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Category Archives: good reads

funny people

17 Saturday Apr 2010

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads, Writing

≈ 20 Comments

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Bill Scheft, Donna Gephart, Erma Bombect Writing Workshop, Gail Collins, Karen Walrond, Tracy Beckerman, Wade Rouse

I love writing conferences.  Every writing workshop I attend leaves me feeling energized, inspired, and armed with, well, armloads of useful information.  This time, I can add one more take-away to the list: the endorphins from laughing until I have tears running down my face.  It is the final day of the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop and I am surrounded by the largest group of funny people I have ever seen assembled under one roof.  I have looked forward to this particular conference for over a year.  The chance to meet like-minded writers, authors, bloggers, speakers, columnists and comedians?  Whoa. *Highly recommended experience*

I particularly enjoyed these speakers:

Tracy Beckerman, author of Rebel Without a Minivan and the blog Lost in Suburbia as well as the syndicated column of the same name.  Very funny lady who makes me feel better about a life in the ‘burbs.  (Much like Erma herself.)

Donna Gephart, author of several successful middle grade children’s novels that incorporate humor.  I feel optimism about my work-in-progress nanowrimo middle grade novel, based on her presentation.  I think I am on the right track with the characters, format and plot.

Karen Walford and her beautiful blog chookooloonks — this was a delightful look into how a woman with a passion for writing and photography can leave a former career behind, and follow her heart.

Wade Rouse, author of several best-selling humor memoirs.  This happens to be my new favorite genre to read.  He reminds me of David Sedaris, except Wade lives in the woods, and I don’t think David would do that.  This break-out session did involve an unfortunate incident involving a TV camera and me reading aloud our “assignment” for the day — a personal essay on one of our greatest fears.  All in good fun except I started crying while reading mine, which can lead to my next great essay about my new biggest fear, which is crying in front of a TV camera and room full of strangers while reading out loud.  But he was great.

Add in the chance to talk to the most helpful editor of a regional parenting magazine that I could hope to meet, and hear Gail Collins, Bill Scheft, and many other authors… I need to go lie down somewhere before my head explodes.

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youthful shenanigans, quantum theory and…socks

18 Thursday Jun 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads

≈ 6 Comments

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AskWaitLeap, Brian Reardon, missing socks

I like the blog AskWaitLeap where there are always insightful musings, funny anecdotes, occasionally a poignant poem, and stories from her adventurous life.  You can’t miss reading about an escapade where she cut off the end of her finger at roughly age ten, and she and her friends sewed it back on themselves and never told her parents, who presumably also never noticed.

Yes, this woman has stories to tell.

I was amused by her recent exploration into one of life’s mysteries: the curious case of…  the missing socks.  A mystery indeed.  My pile of singleton socks ebbs and flows, and mates show up weeks or months later.  I could throw away the singles each time, but, just like the unwanted plants that get a new home at my house, I don’t like the single socks to end their days alone.

Taking the topic a step further (into quantum physics?) is the very clever article “Laundry: A Quantum Mechanical Approach” by Brian Reardon.  It’s tucked in on a laundry website, right between septic protection and lint build-up.  Here is an excerpt:

“The first modern attempt to explain the fundamental questions of laundry involved the decay theroy.  The decay theory states that the quantity of socks can be expressed as a decreasing exponential function of time which is analogous to radioactive decay.”

Ohhhh, so THAT’s where the socks go.  I get it now!  I don’t know why I find Mr. Reardon’s Quantum Theory of Laundry so hilarious, but I do.  Any other sock theories out there?

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Frequent Foodie, Guest Blogger: Tom Jacobson

27 Wednesday May 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in Foodies, good reads

≈ 7 Comments

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facebook, guest blogger, Tom Jacobson

Today I am happy to welcome another guest blogger to these pages —  Tom Jacobson: Frequent Flyer, Frequent Facebook writer and Frequent Foodie.  After 25 years, Tom and I reconnected via Facebook (he is the scholar of a past post), and we have enjoyed a lively correspondence in the last few months.  I enjoy his writing so much, I asked him to share some thoughts on his days.  After many posts chronicling just one Jane’s look at life, here is one Tom’s look at how social media has made life more interesting, with the limits still to be determined…

To Infinity and Beyond
By Tom Jacobson

The Internet changes things.  It warps the space-time continuum.  It changes people and our perception of people.  It gives each of us a new chance to explore things we have always wanted to, and allows others to see us through a different lens.  The New Yorker sure got it right back in 1993 when they first published the now famous Peter Steiner cartoon, “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog!”  And while we aren’t dogs – except of course for Jane’s dog, but gosh that sure seems to work for her! – do our real-world lives match our cyber existences?

