Sunset

Summer is ending which is a sunset of a type.
But this photo is posted for Photo Sunday--Vanishing Point.

Two in one day?

Irene had one of those book memes. Here are the instructions:
1. Grab the book nearest you right now.
2. Turn to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like).
5. Post a link with your post to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.

Since I was using a book as a mouse pad I decided to look at page 56.

" 'Keep that 'don't know' mind!' screams the Zen master."

Pardon me, but are Zen masters allowed to scream? The quote is from the book Thoughts without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective, by Mark Epstein M.D. I'm still on page 7 so I must not be very Zen yet.

Now and Then

My initial fascination with old postcards was to see how my city changed over time. Now I just like them.
Here is a 1906 view of the building that is now the Museum of Science and Industry.
Below is my 2007 photo of the same building although from a rather different perspective. It hasn't changed much in the past 100 years.



To visit Postcard Friendship Friday click on this link.

Lensday--Distortion

Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois

Thursday Challenge--Shopping

Some of the products at a local Mexican grocery store. It's a great place to shop. Probably the best avocados in town and lots of other good stuff.

I was tagged. . .

---last month but was too busy writing to respond. Here are the instructions:

Random Meme Rules
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you. The blog that tagged me is:
From the Shores of Introspect and Retrospect.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Don't drink anything over the keyboard while reading this meme on other pages.
4. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
5. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
6. Stretch.
7. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

OK here goes.
Seven random and/or weird facts about me.
1. I learned to love herbal tea while living in France 20 years ago. My current favorite is Twining's Honey, Vanilla, Chamomile (hard to find in the US).
2. I lived in a vegetarian dormitory while in college.
3. I was in school for approximately 32 years. (No I didn't flunk 5th grade that many times!)
4. I'm wearing this unbelievable purple/mauve/burgundy? dress for my upcoming performance in the Nutcracker (in two weeks)



5. No, I am actually an incompetent dancer. But two left feet are acceptable for this performance.
6. I had stage fright as a kid. I'm not sure if I do anymore. I have given lectures many times in the past years and have learned to deal with the anxiety. I haven't performed in a dramatic sense since I was in middle school (then called Jr. High School).
7. My first name came from a novel. I can't tell you which one because I use a pseudonym on this blog.

Tagging 7 people, hmmm--some of the bloggers I know don't like being tagged.
1. And So Forth--met recently through Sunday Scribbling.
2. Crunchy Bits who also survived NaNoWriMo.
3. JL--because I just "met" him recently and he has interesting Chicago stories and he seems so, not, a meme-guy. I'm afraid of what he will do with this tag but can't resist finding out.
4. Meeyauw--who takes cool bird and cat photos and cares about the environment.
5. Chronicled and Illustrated who I somehow met through NaNo (and now forget how it happened) and whose blog is well worth a visit.
6. The Thing of the Moment--because his response has to be funny. Or he'll just ignore me which might be funny too.
7. A Blue State of Mind--maybe this will get her posting again.

Tagging people makes me uncomfortable so feel free to ignore me if I tagged you or if I didn't. I want to be a good sport and follow suit but. . . . I probably flunked tag in kindergarten too.

Tagged again

I've been tagged--by a Snail (actually by the author of A Snail's Eye View) and also by Ren.Kat of Sidestepping Real. It took me a while to get around to responding.

Eight Random Things About Me.

1. I don't wear make-up. Basically I never learned how. It may be a side effect of growing up hyper-aware of feminism or I may just be too lazy to take time on my appearance in the morning.
2. People tell me I look younger than my actual age.
3. As a kid, I learned to program in APL (A Programming Language), Basic and Fortran. I still haven't learned HTML.
4. I once went snow-blind. I'll save that story for a later post.
5. Both my children were delivered by nurse-midwives.
6. I can curse fluently in French which came in handy when living in Paris.
7. I make a mean guacamole.
8. I wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. I didn't consider medical school until I was in college. So I did both.

I have trouble knowing how to impose on people by tagging them. I have a sense that some of my fellow bloggers (you know who you are) don't like being tagged. So if I manage to name eight people, you can ignore me if you don't want to play along or if you have already been tagged for this one.
Here goes:
1. Bleeding Espresso--I have a weakness for expat blogs. What is the opposite of expat anyway--inpat? Sounds like a toe nail disease.
2. Cheaper than Therapy--because she is so funny.
3. The Egret's Nest--lovely bird shots and otherwise.
4. Meeyauw--photos,cats and more.
5. Serotonin Rain--because Serotonin is my favorite neurotransmitter. Sorry Dopamine and Norepinephrine, but I'm playing favorites here.
6. The Thing of the Moment--good photos and humor too.
7. Time with Shelby--because I can relate.
8. Educating Petunia--because we like many of the same books.

Newberry medal book meme

I can't believe I'm posting this when I should be going home from work and getting some dinner and sleep. But there's a book meme I want to join since Chunkster is done (thank heaven). This one should be really easy. In fact I already read two of the books since I heard about it. The goal is to read six Newberry Medal winners. Thanks to Nattie Rose Writes for this one.

Here is my list.
I found all of these at a used book store which explains a probably rather strange assortment.
1. Gathering of Days by Joan Blos,
2. Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Patterson,
3. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry (I loved this as a kid but not having read it for 30+ years I doubt that really counts as rereading),
4. I, Juan de Pareja (one I've never heard of), by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino.
5. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
6. Kira-kira, by Cynthia Kadohata
Alternate or extra: Bridge to Terabithia by Kathering Paterson

I've already read Shiloh and Call It Courage. Reviews to follow. It is nice to have a short, easy read or two after slogging through two very big books recently.

Unique Photo Challenge--Mirror

This past Sunday, I rambled into Chicago. My initial goal was to go to a rather distant garden store and to a "architectural salvage" store. I unfortunately forgot that the first nice spring weekend here, everyone heads to the lake front to tan, bicycle, walk their dogs, or roller blade. Those who aren't on the beach already are, like I was, stuck in traffic on the lakefront. An hour later, I still wasn't close to my garden store objective so I decided to can it. The salvage store was 20 blocks closer so I headed there.
The store had changed--it was around three times as large as the previous time I was there. They apparently had imported half of Argentina so they had an interesting selection of Victorian tiles (an interest I developed while taking pottery classes) and some beautiful iron work. Nothing I needed or could afford but it was fun to browse in the 45 minutes I had before the store closed. I snuck a few photos, not knowing if they would have allowed them, including the above for a photo meme.
Another interesting part of the store was the outdoor department. If I was in the market for three story high stone pillars now I know where to go.

Thinking Blogger Award

Happy Monday. Last week I won a Thinking Blogger Award. Thanks Shelby. It is a high compliment. I didn't have time to pass on the favor to five blogs I like until now. And here, drumroll, in no particular order, they are.

1. Self Taught Artist--for all her sharing of her world as a struggling artist, and for her honesty as in this post entitled Fear Sucks.
2. Attila from Cheaper than Therapy for her thoughtful post, A Different Kind of Anniversary, on meeting her biological mother.
3. Misplaced in the Midwest for his stories of people he knew, including the post of 2/27/2007 (sorry I had trouble getting this link to work).
4. A Snail's Eye View for making me appreciate slugs a little bit more. See this post about leopard slug markings.
5. Kathe of Natural Solitude--not so much for her text as for always having a thoughtful comment on my posts, especially the ones that are feeling left out for lack of other comments. And for her photographic view of life in Marquette, Michigan.





Congratulations, you won a

Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging.

The participation rules are simple:


1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).

Meme #4--Thursday 13

Thursday 13--#15
Thirteen magazines I browse at Border’s
1. Country Home
2. Cottage Living
3. Piecework
4. Cote Sud
5. Old House Interiors
6. Coastal Living
7. Chicago Wilderness
8. Midwest Living
9. Cote Ouest
10. Outdoor Photography
11. Popular Photography
12. Real Simple
13. Cloth, Paper, Scissors

And any others I can get my hands on. I have to confess, I take them upstairs to the café, buy some coffee and read them. Or rather, usually, I just look at the pictures. I generally do my more “serious” reading at home or on airplanes. I figure Border’s is the modern version of a library—I rent a chair and a magazine with the price of the coffee (and the 10,000 books I doubtless buy there). I feel guilty for not using the fine, small bookstore near my house but they don’t have a café. Border’s has become my haven from stress—no kids demanding meals or play-dates, no work duties. I can still be paged there so work or family can intrude but it is nonetheless my weekly treat. I keep interesting work hours so sometimes I’m there on a weekday with the homeless, college students, stay-at-home moms and unemployed even though I am none of the above.

