Archive for June, 2007

Today I photo documented the addition of our new family member – Milo, the Nintendo Wii.

Waiting outside Nintendo World

Ryan in line for a Wii

Finally Inside

Hurrah! Wii!

Opening the Wii

Ta Da – Wii parts

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Poetry Sunday

“Undelivered Mail”
by Rhina P. Espaillat from Playing at Stillness
Dear Daughter,
Your father and I wish to commend you
on the wisdom of your choices
and the flawless conduct of your life

Dear Poet!
Where is the full-length manuscript
you promised us? Your check is waiting
The presses are ready
and the bookstores are clamoring for delivery

Darling,
This convention is tedious
beyond belief: the hotel is swarming
with disgustingly overexposed women
far too young to have dignity
or any minds at all

Dear Patient:
The results of your blood tests reveal
that your problem stems from
a diet dangerously low
in pizza and chocolate

Dear Mom,
You were right about everything
and I was an idiot not to listen

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I finished re-reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and could not wait… I had to jump right into re-reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The amount of details and plot I had forgotten was astounding. But it makes for a very interesting re-read.

Meanwhile, I’ve been buying books like crazy this month. I need a lifestyle that enables me to sit around and read all day in cafes.

Saving the best for last, here is a Benny story that my mom emailed me. (Benny is my 6 year old brother.)

Last night Benny was changing his shirt and he said to me, “What are these circle things I have on my chest?”  I said, “Those are called nipples. Everyone’s got them.”  He said, “Oh. Well, I think I’m getting another one on my knee.”

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Dad and me

Dad and me

Dad and me

I love my father as the stars – he’s a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart.  ~Adabella Radici

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

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Show us a photo of you from when you were in grade school.

Mom & Me

Sorry for the low quality; I had to take a picture of a picture. Oh the woes of growing up before the digital age. (and not currently owning a scanner)

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“The Future you have, tomorrow, won’t be the same future you had, yesterday.”
-Rant

Today’s Chuck Palahniuk event was incredible. The best book event I’ve been to so far. Strand and Palahniuk agreed to ticket the event and limit it to 150 people (Strand’s first ticketed book signing ever) so that it could be a more comfortable and intimate setting for his fans. His last event at Strand had 750 people – a bit crazy.

He read an unpublished short story to us, “Cold Calling,” read from his upcoming 2008 novel (Snuff), did a Q&A, asked trivia questions from his books and gave out prizes, read fan mail, told true stories, took a photo with all who desired one, and gave everyone a stuffed monkey. Entirely too much fun.

I got Choke, Rant, Fight Club, and Stranger Than Fiction signed. I also got my “wedding picture” taken with him. I look strange in the picture (and not just because of the wedding veil) but I’ll post anyway, because it’s hilarious.

Chuck Palahniuk and Me

Signed copy of Stranger Than Fiction

Signed copy of Fight Club

I hope Strand does more ticketed events. Very affordable too – $35 per ticket, which got you a seat, a signed copy of Rant, and a Strand tote bag.

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Timothy McSweeney’s

My favorite indie publisher, McSweeney’s, is in financial trouble due to the recent bankruptcy of their distributer. (The whole story can be read here.)

The immediate result? McSweeney’s is trying to quickly increase their cash flow to recover some of the damage from the loss. This translates into a huge sale in their online store. Everything is on sale – and there are a lot of great bargains. I just placed an order for McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern #s 19 & 20 and a bundle of eight back issues of The Believer.

Some awesome things are on sale – including a bundle The Polysyllabic Spree and Housekeeping vs. The Dirt - Nick Hornby’s columns for the Believer – which are Super Great.

One of the greatest sales on the site right now is a bundle of all three Dr. and Mr. Haggis on Whey books. These are the ultimate in “non-fiction” humor books. They cover a subject in the style encyclopedia – with lots of pictures and infographics. Crazy and hilarious – all the while taking itself very seriously. More detailed info, from the site:

Giraffes? Giraffes!, the first in the series, puts forth the following novel theories: that giraffes were not part of any evolutionary chain, but came here from Neptune by way of very long escalators; that giraffes are expert dancers, but become angry if asked about their dancing; that giraffes control over 90 pecent of what we see in mirrors; that the Giraffe navy is as strong as ever, contrary to recent claims in the popular press.

Your Disgusting Head: The Darkest, Most Offensive–and Moist–Secrets of our Mouth, Nose and Ears, reveals, on the other hand, through newly discovered discoveries made by Dr. and Mrs. Haggis-on-Whey, all the ways in which your head disappoints you.

Animals of the Ocean, in Particular the Giant Squid, advances many heretofore unexplored discoveries and opinions, including squid dating dos and don’ts, why squid are not at all able to watch television in black and white, the ways in which people who don’t know any better might think fish are not animals, the long-term effects of salt water on musical theater, and also the adventure of Gunther.

How to Dress for Every Occasion by the Pope tempted me greatly as well, for only $6.

Subscriptions to The Believer or McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern are always great choices too.

So anyway – if you’ve been interested in anything from McSweeney’s, now is the time to support this awesome indie publisher.

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What is the most interesting class you have ever taken?

Submitted by Melissa.

HST 315 – US Intellectual History to 1860
HST 316 – US Intellectual History since 1860
with Prof. David Bailey, Michigan State University

We studied American history through the documents and novels the intellectuals were writing at the time. Incredibly interesting in itself, and Prof. Bailey is the best lecturer I’ve ever had. He sat on the front of his desk and went through each lecture as if he were just sitting down to tell us a story.

He’s responsible for my complete respect and devotion to James Madison, Walden, Abraham Lincoln, and the Gettysburg Address, among so many others.

I have these classes and Prof. Bailey to thank for my love of history and my appreciation for the study of history through papers, letters, speeches, and literature.

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