The Next Dark Age
We're in it Now
Architects of Change
In one of the many, many articles about the separation of the Schwarzeneggers, there was mention of the website Maria Shriver launched to talk about things that matter to her. I hadn’t heard of it before, so I clicked over. Links to her books, links to her causes, links to her social media avenues. And the blog.
It isn’t just Shriver writing, but she authored a recent entry about the Situation Room Photo. You know the one. I remember when I saw the shot, my first thought was:
That’s not what the Situation Room looked like on The West Wing.
And my second thought was:
Isn’t is it cool that the President isn’t the Center of the Universe here?
Shriver posted her thoughts on that.
I like her. I realize that she is a public person and we’re all going to speculate about what happened in her marriage. But while I am doing that, I think I will also read her blog.
Coordinating a Conference This Week
Staying at a local hotel. I forgot my glasses and one of my allergy drugs. And cash. And Diet Coke, which I really should have considered.
I could theoretically drive home to get them, but am not inclined to fight the traffic.
Happily, things are otherwise going well.
Run, by Ann Patchett
I have read several of Patchett’s books and bought Run as soon as it came to the Library’s Used Book Store. I was not disappointed.
Two adopted boys meet their birth mother when she is hit by a car rescuing one of them. The bulk of the novel spans the 24 hour period surrounding the accident, which I rather liked as a reader. The narrative follows the actions of the six members of these two entwined families in a moment of crisis. Much is told in flashback, as characters remember (or try) formative events.
The most awesome thing was that every last character is likable in his or her own way. I mean I would’ve liked to know any of them in real life. Even the Prodigal Son. Perhaps especially the Prodigal Son. You could honestly root for everything to turn out well for everyone.
There is one melodramatic plot thread that I found totally unnecessary to the story, but I forgive it because it doesn’t hurt anything in the end.
Loved this.
DiPPED
Diet Sparkling Ocean Spray
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I Can’t Even Believe I am Doing This
Again, with the cupcakes.
I mentioned that a cupcakery opened in Glenview and I had to walk by it on my way to Noodles last night and they had a sign in the window advertising S’mores cupcakes:
It was ok. The marshmallow icing was tasty, but had dried so that there was a layer that was almost like a hard shell. The cake wasn’t terribly dry, but crumbled badly. There was also a fudge filling, but by the time I got to it I was going into a sugar fit.
I keep forgetting to just get the vanilla when I am going to review a cupcake.
A Spot of Bother, by Mark Haddon
I looked at A Spot of Bother when it was released, as I really like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. But the summary didn’t grab me. Then it was picked for my book club and I loved it.
The premise is that a recently retired man is having extreme anxiety attacks and not getting effective help for them. In the meantime, his family is unbelievably obnoxious. A wedding is approaching, or maybe not and hijincks ensue.
The first thing that I loved and hated in an archetypal high-school English sort of way is that the narrative of the crazy guy often sounds more sane than the narratives of the others. Even when (SPOILER ALERT) he catches his wife in the sack with a colleague. So I could almost see how his obscenely self-absorbed family would miss the fact the he is mentally unravelling. That is until (MORE SPOILERS) he tries to amputate the cancer from his body that isn’t even cancer. With a pair of scissors.
That is a pretty serious sign, people.
The tension builds well and speeds toward a pretty impressive climax. It was rather hard to put down, actually. Then it was all tied up with a bow. Which was fine. Great read.
More about Being the Client
I was thinking about this when babbling about my hair, then decided that no one was interested. Particularly people I know in Real Life who have heard the lecture before. However, Miss Sarah was just writing about a fear of the dentist, so it is officially worth telling again:
When I was 12 years old, I had two teeth pulled in advance of having braces put on my teeth. I inherited some odd resistance to Novocain from my mother, but when I told the dentist, “My teeth aren’t ready yet,” he yanked them anyway.
It was really painful.
Age 18. New dentist, similar situation.
I didn’t go back to the dentist for five years.
At age 23, I knew I had to get over it. My dad, who is not known for Useful Parental Advice, hit one out of the park. He said:
“You are an adult and you are the client. The dentist cannot touch you without your consent. If you are not being heard, you get up out of the chair and walk out the door. You are allowed.”
It was so simple. But I somehow needed permission from my daddy to feel empowered to assert myself.
Don’t analyze that.
Of course, I never actually got up out of the chair. But I found a new dentist that listened to my whole silly history before even looking at my teeth. He said that I could have all of the Novocain I wanted and he would always stop work if I needed him to stop. (It helped that he isn’t much older than I am.)
I have been with that dentist ever since and am no longer afraid of getting a filling. And, surprise, surprise – I no longer require all that many.
Moral of the Story: If the dentist (doctor, banker, hair stylist, mechanic) makes you feel uncomfortable, find a new one. You are paying for a service and deserve to feel good about it.
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More yarn from the sale at Michael’s:
Loops & Threads Impeccable Yarn in Luxury, Lavender and Aqua.
The Next Dark Age 