long weekends should be standard

My first two chapters went over better than I expected, and I got great critiques from the other students. Some even did line-by-line critiques. I have to do a re-write by the end of next week, and that's it for the workshop. I think I get a day or two off before the next workshop starts.

Report from last weekend:

My dishwasher and garbage disposal work again, and it didn't cost me as much as I thought it would. Plus, the plumber even cleaned out my sink for me.

Joe-the-office-roomie's baby is a little bundle of adorableness. She has fat cheeks and a floppy head and the cutest feet.

The nutritionist is re-vamping my diet, and that is a post in itself. Karen-the-acupuncturist cleared up some dampness in my system, which is also a post in itself. I'll tell you about the herbs later.

My hair is an inch shorter. My fingernails are French manicured, and my toenails are sparkly blue.

The edging on one blanket was finished, another partial blanket was frogged because the design didn't look right. I restarted that one and another one.

This weekend is more writing, more crocheting, brunch with sister, dinner with father, and watching the movies Joe-the-office-roome and Angel-the soon-to-be-art-teacher got for me as birthday gifts. I also got some nifty earrings from Jane-the gardener, jewelry from my mom, and roses in a girly teacup from my mom. I made out like a bandit, didn't I? Makes 33 a bit more bearable.

Also, I'm always coming across interesting things on Internet radio. Ian Fleming's 100th birthday is on the 28th. BBC4 has a radio version of Dr No, which is quite bizarre. Toby Stephens plays James Bond, and David Suchet plays Dr No. Suchet's voice for Dr No is creepy. And they can get away with saying "shit" on the radio. The story makes a lot more sense than the film did. And it is kind of funny - killing Dr No by dumping a huge load of bird shit on him.

threads of my lineage

I got a birthday box from my uncle today. It was all stuff that belonged to my maternal grandmother, who died two years ago this summer. He sent me three sets of her knitting needles and a bunch of her knitting and crochet patterns, including some that she had handwritten and a copy of Woman's Day knit and crochet patterns from 1978.

I'm glad I learned how to use needles and hooks to carry on the family tradition. I must be something like a fourth or fifth generation needleworker.

Speaking of which, here are photos of some of my needlework projects:

First the knitted stuff:

This one is a neat, two-sided pattern scarf: one side is wavy lines, the other is a lattice overlay. The color is powder blue with some darker flecks of colors sprinkled throughout.

My dad calls this one my "Doctor Who" scarf because it's so long, about 9 feet (I like my scarves long). I got the pattern for this one and the previous one from a knitting magazine. I used the yarn they suggested, but I think it's a little too thick - I had to alter the pattern so it wasn't so bulky. Still, it's fun to wear, and I get lots of comments on it - complete strangers will come up to me to ask about it.

By the way, I just looked online, and you can get the pattern for the original Doctor Who scarf, though I never did like the colors.

This was my first crocheted blanket. The yarn color was called "surf and turf." Alternately, I call this my "early morning blanket" because rather than get up and rush around getting ready for work, I'd put the TV on to the morning news, and hook this blanket for an hour or so. Since there was variation in the yarn color, I just did a basic double-crochet stitch. I really liked the smoothness of this yarn. It comes in other color combinations, so I may do another one.

This is a baby blanket that I did for a co-worker whose wife just had a baby two weeks ago. It's a much more delicate yarn than I'm used to using, and not as easy to see the stitches. It was self-striping yarn, so I can't take credit for the pattern. I chose this color rather than the traditional pastels because baby Julia's room is green.

day planner

I'm taking next Monday and Tuesday off, so this is a four-day weekend! It's going to be pretty busy, though.

I'm going to see Joe-the-office-roomie's two-week-old baby daughter tomorrow.
The plumber is coming to look at my kitchen sink and my dishwasher on Monday.
I go see the nutritionist and Karen-the-acupuncturist and then spend the afternoon at the salon on Tuesday.

Sunday is really my only lazy day. However, I only have a three-day work week next week, and then another three-day weekend. And I need it. I've not been able to take any time off since I started this job last July.

