Archive for January, 2009

Author:   Junot Diaz

Type:  Fiction

Pages:  340 Paperback

ISBN:  978-1-59448-958-7

Publisher:  RiverHead Books / Penguin

Publisher’s Website:   http://www.penguin.com

Author’s Website:  http://www.junotdiaz.com

Purchase:  $7.95 at Amazon.Com
 

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This book review, I am certain, is doomed to disappoint. But, January’s lucky streak of awesome books has now been cursed by the Fuku’ of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. 

This book is the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Winner.  Do you think it’s just me?  Do I expect too much out of award winning books?

Let’s start with the story lines.  This book is a compilation of the stories of the lives several family members originating in the  Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo).  The reader, eventually, gets to understand the lives of a Doctor Cabral, his wife, their children, and grandchildren.   In addition to them, many other characters are introduced and experienced by the readers.  The lives of these characters are entwined with the life Cabral Family.  The one thing that I can say about this book is that there is no lack of characters in this story.  In fact, there are so many supporting characters and different viewpoints, that I was constantly flipping back in the book to understand who it was that I was reading about. 

Let’s move onto Oscar Wao as he did get the “title” role.  Oscar is the grandson of Doctor Cabral, Son of Beli (a mother suffering with the ways of her only unruly daughter in addition to breast cancer), Brother to Lola (that unruly daughter), Nephew to La Inca (old school lady who raised Beli after her parents’ deaths), and Friend to Yunior (a very horny man in love with Lola).  Confused? That’s okay… I was too.  Oscar has been dealt the unfortunate hand of a weight problem topped with a lovely case of chronic acne.  Pobre!  Other than a brief time in his childhood, this poor dude never made it with the ladies.  And, when I say “made it,” that includes even a decent make-out session.  I guess 300+ lbs. will do that to you.  He loses himself in science fiction, fantasy, writing, and typical nerd activities (D&D, etc.).  However, Oscar is a true romantic.  When he falls in love, it’s hard and he does not bounce back well when the rejection hits.  His life is one cut out of a Greek Tragedy.  After the reader gets to meet Oscar, he is led to read about Lola, the hot-headed, strong-willed sister.

Lola and her mother, Beli, do not get along at all!  The fighting that these two experience is incomprehensible to me.  But, they do come from a different culture then I did… and, then… there is the Fuku’.  From Lola and her teenage hardships, love dramas, and strife, we move onto the very sad life of her mom, Beli.  I really did enjoy reading the story of Beli’s past.  It was gripping, exotic and tragic.  Moving on… we follow Oscar and Lola through their experience into and during the college years.  While the reader is taken there, there are side travels into the lives of La Inca, Abelard, and Yunior.  Now, it would take me nearly a book to get into who they are and why they are important.  Did I mention this book was complex?

So… this book accompanies these characters on their travels back and forth between Santo Domingo and The United States of America.  I cannot say that this is a book with much positive happening to these characters, but not all books are written to be such.  I mean… look at the previous year’s Pulitzer Prize winner… The Road.  Nothing positive happens there, either.  OK… so… a heavy book, an intricate book, and A WELL WRITTEN BOOK… how the heck do I review you?  Let me give you the skinny about what makes this book hard for me to review:

• This book is heavily footnoted with historical facts and explanations of people-tales-beliefs for the reader to understand the metaphors in the book.  The footnotes are, in most cases, extremely lengthy.  And, since the history of this region and history in general are not to strong points of mine, this was highly distracting and frustrating for me.  However, these footnotes are very important to the understanding of the story and, at times, fascinating to read.  But, it did create a lot of back and forth for me in reading. 
• I do read a good amount of Spanish, however I struggled with the vocabulary in this book.  At one point I thought that I’d highlight and look-up.  There were so many words that I plainly gave up on that notion.  Good thing is, it didn’t take away that much comprehension of the story… I hope!
• The book is written almost in the fashion of short stories that are stringed together.  However, rather than a straight line (like a fishing line), it’s like crocheted together.  The story of this family is not linear.  Now, I can’t decide on whether or not I would have preferred it to be linear or not. 
• I have been avoiding writing my review and usually I run, and do not walk, to the keyboard after I finish a book.  I had NO IDEA how to review this book.

