If You're As Sick As I Am Of This Weather...

I think I can pretty much speak for everyone that Winter can leave now.  The wind howled all last night and the only reason it wasn't a blizzard was because (thankfully???) we had an inch of ice on top of the snow.

So I thought now might be a good time to do some reading.  I normally read biographies with art how-to books and the occasional "chick lit" sprinkled in.  But over the years I've read some "classics" so a) I can feel sorta "well-read" and b) because I sub-taught in many, many English classes and thought I should read what the kids were reading.  I'm ashamed to say that if the subject matter was particularly dark, I likely didn't read it.  I don't like dark movies either, though I know they often have important messages.  (Author's note:  some of these aren't necessarily "classics" but were enjoyable reads.)

I've comprised a list in no particular order and surely I've missed some.  If titles (well, probably most) have movie versions and if I liked the movie better/didn't read the book, it's not on this list.  Perhaps they will appear on a movie list someday.  I would like to challenge you to even read one of these soon!  I have several more I plan to do as well.

Death of a President- William Manchester

Watership Down- Richard Adams

The Grapes of Wrath- John Steinbeck

The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver

The Good Earth- Pearl S. Buck

The Old Man and the Sea- Ernest Hemingway

Girl With A Pearl Earring- Tracy Chevalier

Little Women- Louisa May Alcott

The Bible (of course, the best book of all, even if you were just reading it as literature)

House of the Scorpion- Nancy Farmer

The Screwtape Letters- C. S. Lewis

The James Herriott Animal Story Collection

Clan of the Cave Bear Series- Jean Auel

Call of the Wild- Jack London

Moby Dick- Herman Melville

Uncle Tom's Cabin- Harriet Beecher Stowe

Twilight Series- Stephenie Meyer

Series of Unfortunate Events Collection- Lemony Snicket

Harry Potter Series- J.K. Rowling

Tuesdays With Morrie- Mitch Albom

Hunger Games Trilogy- Suzanne Collins

The Kite Runner- Khaled Hosseini

The Secret Life of Bees- Sue Monk Kidd

Their Eyes Were Watching God-  Zora Neal Hurston

War and Peace-  Leo Tolstoy  (abridged version only-the regular one will drive you crazy with several names per character!)

To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee

A Tale of Two Cities-  Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens

The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Copper Sun- Sharon M. Draper

Well, I hope this inspires you to get reading!  Unfortunately, Winter isn't over yet!

Until next time,
Gale

Why Do I Bother To Watch The News?

Though I'm taking it out of context, I can relate to the phrase "no news is good news."  After watching either local or national news, I often regret even turning it on.  Ironic, because I have a B.A. in journalism and originally studied broadcast news!  I changed to public relations to a) get out of school a couple quarters earlier and b) because I couldn't see me at the scene doing the tragic stories (or interviewing some of  the, shall we say, not-so-highly-intellectual witnesses, folks with opinions, etc.)

There is some stuff I think I'm better off not knowing.  For instance, I know we are in another "Polar Vortex" already.  All I have to do is step outside.  What I'm depressed about it is the "propane shortage" which will likely send the price through the roof because now there will be a panic.  Funny, it gets cold in the winter and you would think the propane folks would plan for it, but it's much more profitable to manufacture a crisis.

I'm tired of hearing "dirty laundry" (or rather the possibility of it) by politicians taking advantage of their positions.   Where is the news in that???  Why do our Columbus stations have to report on every tragic murder?  They are unfortunately now commonplace in central Ohio and all are tragic.  Unless they can report on a way to avoid them, it's not news.

That goes for entertainment news too.  I don't give a hoot about any Kardashians, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Honey Boo-Boo or any of their ilk.  Quit giving them airtime and see what happens.

My favorites (not really) are the stories where someone is inconvenienced.  Let's see, when weather makes it too dangerous to fly, they may cancel flights.  The airlines would rather fly and make money, but the passengers seem to feel the need to make it to their destination alive.  Why do I give a rat's batoot about someone who complains they are late to or from some trip and want the airlines to be punished?  Not only is it ignorant, but they will surely get some compensation that we will pay for in higher ticket prices.  If you fly in the winter, expect and plan for delays!!!

Granted we should know that traveling to the Olympics in Sochi could be dangerous.  I really hope all goes well and that the most sophisticated intelligence systems in the world (US and Russia) can outsmart a handful of 20 year olds set on ruining things.  However, constantly talking about it is already ruining things for athletes, families and the host country without even having to bomb anything.  So the terrorists win either way.

And another thing.... those commercials.  Really?  Do we have to hear about the little blue pill for men and now, even a treatment for women's private issues?  This is during some folk's dinner hour and certainly before most children's bedtime.  People are gonna buy those pills whether or not they see the ad, so I say we ban them!

Well off my frozen soapbox for now!  Take care and stay warm!
Gale