JANUARY
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
This was amazing, and Michael Keaton as the Vulture is the second-best MCU villain ever.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Very weird, and extremely intense. Leaves you with a lot to chew on afterwards.
Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009)
This cast is loaded - Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, Seth Rogen, Stephen Colbert, Paul Rudd, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler and Hugh Laurie. It's a fun movie, and quotable, but otherwise forgettable.
Quigley Down Under (1990)
A Wyoming sharpshooter faces off with a corrupt land baron in Australia in this brutal Tom Selleck Western.
X-Men (2000)
This movie kickstarted the superhero genre, more or less. It's weird. But Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto was great casting.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
A unfunny parody of Chinatown using cartoon characters; while it paved the way for Space Jam, it definitely didn't live up to the hype.
Spotlight (2015)
Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo are part of a team of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe working on a huge-scale story of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. It's a somber movie, but worth watching.
High School Musical (2006)
A goofy, throwaway cult classic.
Bridge of Spies (2015)
Tom Hanks stars in this movie about the intricacies of Cold War prisoner exchanges.
Sing (2016)
In an anthropomorphic animal-ized Los Angeles, a theater owner puts on a singing competition. Cat includes Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johannson and John C. Reilly.
A Bug's Life (1998)
An eccentric inventor ant must save his colony from the enslavement of grasshoppers, with the help of troupe of semi-employed circus performers.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Will Ferrell is a NASCAR driver. The plot is pretty self-explanatory.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Robin Williams is an eccentric English teacher at a hidebound 1959 New England boarding school in this sad drama.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman star in this perfect movie about a woman who gains a family by pretending to be the fiancee of a man in a coma.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Yeesh. Even worse than the first two, this reboot makes everyone ultraserious, explains no background, and all the main characters are one-dimensional and pissed off.
Total watched this month: 15.
FEBRUARY
The Hunger Games (2012)
This worked fairly well as an adaptation.
The Princess Bride (1987)
S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure.
Black Panther (2018)
T'Challa begins his reign as Wakanda's king.
Total watched this month: 3, bringing total to 18.
MARCH
Rewatch of Black Panther.
Ferdinand (2017)
A very loose adaptation of Munro Leaf's classic picture book, starring John Cena, Kate McKinnon and Peyton Manning. I really liked it a lot.
Justice League (2017)
Joss Whedon's direction made this watchable. Being part of the DCEU, it was still a mess, but with soem glimmer of future redemption.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
I hated this movie when I saw it in theaters. I still hated it on rewatch.
Ready Player One (2018)
The much-streamlined and improved adaptation of Ernest Cline's dystopian novel about a treasure hunt for control of the Internet.
Apollo 13 (1995)
Directed by Ron Howard, it stars Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise and Bill Paxton as astronauts in this enthralling historical account of the moon landing that never happened.
Total watched this month: 5, bringing total to 23.
APRIL
The Village (2004)
A very thinky Gothic suspense/horror movie with a loaded cast, starring Bryce Dallas Howard.
Iron Man (2008)
Everyone has to start somewhere.
The Incredible Hulk (2009)
Edward Norton is a much better Bruce Banner than Mark Ruffalo. This is a fugitive movie, and very forgotten.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Thanos is finally here...
Total watched this month: 4, bringing total to 27.
MAY
Rewatch of Avengers: Infinity War
The Big Sleep (1946)
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall star in this movie based on a Raymond Chandler novel.
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Not as good as the first, definitely better than the second, most of the cast looked like they felt incredibly out of place. Also, the dance numbers lost all hope of connecting to reality.
Bringing Up Baby (1940)
Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, a leopard, and lightning-paced screwball hijinks. What else do you need?
The Greatest Showman (2017)
A fanciful, not-particularly-accurate biography of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), also starring Zendaya and Zac Efron.
12 Strong (2018)
A war movie starring John Krasinski and Michael Pena about the first action of the War on Terror.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
This movie....exists. It falls into 3-A in terms of chronology.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones' first - and probably best - adventure./
Rewatch of While You Were Sleeping
Total watched this month: 7, bringing total to 34.
JUNE
Incredibles 2 (2018)
This sequel really didn't need to be made. It wasn't bad, but really could have benefited from a timejump instead of picking up literally seconds after the first movie ended.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Based on Michael Crichton's novel, this might be even better. Certainly much more terrifying.
Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
The spirit of the novel was kept extremely well in this film that stars and is directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Total watched this month: 3, bringing total to 37.
JULY
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
This was much better than the first one - following Captain America: Civil War, and set at least partially concurrent to Avengers: Infinity War, Scott and Hope try to rescue Janet Van Dyne from the Quantum Realm.
Total watched this month: 1, bringing total to 38.
AUGUST
Turner and Hooch (1989)
This was an odd movie. Slow-paced, thoughtful, boring, part murder-mystery and part odd-couple comedy, it's extremely violent and has way too much of Tom Hanks in his underwear.
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Emma Roberts and Don Cheadle star in this movie about a group of teenagers who commit a litany of crimes in the name of rescuing dogs across the city.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
Based on the 2008 novel, this story is sharper different because of the different medium, but an enjoyable, though rather slow, watch.
Total watched this month: 3, bringing total to 41.
SEPTEMBER
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Very thoughtful, if not particularly accurate, look at how Walt Disney secured the rights to adapt P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins. Tom Hanks is a great actor, and it was beautifully filmed.
Crisis on Earth-X (2017)
Not technically a film, or if so, a TV movie, this is a massive Arrowverse crossover across episodes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. Nazis and doppelgangers are always good antagonists.
Rewatch of The Village
The Truman Show (1998)
A man's whole life is broadcast as a hit reality show, and he has no idea.
Total watched this month: 3, bringing total to 44.
OCTOBER
Skyscraper (2018)
This movie was very average. Starred The Rock, which is something, but the plot was too simple, the script was terrible, and the acting for the most part was uninspired.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Gothic elements were introduced after Isla Nublar's dinosaurs are no more due to a volcanic explosion. It was easily the best since the original.
New York Minute (2004)
Mix Ferris Bueller with Legally Blonde, and you have the final Olsen twins movie, which is lightweight, thoroughly ridiculous, extremely problematic if thought about for more than twenty seconds and entirely watchable.
Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002)
Andrea and Buddy join the Fernfield Junior High baseball team as they try to adjust to life without Josh, who's now at college.
Total watched this month: 4, bringing total to 48.
NOVEMBER
Stardust (2007)
This is loosely based on a Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, it's an odd but mostly satisfying fairy tale.
Miracle (2004)
A mostly-faithful retelling of the Miracle on Ice starring Kurt Russell.
Newsies: The Broadway Musical (2017)
This was a filmed version of a hugely successful stage musical based on a film that flopped horribly 25 years ago, based on the newsboys strike of 1899.
Air Bud: World Pup (2000)
Josh and Buddy take on soccer for Fernfield High, because of a pretty British girl on the team - and she has a Golden Retriever!
Air Bud Spikes Back (2002)
Andrea and Buddy learn volleyball one summer after Tammy moves to California.
Total watched this month: 5, bringing total to 53.
DECEMBER
Air Buddies (2006)
Buddy's puppies can talk, and they need to rescue their parents from a kidnapper.
The Search for Santa Paws (2011)
This was terrible, even by the admittedly-low standards of Christmas movies.
Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups (2012)
Also thoroughly terrible and pointless.
It's a Wonderful Life (1947)
The Jimmy Stewart Christmas classic.
Little Women (2018)
This adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel is set in modern times and stars High School Musical's Lucas Grabeel as Laurie and Lea Thompson as Marmee, with Mandy Moore, Anne Hathaway and Shailene Woodley lookalikes as Meg, Jo and Beth. It worked really well and captured the tone of the book perfectly.
Rewatch of Avengers: Infinity War
Rewatch of Ant-Man and the Wasp
Total watched this month: 5, bringing total to for the year.to 58
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
The Best of 2018
Favorite Memory -
It was really great to see Ashland in March, and it was also pretty great to see a play I wrote performed onstage. Very good to see Dr. Mackie, David and Andrew, too. That was a good weekend. Good to catch up with Susan over lunch once during the summer, too.
Favorite Country Song -
"Five More Minutes" by Scotty McCreery. Other good ones: Luke Bryan's "Most People Are Good," Kenny Chesney's "Get Along" and Keith Urban's "Female."
Favorite Non-Country Song -
I'm gonna go with Taylor Swift's "Delicate" here.
Favorite Movie Seen in Theaters -
Avengers: Infinity War has to go here, because of its enormity. But there was a lot to choose from: Black Panther, Ready Player One, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Incredibles 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Favorite New Movie Not Seen in Theaters -
Basically, this just means "2018 movies not seen in theaters" because there's not that many that come to the nearest theater. Skyscraper, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Little Women all qualify. Fallen Kingdom wins, though Little Women was surprisingly not terrible when translated into modern times.
Favorite YouTube Channel -
Gotta be Editing is Everything. That girl Dani is a genius.
There wasn't much that happened this year, really. I covered NASCAR for Frontstretch, superhero TV/movies for Bam Smack Pow, and wrote most of the content for Dog O'Day as site co-expert (editor).
It was really great to see Ashland in March, and it was also pretty great to see a play I wrote performed onstage. Very good to see Dr. Mackie, David and Andrew, too. That was a good weekend. Good to catch up with Susan over lunch once during the summer, too.
Favorite Country Song -
"Five More Minutes" by Scotty McCreery. Other good ones: Luke Bryan's "Most People Are Good," Kenny Chesney's "Get Along" and Keith Urban's "Female."
Favorite Non-Country Song -
I'm gonna go with Taylor Swift's "Delicate" here.
Favorite Movie Seen in Theaters -
Avengers: Infinity War has to go here, because of its enormity. But there was a lot to choose from: Black Panther, Ready Player One, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Incredibles 2, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Favorite New Movie Not Seen in Theaters -
Basically, this just means "2018 movies not seen in theaters" because there's not that many that come to the nearest theater. Skyscraper, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Little Women all qualify. Fallen Kingdom wins, though Little Women was surprisingly not terrible when translated into modern times.
Favorite YouTube Channel -
Gotta be Editing is Everything. That girl Dani is a genius.
There wasn't much that happened this year, really. I covered NASCAR for Frontstretch, superhero TV/movies for Bam Smack Pow, and wrote most of the content for Dog O'Day as site co-expert (editor).
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
Nonfiction of 2018
LATE DECEMBER
Mandolin for Dummies, by Don Julin (2011)
A very good how-to-play-mandolin manual.
Total read so far: 1.
JANUARY
Portrait of Canada, by June Callwood (1981)
A quick history of the country, focusing mainly on political disputes.
A Friday Night Lights Companion: Love, Loss and Football in Dillon, Texas, edited by Leah Wilson (2011)
Essays and commentary on the show.
Grammar Essentials for Dummies, by Geraldine Woods (2010)
Exactly what you'd expect from the title.
Girls of Summer: In Their Own League, by Lois Browne (1992)
A breezy history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League written for the non-sports fan.
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity, by Nancy Pearcey (2004)
This was one of Courtney's books from the Challies internship. It was pretty good for a book on philosophy.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away, by Bill Bryson (1999)
This is a collection of columns written for a British magazine, about the daily life of an American expat returning to life in the States.
Total read this month: 6, bringing nonfiction total to 7.
FEBRUARY
The World According to Star Wars, by Cass R. Sunstein (2016)
Written by a law professor, this is equal parts analysis about the sci-fi megafranchise and the complexities of determining constitutional law.
Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel, by Ben Batchelor (2017)
A well-researched but inconsistently-paced biography.
Now All We Need is a Title: Famous Book Titles and How They Got That Way, by Andre Bernard (1995)
Short anecdotes about how famous and obscure books got their titles, and examples of the (usually much less compelling) working titles.
The Tarantula in My Purse: And 172 Other Wild Pets, by Jean Craighead George (1996)
A memoir of all the exotic pets she and her children raised.
The Western Lit Survival Kit: An Irreverent Guide to the Classics from Homer to Faulkner, by Sandra Newman (2012)
If Dr. Mackie was feeling really snarky, she could have totally written this. It was entertaining and informative, though I disagreed with the author on a lot of the writers that I'd read (for example, Kipling, Twain and Faulkner are all fantastic).
Total read this month: 5, bringing nonfiction total to 12..
MARCH
The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion: More Hope, Strength, and Strategies for Artists and Artists-at-Heart, by Susan M. Brackney (2002)
A little too fluffy to be useful, in small packages it might be inspiring.
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, by Os Guinness (1998)
This was well worth reading.
Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work that You Love, by Barbara J. Winter (1993)
This felt a little too "rah rah rah" to be helpful, not to mention dated, but it might be helpful for some people.
A Dab of Dickens and a Touch of Twain: Literary Lives from Shakespeare's Old England to Frost's New England, by Eliot Engel (2002)
This is It Happened in America, only about famous authors. It's great.
Making Movies, by Sidney Lumet (1995)
The director of Long Day's Journey Into Night talks about the storytelling process. A little dull, honestly.
Never Leave Your Block: Adventures in Urban Living, by Scott Jacobs (2012)
A Chicago journalist chronicles the happenings in his neighborhood in this collection of essays.
Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, by John Matteson (2012)
An exhausting, thoroughly well-researched and well-written biography of two passionate, strong-willed people.
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will, by Kevin DeYoung (2009)
Extremely helpful book.
Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 20.
APRIL
Cary Grant: A Biography, by Marc Eliot (2004)
I was disappointed by this one, after enjoying the author's book about Ronald Reagan.
One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson (2013)
A look at the American summer of 1927. Lots happened, including Charles Lindbergh's flight over the Atlantic.
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson (1998)
The author recounts his experience of trying to conquer the Appalachian Trail.
Sports From Hell: My Search for the World's Dumbest Competition, by Rick Reilly (2009)
Did you know chess boxing exists? Me neither.
Ebert's Bigger Little Movie Glossary, by Roger Ebert (1999)
The title says it all...TV Tropes before the internet was really much of a thing.
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale, by Dan Dye, Mark Beckloff and Richard Simon (2000)
A memoir of a deaf albino Great Dane and the gourmet dog-biscuit company she and her owners founded.
Unfamiliar Fishes, by Sarah Vowell (2011)
A history of Hawaii from Captain Cook to American annexation, written by the historian/radio personality who is the voice of Violet Parr.
For the Love of Books: 115 Celebrated Writers on the Books They Love Most, collected by Ronald B. Schwartz (1998)
Most of these writers I had never heard of, and I doubt I'll ever read Moby Dick or The Brothers Karamazov, but it was interesting to see what books had an impact on them.
