Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Beginning March

Word association: March - walk - path - unknown - excitement - fear - cape - magic

I never know the last word when I begin an association, but I do think the sequence reflects my mood.

Where would you venture with March?

Monday, March 29, 2010

C'est Fini

I had promised you here that I would give you another update on Mango. By last Wednesday, I had used the program 530 minutes to study French and another 223 minutes devoted to Spanish. (No, I did not create my own spreadsheet for this; it is a program feature.) My objective after discovering Mango was to work through the 100 available French lessons and as many of the Spanish lessons as I had time (43). Typically, I would review three or four lessons each day, Monday through Thursday. Initially, I devoted three days to French and two to Spanish, but eventually Spanish was sacrificed in order to complete the French series.

Overall, the program is easy to use and offers a free way to work through conversational phrases using sound and sight in order to encourage learning. My vocabulary did grow, and I was able to practice pronunciation until my tongue was content. I do think I gained additional experience with the languages, however an upcoming field test will give me a better ability to gauge the outcome of these efforts.

On the flip side:

Minor user issue: Learning two languages at the same time is possible, however the lessons typically run parallel (at least in French and Spanish) so there could be some confusion with word choice.

Getting bigger: There are a few instances where the translation follows the wrong word resulting in an error in translation. This might be evident only if you had had previous training in the language. While I would like to cite a specific example, I did not have the foresight to note these slides which brings me to...

I would like to see these issues addressed: The "Bookmark Slide" feature does not work. Additionally, the lessons just end. After completing the 100th slide deck for French, the narrator gives you the impression that there would be another lesson using the familiar "If you feel comfortable with this lesson, move on to the next one." Finally, the order of the lessons seems a bit off for my travel needs. We reviewed "Thanks my love. Come sit by me" (Lesson 94) before lessons on interactions at the post office and customs (Lessons 97-100). Also, in the early lessons, background slides were included for verb conjugation and word usage explanation. At or near the middle of the course, this information is abandoned.

The final issues give me the impression that this program was conceived and built just far enough in order to try to get capital funding, however I will admit that this conclusion might be derived from my personal (software) experience. The quantity and the potential are there, but a few rough edges still remain.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

They Say It's Your Birthday!

So many of my favorite people have birthdays this week. In their honor, and particularly for GBC Paige whose birthday is today, I am again sharing another poet's words. Happy birthday friends!

Love: IX
Emily Dickinson from Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series, Complete

Have you got a brook in your little heart,
Where bashful flowers blow,
And blushing birds go down to drink,
And shadows tremble so?

And nobody knows, so still it flows,
That any brook is there;
And yet your little draught of life
Is daily drunken there.

Then look out for the little brook in March,
When the rivers overflow;
And the snows come hurrying from the hills,
And the bridges often go.

And later, in August it may be,
When the meadows parching lie,
Beware, lest this little brook of life
Some burning noon go dry!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Albee Certain

My day was a combination of endings and beginnings. With a farewell lunch, a last qigong class, and a new haircut, there was no denying that change is here. In this vein, I am giving you notice that my next series of reads will be classics. In addition to tackling our April GBC book, I will finally visit the Brontë sisters, Austen, Eliot, and Flaubert for good measure. (At the risk of being thrown out of the GBC, I am fairly certain I have not previously read Austen.) In order to balance the aforementioned, I am throwing in Jacob's Room, and I will admit that I am afraid of Virginia Woolf.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Stay Me with Flagons

I did not plan to begin Comfort me with Apples by Ruth Reichl Sunday evening. In the end, I could not resist another title on life, food, cooking and travel. I plowed through most of the book yesterday afternoon saving the last eighty pages or so for this morning's read. The book has a very conversational style and Reichl guides us on her voyage of personal discovery through her decision to become a food critic. She shares the distance in her marriage with Doug and the friendly separation that ultimately follows. (I know at least one of the GBC members can relate to this.) She writes about the loss of a parent and explores the concept of motherhood, all the while traveling, writing, and sharing recipes with the reader which relate to these varied points in her life. Each chapter closes with a recipe or two, which caused me (more than once) to grab a snack or a glass of wine.

The acknowledgments gave additional insights to the writer and to the title of the book taken from Song of Solomon. (Chapter 2:5 - I had to search it out, of course. As an aside, during my book inventory, I have discovered I have three Bibles!) So, as I prepare to embark on new journeys this year, my mind too turns to travel, food, and life.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Invisible Man

I have just spent the last three hours finishing a book that I did not like when I first began to turn its pages. Now, having flipped through the last eight blank pages which followed an obituary, I cannot sleep. I wonder if the blank pages were intentional as a nod to several references in the book regarding seeing that which is not there instead of that which is observable.

