Friday, July 10, 2015
Go Set Our Expectations
Great surprise this morning to find The Wall Street Journal and London's The Guardian releasing the first chapter of "Go Set a Watchman." (Beautiful graphics at The Guardian)
Started reading at the stop light after I followed the link from Twitter. The rhythm and voice are there, at least in places:
"Since Atlanta, she had looked out the dining-car window with a delight almost physical."
"When at the University, Cousin Joshua studied too hard and thought too much; in fact, he read himself straight out of the nineteenth century."
"If you did not want much, there was plenty."
"Recorded history’s version does not coincide with the truth, but these are the facts, because they were passed down by word of mouth through the years, and every Maycombian knows them."
"Love whom you will but marry your own kind."
"They were friends again."
But, does it rise to the level of ...
"When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out."
We"ll see Tuesday
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Two surprising things
Two surprising things occurred today on public radio's "On Point" discussion of "Free college?"
First host Tom Ashbrook asked followup questions - several. I don't often get to hear On Point so perhaps this is his usual interview style. To me it said he wanted more than reiterated statements of the problem - answers.
At issue was the cost of college. A guest repeated the hardly new idea that tuition and other costs are out of control and that something needs to be done. Like what? Tom asked. (I'm paraphrasing here) "Lower the cost"
"How would you do that?"
"Use government programs."
"Specifically?"
And here is where the second surprising thing occurred. She answered. Listen to the program for the answers in full context. (Another surprising idea?)
Tom's interview style is surprising because he pushed for a real answer, rather than accepting a platitude. The second is surprising because the guest had an answer.
Many people have answers - good, bad or otherwise. We just have to follow up. Specifically.
First host Tom Ashbrook asked followup questions - several. I don't often get to hear On Point so perhaps this is his usual interview style. To me it said he wanted more than reiterated statements of the problem - answers.
At issue was the cost of college. A guest repeated the hardly new idea that tuition and other costs are out of control and that something needs to be done. Like what? Tom asked. (I'm paraphrasing here) "Lower the cost"
"How would you do that?"
"Use government programs."
"Specifically?"
And here is where the second surprising thing occurred. She answered. Listen to the program for the answers in full context. (Another surprising idea?)
Tom's interview style is surprising because he pushed for a real answer, rather than accepting a platitude. The second is surprising because the guest had an answer.
Many people have answers - good, bad or otherwise. We just have to follow up. Specifically.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Top-down Days
Rebuilt transmission: $4,300. Tangling with a guard rail three days later: totaled. Five years with Audi A4 convertible: priceless.
Yeah, totaled. I bet the check hadn't cleared the bank for the rebuild, which seemed like the best thing to do a week ago: Rebuild a clunky transmission and drive the car "till the wheels fall off."
Well, that was easy. Ask that guard rail just the other side of Appomattox on U.S. Route 460. My choices were 1) hit the guard rail head on or 2) slide into it sideways. Danica Patrick might have pulled it out. Me? Not so much, though I almost made it. In the parlance of Southwest Virginia, the guard rail "just caught my tail feathers."
First, I need to say there are dozens of helpful people traveling the highway in Appomattox County "right near Evergreen," as they told me. One found a wrecker faster than I could get AAA on the phone; another told me what garage would store it for free before the insurance company decided what to do. And the gentleman at the garage kept my mind off my mess with stories of his great grandfather in the Civil War. (I did say I was in Appomattox.)
Second, there is humor in the universe. A wonderful sign on the front of the garage declares "Phelps Towing & Monuments." There's nothing inherently funny about two businesses sharing a space and, as I learned from Mr. Phelps, family working together. When you think about it, it's good business to have two fairly recession-proof enterprises under one roof. Laughing soothed my nerves a bit.
My husband jettisoned his trip to Florida (where he might have escaped the coming snowstorm) and retrieved me. We cleaned out the car (Note to self: never expose your husband to what's really in your car. But I swear, there is a reason for the flute, the baby wipes and the "Quick Crafts from Lace" book.)
To this point I was pretty calm. OK, I was pretty perturbed. (The receipt of the transmission was still lying on the front seat of the car. No, I guess it was on the floor with my purse, computer, spare change, etc.) When I turned and took a last look at my car, the tears came. It wasn't a car it was independence day. (The only other time I cried about selling a car it was "Crunch, my '69 LTD from high school, and I blamed the tears on being pregnant.)
In 2008 I needed a new car and got the idea in my head that I needed a convertible. I looked at dozens, but I didn't want something that screamed "midlife crisis." Whispered might be OK. That's what I found in a 2005 Audi A4 convertible. Got at it at a fire-sale price during an end-of-the-month, holiday weekend sale. I could never have afforded it new.
For the first time I bought a car without checking to see how a car seat would fit and how many kids could ride in it at once. I swear it was a coincidence I bought it within a month of making my last child support payment.
