enter the parade route. I swear, Dublin’s entire population must have come out to see us. They were so thick, we had to go single file at times. About 5/6 of the onlookers seemed to be under 18. I almost wished we didn’t have to march the parade—I just wanted to reach out and cuddle some of those adorable children. The little rosy-cheeked girls with ponytails in green ribbon and rosy little naughty boys were just too cute! The crowd seemed to love us too, asking as we passed if we knew their cousins in Pittsburgh or Scranton or Philadelphia.
The cord that suspends my xylophone upper keys [equivalent to the “black keys” on a piano] broke as I played the cadence, while we were squeezed into single file formation. One of the parents, Mr. F., saw my grimace, and thinking I’d hurt myself, rushed to my side. We were now two groups away from the judging stand, and I began to feel panicked. I restrung the bars, trying to keep moving and not swing my xylophone into anyone. Then Mr. F pulled the cord taut and together we tied it, hopefully well enough to make it through our routine for the judges.
At the moment of truth—the Lord mayor’s judging stand—we did our “Thriller” routine with utmost flash and precision. The crowd went wild. They’d probably never seen a drum major in a sequined glove moonwalk while colorguard and instrumentalists alike did a Jackson-esque dance routine.
We returned to Dublin Sport to unload, change, eat and relax. Karen Hearsch and her TV camera dropped in during lunch for some taping to send back to the States. A nice, restful hour after lunch, we boarded the buses as tourists now rather than competitors, and were off to a monastic site in neighboring Co. Wicklow.
The sun seemed incredibly bright because of the clear air, and though it was quite chilly, the day was splendorous. Our stop was Glendalough, an ancient monastic site. The site consisted mainly of a graveyard of very ancient Celtic cross tombstones. There were also some stone buildings—a well-preserved round tower, St. Kevin’s church and St. Kevin’s cottage, where he lived as a hermit for many years.
Conn explained that the Celtic crosses, the union of cross and circle, signified Irish beliefs—the union of new-found Christianity and the ancient druidic worship of the sun. The Irish believe that they must maintain some of their ancient heritage, or it will all be lost, Conn said. Though the modern Irish don’t worship the sun, they fell they should remember and respect the religion which preceded Christianity.
He also told a little about the construction of the buildings. The mortar they used to cement the stones together was made of a mixture of mud, blood and horsehair. Upon inspecting the buildings a bit closer, we found that the horsehair was actually visible in the mortar—even after a thousand years. That was truly mind-boggling.
The evening was spent relaxing a little and packing a lot. Tomorrow’s wake up call is six o’clock, for Limerick awaits.
More from my travel journal…
March 17, 1985
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Up at the crack of dawn, we dressed and made our appearance at breakfast. Corn flakes and juice, followed by bacon, mutton sausage and eggs became an all-too-familiar breakfast. After loading the buses with instruments, everyone donned uniforms and boarded. To Dublin, Ho!
Conn told us of an ancient superstition about magpies, those huge crow-like birds of Europe. If you see a single magpie and wave to it, you’ll have good luck all day. If you see two, you needn’t wave, that is automatically good luck. If you wave to three magpies, you’ll have a girl child, and waving to four will bring a boy. We got caught up in the amusing Irish superstitions, to say the least—we waved at every big, black bird we saw for the rest of the week.
Entering the city, we stopped waving at magpies and started waving at the magnificent people. Everyone waved back, even some of the dignified guarde (policemen). We really got a kick out of that. With a little coaxing and much waving, we urged a peddler to come over to the bus and sell us Irish flags. Now we had flags to wave, as well as hands.
After lining up, we were in for quite a wait. A group of curious, kilted bagpipers came over to talk to us. They were intrigued by American saxophones, and we were intrigued by their bagpipes. One of the bagpipers challenged John S., and alto saxophonist, to a duel. We called it a draw.
The time finally came to enter the parade route. I swear, Dublin’s entire population must have come out to see us. They were so thick, we had to go single file at times. About 5/6 of the onlookers seemed to be under 18. I almost wished we didn’t have to march the parade—I just wanted to reach out and cuddle some of those adorable children. The little rosy-cheeked girls with ponytails in green ribbon and rosy little naughty boys were just too cute! The crowd seemed to love us too, asking as we passed if we knew their cousins in Pittsburgh or Scranton or Philadelphia.
The cord that suspends my xylophone upper keys [equivalent to the “black keys” on a piano] broke as I played the cadence, while we were squeezed into single file formation. One of the parents, Mr. F., saw my grimace, and thinking I’d hurt myself, rushed to my side. We were now two groups away from the judging stand, and I began to feel panicked. I restrung the bars, trying to keep moving and not swing my xylophone into anyone. Then Mr. F pulled the cord taut and together we tied it, hopefully well enough to make it through our routine for the judges.
At the moment of truth—the Lord mayor’s judging stand—we did our “Thriller” routine with utmost flash and precision. The crowd went wild. They’d probably never seen a drum major in a sequined glove moonwalk while colorguard and instrumentalists alike did a Jackson-esque dance routine.
We returned to Dublin Sport to unload, change, eat and relax. Karen Hearsch and her TV camera dropped in during lunch for some taping to send back to the States. A nice, restful hour after lunch, we boarded the buses as tourists now rather than competitors, and were off to a monastic site in neighboring Co. Wicklow.
The sun seemed incredibly bright because of the clear air, and though it was quite chilly, the day was splendorous. Our stop was Glendalough, an ancient monastic site. The site consisted mainly of a graveyard of very ancient Celtic cross tombstones. There were also some stone buildings—a well-preserved round tower, St. Kevin’s church and St. Kevin’s cottage, where he lived as a hermit for many years.
Conn explained that the Celtic crosses, the union of cross and circle, signified Irish beliefs—the union of new-found Christianity and the ancient druidic worship of the sun. The Irish believe that they must maintain some of their ancient heritage, or it will all be lost, Conn said. Though the modern Irish don’t worship the sun, they fell they should remember and respect the religion which preceded Christianity.
He also told a little about the construction of the buildings. The mortar they used to cement the stones together was made of a mixture of mud, blood and horsehair. Upon inspecting the buildings a bit closer, we found that the horsehair was actually visible in the mortar—even after a thousand years. That was truly mind-boggling.
The evening was spent relaxing a little and packing a lot. Tomorrow’s wake up call is six o’clock, for Limerick awaits.
3.16.2005
Reminiscences continued
More from my travel journal that records my first trip abroad.
