I have been meaning to watch Mad Men for ages and so when it showed up on my favourite things list I had my excuse. Joel and I started watching season one last week (thanks to David who lent us his two boxed sets!). David warned us that it might take awhile to get into but we were immediately hooked. There are so many things to critique and applaud about this show but right now I'm mainly just dismayed by the speed of my addiction. I watched only two episodes and suddenly "needed" more. It makes me think of all those nineteenth-century novels that readers were reputed to crave "like a drug." So, too, my tv watching. We never watch tv and keep meaning to cancel our cable but whenever we start watching these series it seems we can't stop. 24 was a disaster. Joel and I would start watching after the kids went to sleep and continue watching into the night, thinking at 2am, 3am, etc, "just one more" until we could barely keep our eyes open. We've been able to control ourselves a bit better with Mad Men (I won't mention, however, what episode we're on after only a week of watching). I'll return to this topic again later when I've watched more and feel like commenting on the show itself. So far I'm struck by all that drinking and all that smoking and the polished zaniness of a housewife cooly shooting homing pigeons in her back yard with a rifle. It is chilling and absorbing and just writing this makes me want to watch more now. Good thing I never took up smoking.
Other series we've watched and liked: 24, Grey's Anatomy, NYPD Blue (years and years and years ago) and 2 other shows too embarrassing to name here (and the bar is already pretty low).
Other tv shows we watch: The Daily Show once every 2 months or so
Friday, 29 October 2010
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
favourite piece of punctuation
The favourite piece of punctuation is: the semi-colon (nominated by Larry). Oddly, this is my favourite piece of punctuation too. It reminds me of a conversation I had with Paisley back when I was in grad school and he scoffed at my love of semi-colons and I was daunted and doubted myself but prevailed and continue, still, to use semi-colons in excess.
The other competing piece of punctuation, from my point of view, is the parenthesis. The parenthesis is especially good for email (and blog postings as it turns out). Here too I have been criticized for my use of parentheses (also when I was a grad student and published my first book review and a prof I respected said, “too many parentheses!”) But here too I prevailed and overuse this form of punctuation as well.
The “piece of punctuation” is also my favourite category in the list of favourites. Other good categories include: favourite guitar chord (G, nominated by David P); favourite fruit picked fresh from the tree (fig, (Richard C); and most useful class (Grade nine typing, Steve G).
Weirdly, minutes after writing this post I rec’d the following email with references to the semi-colon and parenthesis:
"The constant use of the semicolon on any page, handwritten or printed, causes the eye to jump to the punctuation instead of concentrating on the subject expounded upon, just as a ‘river’ -- vertical space on a type page caused by inexpert setting -- disturbs vision. Where a semicolon can't be replaced by a simple comma, it is often better to rephrase the thought into two or more separate sentences for easier comprehension."
Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette: A Guide to Gracious Living (1952): 422
Secretarial handbooks ("office practices") may also be worth a look.
For fun, this --
The curves ( ).
"Rule. -- The curves are used to enclose a remark, reference, or explanation, that has little if any connection with the rest of the sentence... The enclosed expression is called a parenthesis. The same name is sometimes applied to the enclosing marks, but the term curves is shorter and more appropriate."
ex J Willis Westlake, How to Write Letters: A Manual of Correspondence, showing the correct structure, composition, punctuation, formalities, and uses of the various kinds of Letters, Notes, and Cards. Philadelphia: Sower, Potts & Co., 1882 [c1876] : 200.
The other competing piece of punctuation, from my point of view, is the parenthesis. The parenthesis is especially good for email (and blog postings as it turns out). Here too I have been criticized for my use of parentheses (also when I was a grad student and published my first book review and a prof I respected said, “too many parentheses!”) But here too I prevailed and overuse this form of punctuation as well.
The “piece of punctuation” is also my favourite category in the list of favourites. Other good categories include: favourite guitar chord (G, nominated by David P); favourite fruit picked fresh from the tree (fig, (Richard C); and most useful class (Grade nine typing, Steve G).
