The Book Of Essie
Adult fiction
"On the day I turn seventeen, there is a meeting to decide
whether I should have the baby or if sneaking me to a clinic is worth
the PR risk. I am not invited, which is just as well since my being
there might imply that I have some choice in the matter and I know
that I have none. I listen in, though, the way Lissa and I used to
before she went away..."
I think anyone reading the first paragraph of Meghen Maclean
Weir's The Book Of Essie can figure out that Essie isn't your run-of-
the-mill teenage girl. Underage pregnancies tend to confront families
with challenges to face and decisions to make. The PR risk, however,
usually doesn't enter into their calculations. Esther has grown up on
camera as a member of Six for Hicks, an evengelical tv show. For her
family, especially her mother, image is everything. Neither an
abortion nor an out-of-wedlock pregnancy would fit in with their
carefully curated image.
"Mom looks up, startled. She's actually holding that woman's
hands. Their hands are intertwined across the table and I can tell
that Mom's been crying. Not Pastor Hicks's wife, though. I'll bet
she never sheds a tear without capturing the moment to milk it for all
it's worth."
Roarke goes to school with Essie. His family attends the Hicks'
church. They're peripheral, back row members. But Roarke may be the
means of Essie and her family's image salvation. His parents are
deeply in debt and in danger or losing their business. If Roarke will
marry Essie (on camera, of course) his family will attain financial
solvency and more and he will be able to attend the expensive college
of his dreams.
"When I see that Essie has finished talking I shift forward in
my seat and ask the only sort of hard hitting question I am allowed:
'But as a teenager, as a normal teenage girl, you must sometimes wish
you could get away from the cameras even just once in awhile and let
loose, maybe go a little wild.'
Essie's upbeat expression fades and suddenly she looks pale and
older than her seventeen years.
'It doesn't do any good to wish for things you'll never have.'"
Liberty is a journalist who works for a conservative television
station. She's quite accustomed to covering the Hicks family's
perfectly scripted media events. But all that's about to change.
Essie requests a cell phone her parents won't check. If Liberty can
help her covertly, Essie will repay her with a series of exclusives.
The Book Of Essie is a spellbinding narrative told in their
alternating voices. At least one of them may not be eager to
participate in the cover up. And the perfect holier-than-thou tv
family may have a major skeleton in their closet.
On a purrrsonal note, Friends of the Orono Public Library had a book
sale Saturday. They had a big room filled with tables of books all
organized by genre. I spent 4 hours walking around downtown Orono and
the farmers' market in my unicorn costume encouraging everyone to
check out the book sale. It was a delightful autumn day and the
foliage and the downtown flowers were so beautiful. Such a refreshing
study break. And I'm up to 106 1/2 volunteer hours for the year.
As we edge on up to Halloween the rain in my heart and soul match the
weather outside. Just last year Joey and I had a fine time handing
out goodies in costume. The thought of doing that without the best
little cat in the world seems unbearable. But I can't come up with an
alternate. The campus activities are beyond bus hours.
Great big shout outs go out to Friends of the Orono Public Library for
earning money for important programs and the best little cat in the
world without whom even Halloween isn't magic.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Friday, October 25, 2019
Shout
Shout
YA/adult herstory
"Finding my courage to speak up twenty-five years after I was
raped, writing Speak, and talking with countless survivors of sexual
violence made me who I am today.
This book shows how that happened...
This is the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself
a new one."
When I read the introduction to Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir,
Shout, from which I have just quoted, I couldn't put it down. You may
be familiar with her books. Her voice in them is emotionally
authentic and powerful. Now she gives us a picture of the person
behind the voice and the world that allowed her much younger self to
be assaulted and silenced.
In Shout Anderson shares with readers the dysfunctionalities of
her childhood household presided over by a father scarred by memories
of the concentration camps he had helped liberate and the buddy who
was killed in front of him when he was only 18, the lack of
information that caused her to not know what was happening when she
got her first period, the boy who forcibly raped her 13-year-old self
and lit a cigarette and walked away, his violent, alcohol fueled
death, and the lingering aftermath of it all. She also shows the
forces that didn't allow her to entirely give up.
If you're anything like me, Shout will anger you, inspire you,
and help you cope with whatever hardships life has thrown your way.
On a purrrsonal note, Tuesday night when Christina and I led a 45
minute class exercise it went super well. We started with drag. I
performed to Only The Good Die Young (which is excellent for drag.
I'll probs do it for the spring semester drag show.) I talked a little
about how my first drag performance helped me feel good about my
gender fluidity before I even knew the term. Everyone was all rowdy
and cheering. Then we split the class into three groups and gave each
a question. Then there was a discussion. It was so much fun. And
how often does one get a chance to perform drag as part of a class
assignment?
Adam came by last night and Eugene and I really enjoyed his visit.
Today, where I have no classes or work, I'm taking myself a little
field trip in the opposite direction of campus. Goodwill is giving
Club Goodwill members 25% off donated goods. :-)
Great big shouts go out to my classmates (especially Christina) and
our professor and Adam.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA/adult herstory
"Finding my courage to speak up twenty-five years after I was
raped, writing Speak, and talking with countless survivors of sexual
violence made me who I am today.
This book shows how that happened...
This is the story of a girl who lost her voice and wrote herself
a new one."
When I read the introduction to Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir,
Shout, from which I have just quoted, I couldn't put it down. You may
be familiar with her books. Her voice in them is emotionally
authentic and powerful. Now she gives us a picture of the person
behind the voice and the world that allowed her much younger self to
be assaulted and silenced.
In Shout Anderson shares with readers the dysfunctionalities of
her childhood household presided over by a father scarred by memories
of the concentration camps he had helped liberate and the buddy who
was killed in front of him when he was only 18, the lack of
information that caused her to not know what was happening when she
got her first period, the boy who forcibly raped her 13-year-old self
and lit a cigarette and walked away, his violent, alcohol fueled
death, and the lingering aftermath of it all. She also shows the
forces that didn't allow her to entirely give up.
If you're anything like me, Shout will anger you, inspire you,
and help you cope with whatever hardships life has thrown your way.
On a purrrsonal note, Tuesday night when Christina and I led a 45
minute class exercise it went super well. We started with drag. I
performed to Only The Good Die Young (which is excellent for drag.
I'll probs do it for the spring semester drag show.) I talked a little
about how my first drag performance helped me feel good about my
gender fluidity before I even knew the term. Everyone was all rowdy
and cheering. Then we split the class into three groups and gave each
a question. Then there was a discussion. It was so much fun. And
how often does one get a chance to perform drag as part of a class
assignment?
Adam came by last night and Eugene and I really enjoyed his visit.
Today, where I have no classes or work, I'm taking myself a little
field trip in the opposite direction of campus. Goodwill is giving
Club Goodwill members 25% off donated goods. :-)
Great big shouts go out to my classmates (especially Christina) and
our professor and Adam.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Fly Girls
Fly Girls
YA/adult herstory
"It had been just nine years since American women had won the
right to vote, and a lot of men were struggling to understand these
new women. They complained about their short skirts and their short
hair, their divorces (too many) and their marriage vows (all wrong).