In reading the “Classics” and being a well-read and educated person, I can see the benefit in reading the Pulitzer Prize winners.  It will only enhance your ability to engage in better conversations and add to the diversity of your mind.  I am a better person for having read it.  But, I’m still scratching my head.  The good news is, I’m in a book club now.  This is our cirremt read and we get to chat about it in just over a week.  I have a feeling that I may learn a lot from these ladies.  Maybe my perspective will be enhanced.

ON SHER’S “OUT OF TEN SCALE:”

Writing this review is comparable to visiting the dentist…. I’m just glad that it’s done.  For the genre Fiction-Drama I give this book an 8 out of 10.  I can’t tell you how conflicted I am about that rating.  I feel as though it deserves better from me.  I reserve the right to increase the rating after my book club meeting!  This book would make a good movie, if set in a linear fashion.  If you are one who is offended by foul language or crude sexual descriptions, you will definitely not want to read this book… it’s loaded with it.  I was, however, not bothered by the majority of it.

Please keep an eye out for Lisa’s (Books on the Brain) review.  She’s finished the book and should be reviewing soon.

P.S. Look up Fuku’ (I may start using that word).

P.S.S. I have no idea why the footer at the end of this post is all jacked up and to the right… sorry for the imperfection.  See… FUKU!?!

You Lucky Dog…

You Have Won A Signed Copy of A Great Book!

Congratulations to:

Jo-Jo Loves to Read!

Here is the breakdown of the Randomizer… 

There were 50 items in your list.  Here they are in random order:

1. Jo-Jo
2. Cindy B
3. Ryann
4. Rebecca
5. Janet F
6. Dree
7. Teddy
8. Valerie
9. Anne Taylor
10. Oonagh
11. Kathy
12. Erika
13. Trish
14. Deedles
15. Cathy W
16. Marta
17. Violet
18. Darby
19. Paula
20. She
21. Terra H
22. Mary Kay
23. Betty
24. Christie
25. Amanda K
26. Erin
27. Hollie
28. Joy
29. Chelsea
30. Mindy
31. Aila D
32. Tracey B
33. Teresa W
34. Mishel
35. Jason
36. Stacy
37. Heather
38. Angie
39. Carol M
40. Tracy
41. Angela
42. Sherry
43. Carol
44. Becca
45. Deidre
46. Literary Feline
47. Amber
48. Janice
49. LadyTink
50. Maggie

Timestamp: 2009-01-30 09:04:46 UTC

 Jo-Jo, get in touch with me, girl! 

You are going to read and really like this book!

SuperBowl Sunday = FOOD!  Beer!  Shouting!

Superbowl is just around the corner and Kristina’s Favorites wants to know what your favorite SuperBowl recipe is.  The problem with me is that I don’t write down my cooking recipes.  I just keep adding until my creative juices are satisfied.  But, what I can share are my overall game-day cooking tips if you’re hosting a shin-dig:

*  Never, never, never use anything you have to wash other than serving dishes… go PAPER baby.  Can we say plastic utensils and cups?  I mean… no work equals happy lady!

*  Cook things that keep warm/chilled all afternoon.  Keep things simple for yourself.

* Prepare everything that you can ahead of time so that you can PARTY!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND:

* Crock-Pot-O-Chili.  If you’re not the “from scratch” kind of chili cooker, grab some large cans of your favorite chili.  But… shimmy it up a bit.  Throw in some added spices that are YOUR personal favorite.  Toss in some juice from a fresh squeezed tangerine or lime.  Add some chili powder or flakes.  A little Worcestershire sauce.  Dried cilantro is an awesome mystery seasoning.  Garlic.  Mystify your chili.  If you want to go nuts… brown up your own meet (chunks of beef are great…. or you can do the turkey route).  When you brown your chosen meat, grill it with red, green, yellow, or orange bell peppers and some onion.  Throw everything (meat plus cans of bean chili) in the crock pot on low in the morning and stir when you go into the kitchen to refresh your drink.  If friends want to bring things… tell them it’s a chili-cookoff.   Give a bottle of red wine to the winner!  What I love to make with this is a large pot of turkey dogs (keep in water on a fairly low heat) and hot dog buns.  When the guys get hungry, they get a hot meal with a chili-cheese dog.  Make sure you have to accompany:  grated cheese, SOUR CREAM, chopped purple onions, tabasco sauce, and FRITOS!  You can also toss some chili over a plate of Fritos, add cheddar cheese, NUKE for 45 seconds… add sour cream and onions.  YUM!  You can also heat up a tray of frozen french fries in the oven and make chili-cheese fries.  CHILI: It’s super filling, goes a long way, and stays warm easily in the crock pot!  And, if you’re a vegetarian.. this is a great option… go sans the meat!