Nothing was better than what I called "top-down days." With the sun shining and the temperature at 50 degrees or more I was set. My best friend and I cranked up the heat, maxed out the seat heaters and cruised the parkway on my birthday in January 2009.
A couple of years ago, I took my cousin's daughters cruising: top down, sunglasses and pink hats, getting waves from everyone we passed. It was at a time when they needed (and I wanted) some fun and their mom and dad got some "couple time."
A couple of years ago I drove home from Culpeper in February with the top down. Daddy and I drove up the Eastern Shore to Chicoteague in May a couple of years ago - THE perfect time for owning a convertible.
I even caught up with an old friend once when he pulled up beside me at a light and saw me in the car with the top down.
In fact, I had the top down at least once a month -- including winter months -- except for twice while I owned it. December 2009 and last month (January) was one of the two -- because it needed a new transmission. For those who know how I procrastinate, I will never know why jumped right on fixing the transmission.
There were a lot top-down days in five-and-a-half years. Maybe is is time for a sensible car, but not yet. I still hear whispering.
Yeah, totaled. I bet the check hadn't cleared the bank for the rebuild, which seemed like the best thing to do a week ago: Rebuild a clunky transmission and drive the car "till the wheels fall off."
Well, that was easy. Ask that guard rail just the other side of Appomattox on U.S. Route 460. My choices were 1) hit the guard rail head on or 2) slide into it sideways. Danica Patrick might have pulled it out. Me? Not so much, though I almost made it. In the parlance of Southwest Virginia, the guard rail "just caught my tail feathers."
First, I need to say there are dozens of helpful people traveling the highway in Appomattox County "right near Evergreen," as they told me. One found a wrecker faster than I could get AAA on the phone; another told me what garage would store it for free before the insurance company decided what to do. And the gentleman at the garage kept my mind off my mess with stories of his great grandfather in the Civil War. (I did say I was in Appomattox.)
Second, there is humor in the universe. A wonderful sign on the front of the garage declares "Phelps Towing & Monuments." There's nothing inherently funny about two businesses sharing a space and, as I learned from Mr. Phelps, family working together. When you think about it, it's good business to have two fairly recession-proof enterprises under one roof. Laughing soothed my nerves a bit.
My husband jettisoned his trip to Florida (where he might have escaped the coming snowstorm) and retrieved me. We cleaned out the car (Note to self: never expose your husband to what's really in your car. But I swear, there is a reason for the flute, the baby wipes and the "Quick Crafts from Lace" book.)
To this point I was pretty calm. OK, I was pretty perturbed. (The receipt of the transmission was still lying on the front seat of the car. No, I guess it was on the floor with my purse, computer, spare change, etc.) When I turned and took a last look at my car, the tears came. It wasn't a car it was independence day. (The only other time I cried about selling a car it was "Crunch, my '69 LTD from high school, and I blamed the tears on being pregnant.)
 |
| On the lot - almost mine |
For the first time I bought a car without checking to see how a car seat would fit and how many kids could ride in it at once. I swear it was a coincidence I bought it within a month of making my last child support payment.
Nothing was better than what I called "top-down days." With the sun shining and the temperature at 50 degrees or more I was set. My best friend and I cranked up the heat, maxed out the seat heaters and cruised the parkway on my birthday in January 2009.
 |
| "Top-down Day" |
A couple of years ago, I took my cousin's daughters cruising: top down, sunglasses and pink hats, getting waves from everyone we passed. It was at a time when they needed (and I wanted) some fun and their mom and dad got some "couple time."
A couple of years ago I drove home from Culpeper in February with the top down. Daddy and I drove up the Eastern Shore to Chicoteague in May a couple of years ago - THE perfect time for owning a convertible.
I even caught up with an old friend once when he pulled up beside me at a light and saw me in the car with the top down.
In fact, I had the top down at least once a month -- including winter months -- except for twice while I owned it. December 2009 and last month (January) was one of the two -- because it needed a new transmission. For those who know how I procrastinate, I will never know why jumped right on fixing the transmission.
There were a lot top-down days in five-and-a-half years. Maybe is is time for a sensible car, but not yet. I still hear whispering.
Friday, January 31, 2014
What I learned at the zoo
It wasn't actually a zoo, although any gathering of writers can resemble a zoo. At the Seventh Annual Roanoke Regional Writers Conference held last weekend (Jan 23-24, 2014) at Hollins University, Everyone was talking or listening or both at the same time. Writers we've heard of nationally - Sherry Reynolds , Roland Lazenby - or locally - Dan Smith and Dan Casey - and many we haven't but are likely to shortly.