Bigger Than the Game: Bo, Boz, the Punky QB, and How the '80's Created the Modern Athlete, by Michael Weinreb (2011)
A very interesting, though also depressing, history and analysis of the 1980's and its impact on pop culture and sports.
Total read this month: 9, bringing total to 29.
MAY
Aspects of the Novel, by E.M. Forster (1927)
E.M. Forster tries to define the elements of a novel as a guest speaker at Yale. Very interesting.
How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster (2003)
This would have been very helpful when starting college. Funny and well-written, too,
Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael Jordan, by Bob Greene (1992)
You always hear about Michael Jordan the basketball player - otherwordly excellent. Michael Jordan the advertising guy - otherworldly excellent. Michael Jordan the baseball player - kind of a disappointment. Michael Jordan the owner/player - rather depressing and pitiful. But you never get to hear about Michael Jordan the human. Bob Greene became friends with him, because he wasn't a sportswriter, and he could listen well.
Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and Beyond, by Larry McMurtry (1999)
Reflections on living in north-central Texas, ranching, reading and writing fill this meandering but pleasant read.
Prime-Time Hits: Television's Most Popular Network Programs, 1950 to the Present, by Susan Sackett (1993)
A short overview of the history of top 10 TV shows each decade from the early days to the early nineties.
Travels, by Michael Crichton (1988)
Crichton's journey of trying to understand himself and the world, featuring essays on subjects as varied as medical school, mountain climbing, living in Hollywood and mysticism.
The Intimate Marriage, by R.C. Sproul (written 1978, revised 2003)
R.C. Sproul's guide to marriage.
A Child's Delight, by Noel Perrin (1997)
A series of short essays praising obscure children's literature.
Total read this month: 7, bringing nonfiction total to 36.
JUNE
First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1978)
Humorous essays on New England country living minutiae.
Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer, by Harold Schecter (2003)
A "meh" account of late nineteenth-century New England serial killer Jane Toppan.
Counter Culture: A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion, Persecution, Orphans and Pornography, by David Platt (2015)
That subtitle pretty well sums it up... Platt always feels like he's yelling at you in his writing.
Bush League: A Colorful, Factual Account of Minor League Baseball from 1877 to the Present, by Robert Obojski (1975)
A rather dry, academic history of minor league baseball. Would be useful as a reference for historical fiction.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain (2012)
This was very much worth reading. Some of the life-survival tips I'd stumbled across myself, which was also interesting.
Five Patients, by Michael Crichton (1969)
A critical analysis of the hospital environment and medical school practices. Really interesting.
Rebound: The Odyssey of Michael Jordan, by Bob Greene (1995)
The baseball period has always been one of the most fascinating parts about Michael Jordan's life, and one that you rarely heard about. The true story of Space Jam (which was being filmed as this book was in the publishing process) was well worth reading.
Total read this month: 7, bringing nonfiction total to 43.
JULY
Second-Person Rural: More Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1980)
Subjects include the differences between city and country people and an account of taste-testing potato varieties.
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Tim Keller (2008)
This was excellent.
Third-Person Rural: Further Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1983)
Subjects include Vermont's weather and the threat of nuclear warfare.
Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, by Daniel Radosh (2008)
This snarky analysis needed to be written, but a Christian could never have written it. So a Jewish agnostic did instead.
Baseball: An Illustrated History, by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (1994)
This history was masterfully researched and well-written. The photos were interesting, too.
We Made This Country Great, edited by Ken Tate (2002)
Short essays telling about everyday life in America from the 1890s to the 1950s.
Total read this month: 6, bringing total to 49.
AUGUST
Belles on Their Toes, by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth Jr (1950)
The sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen explains what happened to the Gilbreth clan after their father died.
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad, by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard (1999)
"Hey, guys! We found a secret code hidden in slave quilts! Unfortunately, we don't understand it." It does make Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use" a little clearer, though, so there was some good to reading this book.
Sam Walton: The Inside Story of America's Richest Man, by Vance Trimble (1990)
This biography wasn't nearly as good as the first handful of times I read it.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan (2000)
A hilarious, pathetic, miraculous tale of a southwest Ohio family's struggle to survive.
Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society, by Danny Fingeroth (2004)
This is a breezy tone, but deep questions being asked. It's well worth reading.
Bill Peet: An Autobiography, by Bill Peet (1989)
A former Disney animator and picture-book author/illustrator tells his life story, using plenty of drawings to fill in the word-gaps.
Moments: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs, edited by Sheryle and John Leekley (1978)
These pictures....it was like being in the Newseum again. Sometimes, as Dan Rather says in the introduction, it can be discouraging how one image can really say a thousand words.
Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 56.
SEPTEMBER
Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs; Maximizing Health with Whole Foods, Not Drugs, by Judy Morgan and Hue Grant (2017)
This is a cookbook for dog-owners who have a ton of extra time and resources to cook natural foods for their pets. I reviewed it for Dog O'Day.
From Lucky to Smart: Leadership Lessons from QuikTrip, by Chester Cadieux and Judie Nera (2008)
A book on management principles from QuikTrip's history. Pretty good book for its kind.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 58.
OCTOBER
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, by Bill Bryson (1989)
Bryson has two settings: hilarious and insufferable. This book has enough elements of both to wash out into a "meh, that was okay." Still, I was expecting Travels with Charley, so that was somewhat disappointing.
Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites who Ruled Texas Football, by Jim Dent (2007)
This wasn't bad, but it should've been much better, considering that the author was a sportswriter with 30-plus years of experience. The chapters felt disconnected and basic facts didn't quite add up, but if you enjoyed Friday Night Lights, Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins could have been at home here. It tells about the Fort Worth Masonic Home football teams that rose to the top echelon of 1930s Texas high school football.
Sacagawea's Nickname: Essays on the American West, by Larry McMurtry (2001)
Interesting essays on a wide variety of Western characters, places and literature.
Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History, by Kati Marton (2001)
This was a really interesting history, especially when viewed with Tevi Troy's book on pop culture and the Presidency.
The Complete Samoyed, by Robert H. and Dolly Ward (1971)
An especially dull academic history of the Samoyeds of dog-show fame. Reviewed for Dog O'Day.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 63.
NOVEMBER
The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction, by Neil Gaiman (2014)
Essays and introductions by the ever-zany and clever Neil Gaiman.
You Can Write Children's Books, by Tracey Dils (2009)
An easily readable guide to the process of writing children's books.
Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning Broadcast, by Bob Schieffer (2004)
This was well worth reading, both for political history and TV history, in addition to several good essays on the role of journalism and journalists in the world.
Stolen! A History of Base Stealing, by Russell Roberts (1999)
Exactly what it sounds like, which was so oddly specific to write an entire book about that it made for a book-sale gamble. It wasn't the best baseball book I've ever read, but it wasn't awful, either.
Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, by Nicholas Pileggi (1985)
This is the book Goodfellas was based on. The movie was better.
Nike is a Goddess: The History of Women in Sports, edited by Lissa Smith (1999)
About half the history in these essays I already knew, but they were still interesting reading, particularly the hockey and soccer chapters.
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, by Paco Underhill (1999)
This was really interesting, as a "I never would have thought of looking at it that way, but that's awesome!" type of book.
To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian, by Stephen Ambrose (2002)
Somewhat boring, but not terrible as an introduction to his work.
Bare Fists: The History of Bare-Knuckle Prizefighting, by Bob Mee (2002)
This was written well, but there's only so long you can read about 18th century British boxers.
The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block and the Creative Brain, by Alice W. Flaherty (2004)
This was interesting; the author is a mentally-ill writer whose day job is neurology, which made for a unique spin on the subject.
Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 73.
DECEMBER
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell (2005)
Gladwell is always interesting. This is about gut decisions.
Western Christians in Global Mission: What's the Role of the North American Church?, by Paul Borthwick (2012)
This was one of Courtney's textbooks that was lying around. It was pretty good.
The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legacies of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, by Thom Hatch (2013)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are some of the most interesting outlaws ever, which is saying something. The author has an interesting writing style that fully admits where he might be speculating and not venturing theories when there's zero data to back them up.
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, by David Michaelis (2007)
An exhaustively researched and thorough biography of a very complicated man.
The Library Book, by Susan Orlean (2018)
Partially a true crime book about a devastating inferno, partially a history of the Los Angeles City Library, and partially an ode to the wonderfulness of the concept of libraries in general, this is hard to sum up, but well-written and worth reading.
Total read this month: 4, bringing total nonfiction read this year to 77.
Mandolin for Dummies, by Don Julin (2011)
A very good how-to-play-mandolin manual.
Total read so far: 1.
JANUARY
Portrait of Canada, by June Callwood (1981)
A quick history of the country, focusing mainly on political disputes.
A Friday Night Lights Companion: Love, Loss and Football in Dillon, Texas, edited by Leah Wilson (2011)
Essays and commentary on the show.
Grammar Essentials for Dummies, by Geraldine Woods (2010)
Exactly what you'd expect from the title.
Girls of Summer: In Their Own League, by Lois Browne (1992)
A breezy history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League written for the non-sports fan.
Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From its Cultural Captivity, by Nancy Pearcey (2004)
This was one of Courtney's books from the Challies internship. It was pretty good for a book on philosophy.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away, by Bill Bryson (1999)
This is a collection of columns written for a British magazine, about the daily life of an American expat returning to life in the States.
Total read this month: 6, bringing nonfiction total to 7.
FEBRUARY
The World According to Star Wars, by Cass R. Sunstein (2016)
Written by a law professor, this is equal parts analysis about the sci-fi megafranchise and the complexities of determining constitutional law.
Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel, by Ben Batchelor (2017)
A well-researched but inconsistently-paced biography.
Now All We Need is a Title: Famous Book Titles and How They Got That Way, by Andre Bernard (1995)
Short anecdotes about how famous and obscure books got their titles, and examples of the (usually much less compelling) working titles.
The Tarantula in My Purse: And 172 Other Wild Pets, by Jean Craighead George (1996)
A memoir of all the exotic pets she and her children raised.
The Western Lit Survival Kit: An Irreverent Guide to the Classics from Homer to Faulkner, by Sandra Newman (2012)
If Dr. Mackie was feeling really snarky, she could have totally written this. It was entertaining and informative, though I disagreed with the author on a lot of the writers that I'd read (for example, Kipling, Twain and Faulkner are all fantastic).
Total read this month: 5, bringing nonfiction total to 12..
MARCH
The Not-So-Lost Soul Companion: More Hope, Strength, and Strategies for Artists and Artists-at-Heart, by Susan M. Brackney (2002)
A little too fluffy to be useful, in small packages it might be inspiring.
The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life, by Os Guinness (1998)
This was well worth reading.
Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work that You Love, by Barbara J. Winter (1993)
This felt a little too "rah rah rah" to be helpful, not to mention dated, but it might be helpful for some people.
A Dab of Dickens and a Touch of Twain: Literary Lives from Shakespeare's Old England to Frost's New England, by Eliot Engel (2002)
This is It Happened in America, only about famous authors. It's great.
Making Movies, by Sidney Lumet (1995)
The director of Long Day's Journey Into Night talks about the storytelling process. A little dull, honestly.
Never Leave Your Block: Adventures in Urban Living, by Scott Jacobs (2012)
A Chicago journalist chronicles the happenings in his neighborhood in this collection of essays.
Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, by John Matteson (2012)
An exhausting, thoroughly well-researched and well-written biography of two passionate, strong-willed people.
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will, by Kevin DeYoung (2009)
Extremely helpful book.
Total read this month: 8, bringing total to 20.
APRIL
Cary Grant: A Biography, by Marc Eliot (2004)
I was disappointed by this one, after enjoying the author's book about Ronald Reagan.
One Summer: America, 1927, by Bill Bryson (2013)
A look at the American summer of 1927. Lots happened, including Charles Lindbergh's flight over the Atlantic.
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson (1998)
The author recounts his experience of trying to conquer the Appalachian Trail.
Sports From Hell: My Search for the World's Dumbest Competition, by Rick Reilly (2009)
Did you know chess boxing exists? Me neither.
Ebert's Bigger Little Movie Glossary, by Roger Ebert (1999)
The title says it all...TV Tropes before the internet was really much of a thing.
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale, by Dan Dye, Mark Beckloff and Richard Simon (2000)
A memoir of a deaf albino Great Dane and the gourmet dog-biscuit company she and her owners founded.
Unfamiliar Fishes, by Sarah Vowell (2011)
A history of Hawaii from Captain Cook to American annexation, written by the historian/radio personality who is the voice of Violet Parr.
For the Love of Books: 115 Celebrated Writers on the Books They Love Most, collected by Ronald B. Schwartz (1998)
Most of these writers I had never heard of, and I doubt I'll ever read Moby Dick or The Brothers Karamazov, but it was interesting to see what books had an impact on them.
Bigger Than the Game: Bo, Boz, the Punky QB, and How the '80's Created the Modern Athlete, by Michael Weinreb (2011)
A very interesting, though also depressing, history and analysis of the 1980's and its impact on pop culture and sports.
Total read this month: 9, bringing total to 29.
MAY
Aspects of the Novel, by E.M. Forster (1927)
E.M. Forster tries to define the elements of a novel as a guest speaker at Yale. Very interesting.
How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster (2003)
This would have been very helpful when starting college. Funny and well-written, too,
Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael Jordan, by Bob Greene (1992)
You always hear about Michael Jordan the basketball player - otherwordly excellent. Michael Jordan the advertising guy - otherworldly excellent. Michael Jordan the baseball player - kind of a disappointment. Michael Jordan the owner/player - rather depressing and pitiful. But you never get to hear about Michael Jordan the human. Bob Greene became friends with him, because he wasn't a sportswriter, and he could listen well.
Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections at Sixty and Beyond, by Larry McMurtry (1999)
Reflections on living in north-central Texas, ranching, reading and writing fill this meandering but pleasant read.
Prime-Time Hits: Television's Most Popular Network Programs, 1950 to the Present, by Susan Sackett (1993)
A short overview of the history of top 10 TV shows each decade from the early days to the early nineties.
Travels, by Michael Crichton (1988)
Crichton's journey of trying to understand himself and the world, featuring essays on subjects as varied as medical school, mountain climbing, living in Hollywood and mysticism.
The Intimate Marriage, by R.C. Sproul (written 1978, revised 2003)
R.C. Sproul's guide to marriage.
A Child's Delight, by Noel Perrin (1997)
A series of short essays praising obscure children's literature.
