Bookbag, and assorted other topics
I've been actively avoiding livejournal for the last year or so. I just got disillusioned with the format. But I've graduated now, and I want to get back into the habit of writing, especially writing for an audience. So, in a paragraph, here's what I've been up to:
I've graduated with a Masters degree in Library Science, and now I'm working at the GLBT Student Support Services Library on campus. I love my job, and since I've decided to call Bloomington home, I'm probably going to keep it as long as possible, which is probably going to be a while. Right now, Randy is helping his downstairs roommate build a wall, so he can keep the eggs from his chicken and quail business separate from the rest of the house. The health inspector gave him the thumbs up, and local restaurants seems interested - go Zach! After the wall's built, he's going to help us make the attic space into an actual room, and built stairs up to it, and then we'll move Randy's Dad's stuff up there while he's out of country. Then, we're going to turn the back room into an office for me, and I'll be moving in in June. Much excitement! Then, it the military doesn't send Randy's Mom back before then, we'll go visit them in Italy for a while in March.
Okay, on to other things. I've taken advantage of the no school, no homework, and for two weeks, no work, to read as much as I possibly can. I finally got hip on Facebook, and added the bookshelf application, so you can see what I've been readng there, but in more detail...
Ellie's Bookbag
The Art of Kissing by William Cane - This was such a cute book! I can't say I read it in depth, but it was fun to go through with my sweetie while driving, and check off all the kisses we had done - who knew we had such variety in our kissing! I've even started making up my own. Like, the Stoplight Kiss: when you stop at a red light in traffic, and lean over to kiss while both keep one eye open to watch the light. All cuteness aside, the traditional gender roles were tedious and mind-boggling dull. Don't tell me what the guy does and what the girl does, and don't act like "gender swapping" is some kind of special technique. Yeah, it's cool to know that more women enjoy having their neck kissed then men, but there's a difference between that and indoctrinating us. Still, a fun, light-hearted read.
Gothm Central v.2: Half a Life by Greg Rucka - I love me some Rucka. I always found the concept for Gotham Central fascinating - what life is like for everyone else, who isn't a weirdo or a member of the Batfamily - but this is the first time I gave it a try. The artwork is initially inconsistent, because the first chapter pulls from earlier, during No Man's Land, but the inclusion of that issue gives you background and pulls the whole story together. Plus, this is the story where Montoya comes out, so I was pretty much destined to love it anyways.
Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti - This book kicks ass! Ever wondered why all the feminists in you life , and have nothing in common with the stereotype of the dowdy curmudgeon? You should give this book a try. It's all about how feminism will improve your life. My favorite chapter is the one on why feminists do it better - it's so true. And even better, this book is inclusive of all sorts of people - women of color, disabled women, queer women, even men - because while we all have different problems, they're all essentially feminist issues. I've read a number of reviews that were put off by her potty mouth, but honestly, that has more to do with her conversational voice, and her appeal to a younger generation. I really can't suggest this book highly enough. You can read more of Jessica Valenti (and other feminists) at her blog, Feministing.
The Indelible Bechdel by Alison Bechdel - An excellent edition for all Dykes to Watch Out For collections, although probably not as interesting to people who never read her and have no idea who she is. It presents something of Bechdel's professional memoir, the story of how her artwork and storytelling skills developed over time. With lots of cartoons! I read this after I read her personal memoir, Fun Home, which won all those awards and received a lot of hoopla last year. I think it makes a good companion. Both reveal her development as an artist and a person, but in different ways. She really reveals how cartooning is a much more nuanced and careful art than tradition would have us believe. I'm very enthusiastic about this book.
If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland - I read this book because one of the authors came to Jenny's church a while back to speak, and I saw him, and Jenny lent me the book, so I thought, why not? This is a beautiful book about the love of God, and why God will save everyone. Everyone. Even the people you don't like. I thought it was great to read this from a Christian perspective, because I've long labored under the impression (an impression a lot of Christians have, too) that Christianity is nothing more than an elaborate revenge fantasy. Something on the order of, "Oh yeah... Well, well... You'll see!" Gulley and Mulholland make an excellent case for why "justice" is human, not divine. This book gets some pretty crummy reviews on Amazon, as you can imagine, and a lot of those reviews try to make the argument that Gulley and Mulholland aren't Biblically accurate. But that isn't true; the authors stand firm in their belief that the word of Jesus trumps everything else in the Bible, and so much of their argument stems directly from that. They also did an excellent job countering arguments that without eternal torture, why would anyone bother to behave? Easy to read and comprehend, but theologically challenging. As a side note, as a non-Christian, I frequently feel insulted, belittled, or patronized by the majority of Christian writing, even the universalist stuff. "Yes, you'll be saved, but we're still right and you're still wrong, and someday you'll accept Jesus and know that." But I never once got that vibe off this book. The authors are not out to underhandedly dis you.
Happy Solstice, everyone! Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Hanukkah!
I've graduated with a Masters degree in Library Science, and now I'm working at the GLBT Student Support Services Library on campus. I love my job, and since I've decided to call Bloomington home, I'm probably going to keep it as long as possible, which is probably going to be a while. Right now, Randy is helping his downstairs roommate build a wall, so he can keep the eggs from his chicken and quail business separate from the rest of the house. The health inspector gave him the thumbs up, and local restaurants seems interested - go Zach! After the wall's built, he's going to help us make the attic space into an actual room, and built stairs up to it, and then we'll move Randy's Dad's stuff up there while he's out of country. Then, we're going to turn the back room into an office for me, and I'll be moving in in June. Much excitement! Then, it the military doesn't send Randy's Mom back before then, we'll go visit them in Italy for a while in March.
Okay, on to other things. I've taken advantage of the no school, no homework, and for two weeks, no work, to read as much as I possibly can. I finally got hip on Facebook, and added the bookshelf application, so you can see what I've been readng there, but in more detail...
Ellie's Bookbag
The Art of Kissing by William Cane - This was such a cute book! I can't say I read it in depth, but it was fun to go through with my sweetie while driving, and check off all the kisses we had done - who knew we had such variety in our kissing! I've even started making up my own. Like, the Stoplight Kiss: when you stop at a red light in traffic, and lean over to kiss while both keep one eye open to watch the light. All cuteness aside, the traditional gender roles were tedious and mind-boggling dull. Don't tell me what the guy does and what the girl does, and don't act like "gender swapping" is some kind of special technique. Yeah, it's cool to know that more women enjoy having their neck kissed then men, but there's a difference between that and indoctrinating us. Still, a fun, light-hearted read.
Gothm Central v.2: Half a Life by Greg Rucka - I love me some Rucka. I always found the concept for Gotham Central fascinating - what life is like for everyone else, who isn't a weirdo or a member of the Batfamily - but this is the first time I gave it a try. The artwork is initially inconsistent, because the first chapter pulls from earlier, during No Man's Land, but the inclusion of that issue gives you background and pulls the whole story together. Plus, this is the story where Montoya comes out, so I was pretty much destined to love it anyways.
Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti - This book kicks ass! Ever wondered why all the feminists in you life , and have nothing in common with the stereotype of the dowdy curmudgeon? You should give this book a try. It's all about how feminism will improve your life. My favorite chapter is the one on why feminists do it better - it's so true. And even better, this book is inclusive of all sorts of people - women of color, disabled women, queer women, even men - because while we all have different problems, they're all essentially feminist issues. I've read a number of reviews that were put off by her potty mouth, but honestly, that has more to do with her conversational voice, and her appeal to a younger generation. I really can't suggest this book highly enough. You can read more of Jessica Valenti (and other feminists) at her blog, Feministing.
The Indelible Bechdel by Alison Bechdel - An excellent edition for all Dykes to Watch Out For collections, although probably not as interesting to people who never read her and have no idea who she is. It presents something of Bechdel's professional memoir, the story of how her artwork and storytelling skills developed over time. With lots of cartoons! I read this after I read her personal memoir, Fun Home, which won all those awards and received a lot of hoopla last year. I think it makes a good companion. Both reveal her development as an artist and a person, but in different ways. She really reveals how cartooning is a much more nuanced and careful art than tradition would have us believe. I'm very enthusiastic about this book.
If Grace is True: Why God Will Save Every Person by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland - I read this book because one of the authors came to Jenny's church a while back to speak, and I saw him, and Jenny lent me the book, so I thought, why not? This is a beautiful book about the love of God, and why God will save everyone. Everyone. Even the people you don't like. I thought it was great to read this from a Christian perspective, because I've long labored under the impression (an impression a lot of Christians have, too) that Christianity is nothing more than an elaborate revenge fantasy. Something on the order of, "Oh yeah... Well, well... You'll see!" Gulley and Mulholland make an excellent case for why "justice" is human, not divine. This book gets some pretty crummy reviews on Amazon, as you can imagine, and a lot of those reviews try to make the argument that Gulley and Mulholland aren't Biblically accurate. But that isn't true; the authors stand firm in their belief that the word of Jesus trumps everything else in the Bible, and so much of their argument stems directly from that. They also did an excellent job countering arguments that without eternal torture, why would anyone bother to behave? Easy to read and comprehend, but theologically challenging. As a side note, as a non-Christian, I frequently feel insulted, belittled, or patronized by the majority of Christian writing, even the universalist stuff. "Yes, you'll be saved, but we're still right and you're still wrong, and someday you'll accept Jesus and know that." But I never once got that vibe off this book. The authors are not out to underhandedly dis you.
Happy Solstice, everyone! Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Hanukkah!