At weddings, brides were no longer required to promise to "obey" their
husbands. That bothered some men. It threatened them too. But
nothing was more threatening than a woman who could fly an airplane--a
machine that had been invented by men, for men."
In 1926, mere decades after the Wright brothers had proved
motorized flight possible, most people were afraid to fly. The
fledgling aviation industry, in order to survive and possibly even
grow, had to capture the public's attention and make the prospect of
flight alluring. Air races gave regular people a chance to share in
exciting events and see planes with their own eyes.
Of course the races were quite dangerous. Pilots often died. A
lot of people believed women shouldn't be allowed to participate or
even to fly. This prejudice didn't deter a cadre of women determined
to prove their competence. Keith O'Brien's Fly Girls introduces
readers to five of these daring women and follows their exploits over
the course of a tumultuous and intense ten years. It also portrays
how the world adapted very slowly to their achievements, more often
than not throwing formidable obstacles in their way.
"In the decades to follow only one of these five women--Amelia
Earhart--would be remembered. But for a few years, before each of the
women went missing in her own way, these female pilots captivated a
nation, hoping to beat one another and longing to beat the men. At
times, a hundred thousand people swarmed dusty air fields to watch
them compete, darting through the sky in their colorful planes--
robin's egg blue and pale orchid, scarlet red and gleaming white--and
racing, an impossible tale played out in a deadly sky."
If you're anything like me, it's a tale you won't want to miss
out on.
On a purrrsonal note, last Thursday the part of Maine I live in lucked
out. We did get the torrential downpours that werevpredicted. But
the wind didn't live up to the hype. It did in other parts of the
state, blowing down trees and knocking out power to well over 100,000
homes.
My weekend was the Saturday brunch shift and studying and writing a
paper. I'm really looking forward to class tonight. Christina and I
have our turn to lead a 45 minute activity. We'll be graded on
whether our classmates are engaged. They will be. If drag doesn't
engage them I don't know what I will.
A great big shout out goes out to Christina whom I really enjoy
working with and to the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA/adult herstory
"It had been just nine years since American women had won the
right to vote, and a lot of men were struggling to understand these
new women. They complained about their short skirts and their short
hair, their divorces (too many) and their marriage vows (all wrong).
At weddings, brides were no longer required to promise to "obey" their
husbands. That bothered some men. It threatened them too. But
nothing was more threatening than a woman who could fly an airplane--a
machine that had been invented by men, for men."
In 1926, mere decades after the Wright brothers had proved
motorized flight possible, most people were afraid to fly. The
fledgling aviation industry, in order to survive and possibly even
grow, had to capture the public's attention and make the prospect of
flight alluring. Air races gave regular people a chance to share in
exciting events and see planes with their own eyes.
Of course the races were quite dangerous. Pilots often died. A
lot of people believed women shouldn't be allowed to participate or
even to fly. This prejudice didn't deter a cadre of women determined
to prove their competence. Keith O'Brien's Fly Girls introduces
readers to five of these daring women and follows their exploits over
the course of a tumultuous and intense ten years. It also portrays
how the world adapted very slowly to their achievements, more often
than not throwing formidable obstacles in their way.
"In the decades to follow only one of these five women--Amelia
Earhart--would be remembered. But for a few years, before each of the
women went missing in her own way, these female pilots captivated a
nation, hoping to beat one another and longing to beat the men. At
times, a hundred thousand people swarmed dusty air fields to watch
them compete, darting through the sky in their colorful planes--
robin's egg blue and pale orchid, scarlet red and gleaming white--and
racing, an impossible tale played out in a deadly sky."
If you're anything like me, it's a tale you won't want to miss
out on.
On a purrrsonal note, last Thursday the part of Maine I live in lucked
out. We did get the torrential downpours that werevpredicted. But
the wind didn't live up to the hype. It did in other parts of the
state, blowing down trees and knocking out power to well over 100,000
homes.
My weekend was the Saturday brunch shift and studying and writing a
paper. I'm really looking forward to class tonight. Christina and I
have our turn to lead a 45 minute activity. We'll be graded on
whether our classmates are engaged. They will be. If drag doesn't
engage them I don't know what I will.
A great big shout out goes out to Christina whom I really enjoy
working with and to the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book
Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book
Cat lovers
You probably have heard of Grumpy Cat, the Internet sensation
who left the world much too soon this past summer. In case you
haven't, Grumpy Cat was born with curmudgeonly (but still really cute)
features and a cantankerous expression and acquired by a human
companion with a knack for online promotion.
When I heard of a print volume on this cyber star I just had to
seek it out by inter library loan. It's a guidebook for people why
haven't fully embraced their inner grouches.
"You see true grumpiness comes from inside--you have to feel it
down to your core. Even if you weren't born with it like me, however,
you can still acquire a grumpy mindset. This book will help you
achieve that."
Ummm, I'm not so sure about that. I found myself smiling and
laughing. Why don't you see what the book does for you while I seek
out other volumes featuring this fabulous feline?
On a purrrsonal note, I am SOOOO missing my far from grumpy Joey cat,
especially with Halloween, which was one of our big holidays, coming
up. I'm hoping Old Town Animal Orphanage will be able to find me a
cuddle cat by Thanksgiving or at least Christmas break. I don't want
to dread Christmas break but weeks of being alone during the darkest
part of the year. I can't even get excited about decorating a year.
A new cat will never replace Joey in my heart. But he or she will
save my sanity. And I have a loving home to offer. Sadly most
shelter cats don't get any kind of home. The new cat will have an
Internet presence, not to beguile thousands of strangers, but to share
with my many friends on and off campus.
A great big shout out goes out to the best little cat in the world who
made not just holidays, but every day something special.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Cat lovers
You probably have heard of Grumpy Cat, the Internet sensation
who left the world much too soon this past summer. In case you
haven't, Grumpy Cat was born with curmudgeonly (but still really cute)
features and a cantankerous expression and acquired by a human
companion with a knack for online promotion.
When I heard of a print volume on this cyber star I just had to
seek it out by inter library loan. It's a guidebook for people why
haven't fully embraced their inner grouches.
"You see true grumpiness comes from inside--you have to feel it
down to your core. Even if you weren't born with it like me, however,
you can still acquire a grumpy mindset. This book will help you
achieve that."
Ummm, I'm not so sure about that. I found myself smiling and
laughing. Why don't you see what the book does for you while I seek
out other volumes featuring this fabulous feline?
On a purrrsonal note, I am SOOOO missing my far from grumpy Joey cat,
especially with Halloween, which was one of our big holidays, coming
up. I'm hoping Old Town Animal Orphanage will be able to find me a
cuddle cat by Thanksgiving or at least Christmas break. I don't want
to dread Christmas break but weeks of being alone during the darkest
part of the year. I can't even get excited about decorating a year.
A new cat will never replace Joey in my heart. But he or she will
save my sanity. And I have a loving home to offer. Sadly most
shelter cats don't get any kind of home. The new cat will have an
Internet presence, not to beguile thousands of strangers, but to share
with my many friends on and off campus.