Total read this month: 7, bringing nonfiction total to 36.
JUNE
First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1978)
Humorous essays on New England country living minutiae.
Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer, by Harold Schecter (2003)
A "meh" account of late nineteenth-century New England serial killer Jane Toppan.
Counter Culture: A Compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion, Persecution, Orphans and Pornography, by David Platt (2015)
That subtitle pretty well sums it up... Platt always feels like he's yelling at you in his writing.
Bush League: A Colorful, Factual Account of Minor League Baseball from 1877 to the Present, by Robert Obojski (1975)
A rather dry, academic history of minor league baseball. Would be useful as a reference for historical fiction.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain (2012)
This was very much worth reading. Some of the life-survival tips I'd stumbled across myself, which was also interesting.
Five Patients, by Michael Crichton (1969)
A critical analysis of the hospital environment and medical school practices. Really interesting.
Rebound: The Odyssey of Michael Jordan, by Bob Greene (1995)
The baseball period has always been one of the most fascinating parts about Michael Jordan's life, and one that you rarely heard about. The true story of Space Jam (which was being filmed as this book was in the publishing process) was well worth reading.
Total read this month: 7, bringing nonfiction total to 43.
JULY
Second-Person Rural: More Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1980)
Subjects include the differences between city and country people and an account of taste-testing potato varieties.
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Tim Keller (2008)
This was excellent.
Third-Person Rural: Further Essays of a Sometime Farmer, by Noel Perrin (1983)
Subjects include Vermont's weather and the threat of nuclear warfare.
Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, by Daniel Radosh (2008)
This snarky analysis needed to be written, but a Christian could never have written it. So a Jewish agnostic did instead.
Baseball: An Illustrated History, by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns (1994)
This history was masterfully researched and well-written. The photos were interesting, too.
We Made This Country Great, edited by Ken Tate (2002)
Short essays telling about everyday life in America from the 1890s to the 1950s.
Total read this month: 6, bringing total to 49.
AUGUST
Belles on Their Toes, by Ernestine Gilbreth Carey and Frank Gilbreth Jr (1950)
The sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen explains what happened to the Gilbreth clan after their father died.
Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad, by Jacqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard (1999)
"Hey, guys! We found a secret code hidden in slave quilts! Unfortunately, we don't understand it." It does make Alice Walker's short story "Everyday Use" a little clearer, though, so there was some good to reading this book.
Sam Walton: The Inside Story of America's Richest Man, by Vance Trimble (1990)
This biography wasn't nearly as good as the first handful of times I read it.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan (2000)
A hilarious, pathetic, miraculous tale of a southwest Ohio family's struggle to survive.
Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society, by Danny Fingeroth (2004)
This is a breezy tone, but deep questions being asked. It's well worth reading.
Bill Peet: An Autobiography, by Bill Peet (1989)
A former Disney animator and picture-book author/illustrator tells his life story, using plenty of drawings to fill in the word-gaps.
Moments: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs, edited by Sheryle and John Leekley (1978)
These pictures....it was like being in the Newseum again. Sometimes, as Dan Rather says in the introduction, it can be discouraging how one image can really say a thousand words.
Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 56.
SEPTEMBER
Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs; Maximizing Health with Whole Foods, Not Drugs, by Judy Morgan and Hue Grant (2017)
This is a cookbook for dog-owners who have a ton of extra time and resources to cook natural foods for their pets. I reviewed it for Dog O'Day.
From Lucky to Smart: Leadership Lessons from QuikTrip, by Chester Cadieux and Judie Nera (2008)
A book on management principles from QuikTrip's history. Pretty good book for its kind.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 58.
OCTOBER
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, by Bill Bryson (1989)
Bryson has two settings: hilarious and insufferable. This book has enough elements of both to wash out into a "meh, that was okay." Still, I was expecting Travels with Charley, so that was somewhat disappointing.
Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites who Ruled Texas Football, by Jim Dent (2007)
This wasn't bad, but it should've been much better, considering that the author was a sportswriter with 30-plus years of experience. The chapters felt disconnected and basic facts didn't quite add up, but if you enjoyed Friday Night Lights, Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins could have been at home here. It tells about the Fort Worth Masonic Home football teams that rose to the top echelon of 1930s Texas high school football.
Sacagawea's Nickname: Essays on the American West, by Larry McMurtry (2001)
Interesting essays on a wide variety of Western characters, places and literature.
Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History, by Kati Marton (2001)
This was a really interesting history, especially when viewed with Tevi Troy's book on pop culture and the Presidency.
The Complete Samoyed, by Robert H. and Dolly Ward (1971)
An especially dull academic history of the Samoyeds of dog-show fame. Reviewed for Dog O'Day.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 63.
NOVEMBER
The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction, by Neil Gaiman (2014)
Essays and introductions by the ever-zany and clever Neil Gaiman.
You Can Write Children's Books, by Tracey Dils (2009)
An easily readable guide to the process of writing children's books.
Face the Nation: My Favorite Stories from the First 50 Years of the Award-Winning Broadcast, by Bob Schieffer (2004)
This was well worth reading, both for political history and TV history, in addition to several good essays on the role of journalism and journalists in the world.
Stolen! A History of Base Stealing, by Russell Roberts (1999)
Exactly what it sounds like, which was so oddly specific to write an entire book about that it made for a book-sale gamble. It wasn't the best baseball book I've ever read, but it wasn't awful, either.
Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family, by Nicholas Pileggi (1985)
This is the book Goodfellas was based on. The movie was better.
Nike is a Goddess: The History of Women in Sports, edited by Lissa Smith (1999)
About half the history in these essays I already knew, but they were still interesting reading, particularly the hockey and soccer chapters.
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, by Paco Underhill (1999)
This was really interesting, as a "I never would have thought of looking at it that way, but that's awesome!" type of book.
To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian, by Stephen Ambrose (2002)
Somewhat boring, but not terrible as an introduction to his work.
Bare Fists: The History of Bare-Knuckle Prizefighting, by Bob Mee (2002)
This was written well, but there's only so long you can read about 18th century British boxers.
The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block and the Creative Brain, by Alice W. Flaherty (2004)
This was interesting; the author is a mentally-ill writer whose day job is neurology, which made for a unique spin on the subject.
Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 73.
DECEMBER
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell (2005)
Gladwell is always interesting. This is about gut decisions.
Western Christians in Global Mission: What's the Role of the North American Church?, by Paul Borthwick (2012)
This was one of Courtney's textbooks that was lying around. It was pretty good.
The Last Outlaws: The Lives and Legacies of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, by Thom Hatch (2013)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are some of the most interesting outlaws ever, which is saying something. The author has an interesting writing style that fully admits where he might be speculating and not venturing theories when there's zero data to back them up.
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography, by David Michaelis (2007)
An exhaustively researched and thorough biography of a very complicated man.
The Library Book, by Susan Orlean (2018)
Partially a true crime book about a devastating inferno, partially a history of the Los Angeles City Library, and partially an ode to the wonderfulness of the concept of libraries in general, this is hard to sum up, but well-written and worth reading.
Total read this month: 4, bringing total nonfiction read this year to 77.
Fiction of 2018
LATE DECEMBER
Boone's Lick, by Larry McMurtry (2000)
Shay Cecil recounts the time his mother hauled the family from Boone's Lick, Missouri, clear up to Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming, in order to break up with her cheating ne'er-do-well husband.
Total read so far: 1.
JANUARY
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (2000)
This MG novel is fine, though unspectacular. A ten-year-old preacher's daughter makes friends with a couple of elderly ladies in a small Florida town with the help of her dog.
To Fetch a Thief, by Spencer Quinn (2010)
The third Chet and Bernie mystery, this one involves a kidnapped elephant.
The Dog Who Knew Too Much, by Spencer Quinn (2011)
The fourth Chet and Bernie mystery, involving a missing boy and a murder in the Colorado mountains.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood (2009)
In which a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females embarks on a journey of being a governess to three children raised by wolves.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Bool 2: The Hidden Gallery, by Maryrose Wood (2011)
In which Lady Constance decides to go to London, where more questions are raised about the Incorrigibles and Penelope meets a nice young man.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 3: The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood (2012)
In which the Incorrigibles befriend a lost ostrich and discover they are not the only howlers at Ashton Place.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 4: The Interrupted Tale, by Maryrose Wood (2013)
In which Penelope has a speaking engagement at a reunion for graduates of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 5: The Unmapped Sea, bu Maryrose Wood (2015)
In which answers begin to be revealed on vacation in the resort city of Brighton.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (1951)
There are a handful of good paragraphs, but, in Crick's words, "It's a stupid book. The kid does nothing but complain the whole time."
Total read this month: 9, bringing total fiction thus far to 10.
FEBRUARY
Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories, by R.J. Palacio (2015)
A continuation of Wonder, telling the events from the perspectives of Julian, Christopher in Connectict, and Summer's friend Charlotte.
Dragon Teeth, by Michael Crichton (written around 1974, published in 2017)
This earlyish Crichton novel is about paleontology in the Old West - more specifically, 1876 Wyoming - and is written in the style of a creative nonfiction essay, which doesn't quite work in historical fiction. Still, it was interesting.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote (1958)
This felt like Gatsby.
Other Voices, Other Rooms, by Truman Capote (1948)
This is definitely Southern Gothic.
Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare (1598)
This is my favorite of all his plays.
Timeline, by Michael Crichton (1999)
Historians are teleported into medieval France. It's one of Crichton's better works.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (1999)
In 1991-92 western Pennsylvania, a meek freshman named Charlie becomes friends with a group of senior stoners.
Next, by Michael Crichton (2006)
This one deals with transgenic animals; not one of his best, but still solid.
The Grave's a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley (2018)
The newest Flavia de Luce mystery; she solves a case while on vacation.
Total read this month: 9, bringing total to 19.
MARCH
Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton (written 1970s, published 2009)
An adventure set in 1665 Jamaica.
Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks (2010)
A young woman finds love in a coastal North Carolina town after escaping from her abusive husband.
Emily of New Moon, by L.M. Montgomery (1923)
An orphan girl is sent to live with her aunts.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 22.
APRIL
Emily Climbs, by L.M. Montgomery (1925)
Emily attends Shrewsbury High School and develops her writing skills.
Emily's Quest, by L.M. Montgomery (1927)
Young adulthood can be miserable.
A is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton (1982)
The first of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries. She could be the daughter of Phillip Marlowe and the cousin of Jim Rockford.
Bleachers, by John Grisham (2003)
Former high school football players reunite at the funeral of their tyrannical coach.
Nothing but the Truth, by Avi (1991)
A dispute between a high school freshman and his teacher spirals into a national scandal after the local reporter hears about it.
Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins (2003)
Alice in Wonderland meets Lord of the Rings in this MG novel. It was done well.
The Fantasticks, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (1960)
A musical that is ridiculous on purpose, simultaneously glorifying and satirizing the cliches of young love.
Star Wars: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, by Michael Stackpole (1996)
The first of a series of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels about the X-Wing fighter group Rogue Squadron. Entertaining in a meaningless kind of way.
The Starlite Drive-In, by Marjorie Reynolds (1999)
If you threw To Kill a Mockingbird, Shane and Peace Like a River into one book, with maybe a little of Where the Heart Is, this would likely be the result, recalling Callie Anne Benton's twelve-year-old experiences in 1956, when a drifter comes to work for her father at the drive-in.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks (2006)
Zombies nearly annihilate the human race in a global calamity. This is one of the better novels on the undead.
Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 32.
MAY
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick (1968)
The sci-fi classic Blade Runner was based on.
Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis (1920)
An idealistic city girl is slowly worn down by the conservative small-town existence she finds herself in after marrying a doctor. Rather depressing, though the ending makes it worthwhile, even if it wasn't a classic of the "Small Town America" subgenre.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 34.
JUNE
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Lancellyn Green (1958)
Retellings of many of the classic Old English mythology. There's something strangely compelling about them.
Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman (2017)
Retellings of many classic Norse myths.
The Lost Lady, by Willa Cather (1920)
A character study, which influenced F. Scott Fitzgerald when creating Daisy Buchanan for The Great Gatsby several years later.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 37.
JULY
Disclosure, by Michael Crichton (1993)
Sexual assault is a strange topic for Crichton to tackle.
The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle (1912)
An early sci-fi story following several London scientists and a journalist on their expedition deep into the heart of South America, where they encounter dinosaurs.
Rising Sun, by Michael Crichton (1992)
This murder mystery eventually spills over into a somewhat racist lesson on how international finance works. Not one of my favorites of his, though it does earn points for trying something different.
Great Fairy Tales of Ireland, collected and retold by Mary McGarry (1977)
Irish fairy tales are violent, mystical, random and oddly satisfying.
Eight Cousins, by Louisa May Alcott (1875)
In one of the author's worse efforts, a consumptive girl is restored to health by her doctor uncle and her seven boy cousins, all roughly her same age.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 42.
AUGUST
Seven Keys to Baldpate, by Earl Derr Biggers (1911)
A novelist, a lovelorn haberdasher, an actress, a professional hermit, two politicians, a professor and several other people meet by accident in a closed-for-the-season mountain hotel. Mayhem ensues.
Congo, by Michael Crichton (1980)
Late 1970s technowar, gorillas and African politics are the themes of this one.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (1913)
This was an amazing, poignant tale of life in western Nebraska in the 1880s.
Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (1991)
In rural West Virginia, a boy named Marty rescues the beagle a cruel neighbor is mistreating.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2008)
In 1946 postwar England, a London author finds her new book - and friendship - after receiving a letter from a stranger, who hints at a tale of reading-powered resiliency during the war.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 47.
SEPTEMBER
The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton (1975)
A historical novel about the Great Train Robbery; very interesting to learn about how Victorian England viewed crime.
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, by Ron Koertge (2003)
14-year-old Kevin is sidelined from baseball season due to a case of mono, so he turns to writing poetry to help him cope with the loss of his mom and figure out life in general. Odd but satisfying.
Star Wars: MedStar I: Battle Surgeons, by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry (2004)
This is one of those Star Wars novels that's worth rereading, because of how human and ground-level the characters are - it mostly follows a group of surgeons in a battle zone, and their efforts to stay sane. ER: Star Wars Edition.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 50.
OCTOBER
Mrs. de Winter, by Susan Hill (1993)
An unnecessary sequel to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, but Hill did a good job with this at matching the tone and style.
Upchuck and the Rotten Willy, by Bill Wallace (1998)
It's hard being a cat. Especially when you best friend gets run over, your other best friend moves away, and then your human leaves for college. This book will never get old.
