February 27, 2007
A Hardheaded Woman
When I proclaimed I would never be brainwashed into a cult, it became clear that there is nothing like obstinacy to make other people irate. Though no doubt I was right, and perhaps Stuart was just short on sleep or in need of a feed, he was made furious by my nerve. That I would never anything drove him to “Hah! I’ll show you.” He never did, of course and I remain free of any cult-like associations to this day.
But I understand what drove Stuart (beyond generic grumpiness). Any person who dares to plant her foot on the ground and say “I will never…” makes one want to cover the world for exceptions, the one circumstance in which that person will. Particularly if one is bossy and a mite controlling (like myself)– to have another escape your limits and plant their foot out there all of their own accord is a wee bit rankling. Especially if the foot-planter is just as hardheaded, which she would have to be in order to say “I will never…”.
The foot planter who’s been driving me mad of late is the Toronto woman who is aiming to produce no garbage. She is blogging about it here. Why, you might wonder, would such a noble endeavour bother anyone? For the reasons I’ve outlined above, I think, but (wait!) there are problems with the plan. First– that they use whatever garbage they do produce as material to make art from (the one example I remember is collages made from the stickers on fruit) and give to their friends. I don’t know. Garbage made into art is still garbage, usually, unless you are really good at art. Basically they just pass their crap onto someone else who can’t throw it out either because it was given under the guise of a “gift”. Second– it’s not so much that they’re producing no garbage, but rather they’re opting not to take it home with them. Living in society you are part of an entire system that produces waste, whether or not you can see it yourself. And so it’s sort of narrow-minded to pat yourself on the back for refusing a napkin for your muffin at the coffee shop (for example) when the napkin is obviously there and you’re supporting the establishment that will give yours out to someone next in line.
I see the value in what these people are doing as a statement. She just recently managed to go 31 days garbage-free. It is excellent that they are raising awareness about the stupid amounts of waste we produce, and the problem of over-packaging. Many of their waste-reduction tips are probably quite valuable to the average person. But still, I’m annoyed. Hah, I’ll show them.
I think I am being difficult (short on sleep and feed, I suppose).
Update: I do wish to affirm that the annoyingness cited in this post is mainly my own. A response to my kvetching is here and sensible.
February 20, 2007
Life Changing
I really am rarely won over by television advertising (save the 1998 Gap Khaki Swing ads, and that was a huge mistake because they looked terrible, and I never learned to dance). However there was something about Tide Simple Pleasures that proved irresistible, mainly because laundry that smells like vanilla and lavender is sure to change my life, don’t you think? I will keep you posted.
February 6, 2007
From YA to Feldman
My favourite bookish link of the week is Lois Lowry’s blog. She has a website too. I loved her Anastasia books when I was young, and I am going to be rereading the first one in the near future. It occured to me yesterday that my first references to Freud, Gertrude Stein and Billie Holiday were courtesy of her. I’m glad she’s made a such a fine place for herself online. Another YA author I enjoyed who has done so is Marilyn Sachs, and looking through her bibliography brought back quite a few memories.
Speaking of ghosts of books past, I found Stump the Bookseller recently while searching for the book Me and Fat Glenda. My google query was “burgers” and “inez” (marvelous thing seach engines) and evidently someone had had a similar question because this book had appeared at Stump the Bookseller. Readers write in with bits they can remember of long-lost books, their queries are available for perusal, and you can fill in other readers’ gaps, or check out the “solved” section to bring back memories of your own. It’s quite cool.
Along the lines of YA, I’ve been inspired to read The Unreluctant Years: A Critical Approach to Children’s Literature by the most famous Toronto librarian of all, Lillian H. Smith. Recommended by the booklet “100 Memorable Books” which I picked at my local branch of the Toronto Public last week. And you should get one of those if you’re able. It’s a list of books recommended by TPL librarians as not necessarily the best or most important books, but books which have had an impact on their own lives. It’s a lovely booklet with great commentary and best of all, it’s free. Thank the TPL. I always do.
Further in Toronto things, check out Write Around Town, a new column by Ragdoll whose blog I enjoy. February is bursting with bookish business.
And finally, I think I’m starting a new feature here at Pickle Me This. This past month I’ve been banned from the internet Wednesday to Friday between 8:30 and 5:30. I’ve made my husband take the internet cable to work with him because I have the most incredible talent of whiling my time away on internet inanities. Last week’s was my high school’s ‘where are they now’ page, which provided an afternoon of fun to my BFs Britt and Jennie when I sent it their way. “This is a goldmine” quoth Britt. Oh Britt, it gets better. This week’s time-sucker was the best site on all the net, Corey Feldman’s homepage. This site is essential. If it weren’t for this site, we couldn’t have had this conversation tonight at dinner:
S- (talking about something I can’t remember) is very zen.
K- Corey Feldman’s son is called Zen.
