Book Review: The Painted Word

How eloquently Arthur Plotnik (author of another book I'll now seek, The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words) puts his praise of this book:

"If The Painted Word were a club act, I'd sit there drinking in Cousineau's revelations, tales and mythologies until they kicked me out of the joint. Reading this brew of etymology, history, lore, and pop connections, with lambent illustrations by Gregg Chadwick, is just as intoxicating. A Cousineau riff on a (passionately selected) word is like Mark Twain meets Coleridge meets Casey Stengel meets - well, everyone who's fun and informative, whether the riff is on autologophagist (someone who eats his/her words) or jack, which, believe me, the world-traveled Cousineau knows when it comes to language."

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cousineau's entries on words, their usage and their origins. Moreover, as I perused the author's other works list (35), his prolific and intriguing interests astounded me. He offers so many interesting ideas and supporting quotes. For instance:

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech." Suetonius, 2nd century

For the entry on flabbergast (amaze, astonish, surprise) - Ogden Nash's lines: "First/ Let the rockets flash and the cannon thunder,/ This child is a marvel, a matchless wonder./ A staggering child, a child astounding,/ Dazzling, diaperless, dumbfounding,/ Stupendous, miraculous, unsurpassed,/ A child to stagger and flabbergast,/ Bright as a button, sharp as a thorn,/ And the only perfect one ever born./ Second/ Arrived this evening at half-past nine./ Everybody is doing fine./ Is it a boy, or quite the reverse?/ You can call in the morning and ask the nurse."

Or a Maya Angelou quote: "You shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back."

He highlights collective nouns: a zeal of zebras, or lesser known human ones an oversight of academics, a brood of researchers or a scrum of philosophers.

Concerning the word "feisty" - a word I've often used to describe my tenacious mother-in-law who will climb a ladder to clean windows when we've asked her not to - I had no idea the word was originally associated with the word "fart" and really means more "snappy, nervous, belligerent, fiery, frisky, or spunky."

Did you know that a trombone was once called a "sackbut?" We can actually find it in Scripture: Daniel 2:3. Or did you know that there's a word for the stars we see when we bump our heads? ("phosphenes") In his last book, I found a delightful German word for coward. This time, the author provides another curious word for coward - "quakebuttock" - I'm such a quakebuttock!

He presents a whole host of words I'm sure I learned from my mother: hifalutin, hoity-toity, hob-nob, holy-moly, fancy-schmancy, hunkydory, ignoramus, inkling, kit and caboodle, etc. Such fun words. This book provides an absolute treasure trove for anyone who loves to digest, encounter, or learn new words, the tools of a writer's trade!

A Backward Glance at my Mother

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

One of the tasks I set for myself in the new year was to clear out my email (the goal being to get it down to zero, still not accomplished). Toward the bottom of the list of mail marked new were letters I had saved from all the way back in 2011 written to me by my mother. Of course, most of her letters were read and discarded, but I must have left these in the new file thinking I would get back to them sometime to respond or jot down the titles recommended. Prior to deleting them, I copied them to a small Word file. It was like finding a time capsule:

Tue. March 29, 2011

Dear Wendy:

I was glad to hear there was a possibility of finding the tortellini at Aldi.  I'll have to look.

I'm sorry to hear that Sean and Trevor are sick.  Your statement about Trevor throwing up after having eaten strawberries made me think of when Mark threw up, in Webster Groves, after eating spaghetti (and poor Stella - our babysitter - had to clean it up.)

It amazes me to think of Trevor having his own blog!  He's a bright boy -- much brighter than me -- and I don't doubt he can handle it.

I had to chuckle about John and his medical advice because, yes, that is just like Dad.  Anything I say, he has a diagnosis and a remedy for.

We are leaving for Peoria right after Dad's bowling on Saturday, April 23rd.  That is as much as I'm sure of right now.  I'm not sure when David and Miriam are leaving Peoria or when they actually need us to be there.  I'm thinking we would probably be going through Indianapolis on Easter Sunday but don't know.  We can tell you more later next month and also, we would call you on the phone when we get close so that you can let us know if it's not a good time.  We could always stop in on the way back from Peoria instead, if that's better.

Love you, Wendy!

Mom

Wed, April 6, 2011

Dear Wendy:

Just read your blog!  I just yesterday finished reading "Healing Sands" (in a day and a half, couldn't stop reading it.)  I, too, did not know these books are a series.  I started with "Healing Waters," which was good.  This one was even better.  Not sure I'll want to go to #1 at this point.  It's funny, but the last time we went to our favorite bookstore in Lake Park, Georgia, I saw a number of books that seemed to be written for young/teen girls.  I was tempted to buy some as gifts for Arianna, Kari and Paige but wasn't familiar with the author.  The author was Nance Rue, who I now learn writes Christian books.  Her co-author in these "Healing . . . " books, Stephen Arterburn, is the founder of "Women of Faith" conferences.  I'm going to check the library for some of these "youth" books.