In sporting news, one of my co-workers is organizing a golf tournament for the female staff. None of us can play well (I played exactly once in high school), so hilarity will ensue and turf will fly while liquor is consumed. If any good pics come out of it (I'm the designated photographer), I'll post them. I even have plaid shorts to wear.

and the nail-biting begins

My two chapters are now with peers. The first draft was 24 pages. After ruthless cutting and re-writing, the submission draft was 15 pages.

Meanwhile, here are some articles of interest:

Aliens are OK with the Catholic church.

The moon could be our next power source.

this made me cry

You wouldn't think writing two measly chapters would be so bloody difficult. I've spent more than a week on them, and got stuck several times. Now I'm nervous about submitting them for peer review, but the deadline is tomorrow, so I hope the wind is ready for the caution I'm about to throw at it.

Tonight, I was super frustrated, so I took a procrastination break, and found this to watch. And after that, my chapters didn't seem like such beasts in comparison.

an issue for consideration and action

This is from a UU e-mail newsletter that I get (and is it just me, or does the name sound like a lollipop?):

This is not the most elegant issue to be used as a subject for a Legislative Watch message, but it nevertheless involves some important social justice elements.

The alcoholic beverage industry is marketing an alcoholic beverage called “alcopops”, a sweet, fruity flavored beverage which has the taste of conventional soft drinks, but the alcohol content can exceed that of beer. It is reportedly designed to attract young (often under age), entry-level alcohol drinkers who are accustomed to the flavor of soft drinks but not the harsher tastes of regular alcoholic beverages. Alcopops have been marketed under hard liquor brand names, such as Smirnoff and Bacardi.

Alcopops became the subject of legislation in the recent session of the Maryland Assembly. The question has arisen as to whether alcopops is like beer or like hard liquor. If it is classified with beer, then the state tax is only 9 cents per gallon, can be sold widely in convenience stores, grocery stores and the like, and can be advertised on television like beer. But if it is classified as hard liquor, then the state tax is $1.50 per gallon, and it can only be sold in liquor stores. The current Maryland Attorney General ruled that alcopops should be classified as hard liquor, but a vigorous effort was mounted in the legislature to get it classified as beer. With little fanfare the bill was passed overwhelmingly.

The bill is now on the governor’s desk, and an effort has been mounted to persuade him to veto it. He deferred signing it at the last bill signing session. The next bill signing session is scheduled for May 13.

Classifying alcopops with beer offers considerable advantages for the alcoholic beverage industry. Proponents of the legislation may claim the right of businesses to pursue their efforts with minimum interference from government. They may also be categorically opposes to any increases in taxes.

Advocates for classifying alcopops as hard liquor point to the critical role that alcohol plays in teenage motor vehicle deaths. 22% of young drivers killed in fatal crashes were intoxicated. Young people who began drinking before the age of 15 have been found to be 15 times more likely to be involved in an alcohol-related automobile crash. Specifically in Maryland, alchopops was responsible for 9 deaths, 7,500 incidents of harm, and $210 million in economic losses. Underage teenagers consume almost half of the alcopops sold in California. Young women seem to be especially attracted to alcopops marketing.

Some of us will be communicating with Governor O’Malley along the following lines. You may or may not agree with the thoughts expressed. You may elect to use the text of this message, or you can increase your influence by composing your own message. In addition to communicating with the Governor you may elect to send copies (not blind copies) to your Maryland legislative delegation. Governor O’Malley’s e-mail address is mom@gov.state.md.us It is essential to communicate with the Governor O’Malley before May 13th.

Honorable Martin O’Malley
Annapolis, Maryland

Dear Governor O’Malley:

This is to strongly urge you to veto SB 745, having to do with classifying “alcopops” with beer rather than as hard liquor.

The alcoholic beverage industry clearly markets alcopops to induce young people – many of them underage – to begin consuming alcohol. Certainly we have more than enough problems with teenage/underage alcohol consumption/automobile deaths. We don’t need to pave the way for the alcoholic beverage industry to increase their profits by inducing more young people to consume ever greater amounts of alcohol.

Thank you.

