Booking Through Thursday

Suggested by JM:

“Life is too short to read bad books.” I’d always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation.
That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading.

Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?

Life is DEFINITELY too short to read bad books. I have no problem putting a book down if I'm not enjoying it (with the exception of a book club book. Those I finish, regardless of whether or not I like them). I will usually give a book a chance of at least 50 pages, but I have put a book down in as little at 5 pages. I don't really have a hard and fast rule. And there have been more than a few times where I've given a book so much of a benefit of the doubt that I've actually finished it (against my gut feeling) and regretted it. The last book I read, The Angel's Game, is a prime example of this. Ugh!

How about you? Do you feel obligated to finish a book that you are not enjoying?

Theater Review: Shooting Star

On Friday night Geoff and I attended a production of Shooting Star at Trinity Rep with our friends. This was the second play in Trinity's 2009-2010 season and I was very excited about it. I knew I wanted to see this play as soon as I read its description:

A young man and woman fell in

love, and promised each other

they'd change the world. Twenty

years later, they meet in a a snow-

bound airport and rediscover

each other - and themselves

- in a smart romantic comedy.

I love movies and books (and plays) that deal with this topic. I'm intrigued by stories that deal with people's life journeys and how they end up where they are. And if they are happy with where they end up. And I wonder if they look back and wonder how they got there. Or if they question how their lives veered from their original plan (if it did, in fact, veer). So the topic of this play was fascinating to me. The fact that it's billed as a smart romantic comedy only served to sweeten the pie. As I read more about this play, I also learned that it contains only two characters and the actors who were cast in the roles are actually husband wife. Even more interesting.

I'm happy to report that the play did not disappoint. The set was simple yet wonderful and very effective. The stage looked exactly like the waiting area of an airport with rows of metal chairs, a gray tile looking floor and a wall of windows with snow falling outside! Very cool. The actors, Nance Williamson and Kurt Rhoads, were absolutely amazing. They are not Trinity Rep regulars though both have acted at Trinity in the past. It was fascinating to watch a one act play with only two characters who were basically on stage the entire time. The dialogue was very funny (especially that of quirky, hippie Elena).

Throughout the course of the play the story of Reed and Elena's relationship is revealed as they reminisce and rehash their past. And each of them reveal more of themselves to each other now than they did in the past. Overall, the play was very good. The storyline and the topics covered where much more serious than I had anticipated. I wasn't expecting the play to be so "heavy". And there was one scene in which Elena has a phone conversation with Reed's daughter that I thought crossed a line, but other than that it was really wonderful. If you have a chance to see Shooting Star at Trinity (or at a theater new you), I highly recommend it.

Image from Trinity Rep's Website

Book Title Meme

I saw this book meme on Tutu's Two Cents and couldn't resist. It's a great way to review all the books I've read this year and it's fun to think of the titles in a new way.

What To Do: Using only books you have read this year (2009), answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It’s a lot harder than you think!

Describe yourself: Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

How do you feel: Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

Describe where you currently live: Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books by Paul Collins

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? My Life in France by Julia Child

Your favorite form of transportation: Passionate Nomad by Jane Geniesse

Your best friend is: Listening is an Act of Love edited by Dave Isay

You and your friends are: The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

What’s the weather like: The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

You fear: Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

What is the best advice you have to give: How Not to Die by Jan Garavaglia

Thought for the day: Gone Tomorrow by P.F. Kluge

How I would like to die: Mistaken Identity by Don van Ryn

My soul’s present condition: Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

A couple of these are a bit of a stretch, but it was fun to do. Feel free to join in and leave a link here if you'd like.

Image from Google images

TV Quick Quips

Here's my take on this week's episodes of my favorite shows?

1. The Biggest Loser - Thank goodness Tracey was finally voted off the show. I loved that Jillian admitted to the camera that she doesn't like Tracey! I'm liking Jillian more and more all the time. I must admit, however, that Tracey looks fabulous and she really was able to keep up the weight loss and healthy lifestyle after she went home. So, good for her! I'm going to have to complain about product placement again, though. What the heck's up with suggesting that Extra Gum will be a good snack alternative to ice cream?! Really?! I don't think you can convince people who are thin and not food lovers that gum can be a good substitute for ice cream. Let alone people with food issues. (Or ice cream lovers like me). I'm not buying that. No way. And lastly... What's up with Bob and Amanda? I think it's great that he motivates her and they have a connection. Does anyone else think maybe there's more to it? I don't have a problem with that (unless one of them is married. Are they?). I just noticed it and I was wondering if I'm the only one.

2. Modern Family - What can I say. This show is just one great laugh after another. Loved the very end when Mitchell and Cam were pretending to figure skate and Cam yells "My turn" as he runs at Mitchell for a lift and the screen goes black. Brilliant! Geoff and I are still making jokes about that scene days later. Loved all the sweet and clever t-shirts Jay had made for his family to celebrate their accomplishments. Awww... But I think my favorite part was that they focused a bit more on the middle daughter, Alex, and her practical jokes on her brother and sister (charging the cell phone and iPod). I thought it was very clever how they took her nerdy, bookish personality and showed how she used that in a comedic way to get back at her snarky sister. Go Alex! I hope to see them develop the other minor characters as well. Another great episode.

