My Bit of Earth

The Other Boleyn Girl

I remember it well.  One night when I was 13, I started watching the movie "Anne of the Thousand Days" about Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn.  But I didn't get to see the end. 

The next morning at the library, I checked out as many books as I could about Anne, Henry, and their baby Elizabeth.  Thus began my lifelong love affair with the time period.

I read--and really liked--Phillipa Gregory's book "The Other Boleyn Girl" (which this movie was based on) several years ago so, of course, the movie was a must see. 

Overall, I thought it was well done and a credible interpretation of the book.  Of course, I could pick at the differences between the book, the movie, and actual historical fact for hours, but for just a few thoughts, read on.  (Spoilers!)

Wednesday Poll: Hollywood Here We Come

I haven't seen any of the movies that were nominated for best picture, but nonetheless, watching the Oscars on Sunday got me in a movie kind of mood. 

So, for this week's poll:

What's your favorite movie?  And just to make it fun, pick at least one modern movie (say, post 1990ish?) and one classic movie.

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: Theme Songs

I have this maybe-kind-of-weird habit of assigning theme songs to people and events in my life. 

My first big, dramatic high school break-up?  "Never is a Promise" by Fiona Apple.  (Important lyrics:  "I realize what I am now / Too smart to mention / To you.") 

The first few months of dating Sweet Husband?  "Bucket Seats" by Cake.  ("Stick shifts and safety belts / Bucket seats have all got to go. / When we're driving in the car / It makes my baby seem so far.")

Nice Sister?  "Brown-Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison.  ("Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah.")

Even my dog Moe has his own theme song--"Upside Down" by Jack Johnson.  ("I can't do everything / Well I can try" and "There's no stopping curiosity".)

For this week's poll:

If you had to pick a theme song for yourself, what would it be?  For someone else?  For an event in your life?  Share some of the lyrics to help explain why.

Comment and discuss.

The Chronicles of Turkish Delight

In "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" (the second book of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis), Edmund Pevensie betrays his family in order to get an extra taste of Turkish Delight from the White Witch.

I've often wondered what candy could possibly be that good, so this year I decided to try to make my own Turkish Delight . . . even though I wasn't all that sure what Turkish Delight was.

Not to worry though, research quickly unveiled that Turkish Delight (also called "Lokum") is a jelly-type square with a powdered sugar crust.  Easy enough, right?

Umm, not really.  The first batch, made with this recipe, didn't go so well.  Or at least, I didn't think it did at the time.  It set up fairly well, but I couldn't get it to dry enough on the outside to get the powdered sugar to work.  Every time I added powdered sugar to the little jelly-jubey squares they would look right for a few minutes, but then kind of suck in the sugar and make it wet.  (Note:  Powdered sugar + water = sticky mess.)  In retrospect however, I actually think this batch was tolerable.  It wasn't quite gummy enough to be sure (more like heavy jello), but it was certainly closer than the second batch.

The second batch, made according to this recipe, didn't set up right or taste good.  And when I put it in the freezer to try and help it along, it dribbled.  (Note: Semi-frozen goo = sticky mess.)

While I'm a reasonably persistent girl in some areas, the kitchen isn't one of them.  After batch #2 failed, I started looking at other options for getting my hands on some Turkish Delight.  Turns out Brits, my local "purveyor of British goods" has boxes and boxes of the stuff--rose flavored, citrus, or pistachio covered with chocolate--all waiting to be bought, no sticky mess involved.  Against the advice of the store owner (who recommended the pistachio) I chose the above pictured box which was citrus flavored. 

When I opened it up, I found that--as with most food photographers--people who take pictures of Turkish Delight fudge a little.  Far from looking like the pictures on the box or the pictures I was looking at on the internet, real Turkish Delight kind of sucks in the powdered sugar in the way my first batch did.  No worries though, a simple re-dusting and I was ready to give it a try.

And although I won't be trading Sweet Husband or the pups in for a box of it anytime soon, it is pretty good stuff.  I wonder if the White Witch would be interested in a pair of lovebirds?

Wednesday Poll: I've Got (Ear)worms

Lately, I seem to be having issues with earworms--you know, those songs that get stuck in your head that you can't get rid of.  It's so weird because, while sometimes I can figure out where I've picked them up (a week of "Jenny From the Block" after watching Jennifer Lopez in "Enough"); other times they just seem to come from nowhere ("Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" as soon as I opened my eyes at 6:30 Monday morning).  I'm starting to wonder if the dogs are secretly playing annoying tunes to me in my sleep.

So, for this week's poll:

What is the worst song you've ever gotten stuck in your head?  Longest duration?  And, most importantly, how do you make it stop?

Comment and discuss.

Wild Books!

