We’re number one! We’re number one! No, I’m not talking about the fighting Rangers of Northwest; although, they are having a good season. I’m talking about you and me. Fellow Mississippians, we are the fattest state in the whole Nation.
For three years running, Mississippi has been number one on the F as in Fat poll conducted by the Trust for America’s Health. Yippee! I feel good knowing I’m doing my part. Matter-of-fact, one can pin a “Wide Load” sign to my backside and hire a couple of escorts with flags. Bah!
Don’t feel too bad, obesity rates are increasing all across the United States. Even the lowest rated, Colorado, jumped one percent this year. Our wonderful furry pets seem to be in on the competition as well. My favorite dog is so big she resembles a seal, all blubber with flipper paws.
Author and illustrator, Peter McCarty, recognizes the trend in chunky pets. His new series sports two such chunksters: Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat. They are adorably illustrated with massive bodies and stumpy paws. It is in the expressions on their faces where one falls in love.
In McCarty’s first book, Hondo & Fabian, Hondo is allowed outdoors to play while Fabian must deal with baby. Hum, who will have more fun? As you can imagine, Hondo dives into the waves and Fabian dives for cover. In the end, the buddies are reunited around their food dishes, “full and fat.”
In Fabian Escapes, it’s the cat’s turn to be outdoors. As Hondo returns from his walk, Fabian sneaks past for a clean getaway. Once outside, she meets the neighborhood dogs who love to play chase. Baby also likes to play chase and dress-up. Who will get their nap first, as both pets coward in safe hiding places?
These are delightful books to share with young readers; especially, those with, um, bigger pets. The faces they make while in the custody of baby are priceless and might teach a little empathy.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Hondo & Fabian (copy)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Southern Vampire Series (copy)
Sometimes, just out of the blue, I’ll hear another person book talk a recent read to their friend(s). Obviously, being a librarian, my ears are tuned to just this sort of conversation, and have a tendency to lean-in close to hear more. Alright, I’m rude, but it’s a great way to find word-of-mouth books that may not be on the New York Times bestseller list.
What a smart girl! Now, I was dying to read the series, but the books were checked out. I then headed to the local library, where another well-informed librarian told me more, and loaded my arms with five books.
Harris is no stranger to the mystery series having written two: Aurora Teagarden and Shakespeare. Her first book in the Southern Vampire series, Dead until Dark, won an Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original in 2001. In this series she creates a fresh genre by mixing mystery, romance, and fantasy with her own off-the-wall humor. Heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, is barmaid extraordinaire at the subdued, Louisiana bar Merlotte’s. While serving nightly rounds to light-headed patrons, she solves murders with the help of her vampire-boyfriend Bill Compton. Vampires are known entities in Harris’s world. They even have synthetic blood produced by major soft drink companies.
Note: Number 1 Read Club Dead for RIP II Reading Challenge
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Northern Light (copy)
"No one is a failure who has books." Oops, that's supposed to read, “No one is a failure who has friends.” Wait a minute! Aren't they one in the same!?!
I met a new friend, in yet another book, that I admire and care for deeply this week. Her name is Matilda Gokey, or Mattie, and she lives in the North Woods of New York state. She is 16 and she is 17 for her story travels two separate timelines; one story occurs as she carries out chores on her family’s homestead, and the other story takes place at the Glenmore Inn where she toils as a maid.
While living with the family, Mattie chooses a word for the day from her deceased mother’s prized dictionary. (All stories about Mattie’s time with the family begin with the word of the day separated phonetically in the chapter title.) These words are her salvation as she toils caringly for her three younger sisters and overworked father.
Her time at Glenmore is punctuated by the untimely death of an inn guest. Grace Brown is found at dusk floating on the camp’s lake. She and her friend Carl Grahm, or is it Chester Gillette, took a little skiff out after lunch and haven’t been seen since. Well, that is before Grace’s body turns up.
In these parallel stories, Mattie has made promises to the recently dead. For her mother, she promises to look after the family, and for Grace Brown she promises to burn the letters written between Grace and Chester, oh, I mean Carl. Did you know it was a sin to break a death bed promise? Mattie just knows she will come face-to-face with their ghosts if she does.
Jennifer Donnelly has written an extremely engaging story in A Northern Light. This award winner, for the young adult crowd, is perfect for a mother/daughter book club. Given the daughter is mature and understands the facts of life. Think of this book as a Laura Ingalls story for mature audiences.This was one of those books I carried everywhere and didn’t want to put down. Not even when I was called to supper. Now, you know it’s a special friend, when you are willing to pass up food!
Note: This concudes my reading for the Damn Yankee Challenge. Thanks Sage and Ed for the funny! ;D
Friday, September 07, 2007
Ah, the Party's Over...
It's been a full week now and I believe most everyone who finished the challenge is displayed on Mister Linky.
Before I announce the grand prize winner, I would like to thank each and everyone who gave up valuable reading time to participate in the challenge; especially, in light of the brutal heat we experienced in August. I hope it simulated that Southern feel within the books read. I know my thighs stuck to the vinyl seats more than once these past three months. :D
HUGE THANKS to Deana of Friday Night Fish Fry for her donation of hubby's autographed, Southern books for the Sense of Place Contest and the final drawing. My hubby keeps picking up Mobil Home and I, with sadistic enjoyment, keep slapping his eager, ready-to-read hands. :D
Friday Night Pecan Winners for the past two weeks weren't announced, thus Mo of Inside Mo's Mind and Heidijane of Adventures in Bookland have some 'cans coming there way...
The Southern Challenge Winner, lucky seven himself, Sage of Musings will be receiving an autographed copy of Martin Clark's The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living and a magnolia tin of tasty pecans! Congratulations Sage!
AND, Congratulations to all who participated in the challenge.
YOU are ALL Winners in my Southern BOOK!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Teach like your Hair is on Fire (copy)
“It’s a thankless job. It’s hard to find a reason to believe,” states author Rafe Esquith.
He continues, “It’s thankless and it doesn’t get easier. When you glance at your mental ledger, the red ink completely dominates the black. For every reason to believe, for every child you may help, there are dozens who make you want to give up. Most of the kids who walk into our classrooms do not even begin to comprehend how education can help them improve their lives.”
In Esquith’s 242-page book titled, Teach like your Hair is on Fire, these are the only 
words he allows himself to write which convey empathy towards his fellow teachers. Otherwise, the man generalizes the heck out of over-worked, over-wrought, just-teaching-for-the-test colleagues and it makes me mad.
How could anyone work around this egotistical know-it-all as he insinuates every teacher he comes in contact with is bad, lazy and/or ineffective? No wonder he loathes staff meetings where he must face those very teachers he has been so unkind to. Matter of fact, go back and reread his words in the second paragraph, replacing the words you, your, and our with I, me, and my, and this is Esquith’s personality in a nutshell.
Otherwise, I found his book to be inspiring and thought provoking. Between the self-congratulatory stories, there is a wealth of ideas from which to utilize. Esquith teaches the basics to fifth graders who consider English a second language in Los Angeles, California. A fact he says places them at a disadvantage when it comes to learning.
Okay, I can agree with this statement, but I think Esquith has an advantage Mississippi teachers do not. His kids are motivated to learn. His kids accompanied family members to the United States in order to pursue the American Dream. Most of our kids no longer harbor that hope and are generally less motivated.
Here’s my suggestion for reading this book. Skip over the first two chapters and concentrate on the specific subjects, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, he covers per chapters three through eleven. Incorporate these ideas into your class, if you haven’t already, and then tackle chapters 12 through 17 as extracurricular activities.
Teaching is a hard enough profession without the constant negatives from self-anointed professionals. There is no need to put-down others, let the accomplishments do the talking.
Friday, August 31, 2007
I'm So Excited...
...I cain't Sleep! Time to wrap-up the Southern Reading Challenge! I have one final Mister Linky and then we will draw for the autographed copy of Martin Clark's The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living plus another pecan treat! So, if you've hung in there wid me this summer, and finished 3 Southern settings by Southern author books, sign on the dotted Mr. Linky line. Be sure to either include your summary post of the challenge OR a link to the third book read. Ain't those legs adorable on the cover?!?Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Katrina Remembered
Made with Cottonballs and Hairspray!Breach of Faith by Jed Horne (2006)
City Adrift by Jenni Bergal (2007)
Disaster by Christopher Cooper (2006)
Face to Face with Katrina Survivors
by Lemuel A Moye (2006)
Feet on the Street by Roy Blout, Jr (2005)
The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley (2006)
Hurricane Katrina by Reginald DesRoches
In Katrina’s Wake by Bill McKibben (2006)
Katrina: Mississippi Women Remember
by Sally Pfister (2007)
Katrinaville Chronicles by David G. Speilman (2007)
New Orleans Mon Amour by Andrei Codrescu (2006)
Path of Destruction by John McQuaid (2006)
The Strom by Ivor Van Heerden (2006)
The Year of Fog (copy)
It was cold and foggy the morning we decided to walk Ocean Beach. There had been a couple of intense storms that week and we were hoping to find whole sand dollars.
Emma was her cheerful self and a constant tug as she continued to leave my hand for the interesting shells. I asked her to behave but I really couldn’t blame her for being excited. At six years of age everything is exciting and Emma’s excitement was contagious.
I had brought my Holga, an inexpensive little plastic camera I use when feeling artsy, and that morning was perfect. Well, except for the constant struggle with Emma. I found it hard to juggle her little hand and focus the camera at the same time.
This is when I made the mistake of a lifetime. In the excitement, I allowed Emma a privilege I had no right to offer.
See, Emma’s not my child. She is the sole property of my fiancé, Jake. The man I was to marry in three months, but now, I’m not sure.
These are the facts as I remember them. Emma begged me to let her go and I let her go. She ran up ahead and I took her photo as she skipped away. I told her to come back, she was getting too immersed in the fog and I couldn’t see her. I looked down and there was a dead seal at my feet.
Had Emma seen the seal? Did it scare her, making her run in the opposite direction to find me? I mean, I only looked down for a few seconds, just enough time to get some shots. How far could she go on her little legs in this fog?
The Year of Fog is Alabama native Michelle Richmond's second book. According to her web page the book “was selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best books of 2007 for reading groups, and has been optioned by Newmarket Films.”
One will fall in love with author Richmond’s style as she describes a year in Abby Mason’s suspended life. Readers experience a jumble of guilt, shame and confusion as the days drag into weeks which draw into months, and still Emma’s whereabouts remain shrouded in the fog.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Brad Pitt Crowned Miss N'awlins
Five days from now, it will be the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Brad Pitt and Working Words 100 at Books and Stuff want to keep the focus on New Orleans.
Take a look at WW100 original comparison of past and present New Orleans using the books A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole and Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans.
Oh, yeah. Take a LONG look at Brad, too! ;D
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Owen & Mzee (copy)
It was a balmy post-tsunami day when he was discovered on the coral reefs away from shore. Two feet tall and 600 pounds, he was a meager shadow of his parents and other herd members. But, where was the herd?
He was mad, too. People kept crowding him and throwing nets on his back. He didn’t like these men and he really didn’t like nets. His instinct told him to run, to charge, but a man called Owen Sobien put a stop to all the chaos. In one fluid motion he leapt atop the rounded figure, securing him with a shark net.
Applause erupted as our new friend was ceremoniously named Owen and unceremoniously shoved in the back of a pick-up truck. The ride was dusty and hot in the African sun as they traveled to Mombasa, Kenya where an animal sanctuary named Haller Park awaited their arrival. Unfortunately, there was a problem; the existing herd was territorial and extremely aggressive. Owen would surely be killed.