A great big shout out goes out to the best little cat in the world who
made not just holidays, but every day something special.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, October 17, 2019
For Lesbian parents
For Lesbian parents
Parenting
I distinctly remember the birth of my first child. It was
rather dramatic. Labor started in the wee hours of the morning. What
I thought was my water breaking was blood. The bathroom looked like a
set from a Stephen King horror flick. The obstitrician told me to get
to the hospital right away. My partner and I drove there and waited
and waited. When I'd been in labor 16 hours a nurse took a look,
called the doctor who had left the room, and told him to get the Hell
back; the baby wasn't going anywhere. This was not exactly reassuring
to the mother-to-be in labor. I had myself a middle of the night
emergency c section.
Now I'd read every new mother book I could get my hands on. So
you'd think I'd have felt somewhat confident when I finally met Amber
the next day. Wrong. My exhausted, hormone saturated emotions went
on a roller coaster ride. I was head over heels in love. Never
before had such a beautiful, enchanting, perfect infant arrived in the
world. And I was terrified. I was going to somehow destroy this
amazing little being. It took the nurses about 20 minutes to persuade
me to hold her while lying safely in bed.
So I totally agree with Suzanne Johnson and Elizabeth O'Connor
(both Ph.D.s) when they write in the introduction to their For Lesbian
Parents:
"...the fact is, no training, education, or fantasizing can
truly prepare you for parenthood. It is something that you make
happen and happens to you at the same time. It is overwhelming,
exhausting, terrifying, thrilling, and joyous all at once. It
requires more stamina than a marathon. It demands more energy and
attention than you knew you had."
Johnson and O'Connor had to hurdle an obstacle that Eugene and I
never had to give a moment's thought to. Society has made things
awfully hard for families headed by lesbians. We have a lot of bias
going on. Even some people who respect lesbian couples believe
vehemently that they should not raise children. And there are a lot
of legalities.
In addition to their own experiences, the authors have included
the narratives of a number of other lesbian parents. For Lesbian
Parents is a candid, comprehensive volume that I believe will be a
useful reference book for its target audience.
On a purrrsonal note, Penobscot County, Maine is in the midst of a
torrential downpour with gale force winds. There are warnings of
power outages. From what I can hear it's wild out there. Outside my
studio window it's as black as the inside of a coal mine. I suspect
that getting to UMaine to work my lunch shift is going to be an
adventure.
A great big shout out goes out to all the folks who will do their work
outside in this mess like garbage truck and bus drivers and the first
responders who hopefully won't encounter too many storm (and lack of
bad weather caution) related accidents.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Parenting
I distinctly remember the birth of my first child. It was
rather dramatic. Labor started in the wee hours of the morning. What
I thought was my water breaking was blood. The bathroom looked like a
set from a Stephen King horror flick. The obstitrician told me to get
to the hospital right away. My partner and I drove there and waited
and waited. When I'd been in labor 16 hours a nurse took a look,
called the doctor who had left the room, and told him to get the Hell
back; the baby wasn't going anywhere. This was not exactly reassuring
to the mother-to-be in labor. I had myself a middle of the night
emergency c section.
Now I'd read every new mother book I could get my hands on. So
you'd think I'd have felt somewhat confident when I finally met Amber
the next day. Wrong. My exhausted, hormone saturated emotions went
on a roller coaster ride. I was head over heels in love. Never
before had such a beautiful, enchanting, perfect infant arrived in the
world. And I was terrified. I was going to somehow destroy this
amazing little being. It took the nurses about 20 minutes to persuade
me to hold her while lying safely in bed.
So I totally agree with Suzanne Johnson and Elizabeth O'Connor
(both Ph.D.s) when they write in the introduction to their For Lesbian
Parents:
"...the fact is, no training, education, or fantasizing can
truly prepare you for parenthood. It is something that you make
happen and happens to you at the same time. It is overwhelming,
exhausting, terrifying, thrilling, and joyous all at once. It
requires more stamina than a marathon. It demands more energy and
attention than you knew you had."
Johnson and O'Connor had to hurdle an obstacle that Eugene and I
never had to give a moment's thought to. Society has made things
awfully hard for families headed by lesbians. We have a lot of bias
going on. Even some people who respect lesbian couples believe
vehemently that they should not raise children. And there are a lot
of legalities.
In addition to their own experiences, the authors have included
the narratives of a number of other lesbian parents. For Lesbian
Parents is a candid, comprehensive volume that I believe will be a
useful reference book for its target audience.
On a purrrsonal note, Penobscot County, Maine is in the midst of a
torrential downpour with gale force winds. There are warnings of
power outages. From what I can hear it's wild out there. Outside my
studio window it's as black as the inside of a coal mine. I suspect
that getting to UMaine to work my lunch shift is going to be an
adventure.
A great big shout out goes out to all the folks who will do their work
outside in this mess like garbage truck and bus drivers and the first
responders who hopefully won't encounter too many storm (and lack of
bad weather caution) related accidents.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Monday, October 14, 2019
Act Natural
Act Natural
Adult nonfiction
"Much of what we [21st century parents] do, in fact, other
parents would never consider. The things we take for granted as
normal and natural strike parents in other parts of the world as
absurd and dangerous, as wrong as letting your toddler play with a
machete, which by the way, some Congolese parents do. And as
horrified as we are by their methods, they are by ours. Playing with
knives is one thing, but putting your child asleep alone? That's
child abuse."
As exhausted parent of two very young children, Jennifer Traig,
quoted above, found herself learning that many contemporary American
childraising practices range from inane to bizarre. A lot of us have
had that epiphany. Traig, however, did something with it. She
conducted extensive research on parenting practices through time and
around the world. The fruit of her labor is the amazing Act Natural:
A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting. Don't let the word
"parenting" in the title deter you. There are plenty of people with
no interest whatsoever in procreating to whom I'd recommend this
excellent book.
You see, I've read many scholarly books. I've read many
bitingly humorous books. Before Act Natural I'd never seen the two
genres combined so seamlessly. Except for sleeping (which makes
reading impossible) and showering (which makes it not such a good
idea) I read the book cover to cover without putting it down. I
startled quite a few fellow bus passengers by repeatedly laughing my
head off.
Anyway, if you've been a child, brought children into the world
or plan on doing so, or just wondered why our parents and other
ancestors followed what may seem like really bizarre practices, I
think you'll find Act Natural to be a must read.
On a purrrsonal note, this is the last day of October break for me.
Well technically tomorrow is. But I have two meetings in regard to
separate academic class projects. Anyway I was going to have a
fabulous thrift shop expedition with a friend. Only first thing I saw
this morning was a email from my friend that she couldn't make it. I
thought, oh, well, more time for studying. For maybe five minutes. I
could make a Goodwill run myself and stop at Hannaford to get the
ingredients to make Eugene a surprise molasses cake. He did give me a
really special day yesterday. It was a good thing I did. I got all
kinds of cat and unicorn and Halloween stuff really cheap. Also
splurged a little on sweets at Hannaford. When I got home I could not
find the cookbook with my mother-in-law's molasses cake recipe.
Internet to the rescue. I found a recipe with what looked like
similar ingredients.
A great big shout out goes out to bangor Goodwill workers who keep the
store so fabulous and Eugene who I hope will enjoy his molasses cake.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"Much of what we [21st century parents] do, in fact, other
parents would never consider. The things we take for granted as
normal and natural strike parents in other parts of the world as
absurd and dangerous, as wrong as letting your toddler play with a
machete, which by the way, some Congolese parents do. And as
horrified as we are by their methods, they are by ours. Playing with
knives is one thing, but putting your child asleep alone? That's
child abuse."
As exhausted parent of two very young children, Jennifer Traig,
quoted above, found herself learning that many contemporary American
childraising practices range from inane to bizarre. A lot of us have
had that epiphany. Traig, however, did something with it. She
conducted extensive research on parenting practices through time and
around the world. The fruit of her labor is the amazing Act Natural:
A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting. Don't let the word
"parenting" in the title deter you. There are plenty of people with
no interest whatsoever in procreating to whom I'd recommend this
excellent book.
You see, I've read many scholarly books. I've read many
bitingly humorous books. Before Act Natural I'd never seen the two
genres combined so seamlessly. Except for sleeping (which makes
reading impossible) and showering (which makes it not such a good
idea) I read the book cover to cover without putting it down. I
startled quite a few fellow bus passengers by repeatedly laughing my
head off.
Anyway, if you've been a child, brought children into the world
or plan on doing so, or just wondered why our parents and other
ancestors followed what may seem like really bizarre practices, I
think you'll find Act Natural to be a must read.
On a purrrsonal note, this is the last day of October break for me.
Well technically tomorrow is. But I have two meetings in regard to
separate academic class projects. Anyway I was going to have a
fabulous thrift shop expedition with a friend. Only first thing I saw
this morning was a email from my friend that she couldn't make it. I
thought, oh, well, more time for studying. For maybe five minutes. I
could make a Goodwill run myself and stop at Hannaford to get the
ingredients to make Eugene a surprise molasses cake. He did give me a
really special day yesterday. It was a good thing I did. I got all
kinds of cat and unicorn and Halloween stuff really cheap. Also
splurged a little on sweets at Hannaford. When I got home I could not
find the cookbook with my mother-in-law's molasses cake recipe.
Internet to the rescue. I found a recipe with what looked like
similar ingredients.
A great big shout out goes out to bangor Goodwill workers who keep the
store so fabulous and Eugene who I hope will enjoy his molasses cake.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Blended
Blended
Juvenile fiction
"It's Sunday. I hate Sundays. I hate, hate, hate them. Even
when I'm a wrinkled old lady, Sunday will always remind me of a worn,
gray, fake-leather sofa at the mall. It's where Dad sits to wait for
me when it's his turn for custody for the week. Mom waits on the same
couch on the opposite week. The stupid sofa never changes--just the
faces of the grown-ups who come to claim me. I'm pretty sure my
parents hate Sundays too."
I'm sure any of us who are parents with shared custody or were
children mandated to split loyalties between two very different
households can relate to the thoughts [quoted above] of Isabella,
protagonist of Sharon Draper's Blended. Her parents have grown apart
and split up. For awhile her father lived hundreds of miles away.
Visits were few and far between.
Now Isabella's dad and his new family have moved to her home
town. Visitation rules have been renegotiated in court. She has a
separate room, wardrobe, backpack, nickname, and persona in each
household. And often at the drop off point or when they have to
interact by phone her parents behave very badly.
Family isn't the only complexity in Isabella's life. Her father
is black; her mother is white. People describe her as blended. She
is very unsure of what that makes her.
And then a black friend finds a noose in her gym locker.
Once again Draper has hit it out of the ball park with a story
that younger readers will find captivating and thought provoking.
On a purrrsonal note, yesterday [Saturday] I was going to study all
day. But then I went to the hospital to see my mother-in-law. So
today I was going to study all day. You know what they say about the
best laid plans. When I woke up my partner wanted to know if I wanted
to go to Dennys for breakfast and then for a ride. School is a
priority but so is family. We had an awesome breakfast. I had
pancakes with banana cream and warm salted caramel sauce. Heavenly.
We drove around Maine enjoying the fabulous fall foliage. At
Greenville I bought a card with a jeweled butterfly pin that says my
wings already exist; all I have to do is fly for my studio. That
describes my life apart from missing Joey cat. We saw a bunch of cute
young turkeys. We saw some amazing classic cars from the 50s. I
talked to the drivers. We got sandwiches and chips for lunch. Closer
to home we got ice creams at a place that was about to close for the
season. It was a very good day.
Tomorrow? No promises.
Great big shout outs go out to Eugene and to the best little cat in
the world who I wish I could have come home to.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Juvenile fiction
"It's Sunday. I hate Sundays. I hate, hate, hate them. Even
when I'm a wrinkled old lady, Sunday will always remind me of a worn,
gray, fake-leather sofa at the mall. It's where Dad sits to wait for
me when it's his turn for custody for the week. Mom waits on the same
couch on the opposite week. The stupid sofa never changes--just the
faces of the grown-ups who come to claim me. I'm pretty sure my
parents hate Sundays too."
I'm sure any of us who are parents with shared custody or were
children mandated to split loyalties between two very different
households can relate to the thoughts [quoted above] of Isabella,
protagonist of Sharon Draper's Blended. Her parents have grown apart
and split up. For awhile her father lived hundreds of miles away.
Visits were few and far between.
Now Isabella's dad and his new family have moved to her home
town. Visitation rules have been renegotiated in court. She has a
separate room, wardrobe, backpack, nickname, and persona in each
household. And often at the drop off point or when they have to
interact by phone her parents behave very badly.
Family isn't the only complexity in Isabella's life. Her father
is black; her mother is white. People describe her as blended. She
is very unsure of what that makes her.
And then a black friend finds a noose in her gym locker.
Once again Draper has hit it out of the ball park with a story
that younger readers will find captivating and thought provoking.
On a purrrsonal note, yesterday [Saturday] I was going to study all
day. But then I went to the hospital to see my mother-in-law. So
today I was going to study all day. You know what they say about the
best laid plans. When I woke up my partner wanted to know if I wanted
to go to Dennys for breakfast and then for a ride. School is a
priority but so is family. We had an awesome breakfast. I had
pancakes with banana cream and warm salted caramel sauce. Heavenly.
We drove around Maine enjoying the fabulous fall foliage. At
Greenville I bought a card with a jeweled butterfly pin that says my
wings already exist; all I have to do is fly for my studio. That
describes my life apart from missing Joey cat. We saw a bunch of cute
young turkeys. We saw some amazing classic cars from the 50s. I
talked to the drivers. We got sandwiches and chips for lunch. Closer
to home we got ice creams at a place that was about to close for the
season. It was a very good day.
Tomorrow? No promises.
