Kindle and Twilight

A few months ago, I got a Kindle as a gift. I am not much of a reader - I would rather do something (like sewing, knitting, cleaning, whatever!) than just sit and read. But, one day, I mentioned to my husband that one of my patients' family members had one and liked it very much. Miraculously, one appeared a few weeks later.

As an aside, it seems like my conversation with my husband provided him an excuse to buy one. He wanted to be the cool one, not me. I really haven't used it all that much, given the expense. It is fun and I certainly like the "whispernet" subscription and downloading books. It has been useful when traveling. I look so tech-savvy and I always have something to read.

As another aside...curiously, when I mention emptying the dishwasher to my husband, that doesn't miraculously get done.

Back to the subject, I have read two of the Twilight series books on the Kindle during my recent travels. These stories have been incredibly popular, even more so since the release of the second movie, "New Moon." I decided to find out what all of the hype was about and read the books. Also intriguing was the news stories that middle aged women were unusually attracted to these teen novels. My curiosity was piqued.

Here are my thoughts on Twilight.

The novels are entertaining. The author does a great job of capturing the emotions of being a teenager, of first love, and of longing. It's quite creative, too. For example, the cold temperature and the shimmering quality of the vampires' skin. So imaginative. I will admit, the wording and the tension that the author creates frequently gives me that butterfly-stomach feeling as I'm reading. That's pretty rare for me! Such a treat!

The main character, Bella, is supposed to be "every-teen." Mostly I like her character, but she does stupid things. Illustration #1: Dad says to stay out of the woods (in New Moon) because there have been strange sightings of giant bears, and people missing. Sounds like a good reason for Bella to go hiking by herself, don't you think? Illustration #2: Seems like a good idea to go cliff diving by herself into the Pacific ocean, in early spring, while a storm is coming in (also in New Moon). I get a bit disgusted with her need to be saved so frequently. Seriously, girl, think before you walk in a dark alley! And if you do, then defend your own dang self.

Perhaps the author is trying to capture the immature reasoning capabilities of the teen age mind. From this perspective, she has succeeded.

Another thing about Bella is that while she is immature on one level, she is unusually savvy on another level. She can cook fairly sophisticated meals. She can travel about the country and the world on a moment's notice (apparently without credit cards).

Edward and Jacob are mythical men. Teenaged boys are hardly that focused! Edward is supposedly 110 years old, more mature than your average 17 year old presumably from life experience. OK, I'll buy that. But Jacob and the other boys? In real life, they're playing goofy video games, eating too much, and skulking around like horn-dogs. What is all this brooding the characters do, too? I don't think most real teen boys are self aware enough to have such grasp on their emotions and how to express them. Jacob is abnormally sensitive to Bella's feelings. Like most teenage boys would have a clue.

As a mature reader, I can't help but consider this all simply an allegory for sexual maturation - the secret life of teens as they go through the difficult changes. While Bella keeps her association with mythical beings as her big secret, average teenage girls deal with their crushes; their own sexual urges and how to handle them; their friends who do antisocial things (drugs, sexual activity, disease, crime); and the dirty realities of life. While Jacob magically becomes a werewolf, average teenage boys deal with getting hairy, smelly, and awkward; with rage and surprisingly powerful emotions; with fitting in; with aberrant thoughts (and what to do with them); with their own crushes; with self doubt, self disgust ("I am a monster!"), self acceptance; and with their own sexual identity.

I mean, really. When Bella begs Edward to "change her" - what are we really talking about here?????

One thought that crossed my mind is what does a vampire do when his human girlfriend menstruates? And yet, a mere paper cut sends a vampire into a feeding frenzy (opening scene in New Moon - oh, save me, Edward!). Certainly I'm not the only one who has thought of this... ah, the wonderful world of fiction. In Forks, no one worries about pimples, glasses, braces, allergies, bad haircuts, unintended pregnancies, or mundane stuff like that.

My first impression of Twilight, when I first started reading, was that this was very much like a Harlequin Romance from years past, before they allowed the main characters to have sex, be unwed mothers, etc. The powerful and perfect male is beguiled by the average female, her every awkwardness enchants him more. She haplessly gets into trouble, and he appears to rescue her. He is always ready to commit long before she is. He is rich, sophisticated, handsome - never dorky, disgusting, or selfish.

I still enjoy the books, though. I am finally mature enough to enjoy the fiction without actually believing it.

Yeah, go read it! If you are a teenage boy, reading the Twilight books will give you an insight into what goes on in a female's mind. It may all seem boring and pathetic to you, but understanding this will give you a strategic advantage with girls.

Pre Christmas Rush

Actually, I'm not too far behind in my Christmas preparations. Yet, there are a few things left to do.

First a serious note. I attended my friend's memorial service yesterday. Many quilt guild people were in attendance. Our dear friend had been a past president of the guild, and thankfully, members had not forgotten. To paraphrase the pastor at the service, it is good that we came. The family had gotten together many of her quilts and had them displayed along with photos and other memorabilia. That's a neat idea.

So, where am I in my Christmas preparations? I have made several flower pins and given them as gifts. They are nice little presents. I was going to have one left over for me, but I found another person who needed a gift!

I have one more gift to make - a scrub cap for a member of my extended family who is an obstetrician. He probably won't use it, since I understand he prefers using the disposable caps. However, he is a gracious gift recipient and he has an appreciation of handmade items. To make a cap (in his med-school college colors) will be satisfying to us both.

I have most presents purchased and sent. Embarrassingly, though, I still haven't figured out what to get my sister and brother in law. I have one little thing for them...and then? Oy. I also need to get some small gifts for my parents and my uncles. Uncles. Senior citizen men are hard to buy for.

This morning I finished a rather elaborate gift for a coworker. I made him a scrub top. He has been a colleague now for almost 4 years, and I really enjoy working with him. He likes the Looney Toons character Tasmanian Devil ('Taz')and I found some cotton fabric with a Taz print. He has been bugging me for a top for a while, too! Scrub tops are not particularly difficult, but they do take time. And, I care to do a good job, including finished hems. I sure hope it fits.

Speaking of hospital wear, I sold two more caps on my etsy site! I shipped them on Friday, so hopefully the buyer will get them tomorrow. Now my site is "out" of skull caps! Oh no!

Yet, on Friday, I had a chance to take some more cap photos with my coworkers as models. I also got a sale among the coworkers...how about that. I hope to post a few more caps today.

I eagerly anticipate going to visit family over the holiday. Partially it is the fun of getting out of town, traveling by air, and doing something different. It is also the joy of seeing family.

It's over

I did try to see my friend, but it was too late. I don't know exactly when she died, but when I went to the nursing home, all they could tell me was that she was no longer staying at the facility.

It was not surprising, of course. I feel a little guilty because I could have seen her last week, but I was wrapped up in my own things.

I wish I had something profound to say. I don't. It is what it is.

My friend is dying

I have a friend in quilt guild who is very sick. Her illness came on rather suddenly in early November and she spent weeks in the intensive care unit and a progressive care unit. Interestingly, she was at my hospital all the time, but I didn't know until the last few weeks. She stabilized and was moved from my hospital to a rehab center. Yesterday, we got email from a family member that she is in hospice care now.

Obviously, I am saddened by this. She is a nice lady, and excellent quilter, and a good leader in the quilting community here in Kansas City. She blessed me many times in various ways. She sat with me during our annual quilting-for-charity day in guild and we chatted. She attended one of my wind symphony concerts. She was a committee chair when I was the guild's newsletter editor, and she was a faithful encourager and provider of newsletter content.

The thought keeps running through my mind - "how can this be?"

For one thing, she is my parents' age. She was vibrant and active just a few months ago. How can she get so sick so fast, come back from the brink, but then decline anyway? Life is strange. Death is strange, too.

I think I'll try to go see her today. It may be too late. I don't know what I can offer her. My feelings of uselessness should not preclude me from offering a blessing to her.

My First Sale

Yesterday I got my first sale from my Etsy shop. I'm so excited!

I posted a few more hats. Let's see what happens.

This is fun!

Bust

The craft open house was a bust for me. No sales at all. Frowny face.

My items are rather specialized, I realize. The friend who held this event assured me that nurses were coming! They were so excited about seeing the scrub caps, she assured me.

Well, they didn't make it.

I'm disappointed, to be honest. I tried not to set high expectations, but it was a lot of time to spend just sitting there. With my illness, it was not pleasant sitting there coughing, sucking on lozenges, and drinking tea. I'm sure this made me act and look less inviting.

At least I gave out a number of business cards for my Etsy shop and I got some pictures for new postings on Etsy. Moreover, I have some inventory now. I actually have something to sell in my Etsy shop. Maybe it will work out in the long run.

A Long Awaited Update

I have been busy and I haven't had a chance to write. Here is the summary:

• Sewing every chance I get to have enough inventory for a handmade holiday open house THIS SATURDAY!
• Work, with extra meetings.
• In-laws here for Thanksgiving. Which necessitated cleaning house, planning menus, shopping, planning outings, etc.
• Procrastinating on my round robin for quilt guild. I had to finish that by Nov 29 before doing more scrub caps.
• Trip to North Carolina for my patent recognition.
• Now, a bad cold.

Ergh. I am not happy about the cold. I was fighting it valiantly but looks like I lost out in the end. Perhaps the stress and dryness of air travel did me in.

The trip to NC was awesome and did it ever make me miss the south. It is so green there in the fall and winter compared to here in Kansas! I got to see several friends, including my former coworkers at "Terrific Company" (my pseudonym for this company, from a previous series of posts). That was OK - the experience with those coworkers through the turmoil that eventually led me out of computing was deeply emotional at the time. Now, I am far enough away from it that I can regard it more objectively.

I am glad I didn't do anything impulsive or rash at the time. I had the opportunity. I chose not to use it.

Also, I saw a friend from nursing school. I saw a friend and former roommate from computer science graduate school. I met with my former quilting bee from Terrific Company once a week at lunch hour. (I showed them this blog. Hello ladies!! if you are reading...) I even had a little time to shop at a quilt shop.

Now, the open house is two days away. I had a detailed and busy plan for all the preparatory work today - but I'm quite tired and congested. I think I'll be well enough for Saturday, if I take good care today.

That's a big "if." There's much to do today.

Perhaps I'll start with a nap...