#39 Send Four Items to be Professionally Finished

Two down. I can highly recommend Mona, finisher for The Silver Needle.

#33 No TV

Well, we've done it! This morning I turned on the television to check the weather but only left it on for about 5 minutes. And thus ends an experiment. The only time I missed watching was when I realized this weekend was the NFL draft. I can't believe these two events coincided. I have watched the draft--both days--for years. One year I even recorded all the data, but that was when I had a former student who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

We just fired up the magic box and reviewed the lists of draftees. It wasn't as good as watching but I got the information just the same. I think we may have relied on the computer too much as a substitute for the television, though. I drew the line and didn't watch any television on the computer. Maybe next time we'll have to ban the computer too. In the evenings anyway.

#33 Go without tv for one week--in season

It's National Turn off Your TV Week. We didn't watch tv yesterday because the contractor came to give the estimate, so today on the El I asked the dude if he wanted to turn off the tv this week. "Can I record things?" he asked. I don't think there are official rules about never seeing this week's World Poker Tour or CSI so I told him he could set the DVR. I think I should switch off the power strip that powers the tv. That seems like an appropriately Earth-y Day thing to do today too.

Counter Balance

We had a contractor come give us an estimate to replace the kitchen counters. My parents are buying that for us as a housewarming gift. We're so sad that it's two years in and we're finally getting around to it. We got a quote for replacing the backsplash at the same time but it sounds really.effing.high. I've got to call around, but the ball is rolling...

#15: Bonk

I loved this book: I am interested in science; I think everything should be seen through the most humorous lens; and I, like most people, am a voyeur at heart. The other day at an office gathering I regaled someone for 15 minutes with stories from this book about penises. Because we're fascinated by sex. All of us. Even the ones who pretend otherwise. Of course, you don't want anyone telling you about their sex life, but read about Kinsey's proclivities and what he did with toothbrushes, sure. (When I was reading this at the lunch counter of a Korean restaurant, this guy next to me started talking to his friend next to him about this hook up he had had over the weekend and how much he regretted it. I so wanted to say, "this book says she really regrets hooking up with you too." Because really, what kind of guy does that? And he wasn't even that good looking. But I digress.)

I read it in two days. Which just goes to show, there is something really wrong with that influenza book that I cannot get through it. And I have done research on what this college I work for did during the epidemic of 1918. Philadelphia was pretty hard hit because their public health organization (and the local government then as now) was totally corrupt. You'd think that book wouldn't be such a yawn.

I have to go back to the library and get Stiff.

non-fiction: 4.5

Neglect

I've been neglecting this little endeavor. I think it's because my time draws near, and I have no motivation.

Here's another wreath I made from silk forsythia, or, as I would have it fauxythia:


I watched Yankee Doodle Dandy which is on the AFI top 100 list that I am trying to complete. It was long, tedious, and predictable, but Cagney, godblesshim, was doing quite a job. Sometimes you could almost see his eyes pleading with the other actors to show a little more life. Unfortunately, he played a song and dance man but he could neither sing nor dance. I also started watching The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Sometimes I felt like I was out in the desert digging for treasure with them: bored, hot, tired. I'm not one who needs a snappy film. I love Chinatown. Do you know how slowly that movie goes? I enjoyed The Conversation. I don't need all kinds of action. But boy howdy, I've been disappointed in the AFI's 100 best that I've watched so far. (There were about 50 that I had seen before and quite enjoyed. Maybe I didn't see the others for a Very.Good.Reason.)

I still haven't finished The Great Influenza. I don't know what is wrong with that book. I really enjoy medical history; I work at a frickin' medical school. I think it's the organization. Anyway, I wish I could count it among my non-fiction finishes, but no such. I finally went and got something different to read: Bonk by Mary Roach. If sex doesn't interest me...oh yeah.