so I’ve been reading. Flew through The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Composed of 1-2 page entries of a girl’s experiences in a new neighborhood. Liked it, I liked it.
In answer to certain parties… June 4, 2008
who think the dog to fiance picture ratio needs equaling out.
Points of interest this week:
I had a patient with a condition called dextracardia…meaning his heart was on the right side of his chest.
I read a good book called Black Swan Green by David Mitchell recommended by JNF. It’s about a 13 year old British boy and was fairly painful to read. I had hoped that it would be something like The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 but Swan was less comedy and much more emotional. Well written and worth it.
I think I found the dishes for Josh and I at this cool store www.bureauliving.com . It’s a gem on the Cass Corridor, around the corner from Avalon, one of my favorite Detroit haunts.
Cross Creek October 16, 2007
by Majorie Kinnan Rawlings
Vignettes from the author’s 13 years as a grove owner in rural Florida in the 20’s and 30’s. Having lived in Florida I found her description of geography interesting, but her perceptions of race and culture are extremely dated and difficult to read. I suppose I’m used to current culture where people still hold prejudices…we just wouldn’t write (read:admit) about them.
It would take dire circumstances… March 28, 2007
to get me to read the book titled Father, Lover, Bodyguard that I saw in my patient’s room yesterday. I’m not judging her. She’s stuck on the oncology unit and a person can only take so much daytime TV. Maybe that would be my breaking point too, but I hope not.
I would like to take a moment and state that the painting of Jesus walking on the water that was seen hanging on our living room on Sunday is not mine. Nor do I like it. I have been slandered and feel confident in saying that I will have retribution.
28 days till my final final. “I will survive” is my current theme song…Gloria Gaynor’s original is great, but I find the Cake version just a little bit more satisfying.
technical difficulties and I get new feet March 15, 2007
I can’t put my flier up on wordpress. I tried. Admittedly, my bag of tricks isn’t very deep when it comes to computers, but I’ve exhausted my options and I’m moving on.
Diana and I spent the last couple days in NYC eating well, enjoying the mild weather, and pretending to be New Yorkers. After I got over the initial shock of being led down dark stairwells (the kind of dark stairwells that people walk down in movies, never to return) to look at handbags (Diana was on the hunt for a new bag) I think Chinatown was my favorite bit. I got bubble tea :) and we took pictures of fish and vegetables and Chinese grannies with their shopping carts. Our last activity before starting the arduous trip to the airport was getting foot rubs/reflexology…and it was amazing. My feet didn’t just feel good, they felt new. What I wouldn’t give for one of those every time a work a 12.
I picked up The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri at Mary’s apartment. It’s a collection of vignettes about a collection of Indians living both in the US and India…more a study of human nature than culture. Somewhat interesting vacation reading and nothing more.
post # 94 February 24, 2007
All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot (non fiction)
Herriot warmly details the days and nights of a young country veterinarian in rural England in the 30’s. A really lovely, comforting read and I believe there are two more in the series. soon. soon.
“if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” January 30, 2007
A lot of people in Michigan hate the weather: unpredictable; too cold; too grey; “when is it going to snow?”; and then, “oh my word, when is it going to stop snowing?” These are some of the usual complaints.
I won’t lie, I miss the sun and am tired of trying to dress strategically so that I’ll be warm enough and be able to shed layers when I (inevitably) get too warm… maybe tear-off, stripper pants are the answer…
The cold, however, helps define the idea of *home* for me. I feel a sense of comraderie with the bundled souls I pass on the street whose thin, quick smiles show just above their scarves. Offering warm drinks to guests turns a perfunctory courtesy into a true act of mercy. And when my car fishtails on corners I’m able to ride it out and not panic…that’s just winter driving and you either embrace it or move to Arizona. My mother always said, “Even if I had as much money as Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis I’d still live in Michigan.”
I read A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr this weekend. It was actually for my Community Health class and I didn’t feel guilty for getting totally consumed by it and ignoring other homework. Harr details the development of a huge environmental lawsuit that took place in Massachusetts in the 80’s. Interesting and thought provoking this is really well written…and I don’t usually like play-by-play accounts of true stories such as Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and A Perfect Storm by Sebastien Junger, which are written in a similar style, but not nearly as good.
the worst… January 21, 2007
Woke up with a migraine. Took Imitrex and went back to bed where I was unsuccessful in *resting* so I got up and did what anyone would have done: roasted lamb shanks and potatoes. I’ve been reading Nigella Lawson and she has led me to believe that I can deal with cuts of meat I’ve only ever seen hanging in market stalls overseas. I followed the recipe, let the lamb come to room temperature, followed her recommended time/temp/weight grid and 40 minutes later pulled an essentially raw piece of meat from the oven. must. buy. meat. thermometer.
