A hipster beard? A swarthy look? Some pretty nicely airbrushed skin?
Nope. Well, actually yes to all of the above. But I guess also we’re supposed to assume he has syphilis.
I’m shaking my head at the concept behind this ad. But it was fun laughing out loud.
I felt a profound sense of relief as this movie ended.* I loved the plot,** I loved the new characters, I thought the old characters were seamlessly integrated, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next feature brings, and I gasped aloud twice.*** Also!, I’m excited that Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were the main characters for the new franchise because they seem interesting to watch.
Cost: $5.00 (It was $5.00 Sunday! I thought they might have an exception for this film, but they didn’t!)
Where watched: Regal Vancouver City Center Stadium 12 with Matt. (And a gaggle of unruly ten-year-old-boys with no apparent adult minder in sight.)
*I had no idea how worried I was that it wasn’t going to be very good.
**Rehash of A New Hope? Don’t care! Still liked it!
***Once when a certain someone took of his mask (This was where my media blackout paid off, as I had no idea who the actor behind the mask was. I love that actor!) once when, well, you know.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2015/star_wars_episode_vii__the_force_awakens_ver3.html
I get to go to not one, but TWO Mock-Printz discussion groups this year. The Printz is the award given for exceptional YA literature. It’s like the Newberry or the Caldacot Medal.
Here is the summary and results:
https://multcolib.org/blog/20151226/hollywood-librarys-teen-2016-mock-printz
I often make fun of Parade Magazine, but this picture was my favorite part of today’s paper. The couple (Darth Vader and the Stormtrooper) met because of Star Wars, and three generations of the family will go together to see the new movie. The couple’s plans were quite extensive, with viewings with various family members on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Let’s hope the movie isn’t a stinker.
And this was my second favorite part of the newspaper, for different reasons. Can you imagine how many of these are going to be bought by women of a certain age who have no idea what to get their sons of a certain age for Christmas? I have no idea how Star Wars merchandising has escaped the backlash that accompanies other features. (coughDisneycough).
My favorite parts of this ad: “Strong demand expected!” “Arrives with a FREE light bulb.”
I checked to see if my brother wanted one. Surprisingly he declined.
I have no idea how I got on this mailing list, because we are not a match. C.C. Filson Co. may have got their start outfitting miners, prospectors and lumbermen in Seattle, but they have strayed far from their roots. $300 for a flannel shirt? You know where the last few miners, prospectors and lumbermen buy their shirts? Walmart. Because that’s what they can afford. You know who buys $300 flannel shirts? Software engineers who think they are the same ilk as miners, prospectors and lumbermen. And they aren’t. So don’t pretend they are.
And every modern outdoorsman needs a bag for his tablet and computer. Grrrr.
(I liked quite a few of their tablet and computer bags, but again, not my price range.)
Back in the day (c.1998-1999) I worked for Bread and Circus Whole Food Market, which was the official name of the Whole Foods stores in the Boston area. I worked in Prepared Foods, which meant I wore an apron and a chef’s jacket every day. We worked right in front of the ovens and though most of the case was refrigerated, there was also the hot case. I was always moving, whether to restock or to get a customer just the right amount of Mexican Casserole. I also (and still do) sweat a lot.
So I always wore tank tops to this job, even in the dead of winter. (I had a sweater I would wear over the tank top during transit to and from.) One day, I put on a shirt with sleeves, thinking it would be okay. It wasn’t and on my first break, I bought this tank top from the nutrition area so I could make it through the rest of the day.
This is my last wardrobe item from my time at Bread and Circus. I outgrew it years ago (I mean it fits, but really it just “fits”) but kept it because I liked the feel of the functional organic cotton, even if I was just brushing by it in my drawer.
Farewell soft cotton tank top. You are an end of an era.
Wow, it was a good month for reading.
Picture books: Leo, a Ghost Story
Middle readers: both I have listed below, but if you are going to go for one, go for The Nest.
Young Adult: Again, a really good selection. Either Dumplin, or All American Boys
Young Nonfiction: Again all are good. I’ll go with My Seneca Village
Smart Smut: Real World
Grownup Nonfiction: Between the World and Me (and not just because it’s the only one)
Grownup Fiction: Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Leo A Ghost Story
Barnett Robinson
Read for Librarian Book Group
I’m a sucker for these illustrations.
The Marvels
Brian Selznick
Read for Librarian Book Group
Beautifully illustrated and cleverly written.
The Nest
Kenneth Oppel
Read for Librarian Book Group
Super creepy in that delightful way. Is our main character a little crazy, or are angels talking to him? And what’s up with those wasps? This was a thrilling middle reader.
X: A Novel
Ilyasah Shabazz & Kelka Magoon (sp)
Read for Mock Printz
An earlier attempt to read the Autobiography of Malcolm X crashed and burned due to dry prose, so I was leery of this novel. But I need not have worried. This story of Malcom Little’s teenage years was engrossing and full of period detail. It was fascinating to watch the growth and changes from his mid-teens to his early twenties. I happened to be reading Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me at the same time and the two books were good companions to each other.
Dumplin’
Julie Murphy
Read for Librarian Book Group
Dumplin’ is a pleasure from start to finish, encompassing so many things about body identity and being overweight as a teenager. I loved this book.
Tonight the Streets are Ours
Leila Sales
I love Sales continued exploration of female friendships. This book also explores finding the truth behind the face that people are presenting to the pubic.
All American Boys
Reynolds/Kiely
Read for Librarian Book Group
Ah, so relevant, which is depressing given that you can’t really write and publish a book overnight. Told by two authors, from two points of view. We meet Rashad, a black artist and ROTC student, who due to random unfortunate circumstances that mostly have to do with him being Black, is severely beaten by a white police officer. The police officer is a big-brother figure to Quinn, a white kid from the neighborhood who witnesses the beating.