Weirdly, minutes after writing this post I rec’d the following email with references to the semi-colon and parenthesis:
"The constant use of the semicolon on any page, handwritten or printed, causes the eye to jump to the punctuation instead of concentrating on the subject expounded upon, just as a ‘river’ -- vertical space on a type page caused by inexpert setting -- disturbs vision. Where a semicolon can't be replaced by a simple comma, it is often better to rephrase the thought into two or more separate sentences for easier comprehension."
Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette: A Guide to Gracious Living (1952): 422
Secretarial handbooks ("office practices") may also be worth a look.
For fun, this --
The curves ( ).
"Rule. -- The curves are used to enclose a remark, reference, or explanation, that has little if any connection with the rest of the sentence... The enclosed expression is called a parenthesis. The same name is sometimes applied to the enclosing marks, but the term curves is shorter and more appropriate."
ex J Willis Westlake, How to Write Letters: A Manual of Correspondence, showing the correct structure, composition, punctuation, formalities, and uses of the various kinds of Letters, Notes, and Cards. Philadelphia: Sower, Potts & Co., 1882 [c1876] : 200.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
paul and rose's hike up "vroman's nose"
Still going back in time, the second thing I did from my “favourite-things” list was a hike up “Vroman’s Nose” in Middleburgh, New York about ten days after my birthday. The occasion was Paul’s 80th birthday which, happily, was celebrated only minutes away from this favourite hike of Paul and Rose’s.
It was truly stunning. The fall leaves were perfect and the view was spectacular (if a bit stomach lurching); we walked uphill on a winding path through trees and then came out on a plateau made of massive slabs of stone. Someone noticed that dates had been etched into the stone from the 1800s (1848 was the earliest date we saw) in a font very much unlike the more recent dates. There was a sheer drop to the valley below (it looked like miles below) and we had one scary moment when Farley bounded over to the side seemingly unaware of the perils of the edge. After that we put him on the leash.
My favourite story related to this hike: Allie wanted to see the sunrise from Vroman’s nose when she was around fifteen and so Rose, in her 70s, woke at 5am and took her on this hike, setting out when it was still dark. I was impressed!
My top 5 favourite hikes in no particular order: 1) hike to Galliweide in Wengen, Switzerland. It is breathtaking and gorgeous and feels unreal (all those cows wondering about, all those Swiss with their immaculate houses perched on green hills with frightening drops to the valley below [even more harrowing than Vroman’s Nose], all those fields and fields of wildflowers) and always makes me happy; 2) the walk (it’s not really a hike) in Tilden Park that takes you to a point overlooking San Francisco and the Bay Area (thanks, Seth, for introducing me to this); 3) the old Roman Way outside Varaire, France that goes forever and smells of honeysuckle; 4) the hike up to Keswick Tower at our family’s cottage in Muskoka; 5) hikes through the ravines of Toronto as a kid.
Actually, I’m just realizing that these hikes move back through time. I also realized that none of my top favourite hikes are in the Ottawa region. I really love hiking and walking in the Gatineau but for some reason don’t have a favourite hike there. I’m sure I’m forgetting others, but those are the hikes that come to mind for now.
I never did find out why the Vroman’s Nose hike was called Vroman’s Nose. Who is Vroman?
It was truly stunning. The fall leaves were perfect and the view was spectacular (if a bit stomach lurching); we walked uphill on a winding path through trees and then came out on a plateau made of massive slabs of stone. Someone noticed that dates had been etched into the stone from the 1800s (1848 was the earliest date we saw) in a font very much unlike the more recent dates. There was a sheer drop to the valley below (it looked like miles below) and we had one scary moment when Farley bounded over to the side seemingly unaware of the perils of the edge. After that we put him on the leash.
