A box of books

Went through another box from the porch today:  a box of paperback books from The Lady's grandmother's house.  Unfortunately, due to the heat and humidity, some of the covers were stuck to each other.  But at least none of the books had their edges eaten by bugs.

I also started on another box, which has folders of photocopied journal articles -- one folder per criminological theory.  Some of the folders I recycled the whole thing (but first checked the title of each article); for three of the folders I kept three or four articles, but recycled the rest.  Still more to go from that box -- but, some other day.


--GG

Journals journals journals

In addition to going through my CDs, and going through my books -- I'd already culled a bunch of DVDs a year or two ago -- I'm also getting rid of nearly all of my academic journals.

When I thought I'd be a professor, I was emulating what professors did:  subscribing to scholarly journals, and letting them accumulate on the shelves.  But now that I've accepted that I'm not going to be a professor, I don't need them -- and they're taking up valuable space.

I haven't kept track of how many I've gone through -- and I'm not sure how many I have total (stashes of them keep popping up!) -- but I estimate I had around 100 issues of various journals.  So far I've gone through about 30 -- and kept one... plus another where I tore out a specific article, then recycled the rest.

I can't bear to just recycle the whole lot without looking -- while waiting for webpages to load (and etc.), I've glanced through each one before recycling it:  using the "Pete Guest" approach (one of my professors in graduate school), I read the titles (usually 8-12 articles per issue).  Among the ones that sound interesting -- and often, none of them sound interesting!!! -- I'll read the abstract (the summary at the start of the article), which usually includes the "punchline" (the main finding).  For the very, very few that are particularly interesting, I'll actually glance through the article itself.

I usually go through 1-3 journals a night.


Between the book purging and the journal-clearing, there's now a few sections of carpet in front of the "main bookcase" that haven't been exposed in years:  a good feeling.

My aim is that I'll clear enough room that I can actually set up my recording gear properly -- such that I can record when the mood strikes me -- rather than having to spend 10-15 minutes setting everything up. 

Chipping away...


--GG

Offloading books

I'm picking away at our piles of possessions, in a non-linear, not completely logical way.  But -- I figure every little bit helps.

Over the last few months I've got rid of a few guitars and amps.  And, as mentioned in an earlier post, I'm going through my CDs -- some of which I've been carrying around since the mid-'90s, figuring "Well, maybe my tastes will change."  But they haven't.  ;)

My latest thing is going through all of my (and The Lady's) books.  I have a bunch of textbooks and "scholarly" books from when I was in graduate school -- many of which I picked up from the "free pile" in the hallway outside the professors' offices.  But, I've never got around to reading them -- and it's been 10-20 years.  And I've accepted that I'm not going to be a professor -- so I don't really need them.  So, for each one I'd open it to the middle, plus some other places, and read a few sentences:  nearly always I'd go "Urgh".  Into the "Donate" pile.

Llikewise, various sci-fi and fantasy books that I picked up in the '90s and early 2000s -- because I "used to be into sci-fi and fantasy" -- and they were inexpensive when I bought them (garage sales, etc.).  But -- I opened them in the middle, and:  "Eh".  (Over the years I've come to appreciate clever turns of phrase:  these are just "functional".)  So: donate.

As of today, I've taken 15 boxes of books to the local used bookstore guy -- who had to shut down his shop -- like so many other businesses -- during the COVID-19 lockdowns.  I haven't asked for any store credit:  I've just given them to him.  (I originally wasn't going to give him the textbooks, because so many used bookstores don't accept textbooks -- but he says he'll take them:  okay; sure!)

So far I've donated 15 boxes of books; I've used a variety of boxes (different sizes), but I estimate 15 books per box:  that's 225 books.  If he sells them for an average of $3-$5 each, that's $675 to $1125 of pure profit -- and I'm okay with that.

I have seven more boxes of books in the car, and am about 40% through all of the books in the house.  However, these first rounds of books are mostly mine:  I've been handing The Lady's books to her to review, and she's divested of the obvious ones -- but still needs to look through the ambiguous ones. 

But although The Lady will probably end up keeping most of hers (largely mysteries), I think we'll still crank out about 10-15 more boxes of books.

Oh:  plus that "cookbook" shelf just outside the kitchen:  she's talked about going through that.  I wouldn't be surprised if she got rid of half of those -- which would be another 2-3 boxes.


Anyhow: in the end we'll get rid of 20%, maybe up to 30%, of our books.  Which gives you a sense of how many books we're keeping.


It's gratifying:  I don't like having "double layers" of books (where the front row blocks the back row), because then you lose track of what you have behind (and they're hard to get to).  And I also don't like having books piled sideways on top of other books.  So I'm in the process of eliminating both of those situations.


