Are best sellers always the best?

Do you ever read a review or many reviews of the same book, then can't wait to get your own hands on a copy and then.... it happens?!? You hate the book.

Everyone you personally know loves it. It's been on all sorts of best seller lists. It's a huge seller and the everyone from Leno to Oprah to your neighbor loved this book but no matter how hard you try, you hate it.

I've had that happen. Actually, it's happening to me right now with a book I'm reading but I'll come back to that. I'm supposed to write a review of something I'm reading so I'll save it for later.

But I find that I'm often a person who just desperately wants to like a book, just like everyone else but I just can't get into it. I was that way with The DaVinci Code. I didn't even finish it, but I really wanted to LIKE it. Everyone, even people who don't read, liked it. And I, who am a complete bibliophile, just couldn't get into it. The same thing with The Shipping News. I wanted to read it and I tried to pick it up several times, to no avail. And now a blogger friend of mine that I really admire, and who's book reading tastes are FANTASTIC, loved it. I want to LOVE it too, but it just isn't working for me. I can also add Angela's Ashes and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to the list. And Three Cups of Tea- I've tried to read this about 100 times but no such luck which makes me question my whole teaching career. And Wicked.

Don't even get me started on books that are considered "classics." I was an English lit. minor in college and taught English for 10 years and the list of "classics" I've read is terribly small. They just don't interest me. I've bought them in hopes they would at some point speak to me but to no avail.

So here I am, in a little club all my own, a person who just doesn't like the IT books. Grrrr!

Pirates, Indians, and Soldiers- oh my!

Back in 1996 I attended my first re-enactment. I worked for a nationwide not for profit, but at the local level and one of my job requirements was to assist in fund raising and one of our fundraisers was selling food at a re-enactment. I thought this was going to be hokey and stupid and ridiculous. I thought it was a bunch of grown men playing "cowboys and indians". I thought it was a reason for adults to play dress up. I whined and moaned and begged my boss to Not make me do it. She said if I would do it one afternoon that first weekend and if I hated it she would never ask me to do it again.

Because the time period was the early 1800s, there's a level of authenticity that had to be captured by all participants, according tot he rules and regulations as stated by the event organizers. All I can say is then I thought "this is STUPID!" But I knew I was going to have to dress in the period. And after going through all the costumes we had on hand to loan to volunteers, I decided to have one made for me. If I had to do something stupid, I would at least look good- and then I was going to donate my "costume" to the agency for which I worked.

And because we were serving food, that meant we were just poor colonists so I had to look like... well, a Pilgrim basically, or Ma Ingols in Little House on the Prairie rather than being English or French elegance.

So I got a chemise, a skirt, a dust cap, a lace up bodice and an apron. And I went. And it was FUN. It was one of the most exciting and fun activities I've ever done. I loved dressing up. I loved the story concocted about myself and the group I worked for. I loved the smell of the fire, the other participants, the entertainment of it all, the guests, the smell of smoke, the reenactment, the living history-- I just loved all of it. And for the four years I worked for that office I went to the re-enactment from open to close both days.


One thing I've been looking forward to since I got back to Civilization was taking a trek to this reenactment. So last weekend Curley and I went and it was awesome. I swear I can eat my way from one end of the site to the other- I love all the food cooked over the open fire pits. We had ribeye sandwiches and kettle corn. I could've eaten more- like the huge turkey leg, the fry bread with homemade applebutter, the ear of corn dipped in butter, the pork chop wrapped in new paper... and that's what I can think of that I wanted but didn't eat.

The entertainment was great; there was music, tons of authentic vendors and the living history everywhere was the best of all. The re-enactment was amazing. It was amazing and fun. I talked to several folks who really bring it to life. There are participants from all over the US, Canada and France. And the Indians are HOT. And when I say pirates, I want to point out that I don't mean Capt. Jack Sparrow "arugh" pirates but French Fur Trappers and traders having "pirate" like battle on the river- which is actually historically accurate as well.

Enjoy the view here since you couldn't all go with me! (And there are more pictures here!)

Love it all!

Your future reenactment participant,
Maggie Mae

That's what I like about everything

• I like that President Obama does talk shows other than political ones
• I like that Neil Patrick Harris hosted the Emmys- he was funny!
• I like the color Tiffany Blue
• I like cooler weather
• I like festivals and fall leaves
• I like Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe
• I like West Wing, House and Numb3rs reruns
• I like booze- lots and lots of booze
  
• I like Broadway musicals
• I like that I've never watched 30 Rock
• I like Justin Long and John Corbett
• I like wearing jeans, the smell of rain, the color of green apples, and body lotion
• I like massages
• I like that Justin Timberlake obviously does not take himself seriously- that is so cool.
  
• I like going to the movies, tubs of buttered popcorn and the laughter heard in the darkness
• I like the song "Holding Out for a Hero"
• I like to make people laugh
• I like to wear Chanel no.5
• I like to eat and cook
• I like to spend time with friends
• I like that there's going to be a movie sequel to Sex and the City
• I like that Fame is going to be a movie remake, released this week!
• I like the sound of Shohreh Aghdashloo's voice
• I like casseroles and homemade bread