I have read/heard about this book several times. Alicia Silverstone was on Oprah to talk about it. So when I saw that Amazon was selling it for the kindle for $2.99 I bought it.
The book: Silverstone explains how being a vegan is being kind 3 ways -- being kind to your body, kind to the planet, and kind to animals. She actually makes the claim that if everyone became vegan it would solve all the problems in the world. Which is at least slightly extreme.
The review: As always, I'm fascinated by food. I was really interested in the explanations of the benefits that various foods have. She actually bases a large component of the diet (which she explains as a lifestyle journey) on traditional Japanese foods. And if you read Michael Pollan, he says that the traditional diets survived for thousands of years for a reason.
I know that for most people this kind diet would be really extreme. But since I've been on the green diet for almost 11 full months, it doesn't seem that extreme to me.
Half of the book is recipes, and I would be better able to recommend it with some time to try some of the recipes. And that makes me a little sad that I got it in e-book form. It's not easy to just flip through, look at pictures, and just quickly scan ingredients with the e-book.
So this book review doesn't come with a clear recommend or don't. It was a really quick read and had more practical advice about how to live a "whole food, plant-based diet" than the documentary Forks Over Knives, so I thought it was better than that movie. It was more realistic and complete with steps to take.
And now I really need some good fiction in my life. Too bad Beloved should be next on my list.
The Story: The Lamberts were a typical midwestern family. But now the children have grown up and moved East and gotten into all their own problems. The father is now suffering from Parkinsons and dementia. The mother just wants one last Christmas with everyone at home, and the family has to figure out if they want to make that happen and how.
The Review: I hated this book. I hope that you do notice that for me that is quite an extreme reaction. I'll expound though, I didn't like this book so much that it took me a month and a half to read it. Mostly because I couldn't force myself to pick it up!
This is the final book that I chose for my American Lit class. Yes, I chose it without reading it first. And yes, I regret that so much that I am thinking about just getting rid of it from the schedule entirely.
Ok, let me actually explain what I didn't like about the book.
1. The characters were not likable at all. In fact, I hated most of them. I couldn't even feel sympathy toward Alfred, the ailing father.
2. The family acts entirely selfishly, which in many cases causes them to act cruelly. See #1.
3. Lots of completely gratuitous sex, drugs, and swearing.
My book reading slowed down a little, but more than that my book review posts have slowed down.
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
The story: A post-apocalyptic young adult novel. Sometime in the not-too-distant future, the Earth has been destroyed, and genetic engineering has been used on humans to eradicate cancer and all other diseases. Unfortunately this genetic engineering has backfired and the rising generations are dying young. The story is about a 16 year old girl named Rhine who is kidnapped and sold into a marriage because that is one option for girls her age.
The review: This was a book picked by my bookclub. I was not impressed. It was basically a rewrite of The Hunger Games and not nearly as interesting or engaging. There were not enough explanations about the state of the world, so mostly I read it thinking Why are they doing that? What is the point of that?
I don't recommend it.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The story: A true story of Louie Zampirini, an Olympic athlete turned WWII bombadier whose plane went down in the Pacific.
The review: This was amazing. It is a great true story, and Hillenbrand tells it really well. Hillenbrand includes thorough explanations, including things like the societal history of Japan which explains why they ran the POW camps the way they did.
I don't know how to give a good, long review without giving the whole story away. So I'll leave it with it is an incredible story and a great read.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
The premise: Gretchen Rubin realizes she isn't really happy. So she decides to spend a year studying happiness and making (and keeping) resolutions designed to increase her happiness. She reports on each resolution, including the data she found for why it will make a difference, and how the resolution worked out for her.
The review: This was really interesting. First of all it was interesting to be invited into someone's life, and second it was interesting to see the goals that she set. She started with 11 areas -- like marriage, parenting, work, fun, etc. Then she made 4-5 resolutions for improving each area.
Areas I was most interested in: Clear the clutter. Maybe just because I start to feel overwhelmed with my stuff, but I really liked reading about her strategies for clearing out her junk. In her section on money, she resolved to "Make a modest splurge." Her splurges were spending a little more for something she would use or that would in some way make her life easier. For example, she bought the really fancy expensive pens that she likes, because she uses pens all the time. With that in mind, I went and bought little post-it flags. I'm using them to mark passages in my books for my literature classes. I'm not sure if it is making it easier or just cluttered.
She also created "Twelve Commandments" and kept returning to the first one which is "Be Gretchen." With all of her resolutions she tried to acknowledge who she is and what she would be able to do without causing huge amounts of stress or guilt. One of her resolutions was to keep in touch with friends, but she hates talking on the phone, so she decided to accept that about herself and send emails, because it is what she would actually do.