I also read "The Cradle" by Patrick Somerville and "World of Pies" by Karen Stolz.  On the lighter side I am into some "Murder" books.  These are easy reading, down home kind of books . . . they just all contain a murder, which the main character solves.  There is a whole slew of these books, with the first one being "Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder."  From there it moves on to "Strawberry Shortcake Murder," "Blueberry Muffin Murder," "Lemon Meringue Pie Murder," and on and on.  The neat thing is that every book is full of wonderful recipes.  "Sugar Cookie Murder" has about 50 recipes.  If you should start to read these it's best to start with #1--"Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder," because many of the characters are in all of the books.  If you want to view the author's (Joanne Fluke) website you can go to "murdershebaked.com".

Well that's my story for now.  This week it's going to be mostly Luke 19 because I have the Sunday School lesson this week.

Talk to you later.  I love you, Wendy.  Thanks for listening to me.

Mom

Tue. Aug 2, 2011

Dear Wendy:

The anniversary card you sent arrived--I mean the monkey one this time--I laughed and laughed.  It is so cute.  I think I like sock monkeys best, anyway, and this picture was darling.  Thanks to both you and John for the generous money gift!  That was very kind of you.  We spent yesterday trying to change some of our money into Euros and Pounds.  We went to our own bank first and they told us it would take as much as 10 days to get us the money.  This was on Monday and we leave the following Monday.  They suggested we go to AAA.  We did and they couldn't do it either.  All they had available was a packet of "tip money" - enough to get one started and the exchange rate they charged was very high.  But the lady who talked to us suggested we go to the Currency Exchange in Westshore Mall over in Tampa.  We stopped at home first and I looked up currency exchanges on the computer.  There was a comment from a young man moving to Japan and wanting to get Japanese Yen and that he found this at the Food Courts at Westshore Mall.  We looked at what the AAA lady had written for us and that was the same address.  But the food court?  So we went over to Tampa--it isn't far, just over the Bay--and the Mall is one of the first places you come to after crossing the Bay.  We went into the mall and there was a directory map and the Currency Exchange was shown on it--yes, right in the Food Court.

It was called CEI Currency Exchange.  CEI is the name of the travel agency we are going with.  Dad told the young boy who waited on us that the lady at AAA had sent us and said that if we tell that fact they will give us a discount.  They said "no" we don't do that.  But the manager was standing nearby and he looked down at the paperwork Dad had brought with us and saw "CEI Tours."  He asked us where we were going.  He then told the boy not to charge us the fee; he was very friendly and helpful.  So we were able to get money for the trip--which was a great relief.  I was afraid we weren't going to get any and would have to wait 'til we got there and then not have time--anyway, I had the feeling that that old fellow "Murphy" (of Murphy's Law) would be following us around.

Thanks for your advice about Haggis!  I had read something about what it was and was skeptical myself.  Our itinerary says that on the evening of Day 3 "a Scottish Highland cabaret will feature haggis and other traditional foods and we will enjoy bagpipe music, song and dance."  Well, I know for sure Shortbread is good; particularly yours.

I know that you probably will not be able to read this until you return from CBLI, but I want you to know that we will be thinking of you and John on your Anniversary on the 4th.  I know you always went to that special restaurant in Camp Lake and that it is no longer there; also, that John will probably not be there because he used to come when you lived in DeKalb.  But I hope your anniversary will be meaningful anyway!

Thank you again for all your love and thoughtfulness!

I love you,

Mom

Thu. Nov 10, 2011

Dear Wendy:

Just had to tell you that I just finished reading "I'm Not Who You Think I Am" by Peg Kehret.  It was a quick read ('course it's for kids!), and I loved it.  She is a great writer.  I tried to get "Runaway Twin", I think that's the correct name of the one you told of in your Blog . . . but the library didn't have it.  I also got, and read, her book - "Five Pages a Day: A Writer's Journey" (Juvenile Biography-Kehret, P).  That was a great read too.  I literally couldn't put it down.  Peg Kehret grew up in Austin, Minnesota!

I know you don't have time to read this month, but maybe later you might want to look that up.  I also saw on our Library's internet catalog that Maeve Binchy has a book called "Maeve Binchy's Writer's Club - 823.914BIN.

It was nice to read that your boys are interested in your month of writing.

Thinking of you!

Love you lots,

Mom

Austin, Minnesota is where my grandmother used to live. Amazing to think of a famous author coming from that tiny farm town.

How I miss these letters from my mom, hearing her response to my blog posts, gleaning her book reactions and recommendations, etc. Perhaps I will locate more letters when I begin to sort through papers in the basement (another new year task - however that one is far more daunting and I will probably put it off, as usual). It made me want to set another task for the new year - compiling letters for my boys - they would surely not save them if I wrote them and handed it to them now, but perhaps if it is a letter to open upon my demise, well ... one can hope they'd be interested in a backward glance at their own mother.
====================

Addendum: On Saturday, January 18th, my dad took a fall, hitting his head and breaking his arm. Given my mother's increasingly limited mobility, they really needed someone to come assist them during this healing phase, so I left on January 21st to take care of them until February 4th - thankfully, I had a few blog posts pre-written and scheduled. I know this will be terribly unsettling for my mother, but I am grateful for the opportunity to be with them in their time of need and to provide something of value despite her resistance to any presence besides my father.

Book Review: The Writing Desk

How I wish you could trust current bestsellers to deliver fine reading that is wholesome! I've tossed aside several books recently because they veered into promiscuous or unnecessarily salacious territory. Even more depressing because I usually get 50 pages in before I realize it will be that kind of book. So, I sought Christian fiction (not my first choice because so often the message takes precedent over the story).

The Writing Desk, by Rachel Hauck, tells of a frustrated author, Tenley Roth, battling writer's block after her debut novel achieves tremendous success. Her fiance wants her to join him in Paris while he attends a screenwriter's conference, but she dutifully heads to Florida to walk her estranged mother through cancer treatments. Meanwhile, Birdie Shehorn's story unfolds in the Gilded Age. She is an heiress being forced into an arranged marriage. The two timelines eventually merge when Tenley, under pressure to produce, attempts to pass off Birdie's story as her own.

Of the two stories, Birdie's was far more absorbing. It was hard to muster sympathy for Tenley as she lounged endlessly in a ratty bathrobe and whined about everything. The religious bits seemed simply tagged on: a ditty that runs through one character's mind when trouble comes, a recognition of the faith of a parent or grandparent, an admonition to read the Bible to better understand life and its purpose. There is much within the story that speaks of the human condition (abandonment, infidelity, adultery, deceit, and pride), yet the antidote offered limps along as an addendum. It was as if the author wrote the book for a secular market then added bits to bump it into the Christian market. Hmm. The story was entertaining. The historical bits rang true. However, the redemption only moved me enough to give it two and a half thumbs up/stars.

Out with the Old; In with the New

I recently bid adieu to a long-standing, reliable washer-dryer set. They don't make appliances sturdy any more. Indeed, I believe they intentionally make them in such a way that they will wear out quickly and require a further purchase. This Kenmore set was in the house when we arrived 13-1/3 years ago (and probably served for two decades):

As with almost everything in this old house, when the delivery men came to replace the set with the Lowe's Black Friday special we snagged over the Thanksgiving weekend, they could not attach the washer because the pipe valves were corroded from gradual leaking (yippee). Thus, we had to wait until a plumber could come (scheduled for the next day, but then postponed because of his busy schedule to the following Monday - groan).

We should have asked the plumber to install the new washer while he was here and the service call was covered (or at least reconnect the old one). Instead, we did as told and called Lowe's back to get back on another installation schedule. They couldn't come until Sunday (at which point, I'd been without a washer for ten days).

Frustration upon frustration. The cold water wash provided hot water. I thought perhaps we could remedy this temporarily by running a hot water wash, assuming if the pipes were wrongly connected, the hot wash would provide cold water - but I was WRONG. The hot water wash produced warm water. Try as I might, I could do nothing to make the machine run cold. Of course, Bryce was here and had brought three weeks worth of laundry. The machines (be it the washer or the dryer, I don't know) snagged his nice white sheet set in numerous spots:

I was mortified to have ruined his nice things. I should have experimented first on our own sheets and clothes, but he was wanting his to be ready for when he returned home on Christmas afternoon. What's more, the machine is so loud and it takes an hour+ to cycle through the wash load! Why, oh why, did I get rid of the old machines? While I'm grateful for a washer that will not smear random clothes with small rust marks and a dryer that will not run too hot, I don't like the new ones (well, the washer anyway). Am pretty sure this is another large-expense mistake (like the almost $2000 horrid stiff mattress we snagged for only $1300 back in 2011, but then couldn't return unless we shelled out another $600 to upgrade).

We had planned to have our water heater drained in January anyway, so we had that plumber switch the hoses and now I finally have cold water for a cold water wash. I only use warm/hot for whites, but had to use warm on everything until the issue was finally resolved. (Indeed, I hand-washed Trevor's new bright red McDonald's work t-shirt and even in the cold basin water, the colors ran, so I am relieved I didn't throw it in with everything else in the WARM wash.) Wondering if these machines will serve me well for a decade (if we remain in this house that long), but only hold out hope for about half that time. New is not always better, even when necessary.

Then, Sean received a new Iphone XR for his birthday and wanted an AT&T plan (instead of the Walmart plan he was on), so I took on his old Iphone 6 and plan and have been adjusting to the new phone and new number, as well. I even checked out a book from the library - I-phones for Dummies.

Several months ago, I purchased a used desk (bedecked with a book pattern) that closes up to hide my stacks and clutter. So, now I am in the process of trying to clear out my old desk and organize things so I can move it all into the new desk. My old desk has an extremely large surface, so I'm anticipating the difficulty of getting used to a smaller space to work in (and thinking I might miss the view from the window where my computer is set up now). We'll see if I can make the switch.

For having grown up in a Salvation Army officer's family, moving every two to three years of my life, I sure do resist change. Plus, we are not done with the shake-up. Our cars are currently all on their last leg (tire?) - all with over 150,000 miles on them. My beloved Nissan Quest van will be donated in January when the insurance runs out and I will switch to driving the car (much less room, but much better zip) until we can afford to purchase a different vehicle for me, or until Trevor earns the right to drive the car. How I will miss my roomy, familiar van!

New decade, new year, new washer/dryer, new phone, new desk, new old vehicle - what other altered realities will I be facing in 2020? Saw this on Facebook and had to chuckle: "Where do I see myself in a year? I don't know; I don't have 2020 vision!"

Speaking of vision - mine continues to decline. Had to use a magnifying glass at times to complete this fun puzzle (the books on the shelves all have altered titles like War & Peas, 20,000 Leeks Under the Sea, and Lord of the Pies:

Before I know it, I'll be needing new glasses - doh! How about you? What does the new year promise for you and are you good with change, or resistant like me?

Book Review: The Other Einstein

Having enjoyed one audio selection by Marie Benedict, I sought another in The Other Einstein. The writing  was excellent and the storytelling superb. Yet, I struggled with conflicted emotions about the fictional tale of Einstein's first wife. I wondered whether the author worked from a pre-conceived premise that behind every great man is an outstanding, supportive (or perhaps in this case, even superior) woman. The book seemed to conclude that Einstein received false credit for work that belonged to his wife and her mathematically superior mind. The battle lines were stark. Einstein was an adulterous, adulation-stealing, self-absorbed tyrant. His wife was a saint who sacrificed her own scientific endeavors and accolades to his reputation, whose grief in the loss of her first illegitimate child led to her surmised articulation of the theory of relativity, and whose commitment to her sons led her to forsake her own sense of self until she could take it no longer. The reader comes away loathing Einstein and lauding his long-suffering wife.

Reader beware - if you do not enjoy the word "bohemian," do not pick up this book. The author uses it perhaps a hundred times. That said, I cannot fault the writing otherwise. Benedict has great skill in weaving interesting characters against the backdrop of historical settings and times. She stirs within her readers the deliberate question of "what if?" This is exactly where Carnegie's Maid took me. What if a woman was indeed the impetus for the greatness within a famous man? I'm sure,that has happened plenty of times with the women unrecognized, yet I still wondered at the fictional supposition of Einstein's monstrous character and Mileva Maric's monumental patience. It seemed like quite a bit of conjecture.

I have put my name on the hold list for another book about Einstein and am curious to see if the Einstein I encounter in that book will hold any similarities to the one presented by Marie Benedict. Still, at the end of this audio book, the author provides a clear outline of the books and resources she referred to in crafting this tale. She acknowledges it is a fictional story based on factual letters and conflicting historical debate. If only we could speak to the real Mrs. Einstein and get the story from her own lips. Oh well, enjoy it for what it is - a grand supposition of what might have led to the great discovery of the theory of relativity and Einstein's deserved or undeserved reputation.

Favorite Books of 2019

In looking back over the books I read during the past year, it wasn't a stellar year for reading. I only had 3 highly-recommended (5 👍) book titles. I have added 5 honorable mentions (4/4.5 👍), as well. Here are my favorite reads for 2019:

Highly Recommend

The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen, M.D.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Educated by Tara Westover

Honorable Mentions

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer