My book club is an interesting collection of people with quirky taste in literature. The woman hosting this month has turned us on to some different types of work. First was House of the Scorpions, which was an interesting YA novel about clones grown and harvested for organs. The next was "Truck: a Love Story," by a humor writer living in backwoods Wisconsin, working as a paramedic and restoring one of those International Harvester trucks. She's a librarian by profession, so knows about books others might miss.
This time she had us read The Book Thief, another YA novel. I kept forgetting to buy it and finally got it a week before the club, only to discover to my dismay that it was 500+ pp. I wasn't keen on the subject -- a little girl growing up in WWII Germany. I mean how many books about WWII can one read? But this was pretty amazing. Oh the writing, and the characters and the vivid images therein. One character has lemon hair and another eyes the color of the swamp.
I haven't quite finished it because I'm dreading the end. More traumatic than the bombing of Dresden in Slaughterhouse Five, I just know.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Just Do It
So I thought I was lucky to do 9.5 miles this weekend and it turns out I did 10.5. Whoot. I was going to gripe about my mental block about getting to 10 until I tracked my route on google maps. Did I mention I love google maps?
Of course I was soaked to the skin by the time I got home. Took a little runner's trots break at FDR Memorial and oooh, the expression on the faces of the two women tourists chit-chatting as I came out of the stall and washed my hands. Damp hair sticking out everywhere, bright red face and wet clothes and shiny bare arms, plus the clutsy fuel bank and mismatching shirt and shorts. They looked like, OK back away slowly from the crazy person.
Went the lazy route up Louisiana Ave instead of trying the uphill Capitol route. Doing 10 miles was enough this time.
Of course I was soaked to the skin by the time I got home. Took a little runner's trots break at FDR Memorial and oooh, the expression on the faces of the two women tourists chit-chatting as I came out of the stall and washed my hands. Damp hair sticking out everywhere, bright red face and wet clothes and shiny bare arms, plus the clutsy fuel bank and mismatching shirt and shorts. They looked like, OK back away slowly from the crazy person.
Went the lazy route up Louisiana Ave instead of trying the uphill Capitol route. Doing 10 miles was enough this time.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Capitol Hill -- I rule
Not only did I do a seven mile run this morning, (Hi Abe, how ya doing?) but I made it up Capitol Hill, past the oak tree, past the trailer, past the security guards! I did not stop running until I got home. w00t.
Now for 10 miles on Saturday.
Now for 10 miles on Saturday.
Judges on crack Part II
Whole lot of ugly emerged from this episode. Not just the outfits but the attitude. The designers this season have a whole lot of 'tude and not much talent to back it up.
Of course, the person who had been my fave before went crashing off her pedestal. Oh, Terri, how could you? Yeah, I know it must be frustrating to knock out great outfit after great outfit and have the judges ignore you, but no reason to be bitter.
Yes, Keith is a load. I mean, "be gentle, I'm still fragile." Oh please, get over yourself, Keith. What a perfect nightmare blend of insecurity and ego.
But nonetheless, there was no reason not to put him to work. He has better taste in prints than Kenley after all. (Welcome to the jungle, anyone?)
So Terri showed her ugly. I still think the judges should have kept her. Yeah, she showed bad attitude, but not much worse than Kenley's. Kenley's ego was bigger than those ludicrous balloon sleeves. In fact someone need to pop that hot air of hers. What disrespect to Heidi at the party about boobs. Heidi? Hello? Does Victoria's Secret mean anything to you Kenley? If anyone can talk about location of boobies, it's Miz Seal.
She also mixed it with MK and ninagarcia -- not a wise move. Only Santino has done that, and Kenley, darling, you're no Santino.
I thought Suede's looked cheaper than Terri's. The shiny satin pants ill-fitting at the crotch and tight fitting at the ankles. Shades of Rod Stewart and MC Hammer on opposite ends of the 80s gives me flashbacks not in a good way.
The perfect team appeared to be Stelluh and Tanilicious. And what a hideous monstrous disaster they sent down the runway. Granny panties, indeed. As annoying as the -licious stuff was, Blayne was rather sweet. He didn't seem very malicious and when he wasn't trying too hard to be a "personality" he was cute. But he needed to go.
OTOH, the winner. I adore Miss J, but come on. He seems to love gold metallic tops.
Joe's, I hate to admit, had a pretty fabulous look, probably courtesy of Daniel. It looked rather Minoan, appropriate for a horoscope. Leanne's was near perfect avant garde. But could they really give it to her a third time. Something about Korto: she's one of the few designers to think about how it looks in the back as well as front.
Miss J is quite the salesman, so maybe he convinced some drunk former contestants.
But I'm bummed that Suede is showing at Bryant Park tomorrow.
Of course, the person who had been my fave before went crashing off her pedestal. Oh, Terri, how could you? Yeah, I know it must be frustrating to knock out great outfit after great outfit and have the judges ignore you, but no reason to be bitter.
Yes, Keith is a load. I mean, "be gentle, I'm still fragile." Oh please, get over yourself, Keith. What a perfect nightmare blend of insecurity and ego.
But nonetheless, there was no reason not to put him to work. He has better taste in prints than Kenley after all. (Welcome to the jungle, anyone?)
So Terri showed her ugly. I still think the judges should have kept her. Yeah, she showed bad attitude, but not much worse than Kenley's. Kenley's ego was bigger than those ludicrous balloon sleeves. In fact someone need to pop that hot air of hers. What disrespect to Heidi at the party about boobs. Heidi? Hello? Does Victoria's Secret mean anything to you Kenley? If anyone can talk about location of boobies, it's Miz Seal.
She also mixed it with MK and ninagarcia -- not a wise move. Only Santino has done that, and Kenley, darling, you're no Santino.
I thought Suede's looked cheaper than Terri's. The shiny satin pants ill-fitting at the crotch and tight fitting at the ankles. Shades of Rod Stewart and MC Hammer on opposite ends of the 80s gives me flashbacks not in a good way.
The perfect team appeared to be Stelluh and Tanilicious. And what a hideous monstrous disaster they sent down the runway. Granny panties, indeed. As annoying as the -licious stuff was, Blayne was rather sweet. He didn't seem very malicious and when he wasn't trying too hard to be a "personality" he was cute. But he needed to go.
OTOH, the winner. I adore Miss J, but come on. He seems to love gold metallic tops.
Joe's, I hate to admit, had a pretty fabulous look, probably courtesy of Daniel. It looked rather Minoan, appropriate for a horoscope. Leanne's was near perfect avant garde. But could they really give it to her a third time. Something about Korto: she's one of the few designers to think about how it looks in the back as well as front.
Miss J is quite the salesman, so maybe he convinced some drunk former contestants.
But I'm bummed that Suede is showing at Bryant Park tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hains Point -- No more Awakening
On Sunday, I went for a 9+ mile run. I made 8 miles without stopping! Tried to do 10 but just ran out juice despite the Gatorade and the nasty Power goop.
But I chose to run the length of Hains Point for the first time since the Marine Corps Marathon going on three years ago. The Awakening is gone. It was the perfect sculpture for the location, a large green swath facing a wide portion of the Potomac. Some so-and-so moved it to his fancy new hotel complex in Prince freaking George County. Now the point looks...well...boring and empty. Reviews I've seen say the Awakening doesn't look quite right in the midst of that artificial complex.
Maybe some other eccentric millionaire will donate a bizzarely appropriate sculpture to replace it and stipulate that the NPS cannot sell this time.
A girl can dream as she shuffles around the point.
Edited to add: I knew the Awakening was gone. It's just the first time I'd seen the point since it moved to its new home.
But I chose to run the length of Hains Point for the first time since the Marine Corps Marathon going on three years ago. The Awakening is gone. It was the perfect sculpture for the location, a large green swath facing a wide portion of the Potomac. Some so-and-so moved it to his fancy new hotel complex in Prince freaking George County. Now the point looks...well...boring and empty. Reviews I've seen say the Awakening doesn't look quite right in the midst of that artificial complex.