March 16, 1985
Here I sit on the terrace of our room in the Dublin Sport Hotel. It is a cool, windy afternoon--the temperature is about 35 degrees. Off into the distance is a swell of a small mountain, covered with swaying pines and knotty-limbed barren trees. At the foot of the mountain runs a country road on which tiny cars are driving--on the wrong side, of course. Just before the hotel lies a rippling man-made pond bordered by more knotty trees. Above the pond sits a golf course were several men are playing golf. They are rather tall, of sturdy frame, with Irish brogue rolling off their tongues. In the far distance rolls the almighty sea.
We are here, in Ireland. How did we get here--I mean to the hotel? Our plane touched down in Shannon at about 7:30 a.m. Irish time -- 2:30 American time. After a layover for refueling, we were off to Dublin. After a rather bumpy touchdown, we were really here. The stewardesses elbowed their way out of the plane, the snobs. Then we proceeded to customs, which consisted of telling the agent we were staying for a week and having our passports stamped. We grabbed our luggage, wound our way out of the airport, then hopped aboard the tour buses.
Most slept on the "tour" as the guide babbled on. I, for one, had no intention of sleeping and miss the magnificent scenery. Dublin itself had many identical homes with the only distinguishing characteristic being the doors. We finally arrived at the hotel, exhausted, and tried to settle in. I tried to shower, which was your typical "fry or freeze." Lunch was in the bar and consisted of strong Coke, mutton burgers and chips (what we would call French fries). At four, we went outside to battle the elements and improve our marching. I sure hope it all pays off.
Dinner was a three-course meal of mushroom soup, pigeon and chips, then strawberry ice cream.
At that time we were informed that we would be attending a dance with the Piscataway (N.J.) Band. Ooh! Please have mercy on us! Most of us hadn't had a wink of sleep in 20 hours or more. Those who had been fortunate enough to sleep only gained from one to six hours at the most.
After much prodding, we were herded onto the buses and carted to Dublin. With the guide, Sheila, aboard the other bus, we began to get to know our superb bus driver/guide, Conn. He told us tales of Dublin Bay and sang us songs. Arriving at the hotel where the dance was held, he reminded us that even though we're better than Piscataway, we should be humble about it. From that moment on, every soul on Bus #1 was in love with Conn.
I must say one thing about Irish contemporary music--it isn't very contemporary. Although they are months ahead with British chart makers, they haven't even heard of groups which have climbed and completely descended on the charts in the States. While 50% of the band snoozed in their chairs, the rest of us danced the night away--and regretted it later.
The trip back to Dublin Sport was silent except for the sighs and snores of one pack of exhausted bandies. No one uttered a single remark resembling a complaint when curfew was mentioned. Tomorrow is the big day.
More from my travel journal that records my first trip abroad.
March 16, 1985
Here I sit on the terrace of our room in the Dublin Sport Hotel. It is a cool, windy afternoon--the temperature is about 35 degrees. Off into the distance is a swell of a small mountain, covered with swaying pines and knotty-limbed barren trees. At the foot of the mountain runs a country road on which tiny cars are driving--on the wrong side, of course. Just before the hotel lies a rippling man-made pond bordered by more knotty trees. Above the pond sits a golf course were several men are playing golf. They are rather tall, of sturdy frame, with Irish brogue rolling off their tongues. In the far distance rolls the almighty sea.
We are here, in Ireland. How did we get here--I mean to the hotel? Our plane touched down in Shannon at about 7:30 a.m. Irish time -- 2:30 American time. After a layover for refueling, we were off to Dublin. After a rather bumpy touchdown, we were really here. The stewardesses elbowed their way out of the plane, the snobs. Then we proceeded to customs, which consisted of telling the agent we were staying for a week and having our passports stamped. We grabbed our luggage, wound our way out of the airport, then hopped aboard the tour buses.
Most slept on the "tour" as the guide babbled on. I, for one, had no intention of sleeping and miss the magnificent scenery. Dublin itself had many identical homes with the only distinguishing characteristic being the doors. We finally arrived at the hotel, exhausted, and tried to settle in. I tried to shower, which was your typical "fry or freeze." Lunch was in the bar and consisted of strong Coke, mutton burgers and chips (what we would call French fries). At four, we went outside to battle the elements and improve our marching. I sure hope it all pays off.
Dinner was a three-course meal of mushroom soup, pigeon and chips, then strawberry ice cream.
At that time we were informed that we would be attending a dance with the Piscataway (N.J.) Band. Ooh! Please have mercy on us! Most of us hadn't had a wink of sleep in 20 hours or more. Those who had been fortunate enough to sleep only gained from one to six hours at the most.
After much prodding, we were herded onto the buses and carted to Dublin. With the guide, Sheila, aboard the other bus, we began to get to know our superb bus driver/guide, Conn. He told us tales of Dublin Bay and sang us songs. Arriving at the hotel where the dance was held, he reminded us that even though we're better than Piscataway, we should be humble about it. From that moment on, every soul on Bus #1 was in love with Conn.
I must say one thing about Irish contemporary music--it isn't very contemporary. Although they are months ahead with British chart makers, they haven't even heard of groups which have climbed and completely descended on the charts in the States. While 50% of the band snoozed in their chairs, the rest of us danced the night away--and regretted it later.
The trip back to Dublin Sport was silent except for the sighs and snores of one pack of exhausted bandies. No one uttered a single remark resembling a complaint when curfew was mentioned. Tomorrow is the big day.
3.15.2005
First time abroad
Today is the 20th anniversary of my first trip across the pond. In 1985, I went with my high school marching band to Ireland to participate in the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade and two other St. Patrick's week band events.
That our tiny 45-playing-member band from a little rural school was invited to such an event is still a bit of a mystery. Some personal connections I suppose were at play.
Earning the money to enable all band members to travel for free was a huge undertaking. We spent two years doing fundraising--car washes, bake sales, hoagie sales and a sponsored 24-hour rehearsal marathon. As a big fan of fantasy novels, Dungeons and Dragons and the like, I was completely over the moon about this opportunity to see part of Europe.
For fun, I thought I'd blog some of my travel journal. My adolescent "voice" is perhaps more entertaining than the content of the entries.
March 15, 1985
This is it--the realization of our colossal dream, two years in the making, one week in the reaping.
The trip began with a big sis-boom-bah farewell from our parents, the radio station and the TV stations. Off the buses rambled toward New York, giving us our last glimpses of barren Pennsylvania. New York loomed up, awesomely wealthy, awesomely dirty. Such is "the big apple."
At the airport we were again televised. Sue L. [fellow percussionist and friend] was personally interviewed and was asked, "What are you feeling at this moment?"
