Shocking

Even though I don’t write much about football on this blog, I couldn’t help but mention this:

Broncos Sack Shanahan

America’s Cheapest Family

This morning the Today Show featured the Economides family, who have made frugal living a way of life. I am a bit wary of jumping on one bandwagon then trying another method then another. We’ve been trying (though not with full effort) to use Dave Ramsey’s ideas, though a lot of them aren’t new. He mentions Larry Burkett, someone my parents introduced me to (his books, that is), and someone the Economides reference.

However, it’s compelling to learn how they’ve paid off a house in nine years on an average income of $33,000 per year, on top of raising five children. Their income has changed since then, but still. I’m impressed.

Check out the story and video clip here. Then take a look at their website. I’m less than impressed with the design of the website, especially since it makes it hard to navigate, but I think fishing through the mess might be worth it.  You can also read about them in here.  If you’re still intrigued, read their book. If I can get my hands on their book, I’ll provide another update. Stay tuned.

Kathleen Norris Interview

Check out this interview with Kathleen Norris over at The Other Journal.

Read and Listen

Read Zadie Smith’s essay in the current issue of The New Yorker. Then listen to the interview here. She writes about family history and comedy. And a new fiction podcast is up.

This is baking right now, and it smells wonderful.

On a political note, it looks like Caroline Kennedy will pursue Hillary’s vacated Senate seat. Reminds me of an article in The Economist last year about the election and who can be elected (in a world of Bushes and Clintons). The Kennedy name certainly has that political sound.

And Wally Lamb has a new book out: The Hour I First Believed. Apparently the main character is a teacher in Littleton. It’s too bad my hometown is famed for what happened that April day. I think I read Lamb’s first book during a break sometime in high school. I remember it being kind of good, so maybe I’ll take a look at this one, see how he portrays Colorado.

Reading, Television, and Sub-zero Temperatures

It’s -2 degrees right now, up from -8 when I got up this morning. Extreme temperatures make it difficult for me to work efficiently. When it’s hot I feel sluggish, and when it’s cold, I have to stop every few minutes for something warm to drink and to reposition the blanket.

Lately I’ve been watching more television and reading less than usual. I think shows mess with my attention span. It’s even hard to watch movies when I’m used to 30-60 minute segments. And forget reading. I start and stop after a few pages, and then start new books without finishing the others.

Ten days without a new post. The holiday season makes me want to be present rather than observing and blogging. I’ve been thinking about ways to create tradition and make this time meaningful. I’m afraid the time will fly by like it does every year. Any ideas?

One Story

Yesterday I mentioned One Story, but I thought I’d call more attention to it.  It’s a literary magazine that publishes one story at a time every three weeks or so.  I’ve read a handful of back issues lately, and what I particularly enjoy is that you can find author interviews online.  Reading them after the story provides an insightful look into the technical aspects of the writing sometimes.  Definitely worth the $21 for 18 stories.  Take a look at the website and blog.

“Blood” and Matthew Cheney

The story “Blood” by Matthew Cheney deals with violence in a way far from the sensationalist.  It’s worth reading if only to see how he deals with memory and violence.  It’s also a fantastic story.

He blogs here and guest blogs here about what he wishes his younger writing self would have known.  Some of his childhood approaches remind me of my own:  reading writing books or magazines thinking that The Secret exists and all one has to do is find it.

You can read an excerpt of the story and an interview with Cheney at One Story.

Books: Buying, Borrowing

This essay in The New York Times grabbed my attention because in the last few years I’ve started to wonder what to do with all my books.  I would never want to get rid of books, but seeing how much space they take up and how cumbersome they are to move, I figure I should consider downsizing.

In the essay, Laura Miller writes about different approaches to one’s bookshelves.  She quotes one person who threw out a book because she could order it just as fast if she needed to.  That’s all well and good if you have the money to spend on the same books over and over again, but I’d rather save the books I might reread or reference later.

Whenever there’s talk of the economy and publishing industry, it seems one or two voices say to buy books, and buy them from independent bookstores.  Lately, though, I’ve been frequenting the library because it’s cheaper (would be free if I was a good library patron and didn’t rack up 20 cent fees here and there).  I do miss having my own copies, because I wouldn’t dare write in a public one like I might in my own, and I’ve noticed I don’t read as closely when I’m not marking up the pages.

It seems some people like to streamline and keep everything electronic.  Does anyone actually prefer staring at a screen for their reading?

What are your own book policies?  Buy or borrow?  Print or electronic?

November Books

My reading slowed during November, and I’ve been reading several short stories each week for the short story workshop.

A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway provided an interesting glimpse into the lives of the Lost Generation, but it didn’t live up to what  I thought it would be.  Slow and a bit dull at times.

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere – ZZ Packer

Fantastic.  Packer is a great short story writer.  I recommend this collection even if you only have time for a story or two.

Miss Lonelyhearts – Nathanael West

After sitting on my to-read list for a while, this book finally caught my attention.  I’m not sure I liked it, but I’m still mulling over parts of it.

I didn’t think I’d manage this much reading this year, but now I’m hoping to make it to 50 books total.  I’m working through a short story collection, with another on the way.  I’d also like to read The master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov and Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor.  There are a half a dozen books half finished waiting for me, but I’d like to get in my annual rereading of The Great Gatsby.  I can’t wait to make a reading list for 2009.  Any suggestions?