Maybe some other eccentric millionaire will donate a bizzarely appropriate sculpture to replace it and stipulate that the NPS cannot sell this time.
A girl can dream as she shuffles around the point.
Edited to add: I knew the Awakening was gone. It's just the first time I'd seen the point since it moved to its new home.
Project 5.9
Well I'm going to have process this. I am torn between joy at one ouster and slack-jawed disbelief at the other. WTF?!
Will blog about the show after I watch a second time.
Will blog about the show after I watch a second time.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Project Runway 5-8 -- Meow
The claws really come out this episode. Terri is getting really hit. She'd need a dose of antibiotics, some Neosporin and bandaids if they were real cats. Yes, she does a lot of pants. but others do a lot of skirts. As long as the looks differ on the runway...
To answer Blayne, hello, generation gap. I don't care what Mary Kate Olson ever does. She does, however, need to eat a sandwich.
Kenley, the original Mean Girl, is showing a softer side, crying over getting to work with Diane. And I noticed she helped Stella with her fabrics. For all her tough persona, Stella always needs help. I noticed as designers are jumping and knocking fabrics off the shelf, there was a stepladder right behind them.
Loved Stella's comments about Rachel Zoe. About sums it up. Joe is joining the Mean Girls club. He can't talk about queens anymore. That was two-faced -- oh, it looks nice to the face, gagging motions to the back.
Leanne's spy routine was silly but cute.
Joe's design, ick ick ick.
Leanne: Goooorge. us.
Terri: OK. not super.
Korto: Looks great. Very DVF with that pattern. The yellow is lovely.
Blayne: In your dreams, Bucko.
Jerrell: Not pretty.
Stella: The usual vest. The cape is silly. The pants seem ok.
Kenley: Not feeling the dress. It's more shanghai than Joe's though.
Dracula, oh, Stella. And Michael gets to trot out the insane crotch observation.
And he gets to trot out the dressed in the dark gibe to Suede. Favorite bon mots of Michael!
Leanne's dress gorgeous so she deserved the win. I hate to admit it, but I thought Joe should have been aufed. His outfit was gag-worthy. One thing about Stella, she was a vivid personality and true to herself.
Tim, shame on you for the eye roll after giving her a nice bye-bye. I think that's a clash of perspectives.
To answer Blayne, hello, generation gap. I don't care what Mary Kate Olson ever does. She does, however, need to eat a sandwich.
Kenley, the original Mean Girl, is showing a softer side, crying over getting to work with Diane. And I noticed she helped Stella with her fabrics. For all her tough persona, Stella always needs help. I noticed as designers are jumping and knocking fabrics off the shelf, there was a stepladder right behind them.
Loved Stella's comments about Rachel Zoe. About sums it up. Joe is joining the Mean Girls club. He can't talk about queens anymore. That was two-faced -- oh, it looks nice to the face, gagging motions to the back.
Leanne's spy routine was silly but cute.
Joe's design, ick ick ick.
Leanne: Goooorge. us.
Terri: OK. not super.
Korto: Looks great. Very DVF with that pattern. The yellow is lovely.
Blayne: In your dreams, Bucko.
Jerrell: Not pretty.
Stella: The usual vest. The cape is silly. The pants seem ok.
Kenley: Not feeling the dress. It's more shanghai than Joe's though.
Dracula, oh, Stella. And Michael gets to trot out the insane crotch observation.
And he gets to trot out the dressed in the dark gibe to Suede. Favorite bon mots of Michael!
Leanne's dress gorgeous so she deserved the win. I hate to admit it, but I thought Joe should have been aufed. His outfit was gag-worthy. One thing about Stella, she was a vivid personality and true to herself.
Tim, shame on you for the eye roll after giving her a nice bye-bye. I think that's a clash of perspectives.
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