What were we feeling? Ecstatically happy, scared, anxious, completely spastic. After two years of labor, we were really, truly going to Ireland.
Tickets and luggage in hand, we dashed through the tunnel and stepped onto the plane.
"Good evening, welcome to Aer Lingus flight 104," said the stewardess with a pleasant British accent. What was I feeling at that moment? Scared and excited.
After several seat shifts, I wound up next to Becky D. [colorguard], my best friend and a non-flier. Oh boy. To subside our anxiety, we quizzed each other on safety procedures.
With a great rumble, our plane taxied down the runway, and gathering power, the hulking 747 rose from the earth. Becky and I held on for dear life, then we both started laughing.
"Look out Ireland, here we come!"
Today is the 20th anniversary of my first trip across the pond. In 1985, I went with my high school marching band to Ireland to participate in the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade and two other St. Patrick's week band events.
That our tiny 45-playing-member band from a little rural school was invited to such an event is still a bit of a mystery. Some personal connections I suppose were at play.
Earning the money to enable all band members to travel for free was a huge undertaking. We spent two years doing fundraising--car washes, bake sales, hoagie sales and a sponsored 24-hour rehearsal marathon. As a big fan of fantasy novels, Dungeons and Dragons and the like, I was completely over the moon about this opportunity to see part of Europe.
For fun, I thought I'd blog some of my travel journal. My adolescent "voice" is perhaps more entertaining than the content of the entries.
March 15, 1985
This is it--the realization of our colossal dream, two years in the making, one week in the reaping.
The trip began with a big sis-boom-bah farewell from our parents, the radio station and the TV stations. Off the buses rambled toward New York, giving us our last glimpses of barren Pennsylvania. New York loomed up, awesomely wealthy, awesomely dirty. Such is "the big apple."
At the airport we were again televised. Sue L. [fellow percussionist and friend] was personally interviewed and was asked, "What are you feeling at this moment?"
What were we feeling? Ecstatically happy, scared, anxious, completely spastic. After two years of labor, we were really, truly going to Ireland.
Tickets and luggage in hand, we dashed through the tunnel and stepped onto the plane.
"Good evening, welcome to Aer Lingus flight 104," said the stewardess with a pleasant British accent. What was I feeling at that moment? Scared and excited.
After several seat shifts, I wound up next to Becky D. [colorguard], my best friend and a non-flier. Oh boy. To subside our anxiety, we quizzed each other on safety procedures.
With a great rumble, our plane taxied down the runway, and gathering power, the hulking 747 rose from the earth. Becky and I held on for dear life, then we both started laughing.
"Look out Ireland, here we come!"
3.04.2005
Catching Gaskell fever
I've seen Elizabeth Gaskell mentioned on several blogs recently. I thought I'd pipe up with a very hearty recommendation of the BBC video series Wives and Daughters. A good friend pressed the DVD set into my hands, saying, "You have to see this. I know you will love it." She was right. I was sorry to have to return the set. I watched the entire four episodes in one day, watched the special features, then watched all four episodes again.
I found the story more accessible than Austen, perhaps because the social faux pas are more evident to a modern reader. I often feel I'm missing something when I read Austen--the manners so central to the comedy are a bit too removed from 2005.
The acting is really first rate. All the characters come across as full-orbed. The heroine, Molly, is virtuous but outspoken, trustworthy to a fault and perhaps a bit too attached to her father. The stepmother who enters the story is an interesting riff on the stereotype: she's a bit self-absorbed and small-minded, but she's more weak than anything else and never cruel. She fumbles at asserting her role as mistress of the house, coming across as a pitiable character. Along with the stepmother comes a daughter, Cynthia, who is also quite a mixed bag. She's beautiful, charming, free spirited and careless. Though she and Molly become fast friends, her charm and carelessness get her into sticky situations from which Molly loyally tries to rescue her. The hardest part of the story is when Molly crucifies her desires, standing back as the man she loves falls for Cynthia, who neither cherishes nor deserves his love.
The hero and main love interest, Roger, is also pretty unusual. Instead of a rakish, dashing fellow, or a romantic artist or poet, he's a naturalist. He spends his hours outdoors collecting insects and pond scum, then brings his finds inside to draw or examine under a microscope. He seems a far more iteresting hero than most men you'll find in women's literature. He's the guy Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables series) could be if L.M. Montgomery were better at writing men.
There's a lot of undercurrent of class issues. Most of the romances take place across class boundaries. Those who oppose the matches are often humbled later for their opinion. At one point, Molly repirmands the daughter of the most fabulously wealthy family in town, Lady Harriet, a young woman about 5-7 years her senior. Lady Harriet had confided that she's been invited the home of two middle class spinster sisters who she considers "quite ridiculous," and Molly chides her to not go if you're only going to gawk and laugh, adding that she dislikes hearing her class spoken of that way. Lady Harriet takes the rebuke in stride and her admiration for Molly grows to the point that she takes great pains to help her "protege" ever after. Lady Harriet's brother likewise admires Roger's first-class brain and becomes his benefactor. It was refreshing to see noblesse oblige working properly.
All this said, I have not yet read the book. I just picked it up from the library this afternoon. I can't wait to see how much more is in store as I journey through its pages.
I've seen Elizabeth Gaskell mentioned on several blogs recently. I thought I'd pipe up with a very hearty recommendation of the BBC video series Wives and Daughters. A good friend pressed the DVD set into my hands, saying, "You have to see this. I know you will love it." She was right. I was sorry to have to return the set. I watched the entire four episodes in one day, watched the special features, then watched all four episodes again.
I found the story more accessible than Austen, perhaps because the social faux pas are more evident to a modern reader. I often feel I'm missing something when I read Austen--the manners so central to the comedy are a bit too removed from 2005.
The acting is really first rate. All the characters come across as full-orbed. The heroine, Molly, is virtuous but outspoken, trustworthy to a fault and perhaps a bit too attached to her father. The stepmother who enters the story is an interesting riff on the stereotype: she's a bit self-absorbed and small-minded, but she's more weak than anything else and never cruel. She fumbles at asserting her role as mistress of the house, coming across as a pitiable character. Along with the stepmother comes a daughter, Cynthia, who is also quite a mixed bag. She's beautiful, charming, free spirited and careless. Though she and Molly become fast friends, her charm and carelessness get her into sticky situations from which Molly loyally tries to rescue her. The hardest part of the story is when Molly crucifies her desires, standing back as the man she loves falls for Cynthia, who neither cherishes nor deserves his love.