In life, I am a gadget-guy.  I love my toys.  I thrill at the fact that I can use my Palm, connected via Bluetooth to my cell, to go onto the Web, to program my DVR, all while standing in line at the airport.  It just doesn’t get any better than that!  (If you don’t believe me, ask the guy in your life.  He’ll confirm it.)

I am a salesman.  Yes, I took my masters degree in library science straight into the “vendor world” and ultimately fell to “the dark side” selling software to libraries.  Trust me I have heard all about it, and there are still nights I lay awake thinking about it.  But honestly, the goal is to connect with the library, explain the product, understand their issues, and solve their problems.  And when you do it right, you are a rock star!  Honest to God!  The whole room is on its feet, and at the end of the day you float out the door…  There is nothing to be gained from cutting corners and doing it any other way, so for the non-believers, you are just wrong.

I am a husband and a father.  Well at least on paper I am.  I say that because most days I have this nagging feeling that I am doing it wrong, though others assure me that feeling actually indicates I am doing it right…

I am all these things and more every day.  And yet when I log on to the Web, I am none of these things!  They are left behind when I beam myself up, and I come out the other side someone else.  Transformed.  And as you watch on your monitors, those bits of me that still remain are further diffused.

Yes, I can still be counted on for the one-liner wisecracks.  That’s me snarking on Jane’s Facebook wall in and between everyone else’s kind, encouraging words.  But with the ability to turn it off and on, looking in only when one wants to, the zings come across as they are meant, and the barbs are stripped away.

And if you look over at my Facebook wall, who am I?  A master chef!  Yes, a culinary prodigy planning, anticipating, cooking, plating, chronicling and devouring meal after succulent meal!  Don’t know what to have for dinner?  Just check it out and see if anything sounds good.  Wondering if a 7 and 8 year old will like Brussels Sprouts and Sea Scallops?  The answer is there.  Need a recipe for the best blueberry pancakes, down to which blueberries to use?  Just ping me, I have it on hand.  Advice on the magic of turning a chicken carcass into soup?  I’ll give it to you straight.  (By the way, if your kids don’t like the celery floating in soup, a hand blender takes care of that little problem, and they don’t even know it!)

Tom's LambLamb and Pasta w/ Greek Cinnamon-Tomato Sauce
with a Spinach, Leek & Feta Triangle

I’ve even developed a following among my FB friends.  The other weekend when I posted that I was “looking forward to the organic, grass-fed beef tenderloin filets”, an old college friend commented that I made “beef sound like a hot date!”  I was later accused of food-porn when I confirmed they were great, having rubbed them with a garlic and salt paste and drizzled olive on top, broiling them nicely and finishing mine with blue cheese, add to that golden pan-roasted potatoes and asparagus with balsamic and parmesan…

My brother-in-law is a follower too, though more of the type who tries, but can’t quite look away and is ashamed of himself later.

Tom's Sea Scallops

Brussels Sprouts with Sea Scallops

My Dad did the cooking while I grew up.  Not all of it, but the day-to-day while my Mom went to school and later worked.  I’ve always enjoyed cooking.  When the kids were born, it was the one thing I could really do effectively to keep the household on track.  In fact despite traveling very regularly in my job, I’ve come to do all the menu planning, shopping, and cooking, including those meals when I am not at home.  If I am out for three days in a week, that is three meals cooked and in the refrigerator before I leave.

My favorite was when my daughter asked a friend, upon learning that she did not have a Dad, “But who cooks your food?!”  The single mom looked wistfully my direction, and totally made my day!

Tom's Paprika-Potato OmletteSpanish Paprika-Potato Omlette, Chipolte Sausage with Carmelized Red
Onions, Lightly Dressed Salad and Cheese Bread

That is my thing.  And while I enjoy it and discuss it regularly, there was something about Facebook that just launched it in a whole new way.  Gadget-guy?  Salesman?  Husband and father?  No!  Top Chef!  Iron Chef!  Little Suzy Homemaker!!  You name it, there I am.  Micro-blogging the daily menu, and writing food-porn.  And loving every minute of it.

Have I discovered a new career?  Or simply a new outlet?  Am I a dog?  Or a master chef?  Is anybody even reading?  I have no idea.  But I know if this is possible after only a few short months, then who knows what strange corner of the galaxy this trip is going to take us to, but I can’t wait to get there.

Tonight’s menu you ask?  Fried chicken and my mother-in-law’s hoe cake.

*

I am pretty sure I served waffles for dinner to my resident-picky-eaters on the day I first read Tom’s Facebook family dinner updates.  Looking at the pictures he posted, I figured he must take his young family out to restaurants often.  Then I found out it really was “what’s for dinner” at someone’s house…  Huh?   Whoa.   (Yum.)

Thank you Tom, for sharing your story and Facebook foodie experiences.  Keep us posted!  (And when can we all come over for dinner?)

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wordsmithing again

20 Wednesday May 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads

≈ 8 Comments

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CarTalk, Merriam Webster

As someone who occasionally feels the need to wordsmith words to fit an occasion or circumstance, I enjoyed this list of Top Ten Favorite Words (Not in the Dictionary) from Merriam Webster.  Who doesn’t feel confuzzled on occasion when searching for just the right word?  Certainly when one is wordling, or twitterpating, it can happen.

NPR’s CarTalk, one of my fav radio programs, was the source of a new family favorite term: garage mahal.  As in, a garage of such ginormous size that it rivals the house itself in scope and grand design.  Once again, it is those funny folks over at Merriam Webster behind the list — who knew dictionary people were such a woot?  They have a stodgy reputation that is clearly not deserved.  (I would add library folk to that category as well;  turns out they can be quite clever with their humor.)

As my spell-checker has a conniption (real word!), I’ll dare to ask:

What are some of your favorite wordsmithed words?

blimpofied

To get you started, I’ll offer my newest:

*blimpofied*:  the uncomfortable state of digestion after ordering all-u-can-eat BBQ ribs at Walt’s Barn O’ Pork.

Hypothetical situation, of course.

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open the windows

11 Monday May 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads, Motherhood, Photography

≈ 5 Comments

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Barbara Park, books, Children's Book Council, Children's Book Week, Dan Yaccarino, GeekDad, independent bookseller, Jon Scieszka, Mary Pope Osborne

CBW09_PosterToday marks the beginning of Children’s Book Week, May 11 – 17.  What a perfect week to celebrate the tradition of reading with our children and out loud to our children.  Surprise them with a new book from library or for them to keep!  (Ideally, let’s make our purchase at an independent bookseller — they need our support.)

Click the tab “For Kids” on the website, and find a downloadable bookmark and door hanger designed by artist Dan Yaccarino; and story starters by authors such as Mary Pope Osborne, Barbara Park, Jon Scieszka and more — they provide the opening paragraph to encourage younger kids to write their own tales.

Teens are encouraged to write their own book reviews and post them.

From the Children’s Book Council:

“A celebration of the written word, Children’s Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools, libraries, homes and bookstores. Through Children’s Book Week, the Children’s Book Council encourages young people and their caregivers to discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.”

Even GeekDad, a Wired Magazine blog, is on board.  I love their tagline, “raising geek generation 2.0”.  Read on, geekdads!

This is also the week that the Children’s Book Council announces the winners of the Children’s Choice Awards.  The list of books nominated for the Children’s Choice Awards is broken out by age group, through teens.

*

I love books.

*

Reading opens new windows into the world for all of us.

window to another place

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biblioburro

04 Monday May 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads

≈ 2 Comments

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biblioburro, bookmobile, books

I have a warm spot in my heart for the bookmobile of my youth.  To me, it was a rolling candy store, a literary ice cream truck without the canned music and creepy tattooed guy handing out melted treats.  Just a nice lady with loads of books.  Yum!

This quiet video made me smile, with the story of one man and his mission to bring books to even the most remote areas of Columbia.

Luis Soriano has two donkeys, 4800 books, and what must be a big heart.  Biblioburro, a truly off-road bookmobile.  Because every child needs books to read, and someone to read to them.

dsc_0016

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a plot

29 Wednesday Apr 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in Foodies, good reads, seasons

≈ 5 Comments

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Animal Vegetable Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver, perennial garden, The $64 Tomato, vegetable garden, White House garden, William Alexander

We broke ground on our first vegetable garden plot last night.  I use “we” in a loose sense, just me pointing my finger and Big D with a shovel and a mission.  That man works harder than anyone I have ever met.  He knows I’ve wanted to try vegetable gardening for years.  Plenty of flowers around here, but the vegetables and herbs were all in containers on the deck.  There were the years of volunteer tomatillos growing by the front door, but that is another story.  I like to think that the White House garden subconsciously inspired us to make this the spring to try it ourselves.

Most years we buy a share at the wonderful local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm, which gives us a bountiful basket of vegetables every week from mid-May to mid-October.  There are so many smart aspects of buying fresh and local; one beauty of “buying all that they grow” came in the form of vegetables and herbs both familiar and unfamiliar.  One vegetable last year had us searching online for a name — the long, green curlicues turned out to be garlic scapes, delicious, with a flavor of both garlic and onions.  I put it in everything while we had it;  and I know I would not have been likely to pick it up from a market on my own.

If you are interested in reading a fascinating account of a family’s adventure in eating completely local for one year, check out Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I loved the book’s mix of themes: gardening, recipes, motherhood and family dynamics, juxtaposed with a journalistic investigation of the effects of food production on the environment and economy.  Oh, and it’s funny.  I like that too.

I have no delusions that our small plot of earth will yield much this first year, as it is a new adventure. We are giving it a casual try, with my characteristic fear of commitment.  It may just be a bunny buffet.  We have both read the hysterical book The $64 Tomato by William Alexander, about the perils, trials and tribulations of Obsessive Gardening Disorder.  We plan to keep each tomato under $10 each.  We’ll also plan to go to the farmers market as usual.

Now, perennial gardening?  That is where my time has been happily spent for years…

welcome, friends

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{Books to Ponder} April

23 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads

≈ 2 Comments

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Anne Lamott, Christina Katz, J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn, Maria Bailey, Nora Ephron, The Ultimate Mom

Current Reads:

Traveling Mercies, Anne Lamott

And, of course, since I had read the story that I wrote but not the other 257 pages:  The Ultimate Mom, an anthology by Maria Bailey (I’ve heard the story on page 34 is worth a look)what a great book!

Recently read:

Whiskey Sour, J.A. Konrath

1/2 page of Afraid, Jack Kilborn

Writer Mama, Christina Katz

On Deck:

I Feel Bad About My Neck, Nora Ephron

Get Known Before the Book Deal, Christina Katz

*

Recommendations, anyone?

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say it isn’t so

22 Wednesday Apr 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in good reads

≈ 1 Comment

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Lake Wobegon

Maybe I’ve been exposed to way too many scary books lately, but the world just seems more ominious of late.  Even the placid safe haven of Lake Wobegon has not been spared…

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six degrees of bloggeration

11 Saturday Apr 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in Foodies, good reads, seasons

≈ 1 Comment

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blogs, vintage cookbooks

For me, one of the wonders of the blogoshere is this ability to find kindred spirits anywhere in the world.  Until very recently, I met people through the traditional walks and walkings of life, made many wonderful friends and interesting acquaintances — but my web of connections was based on where I lived, where the kids went to school; plus fate, luck, destiny, divine intervention and those six degrees of separation.  Along my merry way, I had not yet managed to meet someone who shared my vintage cookbook fetish, cooking contest winner fantasy, librarian aspirations and who is also an accomplished author who incorporated her love of food into her stories.  I did not spend much time thinking about the existence of such a person; but really what are the chances? And even if she did exist, how likely that our paths ever cross??

Viola!  Through fate, luck, destiny, divine intervention, the internet, blogs, and Karen’s trail of bread crumbs, I found such a person!  Does she play the harp?  We don’t know yet!  But just thinking about how wildly random this is makes me think in exclamation points!

The blog Vintage Cookbooks by Amy combines recipes from by-gone eras (the 70’s do count), vintage photos (photographic food styling in the 1950’s is quite amusing), cheeky commentary on culinary choices and… reviews of YA novels.

This is my kind of blog.

So, just in time for Easter dinner, check out her posts on Bunny Breads, and Baked Glazed Hams trimmed with candied orange daisies, and salad baskets with green pepper handles.  I find this so charming; you may be befuddled.  To each their own basket of goodies.

My friend Joan says that we all meet for a reason.  Tell me, have you ever unexpectedly found someone that shares your uncommon combination of interests?  I’d love to hear your list, and your stories…

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← Older posts

jane, candid

In 2009, I started this blog to share my sometimes thoughtful, sometimes funny, occasionally irreverent thoughts on motherhood, writing for publication and myriad creatures that got along as cats and dogs.

One day, I felt like stepping away from living out loud for awhile. Eh, life happens.

Fast forward five years -- I'll gloss over the details for now -- save to say that lucky for me an unexpected detour has provided some new material.

So here I am, standing at the corner. I've been here before, wondering which way to go. This time I choose living.

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topics to peruse in either the traditional or modern sense. You get to choose.

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