1602, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Andy Kubert (2006)
What would happen if the Marvel heroes and villains appeared almost 400 years too early, in Elizabethan England?
Foundation, by Isaac Asimov (1951)
There were elements from this that George Lucas swiped into Star Wars, and others that Joss Whedon worked into Firefly, but other than that, this was fairly dull.
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein (2008)
Narration by a dog? Check. Racing? Check. Big dramatic themes? Check. Saccharine ending? Uh...check? This wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as people say it is, either.
The Backward Bird Dog, by Bill Wallace (1997)
Loosely based on their experience with one of their dogs, JC figures out how to be a great pointer in his own way - with his tail.
Total read this month: 6, bringing total to 56.
NOVEMBER
The Other Typist, by Suzanne Rindell (2013)
This is essentially a gender-flipped version of The Great Gatsby, narrated by a 21st-century woman who finds herself trapped in the 1920s.
Rose in Bloom, by Louisa May Alcott (1876)
This is extremely Alcotty - pleasant on first reading, but on rereading, you think, "This is....REALLY PREACHY AND DULL."
No Dogs Allowed!, by Bill Wallace (2004)
11-year-old Kristine Rankin is determined never to love the new puppy her grandpa got hurt after her favorite horse dies.
The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks (2012)
A high school couple reunites after twenty years due to a dear friend's funeral, and must decide where to go next. This is an extremely Sparksy book in every way, both good and bad, but it ends with a gigantic emotional punch that leaves you staring into space for a while.
Quarterback Walk-On, by Thomas J. Dygard (1982)
A practice-squad quarterback finds himself the starter for a key late-season contest due to suspensions and injuries. Even for young adult sports books, this was pretty terrible.
Cujo, by Stephen King (1982)
A rabid St Bernard terrorizes Castle Rock, Maine, the summer of 1980. But it wasn't his fault, he was just sick.
The Lost for Words Bookshop, by Stephanie Butland (2017)
A very introverted, scarred twentysomething woman slowly tries to come out of her shell and the bookstore she works in. Life - and memories - have a way of crashing in.
Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 63.
DECEMBER
Magpie Murders, by Alan Horowitz (2016)
Everything about this mystery was slightly wrong-shaped.
Mitch and Amy, by Beverly Cleary (1967)
Twins Mitch and Amy struggle with dyslexia and math, respectively, and with a bully in the grade above them.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks (1999)
The novelization of the first film in the prequel trilogy.
The Complete Peanuts: Volume One, 1950-1952, by Charles M. Schulz (2004)
The first of a series that reproduces every single one of the 18,170 Peanuts strips.
Weirdos From Another Planet!, by Bill Watterson (1990)
A Calvin and Hobbes collection from 1988-89.
Attack f the Giant Killer Monster Snow Goons, by Bill Watterson (1992)
A Calvin and Hobbes collection of mostly winter-themed strips.
Ion, by Euridipes (late 400s BC)
A curious mixture of tragicomedy for Greek drama, this was very interesting.
The Dark Knight Returns, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Klaus Janson (1986)
This was a very bleak graphic novel of a Batman coming out of retirement to brutally thwart criminals. He fights Superman and kills the Joker.
El Deafo, written and illustrated by Cece Bell (2014)
This graphic novel is partially based on the author's experiences growing up deaf in 1980's Virginia. It was highly recommended by several classmates in Dr. Dial-Driver's Children's Lit, and I can see why.
Secret Wars, written by Jim Shooter, illustrated by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton (1984)
Marvel heroes and villains are transported into a gladiatorial battleground by orders from Mattel to promote a new toy line. It was thoroughly ridiculous, but responsible for giving Spider-Man his symbiote suit.
X-Men: Days of Future Past, written and illustrated by Chris Claremont and John Byrne (1981)
In late 1980, the X-Men travel back from the dystopian future of 2013 to prevent nuclear annihilation at the hands of the Sentinels.
Total read this month: 11, bringing total for the year to 74.
Boone's Lick, by Larry McMurtry (2000)
Shay Cecil recounts the time his mother hauled the family from Boone's Lick, Missouri, clear up to Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming, in order to break up with her cheating ne'er-do-well husband.
Total read so far: 1.
JANUARY
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (2000)
This MG novel is fine, though unspectacular. A ten-year-old preacher's daughter makes friends with a couple of elderly ladies in a small Florida town with the help of her dog.
To Fetch a Thief, by Spencer Quinn (2010)
The third Chet and Bernie mystery, this one involves a kidnapped elephant.
The Dog Who Knew Too Much, by Spencer Quinn (2011)
The fourth Chet and Bernie mystery, involving a missing boy and a murder in the Colorado mountains.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood (2009)
In which a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females embarks on a journey of being a governess to three children raised by wolves.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Bool 2: The Hidden Gallery, by Maryrose Wood (2011)
In which Lady Constance decides to go to London, where more questions are raised about the Incorrigibles and Penelope meets a nice young man.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 3: The Unseen Guest, by Maryrose Wood (2012)
In which the Incorrigibles befriend a lost ostrich and discover they are not the only howlers at Ashton Place.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 4: The Interrupted Tale, by Maryrose Wood (2013)
In which Penelope has a speaking engagement at a reunion for graduates of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females.
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 5: The Unmapped Sea, bu Maryrose Wood (2015)
In which answers begin to be revealed on vacation in the resort city of Brighton.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (1951)
There are a handful of good paragraphs, but, in Crick's words, "It's a stupid book. The kid does nothing but complain the whole time."
Total read this month: 9, bringing total fiction thus far to 10.
FEBRUARY
Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories, by R.J. Palacio (2015)
A continuation of Wonder, telling the events from the perspectives of Julian, Christopher in Connectict, and Summer's friend Charlotte.
Dragon Teeth, by Michael Crichton (written around 1974, published in 2017)
This earlyish Crichton novel is about paleontology in the Old West - more specifically, 1876 Wyoming - and is written in the style of a creative nonfiction essay, which doesn't quite work in historical fiction. Still, it was interesting.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote (1958)
This felt like Gatsby.
Other Voices, Other Rooms, by Truman Capote (1948)
This is definitely Southern Gothic.
Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare (1598)
This is my favorite of all his plays.
Timeline, by Michael Crichton (1999)
Historians are teleported into medieval France. It's one of Crichton's better works.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky (1999)
In 1991-92 western Pennsylvania, a meek freshman named Charlie becomes friends with a group of senior stoners.
Next, by Michael Crichton (2006)
This one deals with transgenic animals; not one of his best, but still solid.
The Grave's a Fine and Private Place, by Alan Bradley (2018)
The newest Flavia de Luce mystery; she solves a case while on vacation.
Total read this month: 9, bringing total to 19.
MARCH
Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton (written 1970s, published 2009)
An adventure set in 1665 Jamaica.
Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks (2010)
A young woman finds love in a coastal North Carolina town after escaping from her abusive husband.
Emily of New Moon, by L.M. Montgomery (1923)
An orphan girl is sent to live with her aunts.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 22.
APRIL
Emily Climbs, by L.M. Montgomery (1925)
Emily attends Shrewsbury High School and develops her writing skills.
Emily's Quest, by L.M. Montgomery (1927)
Young adulthood can be miserable.
A is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton (1982)
The first of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries. She could be the daughter of Phillip Marlowe and the cousin of Jim Rockford.
Bleachers, by John Grisham (2003)
Former high school football players reunite at the funeral of their tyrannical coach.
Nothing but the Truth, by Avi (1991)
A dispute between a high school freshman and his teacher spirals into a national scandal after the local reporter hears about it.
Gregor the Overlander, by Suzanne Collins (2003)
Alice in Wonderland meets Lord of the Rings in this MG novel. It was done well.
The Fantasticks, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (1960)
A musical that is ridiculous on purpose, simultaneously glorifying and satirizing the cliches of young love.
Star Wars: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, by Michael Stackpole (1996)
The first of a series of Star Wars Expanded Universe novels about the X-Wing fighter group Rogue Squadron. Entertaining in a meaningless kind of way.
The Starlite Drive-In, by Marjorie Reynolds (1999)
If you threw To Kill a Mockingbird, Shane and Peace Like a River into one book, with maybe a little of Where the Heart Is, this would likely be the result, recalling Callie Anne Benton's twelve-year-old experiences in 1956, when a drifter comes to work for her father at the drive-in.
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks (2006)
Zombies nearly annihilate the human race in a global calamity. This is one of the better novels on the undead.
Total read this month: 10, bringing total to 32.
MAY
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick (1968)
The sci-fi classic Blade Runner was based on.
Main Street, by Sinclair Lewis (1920)
An idealistic city girl is slowly worn down by the conservative small-town existence she finds herself in after marrying a doctor. Rather depressing, though the ending makes it worthwhile, even if it wasn't a classic of the "Small Town America" subgenre.
Total read this month: 2, bringing total to 34.
JUNE
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table, by Roger Lancellyn Green (1958)
Retellings of many of the classic Old English mythology. There's something strangely compelling about them.
Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman (2017)
Retellings of many classic Norse myths.
The Lost Lady, by Willa Cather (1920)
A character study, which influenced F. Scott Fitzgerald when creating Daisy Buchanan for The Great Gatsby several years later.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 37.
JULY
Disclosure, by Michael Crichton (1993)
Sexual assault is a strange topic for Crichton to tackle.
The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle (1912)
An early sci-fi story following several London scientists and a journalist on their expedition deep into the heart of South America, where they encounter dinosaurs.
Rising Sun, by Michael Crichton (1992)
This murder mystery eventually spills over into a somewhat racist lesson on how international finance works. Not one of my favorites of his, though it does earn points for trying something different.
Great Fairy Tales of Ireland, collected and retold by Mary McGarry (1977)
Irish fairy tales are violent, mystical, random and oddly satisfying.
Eight Cousins, by Louisa May Alcott (1875)
In one of the author's worse efforts, a consumptive girl is restored to health by her doctor uncle and her seven boy cousins, all roughly her same age.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 42.
AUGUST
Seven Keys to Baldpate, by Earl Derr Biggers (1911)
A novelist, a lovelorn haberdasher, an actress, a professional hermit, two politicians, a professor and several other people meet by accident in a closed-for-the-season mountain hotel. Mayhem ensues.
Congo, by Michael Crichton (1980)
Late 1970s technowar, gorillas and African politics are the themes of this one.
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (1913)
This was an amazing, poignant tale of life in western Nebraska in the 1880s.
Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (1991)
In rural West Virginia, a boy named Marty rescues the beagle a cruel neighbor is mistreating.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2008)
In 1946 postwar England, a London author finds her new book - and friendship - after receiving a letter from a stranger, who hints at a tale of reading-powered resiliency during the war.
Total read this month: 5, bringing total to 47.
SEPTEMBER
The Great Train Robbery, by Michael Crichton (1975)
A historical novel about the Great Train Robbery; very interesting to learn about how Victorian England viewed crime.
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, by Ron Koertge (2003)
14-year-old Kevin is sidelined from baseball season due to a case of mono, so he turns to writing poetry to help him cope with the loss of his mom and figure out life in general. Odd but satisfying.
Star Wars: MedStar I: Battle Surgeons, by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry (2004)
This is one of those Star Wars novels that's worth rereading, because of how human and ground-level the characters are - it mostly follows a group of surgeons in a battle zone, and their efforts to stay sane. ER: Star Wars Edition.
Total read this month: 3, bringing total to 50.
OCTOBER
Mrs. de Winter, by Susan Hill (1993)
An unnecessary sequel to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, but Hill did a good job with this at matching the tone and style.
Upchuck and the Rotten Willy, by Bill Wallace (1998)
It's hard being a cat. Especially when you best friend gets run over, your other best friend moves away, and then your human leaves for college. This book will never get old.
1602, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Andy Kubert (2006)
What would happen if the Marvel heroes and villains appeared almost 400 years too early, in Elizabethan England?
Foundation, by Isaac Asimov (1951)
There were elements from this that George Lucas swiped into Star Wars, and others that Joss Whedon worked into Firefly, but other than that, this was fairly dull.
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein (2008)
Narration by a dog? Check. Racing? Check. Big dramatic themes? Check. Saccharine ending? Uh...check? This wasn't bad, but it wasn't as good as people say it is, either.
The Backward Bird Dog, by Bill Wallace (1997)
Loosely based on their experience with one of their dogs, JC figures out how to be a great pointer in his own way - with his tail.
Total read this month: 6, bringing total to 56.
NOVEMBER
The Other Typist, by Suzanne Rindell (2013)
This is essentially a gender-flipped version of The Great Gatsby, narrated by a 21st-century woman who finds herself trapped in the 1920s.
Rose in Bloom, by Louisa May Alcott (1876)
This is extremely Alcotty - pleasant on first reading, but on rereading, you think, "This is....REALLY PREACHY AND DULL."
No Dogs Allowed!, by Bill Wallace (2004)
11-year-old Kristine Rankin is determined never to love the new puppy her grandpa got hurt after her favorite horse dies.
The Best of Me, by Nicholas Sparks (2012)
A high school couple reunites after twenty years due to a dear friend's funeral, and must decide where to go next. This is an extremely Sparksy book in every way, both good and bad, but it ends with a gigantic emotional punch that leaves you staring into space for a while.
Quarterback Walk-On, by Thomas J. Dygard (1982)
A practice-squad quarterback finds himself the starter for a key late-season contest due to suspensions and injuries. Even for young adult sports books, this was pretty terrible.
Cujo, by Stephen King (1982)
A rabid St Bernard terrorizes Castle Rock, Maine, the summer of 1980. But it wasn't his fault, he was just sick.
The Lost for Words Bookshop, by Stephanie Butland (2017)
A very introverted, scarred twentysomething woman slowly tries to come out of her shell and the bookstore she works in. Life - and memories - have a way of crashing in.
Total read this month: 7, bringing total to 63.
DECEMBER
Magpie Murders, by Alan Horowitz (2016)
Everything about this mystery was slightly wrong-shaped.
Mitch and Amy, by Beverly Cleary (1967)
Twins Mitch and Amy struggle with dyslexia and math, respectively, and with a bully in the grade above them.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks (1999)
The novelization of the first film in the prequel trilogy.
The Complete Peanuts: Volume One, 1950-1952, by Charles M. Schulz (2004)
The first of a series that reproduces every single one of the 18,170 Peanuts strips.
Weirdos From Another Planet!, by Bill Watterson (1990)
A Calvin and Hobbes collection from 1988-89.