* Crock-Pot-O-Sloppy Joes.  If you’re not in for the gas bomb that is chili/chili dogs… go Sloppy Joes.  You can make the sloppy joes with either ground turkey (I prefer) or beef.  Like the chili, brown up the meat with some peppers and onions… I like fresh garlic, too.  Then, toss that into the crock pot with tomato sauce and seasonings.  You can also do the Manwich route… but, if you do… I recommend only one can of Manwich (get the bold flavor one) and a small can of tomato paste.  Add only one small can of water and I toss in 1/2 small can of beer in there.  Stir it up.. put it on low in the morning… and stir when you happen to cross on by!  Hamburger buns, onion buns, or fancy ones can stay fresh in a large ziploc on a platter ( I hate stale bread).  Make sure you have sliced cheddar and muenster cheese for the buns.  I think that either tater tots or regular Lays chips are the best with the Joes.  Again, this is stick-to-the-ribs, all day long with no fuss meal. 

* Le Swedish Meatballs d’Crock Pot.  Trader Joes has some AWESOME pre-made frozen ones. You can also make them yourself (mix ground meat -your choice- with breadcrumbs, egg, ch0pped yummies, Lee & Perrins, and soy sauce) by browning them in a pan.  But, who needs the work?  They’ll never know the difference!  Be creative with a sauce that will last you all day.  Experiment with what you’ve got in the fridge.  Avoid white sauces.. stick with brown or red sauces.  Have an assortment of toothpicks nearby.  You can make up a big pot o’ egg noodles and serve the remaining meatballs over the pasta.  Serve with a large tossed salad.

* THE GUAC!  I know it browns, but there are great anti-browning agents on the market that don’t affect the flavor.  Check the canning fruit aisle of your store.  Weird things I ALWAYS ADD:  fresh cilantro (chopped), lime juice, green onions (chopped), crushed garlic (fresh), chopped chili peppers (the little atomic green ones), 3 tablespoons of sour cream, paprika, onion powder and chili powder.  For a great meal to accompany… grill up some Carne Asada Steak or Chicken from Trader Joes.  It’s pre-marinated/spiced and AWESOME.  You can grill it, broil it, or even cook it up on the George Foreman Grill.  Slice up when done.  Serve with small corn tortillas, chopped cilantro, chopped onion, and white cheddar cheese (grated).   You can make some tomatillo salsa to accompany or buy green salsa verde (jarred).  Accompany with Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Black Beans and Spanish Rice with some chipoltle spices added to the rice.  Both the beans and rice go a long way.    Have friends bring tortilla chips, salsa, stuff to make quesadillas with.

So… none of my suggestions are lo-cal.  No, SuperBowl Sunday is not about LO-CAL.  Make sure your beer selection includes a light beer, decent blonde, a PALE IPA, a nutty amber, and a chocolatly dark.  If you have a BevMo in town, you can hand-pick your own six packs.  If not, specify which type of beer you ask your friends to bring.  That way the assortment is good.  Otherwise, you may have only Coors Light (not that I hate Coors Lite… but, it’s fun to have a nifty selection to accompany the food).  Of course, throw out on the table a platter of veggies, chips, and munchies with an awesome white dip (onion, spinach, ranch, dill, etc.).  Buy a jar of dry roasted peanuts and toss them in a small bowl.  You’re set.

