Category Archives: Reading

Oct 16 2011

Oscar Wilde, Like Literary Dark Chocolate

Oscar Wilde is like literary dark chocolate… I can taste his words like chocolate, dissolving smoothly and slowly melting  on the tongue.  Delicious. Indulgent. Observant. Descriptive writing at its best, most beautiful. He paints like a European master with common language and a deft hand. I admire his style. This is real descriptive writing. Observing the ordinary and yet giving it just enough sensory detail for the reader to experience it. Brilliant.

CHAPTER 1 “The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the more delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn. From the corner of the divan of Persian saddle-bags on which he was lying, smoking, as was his custom, innumerable cigarettes, Lord Henry Wotton could just catch the gleam of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured blossoms of a laburnum, whose tremulous branches seemed hardly able to bear the burden of a beauty so flamelike as theirs…”

Wilde, Oscar (1994). The Picture of Dorian Gray. Public Domain Books.

Do you like to hear a good short story? Try Selected Shorts. The first story that I listened to was  a Neil Gaiman short, “The Thing About Cassandra” under Love in Real Life, and now it’s Israeli writer Etgar Keret “Suddenly a Knock at the Door” under The World of Etgar Keret. Masterfully funny and very clever! It’s like Shaherazod telling a story to live in the funniest way. I couldn’t help but listen to the rest. They are really good! So much literary goodness in one place.

Okay, off to knit and listen to stories.

Aug 3 2009

Artist in the Kitchen: Blueberry Scones Plus Reading The China Study

Blueberry scones it is. I honestly love my scones. I haven’t baked in a while because Spring and Summer are when I hit the fitness track the hardest. To my credit, I did eat everything else proper today, but had to have a couple of scones made with fresh blueberries and pot of tea. One day to get my scone fix on then it’s done for a while. This is what cream scone dough looks like when prepared to bake. If you are trying these, be sure to use frozen berries. I use a full cup of frozen berries and a half cup of white chocolate paired with a complimentary extract. For blueberries, it’s lemon. Once done, lemon curd goes well, too, on top. Or you can use frozen raspberries and white chocolate chips.

IMG_4121

1/2 c of room temperature butter

2 c flour

1/3 cup turbinado sugar

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

1/2 c heavy whipping cream

1 c fruit

Blend the first six in a mixer. 7-8 minutes on low.

Add egg and whipping cream just to incorporate.

Add frozen fruit and chocolate if called for. 45 seconds (just to mix in..barely)

Then form two balls that are then flattened as above, brushed with cream, and sprinkled generously with turbinado sugar. Push the sugar in a little to make it stick.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes for the best results. I saved the other half in the freezer for another day.

IMG_4124Countdown to yum. For small batches of baked yummies on the rare occasion, I have this counter top oven that bakes, has convection, and broils. It gets most of the business in the kitchen.

But most days there are no scones as I am totally committed to healthy living. My most recent book that I am reading is The China Study which is based on groundbreaking research on the affects of nutrition on health. I just started it today, and is a complete eye opener to the major diseases and illnesses in America today as effects, not causes. The causes are linked to nutrition. This book explains the connection between food choices and poor health. It’s very well done, and a book I highly recommend reading.

From The China Study web site:

“The science is clear. The results are unmistakable. Change your diet and dramatically reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.” Click here to read further about this remarkable book and here to read from the book.

It’s getting late, and I want to read before sleeping. Have a pleasant night’s sleep and best of dreams to you.

-Patricia

Jul 17 2009

Spirited Away, Another Chapter Explored, Sheyu, & Rarrr Day

Watched Spirited Away. Great story. Very imaginative. The illustrations were remarkable, too. So much to enjoy in this movie. The dvd included the bio of Miyazaki, his genius, and touches to the illustrations that bring it to life. Excellent. Very inspiring. Lots of great tips for those who like to write. I especially like how he included flight which I think is so important to children who are forever dreaming of flying. Or is it a dream?  I remember my flying dreams and still have them on fortunate occasions. They are my absolute favorite dreams.

I completed another chapter of my novel tonight. It’s coming along. I’m staying with it, and I’m interested in what happens. I’ve got a story to pursue.  Tonight I wanted to stay with it to see what happened next. It’s cool. My main character, Aisling, is a sensitive and a visionary. Tonight, she touched something and retrieved the history of a situation, and it included a tip of the iceberg whaaat moment. They don’t quite understand what it all means….just yet. But the things they will learn! It rocks. I know that’s vague, but it’s under wraps. I am loving writing this. For a first draft, it’s pretty sweet. Which means the final draft will rock your world!

Today I received an email from Sheyu, my soon to be living companion. He will be a Chinese exchange student who will live with me for the duration of the next school year. He’s quite fluent in English and is excited about coming to America. I’ve lined him up with one our best, brightest, and friendliest students. She is equally excited to meet him as well. I expect he will enjoy spending time with her. She’s Native American and enjoys culture as I do. I’m sure they will learn a lot from each other and have a great time getting to know each other. I’m hoping to get Sheyu out in the community meeting people and having some experiences with American families and lifestyle. So, invite him to dinner and things you think he might enjoy if you’re in the Glenwood community. He will be here at the end of August.

And tomorrow is my yoga/cardio/swimming/hot tubbing/steaming/rarrr day along with tea and some rough drafting at Doppios kind of day.  The whole exercise routine keeps me tuned up and fit and writing afterwards feels…wow. Like the river flows right through me. That’s it. That’s how I can put words to describing flowing chi and the benefits of exercise. It’s already into the wee hours, so I need to be brief in order to get some sleep tonight…err.. this morning. I want to read a little before bed, too. I’m reading Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.  It’s a collection of childhood short stories told in a  way that only he can tell. Funny stuff and great bedtime reading.

Okay, to bed with me. Sooo late!

-Patricia

Jul 11 2009

Forest Meets Desert, Yay Me Pizza, the Morning Workout, Beautiful Sockeye Salmon, & Merlin Update

Yesterday was my day to take my test for National Boards which meant driving over the Yakama Indian Reservation and then to the city of Yakima beginning at 4 a.m. which I did. I took a four and half hour written test on computer. To make it more of a challenge, I couldn’t sleep the night before, actually fell asleep at 3 a.m., and the alarm went off at 4 a.m. Seriously.  But it’s done. I slept like a babe last night.  The most enjoyable parts? Seeing a coyote run across the road in the desert on the reservation and then seeing three herds of wild horses on the way back. The herds looked strong with many foals, some nursing. Then I always enjoy visually surveying the mountains on the line…the point where forests end and desert begins. It’s amazing to me how the landscape changes to desert.

The women at the assessment center were wonderful and sweet as well. When leaving they told me I HAD to celebrate being done and then celebrate again when I receive my scores in late November/early December. Very kind. So celebrate sensibly I did. I made a tomato/spinach/feta pizza last night and watched a movie. The movie, Brazil, was worthy of the garbage. If it wasn’t a Netflix dvd, that’s where I would have put it. Trust me, I have filed more than one dvd there that wasn’t to my liking. The pizza was amazing good. I bought a cheese pizza from a local store, loaded it up with sliced tomato, rough chopped spinach, and sprinkled on a carton of feta, baked, and then dusted with parmsan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. A vegetarian delight.

This morning was exquisite. I rose early, checked the yoga schedule, and headed to the gym with the intent of seriously working out. And that I did. Three and half hours of gym time left me glowing. To begin, I had the absolute best yoga class everrrrr this morning. She was divine. I gave it my all. The music was perfect. And my friend was there! We had a chance to chat about exercise before class began. It was lovely. Then a half hour of intense cardio.  I ended my gym day with aromatherapy steam, hot tub, and swimming lots of laps letting my thoughts be like clouds drifting by. Now most people would not put that much into their daily exercise, but me…I love working out. I love the way it makes me feel mentally, physically, and spiritually. The longest I have worked out has been four hours. So three and half is good for me.  Then quick stop at the Saturday market and then the grocer before coming home to pick up fresh veggies, chicken, and fish, the stuff of my existence.

The meat department was putting out the most beautiful Sockeye Salmon fillets ever! Ugh! Beautiful! I commented on them, and they said that if I bought two pound the price was half! And that they were fresh!! Gah! Yes! So I now have enough salmon to last me a month! Tomorrow, I’m cedar plank smoking it. That is the absolute best way to enjoy it. Seasoned and smoked on cedar planks equals an unrivaled slice of northwest heaven. Cedar planks are soaked for four hours in water. Then the fish portions are placed on top. I season them with lemon pepper, garlic powder, seasoning salt, and a little ginger. Then put them on the bbq with a packet of cedar or hickory chips to smoke in flavor, put the lid on, and let it go for about 20 minutes. Then flip on the plank, season, and smoke another 20 minutes. Check for doneness which it usually is by then. I like my salmon moist and flanky, not cooked to complete dryness. I’ll vacuum pack and seal most of it but absolutely enjoy it for dinner tomorrow. Beautiful, beautiful fish. Then soon I want to go crabbing before summer ends. I have a place I like to visit on the coast where I catch big dungoness crab. It’s great! Outdoors on the water and hauling it these lovelies make for a wonderful day. Think I’ll get a room and spend the night. I so enjoy the ocean as I grew up on it and feel quite at home there. One day I’ll return to the ocean most likely to retire.  I love the sound of water and being near the ocean. The most pleasant experience for me to relax is to read on the beach while the ocean sings in my ear.

Just a quick note about Merlin. He’s doing quite well now, getting around normally and seems to be settling down a little which is absolutely what I had hoped for. He’s with me for life, and I want to love him forever. Having him neutered was emotionally hard for me, but it was the absolute right thing to do. I would rather spend his days loving him more and loathing him less at times. He’s a part of my life, and I’ll enjoy him more this way.

Here’s wishing  you a wonderful summer day and living in such as way as to make your heart light and your soul glad. It’s never too late to live your best life.

-Patricia

Apr 1 2009

Spring Break, Road Trip, Tatooes, Books, and Library

Hi all, and it’s the end of another day. Wow. I have been a whirlwind of activity today, ticking off the final hold outs on the to-do list before taking to the road to Vancouver, B.C.  I’ve been properly exercised and car maintenance complete, writing project due dates met, yep. Life is good. Now to other things that I enjoy.

A Spring storm is blowing away outside, and I’m tucked warmly, comfortably in bed thinking about, I don’t know,  nothing terribly complicated. The sound of the rain on the roof, perhaps, and how relaxing it is.  I have been making an effort to just relax and recharge over the past few days as school, the schedule, the rigors, and finishing National Boards has all played its own role in draining the last ounce of energy out of me and leaving me wrung out and at a  deficit.  So, my focus has been getting healthy with my time on break.  Summer vacation will soon follow.

I heart books. Books have always been there for me to enter new worlds. I was reading some pretty heady stuff before I was out of fifth grade, reading for pleasure. Things like Arthurian Legends, Treasure Island, A Thousand and One Arabian Knights, Shakespeare, the KJ version of the Bible, Huck Finn, etc. I have always enjoyed reading. In high school, it was Dune, F451, Salem’s Lot, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Asimov, and such. I was a very active-minded, adventurous kid, so reading really helped me to have amazing adventures in an otherwise trying adolescence. But this started it all. I have been an active reader at least since fifth grade. That’s when I can remember always reading after school. And library was a safe haven for me. My free time was spent in a library somewhere…school, public. I have spent my free time in libraries since my school days. I love being in libraries surrounded by books, reading, perusing. It’s the best. I can remember discovering in school that I could go the library at lunch time, which I did often to sit and read whatever my heart desired. Then in the summer, I spent many days at the public library cruising the stacks finding great things to read. During my college years, again in the library and much of it for pleasure. Now, it’s a library or a bookstore combing through books to read. Most often it’s now a bookstore as I want to keep the books I read.  So it’s safe to say that lost in a good book is where you’ll find me. Now some sleep.

G’night,

-Patricia

Feb 20 2009

Sci-Fi, Ken Griffey, Spring is Coming, Reading

Friday and all is well.  A night in with a movie, The Chronicles of Riddick.  Good sci-fi flick with Vin Diesel(?!) And it was really good.  Not X-Men good, but it was really good. It was pretty exciting. Then my sweet, little dog fell asleep on my lap, feet in the air, wanting me to lazily play with his fur which is like hair. And yes, I do.  I enjoy making him feel content. He’s a good little dog.

I have been trying Twitter these last few weeks and am finding it quite entertaining as well as insightful.  There are some seriously funny people on Twitter, breaking news updates like the Mariner’s getting Griffey back. Go get ‘em, Junior!! Mr. Baseball.  I’ll have to catch a game this summer just to watch Junior play. Sheesh, what a player! Heart, soul, the whole shooting match…poetry in motion. Hope the M’s can turn it around with Junior back on the team. But, I digress.  I have  found a few of my favorite publications on Twitter, too, which are updated daily.  It may be for you. Twitter.com, who knew?!

My heart grows restless…Spring is coming.  I think a Spring road trip to the beach is bubbling up.  It’s one of my favorite things to do in the Spring…long walks on the beach, just loving it.  There’s no other place quite like the beach to me.  I love reading a novel at the beach while listening to the sound of the surf. Oh my! So relaxing.

And now…the best for last. Bed reading Breaking Dawn.

Night all,

-Patricia

Feb 18 2009

Dog Walking, Reading, Sketching

I had planned to work on writing tonight, but came home, sat down at the computer with the best of intentions, and went “neh, I think I would rather go to bed and read.” So after my dog walked me, that’s exactly what I did.  Hours of bed reading later and I emerged much happier, more content, and more satisfied.  I love reading a good book.  I have just started Breaking Dawn from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. The vampire gets his girl.  They are now married and on a honeymoon.

About the dog walk, it was a glorious winter day outside today.  Clear skies, rather warm, melting snow….all the things I like about the end of winter.  It leaving.  People were smiling and waving.  Think I will go for my first long walk of the year tomorrow if the weather holds.  These are usually at least a mile and pretty much daily, sometimes twice as the weather warms. The air has warmed enough so as not to hurt breathing it for any amount of time, and the roads are clear and bare. So cool!  It’s on the way!

I worked on sketching (writing) out scenes for my novel tonight with note cards for each scene.  I really like this. It works with the way I think.  Then there’s the ease of moving things around, scene order and such.  It’s a low stress way to think about writing scenes.  It doesn’t require much detail at first, just the gist.  So I can think about the overall structure and the gist of the scenes.

It’s getting on towards midnight, and there’s the matter of sleep before sunrise. I was up a little too late last night. So off to sleep!  Sweet dreams!

G’night,

-Patricia

Jan 31 2009

Writing, Responsible Reporting, What Kids Like, and Code of Ethics

A long day that I have given to others has finally ended.  I’m drained but arrive home to find another writing job, a ghost writing job of a memoir, ten chapters, in my email queue.  Some people would run from this screaming all the way, but not me.  That’s what makes me a different sort.  I’ll see what the offer looks like and go from there.

I’m thinking I’ll dream of karma visiting a reporter who writes nasty things surrounding the success of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. My students read it, loved it, and they recommend it to their friends.  They developed a real affection for Bod.  And me…I love the Danse Macabre chapter.  I think that was the best chapter I have ever read in a book.  It was so concise, and its development was superb.  And as an English major, English teacher, one who loves to read (obviously), and write (also obvious), I’ve read a lot of books, both classical and contemporary.

With all due respects to credible reporters, the one who reported that librarians didn’t like this book is due for a career change.  He suggests that librarians are overly critical and essentially frothing at the mouth because this book received a Newbery Award which I suggest is irresponsible journalism.  This article merely indicates the writer’s “snark-astic” viewpoint and own bias.  To see this reporter’s response, tiny…click here.

I’ve read where Neil Gaiman says kids like stories that are a bit scary, and he is absolutely right.  They do not fixate over death, murder, or the stalking of a serial killer.  They know it’s not real and enjoy the development of the story..the adventure..the wide-eyed “then what happened.”  This book’s themes of family, love, friendship, and trust make this a very appropriate book for children.  Adults will enjoy reading it, too.  If  you want to see an example of responsible journalism and read a great article, may I suggest this article from Publisher’s Weekly instead.  See anyone can write, but not everyone can write well or responsibly.

This reminds me of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.  Journalist should adhere to this code of ethics to remain credible and responsible as journalistic writers.  But when journalistic writers stray from “the code,” you, the reading public, get unreliable rubbish.  The reason for “the code” is to avoid getting journalist who simply make things up like this guy.

I’m falling asleep, so it’s time to say g’night world.  Sweet dreams.

-Patricia

February 2, 2009 at 7:42 pm · Edit

I’m so sad I didn’t discover Neil Gaiman when I was just a kid. He would’ve opened up whole new worlds of creativity to me that I didn’t even think were allowed to be children’s stories hehe

xalwaysdreamx

It’s never too late to become who you really are.  Read what you want, love what you want, and write what you want.  If you’re interested in writing, the literary age of reason is fifty.  Many great writers were published at or after fifty. So it’s never too late.

Blessings,

-Patricia

Jan 28 2009

Why I love dogs and books

It doesn’t matter how bad a day it’s been, my dog will always love me, and books are always inviting me to forget all the ridiculous things that have happened at the end of the day. Today, by description, was shit which makes for great dog snuggling and bed reading.

