Whelmed?

I've been overwhelmed, and underwhelmed ... but never whelmed. Until I read Beowulf. And maybe not even then.

I have now seen, for the first time in my life, the use of the word "whelm."

According to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, Whelm means:

1: to turn (as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something: cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect

2: to overcome in thought or feeling, to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it

O.k.

Probably should have looked it up while I was still reading Beowulf.

I'm done now. Don't really understand the fuss about it ...

Beowulf goes to help out the Danes.

Wounds Grendel. Big Celebration is held.

Grendel's mom comes and seeks revenge for the wounding and kills some Danes.

Beowulf goes and finds Grendal's lair under the sea and finishes off Grendel.

Big Celebration.

Beowulf goes home and mostly lives out his life.

Some foolish person plunders the local dragon's lair.

Dragon gets angry and goes on a rampage.

Beowulf kills dragon and is mortally wounded in the process.

Beowulf dies.

Beowulf is cremated.

End of story.

Did I miss anything?

I think that from now on I'll leave the works written in Middle English to scholars of Middle English.

I was, shall I say, underwhelmed. But I finished it.

Next on the classics list: The Time Machine.

(I've been alternating reading modern junk fiction with classics on my BeBook. Now I'm reading some Barbara Michaels to clear my head of Beowulf. Then back to H.G. Wells who I've really enjoyed so far.)

Good for Distraction

I have found the solution to all of our problems ... when you are feeling out of sorts, just start singing the Elliot Moose song . It is absolutely impossible to be down with this silly song running though your head! Yes, I wandered the halls of school today alternately humming and singing it softly as I bounced along. Hey, whatever works.

To answer Anita's question from yesterday: we are reading Asterix in English. No one on my side of the family ever mastered French. So yes, we may be losing something in the translation but I was laughing my sides off as I read Asterix the Legionary while knitting last night, so it probably isn't too far off.

The blanket is coming along. I fell behind a bit last week but managed to catch up and get ahead yesterday. Three of the five petals are done and number four is a day or two from its finish.

Of Gauls and Games

Two weeks ago, my kids introduced me to Traivian. It is a slow moving interactive game which involves thought, strategy and a certain attitude. One builds up ones resources, (grain, wood, iron and clay), ones population and ones defenses. If you are of the warrior bent, you will attack others for their resources, or, just for the heck of it.

Players have a choice of Romans, Gauls or Teutons for their villagers. Due to my extensive training in all things Gaulish, via Asterix the Gaul, I, of course, chose to go that route. In the two weeks that I've been on line, I've created a larger village then either Squidling.

The game takes very little time out of each day, since building ones resources happens slowly. It is, however, addictive.

Should you choose to join us, we are on server 1 and I go by ... what else ... Mama Squid. Yeah, a wimpy name for a war game but then I am trying to be a peaceful Gaul as in the manner of Asterix.

I highly recommend these as training guides. :-)

***

My father fell into Asterix when I was about the age of Little Squid. Little Squid now has most of my Dad's collection here as he reads his way through them. A few moments ago he asked me if I was ready for him to choose another for me to read. Boy I love hooking my kids on my childhood loves!

Books Without Paper

A few months ago, Mike started looking into Amazon's Kindle . The Kindle is an electronic book reader that is supposed to have a really good look and feel to it. Mike's main objection was that he wanted them to come up with a book swap program so that he could send back his paper versions and get the electronic free -- or maybe reduced cost. The logic being, of course, that he had already purchased the book. The cost and our lack of need for yet another gadget may also have convinced him to hold off on the purchase.

I liked the idea but it is yet another gadget to schlep around. And, I doubt that they will make knitting books available initially. Yes, I read popular fiction, lots of it and I have now found a great (for me) way to procure my "girlie books" and mysteries without having to schlep to the library and tote around paper that may very well be harboring those same buggies that I am trying to kill. (Yes, I am a bit obsessive these days. My obsessiveness did not stop me from requesting a copy of More Sensational Socks when Mike went to Borders yesterday.)

I also like to read while I knit and balancing a book on my lap (and keeping the pages from flopping about) can be somewhat awkward. Doesn't stop me from doing it, but it is a bit cumbersome. I also love to read on the subway but hate schleping extra weight so over the years I have experimented with reading books on my Palm. Initially I was getting them from Project Gutenberg which led to reading a lot of Louisa May Alcott for a while.

