Monday, November 02, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
RANDOM PHOTOS
I downloaded some photos today and this was amongst the mishmash that appeared:
Haven't made cards for a while - drew some random stuff and cut it up.
Do you think Indie tucked herself up or did she have help?
But best of all was this. Discovered in Mr 9's art book. The subject of many bedtime scrawlings...
Haven't made cards for a while - drew some random stuff and cut it up.
Do you think Indie tucked herself up or did she have help?
But best of all was this. Discovered in Mr 9's art book. The subject of many bedtime scrawlings...
IN REVIEW
If you'd asked me yesterday if I had ever reviewed books professionally I would have said no. But I'd have loved to.
But today while clearing out some very old files on my computer I found something I'd totally forgotten about.
In the mid 1990s I reviewed children's books for Kiwi Parent magazine. As I now recall I didn't actually get paid in money but I did get to keep the books (payment enough for this book lover).
Funny how I'd forgotten.
But today while clearing out some very old files on my computer I found something I'd totally forgotten about.
In the mid 1990s I reviewed children's books for Kiwi Parent magazine. As I now recall I didn't actually get paid in money but I did get to keep the books (payment enough for this book lover).
Funny how I'd forgotten.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
RANDOM
When I see those cheap Jetstar flights I think - it would be cool just to buy a ticket and go somewhere random for a day. But I never do because I'm not really that random.
But my friend K is. Back in May she says. What are you doing on 20 October?
And I can't think of one thing and she says good because we are going to Auckland for that day. Girls trip shopping.
So K and A and I head off bright and early. Airport. Rental car. Newmarket. Red Current for Christmas pressies. Zarbo for lunch. Nuffield Street. Ed Hardy, Trelise Cooper Kids (just browsing - who can afford that stuff?). Dressmart (it's so much better than our Dressmart). Gym gear. More Christmas pressies. Airport. Home.
Credit card not too damaged.
Because when the flight to Auckland is only $10 return - wouldn't you rather be random. And shopping?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
FOOTNOTE
Last night I went out with Bret McKenzie (of Flight of the Conchords fame).
Well 99 other people were there too but we did have a good night. We went to see Footnote Dance Company's Footnote Forte Solo series. It was a brilliant concept. 6 solo performances. 4 performances at Circa Theatre. Then we split into two groups and wandered first to the Museum Hotel for another performance and then to Courtenay's Place's Hooch Bar for the final performance. Way cool. The weather was very cool. Stormy. We needed wetsuits. Countless umbrellas were binned enroute. But it was a great night.
Well 99 other people were there too but we did have a good night. We went to see Footnote Dance Company's Footnote Forte Solo series. It was a brilliant concept. 6 solo performances. 4 performances at Circa Theatre. Then we split into two groups and wandered first to the Museum Hotel for another performance and then to Courtenay's Place's Hooch Bar for the final performance. Way cool. The weather was very cool. Stormy. We needed wetsuits. Countless umbrellas were binned enroute. But it was a great night.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
BLOGOSPHERE BOOK REVIEW - OCTOBER
October Book: Dewey: The small-town library cat who touched the world
Author: Vicki Myron
Non-fiction
Synopsis: (Courtesy of Dewey's website)
Vicki Myron was a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic husband. But her biggest challenge as the new head librarian in Spencer, Iowa, was to raise the spirits of a small, out-of-the-way town mired deep in the farm crisis of the 1980s. Then, on the coldest morning of the year, Vicki found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box, and her life—and the town of Spencer—was never the same.
I like cats. We have an almost 18 year old one. We are cat people (OK and we have a dog but the cat is higher up the pecking order).
I don't like the way people who are obsessed with cats treat them as human.
I loved the story about small town America. I loved the little glimpse into life there. I hated the sickening-sweet relationship the author described with her cat. The cat who liked her better than it liked everyone else. I found this a bit pathetic to be honest. I also though the cat's name was strange - our pronounciation of Dewey is different to our US cousins who say "Doo-we" - somehow to this Kiwi ear the name was just wrong.
It was a sweet read but to me it was over the top. That said thousands will disagree. 'Dewey Readmorebooks' has his own website and thousands of people round the world visited or contacted the Spencer library about him.