Have Your Read These Books?--Part 3

 

Book Meme Part 3: Refer to original post here for complete meme and links.
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)—This book was first read to me by my father as a bed-time story. I must have been around 6. Another “comfort book.”
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)—I tried it; probably I was too young to appreciate it. Since I hated it then, I doubt I’ll ever go back to it.
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)—Along with Little Men, Jo’s Boys was one of my favorites. Also a comfort book.
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)—This one gives me a bad feeling. I don’t know why but I’m avoiding it.
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)—Never has appealed to me.
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)—I heard it on tape.
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)—Never read. Not sure why not.
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)—I read as a kid. I’m currently reading aloud The Magician’s Nephew to my son. Great bed-time story.
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)—What can I say? I love Steinbeck.
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)—I’m not attracted by this but it has been recommended to me several times. I tend to avoid books that have the “inspirational” label applied to them.

Have you read any of these books?--part 2

For more information on the meme, please go to my previous post here.
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
Let’s just say it once. I love all the Harry Potter books. I only wish I could have read them as a kid. I also highly recommend the on tape version. The reader is fabulous.
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
Read it, I think I have finished all the Dan Brown I care to read
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
Didn’t read. It never caught my fancy.
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
Enjoyed very much. I would like to check out the movie.
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
I have one of her books on my TBR pile. Not sure if it is this one.
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
Haven’t read. Tend not to read horror novels.
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
Right up there with Pride and Prejudice. Read it several times and would read again if needed a comfort book. I wish I had a daughter to share it with.

Have you Read Any of These Books?--Part 1

I got this meme from Musings of a Bookish Kitty who got it from Bookfool, who followed Belladoza's example and decided that if you read it, you are automatically tagged.

Look at the list of books below:
* Bold the ones you’ve read
* Italicize the ones you want to read
* Leave blank the ones that you aren’t interested in. (I interpreted this in my own way--books that haven't yet said to me, "Read me! Read me!" It's possible that one day I will develop an interest in some of them. Others, maybe never.)
* If you are reading this (and haven't participated yet), tag, you’re it!
**If there are any books on this list that I didn't italicize and you think I should read, let me know in comments!

I decided not to publish the full list. Too long for one post (my opinion only). I modified it to allow room for my personal comments/opinions and will take another couple of posts to finish the list. Please go to Bookish Kitty if you want to participate in the full list. Like Kitty I will not tag anyone but please tag yourself if you're in the mood.


1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
Read—thought was overrated. Was fun. Incidentally my son, 14, picked it up last year and devoured it. I was worried he'd find it too violent but he loved it. It was his first book of this sort and one of his first adult level books.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
Read and loved. Reread on occasion. Favorite part was when Darcy finally humbled himself.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
Read in High School. Should re-read probably. Liked very much then.
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
Read—maybe high school age? Rare instance I prefer the movie.
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
All three LOTR—read very young the first time. Consider comfort books. Reread when needed like chicken soup. BTW I think the movies are great too.
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
Read when a kid. Liked very much and would like to reread along with rest of series. I haven’t visited that part of Canada but want to very much. I love western Canada.
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
Read, racy, good fun. Not as literary as some would have it.
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
Never heard of book or author. Time to do some research.

Vain and Meaningless Boasting

One of my photos actually earned an honorable mention in a photo meme. It was my photo of the Roman Colosseum for the PhotoSharks theme "famous." Cool. It doesn't mean I'm famous, alas.
Here is another photo of the Colosseum. I didn't know and found it very interesting that it actually had a subfloor. This was called the Hypogeum and was used for the hydraulics of the structure (at one time they actually staged naval battles in the Colosseum), armories, stage machinery and cages for the animals. Unfortunately this part was not open to the public. My kids were totally bored by this time anyway after a visit to the Forum and too much time in the very hot July sun.

