Maybe today’s the day…

Maybe today’s the day you write that letter, or make that phone call, or just sit down and have that conversation. Maybe you’ve been thinking about this for years, and it’s been weighing on you, maybe it’s even been holding you back. Whether it’s to thank someone that you’ve never properly thanked, to confess something you feel guilty for, way back in the day, or to acknowledcargoround zoomge that you were wounded by someone’s choices, and that it’s been something you’ve been holding on to. The point is that it’s something you’ve held back, that you’ve wanted to let go of and send it on its way. Maybe you’ve come close a couple of times, but bit your tongue, and “thought better of it.” Maybe now, just now, you finally have the vocabulary and the backdrop and the foundational fortitude to let it out. Some things were meant to be transmitted. Perhaps the whole universe is waiting for you to say it. Sure, life goes on, the clock ticks, you do your daily, but somehow it feels a little bit false. But you’re holding on to something, and those words from you just might be the words somebody needs to hear. Doesn’t matter if they’re distant. Doesn’t matter if they’re famous. Hell, it almost doesn’t matter if they’re dead and buried. You could be dead too, tomorrow.

I won my first free book through Goodreads!

goodreadsThe other day I was mucking around in Goodreads. I know some of my friends are Goodreads site members because I see your stuff on there. I noticed the “First Reads” contest thing, where authors put up a certain number of books to give out to people to promote their books, sometimes in advance of publication. I spent a good hour going through the list and entering to win books that seemed like they might be interesting.

Last night, I got notification that I’m a First Reads winner!  I’m getting a copy of The Presidents and UFOs: A Secret History from FDR to Obama by Larry Holcombe and Stanton T. Friedman.  I’ll be sure to read it and post a review when I get it.

Part of me wants to encourage my Goodreads friends to go check out the giveaway section, and the other part doesn’t really want you to dilute my chances. I’ll listen to the better angels of my nature this time, go check it out! There’s a dropdown arrow next to the Explore link at the top of the Goodreads page, choose that and then choose Giveaways. Happy hunting!

Review: Stardust

Stardust
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, although I probably enjoyed it in the most obscure media. I understand that this has been a graphic novel, then a text-only novel, and also a movie. I chose to enjoy it in the audio book format, simply because that’s the easiest way for me to fit “reading” into my schedule.

I think I “get” Neil, his sensibilities, and where he’s coming from, and this was validated especially with the audiobook version of this story, because at the end of the story, they included an interview with Neil, in which he discussed the process of coming up with the story, his preferred medium being radio shows, and writing with pen (when not writing a screenplay) because it “slows him down.” I’m also 100% in agreement with him on the enjoyment of “unabridged” audiobooks especially when read by the original author, or by someone who brings the right ‘character” to the story without his or her voice becoming a character unto itself. I plan to follow up on Neil’s recommendation for listening to poets reading their own works. Honestly, the audiobook is worth a listen just for the interview.

As for the story, as a natural romantic, it appealed to me in every sense. It was well-structured, filled with fun characters and devices. There weren’t a whole lot of surprises, I guess I’ve been reading enough of him lately that I could see where he was going with it very early on, but that took absolutely nothing from the story. I remained spellbound through the entire thing.

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Lest we not forget Mingering Mike

I was also fortunate that we had time to visit the Smithsonian American Art gallery before the Atlas show. I had been looking forward to the Mingering Mike exhibit ever since I first read about it. I snapped some photos in the exhibit (the signs only said no FLASH photography, so I took that as a sign that non-flash photography was allowed). Turns out the photos were unnecessary, because THEY SELL A FREAKING COFFEE TABLE BOOK OF THE ENTIRE COLLECTION IN THE GIFT SHOP!  Yes, of course I bought one.

Kudos to DC and the Smithsonian for recognizing the value of folk art!

The Goddess Is Alive (and a foot!)

Wonderful show this evening at the Atlas on H Street NE. It has been a long time since I last took the girls to see Rachel perform, and I had forgotten how much I missed her voice, at least until the first notes came out.

Loads of beautiful and sometimes silly Goddess joy.  I especially enjoyed the Klompen instrument.

So glad we braved the ice and freezing bullshit weather to have such a wonderful time in the show tonight.