Attack f the Giant Killer Monster Snow Goons, by Bill Watterson (1992)
A Calvin and Hobbes collection of mostly winter-themed strips.
Ion, by Euridipes (late 400s BC)
A curious mixture of tragicomedy for Greek drama, this was very interesting.
The Dark Knight Returns, written by Frank Miller, illustrated by Klaus Janson (1986)
This was a very bleak graphic novel of a Batman coming out of retirement to brutally thwart criminals. He fights Superman and kills the Joker.
El Deafo, written and illustrated by Cece Bell (2014)
This graphic novel is partially based on the author's experiences growing up deaf in 1980's Virginia. It was highly recommended by several classmates in Dr. Dial-Driver's Children's Lit, and I can see why.
Secret Wars, written by Jim Shooter, illustrated by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton (1984)
Marvel heroes and villains are transported into a gladiatorial battleground by orders from Mattel to promote a new toy line. It was thoroughly ridiculous, but responsible for giving Spider-Man his symbiote suit.
X-Men: Days of Future Past, written and illustrated by Chris Claremont and John Byrne (1981)
In late 1980, the X-Men travel back from the dystopian future of 2013 to prevent nuclear annihilation at the hands of the Sentinels.
Total read this month: 11, bringing total for the year to 74.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Canadian Candy Bars
So, Jessica was bored a few weeks ago and decided to mail me a package, including some Canadian candy inside. Since I'm currently bored and because it's interesting, I decided to rate them. One thing I found interesting is that the health information is printed in both English and French; not sure whether that's the case all across the country or just if it's a Quebec/Ontario thing.
Crunchie
Made by Cadbury, this is a toffee-flavored candy bar similar in texture to an American Butterfinger. The taste is similar to a Skor or Heath, though the sweetness of the Cadbury chocolate balances out the harshness of the toffee. I liked it, which kind of surprised me. The wrapping is a yellowish-gold and red, with Cadbury purple.
Coffee Crisp
Made by Nestle, this is somewhere between a Little Debbie Nutty Bar and a Kit Kat in texture, if they tasted like mocha coffee. It was delicious! This is Amanda's favorite candy bar, and I can see why. The wrapping is also a yellowish-gold and red.
Aero
Made by Nestle, this was shaped into ten bite-sized pieces similar to Dove chocolate. The taste and texture was similar to a Crunch bar. It was a little underwhelming, though the white and brown color scheme of the wrapping was nicely done.
Bueno
Made by Kinder, this was wrapped two long bars per package like Twix, and filled with wafery bits and hazelnut filling. Somewhere between a Kit Kat and a Nutty Bar in texture, it was delicious and amazing.
Canadian Smarties
These were basically plain M&M's in Spree coatings. Disappointing, but still miles better than American Smarties.
Caramilk
Made by Cadbury, this was a little disappointing - bite-sized milk chocolate formed into a bar with caramel filling. The brown and gold wrapping was impressive, though.
Rankings:
6 - Canadian Smarties
5 - Caramilk
4 - Aero
3 - Crunchie
2 - Bueno
1 - Coffee Crisp
Crunchie
Made by Cadbury, this is a toffee-flavored candy bar similar in texture to an American Butterfinger. The taste is similar to a Skor or Heath, though the sweetness of the Cadbury chocolate balances out the harshness of the toffee. I liked it, which kind of surprised me. The wrapping is a yellowish-gold and red, with Cadbury purple.
Coffee Crisp
Made by Nestle, this is somewhere between a Little Debbie Nutty Bar and a Kit Kat in texture, if they tasted like mocha coffee. It was delicious! This is Amanda's favorite candy bar, and I can see why. The wrapping is also a yellowish-gold and red.
Aero
Made by Nestle, this was shaped into ten bite-sized pieces similar to Dove chocolate. The taste and texture was similar to a Crunch bar. It was a little underwhelming, though the white and brown color scheme of the wrapping was nicely done.
Bueno
Made by Kinder, this was wrapped two long bars per package like Twix, and filled with wafery bits and hazelnut filling. Somewhere between a Kit Kat and a Nutty Bar in texture, it was delicious and amazing.
Canadian Smarties
These were basically plain M&M's in Spree coatings. Disappointing, but still miles better than American Smarties.
Caramilk
Made by Cadbury, this was a little disappointing - bite-sized milk chocolate formed into a bar with caramel filling. The brown and gold wrapping was impressive, though.
Rankings:
6 - Canadian Smarties
5 - Caramilk
4 - Aero
3 - Crunchie
2 - Bueno
1 - Coffee Crisp
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
December Monday
Yesterday didn't go very well.
It was a typical weekend, and then Sunday night the power shut off unexpectedly, which of course kind of freaked me out a little (I don't like darkness all that much). Then it flipped back on about half an hour later, but, being December, we were a little wary of the surge melting everything again. So I didn't get but about four hours sleep, and that was interrupted by bolting awake for no reason.
All the inside cats and outside dogs were fighting all morning long.
There was a problem with WordPress that locked about half the Frontstretch writing staff out, including me, and I had a thousand-word review of Kurt Busch's season due that night .So after trying for most of the day to get into WP, I finally just started writing it as a Word doc and emailed it to the editors.
Still, it got better - Jessica was bored one day and decided to mail a letter, which was nice, as it came in yesterday's mail. And then we went to the library, hadn't been for a couple months, so it was good to be back. Saw Mrs. Jackson, as her theater troupe was performing at the Christmas Open House event in the basement.
It was a typical weekend, and then Sunday night the power shut off unexpectedly, which of course kind of freaked me out a little (I don't like darkness all that much). Then it flipped back on about half an hour later, but, being December, we were a little wary of the surge melting everything again. So I didn't get but about four hours sleep, and that was interrupted by bolting awake for no reason.
All the inside cats and outside dogs were fighting all morning long.
There was a problem with WordPress that locked about half the Frontstretch writing staff out, including me, and I had a thousand-word review of Kurt Busch's season due that night .So after trying for most of the day to get into WP, I finally just started writing it as a Word doc and emailed it to the editors.
Still, it got better - Jessica was bored one day and decided to mail a letter, which was nice, as it came in yesterday's mail. And then we went to the library, hadn't been for a couple months, so it was good to be back. Saw Mrs. Jackson, as her theater troupe was performing at the Christmas Open House event in the basement.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
An Appreciation of Friends Post
Over the last couple days it's struck me again that friendships are something to be treasured. Part of that is probably because Courtney was home for Thanksgiving, and your siblings can be friends, too, right?
Also Caleb just got back from Mexico, seeing people he knows down there, and then Mattie shot his senior pictures this afternoon, which turned out really well.
Daniel's daughter Grace arrived safely yesterday morning, really happy for him and Chrissy, they'll be fantastic parents. His sister Emily also just announced that she's pregnant, which is also cool. And Amanda's son Hayden was born last month, meaning that I now have a nephew.
According to Facebook, it was nine years ago today that Ashland and I became FB friends, so it was neat to see the video that they compiled for the "friendaversary" (which is a stupid made-up non-word). "It feels like we've known each other for forever," she said, and it really does.
It was a little over ten years ago that I met them at camp the first time.
Mini Parks and Rec marathon tonight with Caleb and Courtney, which was sort of like visiting friends again; not sure how I would've gotten through that first semester at RSU without the folks from Pawnee. Also, it was a way to keep in touch with NSU BCM friends.
The first teaser trailers for Toy Story 4 released earlier this week/late last week, and of course Woody, Buzz and the rest were movie-friends I've known basically my entire life. I'm not sure whether I like the idea of a fourth movie, the trilogy wrapped things up so nicely, but I'll watch it. Anyway, "You've Got a Friend in Me" has been stuck in my head all day today, which is always pleasant.
The sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, opened a few days ago, it looks really good. Ralph and Vanellope make a great team.
Also Caleb just got back from Mexico, seeing people he knows down there, and then Mattie shot his senior pictures this afternoon, which turned out really well.
Daniel's daughter Grace arrived safely yesterday morning, really happy for him and Chrissy, they'll be fantastic parents. His sister Emily also just announced that she's pregnant, which is also cool. And Amanda's son Hayden was born last month, meaning that I now have a nephew.
According to Facebook, it was nine years ago today that Ashland and I became FB friends, so it was neat to see the video that they compiled for the "friendaversary" (which is a stupid made-up non-word). "It feels like we've known each other for forever," she said, and it really does.
It was a little over ten years ago that I met them at camp the first time.
Mini Parks and Rec marathon tonight with Caleb and Courtney, which was sort of like visiting friends again; not sure how I would've gotten through that first semester at RSU without the folks from Pawnee. Also, it was a way to keep in touch with NSU BCM friends.
The sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, opened a few days ago, it looks really good. Ralph and Vanellope make a great team.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Strange Dreams, Part Six
3-16-18 -
Stephen King is staying with me for several days, and we go to this dance class that Andrew Nichols is teaching. Dr. Mackie and Ashland are also taking this class.
3-22-18 -
Ashland and I try to survive a shooting in a movie theater. It was scary.
6-10-18 -
I agree to go camping with Amanda and Aaron to babysit Maya and Ellie so they can have a break. Chasing nieces around all weekend leaves you very tired when you wake up.
6-23-18 -
Ellen DeGeneres is cast as the new Batman.
7-30-18 -
A young single mother is trapped with her high school boyfriend's family for some unidentified reason. Also forced to stay with them is an elderly man whose wife has just died.
8-14-18 -
For some reason I was writing a magazine profile of model Lani Baker.
8-27-18 -
Something about pitching a teen soap opera for The CW starring either Lili Reinhart or Emma Watson in a leading role, about four teenagers who grow up in the world of show-dog breeding, with frequent flashbacks to their childhoods. The show takes place roughly from the 1940s to the 1960s in upstate New York, and the shooting location had previously been used on an Olsen twins movie, and was currently a go-kart track.
9-20-18 -
I've been kidnapped by a bunch of angry rednecks with shotguns and I'm trapped inside their RV.
11-2-18 -
In order to fully graduate college you had to return several years later and give separate faculty- and peer-reviewed presentations on what you've a\accomplished professionally, what you've done socially, and based on your cooking abilities.
It was kind of like the scoring system for The Good Place, and lots of bonus points were added if you were engaged, married or had kids. Going to movies with your siblings scored negative points.
11-10-18 -
Someone in my phone contacts named Rhiannon (no last name entered) calls me and doesn't leave a message, and I spent the rest of the dream trying to figure out who she is and why she was there
Stephen King is staying with me for several days, and we go to this dance class that Andrew Nichols is teaching. Dr. Mackie and Ashland are also taking this class.
3-22-18 -
Ashland and I try to survive a shooting in a movie theater. It was scary.
6-10-18 -
I agree to go camping with Amanda and Aaron to babysit Maya and Ellie so they can have a break. Chasing nieces around all weekend leaves you very tired when you wake up.
6-23-18 -
Ellen DeGeneres is cast as the new Batman.
7-30-18 -
A young single mother is trapped with her high school boyfriend's family for some unidentified reason. Also forced to stay with them is an elderly man whose wife has just died.
8-14-18 -
For some reason I was writing a magazine profile of model Lani Baker.
8-27-18 -
Something about pitching a teen soap opera for The CW starring either Lili Reinhart or Emma Watson in a leading role, about four teenagers who grow up in the world of show-dog breeding, with frequent flashbacks to their childhoods. The show takes place roughly from the 1940s to the 1960s in upstate New York, and the shooting location had previously been used on an Olsen twins movie, and was currently a go-kart track.
9-20-18 -
I've been kidnapped by a bunch of angry rednecks with shotguns and I'm trapped inside their RV.
11-2-18 -
In order to fully graduate college you had to return several years later and give separate faculty- and peer-reviewed presentations on what you've a\accomplished professionally, what you've done socially, and based on your cooking abilities.
It was kind of like the scoring system for The Good Place, and lots of bonus points were added if you were engaged, married or had kids. Going to movies with your siblings scored negative points.
11-10-18 -
Someone in my phone contacts named Rhiannon (no last name entered) calls me and doesn't leave a message, and I spent the rest of the dream trying to figure out who she is and why she was there
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Sports-Filled Weekend
Caleb and I went to the Beggs game Friday night, because they were playing Haskell, and one of his Youth Tour pals is a Haskell cheerleader. They hung out for a bit, the game was close for the first quarter and then the Demons started clicking, while the Haymakers imploded. Final score Beggs 43, Haskell 8.
It was weird, being at a Beggs game and not covering it or anything, but not bad. Just different. And a little chilly.
The Red Sox and Dodgers were in Game 3 of the World Series when we got back, and I started watching in the eighth inning. It went to 18 innings and ended with a walk-off home run at 2:30 a.m. after seven hours and 20 minutes of baseball. Completely ridiculous, but worth watching.
College football was on as background noise most of Saturday, and Dad and Trevor watched the OSU-Texas game, where the Cowboys won 38-35 on Homecoming. Derek Steeley and Cole were at the OU game, and the Coxes were in Fayetteville for the Arkansas game.
Boston won Game 4 with five runs in the ninth inning.
Dad and Trevor have had the TV turned to NFL football all day today, while I "watched" the NASCAR race at Martinsville through the online tracker and Twitter updates.
Also read a lot of Neil Gaiman nonfiction and a sad-but-interesting novel called The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
Isaac Asimov's Foundation was rather disappointing, as most early sci-fi is, though it was good to know where George Lucas picked up the idea for a city-planet and the name "Corellia," and where Joss Whedon got the idea for a scruffy pirate of dubious morals who distrusts religion (Mal Reynolds of Firefly, and come to think of it, Han Solo was probably inspired by Asimov's Linmar Ponyets).
It was weird, being at a Beggs game and not covering it or anything, but not bad. Just different. And a little chilly.
The Red Sox and Dodgers were in Game 3 of the World Series when we got back, and I started watching in the eighth inning. It went to 18 innings and ended with a walk-off home run at 2:30 a.m. after seven hours and 20 minutes of baseball. Completely ridiculous, but worth watching.
College football was on as background noise most of Saturday, and Dad and Trevor watched the OSU-Texas game, where the Cowboys won 38-35 on Homecoming. Derek Steeley and Cole were at the OU game, and the Coxes were in Fayetteville for the Arkansas game.
Boston won Game 4 with five runs in the ninth inning.
Dad and Trevor have had the TV turned to NFL football all day today, while I "watched" the NASCAR race at Martinsville through the online tracker and Twitter updates.