--GG

Day 3 of vacation -- Monday

We're down to one car (the other is in the shop), so we all left the house at the same time.  Dropped the kids off at school, then drove The Lady to work.


Stopped by a used bookstore on the way back from The Lady's work, browsed, and picked up an autobiography of the main accompanist of some famous Australian singer (Dame Nellie Melba; never heard of her, but my [Australian] wife had).  I've only read part of it, but the blurb in the jacket indicates that he was active from the 1920s through 1960s.  The book is copyright 1983, and a note from the publishers indicates that, sadly, the author passed away prior to the publication of the book.  Hello, Mister Melody Man, by Lindley Evans.  Engagingly written (IMO), and discusses music things (which is of interest to me).


I'd originally planned to do various outdoor things today (yardwork and/or woodworking) -- but since I had access to a car today, I did various errands instead.  Was planning to catch the 10:45am showing of Alita:  Battle Angel (no one else in my household was interested but me), so stopped by the house to pick up a flannel shirt (I sometimes get cold in air conditioning), then got to the theatre by 10:35.

Bought the ticket and was in my seat just a few minutes before the start time -- but then had to sit through (literally) 10 minutes of ads.  Then came four or five trailers -- but unfortunately, they were trailers I had already seen on YouTube.

The movie was good, though:  will review shortly.


After the movie I went to the mall's food court and bought a Hungry Jack's (the AU branding of Burger King) vegan burger and ate it while reading the book on U2 (the band).  Then got a frozen cola on the way out.


Stopped by the local Cash Converters (a chain of pawn shops).  Browsed the DVDs and picked up Fear and Loathing in Vegas (with Johnny Depp), which I'd been meaning to see sometime.  For a dollar.  Australian (so, about 80c in the U.S.).

Then walked a few shops down to the sewing, crafts, and art supplies place, to buy the right color thread for repairing a pair of The Lady's slacks:  a seam is coming undone.  Will probably repair sometime this week.


Went home for about a half hour, and did some YouTube research to compare two guitar delay pedals that I would be choosing between that evening:  a guy on Gumtree was selling a cheap one and a medium-priced one, and they had slightly different "flavors" -- so I needed to decide (thought it would be to extravagant to buy both).


Left to pick up the kids from school, then picked up The Lady from work.  She ended up being on a phone call, so we had to wait for a bit.

Then we drove down to the Gumtree seller's place:  should've only taken 15 minutes, but the GPS app somehow sent us in the wrong direction (bad address entering?), so we then had to backtrack by 15 minutes.  Made a reasonably quick decision (bought the less-cheap pedal).  Drove home. 


Dinner.  A little Netflix, while eating.



Remedially post blog entries for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (tonight).  Is now 10:40pm, 



Noodle around on the guitar while trying out my new (used) pedal:  probably use single-coil pickups.  Maybe some Netflix or a DVD after that.  To bed around midnight?


Staying home tomorrow.  Probably finish cutting up the palm tree and removing it from the neighbor's property, then finish shooting the property line.  Possibly do some woodworking -- maybe some lathe work.


Yet another good day.  Vacation.  :)


--GG

Book recommendation about book on introverts

I haven't quite finished reading this book -- but I was inspired to recommend it anyhow.  It's called Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain.

Its focus is on introverts, and that it's okay -- even **good** -- to be an introvert. But, of course, to discuss introverts it has to compare and contrast them to extroverts.


Basically (my interpretation/summary):

• Introverts "like" people just fine -- but they find that interacting with people "uses up" energy; whereas extroverts are recharged by social interactions (this is one of the key diagnostic points).
•  
• Extroverts tend to have "gangs" of friends, and like throwing big dinner parties and get-togethers and engaging in light chit-chat; introverts tend to have one or two close friends, and prefer to get togther in groups of two or three, where they tend to discuss things more deeply (whether the topics are personal or intellectual).
• 
  
• Introverts tend to have difficulties "pushing forward" their views in group ssituations, so their often get overlooked. Which is a shame, because they often have good ideas and keen insights -- in part because they tend to be meticulous, methodical, and well-researched rather than jumping to conclusions.  Because of their tendency to be quiet, rather than the "center of attention", they tend to make keen insights.
• 
  
• Introverts that feel strongly about things (e.g. activists, crusaders) are often able to put on a bold face and meet-and-greet, make speeches, etc. "in the name of the cause" -- although they find this draining and then have to go "recharge" for a few hours.

I'm about 80% introvert, I think: my main interests (woodworking; writing and recording songs) are pretty solitary, and I'm very happy with my own company. But I'm very much able to "chat up" sales clerks and etc., and (possibly due to teaching classes while in graduate school) don't have a problem with speaking in public or "cold calling" people. But mostly I prefer to be on my own.