4. Glee - No new episode for the second week in a row! This is so disappointing. Especially since the last episode I saw was one I didn't enjoy. I'm kind of losing interest now. Not good. I hope it's back this week with a really great episode.

3. The Office - Again Creed comes in with a zinger of a line (that paper wasn't supposed to be delivered). So random, so funny and so Creed. I liked that we got to see some Dwight/Andy one-upmanship and prankiness. That is definitely an area of the show that has the potential to be very funny. And one I think they should pursue. This weeks scenes were a little lacking, but the idea is good. Not sure how I feel about the whole Michael and Pam's mom scenario. I thought his birthday lunch and scrapbook was very cute and I liked that Pam and Jim were charmed by it. But then when the whole thing changed because of her age, I wasn't really sure how to feel. I didn't think it was funny. But it was typical awkward Michael Scott, just much more personal than most of his previous gaffes. What did all you Office fans think?

How about you? What did you all think of these episodes or those of your favorite shows?

Image from Google Images

Going Though "The Change"

No, not menopause. The time change that comes with daylight savings time. I know I'm a little late talking about this, but here it is 5 days after "falling back" and I'm still feeling the effects of it. I've noticed in the past three years or so that this simple one hour change in time has a real effect me. It's not quite so bad in the fall as it is the spring, but it definitely takes a few days to adjust. I don't ever remember this being a problem when I was younger. Of course I lived in AZ from 1987-2001 and didn't have to worry about this for those years. AZ is one of the few states that doesn't participate in daylight savings time. As much as I didn't love living in AZ, that is one thing that I did appreciate about living in the desert. No need to save daylight in a place with daily summer temperatures over 110 degrees.

Earlier this week I read an interesting opinion piece written by William F. Shughart II about daylight savings time that discusses the effect of this time change on the hypothalamus, which regulates our circadian rhythms (our "clock"). According to Shughart, the hypothalamus has to struggle to "adjust the body's internal physical, chemical, electrical, hormonal and immunological environments to the new conditions". Most of us just feel groggy for a few days, but apparently this can actually lead to heart attacks in some people. WHAT?! Up until now, I've just been annoyed by this silly time change. But now knowing that this can actually effect people in real and serious ways, I think maybe it's more than just an annoyance. When I was younger I felt no effects, now I feel groggy. Will I have a heart attack 10 years from now? Who knows? And since it's been proven that there are no energy-conservation advantages to daylight savings time (the reason it was started in the first place), I think it's time to seriously consider eliminating it. What do you all think? Did any of you have trouble adjusting? Do any of you know of a reason why we should keep daylight savings time? I'd love to hear from you.

Image from Google Images

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursdays are all about taking the time to appreciate all the little things that actually went right during the week. I am someone who can get flustered very easily - even when the smallest thing goes wrong. So why not focus on all the little things that went right and be grateful?

1. I'm thankful that the police checked in with Mr. Croft and determined that there is in fact a safety mechanism on his homemade guillotine. Phew! I'm also thankful that this guy has come to the attention of the police. I hope they keep an eye on him.

2. I'm thankful that I realized I have an extra week before my book club meeting. Life has been somewhat hectic around here and I was seriously doubting whether or not I would be able to read a 512 page book by next Thursday. Especially since I'm in the middle of another book right now and I hate to put it aside (I'll never remember what was happening if I were to pick it up later). Anyway, I had my dates wrong and now I have a chance to finish both books. YAY!

3. I'm thankful for my friends who are always willing to lend an ear and some great advice when I need it. And I've really needed it these past few weeks.

4. I'm thankful that my Mah Jong group was able to meet on Tuesday night. We hadn't been able to play for an entire month and I missed it. It was great to catch up with my Mah Jong buddies and play. I'm looking forward to playing again in a couple of weeks.

How about you? What are you thankful for this week?

Image from Google Images

In the News

Yesterday in my local paper, The Providence Journal, there was an article that really gave me the creeps. Robert Croft,who is 74 years old, has built a working guillotine which now sits in his driveway. That's right. A guillotine that works! Did he build this as a Halloween prop? No! He built it because he is so upset about all the child abductions and murders. He thinks the people who commit these crimes should be publicly beheaded. He feels so strongly about this that he hired a carpenter and spent $900 to build his very own guillotine. This is certainly an extreme reaction, but not necessarily something that would raise too many red flags. Though a working guillotine, in a place where someone could actually access it and use it, is troublesome. Where the heck are the cops?

Anyway, that isn't even the creepiest part. The creepiest part is this guy's obsession with these abduction/murder cases. He knows the names, dates, locations and all the gory details of all these cases. He seems obsessed with thinking about what happened to these innocent little girls. He seems to be overly concerned about his own 6 great granddaughters and protecting them. Now THIS raises all kinds of red flags for me. I think this guy is nuts and possibly dangerous himself. At the very least the authorities should make him put his guillotine in a safe place. Before someone or some animal gets hurt. This is a dangerous piece of equipment with, according to Mr. Croft, a $300 specially made stainless steel blade, cut at angle and sharpened. There is something really wrong about this.

EDIT: Oh and I forgot to mention this. If anyone decides to go along with Mr. Croft's idea of a public beheading, he has gallantly offered to be the executioner. Why not? He already has the equipment. Regulation blade and all.

Photo from Providence Journal/Kathy Borchers