Since he was still a baby, the park managers moved him into an enclosure called a boma. At the time the boma was home to gentler animals such as, “bushbucks, vervet monkeys and a few Aldabra tortoises.”
As they backed the truck into his new home it was becoming dark. Owen struggled to stay in the truck, but the annoying people prevailed. His slightly ungracious exit was followed by a quick bee line to a dark object in the corner of the boma. Within a minute the object moved, so he moved. The object moved again, so he moved again. Everyone smiled and called it a night.
The next morning, park managers were shocked by what they saw. Owen, a mammal, was sleeping next to a cold-blooded reptile. Not just any reptile, but a 130-year-old, grumpy, Aldabra tortoise.
This is the true story of Owen, a baby hippopotamus, and his constant-companion tortoise named Mzee [mm-Zay]. Currently, three books celebrate this extraordinary friendship: Owen & Mzee: Best Friends, Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship. Each book celebrates their famous kinship, and is perfect for the child ready to transition into chapter books. Elementary teachers might find these books a refreshing approach to units on animals. Coloring sheets and activities can be found online at lafargeecosystems.com.
Note: Authors include Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Photography by Peter Greste.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
That's Right, Mello Yellow!
| You Are a Yellow Crayon |
 Your world is colored with happy, warm, fun colors. You have a thoughtful and wise way about you. Some people might even consider you a genius. Charming and eloquent, you are able to get people to do things your way. While you seem spontaneous and free wheeling, you are calculating to the extreme. Your color wheel opposite is purple. You both are charismatic leaders, but purple people act like you have no depth. |
Thanks Book Diva, this was fun! :D
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Flower Confidential (copy)
When I was little, I loved farm days with my grandfather, Papa. He raised steer and tobacco on acreage in Castalian Springs, Tennessee, west of Gallatin.
This particular year the tobacco was raised in a field adjacent to the road. Upon my arrival, I excitedly commented on the beautiful flowers. Papa let out a quick puff of air in disgust as he gruffly told me, “Flowers don’t make me money, leaves make me money.”
Here was my first lesson on manipulating plants. The flower buds are taken off tobacco plants to force leaf production. The official term is toppin’ and apparently my grandfather was behind. I would have loved to help; unfortunately, the plants were taller than my 10-year-old self.
Enter in Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart, which exposes the flower industry, thorn and all. “Each blossom is a unit of profit,” Stewart enlightens us as she pursues producers, all over the world, reporting on the cut-flower industry. An industry which isn’t as cutthroat as one might think, except Leslie Woodriff.
Stewart describes Leslie Woodriff as the, “last generation of true old-fashioned flower 
breeders.” Not your typical breeder, Woodriff sparsely kept records, cleaned his greenhouse, or watered his plants. Yet, this man discovered the “Star Gazer,” which revolutionized the lily business and made others rich.
Stewart not only educates readers by defining DIF and photoperiod, she provides historic background for favorites, such as violets, roses, and tulips. In one chapter, “How the Dutch conquered the World,” she quips the craziness surrounding tulip bulbs. In the 17th Century, Dutch florist might pay a couple thousand gilders for one bulb. Using the same amount during the period, one could purchase, “ordinary goods: several pigs, oxen, and sheep, a few tons of grain, tons of butter, barrels of beer, and a ship to carry them on.”
With each chapter, I kept thinking, “What are we losing by forcing plants to bloom?” Will flowers lose their scent because they no longer need bees to propagate their pollen? What about the Easter Lily which miraculously blooms Easter morning? That is, with the help from greenhouses controlling temperature, fertilization, and light deprivation.
Papa’s Easter Lily, with four, forced blooms in the church sanctuary, became 12 blooms in nature that following spring.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Like Welty and O'Connor!
Vidalia from Vidalia's Books discovered a new author which she claims, "follows in the tradition of southern authors like Welty and O'Connor. Her stories are haunting. She writes with a wry, bemused voice and a strong talent for description. Please note: this is NOT "chick lit." Highly recommended." Read more...