I think I was particularly fascinated by this because I was doing a mini happiness project this summer. Mine was really simple. I wrote down "Things that make me happy" and made a little list: yoga, cooking, and reading. So I spent the summer doing yoga every day and reading a ton. It did make me happy.
Added note: I read this because I heard an interview with Gretchen Rubin on Smart People Podcast. Love those guys. They've interviewed all kinds of interesting people from all kinds of disciplines and areas.
Last week at work they brought in a health screening. It's the usual health insurance write off thing, and everyone really pushed us to go get screened because then maybe the insurance won't raise the rates so much next year.
I went. My motivation was the $25 visa gift card.
It is a very typical screening: height, weight, body fat, BMI, and then a finger prick to check for cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and then blood pressure.
One nurse started me off with height, weight, body fat and BMI. She gave me my numbers and told me I'm fantastic.
I went to the second nurse and she started with the finger prick and then plugged my blood into her little machine to run those numbers. While those numbers were running, she took my blood pressure.
Then she took it again.
And a third time.
"Are you ok?" Looking at me with huge concern. "Do you feel light-headed? Are you feeling faint?"
"I'm fine. I could use something to eat (we had to be fasting), but no I'm not light-headed."
"Are you sure? Are you sure you aren't going to pass out? Your blood pressure is really low."
I just laughed at that. "That's normal for me."
She looked extremely skeptical. Extremely.
So she took it again and was finally willing to write down the numbers.
Then she explained the blood test results and wrote on the bottom of my form -- Good job.
But then she said to me, "You need to monitor your blood pressure. It is really really low. Actually, in fact, I am going to write that down." So she did: Monitor blood pressure.
It's genetic, but maybe if I quit doing cardio my blood pressure would go up. Then maybe doctors and nurses wouldn't get so freaked out.
This week has been a week of "You will never believe what just happened to me!"
***
It started on Thursday. I went to my evening class, did my usual song-and-dance, and had the students working on reading an article. Ok, I guess that is the point I should emphasize. We were doing reading strategies, so I handed them an article, told them to read it, and the room was silent. Silent.
One of the students who sits close to me looks over and whispers, "Why are your hands orange?"
I just looked at her. "No. I'm not answering that question right now. Read the article."
She was pretty ok with being shut down, but of course the other students noticed this whispered exchange.
So 45 minutes later, I have handed out their assignment and wrapped up class. I always ask, "Any questions?" Not that they ever take that time to ask a question, or if they do, not that it's ever an appropriate question.
The same student says (at full voice this time), "Yeah, why are your hands orange?"
Again, I told her it was off topic. So I ended class and then said, "Student X wants her question answered, so if you are interested you can stick around, if not, have a good weekend."
The room cleared out except for about 4 or 5 students. So one says, "I'm just staying to be nosey, what's the question."
The student repeats the question again.
Now everyone chimes in, "Yeah, they really are orange. That's so weird. Is it self-tanner? Have you been eating cheetos?"
And I responded, "I have a medical condition with my liver. One of the side effects is that my hands turn orange. Some days are worse than others."
Dead silence.
Student who asked the question: "Wow. That's kind of personal. I didn't know it was that personal."
Me (in my head): "Well stop asking stupid questions!"
Older female student: "Maybe you should go to a doctor."
Me: "Oh I am. I'm under frequent and watchful care, and I'm hoping that it will be under control in a few months."
They all left. And now I'm waiting for the rumors to start. A condition with my liver means the first possible rumor is I trashed my liver with alcohol and am waiting for a transplant. I know I look way to healthy to be waiting for a transplant, but I could be a recovering alcoholic. Second possible rumor: It's cancer.
***
And my "You will never believe what just happened to me!" continued today.
I was leaving church and one of the older ladies stopped to talk to me. She asked about school and I asked about her job. So we were chatting for a minute about mundane things (I love the word "mundane" because it makes me think about Pecos Bill. "Without Bill there wouldn't have been a Wild West. It would have been plain old mundane."
Wait! Did you know there's a video:
And end parenthesis)
Our mundane chat continues and then she says, "You have fine hair like I do." And I say, "Yup, it's really thin."
She says, "I am an artist, so I've been thinking about what hairstyle would look better on you." And I say, "Oh do tell. I've been pondering that too."
She starts gesturing, "Well what you need is something that frames your face. And bangs. You should go somewhere nice and they will be able to help you. You know who cuts hair? So-and-so's daughter. And just something around your face. You have such a long face. Although the oval is the ideal shape. But you really have to show it off. If you would just do something with your hair, you would really pop. You could stand out. I wouldn't color it, I like your color. But maybe highlights. And then you would just really stand out. And that person who is looking for someone special too will notice you."
Somewhere in there I was able to manage a "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
But no, it kept going. "I know you are busy. I know with school and work it is hard to keep everything under control. But you really have to take care of yourself. You really have to make sure you look good so that special someone will notice you. And if you just take care of yourself..."