I know exactly who is responsible for my junkie-like book reading habit--my mom and my first grade teacher, Mrs. Marshall--but what I can't pin down is who planted the idea in my head that it's wrong to throw books away.  Ever.  No matter what.  We're talking deadly sin.

Nonetheless, like many bits of childhood religion that linger, to this day I have a lot of trouble resigning books to the trash can.  I donate them where I can, pass them on somehow if possible, but pretty much they just stay on my ever more overflowing shelves.  And although I've mostly made peace with that, I was still very intrigued when a friend introduced me to a website called Book Crossing.

Moe is UNLEASHED!

There was a little package waiting next to my mailbox when I got home today, and when I saw the label I'm sure my reaction led my neighbors to believe I might be a little insane.

It was Moe's book!!!

About a year ago, I got an email from Lisa Wogan--a contributing editor at the Bark magazine, among other things--saying she had seen this video of Moe playing in the sprinkler on YouTube.  She wondered if I would let her include him in a book she was writing about dogs who play in non-traditional ways--i.e. not organized dog sports, just stuff for fun.  A few months later she interviewed me, Moe had a little photo shoot, and--voila--now we have the book!

And he looks so great!  I hadn't seen the pictures before today, but they turned out so well!  And he's on the very first page! 

The book doesn't officially go on sale until next Wednesday, but if you'd like a copy you can order it here. And, even if you just flip through it in the book store, leave a comment and let me know--I'm excited to see how far and wide Moe is going to spread!

Nathan Winograd and "Redemption"

Last night we popped over to Kansas City to see Nathan Winograd, author of "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America".  He spoke for about an hour and a half, predictably hitting many of the high points in the book, but also introducing some new twists and more recent statistics.  I was very impressed with him--his logic builds perfectly on itself like little Lego blocks, and at the same time he was very engaging.  Even Sweet Husband (who is all about saving animals, but mostly went to humor me) came away both informed and entertained. 

I discussed the book at length a week ago, so I won't rehash.  However, if you haven't read it yet, you should; and if Winograd is coming to a city near you on his book tour, it's definitely worth your evening to go.

Wednesday Poll: Censored?

In honor of banned books week....

The other day I was talking with a few friends about the adult "classic" books we read at what now seem like shockingly young ages--Wuthering Heights at 9, The Catcher in the Rye at 8.  The conversation predictably turned to whether kids should be reading such books, and then to broader topics of censorship of books in general. 

For three girls Midwestern girls, our experiences were surprisingly different.  Nice Friend One remembered actual school sponsored book burnings.  Nice Friend Two joked that she had watched an episode of "Family Ties" where a book one of the kids wanted to read was banned by their school, "so it was sort of like it happened" to her.  My own experiences (which I will share after allowing you all to comment a bit) were somewhere in between.

So for this week's poll:

What are your experiences with censorship, of books or otherwise?  And if you feel comfortable saying (since I noted it above) what general area of the country are you in?  For a bonus point, check out the most frequently challenged books of 2006 or the most challenged books between 1990 and 2000--which one surprises you most? 

Comment and discuss.

Attention Pet Lovers, Read This Book

Last week, roughly four of the five pet blogs and columns that I read were all talking about the same thing--a new book called "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America" written by Nathan Winograd.  It's rare that anything--aside from mass food recalls, of course--makes such a splash, and when I saw that the author was planning a book signing and discussion near me soon as well, I quickly went out and bought the book so as to be properly prepared. 

Wednesday Poll: Becoming Jane

For this week's poll, something a little different....

Go here and take this short quiz to discover what Jane Austen heroine you are most like.  Then come back and leave your result--and any discussion related thereto--in a comment.

My Last Plug, I Promise

The "Firehouse Dog" DVD came out this week, so I have to get one last proud mama moment in (well, at least until the book Moe's going to be in comes out in October....).

For those of you who are new, Moe was one of 400 dogs that won a contest on Dogster to be in the credits of the movie when it was in theaters or in a montage in the special features on the DVD.

When I told Sweet Husband about the contest, his smart aleck remark was something along the lines of, "Wow, that's brilliant marketing, now at least 400 people will go see the movie."  Alas, I think it goes a few steps further than that.  It also meant 400 people would be plugging the movie to their poor friends, buying the DVD, and blogging about it too.  (Guilty of all of the above!)

But truly, if you're into Disney-fied dog stories (again, I'm guilty), it's not a bad movie.  The Irish Terrier that plays the lead is cuter than any non-Welshie has a right to be, and the kid's kind of winning as well.  Even more important, of course, is that Moe is on the DVD not once, but twice!  He somehow made it into both the credits and the montage.  I don't think that was actually supposed to happen.  I think each dog was just supposed to be in one or the other, but, well, you know how it is--he's just that good looking. ;)

Wednesday Poll: So...Read Any Good Books Lately?

Really, shoot some ideas my way.  Fiction, non-fiction--whatever.

Wednesday Poll: Litmus Test for Coolness

(The next three days need to go quickly, I've been so wrapped up obsessively checking all the Potter news that I almost forgot it's Wednesday.)

Sweet Husband and I were chatting about this in the car the other day, and I thought it would make a good Wednesday poll.  I think your answer--in addition to completely dating you--says a lot about your personality.

For this week's poll:

What was the first musical album (be it record, 8-track, tape, CD, or otherwise) that you purchased for yourself?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: "And we shall teach rock 'n' roll to the world."*

Because I'm looking for something new to download....

For this week's poll:

If someone handed you a free set of concert tickets, what band or musical act would you want them to be for?

Comment and discuss.

(*Jack Black, "School of Rock")

Aarrrgh!

Went to see Pirates III  today (I don't know if I'll ever remember the actual names of the second and third ones).  I knew I'd go see it regardless, but I was a little worried about being disappointed by it based on some of the reviews I'd read. 

The most important thing to remember?  If you go see the movie, be sure and STAY THROUGH THE CREDITS.  This is very important.

Next though....to be fair much of the factual descriptions I've read in reviews were true--there were a lot of special effects, it was a bit of a chase-about movie--but not in a bad way.  All in all I thought it was a great movie--certainly better than the second one, and at least as good as the first, although in a completely different way.  If you want to read more click the link, but be warned that there will be complete and utter spoilers....

Wednesday Poll: "And that's for my old Gaffer!"

The first year we moved here, we had a little tiny apartment and no cable.  Sweet Husband worked the evening shift, so I spent a lot of time alone.  We aren't much into buying DVD's so we only had a few, but one of those was "The Fellowship of the RIng".  I bet I watched it a hundred times, and I never really got sick of it.

I hadn't even thought of it in awhile, but last weekend "The Return of the King" was on TV and I sat down and watched it. Good movies, even better books....but anyway....

For this week's poll:

Gandalf, Frodo, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Sam, or Aragorn--which member of the "Fellowship" would you be and why?

Comment and discuss.

368

That's how many books Sweet Husband and I currently own.  Over this past week I have been slowly, but surely cataloging them on a new website a friend told me about called Library Thing.  Despite the mind-numbing data entry part, actually pulling all of our books out and looking at them was nice.  There were a few old friends I had forgotten about that it was good to see again.

And just because I know someone will ask, I have 47 Harry Potter books, 19 of which are different versions of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".  (C'mon, that's not that many!)

See Harry, as well as the other 321 books, here or by using the link to "My Library" at left.

Wednesday Poll: "And you, Miss, are no lady . . . ."

From Anne Boleyn to Katie Scarlett--sensing a theme here at all?  For this week's poll:

Scarlett O'Hara:  Silly, simpering, spoiled brat?  Or brave, belle-to-have-by-your-side when your world is burning down?

Comment and discuss.

Wednesday Poll: With A Little Help From My Friends

Well, I'd say the poll was a success, so we'll give it another go!

For this week, we'll stay in Britain, but make a 400-and-some year leap:

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr--Who's your favorite Beatle and why?  And while you're at it, pick your favorite Beatles' song . . . or two . . . or three . . . or four . . .

Comment and discuss.

Pan's Labyrinth

Sweet Husband and I went to see "Pan's Labyrinth" last night.  Definitely not a kid's movie, but for grown-ups who haven't grown out of fairytales, it was incredible. 

*SPOILERS*

The movie is about a little girl named Ofelia, living at a military outpost during the Spanish Civil War.  There are almost two stories going on--the reality of the war, the girl's sick mother, and evil step-father, and then the fairytale world Ofelia retreats into.  In the fairy world, Ofelia discovers a faun who sets her three tasks that she has to complete in order to escape reality and reclaim her rightful place as a princess in the fairy world.

You're never sure if the fairy creatures are real or just in Ofelia's imagination, in the end Sweet Husband said he didn't think it really mattered because Ofelia thought they were real.  I'm not sure if I agree, because I think the girl might have stayed alive long enough to go away with the nice house keeper Mercedes if she wasn't completing the faun's tasks.  So really if the faun was real, then she did the right thing and was able to escape into the fairy tale world.  If the faun wasn't real, she died because of her imagination--very sad.  But either way, very interesting to think about.

I have to say the violence made me cringe a few times, but at the same time I don't think it was gratuitous.  I don't think the fantasy world would be as wonderful without the reality as a foil.  I don't think Ofelia would have been so driven to complete the faun's task without the horror of her real life pushing her on.

Overall, as I said, not for kids, but definitely one you should go see.

