Monday, February 28, 2011

Superior

2.28.11 - Superior. Above the average in excellence, merit, intelligence, etc.

BG received a superior rating for her solo in the solo and ensemble competition! Woo hoo - well done!

 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Busted

2.27.11 - Busted. Broken. Out of working order.


Many things in my life are busted, but right now I am focused on the busted hot water heater! Give me strength!



L - The Lover's Dictionary: A Novel - David Levithan (211 pages)

This small little novel tracks the course of a modern romance told through dictionary entries. This made me happy this week for a couple of reasons...last week's book was HUGE and as evidenced by my Word of the Day project, I love definitions of words. 

The nameless narrator of this novel takes us on a non-linear journey of his relationship. We visit their first date, find that they met online, we see them move in together, argue, love, cheat. Though the book is called a novel - it does follow the course of the couple, I found it often read a bit like poetry. There were times that the narrator expanded used the same definition for several words, just expanding them a bit to get a little more of the story. I thought it was a brilliant way of keeping the reader engaged. 

This book could have easily been read in one sitting, but I chose to break it up in bits so as to savor it a little longer. Author Levithan is the co-author of one of my favorite reads from last year's project Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and he keeps me in his pocket this year. With poignantly written entries like this:
Encroach (v.)
 The first three nights we spent together, I couldn't sleep. I wasn't used to your breathing, your feet on my legs, your weight in the bed. In truth, I still sleep better when I'm alone. But I allow that sleep isn't always the most important thing.
We have all had that moment when one become two...pick up this fun little book - it will be worth the time. 

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Trajectory

2.26.11 - Trajectory. The path followed by an object through space


BG: This game would be awesome if it allowed me to manipulate the trajectory with the phone...


*my daughter is brilliant*

Friday, February 25, 2011

Peregrination

2.25.11 - Peregrination. A voyage, especially an extensive one


I just learned this word today! It is awesome and I cannot wait until I am able to take a peregrination! (Hope I used it correctly)



Thursday, February 24, 2011

Indulgent

2.24.11 - Indulgent. Characterized by or given to yielding to the wishes of someone.


Tonight I gave in to my indulgent side by picking up a cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry shake from In-N-Out. Mmm, mmm good!





Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Punishment

2.23.11 - Punishment. A penalty imposed for wrongdoing.


As awesome a kid that BG is most of the time - there are times when she has to face a punishment. Received an email from her teacher today stating that he was disappointed in her behavior in class today...that leads to a disappointed mom and the loss of some privileges. We'll see what she does to earn them back.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Boyfriend

2.22.11 - Boyfriend. A male friend with whom a person is romantically or sexually involved; sweetheart or lover.


Female co-worker: Deejah do you have a boyfriend?
Me: Nope, why?
FCW: You have been looking really pretty lately
Me: Thanks. I always look pretty (sarcastically)
FCW: No...
Me: Wow - thanks!
(bystanders - completely shocked!!)





Monday, February 21, 2011

Manicure

2.21.11 - Manicure. A cosmetic treatment of the fingernails, including shaping and polishing.


I had a little free time tonight so I gave myself a manicure!








Sunday, February 20, 2011

H (Author) - A Distory of Witches - Deborah Harkness (592 pages)

This discovery of witches had me enchanted and engrossed all week long. This is the longest book that I have ever chosen to complete in a week - but it was well worth it. Deborah Harkness is a history professor and wine blogger by day - but she penned this incredible debut novel at night. This novel weaves a tale of witches, vampires, daemons and humans along with history, science and alchemy. That is a lot to introduce in a debut novel and even more to cover in a review. Harkness' skill at character development is one of the best that I have seen in some time. She juggles the cast of characters incredibly well and I never felt that the story was rushed or a character was marginalized. 


The story follows Diana Bishop, a professor of alchemical history, who also happens to be a witch. Diana has turned away from her natural witch tendencies and does not use magic (nor does she really know how) in her day to day life. Her parents (very powerful witches) died when she was 7-years-old which added to her desire to turn away from magic. While studying at Oxford she comes across a rare alchemical manuscript (Ashmole 782) that reaches out to her magic! Freaked out she returns the manuscript not knowing that she opened herself up as a target for various and sundry creatures to seek her out.


Matthew Clairmont is a renowned scientist who also happens to be a vampire. He has been searching for Ashmole 782 for many years and when he finds that Diana has discovered it - he seeks her out. What starts as a hunt for the book, turns into protection and eventually love. The adventures that ensue span time and space. They explore relationships with witches, vampires and daemons which are often tense at best. It becomes clearer as the book moves on that all of the creatures may have more in common than was previously thought.


This book combines many of my favorite genres into one...romance-supernatural-adventure-mystery and history. It is like the best mixtape EVER in novel formation! So far this has been one of the best books that I have read in awhile. Harkness has stated this is the first in a trilogy and I am anxiously, anxiously awaiting 2012 when the second book is set to be released. Check this book out to see what I'm talking about!

Fathom/Phantom

2.20.11 - Fathom. Penetrate: come to understand 
2.20.11 - Phantom. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; a ghost or an apparition.

The phrase is "I can't fathom..." not "I can't phantom..." 

Just saying...

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Done

2.19.11 - Done. Having been carried out or accomplished; finished.


I am done with this week's book - kind of sad, I loved hanging out with those characters.


Friday, February 18, 2011

Alchemy

2.18.11 - Alchemy. Any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually  of little value into a substance of great value.


This week's book deals with alchemy as a premise - it is extremely intriguing.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Headache

2.17.11 - Headache. A pain in the head.


I woke up with a headache and I'm going to bed with a headache. Ugh!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Sorrow

2.16.11 - Sorrow. An emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement. 