My favourite story related to this hike: Allie wanted to see the sunrise from Vroman’s nose when she was around fifteen and so Rose, in her 70s, woke at 5am and took her on this hike, setting out when it was still dark. I was impressed!
My top 5 favourite hikes in no particular order: 1) hike to Galliweide in Wengen, Switzerland. It is breathtaking and gorgeous and feels unreal (all those cows wondering about, all those Swiss with their immaculate houses perched on green hills with frightening drops to the valley below [even more harrowing than Vroman’s Nose], all those fields and fields of wildflowers) and always makes me happy; 2) the walk (it’s not really a hike) in Tilden Park that takes you to a point overlooking San Francisco and the Bay Area (thanks, Seth, for introducing me to this); 3) the old Roman Way outside Varaire, France that goes forever and smells of honeysuckle; 4) the hike up to Keswick Tower at our family’s cottage in Muskoka; 5) hikes through the ravines of Toronto as a kid.
Actually, I’m just realizing that these hikes move back through time. I also realized that none of my top favourite hikes are in the Ottawa region. I really love hiking and walking in the Gatineau but for some reason don’t have a favourite hike there. I’m sure I’m forgetting others, but those are the hikes that come to mind for now.
I never did find out why the Vroman’s Nose hike was called Vroman’s Nose. Who is Vroman?
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
hershel's favourite burger at The Works
Okay, this was a very specific category and, not surprisingly, there was no overlap with others and so I didn't have to be torn between whose favourite burger to choose. This was the first "favourite thing" I tried from my list, about 4 days after my birthday. Here's Hershel's recommendation:
FAVOURITE BURGER AT THE WORKS
Fruit Loop - No longer on the menu but can still be done as a special request: Turkey burger (or vegetarian substitute) on a whole grain bun, topped with Sweet and Spicy Sauce, Brie, Pear, Banana and Pineapple.
Sure enough, they no longer have this burger on the menu but our server was happy to have it made up. I chose the veggie option and it was delicious. One of the best things about this burger: I didn't have to read The Works list of burger options and hem and haw over the too-large and zany (mac and cheese and apples and peppers all somehow on a burger!) selection. I knew exactly what I was getting.
Favourite burger I've had in my life: all-time easy-winner favourite: Paul Webbers on the way up to our cottage as kids (it wasn't only the burger, of course, but also the place, and the fact we were going to the cottage, and the old trains we could play on, and the fries that came with it--but still I think it's probably up there with world's best burgers).
Maybe I should have read a few Mary Oliver poems so that my first favourite thing entry wouldn't be a burger . . .
FAVOURITE BURGER AT THE WORKS
Fruit Loop - No longer on the menu but can still be done as a special request: Turkey burger (or vegetarian substitute) on a whole grain bun, topped with Sweet and Spicy Sauce, Brie, Pear, Banana and Pineapple.
Sure enough, they no longer have this burger on the menu but our server was happy to have it made up. I chose the veggie option and it was delicious. One of the best things about this burger: I didn't have to read The Works list of burger options and hem and haw over the too-large and zany (mac and cheese and apples and peppers all somehow on a burger!) selection. I knew exactly what I was getting.
Favourite burger I've had in my life: all-time easy-winner favourite: Paul Webbers on the way up to our cottage as kids (it wasn't only the burger, of course, but also the place, and the fact we were going to the cottage, and the old trains we could play on, and the fries that came with it--but still I think it's probably up there with world's best burgers).
Maybe I should have read a few Mary Oliver poems so that my first favourite thing entry wouldn't be a burger . . .
introducing this blog
Thank you so much to everyone for sending me your five favorite things. The list is fabulous. It was a great way to welcome in a new decade (and even to make it relatively painless). In fact, I looked forward to turning fifty with the anticipation of five-favourite-things lists from so many friends and family. Perhaps “the fifties” will suddenly hit me in a frightening way but for now it feels much more like a privilege (to live this long!) than a fear (to be this old!).