Then I discovered that the New York Public Library has the electronic version of TONS of books available for free download. They only stay active for 3 weeks so taking out a virtual stack of books is not a good idea if you are a slow reader. When I first discovered this, I only downloaded the books to my Palm and ran into the deadline issue. If my phone is the only place I am reading a book, it takes a very long time to finish because I am not likely to pick it up at home and I just do not ride the subway that often these days.

Then I realized (about a week ago) that I could read the books on my laptop. Woo Hoo! Using Mobipocket, I load the book and view about half a page of text at eye level while I knit away. I went through two books this way this weekend. Understand now how I injured myself?

Yesterday, during the usual "have to kill time while kids are in religious school" time, I took myself to the public library, found a comfy chair, propped my Palm on my lap, put the book (same one I am reading on my laptop) on "scroll" mode and knit away. Finished the toe of a sock. Yes, it was a bit odd to do this in the library but hey, it was a library book.

I'm in heaven! Now to see what they have in non-fiction ...

I Don't Claim to Make Sense, I'm Your Mother

Every night we have a disagreement as to which "child" bathes first. Tonight I settled the feud in a non-sensical manner. I don't have to make sense, I'm the mother.

Much of today was spent like this.Or in a similar position with a book on my lap. I have now finished three of my "math"* books in under a month -- a fourth is waiting for me to resume reading. All of these books have been works in progress for a year or more. Next on deck "Breaking the Spell, Religion as Natural Phenomenon" by Daniel C. Dennett. I'm on page 30 of 339.

Actually, I was productive. Did the laundry, paid the bills, took Squidette to Old Navy and purchased her first pairs of "adult" sized jeans. She is now a size zero. Ack! Researched bike trainers and MP3 players. Perused watches for Little Squid (yes, we feed his obsessions).

Indeed, despite serious itching, I did not pick up my knitting needles so far today. I may give them a try once my nails are dry but won't force it. My finger is definitely getting better. I must have jammed it or pulled it or something. Whatever.

For those of you who cared about our Bat Mitzvah saga, it is essentially concluded. Mike traded a few emails with the Senior Rabbi, who asked for the band schedule and, comparing it to the master b'nai mitzvah schedule, determined that there are 6 shabbot that work for us. He also promised to look into the lack of clarity of the regulation. Problem solved. Yes, I know that I way over reacted. Thanks for bearing with me. Oh, and another mom confirmed our interpretation of the rule. She also did not realize that only specific services counted. So, it wasn't just us.

*"Math book" is a euphemism for any non-fiction that requires serious thought while reading. Therefore, when "Math Books" is yelled in our home, it is a call for the kids to take out their supplemental math books (subject, mathematics) and the parents to take out something thought provoking.

What do Squid Read?

A very good question given that I was willing to try out a social-networking site centered around books where I have not even gotten on the waiting list for Ravelry. (By the way, there is a minor rant about that site at the bottom of this post if you wish to assist in my self-flagellation.)

Squid, as you should know, are prodigious readers. We do have to take special precautions since reading under water is tricky ... um, o.k., maybe we surface to read our books. Squidette's first sentence? "Read to you!" Accompanied by a book slamming into the lap of the chosen parent.

Personally, I am a fan of fiction. How heavy or light it is depends on the time of year and my mood. Right now I am in a light-fiction mood and am currently rereading some sci-fi already on my shelf in the absence of anything grabbing me from the new releases shelf at the library. As part of my current Tuesday and Wednesday "shuttle and feed the kids" ritual, I now stop at the library closest to the synangogue in order to collect Squidette. While there I either look for a old book from an author I am working my way through, or check out the new releases. Since I am not working my way through an author right now, I have just been checking out the new stuff. Last week I grabbed the new Debbie Macommber but this week, nothing struck me.

Print, however, is not my only book absorption medium. I am a voracious devourer of audio books. My commute home every evening (when I am the sole occupant of the car) is accompanied by the sounds of my latest Audible download playing on my Treo. Right now, my listening is also on the lighter side as I listen to some Marion Keyes but if the book is absorbing I will listen to more serious fare. Last week I downloaded "The Nazi Officer's Wife" and kept looking for traffic jams so that I could get more listening in. In the past, the David McCullough books have kept me pleasantly absorbed as I took in John Adams and Truman.

On the heavier side of things, I am working my way through "Acquiring Genomes" by Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan. When I was a graduate student, Lynn Margulis was one of my heroines. She was a famous female scientist when they were few and far between. "Aquiring Genomes" is actually a very readable book -- good to read while knitting. I made my way mostly through it while traveling this summer -- propped on my lap with my feet up it was a good "sit outside in the wilderness" book. Hmm ... maybe I'll make the effort to finish it this week ...