This year, I’m going CHILI!  Yes, it’s cold in Cali right now… even in the 40’s at night (that’s cold for here!)

Thanks, Kristina for the MEME suggestion and letting me participate!

The Answer:  Billy The Elephant

Lately, the news in Los Angeles is just getting to me.   We have car-jackings and chases up the WAZOO in addition to a man killing his entire family (including 5 children).  The press is going on and on about Jessica Simpson being FAT (WHAT?).  I’m just annoyed.  Grouchy pants, here, is going to shoot from the hip on this topic, too!

There are many articles in the LA Times over the past month pertaining to The Los Angeles Zoo and it’s Pachyderm Forest Renovation.  Everybody’s getting involved!  Here’s my take on the story:

Bob Barker has pledged to donate $1.5Million to relocate Billy the Elephant to the PAWS Sanctuary.  I called my sis-in-law, Terra, today.  I think we could move Billy for much less than that!  We can rent a semi tractor/trailer… hire Jack Hanna and some zookeepers… get lots of food and water… and take the 5 Freeway!  This is insane – $1.5M!  I guess Betty White and Slash are against Bob Barker’s efforts and are strong supporters of the zoo’s position.  I am with Betty and Slash… leave Billy at home and let’s finish the Forest and get him a Betty!  He’s a handsome dude!

Here’s what is reported on Bob’s offer:

“Los Angeles City Councilman Tony Cardenas’ office today announced that Barker would donate $1.5 million to help cover the cost of Billy’s transfer to [the Performing Animal Welfare Society, a sanctuary in San Andreas], where he would join Ruby, a female African elephant who left the L.A. Zoo in 2007 and who also benefited from a $300,000 donation from Barker.

“The thousands of Angelenos who agonized over Billy’s tragic life at the Los Angeles Zoo will rejoice to learn that now Billy will have the opportunity to roam over countless acres at the PAWS sanctuary, living the life that nature intended for him,” Barker wrote in a letter last week to Cardenas.”

The response from the LA Greater Zoo Organization:

“Billy’s home is at the Los Angeles Zoo, not a distant location that is both inaccessible and unaffordable for the working families and schoolchildren of Los Angeles.  The new Pachyderm Forest will provide Billy and other Asian elephants not only with more space than Asian elephants now enjoy at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but also with a level of personal care and state-of-the-art veterinary services they simply won’t get anywhere else. Jack Hanna, one of the world’s best known animal care experts, calls the habitat “A model for humane elephant care that will educate generations to come on the threats Asian elephants face in the wild.”

So, it sounds like Billy is going to stay.    Please let me know what you think about this!

Here is the official independent study:

For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA. – January 26, 2009

Los Angeles Residents by 3-to-1 Majority Want

LA Zoo’s New Elephant Habitat Completed

 

– Los Angeles city residents by an overwhelming 3-to-1 majority want the Los Angeles Zoo to continue to expand and upgrade its care for Asian elephants with the new Pachyderm Forest project, according to results from an independent polling firm released today. The results, which come on the eve of a Los Angeles City Council vote Wednesday on whether to continue the project, show 67% of Los Angeles residents believe the zoo should enhance elephant care by finishing the habitat. Pachyderm Forest will house Billy and other Asian elephants, whose future on our planet grow more uncertain each year, in an area larger than what Asian elephants enjoy today at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. 

“Los Angeles residents are excited about the Pachyderm Forest and are making it clear they want this habitat completed,” said Connie Morgan, president of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. “Not only will it provide Billy with a spacious living area where he will receive exceptional, humane care, but our new habitat will make Los Angeles a global leader in educating our next generation of conservationists on the dangers these magnificent animals face.”

Just 22% of the respondents agreed with the small group of anti-zoo activists who are trying to pressure the council into reversing its 13-2 vote approving the project. After being reminded that LA City voters passed a Zoo Bond Measure, with the expectation that the funds would be used to improve, upgrade and expand animal exhibits to create a more natural, humane and safe environment for all animals, including the elephants, 69% agreed that the City Council should resist a small group of animal activists who seek to overturn the will of LA voters.