In the end I probably overcooked it but the potatoes were crisp and lovely and it made my Three-Buck-Chuck Shiraz taste pretty good. The point is that I now have enough lamb to make a Shepherds’ Pie that I’m testing for my St. Patrick’s Day party. All that for that.
The book club I’m facilitating started a couple weeks ago and I’m really enjoying The Working Poor by David Shipler, as well as the company and dialogue. So far, Shipler has avoided making the book a battleground of Left vs. Right and I respect that. It seems a fair accounting of how institutional and political imbalances affect and even work against individuals who are active participants in changing their circumstances here in the States. More to follow.
“We are bringing Soul to the people my angel. No jury in the land would convict us.” December 31, 2006
Cars and computers fall into the category of “Things I find necessary but don’t enjoy”. I have no desire to understand the nuances of their functioning, I just want them to work when I turn them on. Today however I decided to figure out how to get my blogroll and tagline to show up…I cheated a little on the tagline and for some reason my links only show up if I catagorize them as “life” but I’m counting this as a technological victory all the same.
I’ve been keeping odd hours and living on party food for the last two weeks and it’s a greyrainyday and I got chilled walking home from Amy’s this afternoon so staying home from church and curling up with a book seems prudent. Responsible even.
Last night Kara and I went to the Magic Stick to hear Budos Band and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. For the second time this month I walked into a show with no idea of what to expect and I walked away wondering why these amazing musicians aren’t famous. If you’re going to take a listen (don’t miss “How long do I have to wait” SJATDK) be prepared to dance…you won’t be able to resist…nor should you.
Finished Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse this morning. His stories poke fun at the moneyed British enjoying their last golden days before the Second World War. Hilarious, and even better read aloud. Jeeves is the indispensible valet (yes, I want to name my future dog this…though Rebecca thinks it ridiculous, and yes, the Ask Jeeves website takes their name from him as well) who manages Bertie Wooster and all his mishaps. And now an exerpt:
“The knocking, which had cased off for a moment, started again with more follow through than ever.
“Well, I suppose you had better go down,”said the girl in a subdued sort of voice. “Or,” – she seemed to brighten- “shall we pour water on him from the staircase window?”
I started violently. She had made the suggestion as if she considered it one of her best and brightest, and I suddenly realized what it meant to play the host to a girl of her temperament and personality. All that I had ever read about the reckless younger generation seemed to come back to me.
“Don’t dream of it!” I whispered urgently. “Dismiss the project utterly and absolutely from your mind.”
I mean to say, a dry J. Washburn Stoker seeking an errant daughter was bad enough. A J. Washburn Stoker stimulated to additional acerbity by a jugful of H2O on his head, I declined to contemplate.”
I have fallen behind December 29, 2006
In my prospective excitement about getting a dog I totally forgot to mention recent outings in Detroit.
The Annie Liebowitz exhibit “American Music” at the Detroit Institute of Arts. $10, really informative…didn’t realize how little I knew about the origins of the various American styles. All the photos are good, but there are a couple stunners in the mix. Worth it. The rest of the DIA is under major renovation so the “greatest hits” of their collections are on display in a couple rooms. The Diego Rivera Hall remains open…enigmatic and beautiful as always.
Joanna, Leslie and I then went to Twingo’s (4710 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201. (313) 832-2959) for dinner. I had prosciutto stuffed chicken over risotto and it was a little disapointing. They drizzled red sauce over the top as an afterthought and it confused the flavors. Next time I think I’ll hit the Majestic or Cass Cafe.
A couple days later Mary Anne and went to John King Books (901 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226. (313) 961-0622). And it was an experience as always. Borders this is not. I recommend taking a list of your most pressing problems, otherewise you’ll be completely overwhelmed by floor upon floor of books. You’ll regret leaving your coat and hat in the car as the place isn’t heated. But, they have warming stations available and the staff are helpful and interesting.
There. Cool stuff to do in the D. So don’t be a hater.