Phantom

Sometime during my freshman year of high school, my best friend Aaron lent me the first in this series of books by Terry Goodkind and told me I should read it.  I was much more of a night owl then, but I still didn't often stay up all night reading books.  I did with this one.  Ten books later, last night, I was up late again reading the latest book in the series--Phantom.

The books are about a man named Richard and his lady-love Kahlan.  Both have powerful magic and are fighting to save the world from utter destruction and despair, but just when you think that they've finally completed their goal something else bad happens.  Nonetheless, they keep at it--meeting wonderful creatures and characters along the way.  It would do no good for me to try to explain more than that here--it's way too much to summarize--however,  if you're interested I suggest you begin at the beginning with "The Wizard's First Rule".  Or you can read the summaries here.

To be honest, these books have had a lot going against them--I'm not all that into fantasy, the plot is really only so-so.  But the characters, oh the characters!  They are so well-developed and fun to watch.  Over the years I have really cared and wanted the story to end up well for them.

And as the series has gone on--and I became a social science major--I really have come to love Goodkind's social commentaries and critiques.  I often find myself drawing parallells between Faith of the Fallen and the current war in Iraq, for example.  And in Phantom, there are very obvious references to religious zealotry and the perils that can insue therefrom.

As much as I have enjoyed the series though, I have to say, I'm glad this is the next to last book.  I was thinking about it this morning as I was chugging down coffee--I don't think it's that I tired of Richard and Kahlan, as it is that I'm tired for Richard and Kahlan.  They've fought the bad guys for long enough, I think it's time for them to go back to their little cabin in the woods, have fat babies, and live a quiet, happy life.

The Avett Brothers

Sweet Husband heard the Avett Brothers at the House of Blues when he was in Chicago last month.  He finally found one of their CD's--Four Thieves Gone--this weekend.

It's very bluegrass, and as such was a perfect soundtrack for the 4th of July.  Some of the slow stuff was a little too croony to listen to over and over again, but the more upbeat tunes are definitely firecracker, livin-in-the-pool, watermelon-juice-dripping-down-my-chin, and I've-had-one-too-many kind of music.  "Distraction #74" was stuck in my head all weekend, and I also really like "The Fall". 

On the Beach

On the Beach, by Neville Shute, is one of my very favorite books, and I keep thinking about re-reading it this summer. Like many of Shute's books, it's set in Australia.  The general premise is that there has been a nuclear war in the Northern hemisphere, and only people in the Southern hemisphere have survived.  But the winds are carrying radiation South, so the survivors know that it's only a matter of months before they will die of radiation sickness.  The story chronicles how an American Navyman, a twenty-something girl, a young couple with a baby, and a few others live and cope knowing humans are about to become extinct.

Sounds depressing, I know--and it is.  But Shute's characters are so real you could have a conversation with them.  There's a certain amount of, "We're going to be dead next month, so what do we have to lose."  But for the most part they stalwartly go on with their lives, and face death in a very courageous way.  I'm always crying by the end, but I'm always very proud of each of the characters as well--they are worthy representatives for the last of humankind.

I stumbled across this book in such an unremarkable way that I don't even remember where it came from.  After I read it, I couldn't believe Shute wasn't on a required reading list somewhere.  After I read a few more of his books I was even more surprised.  He is truly incredible, and very worth trying out sometime.

Dominion

I usually don't do heavy reading before bed, but these last few nights I've been reading "Dominion".  Right now I'm only in the second or third chapter, but this guy makes lots of sense.  He's not out to convert us all to vegetarianism or put chickens up in satin-lined coops.  He just says that we owe it to all animals to cause them as little pain and suffering as possible.

First of all, he points out one of my big problems with the PETA-everyone-should-go-vegan-crowd, and that is--if there was no financial incentive to raise meat, the animals now farmed for meat would not exist. 

(Wait a sec!  You mean, farmers can't just afford to keep feeding domesticated animals indefinitely with no potential for eventually making money to feed their families? Well, maybe we should just release them all into the wild.  What?  You mean there aren't wide expanses of wild space left to release them to?  You mean animals that have been domesticated for hundreds of years aren't going to do so well fending for themselves and would probably die horribly of starvation?  Well, goodness, that's a problem now, isn't it?)

Secondly, I think it's interesting that he argues it all from a very Christian framework.  He points out the fact that many people read the verse that says man was given dominion over animals and think that's the end of the thought.  Yes, man was given dominion over animals, but we still need to remember that they're a gift from God and we need to treat them accordingly--with dignity and respect.

He also discusses how many people say that, because animals don't rationalize, we don't have to be considerate of their feelings.  He points out that, even if they don't know what they are or what their place in the universe is in the way that humans do, they still have the present ability to feel.  They may not know what their suffering means, but they know that they are afraid or in pain in "the now". 

It's all a bit hard to read, but the struggle has been worthwhile.