Mostly as she kept going on and on, I was thinking, "Don't say anything about my clothes. Don't say anything about my clothes. Because my clothes today are great."
***
So feel free to weigh in on my hair.
A couple of pictures: Two of me with short hair, two with long hair. I have been thinking I will grow it out -- and yes I know that right now it is at that awkward stage.
But I was thinking about growing it out again to this:
Carla said that she has some time to kill these days. So I thought I could help her out by writing a post full of funny stories.
And that leaves me wracking my brains for funny stories.
Story Number 1
I wrote that as a title, and now I have a totally new first story to share.
I am friends on facebook with many of my grad school compatriots, many of whom are also professors now.
Yesterday, one of my friends posted, "I can't believe the things that I say in class sometimes. I just told my students that a bad title is like granny panties. Not sexy!"
Story Number 2: Or Carla's Sister
In the movie A League of Their Own, there is a great scene at the beginning where Kit complains to her sister about how hard it is to be her sister. She says, "Have you ever heard Dad introduce us?" Then imitating the father's voice, "This is our daughter Dottie. This is our other daughter, Dottie's sister."
While hanging out with my family, Carla claimed that that was what it was like when Dad introduced me.
And now I will say, yup that was a small moment of payback. Because here is what the rest of our lives are like:
I was sitting in church last Sunday and one of the women introduced me to her sister who was visiting. In trying to be a nice person, I chatted with her for a moment, where are you from? (Omaha) how long are you here? etc.
Then another friend interrupted to ask me how my family in North Carolina did with Hurricane Irene. I said they were fine. And the visitor said, "Oh you are from North Carolina? What part? We lived there for 23 years! I'm sure I know your parents!"
I was sure she couldn't possibly, so I answered her questions, but wasn't particularly interested.
The church lesson started and so we didn't say anything further.
Until the lesson was over and she turned to me and said, "Wait! Are you Carla Morgan's sister?"
Story Number 3
After church my home teacher came to visit me. We sat and chatted for a minute and then he quickly turned the conversation to marveling on how I am still single.
In an attempt to explain this (yeah, I really can't), he thinks I am fabulous and can't understand or imagine why anyone wouldn't want to marry me. And he chooses to actually vocalize this bewilderment.
But on Sunday, the story goes beyond bewilderment, because he said "I know a single man, and I just can't understand why he's still single. So I told him, 'You don't have to marry her! Just take her out to dinner!"
I just groaned (hopefully internally) at this, and laughed it off.
And then my book club came over last night.
We talked about the book for about 20-25 minutes. If you think that is lame or not typical, in our defense it was a crappy book. (Yes, I'm due for posting some book reviews). Then we were chatting about life in general.
I'm new to the book group, so one of the ladies asked me if I live in my house alone, and I said yup.
She turned to the other ladies and said, "Is _______ the only single man at church?" (Sorry, it feels totally wrong to actually put someone's name in here).
And another lady sits up super straight and grins and says, "No! A new one just moved in!" And looks at me all excited.
After a few minutes of chatter, she was still looking way too happy about this, and so I said, "You look really happy about that, and it is scaring me. No setting me up!"
***
Ok, so that last story isn't actually funny. But since I took the time to write it out, I figure it will at least give Carla something to read. I guess the more entertaining part was a third lady, who is probably 35/36 and was single until she got married almost two years ago, who sat and talked like she was on my side (don't let them pressure you, don't let them set you up, leave her alone, I understand) until she said, "But online dating is great, you should really try it."
***
Story Number 4
And to close things out, a work/school story for you.
In my English 101 class, the first assignment is to write a profile. I am working on teaching this class better than I did last fall (because although the students certainly contributed, I don't think they were the only reason the class was so frustrating). So I revamped how I set things up and talked a lot about profiles this week.
I took in books and magazines as examples, and we even watched a clip from Dirty Jobs.
Then we talked about how to gather information for the profile and I discussed several ways to gather information, but put a lot of emphasis on interviewing. So to build their interviewing skills, I told them to write questions that they would ask me if they were interviewing me.
And then, in a daring move, I let each student ask a question.
They asked some really good questions. Many were thoughtful and required me to really think about the answer.
The entire class had a good laugh when a student asked, "Is there anything really interesting or significant that we don't know about you?"
I paused. Thought. Hemmed and hawed over what the significant thing could be.
And then I realized it was a closed question. So I said, "Yes." And moved on.
After concluding the "interview," I reiterated the points about being a good interviewer and ended the class. As I made my way back to my office I realized, they didn't even ask about my personal life.
What kind of people are these!
***
Sorry to anyone who actually spent time reading this post. I think this was not so much about entertaining Carla as it was about being bored at work. Today is one of my long days so I better go to class.