S- Who’s Corey Feldman?
It seems they didn’t have him in England. But really folks, if it weren’t for Corey Feldman’s homepage, I could never have segued into the most important conversation my husband and I have ever had.
January 27, 2007
Dust…
Not just for fat fighting anymore.
Did you know that dust can now be used to fight global warming?
January 25, 2007
I'm scared.
On my way through the Canadian Oxford Dictionary whilst searching for the exact definition of “eaves”, I note that in the entry under “Cummings”, Burton gets precedent over Edward Estlin (e.e.), which is very oh canada. And then I start to think about the Burton Cummings poetry I could recite in near-entirety (ie These Eyes, Share the Land, I’m Scared and Stand Tall etc.) vs what I know by e.e. (ie none) and I feel very very subeducated.
Upon investigation, I discover that Burton’s precedent is thanks to alphabetical order, and that biographical entries in the COD are not actually in order of greatness. Though perhaps the alphabet could be considered an order of greatness. I still like that Burton gets top billing though. And I wonder if he appears in any ODs outside of the C?
January 19, 2007
More than words can say
I like words a great deal, but I’ve never been tempted to decorate my house with them. Except in the form of bookshelves of course, but does that not go without saying? No, I’m talking about those letters you can buy that spell out “JOY” or “HAPPY”. There’s something just a bit too desperate about them really. I mean, my ever-battling Enrique-blasting basement neighbours have a cream PEACE spelled out above their fridge, and I don’t think it’s doing them much good. Yesterday I saw “IT’S ALL GOOD” spelled out in glitter script, for sale at the local card store, and I just wondered how manic must you have to be to want to proclaim that insipid phrase in your home decor. “LAUGHTER” is another one, though if I had it at my house, I think I’d just assume the walls were mocking me.
January 18, 2007
How I wasted my time today (and what I learned in the process!)
Productive mornings never make for productive afternoons, but I guess I’m just grateful for my morning. Nevertheless, I’ve still received quite an education today.
All right, we begin with the lyric “Love of my life, you are all I’ve ever wanted”, which has been running through my head for years now. Where from? I consult the Great God Goog. And after much searching (and I realize it’s “you are all I ever wanted”), I discover I’ve been fixated by “Dream Come True” by Canadian Rock Mullets, “Frozen Ghost”. Of course! “I’ve been waited my whole life for you, you’re my dream come true.” Further investigation reveals that half of “Frozen Ghost” was the early eighties band “Sheriff”, which had a hit with legendary power ballad, “When I’m With You”. And more research unearths the fact that the other half of “Sheriff” went on to be “Alias”, which soared to the top of the power ballad heights with “More Than Words (Can Say)”. Which explains so much: mostly why “Dream Come True”, “When I’m With You” and “More Than Words (Can Say)” sound like the exact same song. Who knew? I mean, other than the Great God Goog.
And so then I head over to Youtube (as you do), hoping to hear a bit of Sheriff. and I discover there is someone whose hobby is using clips from Three’s Company to make Jack and Janet Love Videos, set to beautiful music (like Sheriff and REO Speedwagon!). As far as I know, Jack and Janet never got together, which must cause this individual particular regret.
How absolutely fascinating. So I’m learning all the livelong day.
January 12, 2007
Excellent. My plan is working.
Instead of just getting depressed, I’m going to start pretending to be an evil mastermind with plans toward world domination. When I’m listening to the radio and hear, for example, that whole cities were destroyed by flash floods, I will rub my hands together and said, “Eg-cellent. My plan is working.” If drug crime has run rampant throughout my neighbourhood, I will cackle with glee and exclaim, “Just as I’d expected.” 22% of Canadians are unable to read? “Finally– the pieces are coming together.” IF a mugger knocks me down in the street and steals my ipod shuffle (ha ha): “Cackle cackle, Sir,” I will say to him. “You are fulfilling your mission well.” The American President is going to win his failing war by expansion into Syria and Iran? “Ah, Mr. Bush,” I will say. “You are playing right into my hands.”
I have no expectations that this coping mechanism will result in a better world, but evil trumps lugubrious any day, and I just don’t think petitions work.
January 9, 2007
Yo!
The number one surprising development of my Christmas Holidays was that I became obsessed with Rocky Balboa. I certainly didn’t see it coming. (Though I’ve never seen one, I’ve always struggled with the Rocky films, for as a child I confused Rocky with Rambo and didn’t understand how one character could be so multi-dimensional.) But on the day before Christmas Eve, we caught Rocky on TV Ontario (commercial free! how novel) and though I was supposed to be reading a book while my husband watched it, I soon put the book down and was enthralled. I loved it. I don’t really know why. I’ve always had a thing for working class Italian men with big dreams, hearts of gold and problems expressing themselves, however. In accordance then, I think I am soon going to rent Saturday Night Fever.