A History of Love by Nicole Krauss is a series of stories, yet is just one story. The character of Leo Gursky picks one's emotions as he must have picked locks, and Alma, well, there was not much to dislike in this strong, full of odd facts, young woman. The last thirty pages of the book were successful in building a reader's expectations to a final conclusion. The ending included information that I had not previously guessed and the author opted not to tie all the loose ends, both of which I respect.

Though left with a sense of sadness rather than joy, I am glad for the read and for the reminder that feelings like forces have equal and opposite reactions.

Friday, March 19, 2010

List-ening mid-March

So for those of you who are reading along, the titles for the upcoming months are listed below:

April: Half Broke Horses: A True Life Novel by Jeanette Walls
May: Private Altars by Katherine Mosby
June: South of Broad by Pat Conroy
July: Taking Lottie Home by Terry Kay
August:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett


I am not yet ready to move into the April selection as I am only a few pages into The History of Love highly rated by GBC Paige. I also have Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl (another loan from a co-volunteer) on stand-by. My list of books has grown in the last couple of weeks as I have met some really neat people who enjoy reading. Thank you for the suggestions!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Irish Eyes are Reading


Feisty. It is the word that continually creeps to the forefront of my mind when I think about last night's GBC meeting and the ensuing discussion of Three Cups of Tea. The crowd was hearty though we missed some of our regulars. Pre-dinner, the kitchen was abuzz with recounts of local political items, job news, and mention of travel.

Once again, the menu followed the theme of the book with three pots (since we are many) of tea available as a welcome. Two of our members (guess who?) arrived in traditional dress of the Middle East as they delivered the jars of "Pennies for Peace" to be deposited for Mortenson's cause. Grilled lamb kebabs, chicken biryani, rice, cucumber and tomato salad, lentils, naan and a selection of chutneys covered the counter.

Not everyone was able to finish the book and it was clear that I had an advantage with the Young Readers Edition accidentally snagged from the local library. (It definitely had more photos.) As we discussed the book, however it was evident that significant passages were missing from the Young Reader's Edition. My version was a glimpse at the sad events but a tendency to focus on the happy; I am tempted to read the standard version to see what other details may have been excluded.

The schedule was set for several more months with some great suggestions for our reads. Watch your email for a summary from GBC Paige.

Monday, March 15, 2010

'Tis the Season

Last Friday I viewed my first issue of Local Table: A Guide to Food and Farming in Middle Tennessee, published by Lisa Shively at (no surprise here) Local Table. It is available free to us at various grocery and health stores in the area. This magazine was included in a small packet of food reference items I received while attending a spring women's mini-workshop. I perused the info during the discussion about local farming as I sipped my (first ever) Juicy Detox Smoothie. One of the best things about Local Table is the Seasonality Chart for fruits and vegetables.

Though some of us have been feeling spring! for about a month now, the official start is nearly here, and my thoughts are drifting to eating fresh fruits and vegetables. This pub is a great resource for local farms who supply vegetables, cheeses and meats. (I was not certain if there were any other omnivores in the workshop so I simply asked about "seasonal proteins.")

Enjoy your week and consider adding something green to your morning smoothie. If you have any questions about the workshop or need a smoothie recipe, let me know.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Feed Me - See More

Sometimes I like a book because I find a bit of myself in the author's words. During the last ten years or so, I have begun to appreciate the flavor of food. I continually tell friends that I run because I like to eat. I may not always remember the name of the restaurant, but I can usually recall the menu item and the experience around the meal. I remember the first curry I had in Soho, the smoked salmon in Tampere, the unlikely discovery of a French restaurant in Inverness, and a most amazing dinner at Picasso. I can laugh about ordering a rare-cooked lamb on a first date with a vegetarian and recall the surprise I felt during a business dinner to have the fish that I would soon eat be presented for my approval. (It was the whole fish. The menu was fish or bear-claw; I still think I chose wisely.) My shared experience with the author which we both acknowledge to be wrong: ordering a triple latte from Starbucks the first morning in Toyko.

Differing from the author, Anthony Bourdain, I will never be a chef. During these last few months however, I have developed a fascination with the kitchen and with technique. I watched yesterday with awe the speed and precision of two chefs taking control of a kitchen with fifteen minutes to spare and with no chicken to serve. Mastering cooking is a beautiful art. My opinion of Kitchen Confidential? It is anecdotal, irreverent (true to the jacket review), and funny. It is the story of how things mostly/sometimes work which appeals to my mind (and my stomach).

Thursday, March 11, 2010

A Cook Book

Foiled by the timing of the inter-library delivery system for Three Cups of Tea, I could not go another few days without beginning a new book. Kitchen Confidential is an intriguing read, particularly as I have spent a number of days these last seven months in a culinary setting. With a palate which developed as a result of rebellion, Anthony Bourdain has taken me through his early kitchen journeys with descriptions of a chef's life that more closely resembled a rock star rather than our current cooking celebrities. He gives advice that you would read in nearly every book review such as do not order fish on Monday and be wary of brunch, while offering a fair glimpse of the camaraderie and hierarchy of a kitchen. The book's mid-point seems to be a turning point in the author's career and I am eager to see what "Dessert" and "Coffee and a Cigarette" will bring. (Each section of the book is identified by a course.) Regardless of whether or not he succeeds in the kitchen, I am inspired to get my apron dirty.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Kindling a Fire

Last week I was treated to lunch and a hands on tour of the Kindle courtesy of a neighbor and fellow lover of things gadgety. With absolute certainty that there was no lingering evidence of the brat on my hands, I held the reading device. Post-release, I have been skeptical of an electronic reader. If you have been to my home, you know I like books, particularly early edition books with unique topics. After my preview, I am certain that the Kindle would not replace my tendency to purchase old cookbooks and books on Labor in Finland, but it might however keep trendy paperbacks from cluttering my shelves. I can also see an advantage to electronically receive certain reference books and magazines. It seemed that nearly every question I posed was answered with "yes" including a "Clip This Article" feature that I asked in jest. My neighbor was fair to say there were a few drawbacks to the product and gave me a balanced view of these too, however the overall opinion was favorable. In fact, one of the reasons I was seeking more information about the Kindle is that every avid reader I have met who owns one seems to love it. (They also swoon slightly when talking about the Kindle, but this could be more related to personality rather than the Kindle.) I am tempted. If I start to swoon when talking about books I have recently read, you may just know the cause.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Tea Minus One Week for GBC

It occurred to me this afternoon that we are just over one week away from our next meeting when we will discuss Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Fortuitously, I was able to reserve a copy of the book from the library. (There are a few other copies for any other delinquent readers.) With a lovely forecast ahead, there may indeed be a bit of outdoor reading in my future.

Friday, March 5, 2010

March Notes

I am still working through The Healing Art of Qigong, but think there are limits to how much I could (should) write about this subject before I lose my audience. Moving on, I have renewed The History of Love by Nicole Krauss so that I can begin the book without pressure to finish it immediately since I dedicated more time these last three weeks to qi and knitting rather than to reading. I also received the unexpected surprise of a book from a co-volunteer today: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. The back jacket reviews include words such as "irreverent, hysterical, Hunter S Thompson, and wickedness." Yep, this book may jump line over Love. The owner and I also appear to share the same [neurotic ?] habit of not bending paperback spines, so all-around a great lend.

Enjoy the weekend ahead. The weather here is lovely, and I think I will begin my Friday evening in the spirit of GBC with a little reading water.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Here Comes the Son

As chief/chef (a friend of mine intermixes these quite frequently) blogger, I would like to extend a most hearty welcome to our youngest GBC member, Emerson. In his honour, I offer a few words from Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature (sourced here) as your muse for the day:

To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Nothing so-Sew about it

Recently two friends have recycled magazines my way so I have been flipping through the glossy, mostly [occasionally/partially] recycled pages to catch a bit of inspiration for spring. Colors, patterns, mantras with a concept of fresh and/or contemporary were presented to match the change in season and perhaps new beginnings. It was these thoughts and this past weekend's visit to my parents which inspired me to finish two sewing projects I had started. Okay, one I had officially started; the other I had thought about quite a bit, but two safety pins likely does not a start make. I had hoped to elicit the help of the woman who used to make all of my clothes, my mother.

Though I had forgotten exactly just how many times one needs to try on an item to ensure that sewing is going along according to plan (many), it was beautiful to see my mother take my concepts into an executed form. I merely had to try on the item, describe what I wanted and in a few short hours, I had two finished projects. It was amazing! She also had the patience to teach me a few new things, though I did know better than to press my luck too much after we broke the sewing machine needle. Perhaps you too, can find a way to take something old and turn it into something new this year.