Book Worm

So I haven't read a lot lately, but here is a list of books I have/have not read. Some of them were great (1984), some were awful (Crime and Punishment) some I refuse to read (Harry Potter) and some I would like to (Catch 22).

And to be fair, I have read a lot more books than this, but books by Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn and Mark Levin never seem to make these lists.

BBC believes the majority of people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (x)
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x)
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling ( )
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (x)
6 The Bible ( x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ( )
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (x )
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dicken (x)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (x)
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ( )
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ( )
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (x)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (x)
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ()
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ()
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (x)
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x )
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ()
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams ()
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ()
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (x)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (x)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (x)
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame (x)
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ()
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens (x)
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x)
34 Emma - Jane Austen ()
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ()
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini ()
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ()
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (x)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (x)
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell (x)
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown ( )
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving ( )
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ( )
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (x)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ( )
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ( )
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ()
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ()
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ()
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ( )
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ()
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (x)
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (x)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ()
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (x)
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ()
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ()
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ()
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (x)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ( )
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ()
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ( )
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville (x)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (x)
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (x)
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett ( x)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ()
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath ()
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (x)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchel ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ()
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ()
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ()
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (x)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ( )
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(x)
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (x)
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ()
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams (x)
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ()
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas ()
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (x)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (x)
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (x)

42/100 - I give that number a solid B+

Truffles and purses

There is a bowl of cream cheese, whipped cream and chocolate at home waiting for me to make them into truffles.

I have every intention of getting them done tonight. We will see how that goes.

There are also two large pieces of jean material and green canvas that are waiting for me to whip them into a sling bag by Friday.

I also must pack to go back home to Indiana. Alas, I am not going to be getting my necessary 8 hours of sleep this week.

Consider yourself warned.

Guy Fawkes Day

In honor of Guy Fawkes Day I went to the Capitol to protest the healthcare bill today.

My Peeps on the Mall paying Nancy a visit

Met a bunch of awesome Texans.
Talked with some truckers that reminded me of my dad.
Taught some fellow Midwesterners to use the metro.
Clapped a lot.
Yelled a lot more.
Cheered on the few politicians that are actually listening.
Fawned over Mike Pence.
Fawned even more over Jon Voight.
Made some new friends.
And then went back to work.

Okay, so it wasn't nearly as exciting as the Gunpowder Treason Plot.

But Pelosi and her gang are committing treason against the Constitution and instead of blowing anything up to show our displeasure we chose to invade their offices and let them hear us instead.

And now, a Guy Fawkes Day poem:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,'
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

I hope today's showing on the Mall will be enough to kill the Bill.

Chicken Divan

Tonight I made chicken divan and it was wonderful as it always is.

Here is the recipe from my 1996 Grace Fellowship Church Cookbook. Reformed Baptist shoutout!

4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
16 ounces cooked broccoli
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. milk
1 can cream of chicken soup
Bread crumbs
melted butter

Layer the chicken, then broccoli, then cheese in pan.

Mix the mayonnaise, lemon juice, milk and cream of chicken soup.

Add salt and pepper to taste to the mixture.

Pour mixture over the chicken, broccoli and cheese.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Mix breadcrumbs and butter, sprinkle over the top and bake 5 more minutes.

mmmmmm, Midwestern yumminess.

Toxic

Forget about the kids singing Obama's praises, this is a far more dangerous type of indoctrination.

Move On Loves Them Some Hoosiers

Here is another gem from Moveon.org. For all you Hoosiers out there, this one is directed at Bayh and Lugar's support on Obamacare.

The most annoying thing about this email is that it is so childish. Personifying Obamacare? Really? Apparently this works for the people they are targeting. To me, it looks like desperation.

On a positive note, all of Lugar and Bayh's phone numbers are listed. I suggest you call their offices and tell them that they are slimy and plan on voting them out in the next election.

>>> "The public option" <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> 9/23/2009 5:22 PM >>>
Hi, I'm the public health insurance option.

People have been saying all sorts of untrue things about me lately, so I decided it was time to stand up and set the record straight.

First off: the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I'm happy and healthy. And I'm proud to play a starring role in four of the five health reform bills currently on the table.

Second: I have a lot of friends. President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support me--as do 77% of the American people.1 In fact, I'm feeling pretty popular.

But there is one area where I could use your help. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a "trigger" proposal that could kill me through indefinite delay.

