Sunday, May 24, 2009

Britons Behaving Badly

I finished a book on my list (! ! ). Pride and Prejudice is a delicious farcical look at early 19th century* English middle-class society. In addition to its lack of gore and bodily dismemberment, I appreciated some wonderful pointy-sharp sentences, beginning right at the beginning:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

The true genius of the author is that she created a sympathetic main character, Elizabeth, even though Elizabeth engages in the very same nasty prejudging behavior that she deplores in the rest of society.

And poor Darcy. The whole thing could have been solved at the beginning if Society had recognized Darcy for what he is: an introvert, forced to do extrovert stuff like Go to Balls and Maintain Conversation. In this respect our world is the same as in Austen’s time: built for extroverts, with a few introverts allowed in here and there.

And now I move on to a book historically related to Britons behaving badly during the British raj: The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power by Tariq Ali. I am expecting some bodily dismemberment.


*or is it late 18th century, when Austen wrote the first version of the book? Either way, it’s a long time ago, which my kids would call “the pioneer days” or “when Moses walked the earth.” Those are both the same era, according to said Kids. And it was in that era when I was last able to finish a book.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Cake Eating Contest

I made a two-layer 9x13 chocolate cake for DH’s birthday on Saturday.



That’s two 9x13 cakes piled on top of each other. It didn’t look too great because DH asked for white glaze, which I just couldn’t make look normal. It tasted good, though! We made predictions as to when it would be gone. Oldest Daughter predicted Tuesday at 6:20 AM. She leaves for school at 6:35 AM. She won, triumphantly.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Eight books I would like to read

8 Books I would like to read

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power by Tariq Ali
3. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (on reading list of Middle Child)
4. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
5. The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White (to read to Youngest Child)
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (on the reading list of Oldest Child)

These are the books I currently have borrowed from the library. I'm working on # 1. It's fantastic! Full of 18th Century English snarkiness. And that's only through chapter 4!

Number 7 would have to be the textbook for the Statistics course that I wish I could take but can't find at a convenient time and place.

Number 8 would have to be the book written by one of my children. Not yet written, but I'm waiting....

Friday, May 8, 2009

Proverb

When the Executive Summary of your Investment Advisor's report quotes Bob Dylan's Shelter from the Storm, lo, then you shall know that the value of your investment has been left out in the hailstorm; Verily, I say unto you, it is practically worthless.

Times, they are a-changing, when investment bankers take a line from Bob Dylan.

Not a word was spoke between us,
There was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved.
Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm.
"Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm."


- Bob Dylan, Shelter From the Storm 1974

Monday, May 4, 2009

8 Things I wish I could do

1. Make Eric D completely healthy again (see my friend's blog
2. Read the next page of Pride and Prejudice
3. Finish organizing the photos
4. Make oatmeal raisin cookies
5. Learn to read Hebrew fluently
6. Ride my bike on a flat trail with no motorized traffic
7. Take piano lessons
8. Get a good night's sleep

Two photos, waiting to get organized:







It was hard to make this list, because I get to do so many wonderful things. I don't have time for wishing.

Now I am going to go work on #2 and #8, which are related.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Looking Forward

8 Things I am looking forward to
1. Finishing this list
2. A good night's sleep (oh, if only!)
3. Talking with the wonderful Common Household Husband
4. Talking with the wonderful Common Household Children
5. Oatmeal raisin cookies
6. Choir rehearsal
7. Working outdoors in the garden
8. The Music Man

Friday, May 1, 2009

I've been tagged

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Got Common Household Daughter out of bed (not an easy task)
2. Aerobics class
3. Started to sort photos
4. practiced hymns for Sunday
5. Made meatballs for dinner (Desperation Dinner)
6. Took kids to piano lesson
7. Started to read Pride and Prejudice
8. Fell asleep on the first page

8 Things I am Looking Forward To:
1. Finishing this list tomorrow

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1.

8 Books I Want to Read:
1.

8 People I tag: