Reading report

Okay, I speed read my way through Anne Rice's Pandora — I enjoyed it, even though I hardly ever read Ms. Rice anymore. A good story, I always did like the character Pandora in her other books.

From the library, I have home the following crochet books:

Crochet for Barbie Doll: 75 Delightful Creations to Crochet by Nicky Epstein (New York: Sixth & Spring Books, 2002) — An interesting little book, something I'll probably return to in a few years, whenever Mairi starts getting into Barbie dolls.

Hooked on Crochet: 20 Sassy Projects by Candi Jensen (North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2004) — I like Candi's books, and this is no exception. Projects I may return to ("someday" *smirk*) include the "swinging ribbon bag," "the little black wrap," "lacy sleeveless shell," and"chic hippie skirt." A book I wouldn't mind owning.

Simple Crochet by Erika Knight (New York: Clarkson Potter, 2003) — This is a cool book because of the materials used: the author shows how to make things not only with various yarns but also with things like kitchen twine, round leather thonging, fabric, raffia, sisal, and various types of string.

How to Crochet: The definitive crochet course, complete with step-by-step techniques, stitch libraries, and projects for your home and family by Pauline Turner (London: Collins & Brown, 2001) — a British crochet book, but one that uses (or has been converted to using) American terminology for the stitches. The subtitle really sums up the contents quite well. I like the "Bathroom Rug (#4)," "Camisole (#7)" and "Round Pillow (#10)" projects, although that last is Tunisian stitch, something I haven't tried yet. Another book I wouldn't mind adding to my personal crochet library.

(The annoying thing is, this is almost all there is for those of us who chochet: learn how books, afghans, doilies and dolls. There are just no really interesting books of crocheted clothes availble, at least not that I've found, not recently published ones. If anyone knows of some interesting crochet books, let me know, okay?)

I also got Better Homes and Gardens' Christmas Ornaments to Make — I'm always sort of delusional about this time of year and think I'm going to make Christmas gifts. *shrug* This book does have some lovely ideas, though.

Then, just this week, I checked out The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp for the umpteenth time. I had it checked out for several weeks shortly after Nora's birth, and we really found his ideas helpful in dealing with some of the less happy aspects of Mairi's behavior at that time. We've been having more trouble again, so I thought I'd take another look...

I also picked up Sabrina Jeffries's To Pleasure a Prince while I was there, and am quite enjoying it, so far. But then, as I've said before, Regency romances are my guilty pleasure.

Helicopter parents?

Wow, there's a term for everything. If you're in college or have kids in college, this is one story you may find rather interesting: Colleges Try to Deal With Hovering Parents. Comments anyone?

Welcome, Emma Lenora!

My aunt, Paula, had her little girl this week. I want to go see her sooooo bad, but there's just no way right now. Isn't she a darling?

Nah, I'm not biased. *grin*

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Current and recent reading

Okay, aside from all the typography books I read (or read parts of) for my class in Virginia, here's what I've been reading for pleasure:

My "everybody's doing reading it" book: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It was an okay read, and I'll give the author points for the fact that he successfully fooled me regarding who the mastermind was. I do enjoy a good conspiracy story. I guess I don't see what all the fuss is about. It is fiction, folks. *shrug*

Then there have been a few romance novels, one of my guilty pleasures. I read both Improper English and Men in Kilts by Katie MacAlister, but I doubt I'll read any more of hers. Maybe I just don't like modern romances — I usually read Regency romances. In any case, I really wasn't too thrilled with these books — didn't like the characters, especially not the heroine in the former; didn't find the stories at all compelling; didn't even find the sex scenes particularly interesting, let alone exciting in any way.

Another guilty pleasure, though this one was more pleasurable: In the Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jeffries. It's the first in Jeffries' Royal Brotherhood series, a Regency trilogy about three of the Prince Regent's illegitimate sons (these three are fictitious, but he did actually have some). I liked the characters, I liked the story (although I found both slightly modern rather than period in flavor, somehow). I hope to read the other two when I can.

Oh, I also checked out New Ideas for Crochet: Stylish Projects for the Home by Darsha Capaldi at the same time. It's a good book, would actually be a very good book for someone just getting started in crochet. If you don't like granny squares and aren't into lace doilies, this is the book for you — several nice, solid patterns, with good examples of how to use multiple colors.

I've also been reading through Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy by Louise Bates Ames and Frances L. Ilg — I'm not finding this one as helpful as the two-year-old book, but maybe that's because Mairi's not actually three yet.

Some days I just feel old

I did something foolish. Not bad or evil or anything like that — just foolish.

I went and watched the trailer for the new Dukes of Hazzard movie.

Okay, are you done laughing? Thanks.

Anyway, I used to watch the Dukes when I was younger. (No, that's ok — I'll wait for you to stop laughing again.) I liked the car chases, I liked the silliness, I tended to have a little bit of a crush on one or the other of the boys, and I thought Daisy was sweet.

So I thought, why not check out the trailer? No way I'd spend the money to see the movie, but maybe it would be fun to watch a snippet... But instead, it was just depressing. It's not the Dukes as I remember it, it's the Dukes 2005 — sexed up, dumber, faster cars and more explosions. Just depressing.

Like I said, some days I just feel old.

'Tis a gift to be simple...

Found this test via a friend's blog, thought I'd see where I fell on the old geek-o-meter...

The Simple Geek
You answered 74% of the questions as a geek truly would.

You don't seem to sway in either direction, however you still seem to have some latent geek attributes within you. Maybe you're interested in computers but not a gamer? Maybe you've got geek hobbies but none of the awkward social tendencies. You may be slightly geekier than you thought and in denial!

The simple geek usually has various quirks that friends may make fun of, but in general can be considered a fairly normal person. Your geek attributes make you less likely to conform to society. The popular kids don't hate you but the geeks don't either, so it's a respectable demographic.

In a nutshell, you answered enough questions with geek tendencies and enough questions without geek tendencies that it's difficult to pinpoint your exact alignment.

My test tracked 1 variable - How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 50% on geekness.

Link: The True Geek Test written by ambientred on Ok Cupid

Welcome to my blog...

Yes, I'm sure that's not the most original starting post, but what the hey, a girl's gotta start somewhere, right? Hopefully, this will make it easier for me to share info on the girls (Mairi and Nora, a.k.a. our little beasties) and life in general, as well as giving me one more soapbox for my occasional rants.

We'll see.

I'm not holding my breath. *grin*