It speaks for itself. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Ashamed

2.15.11 - Ashamed. Feeling shame or guilt.


I am ashamed to say that I have not yet watched The Grammys awards ceremony...it is still sitting on the TiVo waiting for me to give it my attention. How can I be called a culture hound??



Monday, February 14, 2011

Engrossing

2.14.11 - Engrossing. So interesting as to occupy one's attention completely; absorbing


This week's book is super long (nearly 600 pages), has a small font, lots of science (dictionary is next to me at all times) and completely engrossing! Books rock!



Sunday, February 13, 2011

Transformation

2.13.11 - Transformation. A change or an alteration.


I am not a belieber...but I did undergo a transformation after seeing his movie! Great kid!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Drama

2.12.11 - Drama. A situation or succession of events in real life having the dramatic progression or emotional effect characteristic of a play.

Me: Hey BG - what are you doing?
BG: Watching Degrassi - there is so much drama going on!
Me: You love drama!
BG: On TV, yes. In real life it's just a mess.
 

Friday, February 11, 2011

Dance

2.11.11 - Dance. To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures.


Tonight BG went to a dance with her dad. These are the memories that she will cherish forever.

F - for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf - Ntozake Shange (64 pages)

Back in the early 90s I was in college and I took an African-American Studies class. My first shock, I was the only black person in the class. The second shock was that by being the only black person in the class I somehow became the expert on all things African-American. This was an annoying predicament, but one that I worked through. One of the best parts of this class was getting to see a performance of this play (choreopoem) as performed by a Native American theatre troupe. This week was a rough one for me and I needed a quick read that I could easily get into. I have had this book on my shelf for more than 20 years, but I have never read it straight through. Last night I picked it up and read it in one sitting. 


This is a collection of poems that have been put together to form a novel. The colored girls are not necessarily women of color - they are the characters who are never known by name, instead they are known by a color. They are labeled 'lady in red', 'lady in blue', etc. The stories that they share are sometimes harrowing, sometimes uplifting, all extremely thought provoking. Subjects include love, abandonment, rape, and domestic violence - subjects that are generally a downer. But to see these women work to overcome their circumstances you are uplifted.


The end of the book brings all of the women together and the 'lady in red' begins a mantra that evokes the power of womanhood. She says, "I found God in myself/and I loved her/and I loved her fiercely". We can all take a lesson from this mantra. This was a tough read, but well worth the time and effort. 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Patience

2.10.11 - Patience. The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.


Thank goodness the Editor in Chief of the website I write for has so much patience! He has been so helpful with tips and shortcuts as I learn WordPress on the live site! Allan rocks!



Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Insomnia

2.9.11 - Insomnia. Chronic inability to fall asleep or to enjoy uninterrupted sleep.


Though I can fall asleep when I want to - I can't stay asleep for more than 4 hours at a time...apparently this is the definition of insomnia. Hmm...

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Individuality

2.8.11 - Individuality. The aggregate of qualities and characteristics that distinguish one person or thing from others; character


I am happy to see that my daughter, at age 10, is showing flashes of individuality! I love it!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Crush

2.7.11 - Crush. A burning desire to be with someone who you find very attractive and extremely special.


I am falling in Love with "The Chicago Code" and I have a major crush on Jason Clarke. I will be tuning in next week.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

D - Decoded - Jay-Z (288 pages)

I have long been a fan of Jay-Z and of hip-hop and when I had heard that Sean Carter (Jay-Z) had written a book that interprets his lyrics, defining and defending the language and the life behind the songs I was very excited. I am one of those that had often spent my time defending the music that I loved to people that said it was just bombastic noise with filthy language. Jay-Z is known for his quick-witted and sometimes abrasive rhymes and in this book, that is kind of like a memoir, he goes deeper and more in-depth.


I have many (nearly all) of Jay-Z's CDs on my iPod or in CD format and I found that the best way for me to enjoy this book was to listen and read along with the song and then read Jay-Z's interpretations. I was pleasantly surprised when I got the meaning as he meant it, but I was equally surprised when I was totally off! His use of double and triple entendres in one stanza is genius at best. 


The cover art on this book is a Andy Warhol piece and the art and photos within the book were just as lush and visually stunning. The detail that he put into this book is so like everything else that he does. He speaks almost like a professor teaching a class, sliding in anecdotes from his life here and there. He avoids talking about his wife, BeyoncĂ© and I appreciate that he and she are very focused on keeping their private life private. 


I would recommend this book for both hip-hop fans and its detractors. The knowledge that Jay-Z passes on (along with humor and sadness) is very profound and eye-opening. I gained more insight into one of my favorite artists and into hip-hop itself. 

Confused

2.6.11 - Confused. Being unable to think with clarity or act with understanding and intelligence.


Had a great birthday weekend, but a few encounters left me feeling very confused. Trying to wrap my head around it all.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Palate

2.5.11 - Palate. The sense of taste.

If my palate had a mind it would have been blown. I ate some magnificent food tonight!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Happy Birthday

2.4.11 -  Happy Birthday. Greeting given to celebrate the day of someone's birth.

Thanks to all of my friends and family that wished me a happy birthday today! You all made turning 40 not so bad!! Love and hugs to you all! :)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Overloaded

2.3.11 - Overloaded. To load too heavily.


My TiVo is overloaded with TV goodness! Can't wait to thin it out!



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Whisper

2.2.11 - Whisper. Soft speech produced without full voice.


Today my voice did not reach a volume above a whisper. Though I am not sick - I have lost my voice! Ugh! Co-workers seemed to be pleased! :)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Windy

2.1.11 - Windy. Characterized by or abounding in wind.


Sometimes I forget that there is any other type of weather in Arizona other than warm, hot and monsoon. Today was a crazy cold, windy example of something different!