Eavesdropping



Photo courtesy of o5com, Creative Commons Attribution License

Last night I was in a bookstore checking out the titles on the Teen Fiction New Releases shelf when I overheard some animated conversation from the other side of  the shelf. It appeared to be a few girls gushing over the books they loved and trashing the ones they hated...and briefly commenting on ones they read that were "all right but not earth-shattering". After a few minutes of listening, I was dying to actually see which ones they were pointing to, so I wandered around the other side and intentionally eavesdropped. The three girls (about 15-16, I'd guess) were chatting comfortably and getting excited to share their finds, both good and bad. They seemed to gravitate toward the romance and contemporary fiction rather than the supernatural and fantasy. "OMG...this one was fantastic!" "I read this one three times! And I want to read it again." "The story was good, but the ending sucked." "Have you read this one?" I stood there for some time, trying to look like I was searching for a book to read rather than purposely listening in on their comments. It was very enlightening. Some authors they loved all of their books, others they loved one or two of their books but felt that the rest all seemed to exactly like everything else they wrote. Others they absolutely hated. They were very free with their praise and criticism.

Then they went on to discuss which book jackets they liked...and didn't like. This was particularly interesting. They pointed to ones they loved and discussed them. By that point I was doing all I could not to enter in to their conversation. Finally, after many, many jackets discussed, I piped up and said, "Sorry to interrupt, but I find it interesting that most all of the jackets you say you love don't have images of people on them." (Especially odd since it seems that so many of today's jackets show close-ups of girls' faces.) After a look of shock--whether at my intruding on their conversation or realization that they actually had ignored the faces, I don't know--one of the girls turned to me and said, "That's because the girl never looks like the girl in my head." Then the other two chimed in that they hate to have a picture of the girl on the front because it messes with the image they get by reading the book. Hmmm...I thought about this and realized that it's that very thing that makes me cringe upon seeing any of the Twilight movies. Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson look nothing like the Bella and Edward I saw as I was reading. For that reason, I just can't stomach the movies. The girls then went on to share with me some of the books WITH characters on them that they liked (Thirteen Reasons Why--which, incidentally, shows not the boy main character but the dead girl; Before I Fall--so close up that things like hair and body shape are hidden). They also liked books with just a piece of a person (such as feet or hands) but not a clear image of what the character looks like.

I found this entire conversation so interesting, and it has stayed with me. What makes you want to read a book you see on a shelf? How much does the image play into your decision? And, ultimately, does it have an effect on your reading?

Rocking My PajamaJeans

OK...I wasn’t feeling real positive about these jeans after getting a look at them, but I figured I’d try them out. It’s a rainy day and I have nowhere to go, so why not?  They actually fit well in the waist...it’s the wide, boxy legs that make them look so huge...and they are very comfortable. Great for hanging around the house without risking the “camel toe” of yoga pants. I don’t think I’ll be wearing them out, but they’re great for the house or working around the yard. If the legs weren’t so wide (especially in the thighs), I think I might be able to risk a trip to the grocery store in them, but with them the way they are I don’t see that happening.

The next challenge will be to see how they wash. But for now, if you work from home like I do, they’re comfortable and I wouldn’t be embarrassed to answer the door in them.

Happy National Punctuation Day!

Did you know today, September 24, has been named National Punctuation Day? No? Check out this link to learn all you've ever wanted to know about punctuation. There are no parades or barbecues, no moments of silence or football games to honor the marks. But there is a contest--and the winner will receive "punctuation goodies", whatever they may be. Your guess is as good as mine. You can find out the rules at the link above. And if you enter the contest, please let us know.

In case you were wondering, National Punctuation Day is the brainchild of a former newspaper editor from Pinole (near San Francisco) named Jeff Rubin. He created the honorary day in 2004 as a way to highlight the importance of the proper use of punctuation marks. How do you intend to celebrate?

They're Here!

My PajamaJeans have arrived. I opened the bag and they look kind of BIG...I’m not feeling very positive at the moment, but I’ll try them out tomorrow.

Grapes Into Wine

Wine is bottled poetry.

--Robert Louis Stevenson

We got up at 4am Saturday morning, dressed in work clothes, and headed for the vineyards. Davis has been making wine in our garage for the last three years but this year, for the first time, we were going to pick the grapes ourselves. We set out in the dark, not sure what to expect, and arrived at the vineyard just as the sun peeked over the horizon.

The morning was cool and the grapes plentiful. The three of us picked about 400 pounds of Zinfindel grapes in about two hours. As the sun rose higher, and with it the temperature, the bees began to wake up. Fortunately, we were about finished by that time--I'm not sure I'd want to pick with the bees so active. Overall, it was a marvelous experience...and although I complained about having to get up so early, I'd do it all over again.

When we returned home with four large containers filled with grapes (and the spiders that came along for the ride!), Davis and Cody ran the grapes through the destemmer and crusher...a very interesting process. Now the grapes are in the cold soak and will soon begin their long journey to become wine.

Sometimes Momma Wonders

My son came home from school today, and with pride in his voice wanted to show me what he "learned". Granted, he is learning how to manipulate photos, work in Photoshop, and design images...but planking? Really? Sometimes you just have to smile and go with it.

PajamaJeans? Sign Me Up!

I don't watch television very often, and when I do it's usually something I have recorded on the DVR and when I finally have the opportunity to sit down and watch, I click through all the commercial breaks. My son is appalled that I have no idea what he's talking about sometimes when he quotes commercials, but so be it. I'm clueless.

Well, what a surprise it was when a commercial came on for PajamaJeans. Where have I been? I sat staring at the screen with my mouth hanging open. I think I may have found heaven. Jeans comfortable enough that you can sleep in them, but still look great enough to go out in? That's too good to be true.

First, in order to understand how excited this news made me, you need to understand where I'm coming from. I work from home. I spend the day sitting in front of my computer, curled up on the couch readinor sitting at my desk editing. I don't have to get dressed up for the office, but if I stay at my desk in pajamas all day I just don't feel productive. And, if I have to run out for some reason or, heaven forbid, someone stops by, I have to race to my closet and get dressed for company. Jeans are comfortable, and that's primarily what I wear...but after a few hours of sitting the waistband and snap start to dig into my skin (yes, I admit I have put on a few extra pounds over the years) and I begin getting antsy. I've solved this problem by wearing yoga pants...with a pair of jeans conveniently set on my bed should the doorbell ring or there be a need for a quick afternoon trip to the post office or UPS. So when I heard about these pants I was nearly drooling for a pair.

But being a skeptic, I couldn't completely trust the commercial. I went to my trusty computer and Googled PajamaJeans. After watching the nifty infomercial (the same one shown on TV), I searched for PajamaJeans reviews. There were some written reviews and even a few YouTube video reviews. Imagine that! Nearly everyone seemed to love them. Sure, there were some negatives...like the dye running in the washer and ruining a load of clothes, or a rivet came off, or the husband who couldn't stand seeing his wife in them. But there were far more lovers than haters, so...I ordered a pair. Yup...I succumbed to an infomercial. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the UPS man (it didn't say how long I'd have to wait). And when they arrive, I'll tell you what I think.