Booking through Thursday

I think I have to be more selective about Thursday memes. There are too many on this one day.
Here is today's Booking through Thursday.
What are your reading habits? Do you tend to read at specific times during the day, or does it vary from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute?
I read every night before bed unless I'm exhausted (and often even then). I do much of the rest of my reading on weekends.

Thursday Thirteen Number 11

Thirteen Things about The most recent Google searches that found this blog 1. tom chapin “no child left behind” (2nd hit) 2. soccer epitaph poem (3rd) 3. please don’t laugh at me book (2nd) 4. No child rant (1st)—Actually an aol search 5. tidal bore Washington (Google Italy) (4th) 6. passenger of my own (Google Germany) (1st) 7. book club “Suite francaise” (Google Australia) (9th) 8. suite francaise, book review (4th) 9. I kissed you goodnight (7th) 10. I am a rose upon a thorn (1st) 11. picture of debo from Friday (1st) 12. bluffton university professor committed murder (5th) 13. “Compare thee to a rose” and Shakespeare (2nd) I guess I’m getting picked up by Google a lot (and in the most recent 13, no searches of an indecent nature—I’m being indirect in my language because these are hits I don’t need to trigger). I’m surprised that I’m coming up so often on searches. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Kim's Candor 2. Amy's Random Thoughts 3. Beautiful British Columbia 4. Parenting with Mental Illness 5. Notes in the Key of Life 6. Sunflower

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Too many memes. Booking Through Thursday and Thursday Thirteen

Booking Through Thursday

1. How many unread books do you have in your house, right now? (Your own books, that is--not ones that belong to other family members--and not counting things like school books, if you have them.) Clearly, an estimate will do. Glad I get to estimate because it would take me a week to count them all--I'll guess 1-200.


2. To the best of your recollection, what is the OLDEST unread book in your collection? How long has it been waiting? I think I have an unread book somewhere I bought in college--let's say 20 years--I'm trying to get rid of some TBR's that never will BR.


3. Do your TBR books (that's "To Be Read," if you didn't know) haunt you, make you feel guilty that you haven't read them yet? Yes, I have more ghosts than a haunted house.

And to finish it off:
13 books from my TBR pile for Thursday Thirteen
1. I Bought a Mountain by Thomas Firbank
2. Electroboy: a Memoir of Mania by Andy Behrman
3. Motherland by Fern Schumer Chapman
4. The Mammy by Brendan O'Carroll
5. Beethoven's Hair by Russell Martin
6. The Grand Tour by Tim Moore
7. Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
8. Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
9. The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis
10. A Fine Young Man by Michael Gurian
11. A Hundred and One Days by Asne Seierstad
12. What Would Joey do? by Jack Gantos
13. Of Two Minds: An Anthropologist Looks at American Psychiatry

I am not promising to read all of these. These will be alternates on my TBR list. I've already removed 1-4/5 books from the TBR pile. Plus having all these books I've committed to read keeps a lid on my buying too many more.

I've been tagged

Lazy Sunday Thinking
Thanks It is about Time for the tag. Here we go:
1. If you had to choose one vice in exclusion of all others what would it be
* I’m stuck between chocolate and sleeping late.
2. If you could change one specific thing about the world what would it be?
* Everyone should have health insurance.
3. Name the cartoon character you identify with the most.
* Dexter of Dexter’s Laboratory (he's a geek).
4. If you could live one day in your life over again which one would it be?
* I’m not sure I want to go backwards like that.
5. If you could go back in history and spend a day with one person who would it be?
* Darwin
6. What is the one thing you lost, sold or threw away that you wish you could have back?
* The notebooks that have the first story I ever wrote (in kindergarden).
7. What is your one most important contribution to this world?
* My children
8. What is your one hidden talent that nearly no one knows about?
* My interest in writing. Very few people actually know about this (except for you bloggers).
9. What is your most cherished possession?
* My wedding ring. It was my grandmother’s.
10. What one person influenced your life the most when growing up?
* My grandmother, she gave me unconditional love.
11. What one word describes you better than any other?
* Everyone tells me I am “intense”. I guess they are right. Also empathic.
- I am going to tag:
I forgot this meant I have to tag some poor unsuspecting tag-victim.
Rose of Sharon
Helen
Heather

Thursday photo challenge--White

Datura flower and bud. Taken in Zion National Park in August 2006.