I found the book to be a reasonably engaging read (and have noted a fair number of good quotes) -- although for me it wasn't a "plow through it in three days straight" kind of book: I keep getting sidetracked by recording magazines and etc. ;)


--GG

Good book so far

Old Roommate and Belinda Harmless were kind enough to mail me a book as a gift.

I started reading it on the train today, on the way to work.  And on the way home.  Enjoying it.   :)  Well-chosen, folks.  :) 

The book is All Our Wrong Todays, by Elan Mastai.  It's about a guy from a parallel "year 2016" from ours, that actually achieved all of those Jetsons-like innovations (food pills, jet packs, flying cars...).  Apparently he makes it over to "our" 2016:  I'm not sure how, yet, as I'm only up to page 54.


I know a book is good when it has lots of delightful turns of phrases.  This one does.

I like this one (p. 54):  "It was both the greatest kiss of my life and also made me feel like until that moment I'd been kissing all wrong." 

Nice.  :)


--GG

I miss the band

I'm reading a book called The Joy of Tidying, by Marie Kondo.  Among other things, she points out that (I'm paraphrasing) everything in your home should be something you enjoy, or something that's functional (e.g. the toaster):  if its neither enjoyable nor functional -- why do you have it?  And once you strip away all of the things from your home that you're indifferent to, you typically discover -- as a byproduct -- what is most important to you.

Inspired by this, I've been slowly going through our clutter-filled house and determining which things we actually like, and which things we've just kind of "held on to".  For example, I'm finally at a place where I'm willing to get rid of most of my old Criminology textbooks, left over from graduate school:  I'm never going back to academia (I enjoy working for the state government and being a data-cruncher!), and now that Criminology isn't my job -- I'm really not interested in the books.  But I already knew that.

Last weekend I also went through all of our DVDs -- and had the kids go through "their" DVDs -- and we probably divested of a quarter of each of our stashes:  DVDs that either we didn't like in the first place, or movies that we'd watched once, but really, will never watch again.  I ran the extras past my in-laws, and they took most of them; the rest they'll but on the breakroom table for their co-workers.


As a byproduct of that process, I re-discovered a concert DVD of The Who (The Who at Kilburn 1977) that I've had for a while but never got around to watching.  So I sat down and watched it. 

The Who isn't my favorite-ist band -- but at one point they were in my top 20.


And, as I sat there and watched the concert footage, I realized:  Dang, I miss being in a band.  I don't know about the "being on stage and performing" aspect -- because I've only played live in a band three(?) times, which isn't enough to give me a sense of things.  But I miss making music in collaboration with other people; and I miss coming up with original songs within a group context.

Unfortunately, there's nothing at the moment that I can do about this:  or rather, I would have to drop something else from my life (exercising; woodworking) in order to spend time in a band.  And, at various points since moving to Australia I have made some attempts to start a band -- and nothing ever came of it.

Ah well. 

One thing that has kind of filled that gap is that the wife and kids do their piano practice, I've played along on the drums:  that's pretty enjoyable.  :)

And I need to play guitar more often.


--GG

Book review of As You Wish -- a Princess Bride book

As You Wish, by Cary Elwes.


As the book's subtitle explains, it is Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. A lot of interesting behind-the-scenes information on the casting and making of the movie, as well as the aftermath.

Engagingly written: if the book had been informative but a trudge, then I wouldn't have devoured it the way that I did. I don't know the last time I'd cranked through a book at this rate, forgoing my “productive” evening and weekend tasks for this book. Started reading it Friday night, and stayed up late Friday (and Saturday!) to finish it.

Unfortunately, it just came out last year, so it's still only available in hardback – so, not as economical as if it was in paperback. You can be supportive and give Cary Elwes (who played The Man in Black) some royalties anyhow – or you can try to borrow it from your library.

Or, if you live nearby, you can borrow it from me.


If you enjoy The Princess Bride, I think you'll enjoy this.


Oh: and safe for the kids, I believe.


--GG

Reivew of Fail book

Borrowed the book Epic Fail: the Ultimate book of blunders, by Mark Leigh, from my local library.

Engaging, a quick read.  A book of screw-ups, basically.

A certain proportion are probably urban legends, as there are no specific names or dates attributed to them.

Entertaining, none the less.


--GG

Sorry bookstore

While exploring the neighborhood of my new job posting, I came across a small bookstore.

Had a look.  In their ''Foreign Language'' section, didn't have Australian Sign Language (Auslan), so I asked at the front counter.

''No,'' the lady said.  ''But we can order it in for you.''