Great big shout outs go out to Eugene and to the best little cat in
the world who I wish I could have come home to.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Hey, Kiddo
Hey, Kiddo
YA memoir
Jarrett J. Krosoczka's graphic novel memoir, Hey, Kiddo, is
simply one of the best literary marriages of form and function that I
have ever seen. It's an exemplar of show, don't tell. Evocative
pictures and sparse text convey much more nuance than either alone
would. An unusual palette of greys and browns creates backgrounds
that do not detract from the facial expressions of the characters.
Krosoczka's life did not get off to a propitious start. He was
born out of wedlock to a mom who didn't make responsible decisions.
(His dad was not in the picture.) In fact her choices were so poor his
grandparents were able to get custody and raise him. At one point,
after a Disney vacation, they told him his mom was a drug addict in
prison.
Krosoczka was careful to keep his home life separate from his
school life, embarassed at not having the normal family life he was
sure his classmates did. His book will be an affirmation of not
aloneness for so many kids growing up whose lives don't match what
they see on television shows and social media. For this reason it's a
must acquire for school and public libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, Friday was the bitter two month anniversary of
the day I saw the life light fade from Joey cat's loving amber eyes
and felt him stop breathing and watched Eugene bury him near a
sheltering tree under a cotton candy pink sunset. But some good
things did happen to somewhat assuage the brokenness I was carrying
around inside of me. I cashed in more cans and bottles for my
emergency fund. I found an anthology of indiginous literature from
Maine that I'd been trying to locate at the library. The call came
out for proposals for the international conference I'll be going to in
March. I am going to try to do a poster presentation there about the
unique partnership UMaine Dining Services has with Black Bear
Exchange. I was one of the volunteers who processed this week's
Dining Services contributions (put them in smaller containers) for
BBE. That was over 400 pounds of really good food. I got some really
nice photographs of red leafed bushes and fall flowers. And a person
in a dinosaur costume gave me a free shirt that makes a great night
shirt. I had someone take my picture with the dino so people wouldn't
ascribe that encounter to my imagination.
Great big shout outs go out to Dining Services, the other volunteers
who processed the food, the shirt giver in the dino costume, and the
best little cat in the world who is gone but very much not forgotten.
Also to you, my dear readers, with best wishes for an awesome
Indiginous People's Day.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA memoir
Jarrett J. Krosoczka's graphic novel memoir, Hey, Kiddo, is
simply one of the best literary marriages of form and function that I
have ever seen. It's an exemplar of show, don't tell. Evocative
pictures and sparse text convey much more nuance than either alone
would. An unusual palette of greys and browns creates backgrounds
that do not detract from the facial expressions of the characters.
Krosoczka's life did not get off to a propitious start. He was
born out of wedlock to a mom who didn't make responsible decisions.
(His dad was not in the picture.) In fact her choices were so poor his
grandparents were able to get custody and raise him. At one point,
after a Disney vacation, they told him his mom was a drug addict in
prison.
Krosoczka was careful to keep his home life separate from his
school life, embarassed at not having the normal family life he was
sure his classmates did. His book will be an affirmation of not
aloneness for so many kids growing up whose lives don't match what
they see on television shows and social media. For this reason it's a
must acquire for school and public libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, Friday was the bitter two month anniversary of
the day I saw the life light fade from Joey cat's loving amber eyes
and felt him stop breathing and watched Eugene bury him near a
sheltering tree under a cotton candy pink sunset. But some good
things did happen to somewhat assuage the brokenness I was carrying
around inside of me. I cashed in more cans and bottles for my
emergency fund. I found an anthology of indiginous literature from
Maine that I'd been trying to locate at the library. The call came
out for proposals for the international conference I'll be going to in
March. I am going to try to do a poster presentation there about the
unique partnership UMaine Dining Services has with Black Bear
Exchange. I was one of the volunteers who processed this week's
Dining Services contributions (put them in smaller containers) for
BBE. That was over 400 pounds of really good food. I got some really
nice photographs of red leafed bushes and fall flowers. And a person
in a dinosaur costume gave me a free shirt that makes a great night
shirt. I had someone take my picture with the dino so people wouldn't
ascribe that encounter to my imagination.
Great big shout outs go out to Dining Services, the other volunteers
who processed the food, the shirt giver in the dino costume, and the
best little cat in the world who is gone but very much not forgotten.
Also to you, my dear readers, with best wishes for an awesome
Indiginous People's Day.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Halloween Crafts
Halloween Crafts
Juvenile/family nonfiction
Do you remember how, when you were a child, it took forever for
Halloween to arrive? Today's kids don't have any more patience than
we did back in the day. The right crafts will help pass the time,
create special memories, and help create a spooktacular ambiance when
the big day arrives.
Fay Robinson's Halloween Crafts serves up a bunch of creepy
crafts that are purrrfect even for kids and families on shoestring
budgets:
*an old black sock is the base for a bat puppet;
*pipe cleaners, glue, and google eyes combine to form hairy tarantulas;
*a disembodied hand takes shape from a disposable glove,
and those are just a few of the seasonal crafts.
I recommend this fine book for families and youth group leaders.
On a purrrsonal note, here's a craft my kids taught me years ago that
can come in handy for parties or other gatherings. Cover tootsie pops
with kleenexes, using rubber bands to secure them. Draw little ghost
faces. Cute, fast, and cheap.
One regret I have is never getting around to producing a
Halloween story on tape with special effects with my kids. Every time
I tried something came up. Then they went and grew up. I haven't
given up on the project. I may just have to do it off season with
some of my techie undergrad friends. Now that's another family
project you might want to try.
Don't forget that for more sophisticated projects my daughter's blog
is the place to go.
http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com
This Halloween will be a sad one for me. For years Adam, Joey cat,
and I gave out candy to trick or treaters. We'd watch X Files
episodes for ambience. Then it was Joey and me. I'd read books with
him in my lap. I incorporated Joey into my costumes. Like if I was a
witch he'd be my familiar. I can't bear the thought of handing out
candy without the best little cat in the world this year. I think
I'll stay on campus for whatever student activities comes up with.
Great big shout outs go out to my crafty daughter Amber and the best
little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Juvenile/family nonfiction
Do you remember how, when you were a child, it took forever for
Halloween to arrive? Today's kids don't have any more patience than
we did back in the day. The right crafts will help pass the time,
create special memories, and help create a spooktacular ambiance when
the big day arrives.
Fay Robinson's Halloween Crafts serves up a bunch of creepy
crafts that are purrrfect even for kids and families on shoestring
budgets:
*an old black sock is the base for a bat puppet;
*pipe cleaners, glue, and google eyes combine to form hairy tarantulas;
*a disembodied hand takes shape from a disposable glove,
and those are just a few of the seasonal crafts.
I recommend this fine book for families and youth group leaders.
On a purrrsonal note, here's a craft my kids taught me years ago that
can come in handy for parties or other gatherings. Cover tootsie pops
with kleenexes, using rubber bands to secure them. Draw little ghost
faces. Cute, fast, and cheap.
