Nothing Like a Good Tub

They don't make tubs like they used to. Tubs with the confidence to stand on their own four feet. Tubs with rounded backs where you could lay back and soak for hours.

My grandmother's house was built in 1915. She had two bath tubs with claw feet. I loved climbing up so that I could step down into the deep water - -and spash around for a good long time.

You could sail away in a tub like this.

I wish we had the space in our house for one of these tubs. But, we don't.

Some memories you just can't take home.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff - Still Sets my Stomach in a Knot

Our grand-daughter was playing the role of Martha, the screaming bitch-wife, in Edward Albee's difficult play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff - - So we went over-night to her college to see the play.

I have to admit I dreaded going.
I hate this play.
I hated the movie too.
An evening watching WAOVW is like setting yourself up for a drama-thrashing.
You sit and watch two couples guzzling amazing amounts of booze while they verbally whip each other - and you absorb the blows with them. This play ties my stomach in a knot.
And - leaves me in a depressed mood for days.

Juliana stepped up for the challenege of the role of Martha and played it impressively well. She skillfully put herself aside and brought the character to life. I was proud of and for her.

I suffered through the three hour performance - - proud of Juliana's accomplishment while -- hating every minute of the story - - just as I have when-ever I have seen this play - - - grand-daughter or not.

Later when we were talking about the play, the author and other tidbits of drama history about it - Juliana told us that Edward Albee saw "who's afraid of Virginia Wolff" scrawled on the wall in a public bathroom and it inspired him to write the play.

Makes sense to me.

Thinking a fantasy world might be a good antidote to the weeks of living with Martha "braying" in her head - I gave Juliana a present - Inkheart!

Stepping into Ink World might blot out stuff that came from words scrawled on a toilet wall.

At the least she can throw it at something.

Hearts on the Wall

Hearts on the Wall
Ellouise Schoettler
digital photo
Berkeley, CA. 01/ 2007

One way to make sweeping easier

or

Its all in your perspective.

Giants Among Us

I received the notice: "Your order has been shipped." I am watching the mail. Amazon is sending me two books about a new interest of mine. Giants.

A few months ago my husband and I were flying back from North Carolina. It was a Sunday evening. We were tired. Our seats were in the back of the plane. That is not my favorite spot, so I was feeling a bit irritable.

Jim was on the aisle, I was in the middle and until almost the last minute the window seat was empty. I was hoping against the "this is a full plane" announcements that we would luck out and no one would take that seat.

And then I saw him coming.
I knew - - I just knew - - he was our window seat-mate.

He was tall, and I mean tall, about six feet five inches. He stooped a little to avoid touching the low plane-ceiling. He must have weighed in at over 300 pounds. I could see it was all muscle because he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I could also see that his legs and arms were rather fuzzy. He was a furry giant.

His hair was rusty blond and he was smiling - - a little-boy, winning smile. My misgivings must have been written on my face because he said, "Yeah, I know, I am a bit of an over-grown boy - but it will work out." For you maybe, I thought.

We raised all the arm rests. I moved closer to Jim. We all three squeezed in together. Being in the middle, I was a bit like the filling in a manwich. We were suddenly close friends. We had a pleasant conversation and sort of enjoyed the ride to Baltimore.

This encounter set me thinking.

Giants are not myths - - they are still walking the earth.

I should tell people.

Missing Inkworld

I have finished reading Inkspell. My copy was a heavy hardback book that felt good in my hands. I read the last words on page 635, closed the book and felt a little lonely to be leaving Inkworld.

I was completely drawn into the world of this book - now I am missing it all - the places and the characters. And, I am a bit unsettled - there is a surprise twist at the close.

The third book, Inkdawn, will not be released until 2008. I know that is good marketing - not to release the third volume until after the movie, Inkheart, is released - it seems so l o n g to wait.

A good book - a good story - special gifts to nourish the imagination.

Home Again

Is it possible that this time last week we were still in Fresno and I had one more set of Second Hand Rose to tell for the Rogue Festival?

We had another bumpy ride home on Monday. Jim thanked the pilot for setting it down safely. He just nodded and said it had taken "a lot of wrist action." With 25 mph winds at landing we could tell. Enough of that for awhile.


Are you ever hungry for a book that will completely engage you - - capture your imagination? While we were in California I finished reading INKHEART - and was really sorry to come to the end - - except I had volume 2 of the trilogy, INKSPELL in my hands. I had taken the precaution of tracking it down at a local bookstore before we left Robin's so I would be ready. INKSPELL is even better than INKHEART. (but you need to read them both and in order for the full effect) My imagination is more engaged by these books than by anything else in a long time. Its like I was waiting for them.

Hardly caught my breath at home when I was back into action with stories and paper-work. I am happy to have a lot of work right now but it is hard to juggle everything - to keep switching hats constantly so all the balls stay in the air. Storyteller Elizabeth Ellis says a storyteller has to be three people - artistic creator, storyteller, and business manager and she warns that the trick is to keep those three folks meeting in committee so you can maintain your balance. I am calling a meeting - and they had better all be there