Minding My Head

Ray Bradbury

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:19:00 -0400

Most people will have heard the news, of course, that Ray Bradbury passed away yesterday. The outpouring online (a place he avoided) has been both wide and deep. I’ve read many tributes to him, essays about him, and interviews with him over the past day and I think the world is less rich for being without him now.

Here are some of the pieces that touched me or spoke to me.

A non-SF short story by Bradbury himself, made available by the New Yorker: “I See You Never.”

An essay by Bradbury himself about science fiction and his grandfather in the New Yorker: “Take Me Home”

A piece on Bradbury by Neil Gaiman published in the Guardian: “A man who won’t forget Ray Bradbury”

A piece by Junot Díaz in The New Yorker: “Loving Ray Bradbury”

And this 2010 interview with Bradbury in The Paris Review

I am eagerly awaiting the publication of Margaret Atwood’s piece in the Guardian

What comes next?

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 07:50:00 -0400

I was going to tweet to Tony Horton as an early start to my celebration of completing P90X, but I find myself feeling odd about being so close to the end of it. I should feel happy, ecstatic, proud. I should be celebrating. I don’t feel any of those things. I feel a bit of dread and a lot of confusion.

The truth is this: I DON’T WANT IT TO END. When P90X is over, the question for me is what’s next? Do another round choosing a different program? Make up my own workout schedule utilizing other systems? Try Insanity? What comes next?

And I can’t help but find that question a little intimidating. I am in the best shape of my adult life, possibly of my entire life. And I’m addicted to feeling like this. I also know how easy it would be just to relax, to allow myself to think “I’ve done it. Glad it’s over.” and eat a Krispy Kreme. As Tony would say, “Nuh-uh, no Krispy Kremes in this house. Get ‘em out!”

I have some ideas about things I want to do, but I’m also taking suggestions. Anyone else had any experience with post-P90X-depression? How did you fight it? What dd you do after P90X?

Also, while supplies last, I’m selling tickets. To the ladies’ gun show. ;) <flex>

Oh how very, very true. My last trip resulted in 13 books...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:23:40 -0400

Oh how very, very true. My last trip resulted in 13 books entering my house.

Currently Reading: The Known World

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:31:17 -0400

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

I am currently reading The Known World by Edward P. Jones. I’m not far enough into it to talk about the story or over-arching themes, yet. But I am loving the style. Each sentence feels like a story on its own: it hints at events yet to come and reveals details of the past that color the present and will direct the future. Yet the sentences also feel like a conversation you might have sitting on the porch in the evening in the company of an older friend who knows all the histories of everyone in your little town, knows the gossip, meanders through the stories, but never once judges, just tells the tales.

That being said, it does make for tough reading sometimes and I find myself dodging back and forth through the pages to make sure I know the stories of the character who is currently the focus of the writing.

I found this brief interview with Jones at NPR which I enjoyed. I think I would like the opportunity to have a glass of iced tea with Jones and listen to the stories in his head: of his characters and of his life. He seems much like the narrator of his novel, with all the stories, but also, no judgements.

explore-blog: The Muppets pay tribute to their creator, Jim...

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:19:00 -0400

explore-blog:

The Muppets pay tribute to their creator, Jim Henson, who passed away 22 years ago this week.

“We were just starting to get to know him.”

Remembering Jim Henson

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:10:00 -0400

Remembering Jim Henson

imwithkanye: Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990)....

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:07:56 -0400

imwithkanye:

Jim Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990). Henson may be gone, but his magic is not.

Lovely image of Henson with Ernie from Sesame Street fame.

Photo

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:04:00 -0400

"But Anderson is not really productive. As I have said his heart is not in his work. I think he..."

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:40:35 -0400

“

But Anderson is not really productive. As I have said his heart is not in his work. I think he should be fired and if you will not do the job I should like permission to fire him myself. I therefore suggest that Anderson be asked to sever his connections with the Company on August 1st. He is a nice fellow. We will let him down easy but let’s can him.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherwood Anderson

”

-

Sherwood Anderson’s resignation letter

“You’re right, no human being would stack books like...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:29:31 -0400

“You’re right, no human being would stack books like this.”

"They hate being useful; they hate making money; they hate being lectured about in public. In short,..."

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:17:54 -0400

“They hate being useful; they hate making money; they hate being lectured about in public. In short, they hate anything that stamps them with one meaning or confines them to one attitude, for it is their nature to change.”

- Virginia Woolf (audio) on WORDS from atthisnow.blogspot.com.

The Nose by Douglas Adams

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:25:42 -0400

The Nose by Douglas Adams:

“My mother has a long nose and my father had a wide one, and I got both of them combined. It’s large. … One of its curious features is that it doesn’t admit any air. This is hard to understand or even believe.”

I do not have such a nose. Mine is quite petite, perhaps ridiculously so, and allows for the passage of plenty of air. My wonderful husband, however, possesses a “monumental adornment,” and long ago he introduced me to this essay.

Orphan owlets get book smart.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:30:36 -0400

Orphan owlets get book smart.

Happy birthday to meow! Happy birthday to meow! Maybe the cat...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:27:50 -0400

Happy birthday to meow! Happy birthday to meow! Maybe the cat wasn’t happy about getting older? I mean really… after a certain point, who is?

I couldn’t find any cattle and so had to settle on a sheep...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:03:00 -0400

I couldn’t find any cattle and so had to settle on a sheep raid.

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,In proving foresight may be...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 -0400

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley

“To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough” Robert Burns

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's letter to NASA

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:18:00 -0400

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew's letter to NASA:

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew of The Muppets wrote a congratulatory letter to NASA!

This room is phenomenal! Not sure what we’d do with the...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:45:00 -0400

This room is phenomenal! Not sure what we’d do with the piano though… Can you train dogs to play piano?

gwendabond:

bookshelfporn:

“The Brain” is a 14,280 cubic-foot cinematic laboratory where the owner, a filmmaker, can work out ideas. By Olson Kundig Architects.

I would like to live in this room NOW. Look at the light; you know the grounds are lovely.

"When I had no thought I waited. When I had no friend I made quiet my friend. When I had no..."

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:57:00 -0400

“When I had no thought I waited.

When I had no friend I made quiet my friend.

When I had no lover I courted my sleep.

”

- Three lines from Robert Pinsky’s “Samurai Song”

explore-blog: “In March read the books you’ve always meant to...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:30:53 -0500

explore-blog:

“In March read the books you’ve always meant to read”

Fantastic vintage literacy posters from the Works Progress Administration, 1939-1941