One regret I have is never getting around to producing a
Halloween story on tape with special effects with my kids. Every time
I tried something came up. Then they went and grew up. I haven't
given up on the project. I may just have to do it off season with
some of my techie undergrad friends. Now that's another family
project you might want to try.
Don't forget that for more sophisticated projects my daughter's blog
is the place to go.
http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com
This Halloween will be a sad one for me. For years Adam, Joey cat,
and I gave out candy to trick or treaters. We'd watch X Files
episodes for ambience. Then it was Joey and me. I'd read books with
him in my lap. I incorporated Joey into my costumes. Like if I was a
witch he'd be my familiar. I can't bear the thought of handing out
candy without the best little cat in the world this year. I think
I'll stay on campus for whatever student activities comes up with.
Great big shout outs go out to my crafty daughter Amber and the best
little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Period Power
Period Power
YA/adult nonfiction
Back when I was in high school we girls [back then I didn't know
the name for gender fluid] were culled from the freshperson herd for a
series of special classes. We had to memorize a hormone cycle and a
series of strange tips such as keep your legs closed enough to hold an
aspirin between your knees and if a boy wants you to sit on his lap
lay a phone book down first. Kotex gift packages were given out
during the final class. A girl ventured to ask, "Does this have
something to do with my period?" You see the words period and
menstruation had not been mentioned once even though this was what the
class was all about.
Nadya Okamoto, author of Period Power: A Manifesto For The
Menstrual Movement [gotta love all that alliteration] shows us that
the times are not all a changing quickly enough. Menstruation is
still for much of society the kind of taboo topic where off color
jokes are tolerated but accurate information is considered off
limits. I totally love the book for the following reasons:
1) There is a wealth of information for current and future
menstruators. The menstrual cycle is described in all its
complexity. Details (like what the blood will feel like) that are too
often ignored are included. A wide range of period products are
discussed.
2) There is acknowledgement that CIS women aren't the only ones
who menstruate. My transgender brother menstruated. There is a very
helpful discussion of what sex and gender really mean.
3) Climate change and sustainability are taken into
consideration. Just the sheer amount of period products [Okamoto
cites "12 billion--that's billion with a B--pads and seven billion
tampons] that end up in landfills each year should get us talking.
And there are all the deliterious effects of plastic componants that
take forever to decompose.
4) This one is my personal favorite. Readers learn that for
many people, because of cost, safe menstrual products are not
accessible. We're not just talking third world countries. In America
homeless and poor menstruators either use products way too long to the
point of danger or substitute inappropriate substances.
5) Readers are told that these problems aren't someone else's.
All of us need to be talking about periods, normalizing period talk,
and pushing for solutions to serious period problems. Throughout the
book there are great ideas for doing so.
Hoewever, at a number of points I felt sad and discouraged. I
was seeing red when I read the following paragraph:
"In the women's movement, we are seeing more inclusivity being
stressed, in order to avoid whitewashed feminism, and there are
conversations to be had in breaking down the gender binary as well.
As we enter the community of fourth-wave feminism--that is more
inclusive of those beyond the gender binary, of all races, and of all
socioeconomic backgrounds--we have to acknowledge how Intersectional
gender inequality is an an issue and push forward as a diverse and
beautiful movement toward total gender equality."
Where do I even begin? In the interests of total
intersectionality we also need to break down the age binary [the young/
the old] that is no more real than the gender binary. Assuming that
anyone who can't be described as "young" is beyond the old expiration
date is as wrong as assuming that younger people can't be leaders or
managers. [I call the latter bullshit whenever I encounter it.] Age
is a continuum; after drinking age chronological age means little
beyond how many candles to put on the cake.
I just turned 68. I am beautiful, bold, and badass. I have no
problem saying period even in church. To get people talking about
other difficult issues I've written opinion pieces for the Bangor
Daily News, sharing experiences like my abortion and my rape with tens
of thousands of readers. I'm drag royalty at University of Maine. I'm
gender fluid in a world that considers that term an adjective for
youth. I'm enrolled part time in a masters program in higher
education student development. I scrub gross pots, get covered in
crud in dishroom, mop floors, serve food, and wipe tables to bankroll
the privilege of studying my ass off because my fierce passion is
helping students including those "beyond the gender binary, of all
races, and of all socioeconomic backgrounds" to survive, thrive, and
work for a better world.
Doesn't achieving that better world require the energies of all
of us who see the light and feel the passion?
On a purrrsonal note, Coming Out Week was awesome at UMaine. My
favorite event was the drag pageant. I was one of the contestants of
course. First we had the runway part. My song was Ruby Tuesday by
the Rolling Stones. I was on fire--owning the song and the space--
feeling the pure joy of interpreting an awesome song for a very
appreciative audience. I was in seventh heaven. Then we had
intermission and the talent part. I read a poem I wrote trying to
help people see themselves as gorgeous and sexy like I do. We had a
second intermission. Then we each answered a question. In theories
class we've studied Kimberle Crenshaw's intersectionality theory. I
brought it right into my answer, explaining it in a way non grad
students could understand. I can't put a boundary between what I
study and the rest of my life. After the show people were talking and
taking pictures. I helped clean up. I was so psyched. Very few
people get the opportunity I had to be free, fearlessly creative, and
loved. I was also happy that my BFF Jodi and several of my theories
classmates were there for me.
Oh, yeah, I've changed my drag name. It used to be Too Cool Jules.
When Joey died it began to feel so frivolous. So now I perform as
Joey's friend.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated and watched the
drag show, especially Rob and Jane who were in charge of planning, and
the best little cat in the world who still inspires me to be nothing
less than my best.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA/adult nonfiction
Back when I was in high school we girls [back then I didn't know
the name for gender fluid] were culled from the freshperson herd for a
series of special classes. We had to memorize a hormone cycle and a
series of strange tips such as keep your legs closed enough to hold an
aspirin between your knees and if a boy wants you to sit on his lap
lay a phone book down first. Kotex gift packages were given out
during the final class. A girl ventured to ask, "Does this have
something to do with my period?" You see the words period and
menstruation had not been mentioned once even though this was what the
class was all about.
Nadya Okamoto, author of Period Power: A Manifesto For The
Menstrual Movement [gotta love all that alliteration] shows us that
the times are not all a changing quickly enough. Menstruation is
still for much of society the kind of taboo topic where off color
jokes are tolerated but accurate information is considered off
limits. I totally love the book for the following reasons:
1) There is a wealth of information for current and future
menstruators. The menstrual cycle is described in all its
complexity. Details (like what the blood will feel like) that are too
often ignored are included. A wide range of period products are
discussed.
2) There is acknowledgement that CIS women aren't the only ones
who menstruate. My transgender brother menstruated. There is a very
helpful discussion of what sex and gender really mean.
3) Climate change and sustainability are taken into
consideration. Just the sheer amount of period products [Okamoto
cites "12 billion--that's billion with a B--pads and seven billion
tampons] that end up in landfills each year should get us talking.
And there are all the deliterious effects of plastic componants that
take forever to decompose.