Woke up with a headache. Then, I drove an hour and 1/2 hoping to get 1 of 50 available tickets to Coraline in Portland. They wouldn’t sell them over the phone. I understood the risks and accepted my mission. I will accept the call and on my quest I went. Sure I dropped everything to become She-ra the Road Warrior, but doesn’t everybody sometimes?! Screaming “Road Warrior” was fun as I barreled down I-84 to Portland. I even threw in a middle eastern la-la-la-la, too, for effect. No, I’m not middle eastern or insane…just Irish!~ Dark hair, blinding white ass , and crazy bright blue eyes. Yeah… THAT Irish! Explains everything, right? So I get to the PCPA, park in a questionable spot, get in line, and the guy in front of me bought the last two. [resisting urge to swear profusely...] The ticket clerk at PCPA made a point of telling me this. Excuse me. …. F***! …. I’ll see it soon and better yet, add it to the home dvd collection so I can watch it as often as I want and I will. Every dvd should understand that it will be watched at LEAST eight times before getting a chance to just hang out on the ceiling to floor section of the entertainment center. I’m huge on home entertainment. Technology rules. Yep, total nerd…reading, writing, and computers. Okay, so on to Plan B.

So plan B...I made one when considering the chances of getting a ticket as I’m not a sidewalk camper…Chinese at Mandarin Cove on Columbia St. for lunch…the best Mandarin chicken anywhere…then Powell’s Bookstore with a vengeance…then some light shopping. I came home with three new books on writing that I’m anxious to begin. They are each on plot, character, and a new, recommended read on developing villains. I’ll review them here. And I’m still reading New Moon, Stephenie Meyers second in the Twilight series. Word of advice. DO NOT cut your finger when your birthday party guests are vampires! Bad…bad…bad idea. Everything comes undone instantly. I went to bed early last night just to read. I could not shut the cover. Finally… at 1 a.m. The cool thing about being an adult? There’s no one to make you turn your light out when you want to read until the morning. My large, looming stack of books next to my bed just got a wee bit larger. Okay…two stacks…I’m already “out” as a book nerd.

I was invited to score writing for the state which I hope works out. It’s a blast and in my (adopted )home city of Olympia, Washington. (Originally born Southern…See Brunswick, GA…little English colony that could) It’s like going home for a week. The cherry blossums should be blooming!~ I love reading student writing to see what they have to say and what they can do. It’s pretty cool

Then, just as a little foreshadowing, I’m trying plotting scenes with notecards. The idea is to write scenes individually on index cards which are then arranged to the writer’s approval. I want to try this and a couple of other index card strategies, but more about that later.

I think me and Bath and Body Works need a long, hot, steamy shower tonight to relax and wash away the cares of the day. So g’night world, g’night moon, g’night stars, and g’night creator. As my mom used to say, “Sweet dreams.”

-Patricia

Jan 19 2009

DreamWalker, Twilight, and Coraline

Today I began my novel DreamWalker.  This is a working title and is subject to minor revisions but nothing major if at all.  I needed some Starbucks time, so with journal in hand, I began penning the first bits of DreamWalker while enjoying a carmal mocha latte.  The main character, like me, was prevented from sleepwalking as a child which later manifests as dreamwalking instead, which is so much more fun anyway. The events that follow open new worlds and a new talent to her.  She has a foot in both worlds.

The day has passed entirely too quickly.  I have continued my reading of Twilight which I continue to fall deeper and deeper in love with this book.  The love between Bella and Edward is timeless, classic, and oh so cool.  I actually go to bed earlier to make time to read it while nestled on top of several down pillows and under layers of a blanket, a quilt, and down.  The tone of the book is dark, so my dreamworld last night was dark and ominous.  I awoke this morning with a dark sensation after a night of lucid dreaming.

Back to school tomorrow, and the countdown to Coraline tickets is on!  I will be on the phone dialing and dealing on Wednesday.  I am really jazzed to see Coraline!  And it’s not media hype.  I don’t watch tv…only dvd’s at home.  The level of detail in the figures and the elements of the macabre I find especially intriguing.  I have always loved the macabre…Poe (happy birthday!), Twilght Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” ghost stories, and the witch in Oz when the house falls on her (scared the snuff out of me every time!).  I imagine that I will bring a jacket to Coraline to reverse, pull up to my chin, eyes wide with excitement, and will immerse myself in the world of Coraline.  I’m going to opening night of the Portland International Film Festival simply because of this movie.  A joy!!

Okay, bedtime reading,

-Patricia