I put the vellux blanket on the bed yesterday. We'll hang the blankets that go behind our den curtains for more insulation tonight. One of the two insulation companies that I e-mailed over the weekend got back to me yesterday and is coming out for a quote on Friday - I can't wait. This is one of those home repairs that I've always wanted to do, but is such an unexciting thing to be spending money on.

Mom and Dad were throwing out their old avocado green (Sears) pressure cooker. I don't even remember this getting use in our house - I was so young when they had the big garden in Wellesley which was apparently why they bought it back then. I just might get some canning done after all, but we shall see. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to the farmer's market again with my ballet classes starting up again amongst other plans but we had room for the thing on a shelf in the basement and we have a small selection of jars to use, so if the opportunity presents itself I'll be ready (minus some pectin or something). I may start small and try and make some pickles, but that would be a bit unfair to Brian since he really hates the things. Can you suggest a good book/cookbook for canning? I did have one, but after flipping through last night it only provides a minimal 'how to' section and then a bunch of recipes for exotic things I'd never eat (I put it into the "stuff to donate" box).

Mom and Dad are bringing their cats over to hang out on our porch tonight while the house is shown again. Isn't it convenient that we've created a 'cataquarium' for them just 5 blocks away?

I'm amazed at the amount of drama that can come from a Star Wars costuming group sometimes. Life is far too short.

Eckhart Tolle's "Power of Now" is very much a repeat of A New Earth, only not as well written/flushed out it seems (it makes sense, because 'Now' preceded 'Earth'). I'm guessing it will be returned to the library within the week and I'll get back to my Dresden Files reading.

I'm reading a book of that title by http://www.davewann.com/ and thus far its been very inspiring. I'll post a full review when I'm finished.

It did serve to remind me that we were paying for collision and rental coverage on Brian's old beater pickup truck which is totally not necessary and I just called to take it away, saving us $300 per year. I left the comprehensive theft/fire/glass on there, because I think they'd be useful to have. If his truck was damaged to the degree where it wasn't driving anymore it would be time to get a new truck (not time to repair this one) and we don't need the rental coverage on it with me having a car. My own car is still being paid for and is our primary vehicle, so for now things will stay the same with coverage for that one.

I've finally finished reading Thoreau's Walden (yeah, its about time). I never ended up having to read it in high school (though I did read BF Skinner's Walden Two about Psychology's Behaviorism). I've always wanted to read the original but never got around to it. Dad bought me a copy for Christmas a few years ago and though its taken a while, I'm glad I finally trudged through it.

Why the Walden experiment?
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, to discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and to be able to give a true account of it".

On 'stuff' making us word hard for things we don't really need:
"But the only true America is that country where you are at liberty to pursue such a mode of life as may enable you to do without these, and where the state does not endeavor to compel you to sustain the slavery and war and other superfluous expenses which directly or indirectly result from the use of such things".

On personal freedoms (this is why Dad gave me the book; he's always been keen on the 'different drummer' philosophy:
"Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer? Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should mature as soon as an apple tree or an oak. Shall he turn his spring into summer? If the condition of things which we were made for is not yet, what were any reality which we can substitute? We will not be shipwrecked in a vain reality".

From Civil Disobedience (an addendum to my book):
"Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right."

Though it was tough for me to get through this book reading in spurts here or there I'm glad I finally did it. I'm not ready to quit my job, ditch my house and run off to the woods, but it definitely is inspirational in terms of thinking about what I really do love and what I really do want (versus what's the norm and/or what's easy to fall into). His 'Simplify, Simplify' definitely rings true in today's age of the http://www.scuppie.com/ .

Next up will be something fluffy, like one of the Dresden Files books . . .

I've been reading And She Danced for The King - memoirs of a Rockette and should finish within the week. Its a fascinating look at what life was like for a woman working during the golden age of Broadway.

I know a good deal about that time period, but its been fascinating reading a first-hand account of the issues of the time through Peggy Morrison's letters to her family. In particular, I hadn't thought of the backdrop of both the great depression and the stirrings of WWII and its impact on the industry.

A few interesting quotes related to these themes:

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Politically, things decline from here. I haven't even gotten to the point where Ms. Morrison is a Rockette, and she's already 7.5 years into her 10+ year long career. She's starting to wonder if she should get out of it for a 'normal' life. I know from reading the back cover that she'll eventually (finally) divorce her deadbeat musician husband, marry a military guy, and live a traditional homemaker life. She performed at age 90 in 2001 with The Rockettes at their 75th anniversary performance in the street out in front of Radio City Music Hall. What a woman!

Such an amazing story of an amazing woman in an amazing time. It warms my heart in a time where much entertainment seems so uninspired. Whatever kind of art form you're into, if you're interested in the arts at all or the history of the arts in America, I think you'd appreciate this book.

I just finished reading Broadway, the Golden Years which touches on the great choreographer/directors from 1940 to the present: Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune and those dancing in the present.

It did take me a while to get through this book given the detail that the author gets into with each dancer's life (not to mention its not all that well written, and per someone on amazon.com, apparently a lot of his facts are off), though it was still quite enjoyable. Though I know a lot of music from popular musicals through my dance experience I oftentimes don't know what show its from, what the storyline was, or who the choreographer was. The book describes the birth of the role of choreographer/director and how dance moved from a burlesque/Ziegfeld 'sexy girls with long legs' capacity to a central element in storytelling and feeling of shows.

Reading this book did serve to point out what a truly incestuous world it is (or was) on Broadway. I think I've gained new appreciation for my favorite musicals, songs and dance styles through getting a bit more understanding of where the choreographer/directors were coming from.

The author closes the book with some pondering on where the Broadway musical has been, where it is now, and where it may go. He notes that production costs have increased 350-400% while ticket prices have increased only 80%. Even still, tickets are expensive and the theater has become something for the middle/upper class which was not the case in its early heyday. Given high production costs, few new works are presented and what you'll see on Broadway are a whole lot of revivals. The author also points to a younger crowd that's less interested in musical theater and more interested in rock and roll, movies and TV than in generations past.

However, he points to some things that seem to indicate growth and continued interests. Various theaters are being built and renovated around 42nd Street in NYC and recent new shows with choreographer/directors have had great success. He adds that theaters are developing outside of NYC in other metropolitan areas, and that perhaps what's happening is not a decline in interest overall, but a spreading out of it - not necessarily a bad thing.

As far as dancers go, he notes that more and more shows on Broadway have a dance focus, and credits recent Fosse based musicals Chicago, Cabaret and Fosse for bringing renewed interest to dance and its role in the musical. This has all made me wonder, does the interest in this kind of raunchy, vaudevillian Broadway echo changing attitudes in people away from the old shows that were way more conservative (and often with small town and/or patriotic themes)?

Its definitely encouraging, and it is interesting to think of this thing that I've just be doing for my entire life in more historical and sociological terms.

Brian and I picked up the new Dita Von Teese book this weekend. They had a few copies at Barnes and Noble in the "Relationships" section (sna?) right next to the "Sexuality" section. ( Read more... )

I've definitely enjoyed reading the book for its insights into where Dita is coming from, the overview of burlesque and fetish scene history, and I have some things to take away for later (books to read, movies to see, interesting fasion items to seek out). It also leaves me curious to read Mr. Warner's autobiography that's been on our shelf for years (Brian read it when it first came out, but I still haven't). I can truly see how the couple may be two peas in a pod, each having something inside them that the outside mainstream world may find odd. Quite the cute, schmoopy, freaky couple! :)

I finished this earlier in the week. Brian and I caught it in hardcover on display when it first came out (before Episode II was released in theaters) and picked it up. He started reading and found it too dry and gave up. I picked it up a few weeks ago in the attempt to read things we have that I haven't.

Its odd in that its not quite academic, but its pseudo-academic, so it does make for a dry read at times. I did enjoy thinking of the general themes he touches on in the book (canon, fan fic/film, role of gender, age/generations of SW fans). The author always gets back to how SW fans can easily bond, the impact the movies have had on their lives, and the popular themes up for debate in this fandom.

I thought some of you may be interested. I'll probably pass on to an interested 501st or Rebel Legioner, because I don't see myself wanting to read this again.

Back sometime in 2004 on one of our White Mountains trips I picked up this book in a clearance bin for $4.98. We were browsing in my favorite book store in Lincoln, NH (the Innisfree Bookshop, inside of the old Mill building on the Kanc Highway, near Loon Mountain) and I caught the low price, neat pictures, and interesting topic. Upon further scrutiny I noticed that inside of the book jacket it was noted that the author read this story first aloud at Isabella Stewart Gardner's salon in 1906. I used to spend a lot of time at the Gardner Museum when I was at Simmons (it being right next door, and me getting free admission as a Simmons student) and it holds a kind of magical place in my heart for various reasons, so the book appealed to me even more.

I'm definitely a big tea drinker that tends to do my best thinking when sitting with a cup, pondering the simplicity of the ritual. I'm also interested in learning of different religions and of history (and, history of religions) which the book also touches on. I finally 2 years later, got around to reading the thing!

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I just thought some of you may be interested in reading. I may lend to a co-worker that's a big tea and history buff, but if you think you may be interested in borrowing let me know (and I can give to you in the future).

A co-worker had asked me if I had read this book, but I hadn't heard of it. Then I was at a party a couple of weeks ago talking about Henry Rollins and his skit about what he'd do if he was president involving fabulous gay men breaking up the KKK, and someone else mentioned the book. I decided I had to read it.

Being a sociologist, I'm no stranger to reading data sets, analyzing things, looking at regression analysis, the difference between relationships and causation, and unexpected underlying elements. I think the goal of this book is for people to look at things critically and understand the potential underlying motivations of people or organizations. As such, though I learned a few interesting things in the book (about cheating in sumo wrestling, someone making an ass out of the KKK by spying and then contributing to superman episodes where superman fights the KKK revealing secret details of the group, the connection between crime drops 20 years after Roe v. Wade) I wasn't as blown away by this book as I thought I would be. The description was quite tempting, and as I stood in the Harvard Coop a couple of days before Xmas and read the book jacket to Brian he commented "Wow, I might even want to read this". Unless you like numbers, I don't think so.

It was enjoyable, just didn't grab me as much as I expected (I wonder how much of this is because the book isn't that exciting, or if its because the concepts just aren't that novel to me given my academic background). Would anyone like to take from me to read next? I see no need to hang onto it (but I bought it because there was no chance in getting from the library any time soon). I could bring it to goffee tomorrow.

Wow, only 1/4 and I'm done with book #2. After reading a self help book on organizing and an economics lite one I'm on to something fluffy - a memoir of an old metalhead that I can't recall the title of.

I just finished Getting things Done – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen. I had heard about this book a few times in different places and finally picked it up.

Its funny, but his method of organizing and getting things done is a lot like what I’ve been doing (albeit more defined). This book would be something that could help you get things done at work, with friends, with your self, and professionally (whether you’re doing what Allen calls ‘knowledge work’ what many of us do today – or more traditional forms of work).

Random thoughts jotted down while reading: ( Read more... )