Can you call your senators, Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar, and tell them that health care reform must include a real public health insurance option that's available immediately--not a "trigger"?

Here's where to call:

Senator Evan Bayh
Phone: 202-224-5623
District Offices:

Evansville: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne: 260-426-3151
Hammond: 219-852-2763
Indianapolis: 317-554-0750
Jeffersonville: 812-218-2317
South Bend: 574-236-8302

Senator Richard Lugar
Phone: 202-224-4814
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6313
Fort Wayne: 260-422-1505
Indianapolis: 317-226-5555
Valparaiso: 219-548-8035

Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=10

A "trigger" that would make me wait to become available is just a trap designed to kill me. As Senator Charles Schumer has pointed out, "any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met" because insurance companies have already failed to rein in costs and
expand coverage.2

Here are some other things you might not know about me:

* I like candlelit dinners, overseas travel, and long walks on the beach. Whoops, sorry--wrong email.
* Some people say they don't like me because I'm too expensive, but that's just a flat-out lie. Keeping me around will actually save money--I'd cost 10% less than the typical private plan.3
* I'm the best way to keep insurance companies honest. Like my friend Senator Jay Rockefeller has said, "Without the steady, positive influence of a public plan option in the marketplace, we will never truly solve the health care crisis in this country. Private health insurance has a long history of cutting people off or charging too much for too little."4
* Over 60 House progressives have publicly pledged to only vote for a bill that has me in it.5 So without me, health care reform doesn't have enough votes make it through Congress.

And I'm counting on your help to make it through the Senate. Can you call
Sens. Bayh and Lugar today?

Senator Evan Bayh
Phone: 202-224-5623
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne: 260-426-3151
Hammond: 219-852-2763
Indianapolis: 317-554-0750
Jeffersonville: 812-218-2317
South Bend: 574-236-8302

Senator Richard Lugar
Phone: 202-224-4814
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6313
Fort Wayne: 260-422-1505
Indianapolis: 317-226-5555
Valparaiso: 219-548-8035


Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=11

Thanks for all you do.

--The public health insurance option (and the MoveOn team)

Sources:

1. "New Poll: 77 Percent Support 'Choice' Of Public Option," The
Huffington Post, August 20, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=12

2."A 'trigger' for the public health insurance option? Already triggered."
NOW! Blog, May 20, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=13

3. Letter to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Congressional Budget Office, July 14,
2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=14

4. "Rockefeller Unveils Public Plan Option," Office of Sen. Jay
Rockefeller, June 10, 2009
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224

5. "60 Members of Congress Say 'No Public Plan, No Conference,'"
Firedoglake, August 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=15

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million
members--no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny
staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

References

Visible links
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. http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=11
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=12
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=13
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=14
. http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=15
. http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=16
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And Now Some News From Emily's Non-political Life

Still looking for a house. Boo NoVa (northern virginia) real estate market. Investors planning on flipping who undercut families who just want to buy a house are evil. Also, if the bank forecloses on you, chances are it is your fault not the bank's. So, it would be much appreciated if you quit stripping out everything (appliances, fixtures, switch plates, vanities, mirrors, baseboards, toilets, door knobs, etc.) in an effort to screw the bank. All you are really doing is screwing your used to be neighbors because that house is now worth half of what it was and now their property value sucks.

i have more sewing projects than I have time. I guess that isn't a bad thing, it must mean people like the stuff I make. Someday I will not have a job and I will be able to stay at home a make clothes for Daphne all day....or take care of children, whatev. But before that can happen we need to find a house, see above.

Daphne is as spoiled as ever. She has become slightly obsessed with rawhide chewtoys and gets mad when we take them away. Brandon is trying to teach her to play dead, she doesn't like having to lay still, but she is starting to catch on. We took her to the hotel with us for our 1st year anniversary, so spoiled.Daphne at Helix

And that is pretty much it for what is going on in my life outside of eating, breathing, sleeping, watching politics 24/7. Yes, I'm lame. Informed, but lame. I really need to find a job that will put my compulsive need to watch the news for political information/read blogs with political rantings/tweet the latest way Obama's trying to screw us/update facebook with news the mainstream media won't report, to use.

If anyone knows of this type of job I can be reached on twitter 24/7.