Just Giblets

Here are my top 20 books that I read in 2008.

	The Bell at Sealey Head by Patricia A. McKillip - Not much happens in the sleepy, seaside town of Sealey Head, but inside the baffling Ainslinn House there are mysteries aplenty.  The master of literary fantasy does it again with a complex tale of a spellbound household and the handful of people able to set them free.  Every McKillip novel is a special event for me, and this was no exception.
	Home by Marilynne Robinson – For me, this companion to her Pulitzer- Prize-winning Gilead was in fact a more satisfying read.  Home looks at the complicated relationship between a brother and sister, two supporting characters in Gilead.  Robinson’s deft storytelling and lyrical language harkens back to her first novel Housekeeping in this powerful tale.
	The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Gaiman puts his spin on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book when a toddler is raised to adulthood by the residents of a local graveyard after his family is murdered.  Deft imagination weaves with wry humor in a book that appeals to all ages.
	The Condition by Jennifer Haigh – Turner’s Syndrome is the central condition referred to in the story’s title, but 33-year-old Gwen, who hasn’t developed physically since she was thirteen, is not the only member of the McKotches family dealing with some sort of condition.  Haigh’s exploration of this dysfunctional New England family is compelling, original and real.
	The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks – It was about time that I read Banks’ novel, which is the basis for my favorite film.  Banks delves more deeply into the damaged Upstate New York town whose residents are reeling from the effects of a bus accident that robbed them of most of their children.  He masterfully explores the themes of guilt, responsibility and truth in this marvelous novel.
	The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey – A young woman’s life is explored through four different points-of-view:  her own, her best friend’s, her best friend’s husband, and her father’s.  Livesey weaves a sad but illuminating story about life and luck.
	Run by Ann Patchett – Former Boston mayor Bernard Doyle hasn’t stopped mourning the loss of his wife, but he has raised his two adopted sons to be intelligent, well-loved young men.  Patchett pushes the boundaries of family and social class when a tragic accident in the snow leaves their lives forever changed.
	Andorra by Peter Cameron – Cameron explores the tiny European country of Andorra with a languid style that imitates the novel’s hot summer afternoons, all the while weaving an intriguing mystery that seems like background human interest until pushing its way to the forefront of the story.
	The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer – A secret organization is searching for the long-missing murder weapon that Cain used to murder his brother… and somehow that murder weapon is tied to the gun that killed the father of the boy who eventually grew up to invent Superman.  Deftly weaving the dual tales of Cain and Able and Superman into the fabric of this modern-day thriller, Meltzer creates a surprisingly touching story about fathers and sons.
	A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire – Maguire used Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West to explore the misunderstood concept of evil in the magnificent Wicked.  Now, in A Lion Among Men, he uses Brrr, the Cowardly Lion, to examine the often misinterpreted concept of cowardice.
	We Disappear by Scott Heim – Heim delves deeply into the troubled past of a woman battling cancer and an obssession with kdnapped children.  Scott returns home to rural Iowa to help his mother, but he’s got problems of his own.  Struggling with a drug addiction, he is unprepared to face the secrets he finds his mother has kept from him since childhood.
	Goldengrove by Francine Prose – Prose explores the ramifications of grief on a young woman whose older sister dies suddenly on a lazy summer afternoon.  Part coming-of-age story, part family drama, Goldengrove tells a powerful tale with rich, complex emotion.
	Of Men and Their Mothers by Mameve Medwed – With her trademark humor, Medwed explores the challenging relationships between mothers and the men in their lives.  Maisie Grey must deal not only with her ex-husband’s monster of a mother, she must avoid following in that woman’s footsteps when her son shows up with a new girlfriend she’s not sure she approves of.  Sweet and biting at the same time, Medwed delivers a real crowd-pleaser.
	Lie Down with the Devil by Linda Barnes – In the 12th installment of the Carlotta Carlyle series, Barnes does something amazing.  She brought this first-time reader up to speed while telling a compelling story involving mystery, romance, family drama and danger at a rapid pace.  This is one talented writer who makes me want to go back and read Carlotta’s 11 previous adventures.
	Passage by Lois McMaster Bujold – In this third installment of The Sharing Knife series, newly married couple Fawn and Dag must face the prejudices of both their people as they travel downriver on a single-minded mission to reeducate an entire civilization.  Bujold has created a complex romance in a fantasy setting that isn’t afriad to tackle difficult subjects.

Rounding out the Top 20 are:

The End of the Alphabet by CS Richardson
The Thief Queen’s Daughter by Elizabeth Haydon
The Theory of Clouds by Stéphane Audeguy
The Murder Notebook by Jonathan Santlofer
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Catch this super-awesome video clip of Emm Gryner performing The Waitresses “Christmas Wrapping” at the Andy Kim Christmas show in Toronto!  “Christmas Wrapping” is arguably my favorite modern Christmas song, and Emm is definitely my favorite artist of the new millennium.  What a joy to her her perform it.  The Waitresses were a new wave band from the early 80’s, whose wry, sardonic songs were perfectly delivered by their lead singer Patty Donahue.  Patty tragically died at the oh-so young age of 40 from lung cancer, but hearing Emm perform a song Patty so effortlessly made magical is a beautiful tribute, and brings a tear to my eye and a big smile to my face.  You go, Emm!

I got a new haircut. Yeah, it’s a “fo-mo” or “faux-hawk” or whatever you want to call it. But despite its passé and perhaps cheesy status, it looks good on me.