**Howard County Delegation
District 9

Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-9)
420 James Senate Office Bldg.
410-841-3671 or 301-858-3671
allan.kittleman@senate.state.md.us
Finance Committee Minority whip

Del. Gail Bates (R-9A)
319 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3556 or 301-858-3556
gail.bates@house.state.md.us
Appropriations Committee

Del. Warren Miller (R-9A)
319 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3582 or 301-858-3582
warren.miller@house.state.md.us
Economic Matters Committee

District 12

Sen. Edward Kasemeyer (D-12)
301 James Senate Office Bldg,
410-841-3653 or 301-858-3653
edward.kasemeyer@senate.state.md.us
Budget & Taxation Committee, Majority Leader, Chair of county Senate delegation

Del. Steven DeBoy (D-12A)
306 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3328 or 301-858-3328
steven.deboy@house.state.md.us
Appropriations Committee

Del. James Malone (D-12A)
251 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3378 or 301-858-3378
james.malone@house.state.md.us
Environmental Matters Committee (vice-chair)

Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D-12B)
214 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3205 or 301-858-3205
elizabeth.bobo@house.state.md.us
Environmental Matters Committee

District 13

Sen. James Robey (D-13)
120 James Senate Office Bldg.
410-841-3572 or 301-858-3572
james.robey@senate.state.md.us
Budget & Taxation Committee

Del. Guy Guzzone (D-13)
206 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3471 or 301-858-3471
guy.guzzone@house.state.md.us
Appropriations Committee

Del. Shane Pendergrass (D-13)
362 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3139 or 301-858-3139
shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us
Vice-Chair, Health & Government Operations Committee

Del. Frank Turner (D-13)
206 House Office Bldg.
410-841-3246 or 301-858-3246
frank.turner@house.state.md.us
Ways & Means Committee

Don’t know who your legislators are? Go to http://mdelect.net/

adding to the "to-be-read" list

While I think Jane Eyre is an incredible novel, I've always thought it presented an idealized and romantic version of a governess' life. And so it does, according to this book. Three of the case studies are the Wollstonecraft sisters. Yes, those Wollstonecrafts.

I think of these three books, the one by Joyce Carol Oates intrigues me the most, and I can't say I'm a fan of her writing. I always equate her stories with academics because Oates is almost always on the required reading list for lit or writing classes. So when presented with her writing, I feel like I'm conditioned to switch into analysis mode, instead of just reading for enjoyment. However, the concept in her new book is intriguing.

I've come across the original novel for The Ghost and Mrs Muir, and I'm already through a third of it this evening. Bother homework. The novel is even better than the film, and I love the film.

Speaking of films, I watched The Importance of Being Earnest from Netflix this past weekend. The Colin Firth/Rupert Everett version, that is. Hilarious! And despite the liberties they took with the play (Aunt Augusta was once a showgirl? Gwendolyn gets a tattoo on her bum? Please!), it's a great version, and the liberties are in keeping with the personality of the story, so I don't think Mr Wilde would mind. They even manage to slip in some Oscarisms that weren't ever part of a play or a story. Rupert Everett was also in An Ideal Husband with Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam, and Minnie Driver. He plays a similar role to his Algie part in Earnest. (Did I mention my neighborhood is called Wilde Lake? Yes, it is named after him.)

Sigh. I have 4 more chapters to go in Independence Day, and I'm procrastinating on writing this week's essay about it, which is on real estate, housing, mansions, shelter and whatnot (the main character is a real estate agent). I still find him irritating, and I'm still indifferent to the story two-thirds of the way in. It depresses me to have to keep ploughing through it. My only consolation is a chapter or two of Little Big as a reward. LB is definitely a savory book, not one you rush through.

reunion

If you've never see Withnail and I, you should. Great flick. One of those independent, underground, cult films about slightly crazed debauchery with then-unknown actors (Richard E Grant, Paul McGann) and a first-time director (Bruce Robinson). Seems like it all shouldn't have worked, but it did. Something charming about roughness and inexperience and wobbliness and too-dark scenes.

BBC4 is running a chat with the writer/director and the actors on the 20th anniversary of the film's release. It's only up for a week.

P.S. Terry Pratchett's Mort is still available for listening on BBC7. It's a four-part series, and another Discword favorite. (Scroll down to M) I'd have to do a bit of chronology research to find out which came first - Terry Pratchett's version of Death or Neil Gaiman's version. They share a few similar characteristics. Don't tell anyone, but I while I like Terry Pratchett's version, Neil Gaiman's version comes out a little bit ahead for me, as far as favoritism goes.