So there you have it -- eclectic tastes. Love the Elizabeth Peters' books -- especially the Ameila Peabody series. Love Jasper Fforde. Really like Richard Dawkins. Ann McCaffery is an old favorite and I still raid Squidette's shelves for the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I'm looking for a new series -- got any suggestions?

***
Minor Rant

Looking for a new author is why I decided to join this Shelfari thing when Debby invited me (you can all go blame her for the massive amounts of spam this thing has generated). It looked like a cool thing and even Mike thought so (yup, spammed my own husband). After it sent out a second email today, I dove right back under the rock of humiliation, sank into the moat of despair and basically thought about changing my name and moving to Tahiti.

Instead, I shot off an email to these folks. It read as follows:

After I accidentally spammed my entire contact list -- by the way, having everything automatically checked is a BAD idea -- I thought I was done with it. I issued an apology to the same people and took the flak that resulted.

Then I saw that an automatic NAG was sent out, further adding to my mortification. Can you please tell me what you are doing to remedy this situation? Your emails claim that people were purposely selected but your software automatically selected them and grabbed them from my contacts list and then continued to bother them.

Please, please tell me what you are going to do to fix your software to stop this harassment, both purposeful (the nag) and accidental -- the automatic selection instead of purposeful selection?

I receieved the following reply:

Good morning Devorah,

That certainly is disconcerting. On the invitation page it lists all of the friends you are inviting and states that we will invite those checked once and send one reminder a few days later. After those are sent, we send no further emails.

I do get some emails from people who invite to Shelfari and don't want that second email sent, and we cancel those reminders.

I realize this was a rocky start to Shelfari, but I do hope you stick with the community. It's an incredible group of readers.

--Dave

O.k., I know I was stupid. I acted quickly and didn't read the fine print. I still think there is some deceptive stuff going on but right now ... I'm going to have a drink and take a break from the computer for most of the weekend. I have a blanket to finish crocheting together by Sunday, cat ears and a tail to sew (why are Black cats the only kind that you can find in the Halloween sections?) and other costume adjustments to make. Plus the semi-annual Mitzvah Sunday group to run. I'll be back Sunday night or Monday and maybe I will have stopped beating myself up by then.

Bookcases and Chocolate

I did promise a picture of the infamous bookcase if I could find my camera. Well, I found it. After all these years I have learned to think like Maria. We had the bookcase on the wall to the right turned 90 degrees.
On top of the bookcase is an assortment of books from my mother-in-law as well as a few other items from my own collection. Yes, that is a fire extinguisher and a navajo spindle. The top shelf contains most of my knitting magazines, the second shelf an eclectic selection of books from our own library, my father's collection and of course, my mother-in-law. We didn't take all of her books but did take a good number of well bound classics. One of these days I will photograph all of the bookcases in this place. Our library is thinner then it was last year but still rather robust and growing all the time. Whenever I fuss about my yarn stash growing out of control, I just think of our book stash. *grin*

Below, a gift from my boss.
I have to remember to bring some in to work tomorrow for when I am in charge. The calories will come in handy. Too bad I really can't gobble the stuff the way I used to. One or two pieces tends to do me just fine.

***

I put in a half-day today after going to Little Squid's publishing party. He really channels my dad in his writing. It is so funny to see!

Happily, I made it up the 4 double-height flights to Little Squid's classroom and was only as winded as I usually am. Phew! I may still be a bit shaky but at least everything else is working. That bodes well for Sunday. The teachers and other moms were hesitant to ask about my face. And his Principal, she just kind of gasped and said "I won't ask," at which point I promptly told her. I swear people just think the worst. One would think ... hmm ... Upper East Side mother, swollen face ... yeah, face lift! I guess having only one side swollen and the tape over my eye doesn't translate to that. Lid lift anyone? One of my secretaries told me to go home. Said I looked far too pale. Gee, I guess my usual make up really does make a difference. *grin*

Tomorrow I have to be "in charge" which usually translates into suit, heels, full makeup and dragon lady jewelry. I'm trying to figure out which suit will work with flats and will totally ditch the make up except for lipstick. If people want to stare at something, they can stare at my extra red lips. The dragon lady jewelry is a given. Helen Woodhull to the max!

In my next post I will explain how a humble New York City teacher came to possess several pieces of Helen's beautiful jewelry.