Tellingly, a whopping 93% of Los Angeles residents surveyed said they want Billy cared for at a humane facility that is required to meet the high accreditation standards set by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which the Los Angeles Zoo is required to do. None of the alternative sites the anti-zoo activists propose for Billy are required to meet these standards of accountability, nor are their activities and veterinary facilities certified or monitored by an equivalent professional organization.

“No one can out-love us when it comes to elephants,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy.

“The elephant experts are at the zookeepers and veterinarians at the Los Angeles Zoo, who eat sleep and breathe high standards for animal care and welfare. These are the real heroes, who work hard every day taking care of Billy and the other animals.”

Other findings of the survey include:

Nearly 7 in 10 Los Angeles residents reacted negatively to the hundreds of job losses that would result from shutting down the project in the middle of a deep economic downturn. Through the life of the project as many as 1,000 construction jobs could be lost if Pachyderm Forest is discontinued.

Another 7 in 10 Los Angeles residents agreed that closing the habitat and shipping Billy to a distant location will deprive local schoolchildren and their families of the opportunity to learn about the threat of extinction facing Asian elephants today. Another 73% agreed the Los Angeles Zoo should build a new elephant habitat as part of its role in teaching wildlife conservation, breeding additional Asian elephants and helping prevent the extinction of the species.

Eight in 10 residents have a favorable impression of the Los Angeles Zoo, with 3 out of 4 reporting they visited the zoo within the last five years. Another 7 in 10 said they believe zoos pay an important function and should remain open.

Pachyderm Forest enjoys broad support by race, sex, age, income and political affiliation.

The survey was conducted in January by the independent polling firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates, and involved a representative sample of 500 randomly selected Los Angeles City residents.

“These poll numbers show across-the-board public support for the LA Zoo,” said John Fairbank, principal in Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates. “I’ve worked for many candidates, including some members of the City Council, and I can say without a doubt that if Billy and the Zoo were candidates, they would win in a landslide.”

Contact: Laura Stegman, Laura Segal Stegman Public Relations, LLC and Steve Feldman, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Source: Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn., Association of Zoos and Aquariums  

 

Here are the critical articles and news-videos if you prefer to read/watch for yourself:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/billy-elephant.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/billy-rally.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/jack-hanna-anno.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/conservationist.html

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/zookeepers-to-c.html

http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/?City-Council-Decides-to-Finish-Elephant-=1&blockID=129976&feedID=1198

They Call This Patriotism?

I Call It Shopping At Saks Fifth Avenue on a WalMart Budget!

First off, I apologize in advance for anybody who I happen to offend in this post.  I warn you, in advance, that if you are easily tempered by political posts… read no further.  I’m not here to make enemies.  In fact, I’ve really enjoyed making friends via  my blog.  But, I am a realist.  I believe that real times call for real measures.  And, I thank God that I was born in such a glorious country in which I, as a single woman, can speak freely about my opinions!

It is not my intent to upset Obama supporters nor Republicans for that matter.  I’m just fuming about something and I need to vent!  This post is JUST MY OPINION.  For a very detailed article that accurately describes BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, click HERE.  This well-researched article explains that both BUSH and OBAMA spent ridiculous amounts of money on INAUGURATIONS.  Shame on you, President Bush.  Shame on you, President Obama.  What a waste of money!  We don’t need to spend HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of dollars on inaugurations!  What do the annual national addresses & press-conferences typically cost?  Can’t we do it for that amount of money?

After the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, I was shopping in a local store and overheard people discussing the costs associated with the event.  According to these folks, the inauguration plus the 10 Balls he were attending incurred costs in excess of $160 Million Dollars.  WHAT?  That could not be right.  I asked around to people who I respect to find out what they had to say.  I got mixed responses.  Today, I spoke with a friend of mine who I respect dearly… she is a NEWS GURU!  She confirmed… over $170M for the inauguration and 10 parties.  She further provided me insight on the following (which I have since verified):

• Much of the costs associated with the inauguration had to do with the security by opening up such an immense area for citizens to view the event
• Many campaigners who earned (via their efforts and volunteering) special “purple tickets” to the event… who came from far and near… were unable to get a spot for the event.
• Obama did not attend the ball that honors the military heros… yet, attended all the others.
• This inauguration did cost into the hundreds of millions and did exceed previous ones by considerable amounts of money.

