Wicked good

I've been in Chicago the last couple of days - dropped Karis off at Beloit on Sunday and drove on to join Russ at his conference - just flew back this afternoon. I found out I have not recuperated as much as I thought - or else the cold I seem to be getting is the problem - I tired really easily. However, I did do a small amount of shopping and went to the observation deck of the Hancock building. 94 stories up, and a wonderful view of the lakefront on a beautiful sunny day. I also went along with Russ to a couple of his receptions on Monday night.

Last night, Russ had a reception at one hotel and then a fancy dress dinner and dance at a different hotel - for which he wears a tux. I went to the first reception (and saw an old friend from Colorado, which made me very happy). But I'm not much for formal wear, makeup, skirts, heels or dinners with a lot of people I don't know. So I skipped that one and went to see Wicked. It's been a while since I saw a play, and I've never gone to one by myself. As I mentioned, I'm not big on formal clothes, so I am aware this is a little ironic - I was shocked at how many people wore jeans. I suppose that's silly...

The musical was SO good - I'm really glad I went. I didn't know the story before-hand, so that was a nice surprise. I thought it was great to get the "other side of the story." The acting was marvelous, sets and costumes were beautiful, and the inside of the theatre was just amazing.


On a totally different topic, though still involving broomsticks, witches and wizards, there was an article in yesterday's USA Today about Quidditch at American colleges. So Karis, there's a sport you can start at Beloit. Apparently there are only 7 colleges where it is currently played. (One of them is Oberlin - coincidentally, that is the college in Ohio that I was trying to remember when we talked the other day. Snagglepuss.)



In lieu of the Fortune cookie of the day, my favorite quote from Wicked (though of course Elphaba was being ironic, and I am not):
There's no place like home.

Snowfall

So you would think that those of us who make our homes in the frozen north would be good drivers in the snow. Maybe that is true. However, it always seems there is an adjustment period. Some of us forget such basics as "bridges freeze before road surfaces." And that it is most treacherous when the temperatures are right around freezing. The first snowfall of the season brings just as many traffic accidents here as anywhere.

Witness tonight. It wasn't a heavy snowfall, but it started about 5 pm. Luckily, traffic was lighter than usual due to the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Fortune cookie of the day:
You will find good luck in the near future.

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.

I stayed at home all last week, and it was indeed a real comfort. I've slept a lot, watched a lot of movies and TV, and most of all, read a lot.

Karis and I went to see The Jane Austen Book Club when she was last home. It inspired me to purchase the book, which I had read a few years ago. So since I had all this free time, I decided to re-read it. But this time, I read the appropriate Austen novel before reading its chapter in Fowler's book. Well, I didn't re-read Pride & Prejudice or Persuasion - I have read those so many times that it really wasn't necessary. But I probably hadn't read Northanger Abbey more than once, hadn't read Mansfield Park much either, and it has been years since I read Emma or Sense & Sensibility.

Whenever I try to write about books or movies and explain why I like them, I wonder that I ever made it as an English major. Everything I try to say sounds trite and silly. I guess I've just lost the ability to think and write critically about them, and it makes me rather sad.

So I'll just say that like so many others, I like Pride & Prejudice best. Then Persuasion, Sense & Sensibility, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and lastly Mansfield Park. (It was interesting to read in the notes to The Jane Austen Book Club that most of Austen's family preferred Mansfield Park. I suppose because more than any of the others, this one is about morality - her father was a clergyman, after all.)

As for The Jane Austen Book Club, I love the structure of the book, the idea, the characters, the way you find Austen quotes in the stories about the modern characters... I want to join their club. After all, "In three or four years, it would be time to read Austen again."

P.S. Yes, the title of this post is an Austen quote. It's from Emma.

Instead of a Fortune Cookie today, another Austen quote (one of my favorites.)
One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.

Twin riddle

Heard this on the radio when I woke up this morning.

Peter and Allison are twins. Peter was born first, but Allison is the older of the two. How is that possible?

Because Peter was born at 1:32 am on Sunday, November 4th. His sister Allison was born thirty-four minutes later. BUT Daylight Savings time ended in between, so Allison's official time of birth is 1:06 am.

I looked it up on the web, and through Fark.com, found the original article here.

Have a great day, everyone!

Fortune cookie of the day:
Be positive in words, act and feeling.

Fortune cookie

I'm starting out with the Fortune Cookie of the Day today.


You will be happiest if you please yourself first.


I think anyone who knows me will know that I do not agree with this sentiment. This is too close to Ayn Rand's philosophy, which I so disliked when I read Atlas Shrugged in college - that the pursuit of one's own happiness and self-interest is one's "highest moral purpose." Well, she grew up in Russia in a middle-class family during the Bolshevik revolution, and I grew up in America in a liberal family during the hippie era. We're not likely to agree on much.

So I am going to try to keep in mind a small goal - to make someone happy. Not necessarily in a big way. Getting someone to smile, or giving someone a compliment - just small things. But at least one someone, every day. Personally, I think if I can do that, I'll be happy.

Have a great day!

Keeping track of books

I've been trying out both Goodreads and LibraryThing over the past month or so - trying to decide which I like better. GoodReads seems to have more reviews, while LibraryThing is more elegant. So basically, I'm using both (for now). My LibraryThing has books I actually own, while GoodReads has books I borrow from the library. I know, it's kind of weird to use both. Another instance where I can't make a decision, I guess :-) But isn't the random selection of covers (on the left) beautiful?

Fortune cookie of the day:
They will be grateful that you called


(That is not a hint. Really. It was just the fortune I pulled out of the box. Honest.)