Dear Buddha, please bring me a pony and a plastic rocket...

It's Christmastime and love is in the air! Ok, well, maybe not so much. But, my Christmas tree is up and fully decorated. In even better news, my niece, Erin Elizabeth, was born a week ago Friday (November 30th). She's just adorable! Here, have a picture for free. The picture does not do her justice. Or so I've heard, as I have yet to see her. But, over Christmas I will!

This week, I have been reading less and crocheting more. Why, you ask? It's because I volunteered to make scarfs for B'way Kids Care's
knitting project. Though I am neither on Broadway or a kid. According to Marie (who is the mom of Zach, one of the Gavroche's in the revival of Les Miserables) who told us this at the stage door last weekend, they were behind production levels and needed more help to make enough scarves by mid-December. I having left over yarn bits volunteered to help out. After all, it was thanks to her that we got our backstage pass to the Broadhurst Theatre.

That's not to say I haven't been reading anything. Why, just the other day I finished reading Sarah Stewart Taylor's first book, O' Artful Death. If I were to write mysteries, it would be something like what I might come up with. The main character (she of red, curly hair, of course), does research on Victorian grave art and mourning rituals. And, hello, wasn't that my senior research thesis for undergrad? Why yes it was. In that aspect, it was a lot more fun than Danielle Steel's The House, however much it pretended to talk about historic preservation (which was my undergrad major). This book dealt with a pre-Raphaelite-esque grave statuary and the mystery surrounding it, plus several deaths. As one of our patron's says regarding mysteries, if somebody isn't dead (or laid) by chapter three, it's not worth reading.

Teen reading? How about Hush by Donna Jo Napoli. Julie and I set up a "Fairy Tales for all Ages" display, and while we don't own this one, I thought it looked interesting enough to track down, as I am a fan of retelling of fairy tales. This one was Nordic, and one I'm unfamiliar with. The main character, Mel, and her sister are kidnapped by slave traders. Mel is the stupid one, compared to her younger sister Bridget. It's only following her sister's example that she remains silent and does not acknowledge their relationship in front of the traders. Soon, though, she learns the power she has gained over those who captured her just by remaining silent (and playing into their own superstitions). My friend Jess teases me about reading Mary Sue-eqsue YA lit (see Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson for all of your Mary Sue needs) , but the nice thing about this, was there was no conventional "happily ever after" fairy tale ending. There were several things left open and unknown by the end of the story. As Byron Rogers said about Princess Gwenllian who was shuttled off to a convent for her entire life by King Edward, "I would like to think she was happy, for anything else would be just too sad".

I was also tagged by Jennie for a meme. So, why not? Maybe it will breathe new life into this old blog!

The rules are:
1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2) Share 7 facts about yourself.
3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I'm going to skip the last two, because, really, how many people do I know on blogger who haven't been tagged? Zilch. Really. I'm so lame.

So, 7 things about myself...

1. I miss Wales. It was one of those weird things that I felt at home as soon as I was over there, and so off balance and lost when I came back to the states. I used to constantly have these dreams with people from the program saying that I was welcome to come back immediately. Of course, I would wake up before that happened. Hopefully next year! That's what I'm shooting for. In other words, I love to travel! Though I suffer from being no longer "heart-whole" as Lauchlin did in The Hornet's Nest by Sally Watson. (You should totally check her books out if you haven't already, btw.)

2. When I'm cleaning my house, and if I find a headpiece laying around, I generally tend to pick it up and wear it while cleaning. This could be a winter hat I crocheted, a Victorian headpiece I wear with my ballgown, or a tiara. Perhaps this is silly of me, but that is what I do.

3. I'm totally addicted to collecting Victorian to early 20th century kid lit. It's so cracktastic and moralistic and absolutely hilarious at times. Really, I am drawn to it. But, just think, in my copy of The Children of France: A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War, I found an early piece of fanfic, with the author giving one girl a happy ending and a metal to boot! You can't make these things up, and it doesn't get better than this.

4. I collect historical information about a family that isn't mine. The Davidge's of the Washington/Baltimore area. Truth is, they are easy to track down (as they used the same ten names in rotation) than my own family, and it's thanks to them that I went into the archivist's career. And look where it's taken me. To the reference desk.

5. I sang the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium. Now I'm afraid I'm losing my voice due to misuse. Can anyone find me a local choir group I can join? Please.

6. I'm bad in social situations. Though, isn't that the case with lots of librarians? I swear, I need to go home and not talk to people after work because it drains me so much, all that being nice and helpful to everyone. Though, my nickname at work is "Vicious", though the circ staff wouldn't use it in front of the patrons. But just imagine the patrons' expressions when they are told to "go see Vicious over at the reference desk". See how they turn and run!

7. And so the war was won. I don't quote movies. No, I quote musicals! Back at college, I had a friend who could keep apace of me. Not so much not that I've graduated. Our conversations on the phone are interesting, however, what with musical lyrics and discussions of wandering wombs and St. Ursula's boat. I miss those schoolgirl days!

I am also no good about talking about myself and finding interesting things about me. Now it's long past time to sleep! This entry took forever to compose what with all the thinking I had to do this late at night!