Also read a lot of Neil Gaiman nonfiction and a sad-but-interesting novel called The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.
Isaac Asimov's Foundation was rather disappointing, as most early sci-fi is, though it was good to know where George Lucas picked up the idea for a city-planet and the name "Corellia," and where Joss Whedon got the idea for a scruffy pirate of dubious morals who distrusts religion (Mal Reynolds of Firefly, and come to think of it, Han Solo was probably inspired by Asimov's Linmar Ponyets).
Thursday, October 25, 2018
October
This has been a strange month. It's also been a strange year, and the past several years, actually, have been rather odd and eventful.
The Dodgers and the Red Sox are playing in the World Series. Caleb and I went to an Oilers game several weeks ago, we might go to a couple others this season.
The weather's mostly been gray and wet, making it rather hard to get anything done. Still, produced a lot for Dog O'Day this month, and Bam Smack Pow articles have gotten a lot of pageviews this month. Thankful the NASCAR season is nearly finished - feels like everyone at Fronstretch is feeling that way.
Rags got attacked the other night by Darcy and/or Smudge, so she's been hiding in my room the past couple days.
Not going on the Arkansas hike this year, though Caleb is planning on it.
The Dodgers and the Red Sox are playing in the World Series. Caleb and I went to an Oilers game several weeks ago, we might go to a couple others this season.
The weather's mostly been gray and wet, making it rather hard to get anything done. Still, produced a lot for Dog O'Day this month, and Bam Smack Pow articles have gotten a lot of pageviews this month. Thankful the NASCAR season is nearly finished - feels like everyone at Fronstretch is feeling that way.
Rags got attacked the other night by Darcy and/or Smudge, so she's been hiding in my room the past couple days.
Not going on the Arkansas hike this year, though Caleb is planning on it.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Blog Post No. 500
Wow. This is going to be the five hundredth post on here.
A couple years ago I wrote a post about social media and honesty. Most of the time we only see the "good parts" version of the story, with all the other stuff taken out. Most of these posts on here have been the "good parts" version, because college was rough. And because since graduating, nothing has happened.
While doing the farm chores this summer while Mom and Trevor were competitions I realized I have no farming talent or skills to speak of. Instead, I'm very experienced at keeping the laundry and dishes running, making sure the trash is taken out and the litter boxes are clean, that sort of thing.
Spraying chicken manure off the back porch daily gets old pretty quick, but someone needs to do it.
Furniture Row Racing is shutting down after this season due to lack of sponsorship, which isn't surprising, but it's still pretty sad. Makes me wonder a little bit how much longer NASCAR will be able to keep going, and if it's worth tagging along for the demise.
When I looked at the Frontstretch staff page last week, I noticed my name was bumped up to "Staff Writer" from "Contributor" sometime recently. That's nice. They're a great group of people to work with, but would the effort expended be better spent elsewhere?
I've made $7.33 so far in earnings this year, from contributing to Bam Smack Pow. I forgot to cash the check for my 2017 Fronstretch contributions before it went bad, and I've never been paid by RSU for producing the play in March. (Not a great way to inspire your alumni, that isn't.) Around October I should start getting payments from editing Dog O'Day, so that's a little bit more coming in.
I've sent out what feels like a lot of job applications this week, feeling kind of brave, though still mostly hopeless.
All four cars are pretty much undrivable, with only the car we're borrowing from Melody's dad running reliably. This wouldn't matter all that much, since I can't drive, except that we live in the middle of nowhere, so I'm kind of stranded. That's really difficult. You aren't supposed to move back in with your parents after college.
Severe cabin fever has settled into a permanent state. As part of a large-ish family, you're considered most of the time as a part of that unit, not as an individual.
People at church mean well, but every week there's several questions of "Have you found a job yet?" And I'm like, "Not yet, but eventually something will come up." And there's too many memories to be able to focus - would you want to return weekly to your middle school, to your high school?
My introverted brain is dying on the way back from having to try to make small talk, and not go into overdrive wondering how everyone is doing now, of those who used to be here.
I still believe, it's just...Idk. Mostly I've been going just because it gets me away from Dad for a couple hours.
I simply cannot function whenever he's around. It's bad. All my energy goes into survival - I've written a grand total of one poem since graduation, and then with the play, that's been my total creative output since graduation.
Haven't posted on Instagram since May, because I haven't done or seen anything worth capturing.
Lots of people getting married this September, seems like. Is that normal?
Susan's dog died last week, and the Coxes' dog was put to sleep this afternoon. They were both old and sick, but still...it's so hard.
A couple years ago I wrote a post about social media and honesty. Most of the time we only see the "good parts" version of the story, with all the other stuff taken out. Most of these posts on here have been the "good parts" version, because college was rough. And because since graduating, nothing has happened.
While doing the farm chores this summer while Mom and Trevor were competitions I realized I have no farming talent or skills to speak of. Instead, I'm very experienced at keeping the laundry and dishes running, making sure the trash is taken out and the litter boxes are clean, that sort of thing.
Spraying chicken manure off the back porch daily gets old pretty quick, but someone needs to do it.
Furniture Row Racing is shutting down after this season due to lack of sponsorship, which isn't surprising, but it's still pretty sad. Makes me wonder a little bit how much longer NASCAR will be able to keep going, and if it's worth tagging along for the demise.
When I looked at the Frontstretch staff page last week, I noticed my name was bumped up to "Staff Writer" from "Contributor" sometime recently. That's nice. They're a great group of people to work with, but would the effort expended be better spent elsewhere?
I've made $7.33 so far in earnings this year, from contributing to Bam Smack Pow. I forgot to cash the check for my 2017 Fronstretch contributions before it went bad, and I've never been paid by RSU for producing the play in March. (Not a great way to inspire your alumni, that isn't.) Around October I should start getting payments from editing Dog O'Day, so that's a little bit more coming in.
I've sent out what feels like a lot of job applications this week, feeling kind of brave, though still mostly hopeless.
All four cars are pretty much undrivable, with only the car we're borrowing from Melody's dad running reliably. This wouldn't matter all that much, since I can't drive, except that we live in the middle of nowhere, so I'm kind of stranded. That's really difficult. You aren't supposed to move back in with your parents after college.
Severe cabin fever has settled into a permanent state. As part of a large-ish family, you're considered most of the time as a part of that unit, not as an individual.
People at church mean well, but every week there's several questions of "Have you found a job yet?" And I'm like, "Not yet, but eventually something will come up." And there's too many memories to be able to focus - would you want to return weekly to your middle school, to your high school?
My introverted brain is dying on the way back from having to try to make small talk, and not go into overdrive wondering how everyone is doing now, of those who used to be here.
I still believe, it's just...Idk. Mostly I've been going just because it gets me away from Dad for a couple hours.
I simply cannot function whenever he's around. It's bad. All my energy goes into survival - I've written a grand total of one poem since graduation, and then with the play, that's been my total creative output since graduation.
Haven't posted on Instagram since May, because I haven't done or seen anything worth capturing.
Lots of people getting married this September, seems like. Is that normal?
Susan's dog died last week, and the Coxes' dog was put to sleep this afternoon. They were both old and sick, but still...it's so hard.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
August Update
Courtney is visiting for a bit soon before the new semester, it'll be good to see her. Hopefully she can get some rest.
Added a bit more to my freelance writing - Bam Smack Pow is part of a much larger company called FanSided, and they needed a co-editor for their dog website Dog O'Day, which has been near the bottom of all the rankings in the entertainment division, and the site itself was basically nonexistent in terms of traffic and posts published.
Also, I'm pretty sure that I'm the only person who applied. But anyway, it's something. And dogs are cool. Been doing that for about two weeks now. Hoping to find some new writers so I don't have to write everything myself.
Have now written or been part of slightly more than 100 posts on Frontstretch since late October.
High school and college football season will be here soon. That's strange.
Jessica's wedding is in a couple weeks, and so is Elizabeth's. Happy for them.
Added a bit more to my freelance writing - Bam Smack Pow is part of a much larger company called FanSided, and they needed a co-editor for their dog website Dog O'Day, which has been near the bottom of all the rankings in the entertainment division, and the site itself was basically nonexistent in terms of traffic and posts published.
Also, I'm pretty sure that I'm the only person who applied. But anyway, it's something. And dogs are cool. Been doing that for about two weeks now. Hoping to find some new writers so I don't have to write everything myself.
Have now written or been part of slightly more than 100 posts on Frontstretch since late October.
High school and college football season will be here soon. That's strange.
Jessica's wedding is in a couple weeks, and so is Elizabeth's. Happy for them.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Ten Years of SGYC
This morning ten years ago, somehow I forced myself to leap into the Great Unknown. Where I actually leapt into was Mr. Gundersen's van. It was a new adventure for nearly all of us - Grace Bible-Tulsa hadn't sent anyone to this church camp before, though a few of the girls had been before with friends from other churches.
See, Marie had talked Josh and I into going with her, and then she backed out at the last second. (I want to say her family went on vacation two weeks before camp started, but I'm not sure.) FFH's "I'll Join the Rocks" was one of the songs stuck in my head on the way to southwest Missouri.
What happened? I met my teammate Daniel the first night - he'd been here before, showed me the ropes. The next day I met a guy named Matt, who had also never been there. As the week progressed, I met twins Marshall and Madelyn, and a lot of other people, including Taylor, Shari, Jojo, Jake and Ashton. I met counselors like Terry, Tim, Brother Larry, Robin and Janet C. I learned how to square dance, and while doing so met Ashland. I also learned how to play volleyball. 2008
The next year the fire-remodeling was happening, and SGYC was a relief from the stress. Daniel and I had started emailing each other regularly, and his advice and encouragement was something I benefited greatly from. It rained often, and I learned how to play ping pong and met Jed, Jon Jessica and Amanda. 2009
Sam and Dylan had joined the GBC youth group by our next trip. Tim wasn't there because of his brain tumor, which made for an odd week. It was a strange year of camp in general. I taught Dylan how to throw a Frisbee, and this was the first time that Ashland and I were teammates, on Black (the Panthers). 2010
2011 was eventful. The White Cubs were terrible at the Tournament Challenge sports, but we worked really well together (mostly our team was composed of Tulsans and Hankinses). Sam and I did a duet of Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home" for Talent Share, and that didn't go so well. Bennett kept the guys cabin in stitches.
2012 was also eventful. It was just at the end of senior year, Jeff Johnson was the camp pastor (he wasn't great). Miss Kathy led the singing, which was amazing. Our Blue Bison team won the Tournament Challenge. Jessica and Amanda came back for one more year of camp. Ashland and I made Mrs. Boyer a sympathy card (her dad had just died).
I was a counselor in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. I've helped with archery, Bible Jeopardy, and volleyball, and led softball. I've made friends with most of the counselors, but the past two times I've felt like things were just too routine, something was off. I don't know what, exactly, but I hope that it can be fixed.
What happened? I met my teammate Daniel the first night - he'd been here before, showed me the ropes. The next day I met a guy named Matt, who had also never been there. As the week progressed, I met twins Marshall and Madelyn, and a lot of other people, including Taylor, Shari, Jojo, Jake and Ashton. I met counselors like Terry, Tim, Brother Larry, Robin and Janet C. I learned how to square dance, and while doing so met Ashland. I also learned how to play volleyball. 2008
The next year the fire-remodeling was happening, and SGYC was a relief from the stress. Daniel and I had started emailing each other regularly, and his advice and encouragement was something I benefited greatly from. It rained often, and I learned how to play ping pong and met Jed, Jon Jessica and Amanda. 2009
Sam and Dylan had joined the GBC youth group by our next trip. Tim wasn't there because of his brain tumor, which made for an odd week. It was a strange year of camp in general. I taught Dylan how to throw a Frisbee, and this was the first time that Ashland and I were teammates, on Black (the Panthers). 2010
2011 was eventful. The White Cubs were terrible at the Tournament Challenge sports, but we worked really well together (mostly our team was composed of Tulsans and Hankinses). Sam and I did a duet of Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home" for Talent Share, and that didn't go so well. Bennett kept the guys cabin in stitches.
2012 was also eventful. It was just at the end of senior year, Jeff Johnson was the camp pastor (he wasn't great). Miss Kathy led the singing, which was amazing. Our Blue Bison team won the Tournament Challenge. Jessica and Amanda came back for one more year of camp. Ashland and I made Mrs. Boyer a sympathy card (her dad had just died).
I was a counselor in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. I've helped with archery, Bible Jeopardy, and volleyball, and led softball. I've made friends with most of the counselors, but the past two times I've felt like things were just too routine, something was off. I don't know what, exactly, but I hope that it can be fixed.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Missing Sunny and Missouri
My dog Sunny died five years ago today. It's been a hard day. I miss her. Would've mentioned it to Mrs. Pickard at church tonight, because she would understand, but didn't see her.
SGYC '18 will be next week, and I won't be there, because again, I couldn't figure out a way to get there.
But Trevor will have a good time in Indiana at Nationals, and Caleb will have fun in New Mexico. I'm glad for them, and someone needs to make sure the laundry's done and the animals fed, but sometimes you get tired of being George Bailey.
SGYC '18 will be next week, and I won't be there, because again, I couldn't figure out a way to get there.
But Trevor will have a good time in Indiana at Nationals, and Caleb will have fun in New Mexico. I'm glad for them, and someone needs to make sure the laundry's done and the animals fed, but sometimes you get tired of being George Bailey.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Late June
Finished the first season of The Flash. It was often ridiculous, but it's good to know what everybody's talking about when they mention the characters/show.
Dad's sinus surgery was Monday, his recovery is coming along.
Deb died Tuesday night. The cancer got too strong to fight, but she earned her reward. Her and Bob's example - I'm thankful I got to know them, even if it was only for a little while. Praying for Bob and their family a lot recently.
Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes" has been stuck in my head recently, along with Taylor Swift's "Delicate" and a lot of songs from The Greatest Showman.
Picked up another freelance writing gig about two weeks ago, covering superhero TV and movie news for a site called Bam Smack Pow. That might be a miniscule bit of money coming in, which is something. And a lot of good credits, given time.
Dad's sinus surgery was Monday, his recovery is coming along.
Deb died Tuesday night. The cancer got too strong to fight, but she earned her reward. Her and Bob's example - I'm thankful I got to know them, even if it was only for a little while. Praying for Bob and their family a lot recently.
Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes" has been stuck in my head recently, along with Taylor Swift's "Delicate" and a lot of songs from The Greatest Showman.