This list also gives me an excuse to extend my birthday over the entire year. In this blog I’ll record my experiences with your favourite things as well as adding a few of my own along the way. If you want to add more favourite things please feel free. Before turning to the specific things in the next few blog postings here are some general comments on the “favourite things” list over all.
The first, most surprising thing, is that very very few of you sent book suggestions. I thought there would be more books than any other category but possibly there are fewer books. I did get a lot of amazing recipes. I want to make them all instantly. Although I probably should have requested favourite exercise routines as well. Happily, several people sent me recipes and titles of favourite recipe books (and so that is one category of book) which means that the recipes can multiply indefinitely as I explore others not mentioned. There were a handful of favourites that were repeated by more than one person. Here they are: several people noted Mary Oliver as a favourite poet; several people noted the Manx as a favourite brunch place (I haven’t been there in ages but now plan to go soon; before we had kids Joel and I used to go often and have the banana French toast [bananas somehow magically imbedded in the bread] which was easily the best French toast ever but then it was removed from the menu); and several people noted Paris—the streets, the food, the city in general—as a favourite place. The weirdest replication of all (to me, at any rate) was that two people gave favourite yoga poses and, of the millions (thousands?) of yoga poses out there they both chose exactly the same pose! (It was the pigeon, for the record).
I am writing this in a hotel room in Schoharie because so far this semester there has not been even a second of extra time for such frills. Everyone is at breakfast. Ben just came in the room to tell me excitedly that Maddie has PG Tips—which raises another favourite thing. Favourite black tea to drink every day: PG Tips. And so now prompted by the lure of favourite tea I’ll join the others and hopefully post of all of this sometime in the next few days.
Many weeks later. It perhaps does not bode well for my 50th year that it is 20 October and I have not yet started a blog I’d hoped to begin a few days after my birthday over a month ago. But it’s now set up and I’m looking forward to exploring so many of your favourite things. And I’m hoping that many of them will soon become my favourite things as well.
This list also gives me an excuse to extend my birthday over the entire year. In this blog I’ll record my experiences with your favourite things as well as adding a few of my own along the way. If you want to add more favourite things please feel free. Before turning to the specific things in the next few blog postings here are some general comments on the “favourite things” list over all.
The first, most surprising thing, is that very very few of you sent book suggestions. I thought there would be more books than any other category but possibly there are fewer books. I did get a lot of amazing recipes. I want to make them all instantly. Although I probably should have requested favourite exercise routines as well. Happily, several people sent me recipes and titles of favourite recipe books (and so that is one category of book) which means that the recipes can multiply indefinitely as I explore others not mentioned. There were a handful of favourites that were repeated by more than one person. Here they are: several people noted Mary Oliver as a favourite poet; several people noted the Manx as a favourite brunch place (I haven’t been there in ages but now plan to go soon; before we had kids Joel and I used to go often and have the banana French toast [bananas somehow magically imbedded in the bread] which was easily the best French toast ever but then it was removed from the menu); and several people noted Paris—the streets, the food, the city in general—as a favourite place. The weirdest replication of all (to me, at any rate) was that two people gave favourite yoga poses and, of the millions (thousands?) of yoga poses out there they both chose exactly the same pose! (It was the pigeon, for the record).
I am writing this in a hotel room in Schoharie because so far this semester there has not been even a second of extra time for such frills. Everyone is at breakfast. Ben just came in the room to tell me excitedly that Maddie has PG Tips—which raises another favourite thing. Favourite black tea to drink every day: PG Tips. And so now prompted by the lure of favourite tea I’ll join the others and hopefully post of all of this sometime in the next few days.
Many weeks later. It perhaps does not bode well for my 50th year that it is 20 October and I have not yet started a blog I’d hoped to begin a few days after my birthday over a month ago. But it’s now set up and I’m looking forward to exploring so many of your favourite things. And I’m hoping that many of them will soon become my favourite things as well.
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