Sorry, modern-day bookstore.  The only advantage that non-internet stores have is that you can feel it hold it touch it browse it feel it, and take it home today.

If it involves ordering it, waiting for it, and having to come back -- if it involves buying it sight-unseen, don't know if it's the right size or not -- I know how to do that myself.  For cheaper.


''Ordering it in'' only works for people that don't know how to use the internet.


--GG

Loads o' books

Every second year, the University of Queensland has a fund-raising alumni book sale. We went today (Saturday): first time in four year that we'd attended.

My wife and I enjoy books -- and the kids seem to, as well.


Below is a snapshot of the piles of books: mine, my wife's, and our three children's (combined).

I think my pile is equal to the other two combined.



Put differently, here's the height comparison of my pile of books and CDs to the height of a three-year-old boy.

Looks like about shoulder height. That's decent enough.



Picked up a few CDs (a buck or two each). "Best of" Huey Lewis and the News (I'm of that era, but didn't have any of their stuff); misc. Irish folk music; instrumental versions of various t.v. show theme songs; an alternative version of Bush's Sixteen Stone album; and two classical music CDs. Six CDs.



Here's the proportion, by rough topic, of the books. Serves as a profile of my interests -- although filtered by what books were available. For example, if there had been more martial arts books on the "Sports" table (there was only one -- and I already owned it), that topic would've made a showing.

As you can see, the "Carpentry/Woodworking/How to Make a Fence (Playhouse, etc.)" category was the biggest. Second was fiction -- mostly little kid and teen-age-level fiction. Included a book from the "Wizard of Oz" series, plus one of his from another series. Several anthologies of bedtime stores. Also Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which I'd read long ago. Most books were only a dollar or two, so they were easy to acquire. ;)

Next was "Camping/Cooking/Outdoors/Scouting" -- including two reprints of some early 1900s Boy Scout manuals, and an older Australian Girl Guides handbook.

Next was "Languages/Cultural", including a Japanese-English dictionary, and a children's pictoral book on how Vikings lived.

Then "Music/Art": a "how to paint" book, a book on being a band director/teacher, a children's biography of Beethoven, and a children's biography on Mozard.

And finally, two books on computers: one on the theory behind programming languages; the other was a children's book about home computers -- from 1985! (2kb of RAM; tape drives; modems where you put the telephone headset on the modem device...)


Somewhere in those categories was a "how to" book on beekeeping. I don't plan on keeping bees -- but it looked interesting, and seemed worth the buck-and-a-half.


A **very** good day. :)


--GG

Three book recommendations

Three book suggestions. I may have mentioned these in past blog postings -- but that's OK, they bear repeating. :)


GRACIE: A LOVE STORY, by George Burns. (Autobiographical, about meeting, marrying, and living with his wife, Gracie Allen; amusing, and very sweet.)

TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN, by Philippa Pearce. (Fiction, kid's book; possibly my favorite book ever; the last page always makes me tear up, it's so perfect.)

THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR, AND SIX MORE, by Roald Dahl. (The guy who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A bunch of short stories, and a medium-length one. In my opinion, three of the short stories are kinda slow -- but the longer one, and the other three shorties more than make up for it.)


--GG

Childrens books recommendations

(I intentionally left the possessive "s" off the blog title, as punctuation does weird stuff to the URL.)

I have a soft spot for children's books: they get to the point right away, and they're (usually) well-written. Here's four of them that I picked up last week from the kid's section of the library. All of them for little kids (one drawing per page). My daughter (5.5yo) is of the age for all but the Emily Dickinson one (need to try it). I can envision a 10yo enjoying them. Heck - I'm 40yo, and **I** liked 'em!

I enjoyed all of them, and will likely eventually buy 'em for myself. Hopefully your local library has 'em.


THE BOY WHO GREW FLOWERS (2005) – by Jen Wojtowicz; found mid-June, 2010; children’s book, one illustration per page; boy who grows flowers from his body and has a family that the town views as oddballs makes friends with a plain but kind girl who moves to his school.

MY UNCLE EMILY (2009) – by Jane Yolen; found mid-June, 2010; children’s book, one illustration per page; fictionalized story of Emily Dickonson’s nephew and his relationship with her as his favourite aunt.

PRINCESS SMARTYPANTS (1992, 1995, 1998) – by Babette Cole; found mid-June, 2010; children’s book, one illustration per page; princess is forced by her parents (king and queen) to choose among suitors; gives them impossible tasks, ends up blowing them all off.

STANLEY PASTE (2009) – by Aaron Blabey; found mid-June, 2010; children’s book, one illustration per page; schoolboy who is the smallest one in his class is an outcast, until an abnormally tall girl moves to his school and becomes his friend.


--GG