As usual the topics were varied. I dipped my toe in some topics I've heard, read or performed in the past and jumped wholeheartedly into some things I hadn't. Social media promotions and the increase of digital publishing were the hot topics. Here's a little of what I heard:
- Sometime you laugh at the funeral home. Sherry Reynolds told a bittersweet story of the loss of a grandmother (sadly, only a month ago). She talked about how the relationship between her and her sister confirmed that characters should - and do - reveal themselves through the stories.
- Alice de Sturler, who was recently recognized by the American Bar Association for her blog focused on solving cold cases, offered so many great tips on blogging I could barely take notes fast enough. She included tips on guest blogs, blog tours, organizing blogs and secrets leveraging your comments sections.
- "You can't tell be what to think, but you can them what to think about, according to well-published author Roland Lazenby, whose book "Michael Jordon: A Life" will hit the stores in May. Lazenby talked about pitching non-fiction stories by looking at the news their publication will generate. Gone are the days of intense publicity supplied by publishers; books have to make news now to sell.
- Engaging like-minded people helped Brooke McGlothlin establish an information community targeting "Mothers of Boys." (As the mother of two grown boys I chuckled at the website name: The MOB Society.) She gave great advice for developing an online business by using all channels of communication, from digital newsletters, printing, email blasts and freelance writers to build the community
As any of the participants would attest, writing is not easy. Sometimes it feels like a calling, sometimes it feels like a curse. That's exactly why those of us who do it can't not write.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Victoria's new secret
My first thought when I heard Al Qaeda has a new "more sophisticated" underwear bomb: What,they shop Victoria's Secret, now? Then I realized a Victoria's Secret bra and panties set would hold hardly enough explosives to light a cigarette. Forget bringing down an airliner.
So maybe it was Fruit of the Loom? A little better, but look at those guys in the ads - but let's face it, that giant apple and all those grapes are not going to make it through airport security ("No food, sir") much less fit their hats in the overhead compartment. And the major issue would be what to do with all the fruit salad afterwards.
Maybe a union suit. (Young people: one-piece underwear, usually red, back door flap)A little better, but if you have ever worn one (yes, I have. long story for another post) you know union suits are in no way considered "sophisticated." Complicated, yes; sophisticated, no.
That leaves, what? Boxers or briefs, I suppose. Perhaps it was this long-standing conundrum that allowed National Security ample time ferret out the plot.
So maybe it was Fruit of the Loom? A little better, but look at those guys in the ads - but let's face it, that giant apple and all those grapes are not going to make it through airport security ("No food, sir") much less fit their hats in the overhead compartment. And the major issue would be what to do with all the fruit salad afterwards.
Maybe a union suit. (Young people: one-piece underwear, usually red, back door flap)A little better, but if you have ever worn one (yes, I have. long story for another post) you know union suits are in no way considered "sophisticated." Complicated, yes; sophisticated, no.
That leaves, what? Boxers or briefs, I suppose. Perhaps it was this long-standing conundrum that allowed National Security ample time ferret out the plot.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Balance in the Universe
Crossing the street on my walk (from my car)to work this morning I noticed yet another balance in the universe: For every nice First Driver willing to slow down at the crosswalk and let you cross two of the four lanes on Wells Avenue, there is an equal and opposite drive in the other lane speeding up to cross the intersection. I feel like an idiot standing there not responding to first guys generosity because of clueless Second Drive who will RUN ME OVER!
Here's a suggestion: if you are nice enough to let me cross, make sure no one is speeding by in the next lane. We will balance the universe with me waving in acknowledgement of your kindness and you can know you've still done the nice polite small-southern-town gesture.
Here's a suggestion: if you are nice enough to let me cross, make sure no one is speeding by in the next lane. We will balance the universe with me waving in acknowledgement of your kindness and you can know you've still done the nice polite small-southern-town gesture.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Seasons Greetings?
Pepper spray to get ... a video game? A bloodied grandfather trying to protect his grandson from being trampled but instead, arrested for shoplifting. (Never mind the question of what he was thinking bringing a preschooler to such a crazy environment.) Who would have thought the geriatric friendly Walmart greeter could morph into a pepper spray- armed riot control combatant?
These are not even the questions we should be asking, although they are the first to mind. The same media organizations that profit (greatly) from the advertising creating such melees cover the "news" they have had a hand in creating. What important topics aren't covered, crowded out by photos and gory details of consumerism run amok? Apparently the death of a security man in 2008 taught us something?
And even these are not the real questions. What has happened to our society that values mere "stuff" so much that we risk life and limb of not just ourselves but others. I can think of nothing in any store I want or need that would be worth a parking lot robbery, harming my grandchild or pepper spraying the competition -- known on any other day as my friend or neighbor. Can't you just hear the joyful exclamations under the shining tree on Christmas morning... "Mom, I'm so glad you knocked down that nice lady and punched someone's uncle to get me this....what is this anyway?"
Most shocking is those who look forward
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