Each to his own.
I've read quite a few books this month (I think the Book Club has spurred me into action). One I can highly recommend is "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I couldn't put this down. Probably my best read of the year to date. Beg, borrow or steal a copy if you can.
I've also just started "My Bum Looks Brilliant in This" by Wellington psychologist Karen Nimmo (she is a new addition on the morning TV Breakfast panel). Some really good stuff here. Take a look if you're interested in the psychology of weight loss.
Author: Vicki Myron
Non-fiction
Synopsis: (Courtesy of Dewey's website)
Vicki Myron was a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic husband. But her biggest challenge as the new head librarian in Spencer, Iowa, was to raise the spirits of a small, out-of-the-way town mired deep in the farm crisis of the 1980s. Then, on the coldest morning of the year, Vicki found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box, and her life—and the town of Spencer—was never the same.
I like cats. We have an almost 18 year old one. We are cat people (OK and we have a dog but the cat is higher up the pecking order).
I don't like the way people who are obsessed with cats treat them as human.
I loved the story about small town America. I loved the little glimpse into life there. I hated the sickening-sweet relationship the author described with her cat. The cat who liked her better than it liked everyone else. I found this a bit pathetic to be honest. I also though the cat's name was strange - our pronounciation of Dewey is different to our US cousins who say "Doo-we" - somehow to this Kiwi ear the name was just wrong.
It was a sweet read but to me it was over the top. That said thousands will disagree. 'Dewey Readmorebooks' has his own website and thousands of people round the world visited or contacted the Spencer library about him.
Each to his own.
I've read quite a few books this month (I think the Book Club has spurred me into action). One I can highly recommend is "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I couldn't put this down. Probably my best read of the year to date. Beg, borrow or steal a copy if you can.
I've also just started "My Bum Looks Brilliant in This" by Wellington psychologist Karen Nimmo (she is a new addition on the morning TV Breakfast panel). Some really good stuff here. Take a look if you're interested in the psychology of weight loss.
Friday, October 02, 2009
BUT IS IT ART
Some of you know that this year I ticked off something from my 'bucket list' and enrolled in painting classes through The Learning Connexion.
As a complete novice it was somewhat daunting to find I was joined in my class by 3rd year art students. But it was fine. Our tutor, a well known artist himself, was very encouraging and helped us to figure out how to express ourselves. I came to the realisation that I love words and the symbolism of the cross so these feature in most of my practice work.
But just recently I came across a fantastic blog by a wonderful Hawkes Bay artist, Katherine Quinn. Inspired by her whimsical women figures I had a go myself. Here are my first couple of attempts. Mine are more grunge than whimsical. The blonde is a self-portrait and the redhead is Miss 14. I have a long way to go (it's OK, I know they're not great!)but it's fun and, hey, if I make it - it's art.
Thanks Katherine for inspiring a beginner!
Friday, September 11, 2009
LIFE LESSONS
Over the past month or so Mr 9 has been having a clearout. We decided to teach him the value of a buck when he decided he had a whole lot of PS2 games and DVDs that were just gathering dust. So he embarked on a sales campaign which netted him a fair bit of money.
Last week he realised that there were 6 or 7 PS2 games and about 10 DVDs not sold. So he decided to donate them to the Hutt Hospital's Children's Ward. After school we lugged 3 bags of his games, DVDs, books and transformer toys to the Children's Ward. The staff were suitably impressed and generous in their praise of his donation.
Walking home Mr 9 said to me:
"Mum - I didn't get any money for those things we gave the hospital. But I feel really proud!"
Yep - it isn't all about the money.
A good life lesson learned today.
Last week he realised that there were 6 or 7 PS2 games and about 10 DVDs not sold. So he decided to donate them to the Hutt Hospital's Children's Ward. After school we lugged 3 bags of his games, DVDs, books and transformer toys to the Children's Ward. The staff were suitably impressed and generous in their praise of his donation.
Walking home Mr 9 said to me:
"Mum - I didn't get any money for those things we gave the hospital. But I feel really proud!"
Yep - it isn't all about the money.
A good life lesson learned today.
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