Picked up another freelance writing gig about two weeks ago, covering superhero TV and movie news for a site called Bam Smack Pow. That might be a miniscule bit of money coming in, which is something. And a lot of good credits, given time.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Of June
Yep, that's an Owl City reference in the title.
My birthday was quiet, but it was nice to see all the texts and Facebook posts from friends.
Not much has been happening. Tried to call Courtney the other day, but the reception was so bad it was impossible to talk.
The Washington Capitals captured the Stanley Cup after toppling the defenses of the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third time in the past four years. The Preakness was won by Justify, who became the 13th horse ever to win the Triple Crown.
Caleb's getting back from Youth Tour tomorrow, can't wait to hear all the stories. Trevor loved the Endeavor Games last weekend.
Been getting into Arrow and The Flash over the past week or so, Cisco Ramon and Felicity Smoak are my favorite characters so far.
My birthday was quiet, but it was nice to see all the texts and Facebook posts from friends.
Not much has been happening. Tried to call Courtney the other day, but the reception was so bad it was impossible to talk.
The Washington Capitals captured the Stanley Cup after toppling the defenses of the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third time in the past four years. The Preakness was won by Justify, who became the 13th horse ever to win the Triple Crown.
Caleb's getting back from Youth Tour tomorrow, can't wait to hear all the stories. Trevor loved the Endeavor Games last weekend.
Been getting into Arrow and The Flash over the past week or so, Cisco Ramon and Felicity Smoak are my favorite characters so far.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
May Musings
The Jets and Knights are playing each other in the Western Conference semifinals on TV, my laptop's tracking the NASCAR race right now. Courtney comes home for a visit tonight, it'll be good to see her. Most of today I've been thoroughly cleaning the garage, which is useful.
Graduated from high school six years ago today, and from college a year ago tomorrow. That's odd.
Trevor was in San Antonio last week for a competition, which he enjoyed a ton. Caleb's all set to go to Mexico soonish, and I had lunch with Susan last week, it was really good to catch up.
Infinity War was gigantic and epic.
Heard from Ashland, Daniel, and Amanda recently, which is good.
Graduated from high school six years ago today, and from college a year ago tomorrow. That's odd.
Trevor was in San Antonio last week for a competition, which he enjoyed a ton. Caleb's all set to go to Mexico soonish, and I had lunch with Susan last week, it was really good to catch up.
Infinity War was gigantic and epic.
Heard from Ashland, Daniel, and Amanda recently, which is good.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
April
A lot of Parks and Rec has been watched this month, as has Infinity War. (Radio silence until enough time has passed for most people to see it.)
My laptop hard drive failed, I think most info was able to be saved, but it's been irritating to get everything running smoothly again. And the M key is about to wear out, so it's time for the annual keyboard replacement.
That's about it for what's been happening this month.
My laptop hard drive failed, I think most info was able to be saved, but it's been irritating to get everything running smoothly again. And the M key is about to wear out, so it's time for the annual keyboard replacement.
That's about it for what's been happening this month.
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Misc
I took one of those BuzzFeed quizzes today, "Which 2000s Disney/Nickelodeon Character Mashup Fits You?" The answer I got was "You’re a combination of Ron Stoppable and Eliza Thornberry. Like Ron, you will do anything for your family and friends, even if that means putting yourself in danger. And like Eliza, you have a massive sense of adventure. You are strong, courageous, and passionate."
From reruns that I've seen of Kim Possible, I can live with being Ron. That seems kind of accurate, actually. I've never seen The Wild Thornberrys, but Wikipedia says that Eliza gets along with animals very well, which also sounds accurate.
Four years ago I posted the following Facebook statuses:
"How to find Ross Hall: It's pretty easy. Go all the way east on campus, and then it's the only dorm with a bathroom stall parked in front of the building."
This was part of some prank in a war two of the fraternities were having at the time. (GREEKS ARE STUPID.) But it fit life in Ross very well. Which is why I mentioned it.
"Can I write like some combination of Agatha Christie, Brad Paisley, Mark Twain, Philip Gulley, Keith Urban, Jan Karon, Harper Lee, Miranda Lambert, Leonard Kessler, Taylor Swift, William Goldman, Edgar Guest and Lucy Maud Montgomery, please?"
I think my style has incorporated a lot of these writers since, along with Wendell Berry, G.K. Chesterton, Flannery O'Connor and others I can't think of right now.
The CVS Scotch Tape Incident occurred six years ago today. It's really weird how often that night pops up in my memories. "The porch swing silence was my favorite part," Sam commented on the original Facebook link. That was a good part of the night. "'Dylan blandly buys the tape, likely wishing he didn't know any of us' is my favorite part. That's him all over!" Paige commented right below Sam's comment. What can I say? I know my friends.
Marie's arm was fine after the Red Rover mishap, just really bruised. Last anyone heard she got married a couple years ago, has a 2-year-old son and is currently pregnant with a daughter. Last anyone heard of Sam she was about to get married.
Courtney's visiting this weekend after working most of spring break, it's been nice to see her. We saw Black Panther again last night with Caleb, and I still didn't like it. I mean, it was fine, but 12th-15th in the MCU rankings. Courtney liked it a lot, which we figured she would. We went to the AMC theater in Tulsa Hills, first time I'd ever been there. It's really nice.
Caleb and I have been playing a lot of basketball in the driveway recently. In sports, Loyola-Chicago somehow made it into the Final Four, and the NASCAR Truck race at Martinsville this afternoon was postponed due to a blizzard.
We were just talking about how much Grandpa would've loved Courtney going to C of O, how he'd always be running up to Branson to see her. He always said one summer he was going to find work up there instead of at the river, live in the RV. She'll be working over the summer, which is good. He would've enjoyed the play, too, I think, and he would've been proud that I wrote it, anyway.
While they aren't as entertaining as Keith and Nicki's hijinks, Luke and Katy work well together on Idol. On Agents, FitzSimmons' wedding was spectacular, and the episode overall was incredibly emotional in the best way possible. Recorded a cover last week of Rascal Flatts' "Stand" because Amanda asked me to; mostly I've been playing a lot of ukulele recently.
Yesterday was National Puppy Day; which the dogs didn't really care about, but Rags and Timmy have been especially needing lots of attention this week. That can be kind of nice.
From reruns that I've seen of Kim Possible, I can live with being Ron. That seems kind of accurate, actually. I've never seen The Wild Thornberrys, but Wikipedia says that Eliza gets along with animals very well, which also sounds accurate.
Four years ago I posted the following Facebook statuses:
"How to find Ross Hall: It's pretty easy. Go all the way east on campus, and then it's the only dorm with a bathroom stall parked in front of the building."
This was part of some prank in a war two of the fraternities were having at the time. (GREEKS ARE STUPID.) But it fit life in Ross very well. Which is why I mentioned it.
"Can I write like some combination of Agatha Christie, Brad Paisley, Mark Twain, Philip Gulley, Keith Urban, Jan Karon, Harper Lee, Miranda Lambert, Leonard Kessler, Taylor Swift, William Goldman, Edgar Guest and Lucy Maud Montgomery, please?"
I think my style has incorporated a lot of these writers since, along with Wendell Berry, G.K. Chesterton, Flannery O'Connor and others I can't think of right now.
The CVS Scotch Tape Incident occurred six years ago today. It's really weird how often that night pops up in my memories. "The porch swing silence was my favorite part," Sam commented on the original Facebook link. That was a good part of the night. "'Dylan blandly buys the tape, likely wishing he didn't know any of us' is my favorite part. That's him all over!" Paige commented right below Sam's comment. What can I say? I know my friends.
Marie's arm was fine after the Red Rover mishap, just really bruised. Last anyone heard she got married a couple years ago, has a 2-year-old son and is currently pregnant with a daughter. Last anyone heard of Sam she was about to get married.
Courtney's visiting this weekend after working most of spring break, it's been nice to see her. We saw Black Panther again last night with Caleb, and I still didn't like it. I mean, it was fine, but 12th-15th in the MCU rankings. Courtney liked it a lot, which we figured she would. We went to the AMC theater in Tulsa Hills, first time I'd ever been there. It's really nice.
Caleb and I have been playing a lot of basketball in the driveway recently. In sports, Loyola-Chicago somehow made it into the Final Four, and the NASCAR Truck race at Martinsville this afternoon was postponed due to a blizzard.
We were just talking about how much Grandpa would've loved Courtney going to C of O, how he'd always be running up to Branson to see her. He always said one summer he was going to find work up there instead of at the river, live in the RV. She'll be working over the summer, which is good. He would've enjoyed the play, too, I think, and he would've been proud that I wrote it, anyway.
While they aren't as entertaining as Keith and Nicki's hijinks, Luke and Katy work well together on Idol. On Agents, FitzSimmons' wedding was spectacular, and the episode overall was incredibly emotional in the best way possible. Recorded a cover last week of Rascal Flatts' "Stand" because Amanda asked me to; mostly I've been playing a lot of ukulele recently.
Yesterday was National Puppy Day; which the dogs didn't really care about, but Rags and Timmy have been especially needing lots of attention this week. That can be kind of nice.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
A Good Weekend
This week started out with the tension of anticipating the RSU Theatre Program's production of Texaco Mornings, to go along with the nervousness of phantom midterms. So there was a lot of anxious cleaning.
And then Tuesday morning I heard back from a job-application email the week before, which is rare and stressful, because A: you're talking to a stranger, B: on the phone, C: about yourself, and D: trying to make a good impression. I was basically hung up on, which is how that usually ends, but at least I heard back.
"Hey, I think I can actually make it! Like maybe Friday night." Ashland texts me somewhere early in the week.
Wednesday Caleb was supposed to start his first day working for Justin, except he couldn't get there because the truck broke down. (It's since been sort-of-fixed, I think.)
Crashed the youth group because I hadn't heard the end of David Platt's sermon series on "Angels, Demons and Spiritual Warfare" because my freshman year at NSU had already started. The sermon was interesting. And also, it was DC Talk Night in the Throwback Christian Music series, and I'm like the resident DC Talk expert.
Thursday night Caleb had a MEND fundraiser he was volunteering for, along with Hope, Mattie, Seth and Laura. That seemed to go well. Trevor and Amy had swimming, so everybody was happily busy. Wasn't able to make it to the opening night, but it's one of those things that couldn't be helped. The quiet house was nice;; read through a book of Billy Collins poetry from the OKC book sale.
Andrew said there was a great crowd; I know Debra and Cody both made it. "Proud of you, man!" Cody said. Dr. Dial-Driver wasn't able to make it, but she sent me a nice message, and she had everyone give her a report. ("I told her that even if you didn't know Wes wrote it, you'd know Wes wrote it," Dr. Mackie said).
Friday morning was a good day for blasting Jars of Clay while cleaning.
I missed the landmark 100th episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that night, but it was totally worth it. Not every day your play is produced. (But IT SHOWED FITZSIMMONS' WEDDING, which I would have loved almost as much as Andy and April's or Ben and Leslie's. Maybe I'm okay with weddings as long as they're fictional?)
"Looks like I'll be seeing you tonight," Ashland texts me. She tackle-hugged me as soon as I'd gotten both feet into Baird Hall, pretty much. "I told people I knew you, and it was like, I knew a celebrity or something!"
About eighteen to twenty people were in the audience, which was a decent size. It was great to see Andrew, David and Dr. Mackie again. I also recognized a couple classmates I knew by sight. The Ruscos came, which I wasn't expecting. It was weird seeing the script performed, but the audience seemed to like it. The acting wasn't the best, but it wasn't awful, either. The actors missed or mangled about twenty percent of the lines, mostly skipping the dramatic parts. "This is a lot funnier than it should be," was all my brain registered in the moment.
We stopped by Taco Bueno afterward, and were quickly reminded neither of us liked it. But late-night conversations are always good, even if the food isn't great. Mostly the topic was INFJ-ism in the workplace, and commiserating the general difficulties of college and young adulthood "I was like, 'You okay?' You were really tense," she grinned once we'd gotten into dissecting the performance. (This didn't register at all.) We both graded it a high C, mostly because the actors who played siblings were obviously strangers, which was a little awkward.
Since it was going to be rainy, and because it was cheap and indoors, we decided to go to the Gilcrease Art Museum Saturday morning. It was fun. We rummaged through Indian artifacts all National Treasure-y, roamed through pretty much everywhere, and wished our photography skills were better. Since the temporary Norman Rockwell exhibit was still there, of course we had to see that - I kept a lookout for security guards while she illegally snapped photos to show her grandma. We didn't get caught.
Since it was beautiful weather, we prowled around the grounds outside taking pictures of the flowers and tree buds. We got some good pictures, and we also got chased by wasps for our troubles. Ignoring tradition, we actually got a couple good selfies this time.
We only got minorly lost on the way home, Taylor Swift blasting on Pandora, and we had lunch at Whataburger since she wanted to try it. The food was greasy and delicious, the convo was good.
A huge crowd showed up for Saturday night's closing performance; probably thirty-five to forty people. Talked to Brandon, saw Brittany on the other side of the room. Only about five percent of the lines were missing, and different moments were seen as humorous. Andrew did a great job directing. It got a high B grade.
The premiere of the sixteenth season of American Idol was tonight on ABC; the editing was unfocused, but it has potential. Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie seem like they'll work well together.
And then Tuesday morning I heard back from a job-application email the week before, which is rare and stressful, because A: you're talking to a stranger, B: on the phone, C: about yourself, and D: trying to make a good impression. I was basically hung up on, which is how that usually ends, but at least I heard back.
"Hey, I think I can actually make it! Like maybe Friday night." Ashland texts me somewhere early in the week.
Wednesday Caleb was supposed to start his first day working for Justin, except he couldn't get there because the truck broke down. (It's since been sort-of-fixed, I think.)
Crashed the youth group because I hadn't heard the end of David Platt's sermon series on "Angels, Demons and Spiritual Warfare" because my freshman year at NSU had already started. The sermon was interesting. And also, it was DC Talk Night in the Throwback Christian Music series, and I'm like the resident DC Talk expert.
Thursday night Caleb had a MEND fundraiser he was volunteering for, along with Hope, Mattie, Seth and Laura. That seemed to go well. Trevor and Amy had swimming, so everybody was happily busy. Wasn't able to make it to the opening night, but it's one of those things that couldn't be helped. The quiet house was nice;; read through a book of Billy Collins poetry from the OKC book sale.
Andrew said there was a great crowd; I know Debra and Cody both made it. "Proud of you, man!" Cody said. Dr. Dial-Driver wasn't able to make it, but she sent me a nice message, and she had everyone give her a report. ("I told her that even if you didn't know Wes wrote it, you'd know Wes wrote it," Dr. Mackie said).
