My Favorite Books – The Color of Water by James McBride

21 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 21st,2010 | Authors & Books, James McBride, The Color of Water |  Comments Off on My Favorite Books – The Color of Water by James McBride

Back when I was an undergrad, I took a combo English/History class that focused on memoir and autobiography. One of the books we read as memoir was The Color of Water, by James McBride.

I love this book. I have loaned it out and given it as a gift multiple times. The sub-title is “A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother” and it is a lovely story of generations and finding a place in a world where you may not belong. The title comes from the answer the mother gives when the children ask her “What color is God?”

Ask your grandfather, he’s a kernel

20 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 20th,2010 | Uncategorized |  Comments Off on Ask your grandfather, he’s a kernel

I know that colonel is spelled, well, colonel, because my grandfather is, in fact, a colonel. But when it comes to the opportunity for a good (bad) pun, correct spelling never stopped my father.

The corn jokes started at the dinner table one night when my brother, instead of eating his corn on the cob, stood it up on the plate and declared it the “Leaning Tower of Corn.” Not a good joke or even a good pun by any stretch of the imagination. But it got my father started.

For years afterward, corn for dinner also meant corny puns.

My Favorite Books – The Myth Series by Robert Asprin

17 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 17th,2010 | Another Fine Myth, Robert Asprin |  Comments Off on My Favorite Books – The Myth Series by Robert Asprin

In honor of Fathers’ Day coming up, I want to write about bad puns– The Myth Series by Robert Asprin. I started reading them in 7th grade and quickly devoured the first five books in the series. I could relate to Skeeve and everything he was going through. Plus I loved the other characters, too.

Of the Myth Inc books, which are the ones not told by Skeeve, my favorite was Myth Inc In Action, told completely by one of Skeeve’s mob body guards.

Asprin has a great sense of character and the voices in his novels all ring true.

Alternate Historical Theories

15 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 15th,2010 | Uncategorized |  1 Comment »

We were watching one of those random History Channel shows on how ancient human civilizations were actually built using alien technology. As I am in a contrary mood, here are a couple things I would like to point out to their “experts”:

1)      “It was hard, so obviously they had something that made it easy” is not proof. I’m not certain it’s even a theory.

2)      Storytelling has been around since humans began to talk. Just because something is written in an ancient text does not make it “true”. Believe it or not, Jules Verne did not invent science fiction.

Weekends

13 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 13th,2010 | Home Ownership, House work, Yard Work |  Comments Off on Weekends

I am bad at weekends. Or, I am good at weekends and therefore bad at writing during them. Yesterday, I cleaned the kitchen, mowed the side yard, took the dogs on a long walk, went to friends’ for burgers and a movie, came home and helped Charles clean off the dining room table in anticipation of friends coming over today.

This morning, I started another load of dishes and vacuumed. Now, I’ve got two napping doggies relaxing on the bed before the excitement of visitors and being in the living room (with its lovely giant window) for the entire afternoon.

Hate and Stupidity go Hand in Hand

11 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 11th,2010 | Discrimination |  Comments Off on Hate and Stupidity go Hand in Hand

“I cannot believe that a bunch of lacy-drawered, limp-wristed people could do what those men have done in the past.” -Yuma mayor Al Krieger speaking against repeal of DADT at Memorial Day service

 “I am reluctant to compare myself to George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, but I did get some feedback on what I said, and I don’t believe that I said anything different than what they would have said.” -Krieger, a week later

Mayor Krieger, please see the Wikipedia page of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, and then try and tell me that Washington would have said what you said.

My Favorite Books – Stardust by Neil Gaiman

10 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 10th,2010 | Authors & Books, Movies, Neil Gaiman, Stardust |  2 comments

Let me start by saying that I loved the movie Stardust. It is a new favorite and ranks close to Princess Bride for a romantic fantasy. DeNiro as Captain Shakespeare was inspired. That said, the book is even better.

I understand the concessions that were made to make the book into a movie, but the depth and complications of the book make the story even more poignant. I love that Dunstan crossed the wall, came home and married his human sweetheart. It creates a nice dichotomy with Tristan’s decision to stay on the other side of the wall with Yvaine.

D&D Encounters: Dark Sun

09 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 9th,2010 | Dungeons & Dragons, Role Playing Games |  Comments Off on D&D Encounters: Dark Sun

I went to my first session of D&D Encounters tonight. It is the start of the second round of Encounters, and is giving us a preview of the soon to be released renewed Dark Sun setting.

I’m playing the sorcerer. At 1st level, this character does equivalent damage to my 15th level bard/paladin (seriously).

Since Dark Sun is a post-apocalyptic world, it is one we have a soft spot for. Tonight, in the initial encounter, the world tried to kill us with lizard men and sandstorms. We prevailed, but barely, dragging one of our muls on a tarp behind us.

My Favorite Books – Ranks of Bronze by David Drake

08 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 8th,2010 | Authors & Books, David Drake, Ranks of Bronze |  Comments Off on My Favorite Books – Ranks of Bronze by David Drake

Ranks of Bronze is not from one of Drake’s many different series. It draws on his expertise as one of the best military science fiction writers there is. It is the story of a group of Roman Legionnaires who are kidnapped by aliens to fight in intergalactic wars against other aliens who happen to be of the same technological level as the Romans.

Once again, this is the first book I read by this author. It is the book that made me fall in love with David Drake. I rarely read pure science fiction, but if it’s Drake, I’m there.

D&D 4e: Revenge of the Giants

07 Jun

Erin Shanendoah |  June 7th,2010 | Dungeons & Dragons, Role Playing Games |  Comments Off on D&D 4e: Revenge of the Giants

On Saturday we played in an episode of the Revenge of the Giants campaign. The whole session was mostly a single combat. Sometimes, the party should run away. We didn’t party wipe. Not a single character was reduced to 0 HP. In fact, none of us even used our second wind.

But, if you are 14th level and are in the midst of fighting three level 17 Dire Winter Wolf Iceclaws and two level 18 Winter Wolf Frostbreaths when a level 21 Remorhaz shows up and swallows your Halfling, running really shouldn’t seem like a bad idea. (The Halfling survived.)

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