My officemate/geek-crush Michael Klein follows an online comic strip called Laugh-Out-Loud Cats by Adam Koford. It’s pretty brilliant, looking like Pogo or The Katzenjammer Kids, but with hobo kitties speaking dialogue like a lolcat.

A day after he saw my new haircut, Michael K. send Michael C. and me the latest Koford comic with a note that read, “Look! It’s you guys!” Indeed, it is.

Two things I love were discovered last night!

First on Fabulon, I saw a video of the Japanese pop duo from the 60’s, The Peanuts.

I’ve never seen them except for their even more fabulous appearances in the Mothra movies, where they played a pair of singing fairies!

Pretty groovy.

Then while watching last week’s episode of “Pushing Daisies” one of my current favorite shows to watch which is sadly being cancelled, I was thrilled to see Beth Grant (who I have loved in many small roles over the years, most notably as Kitty Farmer in Donnie Darko) featured as a rival baker who specialized in muffins.  It wasn’t until she referred to herself as the Muffin Buffalo that I realized that she’d played this character before… but not on “Pushing Daisies,” but on the late, great “Wonderfalls!” What a terrific bit of crossover magic!

Bryan Fuller, originator of both series, has already featured Diana Scarwid in both shows, and I have now learned that he is hoping that “Wonderfalls” lead, Jaye (played by Caroline Dhavernas) might drop by “Pushing Daisies!”  Here is a clip of Beth Grant playing Muffin Buffalo’s Mary Ann Marie Beetle from “Wonderfalls”:

And finally, just because, a brief clip of Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene performing an impromptu duet of They Might be Giants’ “Birdhouse in Your Soul” from “Pushing Daisies.”

Came across this blog post today. Got me thinking about how differently her experience would be if we had online communities on the library web site. As Web Services Manager for the Boston Public Library, its something I think we really need, but I sure hadn’t considered the direct user interaction she’s got in mind! Maybe we need to provide chat rooms too.

***UPDATE***

Since this post has been picked up by a few other blogs, I really guess I better be sure to point out that it’s entirely tongue in cheek. Well, not entirely. We do want to offer more user-participatory services on the BPL web site. But dating services and personals are not part of our current goals.

See?      

DSC02375

Originally uploaded by mcolford

My Mom and Scottie reflected in the window of a Chinatown shop featuring duck and squid.

I usually don’t go for these holiday inspired blog posts… oh, it’s thanksgiving, what am I thankful for, but this morning, I guess I’m in a reflective mood.  I don’t often stop and think about what I am truly thankful for in my life and that’s probably not a good thing.  It’s so easy to take the blessings in one’s life for granted, and today, I’m going to take a step back and acknowledge the things I am most thankful for.

When you’re healthy, it’s so easy to take your health for granted.  I have been fortunate enough to be pretty healthy my entire life.  Sure, as a fortysomething-year-old man I should lose a few pounds, eat better, be more active, etc.  But I did quit smoking this year (last January) and I feel really thankful about that!

Friends and Family are such a blessing.  My family is happy and healthy.  Everyone is doing well.  I am especially thankful that my parents, both in their mid-eighties, are doing so well.  And as a gay man, friends are so important, and I’ve got great friends from so many different areas of my life.

Six months ago, my friends and family would be shocked to hear me give thanks to my job… but it’s true.  Of course, in this economic climate I’m thankful to have a job at all, but never in my wildest dreams since becoming a librarian did I think I would ever have this big a job.  And for the first time since I started this job, things are really looking up.  A new leader has really rejuventated by interest in my career, and although things are still pretty difficult in many ways, I’m so hopeful for the future.

Having been a homeowner for a couple of years now, I have to say I am grateful that we’ve got such a comfortable home and great condo-mates.  As Scot often reminds me, we could definitely spend a little more time focused on our home, and that’s something I think I’d like to try and do in the coming year.

In that home I have to give thanks to our kitties, Gertrudis and Parker.  The joy these cats bring me is sometimes astounding.  Gertrudis has been with me for over 14 years, and she is truly part of my family.  And I’m so thankful that we were able to provide a home for Parker and that he seems to have alleviated some of Gertrudis’ anxiety about being the only cat in the house (when she remembers to stop fighting with him.)

Finally, and most importantly, I am so thankful for my husband, Scot.  First that here in Massachusetts I can actually have a husband, and secondly, but more importantly, that he’s someone as kind, understanding, complex, and beautiful as Scot.  I don’t tell him this nearly enough, but it comes from my heart… I love you, Scottie, and I am so grateful that you are a part of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

No, this isn’t Parker, though it looks like his butt sticking out when his head is hidden.

Chickens breaking up a bunny fight.

Valerie ---------------------> Tallulah

I’m just ecstatic hearing that Valerie Harper (yeah, Mary’s Rhoda) is playing Tallulah Bankhead in a new play entitled Looped. Apparently, the title comes from the idea that the whole play takes place during an ADR session for Tallu’s classing Hammer horror film, Die! Die! My Darling!

I lost some respect for Valerie after she walked off the set of a show named after her. Jeesh, during the first season, even. Pretty freaking sad if you can replace her with Sandy Duncan and still manage to keep the series running for five more seasons. And that union president race against Laura Ingalls got pretty nasty. But this just may make up for all of that.

What? You haven’t seen Die! Die! My Darling!? Holy frijoles, get over here quick. I’m itching to watch it again, especially since Tallu plays a bible-thumping vegetarian who — once upon a time — was a … well, a loose, jazz-loving woman. Okay, she was a whore. And Stephanie Powers plays the mod girl Tallu kidnaps. And a very young Donald Sutherland plays the retarded groundskeeper. What’s not to love?!