The hero and main love interest, Roger, is also pretty unusual. Instead of a rakish, dashing fellow, or a romantic artist or poet, he's a naturalist. He spends his hours outdoors collecting insects and pond scum, then brings his finds inside to draw or examine under a microscope. He seems a far more iteresting hero than most men you'll find in women's literature. He's the guy Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables series) could be if L.M. Montgomery were better at writing men.
There's a lot of undercurrent of class issues. Most of the romances take place across class boundaries. Those who oppose the matches are often humbled later for their opinion. At one point, Molly repirmands the daughter of the most fabulously wealthy family in town, Lady Harriet, a young woman about 5-7 years her senior. Lady Harriet had confided that she's been invited the home of two middle class spinster sisters who she considers "quite ridiculous," and Molly chides her to not go if you're only going to gawk and laugh, adding that she dislikes hearing her class spoken of that way. Lady Harriet takes the rebuke in stride and her admiration for Molly grows to the point that she takes great pains to help her "protege" ever after. Lady Harriet's brother likewise admires Roger's first-class brain and becomes his benefactor. It was refreshing to see noblesse oblige working properly.
All this said, I have not yet read the book. I just picked it up from the library this afternoon. I can't wait to see how much more is in store as I journey through its pages.
3.03.2005
Spoonful of sugar
Mary Poppins really was on to something. Getting cooperation from a 2-year-old (a risky venture at best) can indeed be achieved through songs and games. I've discovered I can avoid being kicked repeatedly in the face while changing diapers if I sing "If you're happy and you know it" with new verses. We focus on face things, like "blink your eyes," "wiggle your tongue" and "beep your nose" and the once-flailing legs become compliant.
"Here we go 'round the mulberry bush" also adapts to many situations, like "this is the way we pick up the toys at bedtime in the evening." "Farmer in the Dell" can become "crayon in the box, the crayon in the box, blue, yellow, red and green, the crayon in the box." A good old round of "Eeny, meenie, miney, moe" has facilitated many choices of wardrobe, foods and activities.
This week, Claire learned a game that totally rocks: Simon Says. In just two days I've "played" this to get help cleaning up toys and compliance with the bedtime routine. I definitely enjoy this positive approach, and so does the little one.
Mary Poppins really was on to something. Getting cooperation from a 2-year-old (a risky venture at best) can indeed be achieved through songs and games. I've discovered I can avoid being kicked repeatedly in the face while changing diapers if I sing "If you're happy and you know it" with new verses. We focus on face things, like "blink your eyes," "wiggle your tongue" and "beep your nose" and the once-flailing legs become compliant.
"Here we go 'round the mulberry bush" also adapts to many situations, like "this is the way we pick up the toys at bedtime in the evening." "Farmer in the Dell" can become "crayon in the box, the crayon in the box, blue, yellow, red and green, the crayon in the box." A good old round of "Eeny, meenie, miney, moe" has facilitated many choices of wardrobe, foods and activities.
This week, Claire learned a game that totally rocks: Simon Says. In just two days I've "played" this to get help cleaning up toys and compliance with the bedtime routine. I definitely enjoy this positive approach, and so does the little one.
2.25.2005
Date night
Thanks to my in-laws, who provide top-notch free babysitting, Joel and I get to have a date tonight. Sadly we don't make use of this option nearly as often as we should. In the past few months, we've realized how couple time isn't a luxury but a necessity. Especially going through the emotional wringer of infertility yet again, we've needed to give extra diligence to caring for our marriage.
I'm excited about tonight's free concert at our church featuring some superb cellists and a young vocalist who is destined to go far in the opera world. The program is titled "Three Cellists + Five More!" (pdf) and will include Villas-Lobos' work for eight cellos and soprano. Our choir director has been raving about the concert for weeks now. How nice it will be to get spiffed up and have some quality grown up time.
But for now, it's time to bundle up my daughter in the scarf I just finished knitting for her and play in the fresh-fallen snow.
Thanks to my in-laws, who provide top-notch free babysitting, Joel and I get to have a date tonight. Sadly we don't make use of this option nearly as often as we should. In the past few months, we've realized how couple time isn't a luxury but a necessity. Especially going through the emotional wringer of infertility yet again, we've needed to give extra diligence to caring for our marriage.
I'm excited about tonight's free concert at our church featuring some superb cellists and a young vocalist who is destined to go far in the opera world. The program is titled "Three Cellists + Five More!" (pdf) and will include Villas-Lobos' work for eight cellos and soprano. Our choir director has been raving about the concert for weeks now. How nice it will be to get spiffed up and have some quality grown up time.
But for now, it's time to bundle up my daughter in the scarf I just finished knitting for her and play in the fresh-fallen snow.
2.18.2005
alphabetically speaking
alphabetically speaking
Now that I'm beginning to teach the rudiments of reading--letters and phonemes--to my daughter, I'm realizing more and more what a truly perplexing language English is.
For starters, I think that simplifying our alphabet would be a good start in making it easier to learn. A number of letters could feasibly be eliminated altogether.
One could easily argue that the letters Q and X are not needed. Other letter combinations make the same sounds. While "quick" might look more elegant (meaning, more Latinate), advertisers know that everyone understands "kwik"
well enough. Despite the X-ie moniker on this blog, I would not be sorry to become Lone Zylophone who eschews zenophobes. And what an honor for the fine German Eck family if hospitals everywhere touted their Eck's-ray machines!
Take the "k" sound. Do we really need 2 letters, C and K, to play this function? I think we could happily give up one of the two. My preference would be to eliminate K, because C is useful in consonant combinations like CH that K cannot really approximate. While we're keeping C, let's eliminate its S-like properties and let S carry its own load for a change.
The question is whether the language is ready for cwic changes and ecstreme new ways of spelling. Before the advent of dictionaries (thanks cousin Noah), English was one of the most flexible languages, adept at incorporating any new words it encountered. Unfortunately, it has never looked back to reevaluate how to enable its most ancient components to live harmoniously with new additions. Thus, we have some incredibly weird spellings hanging around. We've got Viking words like knight and knife, but no longer pronounce the initial K. Could the spelling not better reflect contemporary pronunciation? Latinate and Germanic dialects have been forced to intermarry, with no thought to making them a new family with consistent spelling rules.
As 1337 begins making inroads into our language, it seems high time that linguists start working on a simplification scheme for our excesively complex tongue.
Now that I'm beginning to teach the rudiments of reading--letters and phonemes--to my daughter, I'm realizing more and more what a truly perplexing language English is.
For starters, I think that simplifying our alphabet would be a good start in making it easier to learn. A number of letters could feasibly be eliminated altogether.
One could easily argue that the letters Q and X are not needed. Other letter combinations make the same sounds. While "quick" might look more elegant (meaning, more Latinate), advertisers know that everyone understands "kwik"
well enough. Despite the X-ie moniker on this blog, I would not be sorry to become Lone Zylophone who eschews zenophobes. And what an honor for the fine German Eck family if hospitals everywhere touted their Eck's-ray machines!
Take the "k" sound. Do we really need 2 letters, C and K, to play this function? I think we could happily give up one of the two. My preference would be to eliminate K, because C is useful in consonant combinations like CH that K cannot really approximate. While we're keeping C, let's eliminate its S-like properties and let S carry its own load for a change.
The question is whether the language is ready for cwic changes and ecstreme new ways of spelling. Before the advent of dictionaries (thanks cousin Noah), English was one of the most flexible languages, adept at incorporating any new words it encountered. Unfortunately, it has never looked back to reevaluate how to enable its most ancient components to live harmoniously with new additions. Thus, we have some incredibly weird spellings hanging around. We've got Viking words like knight and knife, but no longer pronounce the initial K. Could the spelling not better reflect contemporary pronunciation? Latinate and Germanic dialects have been forced to intermarry, with no thought to making them a new family with consistent spelling rules.
As 1337 begins making inroads into our language, it seems high time that linguists start working on a simplification scheme for our excesively complex tongue.
2.17.2005
2.09.2005
A good sort
Following Valerie's lead and lacking anything interesting to blog about, I tried the latest Hogwart's sorting hat quiz. I didn't have to cheat to get the house I wanted!
I always thought Ravenclaw sounded cool, and I'm most comfortable around people of the nerdy smart variety. Perhaps this is the appeal of Ravenclaw: nerds of a feather flock together to feel slightly better about their lack of cool and leather. (Anyone who can come up with a better rhyme, please do so. (-:)
Following Valerie's lead and lacking anything interesting to blog about, I tried the latest Hogwart's sorting hat quiz. I didn't have to cheat to get the house I wanted!
I'm from Ravenclaw!
Hogwart's Sorting Hat Quiz
made by The Genki Gang
I always thought Ravenclaw sounded cool, and I'm most comfortable around people of the nerdy smart variety. Perhaps this is the appeal of Ravenclaw: nerds of a feather flock together to feel slightly better about their lack of cool and leather. (Anyone who can come up with a better rhyme, please do so. (-:)
2.05.2005
Chillin'
We saw this cute guy lolling happily in the remains of our rapidly melting snow while visiting the Philadelphia Zoo this morning. When the forecast was for mid-50s temperatures, we decided to take advantage of the relative balminess and our membership pass to have a little fun family time. It felt especially deserved after our attempts to have family fun time the previous evening fell pretty flat (see Joel's blog for details).
We saw this cute guy lolling happily in the remains of our rapidly melting snow while visiting the Philadelphia Zoo this morning. When the forecast was for mid-50s temperatures, we decided to take advantage of the relative balminess and our membership pass to have a little fun family time. It felt especially deserved after our attempts to have family fun time the previous evening fell pretty flat (see Joel's blog for details).
2.04.2005
Twenty five years of laundry
I'm not sure whether to be embarrassed or proud of the fact that I have been practicing the fine art of laundering for 25 years. My mother went back to work when I was 10 and began training me hard to be the domestic queen I am today. She practiced that old school of parenting in which it was essential for children to not grow up helpless, but be able to function as adults before reaching college age.
I took over all responsibility for the family laundry at age 11. With adequate training, this really is a pretty easy chore, even for a preteen (and anyone else at least as smart as a 5th grader, such as spoiled husbands). Not that I didn't have a few mishaps in the beginning--a wool sweater wound up toddler sized, I had occassional dripped bleach and a sneaky black sock once turned a load of whites gray.
Rather than wax nostalgic about washing peasant dresses and terry cloth shirts, I thought I'd celebrate this anniversary year by sharing some of my best laundry tips.
Best time savers
+ Don't handwash hoisery. Invest in some mesh lingerie bags (try Target or Walmart). Stick the hose in the bag and wash with your regular laundry. Wash light colors in warm and darks in cold. Hang to dry on a drying rack or on a plastic hanger.
+ Most "handwash" sweaters can be washed on delicate cycle in the machine, if they are colorfast (dye does not bleed when you get a small section wet and squeeze it). Turn the sweater inside out (to prevent friction pills) and wash in a large lingerie bag or pillowcase tied closed. Wool items seem to shrink no matter how you wash them, so use the machine, but be sure to reshape the item as it drip dries. (Personally, I save time by having wool sweaters bulk dry cleaned by the pound.)
+ Items that aren't colorfast must be handwashed, but forget about squeezing or wringing. After washing and rinsing in the sink, put the lone wet item in the machine and run it through the spin cycle.
+ If you have some consistent types of stains (baby spit up, toddler food drips, grungy socks) you can save time by soaking big vats of stained stuff for 8 to 24 hours in oxyclean or borax or bleach instead of pretreating individual stains.
+ Items labeled "drip dry" or "lay flat to dry" can be helped along by running through a second spin cycle and/or drying on low heat in the dryer for just a few minutes (too hot or too long will cause shrinkage). Caveat: never put wool in the dryer.
+ Speed drying times by mixing the weights of fabrics in the load. A load of all towels, for example, dries far slower than towels mixed with sheets and Tshirts.
+ Unless you have run out of clean clothes, wait until you have full loads before washing. You just waste time and money running the machine half full twice as often.
...stay tuned for more tips in this continuing series.
I'm not sure whether to be embarrassed or proud of the fact that I have been practicing the fine art of laundering for 25 years. My mother went back to work when I was 10 and began training me hard to be the domestic queen I am today. She practiced that old school of parenting in which it was essential for children to not grow up helpless, but be able to function as adults before reaching college age.
I took over all responsibility for the family laundry at age 11. With adequate training, this really is a pretty easy chore, even for a preteen (and anyone else at least as smart as a 5th grader, such as spoiled husbands). Not that I didn't have a few mishaps in the beginning--a wool sweater wound up toddler sized, I had occassional dripped bleach and a sneaky black sock once turned a load of whites gray.
Rather than wax nostalgic about washing peasant dresses and terry cloth shirts, I thought I'd celebrate this anniversary year by sharing some of my best laundry tips.
Best time savers
+ Don't handwash hoisery. Invest in some mesh lingerie bags (try Target or Walmart). Stick the hose in the bag and wash with your regular laundry. Wash light colors in warm and darks in cold. Hang to dry on a drying rack or on a plastic hanger.
+ Most "handwash" sweaters can be washed on delicate cycle in the machine, if they are colorfast (dye does not bleed when you get a small section wet and squeeze it). Turn the sweater inside out (to prevent friction pills) and wash in a large lingerie bag or pillowcase tied closed. Wool items seem to shrink no matter how you wash them, so use the machine, but be sure to reshape the item as it drip dries. (Personally, I save time by having wool sweaters bulk dry cleaned by the pound.)
+ Items that aren't colorfast must be handwashed, but forget about squeezing or wringing. After washing and rinsing in the sink, put the lone wet item in the machine and run it through the spin cycle.
+ If you have some consistent types of stains (baby spit up, toddler food drips, grungy socks) you can save time by soaking big vats of stained stuff for 8 to 24 hours in oxyclean or borax or bleach instead of pretreating individual stains.
+ Items labeled "drip dry" or "lay flat to dry" can be helped along by running through a second spin cycle and/or drying on low heat in the dryer for just a few minutes (too hot or too long will cause shrinkage). Caveat: never put wool in the dryer.
+ Speed drying times by mixing the weights of fabrics in the load. A load of all towels, for example, dries far slower than towels mixed with sheets and Tshirts.
+ Unless you have run out of clean clothes, wait until you have full loads before washing. You just waste time and money running the machine half full twice as often.
...stay tuned for more tips in this continuing series.
1.31.2005
Bad Mommy
Nothing makes a parent feel worse than knowing you've caused harm to your child.
Poor Claire had a terrible rash all over her torso on Saturday that I didn't discover until fairly late in the day. I rushed to my Practical Pediatrician book to try to figure out what was wrong. Joel said, "looks like hives to me."
Hives. Ugh. Not another allergy to figure out! This summer she proved to be allergic to raw tomatoes. Could this be a food allergy? Hmm, those give you hives all over. Her rash was only on the chest and back and stopped at the diaper line.
Epiphany: evil new undershirt! Gerber onsies come nice and stiff from the pack thanks to some sort of starch or sizing. Claire's allergic to that.
Fortunately, her rash cleared up by this morning with a bath, benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. I was somewhat heditant to put her in Sunday School yesterday, mostly because of my fears about what her teachers might think of my parenting. What good mother gives her children rashes? Well, my pride be darned, she loves her class, so off she went with a note from Bad Mommy that she's not contagious, just sensitive skinned.
Now I know to prewash anything new that's stiff. Doh!
Nothing makes a parent feel worse than knowing you've caused harm to your child.
Poor Claire had a terrible rash all over her torso on Saturday that I didn't discover until fairly late in the day. I rushed to my Practical Pediatrician book to try to figure out what was wrong. Joel said, "looks like hives to me."
Hives. Ugh. Not another allergy to figure out! This summer she proved to be allergic to raw tomatoes. Could this be a food allergy? Hmm, those give you hives all over. Her rash was only on the chest and back and stopped at the diaper line.
Epiphany: evil new undershirt! Gerber onsies come nice and stiff from the pack thanks to some sort of starch or sizing. Claire's allergic to that.
Fortunately, her rash cleared up by this morning with a bath, benadryl and hydrocortisone cream. I was somewhat heditant to put her in Sunday School yesterday, mostly because of my fears about what her teachers might think of my parenting. What good mother gives her children rashes? Well, my pride be darned, she loves her class, so off she went with a note from Bad Mommy that she's not contagious, just sensitive skinned.
Now I know to prewash anything new that's stiff. Doh!
1.27.2005
Infinite capacity for self-deception
I recently finished re-reading Susan Howatch's Scandalous Risks, the only of her Church of England series with a female narrator. The story dovetailed well with the Bible study lesson I prepared this week on Matthew 5:27-32.
Venetia Flaxton, a noblewoman in her 20s, strikes up an unusual friendship with one of her father's friends, a 61-year-old married clergyman. When they begin corresponding about her spiritual questions, trouble begins. Emotional entanglement ensues, and the two of them also begin stealing moments of passionate hndholding, then embraces, then kissing, then petting. The clergyman Aysgarth uses an emerging strand of liberal theology to justify the relationship. In his mind, they love each other, and as long as there is no int3rc0urse, there is no adultery.
This line of reasoning is exactly what Jesus denounces in the Sermon on the Mount. Sexual sin is much more a slippery slope than Aysgarth would like to think. Even without "technical" adultery, the relationship is very destructive, especially to Venetia, a spiritually confused young woman who most needed guidance, not manipulation and exploitation. Because he wouldn't metaphorically "cut off his hands" and give up the companionship, intellectual stimulation and joy of the inappropriate friendship, he ends up in a kind of hell. He wrecks his career and watches several of his children slowly self-destruct. Even when Venetia does find the strength and support to cut off the relationship, she also ends up in a kind of hell. She marries a man she doesn't love to protect Aysgarth, and ends up in self-destructive despair.
The women at my Bible study got into some really good discussion about what it might mean for us to "pluck out our eyes" or "cut off our hands" to avoid temptation. One person mentioned leaving a good job because a coworker flirts with you. Another mentioned cancelling cable and buying filtering software for the computer.
Because Scandalous Risks tackles the slippery slope of infidelity in an unsalacious (yet very readable) manner, I found it a good antidote to the junk I really should stop watching on TV.
I recently finished re-reading Susan Howatch's Scandalous Risks, the only of her Church of England series with a female narrator. The story dovetailed well with the Bible study lesson I prepared this week on Matthew 5:27-32.
Venetia Flaxton, a noblewoman in her 20s, strikes up an unusual friendship with one of her father's friends, a 61-year-old married clergyman. When they begin corresponding about her spiritual questions, trouble begins. Emotional entanglement ensues, and the two of them also begin stealing moments of passionate hndholding, then embraces, then kissing, then petting. The clergyman Aysgarth uses an emerging strand of liberal theology to justify the relationship. In his mind, they love each other, and as long as there is no int3rc0urse, there is no adultery.
This line of reasoning is exactly what Jesus denounces in the Sermon on the Mount. Sexual sin is much more a slippery slope than Aysgarth would like to think. Even without "technical" adultery, the relationship is very destructive, especially to Venetia, a spiritually confused young woman who most needed guidance, not manipulation and exploitation. Because he wouldn't metaphorically "cut off his hands" and give up the companionship, intellectual stimulation and joy of the inappropriate friendship, he ends up in a kind of hell. He wrecks his career and watches several of his children slowly self-destruct. Even when Venetia does find the strength and support to cut off the relationship, she also ends up in a kind of hell. She marries a man she doesn't love to protect Aysgarth, and ends up in self-destructive despair.