Living in California where we are facing tremendous financial issues (like getting I.O.U.’s from the state government)… I am especially pissed off that those monies were spent on parties & security.  Don’t get me wrong!  Obama deserved   to have his inauguration and the standard  pomp and circumstance that surrounds it.  He is a United States President, after all.  He deserves nothing less than what the previous presidents have had.  BUT, he deserves NOTHING MORE!  We are in the toughest financial crisis of our history and the very last thing we need right now is more money spent frivilously on things that taxpayers DO NOT NEED. 

This is what sets me ON FIRE.  If President Obama is really about change… if he is really about helping the people… then why didn’t he start with his inauguration?  I recommend to him:

• Tell the people how much this costs ahead of time!  Don’t you think they would side with you on the opinion that it is ridiculous to spend this kind of money on parties and security when millions are out of jobs and are faced with losing their homes?
• Inform the people the money is better off spent on aiding the unemployed, the energy crisis, and the housing crisis.  Urge them to view the inauguration from their television sets… SAVE MONEY, SAVE GAS, SAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS.  Change starts with HIS Presidency.
• Attend the standard number of balls.  Ensure that they are all covered by sponsorship and NO TAX Dollars.  Let the US Citizens know how you pushed to save their dollars in this area.
• Honor our military heroes and soldiers at the ball by gracing them with your attendance.  They need you more than Beyonce.

I strongly believe in walking the talk… in other words… don’t just say a bunch of bullcrap of how you are different and what you intend to do.  Do what you say you are going to do!  Lead by example.  The people of this glorious country voted for a man of change… so, CHANGE!  Change starts with you… not by telling others to do so… and, certainly not by spending precious dollars on parties and security.  Obama, I believe you should have told your citizens… “Look, we simply cannot afford this.  Let’s make a real difference and STOP THE BLEEDING!  Despite potential disappointment, let’s band together on this and prove to one another that this will be a New World for us!”

In my opinion, the last thing that our country needs right now are galas and excessive events.  And, this is not all President Obama’s fault.  And, I do believe that everybody deserves a second chance.  As the leader of the free world, President Obama… I know you can do it.  I see you rolling up your sleeves and attempting to face challenges head on and in a different way than it was done in the past by other presidents.  Don’t let our country down… be bold, be brave, and BE SENSIBLE like I know you can be.  Show us that New Day… show us how to change as a people, as a land, as a UNITED country!

And, President Obama… when you’re re-elected… can we try cutting the costs then?  Pretty please! 

OH… UPDATE!  On Tuesday, Margo of Life In The Short Lane has a perfect proposal to cover the costs of the inauguration.  Click Here!  It’s SIMPLY FABULOUS!

UPDATE #2:  RedLady’s Reading Room has made an incredible point!  Obama did inherit this complete disaster of an economy that he had nothing to do with.  He’s got a mess to clean up.  People before him did the same thing… SPEND SPEND SPEND.  I totally and whole-heartedly agree with her.  And… to all of those people:  YOU SUCK!  I will never be so ignorant again!  Stop spending our HARD EARNED DOLLARS!

UPDATE #3:  Not that anybody probably cares…  but, I was raised in a very split family, politically.  1/2 were Republican and 1/2 were Democrat.  I am, currently, the most LIBERAL voting person in my family… I believe.  I am not a converservative, but I am a capitalist when it comes to the ability for anybody to achieve a dream in the USA.  I am not completely right-winged because I believe some social programs require reform for them to work properly.  I am an environmentalist and a feminist.  I vote on both sides of the party lines and am more focused on laws, intiatives, and local/state spending than I usually am on Federal politicians.  I also have NOTHING against Obama and am HOPEFUL that he will be an excellent president.  But, I do believe that he will achieve that in his good works and acts, not out of promises and words.  And, I would say the same thing about ANY OTHER PRESIDENT.   Please do not take my post as an attack on the Democratic Party or President Obama.  The issue I am attacking is spending.