From there we travel with our main characters through a variety of feelings about race and loyalty and fair/unfairness. It’s a brutal book, a hopeful book, and an uncomfortable book. It’s a book I think you should read.
(The authors were featured on NPR in January 2016. You can find the link here.)
Funny Bones
Duncan Tonatiuh
Read for Librarian Book Group
I recognized the iconography, and it was fun to find out it was the work of one man. Excellent font usage and very good illustrations.
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer
CB Weatherford
Read for Librarian Book Group
Picture book story of Hamer, who I had not heard of. Brings up difficult important parts of her story with truth and in a way that young readers can understand. The illustrations complimented the text.
How to Swallow a Pig
Jenkins/Page
Read for Librarian Book Group
I’m the kind of person who loves to learn how to do things. Even things I’m never going to do. This book hit a sweet spot that few books can. I know now how to swallow a pig and so much more.
Rhythm Ride
Andrea Davis Pinkney
Read for Librarian Book Group
Sit back and go for a journey of Motown’s story with a velvet-voiced DJ. I loved the level of detail and there were so many small facts I delighted in. They layout was good, with ample pictures. The voice of the DJ totally worked for me. Certain things in Motown’s history were glossed-glossed-glossed over, but as this is more of an appreciation of Motown than a down-and-dirty history, I rolled with it.
I read this with my phone handy, so I could listen to the songs I wasn’t familiar with. I found them all on YouTube, most without commercials.
My Seneca Village
Marilyn Nelson
Read for Librarian Book Group
I loved both the concept and the execution of this book of short poems inspired by Nelson’s research about Seneca Village, which now is known as Central Park in New York City, but prior to the 1850s was a diverse community of free blacks, Irish immigrants and others.
Nelson’s poems are easily accessible for tweens and above. I would suggest reading the book in one sitting (completely doable) so as to best follow the through-line of the stories.
You can read more about Seneca Village here: http://www.npr.org/sections/theprotojournalist/2014/05/06/309727058/the-lost-village-in-new-york-city
Real World
Amy Jo Cousins
Cousins has stated that Tom and Reese are her two favorite characters and she wrote this book to give them their happily ever after. I’m also a fan of Tom and Reese and was happy to read their happily ever after. But I think Cousins’s love of Tom and Reese got in the way of dramatic tension in the book. It’s a pleasant ride, especially if you aren’t looking for any drama.
Between the World and Me
Ta-nehisi Coates
The entire time I was reading this book I wondered what I would write about it. A friend’s review “Read this book!” is spot-on. Coates got me to see the world differently.
Where’d You Go Bernadette?
Maria Semple
I always check out what’s available in the (many) Little Free Libraries I pass in my travels, but I rarely bring anything home. This was the exception as I’d heard good things and didn’t have a ton to read.
It was so good! Not in that National Book Award way, but in that way where you take comfort from the first page because you know the author is in control of the story and you know it’s going to be fun wherever she takes you.
Also, I love to hate Seattle,* so Bernadette and I got along great.
*Sorry Seattle. You just aren’t as cool as you think you are.
Total movies watched: 16
Words & Pictures
“Grownup” love story and a good meditation on teaching.
The Intern
Way more complex than I thought it would be, with great characters and a female-centered plot.
42
Hard to watch biopic of Jackie Robinson.
All the President’s Men
Great Redford/Hoffman pairing, and one of THE best newspaper movies.
Spotlight
Another amazing newspaper movie with great acting and frustrating subject matter.
Brooklyn
Possibly the most perfect movie I’ve seen this year.
Alien
It’s a classic for a reason. And there’s a subplot with a cat.
All the Real Girls
Realistic portrayal of early 20s bumbling in love that also captures the beauty of a small mill town.
I found this red 50s swing cost many years ago and it’s been my go-to “theater” coat for years. It’s got 3/4 sleeves, and it always makes me wish I had long gloves to go with it. I love the button closure at the top and the material. However, I have a good winter coat (that is actually warm) to wear to the “theater”, so I think it’s time for this coat to find a new owner.
I’m terribly sorry that I only have a blurry picture of the Recess Coat. I bought this years ago at the William Temple Thrift store, because it was reversible. I’m a sucker for a reversible coat. It was also obnxoious in it’s fake fur nature. It kind of sat around for a few years until I got the job at The Emerson School which came with recess duty as one of its requirements. This coat then migrated to school and was always ready to keep me warm. I always accesorized it with those $1.00 stretchy gloves from Fred Meyer and some chapstick. The white card was my laminated “bug and a wish”* reminder to use with the kindergartners. With it, I wore a wool hat (which I am not getting rid of) that I bought at the Council Crest Thrift Store. This coat kept me warm during many a cold and rainy recess. When the weather would warm, I would joke that I’d look like a crazy person, because I would still wear the heavy coat. Because standing outside in shade for 45 minutes is still chilly, even on a sixty degree day.
As I do not have recess duty any longer, it’s time for this most excellent coat to find a new home. Note that it took me almost two months to part with this coat. We’ve had a good partnership.
*It really BUGS me when you [follow me around]. I WISH you would [stop following me around])
Was I going to like this movie as much on second viewing as I did on the first?* It’s still one of the most realistic depictions of a relationship I’ve ever seen and both Zooey Deschanel and Paul Schneider are perfect (even though they are too old to play their characters). Also, the angry clowning at the hospital is still one of the best mother-son interactions I’ve ever seen captured on film.
Cost: $4.00
Where watched: PSU Cinema
* Yes, it turns out, I was. And it looked great on a big screen.
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/2003/all_the_real_girls.html