The women at my Bible study got into some really good discussion about what it might mean for us to "pluck out our eyes" or "cut off our hands" to avoid temptation. One person mentioned leaving a good job because a coworker flirts with you. Another mentioned cancelling cable and buying filtering software for the computer.
Because Scandalous Risks tackles the slippery slope of infidelity in an unsalacious (yet very readable) manner, I found it a good antidote to the junk I really should stop watching on TV.
1.25.2005
Contenders
When the Oscar nominations were announced this morning, I realized I'd seen almost none of the films. I do have an opinion about one category, however: Animated Feature.
My vote goes strongly for The Incredibles. The premise is tied to a genre, yet is so fresh and original that it definitely deserves the nomination for best original screenplay. The humor is multi-level, full of slapstick for the kids (and Stooges fans), snappy one liners, and humorous allusions to film, literature and pop culture. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard during a film.
At the same time, the film delivers action-packed suspense and touching relationships between characters. I found the morals of loyalty, bravery, community and responsibility put forward without the story getting mired down or seeming preachy. It drove home the evils of envy: the villan is a brilliant inventor who could be using his gifts to the betterment of humanity, but he ends of driven mad by his envy of others' innate gifts, to his ultimate destruction.
Please weigh in on your favorite among the nominees: A Shark's Tale, Shrek 2 or The Incredibles.
When the Oscar nominations were announced this morning, I realized I'd seen almost none of the films. I do have an opinion about one category, however: Animated Feature.
My vote goes strongly for The Incredibles. The premise is tied to a genre, yet is so fresh and original that it definitely deserves the nomination for best original screenplay. The humor is multi-level, full of slapstick for the kids (and Stooges fans), snappy one liners, and humorous allusions to film, literature and pop culture. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard during a film.
At the same time, the film delivers action-packed suspense and touching relationships between characters. I found the morals of loyalty, bravery, community and responsibility put forward without the story getting mired down or seeming preachy. It drove home the evils of envy: the villan is a brilliant inventor who could be using his gifts to the betterment of humanity, but he ends of driven mad by his envy of others' innate gifts, to his ultimate destruction.
Please weigh in on your favorite among the nominees: A Shark's Tale, Shrek 2 or The Incredibles.
1.23.2005
Snow days!
We're kicking back and enjoying our first big snowstorm of the season. The first flakes began yesterday morning, as we watched a flock of corpulent robins take up residence in our juniper tree (below).
Between bouts of gorging themselves on the ripe, silvery-blue berries, the jolly birds perched alternately on the porch rails or rocking chairs and fluffed up their feathers to even more rotund proportions. How fun to offer hospitality so effortlessly.
This morning we missed attending church because the roads were treacherous, public transit is offering only spotty service and it was far to cold to wait for a train that might never come. We did a shortened version of morning prayer at home with Claire, followed by some Sunday-school type crafts based on Daniel 3 (the young men rescued from the firey furnace). Claire had a great time making "stained glass" fire pictures by melting old crayons on a warming tray and transferring the wax onto sheets of thin paper. We also listened to a live webcast of the sermon at Tenth.
After lunch, it was time to do some shoveling and let Claire play in the snow a bit.
I made the mistake of letting Nicky come outside without a leash. He took off in a blind run up the street, with me in hot pursuit. The more I called him, the faster he ran. He ran out in front of two cars, which fortunately stopped to let the demented dog and screeching woman pass. He then darted down the footpath into woodsy Wissahickon Park. The snow was too deep for me to follow very far.
In an act of desparation, I flopped down on my back there in the woods and pretended to be hurt to get him to come near enough to grab by the collar. This too proved fairly fruitless. He came within 10 feet then proceeded to bark and bark and bark at me, as if to say "C'mon, Mom, let's play tag some more!"
I got to my knees and begged the dog to come, my fury finally spent. More barking.
With no other ideas of how to capture Nicky, I got up and started clambering up the trail toward home. He eagerly followed and I finally got hold of his collar. The next back-aching block, I held tight to his collar and brought my chastened pup home.
I think I need a nap now.
We're kicking back and enjoying our first big snowstorm of the season. The first flakes began yesterday morning, as we watched a flock of corpulent robins take up residence in our juniper tree (below).
Between bouts of gorging themselves on the ripe, silvery-blue berries, the jolly birds perched alternately on the porch rails or rocking chairs and fluffed up their feathers to even more rotund proportions. How fun to offer hospitality so effortlessly.
This morning we missed attending church because the roads were treacherous, public transit is offering only spotty service and it was far to cold to wait for a train that might never come. We did a shortened version of morning prayer at home with Claire, followed by some Sunday-school type crafts based on Daniel 3 (the young men rescued from the firey furnace). Claire had a great time making "stained glass" fire pictures by melting old crayons on a warming tray and transferring the wax onto sheets of thin paper. We also listened to a live webcast of the sermon at Tenth.
After lunch, it was time to do some shoveling and let Claire play in the snow a bit.
I made the mistake of letting Nicky come outside without a leash. He took off in a blind run up the street, with me in hot pursuit. The more I called him, the faster he ran. He ran out in front of two cars, which fortunately stopped to let the demented dog and screeching woman pass. He then darted down the footpath into woodsy Wissahickon Park. The snow was too deep for me to follow very far.
In an act of desparation, I flopped down on my back there in the woods and pretended to be hurt to get him to come near enough to grab by the collar. This too proved fairly fruitless. He came within 10 feet then proceeded to bark and bark and bark at me, as if to say "C'mon, Mom, let's play tag some more!"
I got to my knees and begged the dog to come, my fury finally spent. More barking.
With no other ideas of how to capture Nicky, I got up and started clambering up the trail toward home. He eagerly followed and I finally got hold of his collar. The next back-aching block, I held tight to his collar and brought my chastened pup home.
I think I need a nap now.
1.18.2005
Alas
My poor tulips are unlikely to survive this winter. They were sadly tricked into pushing up out of the soil over the past few weeks when our temperatures were as high as the low 60s. (In fact, I've hung out laundry four times this month, which I never do unless the temp is above 55 and sunny.) Tonight the temperature is slated to fall to 6 degrees, so I hold little hope for those tender little shoots, despite my attempts to provide a little insulation with mulch.
Sigh.