4) This one is my personal favorite. Readers learn that for
many people, because of cost, safe menstrual products are not
accessible. We're not just talking third world countries. In America
homeless and poor menstruators either use products way too long to the
point of danger or substitute inappropriate substances.
5) Readers are told that these problems aren't someone else's.
All of us need to be talking about periods, normalizing period talk,
and pushing for solutions to serious period problems. Throughout the
book there are great ideas for doing so.
Hoewever, at a number of points I felt sad and discouraged. I
was seeing red when I read the following paragraph:
"In the women's movement, we are seeing more inclusivity being
stressed, in order to avoid whitewashed feminism, and there are
conversations to be had in breaking down the gender binary as well.
As we enter the community of fourth-wave feminism--that is more
inclusive of those beyond the gender binary, of all races, and of all
socioeconomic backgrounds--we have to acknowledge how Intersectional
gender inequality is an an issue and push forward as a diverse and
beautiful movement toward total gender equality."
Where do I even begin? In the interests of total
intersectionality we also need to break down the age binary [the young/
the old] that is no more real than the gender binary. Assuming that
anyone who can't be described as "young" is beyond the old expiration
date is as wrong as assuming that younger people can't be leaders or
managers. [I call the latter bullshit whenever I encounter it.] Age
is a continuum; after drinking age chronological age means little
beyond how many candles to put on the cake.
I just turned 68. I am beautiful, bold, and badass. I have no
problem saying period even in church. To get people talking about
other difficult issues I've written opinion pieces for the Bangor
Daily News, sharing experiences like my abortion and my rape with tens
of thousands of readers. I'm drag royalty at University of Maine. I'm
gender fluid in a world that considers that term an adjective for
youth. I'm enrolled part time in a masters program in higher
education student development. I scrub gross pots, get covered in
crud in dishroom, mop floors, serve food, and wipe tables to bankroll
the privilege of studying my ass off because my fierce passion is
helping students including those "beyond the gender binary, of all
races, and of all socioeconomic backgrounds" to survive, thrive, and
work for a better world.
Doesn't achieving that better world require the energies of all
of us who see the light and feel the passion?
On a purrrsonal note, Coming Out Week was awesome at UMaine. My
favorite event was the drag pageant. I was one of the contestants of
course. First we had the runway part. My song was Ruby Tuesday by
the Rolling Stones. I was on fire--owning the song and the space--
feeling the pure joy of interpreting an awesome song for a very
appreciative audience. I was in seventh heaven. Then we had
intermission and the talent part. I read a poem I wrote trying to
help people see themselves as gorgeous and sexy like I do. We had a
second intermission. Then we each answered a question. In theories
class we've studied Kimberle Crenshaw's intersectionality theory. I
brought it right into my answer, explaining it in a way non grad
students could understand. I can't put a boundary between what I
study and the rest of my life. After the show people were talking and
taking pictures. I helped clean up. I was so psyched. Very few
people get the opportunity I had to be free, fearlessly creative, and
loved. I was also happy that my BFF Jodi and several of my theories
classmates were there for me.
Oh, yeah, I've changed my drag name. It used to be Too Cool Jules.
When Joey died it began to feel so frivolous. So now I perform as
Joey's friend.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated and watched the
drag show, especially Rob and Jane who were in charge of planning, and
the best little cat in the world who still inspires me to be nothing
less than my best.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Sunday, October 6, 2019
#Me Too
#Me Too
Adult nonfiction
"IT STARTED WITH A TWEET: If you've been sexually harassed or
assaulted write 'Me too' as a reply to this tweet. But the ground
work for #Me Too was laid more than twenty years earlier, and the
conditions for the outpouring of support have existed for
generations. #Me Too has grown into a worldwide catalyst for changes
in the ways people think about, respond to, and deal with sexual
misconduct."
The first time I experienced sexual harassment I was a
freshperson in high school. A male swimming teacher touched me in
places where he really shouldn't have. He told me that was "our
little secret." My gut feeling was that maybe he shouldn't be a
teacher. What he did was wrong. It made me feel in danger in a place
where I deserved to feel safe. And maybe I wasn't the only one he
touched. So I talked to the principal who was shocked...
...at my behavior. I was evil. I could ruin a good man's
reputation with my lies. If I didn't stop there would be serious
repurcussions. Against me. Even then I knew a good man wouldn't
touch a girl under her bathing suit. His demand for secrecy implied
that he knew what he did was wrong. This made me feel helpless and
very angry.
What a difference half a century makes! I was elated when the
#Me Too movement took off like wildfire. People were talking about
what was formerly unmentionable. Predators would not be getting a
free pass.
#Me Too: Women Speak Out Against Sexual Assault is a volume in
the New York Times In The Headlines series. It's a collection of
pieces by a wide range of writers. The first describes the Harvey
Weinstein revelations. Following ones cover the movement that burst
into life following an invitation to other women to share their
experiences and the spread of the ensuing conversation into
legislature and academia and around the world. At the end there are
speculations about what lies ahead. Some of the pieces I found most
interesting concerned:
*the widely differing reactions in countries with a wide range of
cultures;
*the distinction between individual males behaving badly and "the ways
the world is structurally engineered against women" and how the
latter, while causing exponentially more harm, is far harder than the
former to remedy;
and *the complexities surrounding the victimization of black and
working class women.
I would highly recommend this very timely book to women,
nonbinary folks, and allies. It would probably be a very discussion
worthy text for women's and gender studies classes.
On a purrrsonal note, this has been a very intense weekend. Mostly,
of course, I studied. Sunday I spent 3 hours in a study group getting
ready for the legendary theories final. The rest of it was solo,
missing my cat.
My mother-in-law is in the hospital for a collapsed lung and a blood
clot. Of course we're all hoping and praying for Arlene to get well
and home.
The happy news is that Amber and Brian had their traditional family
and friends Halloween party. I wore my unicorn costume. We had pizza
and cupcakes. Their place was decorated just purrrfectly.
[BTW if you're in need for ideas for Halloween costumes and decor you
might want to check out her blog
http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com
She is really into the season.]
Katie brought me the most amazing birthday present: a real oil
painting made from my favorite photograph of Joey. He's standing on a
pumpkin near some flowers. Such a precious memory. I will give that
precious painting a place of honor in my studio.
We have Coming Out Week this week at UMaine. Tomorrow I'll wear my
unicorn costume for the flag raising. Wednesday I'll be a contestant
in the drag pageant.
Great big shout outs go out to my study group, the nurses taking care
of Arlene, my family, and the best little cat in the world who could
light and warm up the house even in the depths of winter.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Adult nonfiction
"IT STARTED WITH A TWEET: If you've been sexually harassed or
assaulted write 'Me too' as a reply to this tweet. But the ground
work for #Me Too was laid more than twenty years earlier, and the
conditions for the outpouring of support have existed for
generations. #Me Too has grown into a worldwide catalyst for changes
in the ways people think about, respond to, and deal with sexual
misconduct."
