Thanksgiving

[intertext]

Meme to self: At risk of sounding Pollyanna-ish, 10 things to be thankful for right now (in no particular order).

1. The fact that I have a great job, doing what I love
2. The fact that I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (even when it's raining, which it is today).
3. My dogs, and all dogs, past and future ... and Clio the cat (I know, I'm cheating - but it's hard to cut this list down to 10 things)
4. Books
5. All the birds in my garden, even (or especially) the wicked hummingbird
6. Of course, friends and family
7. Swiffer dusters
8. Anti-inflammatories
9. Quintessential Gin
10. Bach ... well, okay, music generally, but Bach most of all.

Comments

[lilyfriend.livejournal.com]

Having an intense hatred for dusting.. I have to ask: Are the Swiffer Dusters worth the investment? I imagine a good number of those products won't work, or might clean a single shelf and be rendered useless to me. Can you get much done with them?

I also wondered, after having read your opinion of the HP novels, what you thought of the movies?

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Swiiffer dusters are _truly_ a great invention - that's the dusters, not the cloths, which are pretty useless. My mother is an inveterate collector and has shelves full of fussy little knick knacks. The great thing about the fluffy little duster things is that you can kind of puff over objects and they really do pick up the dust as you go. They're great for swiping the tops of books, too (very important in my household). I find that one duster lasts for quite a few heavy uses (and I live in a dusty neighbourhood, near several main streets), and the actual dusters are refillable onto the plastic handle (and you can get a separate long handle that will reach high places)- so although I get slight twinges of environmental guilt, my time is valuable enough to merit using them (and the cost).

I like the HP movies a lot, at least as much as the books. I thought they did a good job of translating the spirit of the books to the screen, and the casting has been brilliant (especially Alan Rickman!)

[lilyfriend.livejournal.com]

Okay, I was hoping you were going to say that. I was feeling like I was the only one who liked the movies. Too many people expect word for word, every detail inclusive movies, and that's just not possible. While I might have included/excluded a couple different things, I also felt they kept true to the spirit, and who else could have played Snape and made us love him so much ;) I've also been a fan of Thewlis. Although, I did prefer the original Dumbledore. Sorry Michael Gambon! I just always saw Dumbledore as being more slow.. wise.. subtle.. which I feel is lacking in his current portrayal.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, alas, as much as we loved the original Dumbledore, noone could help the fact that Richard Harris died in real life. Ian McKellan would have been good (but didn't he play another famous wizard *grin*) I wondered about Ian Richardson... um ... seen on quite a lot of PBS things... maybe a bit too sort of sharp edged. I thought Michael Gambon was ... okay, but I know but you mean about not quite as subtle as he needs to be. On the whole, though, I like their choices. Can't wait to see Ralph Feinnes as "he who cannot be named"...

[(Anonymous)]

I Just wanted to drop a note to say how much I love your writing. you write just as I know you speak, and lecture. I am an ex student of yours and even though I felt as though I was ready to perish through some of the poetry, these days I look back and find myself hearing your voice explaining (once more) what nature means to the victorians, and what, again, sublime means. So thanks, I won't forget it. One more wise voice to sit on my shoulder while I write my essays.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

o my. thanks... that's a lovely thing for you to say - you've completely made my day! and lovely to hear from you (maybe one day not anonymously?). Wishing you continuing good fortune with your studies!