My poor tulips are unlikely to survive this winter. They were sadly tricked into pushing up out of the soil over the past few weeks when our temperatures were as high as the low 60s. (In fact, I've hung out laundry four times this month, which I never do unless the temp is above 55 and sunny.) Tonight the temperature is slated to fall to 6 degrees, so I hold little hope for those tender little shoots, despite my attempts to provide a little insulation with mulch.
Sigh.
1.16.2005
Gulp
I've been sick for nearly a week now with some sort of infection that seems especially to be attacking my throat and tonsills. After poring over our home medical guides, I'm pretty sure it's not strep throat because of the lack of tell-tale white patches in the throat. It's likely a virus that I'll simply have to ride out.
I've had strep only once in my life, back in 1986 (nearly 20 years ago, double gulp!). How foolish I used to be about illness back then. I remember putting in full days at school, going to my part-time job and even participating in the county band festival with hellfire burning in my throat.
I wonder how many customers and musicians I infected in my stupidity. Granted, going to county band was a HUGE deal for a mallet percussionist, as there were only two spots and like 10 school districts to draw from. At the time, it seemed completely worthwhile to run myself into the ground.
How we suffer for our art.
I've been sick for nearly a week now with some sort of infection that seems especially to be attacking my throat and tonsills. After poring over our home medical guides, I'm pretty sure it's not strep throat because of the lack of tell-tale white patches in the throat. It's likely a virus that I'll simply have to ride out.
I've had strep only once in my life, back in 1986 (nearly 20 years ago, double gulp!). How foolish I used to be about illness back then. I remember putting in full days at school, going to my part-time job and even participating in the county band festival with hellfire burning in my throat.
I wonder how many customers and musicians I infected in my stupidity. Granted, going to county band was a HUGE deal for a mallet percussionist, as there were only two spots and like 10 school districts to draw from. At the time, it seemed completely worthwhile to run myself into the ground.
How we suffer for our art.
1.10.2005
Pumpkin
Wondering what to do with those extra cans of pumpkin puree you bought at super bargain prices over the holidays? Try my perennial favorite quick bread recipe that yields best results if frozen first--a great timesaver when preparing for a brunch, or, in my case, snack for a 70-member choir.
Supermoist Pumpkin Bread
yield: 2 loaves prep time: 20 minutes bake time: 60-70 minutes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 standard 9"x5"x3" loaf pans (or 3 smaller 8.5"x4.5"x2.5" pans).
Cream together until fluffy:
2/3 C shortening
2 2/3 C sugar
Stir in:
4 eggs
2/3 C water
16 oz. (2 C) canned pumpkin puree
In a separate bowl, sift together:
3 1/3 C flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. If desired, add 2/3 C raisins.
Pour batter into greased pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes (less time for smaller or dark metal pans). Bread is done when inserted knife or tester comes out clean.
Cool bread for 20 minutes, remove from pans, wrap in foil and freeze overnight or until needed (up to 1 month). Thaw and enjoy!
Other hints:
Most canned pumpkin comes in 29 oz. cans, which would yield a recipe and a half, with a little waste. The above recipe can be halved easily, except the flour is trickier--use 2.5 Tbsp and you'll have approximately 1/6 of a cup. Alternately, freeze the extra cup of pumpkin puree for later use.
Wondering what to do with those extra cans of pumpkin puree you bought at super bargain prices over the holidays? Try my perennial favorite quick bread recipe that yields best results if frozen first--a great timesaver when preparing for a brunch, or, in my case, snack for a 70-member choir.
Supermoist Pumpkin Bread
yield: 2 loaves prep time: 20 minutes bake time: 60-70 minutes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 standard 9"x5"x3" loaf pans (or 3 smaller 8.5"x4.5"x2.5" pans).
Cream together until fluffy:
2/3 C shortening
2 2/3 C sugar
Stir in:
4 eggs
2/3 C water
16 oz. (2 C) canned pumpkin puree
In a separate bowl, sift together:
3 1/3 C flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. If desired, add 2/3 C raisins.
Pour batter into greased pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes (less time for smaller or dark metal pans). Bread is done when inserted knife or tester comes out clean.
Cool bread for 20 minutes, remove from pans, wrap in foil and freeze overnight or until needed (up to 1 month). Thaw and enjoy!
Other hints:
Most canned pumpkin comes in 29 oz. cans, which would yield a recipe and a half, with a little waste. The above recipe can be halved easily, except the flour is trickier--use 2.5 Tbsp and you'll have approximately 1/6 of a cup. Alternately, freeze the extra cup of pumpkin puree for later use.
1.08.2005
Wow
I haven't blogged in so long, I'd nearly forgotten my login for the blogger site. Now that we have a laptop (that my husband is supposed to share), I thought it was about time to drop into the blogosphere again. (Dawn and Valerie have something to do with it too.)
I don't have any really great excuse for not blogging other than that I'd grown somewhat bored with it. I also suffer from the curse of the youngest child--having been told by older siblings for so long that I'm pestering them, I've begun to believe that no one is particularly interested in what I have to say. This is not reallly a conducive attitude for blogging.
Blogging requires a certain amount of chutzpa that has been more on the wane in my personality of late. I am constantly humbled in my attempts at parenting. Despite best laid plans, my daughter does not always sleep when I want her to, wear the outfits I pick, or eat the nutritious fare I prepare. Housekeeping is also very humbling. I can vacuum and dust and tidy with the best of then, only to have toys and fingerprints and dog fur reappear in a matter of hours or minutes.
I am deeply living in the experience that I am nothing, and yet, I am the glue that holds my home and family together.
I haven't blogged in so long, I'd nearly forgotten my login for the blogger site. Now that we have a laptop (that my husband is supposed to share), I thought it was about time to drop into the blogosphere again. (Dawn and Valerie have something to do with it too.)
I don't have any really great excuse for not blogging other than that I'd grown somewhat bored with it. I also suffer from the curse of the youngest child--having been told by older siblings for so long that I'm pestering them, I've begun to believe that no one is particularly interested in what I have to say. This is not reallly a conducive attitude for blogging.
Blogging requires a certain amount of chutzpa that has been more on the wane in my personality of late. I am constantly humbled in my attempts at parenting. Despite best laid plans, my daughter does not always sleep when I want her to, wear the outfits I pick, or eat the nutritious fare I prepare. Housekeeping is also very humbling. I can vacuum and dust and tidy with the best of then, only to have toys and fingerprints and dog fur reappear in a matter of hours or minutes.
I am deeply living in the experience that I am nothing, and yet, I am the glue that holds my home and family together.
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