Finally Some Yarn

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Ok, not really about knitting at all, but since I can't get motivated to knit I felt it was time to add some Yarn to this blog.
I hope to be knitting a little this weekend. If I am not sleeping. I am having surgery tomorrow. Nothing too serious people, but I am getting my tubes tied. I know I could never out do the two kids I already have so why even try.

The Plague of Doves

by Louise Erdrich

This post is going to be less about the book and more about what the book stirred inside me. I have a lot of questions for all of you here.

You may have heard of this author, she wrote a book that is fairly well know to children's librarians called The Birchbark House. She is an Ojibwe Native American and sets her books in the northern plains and as far east as Michigan. This is the first adult book I have read by her and I was very moved. I bought it for my YA section, though it definitely has more adult appeal, but I am keeping it since I think it was a beautifully written piece of literature and hope that a few teens will try it out.

First of all a little summary of the book. It spans the first three quarters of the 2oth century, and even a bit of the 19th, but it is not chronological. We see into the families and lives of a group of people in North Dakota who are all connected through blood, romance, or politics. Some of the connections are almost mystical and hard to even describe. Each story is so different, yet they all shape the other stories. They are told from that person's point of view, so you hear part of a story from one, part from another, and in the end you see the circles that connect the lives of the small, dying town of Pluto, ND and the neighboring reservation.

I can't help but to be in awe of Erdrich's skill at tying these people together with the smallest of threads, yet keeping them so individual and real. Her skill alone is reason enough to read this. In fact her skill will character, plot, imagery, and symbolism makes me imagine even Sherbert (a BA High School reference for those of you who don't know) loving, and assigning, this book. Of course, had that been the case, I would have hated it eventually.

Despite all of that, however, this post is about how, when I finished the book I started thinking about how drawn I am to works about or by Native Americans. And I wonder why that is. So, I address this to all my friends out there and ask you to hang in there as I delve into the stream of consciousness flow that may ensue.

I have noticed that I do not seek out works by and about Native Americans, but when I do read them I am mesmerized. I get soaked in. I drown in the history, either stated or implied in the stories. Is this because I was raised in a town with the name Broken Arrow? Is it because for 8 years I drove a car with a license plate proclaiming Oklahoma as "Native America?" I could blame the semester of Oklahoma history that was required, but I think my fellow students, like me, knew the basics already. Were they taught us in school alone or were stories told at home? Was it so much a part of our culture that we learned these things as if within a collective consciousness?

My grandmother was born to a white man and a Cherokee woman. She never knew her mother's family though. I was told I was supposed to be half Native America myself, but upon finding my birth family learned that was not true, though a few generations back there was a Mic Mac in my family. For my fellow Oklahoman friends I will explain that the Mic Mac tribe was from what is now Maine and southern Canada.

That brings me to something else. Am I the only person who grew up forgetting, or perhaps not understanding, that there are Native Americans from every part of the United States? We learned the Trail of Tears, so we know that Five Civilized Tribes did not originate from Oklahoma, but did any out there think beyond that? I knew there were tribes in the southwest and the northern plains, but perhaps that label, the Five Civilized Tribes, made them seem diminished as 'true' Native Americans. Then I moved to Connecticut and realized, duh, that the first encounters that Europeans had with Native Americans in the colonies were in New England. In fact the first bloody battle, the one that is thought to have really set the tone, was here in Connecticut with the Pequot tribe. Did I realize that Quinnipiac, Naugatuck, and Poquonock were Native American words? Of course not. We Okies know that Tahlequah, Muskogee, Checotah, and Coweta are what Native American words look and sound like.

But here, I have digressed and wandered into irrelevant musings. What I want to know is if any of this feels familiar to the other Okies reading this? How about my Nutmegger friends? Do you feel touched at all by Native American culture or is it all Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun to you? Am I just thinking about this too much?

Your opinions and revelations please!

Wicked

by Gregory Maguire

Most of us have heard of this book or at least the musical. I have heard so much good for so long and have been meaning to get to it forever. My Aunt has seen the musical multiple times.

Well, in case you haven't heard anything about it you should know it is the story of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is the 'true' story of the Wizard of Oz. And it is very different from the story we all know.

The story tells all about the Wicked Witch, named Elpheba. She is born in Oz to a preacher and his discontent wife. The baby is born green, but worse, she has a full mouth of shark like teeth and has to be placed in a muzzle of sorts. There is no explanation. Well, not really. There is the faint memory that her mother has of a man giving her a green bottle of some liquid she drank and she thinks that maybe, that man could therefore be Elpheba's father.

From here we see her grow up and go to college. There she is given Galinda (later to be known as Glinda) as a roommate. The two become friends. That's right, friends.Well, it gets complicated. There is a whole othe side to the story really. Dorothy doesn't come along till the end. It's very interesting though.

There are a lot of very strange politics in the book. The whole talking animal thing is a big issue. And there are warped religious themes. Honestly, I can't even really get into it all without rereading the book. It's so complex. I am impressed that the author kept his own story straight.

One last note: I contacted the publishers to find out how much it would cost to have Gregory Maguire speak at our library. Other popular authors in the area charge $800-$1500 and maybe travel expenses. Well, Mr. Maguire charges $15,000 plus first class travel and accomodations!!!! *choke* I will not be hearing him speak here I guess. But I do wonder if he is single!!! LOL

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County

by Tiffany Baker

Heartbreaking story that becomes uplifting in the end. Truly is a giant, at least that's what everyone calls her, and being an outsider allows her to see so much more in life, except when it comes to herself. Life is hard for her, but she is able to see that beauty has its hardships too after her sister runs away from an unhappy marriage. Truly is left to take care of an overbearing brother in law and confused nephew. And she forgets to take care of herself until its nearly too late.
Wonderful read. Much recommended.