The first time I experienced sexual harassment I was a
freshperson in high school. A male swimming teacher touched me in
places where he really shouldn't have. He told me that was "our
little secret." My gut feeling was that maybe he shouldn't be a
teacher. What he did was wrong. It made me feel in danger in a place
where I deserved to feel safe. And maybe I wasn't the only one he
touched. So I talked to the principal who was shocked...
...at my behavior. I was evil. I could ruin a good man's
reputation with my lies. If I didn't stop there would be serious
repurcussions. Against me. Even then I knew a good man wouldn't
touch a girl under her bathing suit. His demand for secrecy implied
that he knew what he did was wrong. This made me feel helpless and
very angry.
What a difference half a century makes! I was elated when the
#Me Too movement took off like wildfire. People were talking about
what was formerly unmentionable. Predators would not be getting a
free pass.
#Me Too: Women Speak Out Against Sexual Assault is a volume in
the New York Times In The Headlines series. It's a collection of
pieces by a wide range of writers. The first describes the Harvey
Weinstein revelations. Following ones cover the movement that burst
into life following an invitation to other women to share their
experiences and the spread of the ensuing conversation into
legislature and academia and around the world. At the end there are
speculations about what lies ahead. Some of the pieces I found most
interesting concerned:
*the widely differing reactions in countries with a wide range of
cultures;
*the distinction between individual males behaving badly and "the ways
the world is structurally engineered against women" and how the
latter, while causing exponentially more harm, is far harder than the
former to remedy;
and *the complexities surrounding the victimization of black and
working class women.
I would highly recommend this very timely book to women,
nonbinary folks, and allies. It would probably be a very discussion
worthy text for women's and gender studies classes.
On a purrrsonal note, this has been a very intense weekend. Mostly,
of course, I studied. Sunday I spent 3 hours in a study group getting
ready for the legendary theories final. The rest of it was solo,
missing my cat.
My mother-in-law is in the hospital for a collapsed lung and a blood
clot. Of course we're all hoping and praying for Arlene to get well
and home.
The happy news is that Amber and Brian had their traditional family
and friends Halloween party. I wore my unicorn costume. We had pizza
and cupcakes. Their place was decorated just purrrfectly.
[BTW if you're in need for ideas for Halloween costumes and decor you
might want to check out her blog
http://amberscraftaweek.blogspot.com
She is really into the season.]
Katie brought me the most amazing birthday present: a real oil
painting made from my favorite photograph of Joey. He's standing on a
pumpkin near some flowers. Such a precious memory. I will give that
precious painting a place of honor in my studio.
We have Coming Out Week this week at UMaine. Tomorrow I'll wear my
unicorn costume for the flag raising. Wednesday I'll be a contestant
in the drag pageant.
Great big shout outs go out to my study group, the nurses taking care
of Arlene, my family, and the best little cat in the world who could
light and warm up the house even in the depths of winter.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Soaring Earth
Soaring Earth
YA nonfiction
"In dreams I reject reality
and return to the blue-green-blue
isle of ocean-surrounded childhood,
a sliver of memory treasured."
Recall how in 2015 we looked at Margarita Engle's memoir in
verse, Enchanted Air? I was elated to discover a brand new companion,
Soaring Earth, that specifically focuses on Engle's teen/young adult
years.
When we meet Engle, she desperately yearns to return to the
enchanted Cuba where she spent childhood summers. Only it was illegal
for her to go there due to politics. High school and college will
present additional challenges.
In fact, the challenges of attending a large state university
during a time of war, drugs, and campus conflict proves to be too
much. No longer a student, she doesn't go home, not sure how she can
explain her situation to her parents. Jobs are hard to come by.
Housemates and guests are sometimes problematic. Witnessing a murder
shreds her sense of security. After hitchhiking across the country
she's robbed in Harlem. A lot in her life seems futile.
"Will I ever manage
to return
to college?
Once an opportunity
has been abandoned
can lost hope ever
be rediscovered?"
You'll have to read the book to find out.
On a personal note, you recall how I was anxious that I wouldn't have
enough iron to donate blood? Well I had excellent numbers (probably
thanks to our Wells chefs who do beef right) and donated easily. Then
I volunteered six hours at the canteen, tending to other donors. Easy
Peasy and fun. Luckily Anna didn't schedule me to work that night so
I could rest up.
Anna has given me free time to go to my family early Halloween party
where I'll see all my kids Saturday (I AM SO EXCITED!!!) and to
participate in the Drag Pageant next Wednesday. We have October Break
the 12th to the 15th. I have SO MUCH TO DO before break I don't see
how I'll get it all done. I'll have to channel the Little Engine That
Could.
At the beginning of the year I decided I'd do 100 volunteer hours in
2019. When I learned in May that Joey had cancer I dropped that goal
and forgave myself because making the best of his time left for him
was much more important. I have no idea how it happened but as of
yesterday I'm up to 100 1/2 hours with almost 3 weeks to go. I'd
rather have Joey.
Great big shout outs go out to Anna, my fellow blood donors, my
amazing children, and the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
YA nonfiction
"In dreams I reject reality
and return to the blue-green-blue
isle of ocean-surrounded childhood,
a sliver of memory treasured."
Recall how in 2015 we looked at Margarita Engle's memoir in
verse, Enchanted Air? I was elated to discover a brand new companion,
Soaring Earth, that specifically focuses on Engle's teen/young adult
years.
When we meet Engle, she desperately yearns to return to the
enchanted Cuba where she spent childhood summers. Only it was illegal
for her to go there due to politics. High school and college will
present additional challenges.
In fact, the challenges of attending a large state university
during a time of war, drugs, and campus conflict proves to be too
much. No longer a student, she doesn't go home, not sure how she can
explain her situation to her parents. Jobs are hard to come by.
Housemates and guests are sometimes problematic. Witnessing a murder
shreds her sense of security. After hitchhiking across the country
she's robbed in Harlem. A lot in her life seems futile.
"Will I ever manage
to return
to college?
Once an opportunity
has been abandoned
can lost hope ever
be rediscovered?"
You'll have to read the book to find out.
On a personal note, you recall how I was anxious that I wouldn't have
enough iron to donate blood? Well I had excellent numbers (probably
thanks to our Wells chefs who do beef right) and donated easily. Then
I volunteered six hours at the canteen, tending to other donors. Easy
Peasy and fun. Luckily Anna didn't schedule me to work that night so
I could rest up.
Anna has given me free time to go to my family early Halloween party
where I'll see all my kids Saturday (I AM SO EXCITED!!!) and to
participate in the Drag Pageant next Wednesday. We have October Break
the 12th to the 15th. I have SO MUCH TO DO before break I don't see
how I'll get it all done. I'll have to channel the Little Engine That
Could.
At the beginning of the year I decided I'd do 100 volunteer hours in
2019. When I learned in May that Joey had cancer I dropped that goal
and forgave myself because making the best of his time left for him
was much more important. I have no idea how it happened but as of
yesterday I'm up to 100 1/2 hours with almost 3 weeks to go. I'd
rather have Joey.
Great big shout outs go out to Anna, my fellow blood donors, my
amazing children, and the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway
Sent from my iPod
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