January

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.
-John Updike


Gray days always make me sleepy and unproductive. So, the only productive thing I can do now is take a nap.


No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap.
-Carrie Snow

Shameless Plug

I received a Spin-Clean record cleaner for Christmas and have been slowing washing my record collection. After cleaning my first 20 records I was surprised to see so much dirt at the bottom of the washer basin.  I was also surprised by how fast and easy it was to use.  It works so well it almost makes the slightly outrageous price worth it. 

Book Room: the annotated Sandman

I've decided to remove the section Book Room from my page sidebar and instead put it under post labels. Blogger has made it more complicated to make title links- so much so, I haven't listed books I've read in months. From now on I will just do a post on any interesting books I've read whenever I feel the urge to do so. Like today.

Neil Gaiman started writing The Sandman graphic novels in 1989 and last November I discovered the annotated Sandman volume one at my local library.  I liked it so much I went straight to volume two.

And then after I finished that book, straight to volume three.

What is the Sandman series about?

What do you need to know to enjoy the series? Only that there are seven brothers and sisters who have been since the beginning of time, the Endless. They are Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium who was once Delight, and Destruction who turned his back on his duties. Their names describe their function and the realms that they are in charge of. Several years ago, a coven of wizards attempted to end death by taking Death captive, but captured Dream instead. When he finally escapes he must face the changes that have gone on in his realm, and the changes in himself.
-Neil Gaiman

Why did I enjoy these annotated books so much?  Mainly for the stories and the way Neil Gaiman weaved folk tales, fairy tales and ancient mythology throughout the books but also for the many annotations which note the who/what/where/when of the tales and/or mythological beings and creatures mentioned.   I love well done fantasy and Neil Gaiman has created a disturbing real fantasy world.   If  I  am going to be creeped out by a story,  I prefer it be done with some panache.  These stories certainly have a lot of panache and I appreciate the fact that they do.

Mama Said There'll Be Days Like This

Beautiful, beautiful day. I gave the dogs a bath and am now on the front porch brushing them out with Count Basie's recording of One O'clock Jump playing on the stereo.

Light Shadows 23

Speak of the wolf and you will see its teeth.
-Unknown

Martin Luther King, JR. Day

Sounds About Right

Somewhere In America

Get Lit members Rhiannon McGavin, Zariya Allen, and Belissa Escobedo, perform "Somewhere in America" on The Queen Latifah Show.

This Just In

A Fox News channel expert says something so ridiculous even true blue Fox New fans don't believe it.
(Not really, true blue Fox News fans willingly drink the Kool-Aid Fox News serves them without ever asking if something toxic has be added.)


"Fox News man is 'complete idiot' for Birmingham Muslim comments – David Cameron"
-The Guardian

Stop The Madness

Charlie Hebdo Attack

Last Night I Dreamt About The Man With The Power Of Hoodo

Bearing Gifts We Travel Afar

I Am Learning To Sew- Project 13

Gingerbread men Christmas ornaments. I cut out the front shape and sewed it to a square piece of felt and then cut around the completed man. I made 5 of them but the first 3 had tan backs which made it hard to see just where the edge of the gingerbread man was when I sewed. I used red felt for the back of the last two. Using a contrasting color made sewing a lot easier.

Snow, Snow, Snow

New Year's Eve 2014- a beautiful, clear, crisp evening.

Happy New Year!

Let's hope it's a good one, without any fear.