First Day of School 2009

Today I took my girls to school. Lily is going into 2nd grade and Alyssa is now in kindergarten, and not baby kindergarten, we are full day in Willinton!

I know that it is normal to be sad when your baby goes to kindergarten, but really I am thrilled. I joke that it's because I will be free of her or that I will be paying less for child care (which is certainly a plus), but really I am excited for her. She is a smart little cookie, and she needs a better outlet than I can give her. She also needs friends her own age. Poor thing spends all her time with bigger girls, trying to keep up and getting frustrated when she can't. And mom just is not that fun, at least not all the time.

She had her outfit all picked out. Her shirt says "I believe in fairies" and her shoes are her 'cheerleading' shoes. I told her it was going to be hot, so maybe we should leave the leggings off (plus they are all baggy, despite the fact they should be tight, on her toothpick legs), but she insisted she wear them since they are part of the outfit. Her new LL Bean packback is on backorder, so we used her Tinkerbell one and she is sporting a new Disney Princess lunchbox. I took time last night letting her pick her lunch, and explaining how lunch and snack time worked. I especially stressed the fact that there are two juice boxes in her lunch, one is for snack and one is for lunch, if she drinks them both at snack she will have none for lunch. I wonder if she remembered that part.

We got to school and were waiting in the lobby for the first bell. She wanted to go up, but we couldn't yet. She was just so excited. She had already informed me on the ride to school that she was going to go up to class by herself. (well, well) I looked around and saw many moms I knew. A few were very teary eyed and I have to admit I felt kind of bad that I wasn't. I tried to be sad at that moment, but I was just happy for her. When her teacher, Mrs. Walter, walked by to go get the other kids from the bus she invited Alyssa to go. Alyssa hopped up and headed out. I had to ask for a goodbye kiss, and off she went. I waited to see her come back through on her way to class. She waved and then proceeded to tug at the back pack of the boy in front of her and boss him around. That's my Diva.

In the meantime, I was waiting with Lily. She had asked me to walk her to class, despite the fact that she has been at this school since she was 3 (preschool as well) and was just in her class Monday. So, we waited, and talked to some of her friends.

She had picked out her own clothes and I have to admit, she looks so stylish. Not a girlie girl, but at least she loves pink. How do you like the shoes? You better, they cost me $40 on sale! They are Sketchers Twinkle Toes. If you do not have a little girl you probably have not noticed the commercials for these shoes. Both girls wanted them desperately, and Alyssa was devastated that they do not come in her size. They are like Converse, but they slip on. They also have rhinestone all over the toes. In this case they have pink rhinestones and the sides have roses, hears and skulls, in a tattoo motif. There is also a plastic rose charm that hangs off one. Lily LOVES them!!! And she loves the new haircut that I gave her in the kitchen Sunday night with a pair of kitchen shears. That's right, I have skill!

So, finally I get to take her up to class. I am thinking, "Please don't have a break down, Lily." We get there and they have to put their lunches in a bin in the hall and use wipes on their hands before they go in because one student has severe allergies. Lily knows the routine, she had him in her class last year and is always concerned that she does it right since she is a good friend. Once the routine gets going she loses all thought of mom and is off. I was so proud of her. Any of you who know her know what a milestone that is for her.

So now, at work, I look at the clock and anxiously await the time when I can call and see how their day went. Alyssa will no doubt be exhausted. Lily will probably not have much to say. And I may just get sad finally, because they go home to Dad's house today and I won't see them until Sunday night. In fact, I feel a little sad right now.

Three Girls and Their Brother

by Theresa Rebeck

As the title suggests, this book is about 3 girls and their brother. In fact, they each have a turn telling the story. The siblings are grandchildren of a man who is quite famous in the literary world, though not so much with the majority of Americans. On top of that minor notoriety, they girls are incredibly gorgeous and all have magnificent red hair. These two factors land the girls a photo spread in The New Yorker, a dream come true to the older two Heller girls.

The youngest girls and her brother/best friend are not interested but go along for a lark. Little do they know that fame, and all the unexpected and unwanted things that come with it are around the corner. Fourteen year old Amelia, becomes an object of desire to a 40-something famous actor and when he gets too touchy feely, she bites him. When it gets in the tabloids, it opens up a new future, and a living hell, for all the family.

This is a fascinating story about the underworld of fame. It is definitely for older teens and adults. Although the characters are teens, they are put in many adult situations and there is adult language as well.

DominKNITrix

by Jennifer Stafford

YES!! Back to some knitting posts. Well, sort of. I still have had no time to knit, but I did look this book over and can review it for you.

This knitting book had a very thorough and useful instructional section. For this reason only I give it 3 stars. The patterns in the book where not what I would expect from such a uniquely titled book. I would expect unusual, unique, bizarre, and even kinky patterns, but other than the mohawk hat there was nothing even remotely unique. I found the patterns boring and cliche.

That is the best I can do. I think perhaps 10 years ago this book would have been cutting edge for knitting patterns, but there are so many original designs today that they will have to work harder than this to pull me in. I think the only reason this book sells at all is the titillating title.