Death Week 2007
Oh, you haven't heard? This is the week thousands of fun Elvis fans flock to Memphis to celebrate his life and death.Matter-of-fact, any Memphian worth her weight in gold even has an Elvis story to share: for example, Elvis drove a truck and once gave my friend a ride home to Como, Mississippi after he brokedown on the interstate.
Photo by Mike Brown/The CA
The Commercial Appeal photo caption~ August 13, 2007
Elvis impersonators Steve Rosati (left) and Keshav Patel, who both happened to have traveled to Memphis from Montreal, Canada, sing a karaoke duet at the Elvis Expo 2007 held at the Memphis Cook Convention Center through Tuesday. "These are the best kind of people in the world, Elvis fans and Elvis impersonators," Patel said.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Challenge Challenged!
I had promised Lesley a month ago I would join her Airchair Travelers Reading Challenge and am now finally getting to it. With this post, I ask her permission to not make a list, but rather list those I read in that category as I read them. Is that unethical for any reading challenge?
My work reading must come first. I hate to be snobbish. I find the challenge of participating in these challenges, comes from integrating them into articles for the newspapers I serve. My first choice, Eat, Pray, Love, was an easy pick because of its timeliness. It's number one on the paperback bestsellers list; plus, people are really talking about it now. Thus, I read it, wrote about it, and marked it off my Airchair Travelers Reading Challenge list.
One may have noticed the original list for the Non-Fiction Reading Challenge morphed. I replaced books I did plan to read with NFs read within the allotted time period. The original list was my attempt, at looking into the future, to read timely or crowd-pleasing books. Manhunt and Mockingbird remain on the list for I think they still have people appeal.
I just hope Joy at Thoughts of Joy will forgive me.
The idea (not making a list) actually came about as a poke at Ed. The Southern Reading Challenge was countered with a mock Damn Yankees Reading Challenge by Ed at Recycled Thoughts. My reading pattern this summer was Northern as the result of an impending vacation to New York City. As I wrote articles, I noticed just as many books for Ed's challenge as for my very own. So, I thought I would give Ed a little thrill by listing the Northern books read.
Thanks to Sage (his button & title idea), Ed has enjoyed three participants in his joke.
Fellow Bloggers and Challengers, I ask you, am I a reading challenge prima donna?
Saturday, August 11, 2007
New Southern Authors!
Some of our fellow Southern Reading Challenge participants have found new authors in the 
genre! Way to go you venturesome folks!
NolaDawn at Kids, Cats, & Books ~ What Else is There said, "No Place, Louisiana is a first novel for author Martin Pousson. It gives a look at life in Louisiana’s Cajun country as seen through the eyes of Nita, who is looking for any way to escape her poor life. Unfortunately, Louisiana is it. Great voice, immaculate timing, and classic Southern drama set in the slow 60s and 70s of the lazy bayous of Louisiana. You feel Nita’s yearning and want something more for her but know what the limitations that are placed on her are. A new Southern classic for me." Read more...
Nymeth at Things Mean a Lot had quite a bit to say about Crossroads: Tales of the Southern Literary Fantastic (a collection of southern short stories) edited by F. Brett Cox and Andy Ducan. She also had a visit from one of the editors, F. Brett Cox. He noted, "Andy and I knew when we took on this project that the range of stories we wanted would, inevitably, lead to some people liking some stories a great deal while asking of other, "What is _that_ doing _here_?" But one our main goals was, as you noted, diversity, and I think we achieved it." Read much more at ...Friday, August 10, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Dawg Days of Summer
It was a nasty 101 degrees with a heat index of 107 today. (My little weather gurl (in the sidebar) was probably runnin' around nakeed instead of her usually yellow polka dot bikini! Oh, and today is the anniversary of the release of Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini!) The weather promises to be more the same for the rest of the week. Can you even imagine life without air conditioning in these conditions? We got our first window unit in 1973, praise be.
Thought this would be a good time to post a painting idealizing the historic blues cross(rail)roads of the South, where the Southern Crosses the Dawg.