Friday morning was a good day for blasting Jars of Clay while cleaning.
I missed the landmark 100th episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that night, but it was totally worth it. Not every day your play is produced. (But IT SHOWED FITZSIMMONS' WEDDING, which I would have loved almost as much as Andy and April's or Ben and Leslie's. Maybe I'm okay with weddings as long as they're fictional?)
"Looks like I'll be seeing you tonight," Ashland texts me. She tackle-hugged me as soon as I'd gotten both feet into Baird Hall, pretty much. "I told people I knew you, and it was like, I knew a celebrity or something!"
About eighteen to twenty people were in the audience, which was a decent size. It was great to see Andrew, David and Dr. Mackie again. I also recognized a couple classmates I knew by sight. The Ruscos came, which I wasn't expecting. It was weird seeing the script performed, but the audience seemed to like it. The acting wasn't the best, but it wasn't awful, either. The actors missed or mangled about twenty percent of the lines, mostly skipping the dramatic parts. "This is a lot funnier than it should be," was all my brain registered in the moment.
We stopped by Taco Bueno afterward, and were quickly reminded neither of us liked it. But late-night conversations are always good, even if the food isn't great. Mostly the topic was INFJ-ism in the workplace, and commiserating the general difficulties of college and young adulthood "I was like, 'You okay?' You were really tense," she grinned once we'd gotten into dissecting the performance. (This didn't register at all.) We both graded it a high C, mostly because the actors who played siblings were obviously strangers, which was a little awkward.
Since it was going to be rainy, and because it was cheap and indoors, we decided to go to the Gilcrease Art Museum Saturday morning. It was fun. We rummaged through Indian artifacts all National Treasure-y, roamed through pretty much everywhere, and wished our photography skills were better. Since the temporary Norman Rockwell exhibit was still there, of course we had to see that - I kept a lookout for security guards while she illegally snapped photos to show her grandma. We didn't get caught.Since it was beautiful weather, we prowled around the grounds outside taking pictures of the flowers and tree buds. We got some good pictures, and we also got chased by wasps for our troubles. Ignoring tradition, we actually got a couple good selfies this time.
A huge crowd showed up for Saturday night's closing performance; probably thirty-five to forty people. Talked to Brandon, saw Brittany on the other side of the room. Only about five percent of the lines were missing, and different moments were seen as humorous. Andrew did a great job directing. It got a high B grade.
The premiere of the sixteenth season of American Idol was tonight on ABC; the editing was unfocused, but it has potential. Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie seem like they'll work well together.
Monday, March 5, 2018
Remembering Will
The weather's been gray, cold, sullen and thoroughly wet for the last several weeks. That's usual weather in our part of Oklahoma for late February/early March. It's made me thankful I haven't had to walk through it back and forth from classes to my dorm. But it's made me wonder what Will is doing.
Will was the resident Jehovah's Witness missionary at NSU. He was a friendly, soft-spoken, obese, middle-aged guy who had to retire early because of severe back pain after thirty years of working in publishing/printing in Colorado. He has a grown daughter in Denver and several grown sons in Georgia. His wife ran the quilting supplies shop downtown just past Felt's Shoes, where he occasionally helped out when his back allowed. The rest of his time - probably three days a week, on average - was spent manning the table of JW fliers halfway between Seminary Hall and the Fine Arts Building.
Most of the time he was ignored, accepted as part of the scenery, except for the folks from CCF, who would aggressively attack his theology whenever they had a couple spare minutes. The BCM folks were kind of scared of him.
I would stop and talk with him for five or ten minutes if I had time; if I didn't I'd always wave and he'd holler a wisecrack about my speedwalking setting the pavement on fire.
We didn't talk about theology much. Sometimes we would ask each questions about various points about what the other believed, and then we'd try to answer those questions as best we could. I would occasionally take some of his literature to talk over it with him later, and he would occasionally read the online articles I mentioned. Since I was a MassComm major, and he'd worked in journalism, we would usually talk about those kinds of things. Local news, the merits of coffee, campus gossip, what we'd been reading lately, observations about people-watching. And sometimes we'd just sit and people-watch together, since a college campus is an excellent spot for doing that: one girl he always called Pirate Boots, because he didn't know her name and she wore boots that looked piratey nearly every day.
If I was running down to Morgan's Bakery, I'd once in a while ask if he wanted me to get anything for him. If his health was especially good for a few days in a row, he'd usually go on a baking spree, and sometimes would bring the extra cookies for me that he and his wife didn't eat the night before.
One day we were talking and he frowned in midsentence and gave me one of those curious, hard stares for a minute. "Y'know, Wes....you're different." I must have looked surprised, because he continued: "I know we don't believe the same things, but you don't try to ram it down my throat like those other people do. You just treat me like a person. I can't remember meeting a Christian who ever did that. Thank you."
That's always stuck in my head ever since, and often replayed itself while working on homework late at night. I didn't think of it as anything special; it was just something that needed to be done, so I did it, just like guiding my blind classmate Russell back and forth from Dr. Fuller's psych class freshman year. Will was discouraged, everyone ignoring him like that. It doesn't take much to brighten somebody's day.
Hope he's doing okay.
Will was the resident Jehovah's Witness missionary at NSU. He was a friendly, soft-spoken, obese, middle-aged guy who had to retire early because of severe back pain after thirty years of working in publishing/printing in Colorado. He has a grown daughter in Denver and several grown sons in Georgia. His wife ran the quilting supplies shop downtown just past Felt's Shoes, where he occasionally helped out when his back allowed. The rest of his time - probably three days a week, on average - was spent manning the table of JW fliers halfway between Seminary Hall and the Fine Arts Building.
Most of the time he was ignored, accepted as part of the scenery, except for the folks from CCF, who would aggressively attack his theology whenever they had a couple spare minutes. The BCM folks were kind of scared of him.
I would stop and talk with him for five or ten minutes if I had time; if I didn't I'd always wave and he'd holler a wisecrack about my speedwalking setting the pavement on fire.
We didn't talk about theology much. Sometimes we would ask each questions about various points about what the other believed, and then we'd try to answer those questions as best we could. I would occasionally take some of his literature to talk over it with him later, and he would occasionally read the online articles I mentioned. Since I was a MassComm major, and he'd worked in journalism, we would usually talk about those kinds of things. Local news, the merits of coffee, campus gossip, what we'd been reading lately, observations about people-watching. And sometimes we'd just sit and people-watch together, since a college campus is an excellent spot for doing that: one girl he always called Pirate Boots, because he didn't know her name and she wore boots that looked piratey nearly every day.
If I was running down to Morgan's Bakery, I'd once in a while ask if he wanted me to get anything for him. If his health was especially good for a few days in a row, he'd usually go on a baking spree, and sometimes would bring the extra cookies for me that he and his wife didn't eat the night before.
One day we were talking and he frowned in midsentence and gave me one of those curious, hard stares for a minute. "Y'know, Wes....you're different." I must have looked surprised, because he continued: "I know we don't believe the same things, but you don't try to ram it down my throat like those other people do. You just treat me like a person. I can't remember meeting a Christian who ever did that. Thank you."
That's always stuck in my head ever since, and often replayed itself while working on homework late at night. I didn't think of it as anything special; it was just something that needed to be done, so I did it, just like guiding my blind classmate Russell back and forth from Dr. Fuller's psych class freshman year. Will was discouraged, everyone ignoring him like that. It doesn't take much to brighten somebody's day.
Hope he's doing okay.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Happy Birthday, Blog
I created this blog on this day in 2012. I'd been thinking about it for a year or two, and it was the middle of a boring day in February with nothing else much to do. (Also, Facebook was going through one of its redesigns, and there was a rumor that the then-popular Notes section would be deleted, so I wanted to keep my favorites.) Mom was visiting with Trinnica, and everybody else was playing some kind of war game in the backyard with Jonathan.
Sometimes people wonder about how it got titled this way; so I put out an explanation of the title right up front. It's a Princess Bride quote, from the novel, not the movie.
The series finale of Parks and Rec, "One Last Ride," aired on this day in 2015. It's one of the most perfect series finales ever. I watched season 7 live, even though I hadn't really met anyone in Pawnee yet, because it was a way to stay connected with everybody at the NSU BCM. (Stephen, Elizabeth, Susan, Bucky and Daniel were especially fans of the show.) I'd just moved to Claremore and RSU, and the humor was a welcome distraction from the roughness of that semester. (There's good people there, but I'm not really a fan of the city of Claremore.) And it was good homework in studying camera angles and shot placement.
Speaking of NSU ministries, Tom Tucker finally completely retired from leading CCF a couple months ago. And Ryan Galdemez became the pastor of Grace Baptist after Geoff Brown left.
It's been raining and raining and raining some more all week - cold and gray and drenching weather is hard to be productive in. But at least there wasn't an ice storm, like it seemed there would be earlier in the week.
Mom, Amy, Trevor and I went to the Gilcrease Art Museum in Tulsa Friday night because there was a traveling exhibit of Norman Rockwell original art, behind-the-scenes photographs, sketches, and the actual Saturday Evening Post covers themselves. It was amazing.
The afternoon was spent running errands in Okmulgee, which was useful.
Being book hunters, once we heard about the Oklahoma City Library System's annual book sale at the state fairgrounds, Mom and I decided we needed to go. It was spectacular. I found some Faulkner, and a history of Broadway for Susan, and a handful of Shakespeare that matched good copies we already had. Mom found Peterson field guides and I don't know what all else. I found a lot of guides for writing different genres in the Fine Arts section; hopefully some of them will be helpful.
It was awesome. People were very polite; always apologizing after running into each other due to the intense focus of finding good titles. Going to Oklahoma City always feels a very long way away, when it's only about two hours west. Probably feels that way because the landscape changes a lot.
Caleb accidentally locked himself out of the truck while at a photoshoot with a friend, so we drove back home through Henryetta so he could get himself unstuck. That's the usual way to get to OKC, it seems like. Nice to drive through Henryetta again; felt like we should be driving back from a Knights ballgame. High school basketball playoffs started last week; it's a little weird to not be actively covering them.
Songs of the Day this week include Bowling for Soup's "1985" and Dustin Lynch's "Cowboys and Angels."
It's the final day of competition for the 2018 PeyongChang Winter Olympics. NBC's overage seemed a little lacking, mostly because there wasn't many of the inspirational stories shown, and because Bob Costas retired. Mike Tirico did better than I expected, but it still felt wrong. The Russian figure skaters had an epic battle in the ladies' event, and the Americans were all entirely without personality or talent. Snowboard cross was awesome, as usual, and snowboard halfpipe and the speed skating events. The commercials were amazingly inspirational. And the U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada in a shootout in the gold medal game, which is great.
The production of Texaco Mornings will be in two weeks. That's exciting, but also completely terrifying. It felt a little strange to write your own press release talking about your own play, though. But the Okmulgee Times people were happy to run it, and hopefully it will draw some more people to come see it.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be back from the Olympic break this Friday, and it will air their 100th episode March 9. It's been fun to follow their Instagram and Twitter for memories. American Idol returns for its 16th season March 11; I'm predicting Luke Bryan will be my favorite judge this season.
Sometimes people wonder about how it got titled this way; so I put out an explanation of the title right up front. It's a Princess Bride quote, from the novel, not the movie.
The series finale of Parks and Rec, "One Last Ride," aired on this day in 2015. It's one of the most perfect series finales ever. I watched season 7 live, even though I hadn't really met anyone in Pawnee yet, because it was a way to stay connected with everybody at the NSU BCM. (Stephen, Elizabeth, Susan, Bucky and Daniel were especially fans of the show.) I'd just moved to Claremore and RSU, and the humor was a welcome distraction from the roughness of that semester. (There's good people there, but I'm not really a fan of the city of Claremore.) And it was good homework in studying camera angles and shot placement.
Speaking of NSU ministries, Tom Tucker finally completely retired from leading CCF a couple months ago. And Ryan Galdemez became the pastor of Grace Baptist after Geoff Brown left.
It's been raining and raining and raining some more all week - cold and gray and drenching weather is hard to be productive in. But at least there wasn't an ice storm, like it seemed there would be earlier in the week.
Mom, Amy, Trevor and I went to the Gilcrease Art Museum in Tulsa Friday night because there was a traveling exhibit of Norman Rockwell original art, behind-the-scenes photographs, sketches, and the actual Saturday Evening Post covers themselves. It was amazing.
The afternoon was spent running errands in Okmulgee, which was useful.
Being book hunters, once we heard about the Oklahoma City Library System's annual book sale at the state fairgrounds, Mom and I decided we needed to go. It was spectacular. I found some Faulkner, and a history of Broadway for Susan, and a handful of Shakespeare that matched good copies we already had. Mom found Peterson field guides and I don't know what all else. I found a lot of guides for writing different genres in the Fine Arts section; hopefully some of them will be helpful.
It was awesome. People were very polite; always apologizing after running into each other due to the intense focus of finding good titles. Going to Oklahoma City always feels a very long way away, when it's only about two hours west. Probably feels that way because the landscape changes a lot.
Caleb accidentally locked himself out of the truck while at a photoshoot with a friend, so we drove back home through Henryetta so he could get himself unstuck. That's the usual way to get to OKC, it seems like. Nice to drive through Henryetta again; felt like we should be driving back from a Knights ballgame. High school basketball playoffs started last week; it's a little weird to not be actively covering them.
Songs of the Day this week include Bowling for Soup's "1985" and Dustin Lynch's "Cowboys and Angels."
It's the final day of competition for the 2018 PeyongChang Winter Olympics. NBC's overage seemed a little lacking, mostly because there wasn't many of the inspirational stories shown, and because Bob Costas retired. Mike Tirico did better than I expected, but it still felt wrong. The Russian figure skaters had an epic battle in the ladies' event, and the Americans were all entirely without personality or talent. Snowboard cross was awesome, as usual, and snowboard halfpipe and the speed skating events. The commercials were amazingly inspirational. And the U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada in a shootout in the gold medal game, which is great.
The production of Texaco Mornings will be in two weeks. That's exciting, but also completely terrifying. It felt a little strange to write your own press release talking about your own play, though. But the Okmulgee Times people were happy to run it, and hopefully it will draw some more people to come see it.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be back from the Olympic break this Friday, and it will air their 100th episode March 9. It's been fun to follow their Instagram and Twitter for memories. American Idol returns for its 16th season March 11; I'm predicting Luke Bryan will be my favorite judge this season.
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