Nom de Plume

I think one of the reasons that Harry Potter is so popular with grownups is because it reminds us not only what we read when we were children, but how–the sense of wonder that kept us hunched under the covers with a flashlight, ears perked against wandering parents …

There are a lot of other great childrens’ series that invoke the wonder. Lately, I’ve found these a lot more interesting than anything else out there. Here’s an (admittedly incomplete) list of some of the standouts.

Philip Pullman.
His Dark Materials Trilogy: The Golden Compass – The Subtle Knife – The Amber Spyglass
Fabulous series. Like Harry Potter, only not. Much darker and more intellectual.

Garth Nix.
The Abhorsen Trilogy: Abhorsen – Lirael – Sabriel
What an imagination. Lirael was my favorite–kept me spellbound for hours.

Jenny Nimmo.
The Children of the Red King: Midnight for Charlie Bone – Charlie Bone and the Time Twister – Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
Although the cover of the last one is a blatant Harry Potter wannabe, this series is delightful.

Caroline Stevermer.
A College of Magic – A Scholar of Magic
In my mind, these two books are a little like Anne of Green Gables (once she’s grown up, but I can’t remember what those books were called) meets Gregory Maguire’s Wicked.

Madeleine L’Engle.
A Wrinkle in Time – A Wind in the Door – A Swiftly Tilted Planet – A Swiftly Tilted Planet
The classic. Loved them way back when, love them now. Also, the perfect place to start on the L’Engle journey, which then marches through YA novels to adult fiction and nonfiction.

Jonathan Stroud.
Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand – The Golem’s Eye
Well, only two of the three written, and I’ve only read one of the two. But I appreciated the irreverent snarkiness.

Susan Cooper.
The Dark is Rising Sequence: Silver on the Tree – The Dark is Rising – Greenwitch – The Dark is Rising
I distinctly remember having this series when I was a kid, but when I went back to reread over Christmas, I couldn’t remember a whit of it. No matter, though; it’s a great series. The Dark is Rising is the best of the lot and perfect to read on Christmas afternoon, as I did.

Diane Duane.
The Young Wizards Series: So You Want to Be a Wizard – Deep Wizardry – High Wizardry – A Wizard Abroad – The Wizard’s Dilemma – A Wizard Alone – The Wizard’s Holiday – Wizards at War
Don’t let the lame titles put you off. This is one of the best series around: thrilling battle between good and evil, nice juxtaposition between the “real” world and the “wizarding” one, and strong but realistic characters.

Lloyd Alexander.
Chronicles of Prydain: The Book of Three – The Black Cauldron – Taran Wanderer – The Castle of Llyr
I can still see these tattered paperbacks from reading them over and over when I was an anklebiter. In particular, there was one battle scene I read over and over and over. I couldn’t find that particular scene–or at least my memory of it–on my reread of this series last week. But wow, it’s still great.

1. White House Fought New Curbs on Interrogations, Officials Say
2. Bush Says Military Tsunami Aid Helps Foreign Image
3. Bush Urges Rigorous High School Testing
4. Bush Regrets Language That Hurt U.S. Diplomacy
5. Big-Money Contributors Line Up for Inauguration
6. Inauguration Shutdown Of Downtown Extensive
7. Tracking Down Immigrant Fugitives
8. Witness: Graner Ordered to Beat Prisoners
9. U.S. Tells D.C. to Pay Inaugural Expenses
10. U.S. Trade Deficit Rises to New High; More Risk to Dollar

Nothing says FU to the FAA quite like this. Or hello to Homeland Security. Seriously, I would love to pack one of these babies through another stupid security checkpoint. From Vlieger & Vandam:

there is definitely something about this CD that I cannot explain; I listen to a lot of independent electronic music basically buying on impulse at times; and this CD has probably stood out on all of them, not because it’s popular cause it’s not but I some how identified with it. When you get this cd only two things can happen either you despise it or love it to death. After a couple of weeks of listening to this CD, out of nowhere I was inspired to take up baking, I have no idea why, but now I am making pies and cakes for everyone, and they all say I’m pretty good at it. Now I am considering opening a pastry shop and calling it Merkin Miracle and I don’t care if the name sounds weird cause once they taste my pastry they will realize the miracle of merkin, Thank you Merkin Dream I owe all of my pies and cakes to you and the cinnamon rolls too.

I really need to get Harry Potsticker fixed.

He’s discovered he can hump. It doesn’t really matter WHAT he’s humping: Steve’s leg (that’s a favorite), a pillow, a rug. Even the air. And he’s doing it with a vengeance, as though he knows he will no longer have the urge in a couple weeks.

Snippity snip snip.

I wasn’t so sure about the Ralph Lauren river rock green paint, but now I’m sold. Also, nearly done scraping the floors. Okay, so it doesn’t look great–but boy it’s an improvement.

Woke up this morning to snow. I hope it keeps coming down.

You and me both…
WANTED – Used LAPTOP – $300
I am looking for a Windows XP laptop to last me about 12-18 months before I purchase new. Must have wireless capability or be upgradable for my in home wireless network. Will consider higher cost machines if have 512 RAM, 24X CD/DVD read drive, installed wireless, long battery life (and/or extra batteries).

Too disturbing for words …
WANTED – Wedding white fingertip veil.
2 layer. White fingertip length pencil edge. Could be slightly used.

Ferrets and furniture …
Free Loveseat & Chairs!!! Must go 1/8/05! FREE
The Washington Ferret Rescue & Shelter is cleaning house and has some furniture that needs to find a new home. We have one loveseat in a light brown pattern and also the blue chairs that are pictured. These are used pieces that have seen many years of wear but if given a good cleaning have years left in their lives.

Sex personals for doggies …
I have a big(15″)Beagle male, do you have a female? I have an almost 3 yr old Beagle. He is the 15″ version. Tricolored with a great temperment. His papa was a grand champion. We don’t use him for hunting and never plan to. He has turned into an almost all the time inside dog. Like to breed him with a Lemon Beagle or possibly another tricolored. Beagles are a very social dog and ours needs a companion. Pictures please if you have any of your dog.

Lively lunchtime discussion about wedding registries.

One coworker said that when she gets married, she will register becuase it would be nice to have matching dishes and pots and pans. Another said that he had once been an anti-registry person but changed his mind when he got married–mainly because if you’re going to get gifts, you may as well get what you want, and there are always the people who will not listen to the no gifts idea.

Which all basically comes down to the stuff, doesn’t it?

Look, I’m as avaricious and greedy as the next person; I like to be surrounded by beautiful things. I also am the first to admit that I’ve filched a lot of really nice family things from my mother. But you know, if I really wanted matching dishes, I could buy them myself.

On the other hand, Steve’s and my problem is not having too little, it’s having too much.

Didn’t snow last night. If anything, it was warmer than it has been all week. But a lovely gray gloom, so I’m happy.